BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A currently popular novelty item is per a- nently buoyant balloons of the type patented in United States Patent No. 4,07 ,588, issued on March , 1978. When filled with helium or any other lighter than air gas such balloons can have advertising or a holiday message ^* applied to one side thereof and can be suspended from a string in a horizontal, vertical or any other angular disposition to display the message printed on the balloon.

Such balloons are also marketed as toy novelty items with a weighting means applied to the bottom of the balloon. As currently marketed, the weighting means consists of a tag material having an adhesive applied to one side and silver foil applied to the other side. The tag material is cut so that individual tabs are arranged in a spiral or helical pattern so that individual tabs of the tag- material may be sequentially removed to decrease the weight of the weighting means and control the level at which the balloon floats above the floor. The purpose of the spirally arranged tabs appears to be to maintain the center of gravity at the center of the balloon when the tabs are sequentially removed one at a time. While such a weighting means successfully holds a helium balloon at a selected level above the floor, the weighting means must be precisely centered in the center of the balloon or the balloon will have an undesired tilt determined by the degree that the weighting means is off

center. Sequential removal of the tabs will not horizontally balance the balloon but instead will cause the balloon to float higher with the tilt rotating along with the center of the 5 spiral as subsequent tabs are removed.

Since the spiral pattern used is designed specifically to maintain the balloon at a selected height while-Jatarizontally disposed, the primary use of such a weighting means is as a toy novelty 10 item rather than an advertising medium or both since the top of the balloon cannot be seen unless the balloon is floated at a level that is below eye level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 15 The disclosed invention provides a more flexible weighting means for inflatable helium balloons. While using tag materials similar to that used in the prior art, the present invention cuts the tag material in straightline segments 20 forming tabs in rows and columns allowing more economical manufacture. In addition, since the geometric pattern of the improved weighting means of the present invention is geometrically balanced having four sides from each of which tabs can be 25 removed, if the weighting means is applied to the balloon off center, all that is necessary is removal of a row or column of tabs to center the weighting m _eans rather than a removal of the entire weighting means necessitated by the prior

30 art.

In addition, selectively removing tabs from one side of the weighting means only can be used to selectively impart an angle to a free-floating balloon. Consequently, commercial utility of the

35 balloon is improved since advertising or holiday

messages or the like may be applied to a free floating balloon which can be observed by an owner or user of the balloon. The preferred embodiment also includes a construction whereby the weighting means can be cut in half and half applied to each side of the balloon so that different configurations of balloons may be used, such as a floating fish and so that helium balloons of any shape can be disposed vertically in a free- floating manner.

It is therefore an object of the ^* present invention to provide an alternative weighting means for toy helium filled balloons which may balance a floating balloon in a horizontal dis- position even if the weighting means is not applied to the center of the balloon.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative weighting means for helium balloons that permits the creation of an angular disposition of the balloon other than horizontal. It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative weighting means for helium balloons which can be used to precisely control both the angular disposition and the height of the balloon .relative to the floor and the height of the balloon above the floor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative weighting means for helium balloons which is economical to manufacture and flexible to use.

Other advantages and objects of the invention will become apparent from a review of the drawings and associated disclosure.

O.Y.PI

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a representation of a prior art weighting means for helium balloons having tabs of tag material arranged in a spiral or helical pattern.

Figure 2 is a detailed plan view of the outer surface of the alternative weighting means of the present invention with a portion removed to show the three functional layers of the weighting means.

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial "sectional view of a burr attachment attaching tabs of the tag material together for easy removal, marked by circle 3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a hinge attachment attaching tabs of the tag material together for easy removal, marked by circle 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of an unin- flated balloon showing the application o ^" f the weighting means to the balloon.

Figure β is similar to Figure 5 with the balloon inflated.

Figure 7 shows the horizontal disposition of the balloon when the alternative weighting means is geometrically balanced in the center of the bottom of the balloon.

Figure 8 shows a bottom plan view of an in¬ flated balloon with a majority of the tabs with- drawn from one side only to impart an angular disposition to the balloon and with a few tabs withdrawn from opposing sides to control the level of flight of the balloon.

Figure 9 shows an angular disposition of the balloon when the alternative weighting means is applied as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 shows the alternative weighting

OMPI

means split in half and positioned on the opposite sides of the helium balloon to maintain the balloon in a vertical position so that any design depicted on the balloon can be observed while it is main- tained in its free-floating state.

Figure 11 shows the vertical disposition of the balloon when the weighting means is applied as shown in Figure 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention provides a ^* means 20 to weight free-floating buoyant balloons 25 filled with helium or other lighter than air gases and maintain them in a free-floating state between the floor and the ceiling of a room in which they are contained.

Free- loating inflated structures 25 are presently marketed with a weighting means ^' 13 consisting of removable tabs 15 which are precut into a helical or spiral pattern such as shown in Figure 1. Such a weighting means 13 must be pre¬ cisely centered on the bottom of the inflated balloon 25 if the balloon 25 is to be maintained horizontally which is an object of the prior art weighting means 13. If applied off center the balloon 25 will list to the more heavily weighted side and successive removal of tabs 15 will raise and lower the floatable height of the balloon 25 but will not correct the list due to the spiral nature of the pattern. Removal of intermediate tabs 15 may correct the list but so doing will cause the balloon 25 to float higher than desired and will remove the consistent center of gravity so that when the balloon 25 loses helium and more tabs 15 are removed the list will reappear perhaps worse than before.

The present invention, being an alternative

weighting means 20 for lighter than air toy balloons 25, provides a means 20 for weighting such balloons 25 which is more inexpensive to manufacture due to the straightline scoring or cutting of the tag material 28 and is more flexible in use in that angular dispositions can be imparted to the balloon 25 so that adver¬ tising media or novel holiday greetings and the like or other decoration can be applied to the top 24 of the balloon 25 and observed by a user.

Because the present invention 20 ^* .provides a geometrically balanced pattern having four sides 30/ 31, 32, 33 and consisting of a plurality of lateral and longitudinal rows 38 and columns 40 of tabs 45, if the weighting means 20 is applied off center it is not necessary to attempt to remove the weighting means and reapply it. Rather, geometric balance cair be restored by simply removing from one side, 30, 31, 32 or 33 the appropriate number of rows 38 or columns 40 of tabs 45 that exist on all sides 30-33 of the center of the balloon 25. This will balance and maintain the balloon 25 in a horizontal disposition and removal of selected complementary tabs 45 from any two opposing sides, 30 and 32 or 31 and 33, for example in the manner shown in Figure 8, from sides 30 and 32, will permit a precise height control for the floating toy balloon 25.

The present invention, as applied to the balloon 25, preferably consists of three functional layers, a permanent pressure sensitive adhesive 27 which adheres the weighting means to the surface of the balloon 25; an intermediate pressure sensitive tag material 28 which contributes the majority of the weight to the weighting means 20 and which is conveniently divided into individual tabs 45 as will be discussed in more detail below. The tag

material 28 is covered with a pressure sensitive silver foil 29, primarily for aesthetic purposes, to which designs can be easily applied. The over¬ all weight of the weighting means for use with the balloon 25 such as described in United States

Patent No. 4,077,588 when such a buoyant balloon 25 is filled with helium is 6.25 to 6.5 grams with approximately two-thirds of the tabs 45 necessary to float the balloon 25 intermediate the ceiling and floor. As shown in Figure 5 the weight is distributed over approximately one-third of undersurface 26 of the balloon 25 when initially-, applied.

As shown in Figure 2, the tag material 28 and silver foil covering 29 is scored or cut to divide it into a large plurality of individual tabs 45. The preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 2, consists of seventeen rows 38 and- fourteen columns 40 so that the removal of _iny single tab removes less than one percent of the total weight of the weighting means 20.

Also conveniently provided, as shown in Figure 2, are strips 50, 52 of tag material 28 connected to two opposing sides 31, 33 of the weighting means 20. These strips 50, 52 are provided to provide a first rough balancing mechanism to affect either the height dr the angular disposition of the balloon 25 and after one 50, 52 or both 50, 52 of the strips have been removed individual tabs 45 can be selectively removed to more precisely angle the balloon horizontally or at any other selected angle.

Thereafter, individual tabs 45 may be removed from opposing sides 30 and 32 or 31 and 33 of the balloon 25 to precisely position it between the floor and the ceiling at the desired height.

Shown generally in Figure 2 and in detail in Figures 3 and 4 is the scoring method used so that the tabs 45 remain interconnected but in a manner that they can be easily separated. Each tab 45 of each row 38 is connected to the preceding row 38 by burrs 60 which are created by scoring or cutting the tab 45 almost up to, but not completely up to, the next succeeding score line when cutting the columns 40 of tags. This leaves a small amount of tag material 28 which must be broken away when the tab 45 is removed. Similarly alternative tabs 45 are interconnected intermediately by hinge connections 62 which are also achieved by leaving a small inter¬ mediate portion of tag material 28 when creating the cuts or score lines across the rows 38 of tabs of the weighting means 20.

The strips 50, 52 of material_used for the initial rough balance of the balloon are preferably attached to the individual tabs 45 by similar hinge 62 and burr 60 connections.

Figures 6 through 10 show the flexibility available with the present invention 20. As shown in Figures 6 and 7 the weighting means 20 of the present invention is centered on the bottom side 26 of the lighter than air balloon 25 so that it floats at a horizontal disposition as shown in Figure 7. If accurately applied so that it is concentric with the center of the balloon 25, the height of the balloon can be controlled by removing initially the strips of material 50, 52 and there¬ after the individual tabs 45 on any two opposing sides 30, 32 or 31, 33 of the weighting means 20. If not applied in the first instance to the center of the balloon 25, it is not necessary to remove the weighting means 20 and reapply it. All that is necessary is to remove the necessary number of tabs 45 being a greater distance from the center to

O PI

balance the balloon 25 and thereafter tabs 45 can be removed from opposing sides 30, 32 and 31, 33 to float the balloon at the desired height as discussed above. Shown in Figure 8 and 9 is use of the weighting means 20 to impart an angular disposition of the balloon 25. A slight angular disposition can be imparted if the weighting means 20 is applied to the center of the balloon -25 and a greater angular disposition can be achieved by applying the weighting means 20 off center.

As shown in Figure 8, precise control of the angular position can be achieved by removing the strip 50 and tabs 45 from only one side 31 of the four sided 30-33 weighting means 20. Height is then controlled by removing complementary tabs 45 from two opposing sides 31, 33 of the weighting means 20. Because of the geometric nature of the weighting means 20, that is, the heavy end will always be down and thus define a lowest point, the adver¬ tising media or other design subscribed on the face 24 of the balloon 25 can also have a clearly defined top and bottom for easy viewing by the purchaser or recipient of the toy balloon 25. As shown in Figure 10 the weighting means 20 is divided in the missle 21 into two equally weighted portions 20 ^! , 21"; one portion of which is applied to each side of the balloon 25 so that the balloon 25 can be maintained in a vertical disposition as it floats at the desired height.

Dividing the weighting means 20 can preferably be accomplished by cutting it along a scribed line (not shown) or the weighting means 20 can be pre- scored along its center 21 in the manner described above. As with the weighting means 20, when used as a unitary piece, control of the angular disposi¬ tion of the balloon 25 is achieved by removal of

OMPI

tabs 45 from one side 21, 30, 31, 32, or 33 only and height is maintained at the- desired angular disposition by removing an equal number of tabs 45 from any two sides 30 and 32 or 21 and 31 or 21 and 33 of both halves 20', 20" of the weighting means 20. This application of the weighting means 20 is suitable for balloons 25 having designs inscribed thereon and is also useful for variously shaped toy balloons having a defined top 24 and bottom 26, such as a toy fish balloon and the like.

From a consideration of the foregoing dis¬ closure it should be obvious that the alternative weighting means of the present invention is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install on a toy balloon, and easy to use to achieve the desired objectives of the invention which _' enhances the commercial use of such toy balloons.

Having described my invention I claim:

O