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United States Patent Application	20090275260
Kind Code	A1
Lockett; Samuel ;   et al.	November 5, 2009

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Claims

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1. A support device for securing a balloon comprising:a balloon engagement member having contact with a balloon that is to be secured to the support device, the balloon engagement member having a concave inner surface for efficiently engaging the balloon;a handle member attached to said engagement member, the handle member having a hollow interior and having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end attaches to said engagement member, the handle member providing a means for a user to hold the balloon support device;a suction element attached to the lower end of said handle member to secure the handle to stationary objects; andparticle objects contained in said handle member for creating noise when the handle is shaken.

2. The support device as described in claim 1 further comprising a neck section positioned between said balloon engagement member and said handle member, the neck section attaching the engagement member and the handle member, the neck member having an opening there through facilitate the securing of a balloon to the support device.

3. The support device as described in claim 2 wherein said engagement member, handle member, and neck member form on single unit.

4. The support device as described in claim 2 wherein said handle has a linear rectangular shape with a tapered upper section that tapered toward the upper end.

5. The support device as described in claim 2 wherein said neck section has a tapered shape that tapers from said engagement member to said handle member.

6. The support device as described in claim 1 wherein said engagement member and said handle member are screwably attached.

7. The support device as described in claim 1 wherein said engagement member and said handle member are attached with a glue substance.

8. The support device as described in claim 2 wherein said engagement member, neck section and said handle member are screwably attached.

9. The support device as described in claim 2 wherein said engagement member, neck section and said handle member are attached with a glue substance.

10. The support device as described in claim 1 wherein said suction element comprises an inner element extended into the handle for further securing said suction element to said handle.

11. The support device as described in claim 1 further comprising a bar element contained within said handle element in the approximate location of said suction element to shield said particles from said suction element.

12. The support device as described in claim 10 further comprising a bar element contained within said handle element in the approximate location of said suction element to shield said particles from said suction element.

13. The support device as described in claim 1 wherein said handle comprises two semi-circled, symmetrical and parallel elements that combine to create said handle element.

14. The support device as described in claim 12 wherein said handle comprises a bottom portion to which said suction element is attached, said bottom handle portion being attachable to the upper portion of the handle.

15. The support device as described in claim 14 wherein said bottom handle portion is screwably attached to said upper handle portion.

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Description

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The present invention is a balloon and attaching base used in festive events and in particular the invention is for a method of creating a spirit balloon by securing a desired image to the surface of the balloon and attaching the balloon to a base. The spirit balloon device and system is used to generate noise at events such as athletic competitions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]Spirit Shakers are the new craze among people at events of celebration. Spirit Shakers are a cross between spirit sticks, spirit towels, foam fingers and pom-poms. At any gathering, Spirit Shakers can be used to bolster the enthusiasm of the crowd, help the momentum of the team and promote good feeling throughout the crowd. Spirit Shakers can be used for any occasion such as games, parties, pageants, rallies, competitions, weddings, parades, picnics, birthdays or any events where there is a person or group celebrating or being honored for any reason.

[0003]In recent years, novelty balloons have become quite popular. Not only are they employed at parties and celebrations, but they are also used individually to convey a message or to entertain a child. In the past, it has been known to simply tether balloons on strings for display and use. More recently, sticks have been used for that purpose. Known balloon sticks often have cups attached to the end thereof, the cups being configured to receive and maintain the mouth and neck of the balloon for appropriate display. Sticks used for this purpose are typically quite rigid, with moderate flexibility. However, the sticks have a "memory" such that they seek and maintain a normally straight posture despite any flexing, which might be experienced during employment.

[0004]It has recently become popular to employ extremely small or miniature balloons to develop balloon bouquets--quite similar to floral bouquets, but where balloons are employed instead of flowers. In order to more closely replicate flowers, the balloons are received and maintained in cups which are secured to wires by floral tape or the like. The wires, typically of copper, aluminum or formable steel, are then bent, twisted and formed to a configuration which replicates a flower stem or the like. Oftentimes, the wire itself is either pre-coated with a coating of desired color, or completely wrapped with floral tape. The use of such structure and technique has provided balloon bouquets of novel appearance, replicating that of a floral bouquet; development of such floral bouquets is both time consuming and expensive. The artisan must first adhere the balloon cup to the wire and then conceal the wire as by the implementation of floral tape or the like. Moreover, the combination of the stick and cup constitutes a two-piece unit, both requiring inventorying and handling, as well as manipulation when in use.

[0005]There have been other attempts to produce balloon products with configurations to hold balloons. U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,798 to Novak, describes a decorative balloon holder that has a core having sufficient weight to hold a buoyant balloon in position on a tabletop or the like. The balloon holder has an attachment held directly to the core for securing the string of the balloon, and has a layer of decorative material wrapped around the core.

[0006]U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,419 to Gearhart et al. describes a balloon holder apparatus having a hollow body and weighted base. A slot in the body extends from a bottom edge to an opening in the center or top of the body. A slot in the base extends from an outer edge of the base to a central opening in the base. When the base and body are joined together, the slot in the body connects to and is generally aligned with the slot in the base. A knotted balloon tether is slipped through the aligned slots until the tether enters the opening in the body and the knot in the tether is adjacent the central opening in the base. The tether is then released and the knot is drawn into the hollow interior of the body and retained therein thereby holding the tethered balloon to the apparatus. The apparatus may hold a plurality of tethered balloons in a like manner.

[0007]U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,530 to Liu describes a balloon holder that includes a bracket plate, a shank and a hollow casing made of an insulative material and connected between the bracket plate and the shank. The casing has an electronic music producing device, a spring member and a swinging plate mounted in the casing. The swinging plate is connected between the bracket plate and the spring member. The spring member is connected between the bottom of the casing and the swinging plate so that the swinging plate can swing within the casing. An annular flange extends inwardly from the internal wall of the casing between the swing plate and the electronic music producing device. A first and a second electrically conductive ring are respectively provided on the swinging plate and the annular flange and are respectively and electrically connected to the electronic music producing device.

[0008]People use balloons in many activities. With regard activities such as sporting events, there remains a need for a balloon type product that persons can use to demonstrate their spirit and support for a player or team.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009]A spirit and support method system includes an inflated balloon element that can display images and/or information on the surface of the balloon. This balloon element also has a stem portion that provides for the securing of the balloon element to a support element and balloon handle. The balloon support element can have a concave shape that preferably resembles a bowl or cup shape. A handle directly or indirectly attaches to the support element. The handle can have a linear and rectangular shape, with a hollow interior. A suction element can attach to an end of the handle away from the end that attaches to the support element. The suction element provides a means to secure the product of the present invention to permanent places when the product is not being used to support an activity or to display support. Contained with the hollow portion of the handle can be objects that serve to further stabilize the product when it is secured to a permanent place. The objects contained in the handle can serve a means to produce noise to demonstrate support when involved in an activity such as a sporting event.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a side view of the basic implementation of the apparatus of the present invention having a keyhole in a neck portion of the invention to facilitate securing a balloon to the apparatus of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side view of the implementation of the present invention having an eyehole in a neck portion of the invention to facilitate securing a balloon to the apparatus of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 3 is an end view of the support element of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a top down view of the support element of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a bottom-up view of the support element of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a side view of the an implementation of the present invention further having objects contained in side the handle to better stabilize product and to generate noise when using the product in a support activity.

[0016]FIG. 7 is an end diagram illustrating the alternate implementation of the apparatus of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 8 is a bottom-up view of the alternate support element of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 9 is a side view of the alternate support element going in a posterior direction.

[0019]FIG. 10 is a side view of the support element coming in an anterior direction.

[0020]FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps in the invention of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021]FIG. 1 shows a general implementation of the apparatus of the present invention with a keyhole. The product of the invention will secure and hold a balloon element. The apparatus has a support element 100 that will actually engage a balloon. The support element has wall 102 that has an interior surface 104 that has a concave shape and gives an appearance similar to a bowl or cup. The wall 102 of the support element 100 provides additional stability for a balloon product engaged by the support element. The additional stability enables the balloon to remain substantially stationary in the support element when the user shakes the apparatus of the present invention such as during a sporting event.

[0022]Attached to the support element 100 is a neck section 106. This neck section is the connector of the support element 100 with the handle 108. This neck section can be semi-hollow with an internal opening that extends through part or all of the neck. The neck section can have threads on its upper end that enable it to engage threads from the support element 100 to secure the neck section 106 to the support section 100. The neck section can also have threads on its lower or bottom end that engage threads from the handle 108 to secure the neck section to the handle.

[0023]The handle 108 can have an elongated linear shape with a hollow or semi-hollow interior. The upper end of the handle 110 that engages the neck section 106 can have an inwardly tapered design with threads that engage the neck and secure the neck to the handle. Attached at an end of the handle away from the upper end is a suction cup 112. This suction Cup gives the user the ability to temporarily attach the product to a permanent location. At this location the contents of the balloon can still be displayed. The suction cup 112 can have an inner element 140 that can further secure the suction cup into the handle 108. In addition, the embodiment can have a barrier 142 that further separates the suction cup from the handle 108.

[0024]FIG. 2 shows the apparatus of the present invention in which an eyehole 114 in the neck section 106. This eyehole enables the user to pass the stem of a balloon through the neck section and thereby further secure the balloon to the apparatus of the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 3 shows an end view of the support and neck sections of the present invention. Shown are the keyhole and the eyehole 114 and 116 positioned on opposite sides of the support element and the neck. The user can feed the balloon stem through the keyhole and around through the eyehole. FIG. 4 shows the top view of the base of the handle 110 and suction cup member 100. FIG. 5 shows a bottom view.

[0026]FIG. 6 is an embodiment in which the apparatus contains a hollow handle section. Objects 118 can be placed in the hollow portion of the handle. The objects 118 can create noise sounds similar to the concept of a baby rattle. The noise contributes to the display of spirit shown by the user. The apparatus of the present can be comprised of a one-piece device. In this embodiment, the balloon support, the neck and the handle are one piece or permanently attached to each other.

[0027]FIG. 7 shows an end view of the apparatus with an alternate support element 124 that allows it to be attached temporarily to a different permanent location. FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of the alternate support element 124. FIG. 9 shows a side view of the alternate support element 124 with the lower end going in a posterior direction. FIG. 10 shows a side view of the alternate support element 124 with the lower end coming in an anterior direction.

[0028]FIG. 11 shows a flow diagram of the method of manufacturing an apparatus of the present invention. This manufacturing comprises a method for attaching an image to the surface of a balloon and attaching the balloon to the balloon holding apparatus of the present invention. Step 600 attaches an image to a surface of a balloon. In this step, the balloon is placed on top of and affixed to a stationary board facilitate the attachment of out of the balloon. After smoothing out the wrinkles, double-sided tacky tape is placed onto the topside of the balloon. Next, in step 602, an image is printed onto a transfer sheet and heated or cured for several seconds. Ideally, the curing processing can occur using a microwave oven. Step 604 attaches the cured image to the tape on the topside of the balloon. Step 606 applies pressure to the transfer sheet to remove any bubbles from the image. Once, an image has been affixed to one side of the balloon, step 608 turns the balloon over on the other side and repeats steps 604 and 606 with another image for that side. After the completion of step 608, step 610 inflates the balloon with air and seals the balloon opening. The sealing of the opening process can occur using a heat sealer. Steps 612 and 614 relate to attaching the balloon to the handle of the present invention. In step 612 the neck or stem of the balloon is placed through the keyhole of the support cup. The balloon stem is then wound around the base of the handle cup until it is tight. Step 614 snuggly places the other end through the keyhole opposite the end through which the stem was initially inserted.

[0029]With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated in the appended claims.

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