Background

Field of the Inve tion

[0001] The present invention is in the field of balloon toys for helium- filled balloons. Related Art

[0002] Balloons filled with helium are widely used for children's enjoyment. In general, these balloons are not offered with any other purpose or additional potential other than a weight so the balloon will, not fly away.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] Accordingly, an aspect the invention involves a balloon toy that increase a child's enjoyment of a helium-filled balloon. The balloon toy can be held by the child and is simple and easy to operate. The balloon toy includes an elongated housing with a small aperture at a front end where a balloon string attached to a helium-field balloon protrudes. The housing carries a power source in a handle of the housing near its rear end. The power source powers a motorized reel assemblage within the housing adjacent its front end. An UP/DEFAULT-BRAKE/DOWN switch is used to activate and deactivate the power source for powering the internal motorized reel. The balloon toy enhances the pleasure of having a helium-filled balloon through the internal motorized reel in the toy that releases or retracts the balloon string, allowing the child to control the altitude of the balloon by lengthening and shortening the length of the balloon string with the push of a button on the toy. The balloon toy is light-weight and its size is easily grasped by a child's hand. This balloon toy will animate amusement parks in general as balloons will change constantly on the horizon as multiple users engage in its use.

[0004] One or more implementations of the above aspect of the invention include one or more of the following: the power source comprises an electrical battery pack and motor; the power source is provided by a solar panel and motor; the motorized reel assembly includes a spool on a fixed anchor that turns in tandem with the motor by means of a band and sprockets; the activation and deactivation is in the form of a DPDT electrical switch; and/or the activation and deactivation is in the form of a simple switch for the motor and a gear release function on the switch.

[0005] Another aspect of the invention involves a balloon toy including a mechanism which allows the release of the helium-filled balloon at different speeds and prevents the release of the string from backing up in the housing and snagging. The balloon is returned to the user in a fast-motorized manner that can be controlled by starting or stopping the motor and thus control ling the return rate of the balloon. A return gear of the motor is biased into gear engagement by a spring so that if the balloon encounters high winds or a tree branch, the return gear disengages (i.e., gears slip relative to each other) so that the motor will not immediately compromise the balloon string and cause it snap. This spring- engaged gear also prevents the motor from burning out with no movement of the string (e.g., if the balloon encounters hi gh winds or a tree branch), which lengthens the life of the motor.

[0006] The user can then wait to remedy the undesirable condition.

[0007] A further aspect of the invention involves a balloon toy including a helium-filled balloon; a balloon string tethered to the balloon; and a balloon raising and lowering assembly including: a housing including a handle; a gear assembly including a plurality of gears carried with the housing and operable coupling the electric motor to the balloon string reel for driving rotation of the balloon string reel; a biasing member including a biasing force that urges the gear assembly together so that the plurality of gears are engaged for dri ving rotation of the balloon string reel for drawing in the balloon string and helium-field balloon and allows the plurality of gears to slip relative to each other if tension on the balloon string is too high.

[0008] One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above include one or more of the following: the balloon toy includes an UP mode where the helium-filled balloon rises, causing the balloon string reel to rotate in a first direction to let out the balloon string and the helium-filled balloon, the balloon toy further including a stop system that allows rotation of the balloon string reel in the first direction and prevents significant rotation of the balloon string reel in a second direction opposite to the first direction, preventing recoil of the balloon string on the balloon string reel as the helium-filled balloon rises; the balloon toy includes a DOWN mode where the stop system is disengaged and the electric motor is actuated, causing the balloon string reel to rotate in the second direction to draw in the balloon string and the helium-filled balloon; the balloon toy includes a BRAKE mode where the stop system is disengaged and the plurality of gears are engaged so that balloon string is not drawn out from the balloon string reel and the balloon string reel does not rotate unless tension on the balloon string is high enough to cause the plurality of gears to slip relative to each other; and/or the balloon toy includes a rocker switch having at least the UP mode, the DOWN mode, and the BRAKE mode, which are mutually exclusive.

[0009] A further aspect of the invention involves a method of using a balloon toy including descending the helium-filled balloon by drawing in the balloon string and helium-filled balloon by rotating the balloon string reel through the electric motors and gear assembly; and urging the gear assembly together with a force sufficient for engaging the plurality of gears together for driving rotation of the balloon string reel for drawing in the balloon string and helium-field balloon and sufficient for allowing the plurality of gears to slip relative to each other if tension on the balloon string becomes too high.

[0010] One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above include one or more of the following: the method further includes ascending the helium-filled balloon by letting out the balloon string from the balloon string reel and rotating the balloon string reel in a direction opposite to a direction for drawing in the balloon string; and preventing significant rotation of the balloon string reel in the direction for drawing in the balloon string and recoiling of the balloon string on the balloon string reel as the helium-filled balloon rises with a stop system; the method further includes actuating a DOWN mode in the balloon toy, the DOWN mode disengaging the stop system and actuating the electric motor to cause the balloon string reel to rotate to draw in the balloon string and the helium-filled balloon; the method further includes actuating a BRAKE mode in the balloon toy, the BRAK E mode disengaging the stop system and engaging the plurality of gears so that balloon string is not drawn out from the balloon string reel and the balloon string reel does not rotate unless tension on the balloon string is high enough to cause the plurality of gears to slip relative to each other; and/or the balloon toy includes a rocker switch having at least the UP mode, the DOWN mode, and the BRAKE mode, which are mutually exclusive, and the method further includes moving the switch to one of the UP mode, the DOWN mode, and the BRAKE mode,

[001 1 ] Another aspect of the invention involves an aerial toy, comprising: an aerial flying toy object that at least one of floats, flies, and soars in air for an extended period of time; an aerial flying toy string tethered to the aerial flying toy object; an aerial flying toy raising and lowering assembly including: a handle; a housing including a top, a front, and a rear; an aerial flying toy string reel rotatably carried within the housing and carrying the aerial flying toy string; an electric motor carried within the housing and operably coupled to the balloon string reel for driving rotation of the balloon string reel; a power source carried within the housing for powering the electric motor; an aerial flying toy string snag prevention mechanism that helps prevent snagging of the aerial flying toy string,

[0012] One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above include one or more of the following: the aerial flying toy string snag prevention mechanism includes an aerial flying toy string centering mechanism that centers the aerial flying toy string with respect to the aerial flying toy string reel; the aerial flying toy string centering mechanism includes a swivel with a small centered hole that the aerial flying toy string slides within for centering the aerial flying toy string with respect to the aerial flying toy string reel; the aerial flying toy string centering mechanism includes a top member with a small centered hole that the aerial flying toy string slides within for centering the aerial flying toy string with respect to the aerial flying toy string reel; at least one of the front, rear, and top of the housing includes an opening that exposes the aerial flying toy string on the aerial flying toy string reel, allowing a user to continually monitor the aerial flying toy string to prevent and remove snags; at least one of the front, rear, and top of the housing includes an openable and closeable door for accessing and closing access to the opening that exposes the aerial flying toy string on the aerial flying toy string reel; at least one tab in the housing to facilitate opening and closing of the door relative to the housing; a snag-proof inner housing lining without crevices and catches that lead to hooking and snagging of the aerial flying toy string; the balloon toy includes an UP mode where the helium-filled bal loon rises, causing the balloon string reel to rotate in a first direction to let out the balloon string and the helium-filled balloon, the balloon toy further including a stop system that allows rotation of the balloon string reel in the first direction and prevents significant rotation of the balloon string reel in a second direction opposite to the first direction, preventing recoil of the balloon string on the balloon string reel as the helium- filled balloon rises; the balloon toy includes a DOWN mode where the stop system is disengaged and the electric motor is actuated, causing the balloon string reel to rotate in the second direction to draw in the balloon string and the helium-filled balloon; the balloon toy includes a BRAKE mode where the stop system is disengaged and the plurality of gears are engaged so that balloon string is not drawn out from the balloon string reel and the balloon string reel does not rotate unless tension on the balloon string is high enough to cause the plurality of gears to slip relative to each other; the balloon toy includes a rocker switch having at least the UP mode, the DOWN mode, and the BRAKE mode, which are mutually exclusive; the aerial flying toy object is a balloon; and the aerial flying toy object is a kite.

[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

[0014] The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a balloon toy;

FIG . 2 is a right side elevatio al vie w of the balloon toy of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the balloon toy of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cut-away simple perspective view of the balloon toy of FIG. 1 and shows the components with a housing of the balloon toy;

FIG. 5 is another cut-away perspective view of the balloon toy of FIG. 1, showing the components in the housing of the balloon toy; FIG. 6 is a cut-away, partial perspective view of the balloon toy of FIG. 1 , showing the components in the housing of the balloon toy;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a balloon toy;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a balloon toy;

FIG. 9 A is another perspective view of the balloon toy shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 9B is a perspecti ve view of an additional embodiment of a balloon toy; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a balloon toy.

Detailed Description

[0015] Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for a balloon toy 100 and method of used. Although the aerial flying toy object is described herein as a balloon, in alternative embodiments, the aerial flying toy object is a kite, glider, parachute toy, or other flying, floating, and/or soaring toy object that at least one of floats, flies, and soars in air for an extended period of time. Thus, although the aerial flying toy is described herein as a balloon toy, in alternative embodiments, the aerial flying toy is a kite toy, glider toy, parachute toy, or other flying, floating, and/or soaring toy.

[0016] After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, although various embodiments of the present invention will, be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention,

[0017] With reference initially to FIGS. 1-3, the balloon toy 100 includes a balloon raising and lowering assembly 1 17 including a housing or casing 101, an UP/DEFAULT- BRAKE/DOWN switch 102 with push buttons 1 18, 1 19, a battery access door 103 in a handle 120 near a near rear end 122 of the housing 10.1, an opening or small aperture 104 at a front end 124 of the housing 101, a balloon string 105, and a helium-filled balloon .106. Although the housing .101 is shown as heaving a substantially guitar-like configuration, in one or more additional embodiments, the housing 101 may have an alternative configuration to make the toy 100 have an appearance of a cartoon character or any other pleasant form that a child will enjoy.

[0018] With reference to Figs. 4-6, the internal components of the balloon toy 100 carried within the housing 101 will be described. The balloon toy 100 includes a motor 107 that drives a drive gear 126, a string reel 108 (e.g., holding about 200-300 ft of string) with string wheel gear 128 and annular stop mechanism 129 having protruding curved stop fingers 113 to prevent string snagging, a spring-biased intermediate gear 109, a biasing mechanism 130, a spring 1 10, power source/one or more batteries 1 1 1 (e.g., AAA 1.5 volt batteries), an electric on/off switch 112, a stop tab 114, and a stop-release tab 1 15.

[0019] In one or more additional embodiments, the location of one or more of the motor 107, the reel 108, the switch 102, and/or the one or more batteries 111 can be other than that shown herein.

[0020] Except for the conducting metals in the motor 107 and the one or more batteries 1 1 1 , the materials used to fabricate the balloon toy 100 are provided from any suitable source such as, but not limited to, metal, wood, plastics, and the like as well as a combination thereof. Preferably, durable and lightweight plastic materials are preferred such as, but not limited to, high density polyethylene, polypropylenes, polysulfones, and polystyrenes.

[0021] The balloon toy 100 will, now be described in use. The motor 107 is controlled by the external switch 102 to control the string reel 108. The switch 102 also has a gear- release function to allow the helium-filled balloon to lift and draw out the string 105 from the reel 108. When the DOWN button 118 of the switch 102 is pressed, the on/off switch 112 is activated, causing the motor 107 to rotate drive gear 126. Because intermediate gear 109 is biased against the drive gear 126 and the string reel gear 128 by the biasing mechanism 130 via the spring 1 10, the intermediate gear 109 is engaged with the other gears 126, 128 so that motor rotation causes the reel 108 to rotate and retract the string 105 onto the reel 108 and into the front end 124 of the housing 101, through the aperture 104. As the reel 108 retracts the string 105, the helium-filled balloon 106 exerts pressure on the string 105. In this mode, the biasing mechanism 130 urges (via the spring 1 10) stop- release tab 115 against the stop tab 114, causing the stop tab 1 14 to disengage/clear the protruding curved stop fingers/stops 1 13 of the annular stop mechanism 129. This allows the reel 108 and annular stop mechanism 129 to freely rotate counter clockwise in FIG. 6 to draw the string 105 in. The amount of biasing force in the biasing mechanism 130 (via the spring 110) is such that the gears (and/or teeth of the gears) 109, 126, 128 slip relative to each other in the event of a high-tension condition in the string 105 (e.g., high-tension in the string 105 caused by high winds, the balloon 106 being caught, the balloon 106 being completely drawn into the toy 100, etc.) because the tension force on the balloon 106 and string 105 (e.g., from the high wind) can be greater than the strength of the motor 107, which would compromise (e.g., burn out) the motor 107. The biasing mechanism 130 solves this problem because it allows the gears 109, 126, 128 to slip if the tension is too great. The user can then decide to wait for the high-tension condition to stop (e.g., wind to die down) or decide to use other means to retract the balloon 106 such as manually. When the gears 109, 126, 128 slip relative to each other, they make a noise, which also serves as an alann to the user that the gears 109, 126, 128 are slipping and to stop pressing the "DOWN" button 119.

[0022] The switch 102 also has a "DEFAULT" or "BRAKE" position/mode when the DOWN button 1 18 is not pressed and the UP button is not pressed (i.e., no pressure from the user, which keeps the string reel stationary), where the user can elect the height at which to leave the balloon 106 in the air. In this DEFAULT-BRAKE mode, because intermediate gear 109 is biased against the drive gear 126 and the string reel gear 128 by the biasing mechanism 130 via the spring 110, the intermediate gear 109 is engaged with the other gears 126, 128 but the motor is not rotating. As a result, this gear engagement functions as a brake so that the string reel 108 is substantially locked into position so that the length of the string 105 drawn out from the reel 108 is at a desired length and the balloon 106 stays at a desired height. As mentioned above, if a high-tension condition occurs in the balloon 106/strmg 105 (e.g., high-tension in the string 105 caused by high winds, the balloon being caught, etc.), the biasing mechanism 130 solves this problem because it allows the gears 109, 126, 128 to slip if the tension is too great. The user can then decide to wait for the high-tension condition to stop (e.g., wind to die down) or decide to use other means to retract the balloon 106 such as manually. Similar to the DOWN condition/position, in the DEFAULT-BRAKE condition, the biasing mechanism 130 urges (via the spring 110) stop-release tab 1 15 against the stop tab 114, causing the stop tab 1 14 to disengage/clear the protruding curved stop fingers/stops 1 13 of the annular stop mechanism 129.

[0023] The switch 102 also has UP or release button- unction 1 19 that when pressed allows the balloon 106 to lift and the string 105 to draw out from the reel 108 by the pull of the helium-filled balloon. By pressing on the UP button 1 19, the user has complete control of how much string 105 the user wants drawn out from the reel 108 (and the height at which the balloon 106 can fly) limited to the length of the string 105 provided. Pressing on the UP or release button moves the biasing mechanism 130 and the stop- release tab 1 15 down/away from the stop tab 114, causing the stop tab 114 to ride along rotation of the annular stop mechanism 129. This allows the reel 108 and annular stop mechanism 129 to freely rotate clockwise in FIG. 6 to release the string 105 out in one direction only as the balloon pulls on the string 105, The annular stop mechanism 129 and stop tab 114 (i.e., stop system) prevents the recoil of the string 105 as the helium-filled balloon 106 is released by its own power/pull. The stop tab 114 is activated and engages the protruding curved stop fingers/stops 113 of the annular stop mechanism 129 only if the reel 108 recoils in the wrong direction. As mentioned above, the stop-release tab 115 disengages the stop system 1 14, 129 when the motor 107 is actuated because the reel 108/annular stop mechanism 129 moves in the direction of (against) the stop top 1 14 when engaged by the motor 107. The stop system may be referred to as a "feather weight" stop system because the force of the stop tab 114 on the annular stop mechanism 129 is so low/light, that the reel 108 is easily rotated and the string 105 drawn out by the light pull of the helium-filled balloon 106.

[0024] The UP/DEFAULT-BRAKE/DOWN switch 102 prevents the operator from making a mistake because the "UP", "DEFAULT-BRAKE", and "DOWN" positions are the switch 102 are mutually exclusive. One can not activate one of these conditions/positions without deactivating the other two. The switch 102 is a single-piece rocker style switch with UP button 118 and DOWN button 1 19 connected by rocker/see saw 132 so that only UP position/mode or DOWN position/mode can be activated at a time. A spring urges the switch 102 into the DEFAULT /BRAKE ON position/mode, which is in the middle/horizontal orientation of the rocker/see saw 132 (neither UP nor DOWN are active in this position). The user can only push UP button 1 18 or DOWN button 1 19 temporari ly because letting go of either button 118, 1 19 causes that respective function to cease and the rocker switch 102 moves to the middle/horizontal orientation (DEFAULT-BRAKE condition).

[0025] With reference to FIG. 7, another embodiment of a balloon toy 200 will be described. The balloon toy 200 is similar to the balloon toy 100 described above with respect to FIGS. 1-6 and, thus, the description with respect to FIGS. 1-6 is incorporated herein and will not be further described.

[0026] The balloon toy 200 includes a number of string snag prevention mechanisms that helps prevent snagging of the aerial flying toy string. These string snag prevention mechanisms will be described below.

[0027] The balloon toy 200 includes an opening 202 adjacent a terminal end of the housing/casing 101 that exposes balloon string 105 on the string reel 108. Exposing the balloon siring 105 allows the user to continually monitor the balloon string 105 to prevent snags and/or remove snags of the balloon string 105. Although the opening 202 is shown along a front 204, a top 206, and a rear 208 of the housing 101 , in alternative embodiments, the opening is along one or more of the front 204, the top 206, and/or the rear 208 of the housing 101 (e.g., opening along front, front/top, rear, rear/top, or front/rear).

[0028] The balloon toy 200 includes a string centering mechanism in the form of a swiveling arm 210 that is pivotally connected along opposite sides 212, 214 of the housing 101 . The swiveling arm 210 includes a small hole 216 centered along the arm 210 so as to allow the string 105 to retract into the string reel 108 in the middle of the string reel 108, to prevent the string 105 to build up on only one end of the reel 108 and prevent the string 105 that is returning with coils to enter the reel 108 and snag the string 105 before it happens inside in the housing 101.

40- [0029] The balloon toy 200 includes a snag-proof inner housing lining 220 with no crevices, catches, or other objects that lead to potential hooking/snagging areas of the string 105,

[0030] FIG. 8 illustrates a further embodiment of a balloon toy 300 that is similar to the balloon toy 200 shown and described with respect to FIG. 7, but includes an openable/closeable door 302 that is hingeably coupled to the front 204 of the housmg 101. The easy-to-open door 302 allows the user to easily open and access the reel 108. Opening the door 302 to exposes the balloon string 105 to allow the user to continually monitor the balloon string 105 to prevent snags and/or remove snags of the bal loon string 105. Although the door 302 is shown along the front 204 of the housing 101, in alternative embodiments, the door 302 is along one or more of the front 204, the top 206, and/or the rear 208 of the housing 101.

[0031] FIG. 9A illustrates one or more tabs 310 disposed in the top 206 of the housing 101 adjacent a string centering mechanism in the form of a small hole in the top 206 of the housing 101. The tab(s) 310 serve as fastening/releasing rnechanism(s) for closing and fastening the door 302 to the housing 101 and opening the door 302 relative to the housing 101 to expose the bal loon string 105 to allow the user to continually monitor the balloon string 105 to prevent snags and/or remove snags of the balloon string 105.

[0032] FIG. 9B illustrates another embodiment of one or more tabs 320 disposed in the top 206 of the housing 101 adjacent a string centering mechanism in the form of a small hole in the top 206 of the housing 101. The tab(s) 310 serve as fastening/releasing mechanism(s) for closing and fastening the door 302 to the housing 101 and opening the door 302 relative to the housing 101.

[0033] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a balloon toy 400 that is similar to the balloon toy 200, except the swiveling arm 210 is replaced with a string centering mechanism in the form of a small hole in the top 206 of the housing 101. The top bridge member 402 is molded with the rest of the housing 101. The top bridge member includes a small centering hole 404 centered along the top bridge member 402 so as to allow the string 105 to retract into the string reel 108 in the middle of the string reel 108. [0034] FIG. 10 also illustrates some example aerial flying toy objects (e.g., balloon, kite, parachute toy) that may be used with the embodiments of the toys 100, 200, 300, 40. In alternative embodiments, other aerial flying toy objects may be used.

[0035] In one or more additional or alternative embodiments, one or more of the balloon toys described here includes a shorter or longer length of string 105, the motor 107 is faster or slower so that the string 105 is reeled in faster or slower, one or more gears are added so that the string 105 is reeled in faster or slower, one or more gears are different than those described/shown herein so that the string 105 is reeled in faster or slower, and/or the power in the one or more batteries 11 ! is increased or decreased so that the string 105 is reeled in faster or slower.

[0036] The above figures may depict exemplary configurations for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additional!)', although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplar}' embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention, especially in any claims that follow, should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

[0037] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term "including" should be read as meaning "including, without limitation" or the like; the term "example" is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectives such as "conventional," "traditional," "standard," "known" and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, nonnal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction "and" should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items is present in the grouping, but rather should be read as "and/or" unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction "or" should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as "and/or" unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as "one or more," "at least," "but not limited to" or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent.