the first portion comprising a first slot for receiving the neck of the balloon and a second slot for receiving the neck of the balloon for securing the neck of the balloon in the first and second slot; and,

the second portion is provided with a mounting to mount the appliance to a surface.

US4936532 discloses a balloon closure and hanger device of unitary construction comprising a closure tab and support tab. The closure tab and support tab being integrally constructed at each end of an angularly disposed central portion. The closure tab having slots formed therein for receipt of the stem of an inflated balloon. The support tab having means to mount said device to a ceiling, wall or the like. The support tab may be provided with a sticky tape to stick the support tab to a to a wall, ceiling or the like.

A disadvantage of the balloon closure and hanger device may be that by movements of the balloon the sticky tape may be loosened from the wall, ceiling or the like.

EP2261879A1 discloses a hanger for hanging a balloon. The hanger is not a closure device and not capable of closing the balloon. The hanger is made from a flexible film material which does not have the strength to close off the balloon. Therefore a knot needs to be tied in the balloon.

GB2447608A and GB2433446A also disclose hangers which are not capable of closing off a balloon. US7249991 discloses a device for closing a balloon. The device is not configured to be attached to anything.

It is an objective to provide an improved balloon closure and mounting appliance. Accordingly, there is provided a balloon closure and mounting appliance for closing and mounting a balloon, the appliance comprising a body of material comprising a first and second portion, the first portion comprising a first slot for receiving the neck of the balloon and a second slot for receiving the neck of the balloon for securing the neck of the balloon in the first and second slot; and,

the second portion is provided with a mounting to mount the appliance to a surface, wherein the body of material is provided with a hinge between the first and second portion to allow for flexibility between the first and a second portion,

wherein the first and second slot are provided opposite to each other in the body of material. The hinge allows the first portion and the balloon to freely move while not exerting a torsional force on the mounting. The torsional force will therefore not pull the appliance from the wall, ceiling or the like. The appliance will therefor stick better to the wall, ceiling or the like. The opposing slots allow the balloon to be closed off. According to a further embodiment the body of material may comprise a first substantially flat surface. The body of material may comprise a second substantially flat surface. The body of material may comprise a sheet of material.

With a sheet of material the balloon may be secured in the first and second slot with a minimal amount of material usage. Further the flat surfaces allows mounting on a wall, door, table, chair or the like.

According to a further embodiment the first and second slot are provided opposite to each other in the body of material. The first and second slot are positioned at a distance of 0,5 to 4 cm, preferably 1 to 3 cm and most preferably about 1 ,5 cm from each other. At least on of the slots may have a width of 1 to 3 mm, preferably about 1 ,5 mm.

With these dimensions it becomes possible to secure the balloon with a small appliance.

According to an embodiment at least one of the slots may have an elongate shape along an axis. The first slot may have an elongate shape along a first axis and the second slot may have an elongated shape along a second axis and the first and second axis may be on one axis.

With this arrangement it becomes possible to secure the balloon with a small appliance. The forces exerted by the stretched neck of the balloon are aligned along the first and second slot. According to an embodiment at least one of the slots may have a converging width from an edge of the body of material towards the centre of the body of material. The converging width may converge at an angle of between 1 to 5 degrees, preferably between 2 to 4 degrees and most preferably about 2,5 degrees. The converging width improves the closing effect of the slots.

According to an embodiment at least one of the slots may have a rounded end and in particular both slots may have a rounded end.

The neck of the balloon may perfectly fit the rounded end of the slot.

According to an embodiment the hinge comprises a groove in the body of material.

The groove may weaken the body of material along a line such that the body of material becomes flexible along this line and allows for movement of the first portion w.r.t. the second portion.

It is noted that EP2261879A1 does not disclose any hinge. A hinge is not required, because the material is flexible over its entire surface. EP2261879A1 also does not disclose any groove. According to an embodiment the slots may be substantially parallel to the groove in the body of material.

In this way a compact design of the appliance becomes possible.

According to an embodiment the mounting may comprise an adhesive layer. A protective sheet may be releasable provided to the adhesive layer.

The protective sheet may be released from the adhesive layer and the adhesive layer may be subsequently pressed against the wall, door, ceiling, window, table, chair or the like to stick on it. According to an embodiment the protective sheet may be larger than the adhesive layer to allow for easy grip of the protective sheet.

According to an embodiment the body of material comprises a thermoplastic polymer such as e.g. polypropylene or polyethylene.

The material allows for strength and flexibility. According to an embodiment the body of material has a balloon, heart, car, tennis, football, golf, animal, bicycle, cloth or cartoon shape.

Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 depicts a back view of the balloon closure and mounting appliance according to an embodiment;

Figure 2 depicts a front view of the appliance according to the embodiment;

Figure 3 depicts a side view of the appliance according to the embodiment; and,

Figure 4 depicts a detail of the appliance according to the embodiment.

Figure 1 depicts a back view of a balloon closure and mounting appliance according to an embodiment. The balloon closure and mounting appliance comprises a body of material 1 comprising a first and second portion 3, 5. The first portion 3 comprising a first slot 7 for receiving the neck of the balloon and a second slot 9 for receiving the neck of the balloon for securing the neck of the balloon in the first and second slot.

In use the neck of the inflated party/toy balloon is in one hand airtight retained while with the other hand the balloon is turned a number of times e.g. four times. The neck of the balloon is first pressed in one slot (not matter which first). Subsequently, the neck of the outer end is stretched horizontally over the appliance and is pulled back in order to be once again pushed in the other slot. The elasticity of the stretched balloon will press the neck of the balloon tight into the slots. The body of material may be a thermoplastic polymer such as e.g. polypropylene PP or polyethylene PE. The material allows for strength and flexibility.

Figure 2 depicts a front view of the appliance according to the embodiment. The second portion 5 is provided with a mounting to mount the appliance to a surface. The mounting may comprise an adhesive layer 1 1. The adhesive layer may be a double-sided tape. The advantage of the double-sided tape may be that it facilitates the suspension of the balloons without using rope, pins, adhesive tape etc. The properties of this tape is also that the appliance may stick on any surface and that the tape/adhesive should be "clean removable". So that the tape/ adhesive leaves less than 5% residue on the surface.

A protective sheet 12 may be releasable provided to the adhesive layer e.g. double sided tape 1 1. The protective sheet 12 may be released from the adhesive layer 1 1 and the adhesive layer may be subsequently pressed against the wall, door, ceiling, window, table, chair or the like to stick on it. The protective sheet 12 may be larger than the adhesive layer 1 1 to allow for easy grip of the protective sheet. It provides the so-called easy finger lift. It allows the removal of the protective sheet easily and simple. In addition to the protective sheet extending across the hinge, there is also a choice for a variant of the appliance wherein the easy finger lift extension is created in the right, left, or both of the lower corners of the appliance. This extension is prepared so one does not have to pick at the edges of the protective sheet / fiddle to remove the protective sheet. But one can simply pull the extension with two fingers of the adhesive strip 1 1. See also Figure 3 which depicts a side view of the appliance and shows that the protective sheet 12 extends a view millimeter. Figure 2 depicts that the protective sheet 12 may extend a view millimeter M (e.g. 1 to 10 millimeter, preferably 1 to 5 millimeter and preferably about 2 millimeter) from the adhesive layer 1 1 which has a width A of 5 to 20 millimeter, preferably 10 to 15 millimeter and most preferably about 12 millimeter. The body of material 1 may be provided with a hinge 13 between the first and second portion 3, 5 to allow for flexibility between the first and a second portion. The hinge may be a groove in the body of material 1. The groove may weaken the body of material 1 along a line such that the body of material becomes flexible along this line and allows for movement of the first portion 3 w.r.t. the second portion 5. The hinge 13 sets the mounting in a position to create a 90 degree angle with the rest of the appliance and the balloon. The angle of 90 degrees is important so that the inflated balloon is able to move freely. The hinge 13 allows the first portion 3 and the balloon to freely move while not exerting a torsional force on the mounting. The torsional force will therefore not pull the appliance from the wall, door, ceiling or the like. The appliance will therefor stick better to the wall, ceiling, chair or the like.

The body of material 1 may comprise a first substantially flat surface. The body of material may comprise a second substantially flat surface. The body of material 1 may comprise a sheet of material with a thickness 15 of between 0.5 to 5 millimeter, preferably 1 to 3 millimeter and preferably about 2 millimeter. The body of material is rigid or relatively rigid.

With a sheet of material the balloon may be secured in the first and second slot 7, 9 with a minimal amount of material usage. The first and second slot 7, 9 are provided opposite to each other in the body of material 1. The first and second slot are positioned at a distance 10 of 0,5 to 4 cm, preferably 1 to 3 cm and most preferably about 1 ,5 cm from each other. Unlike the device of US7249991 , the first and second slot 7, 9 are not provided with a constricted portion and an enlarged opening at the end 32 of the first and second slot, but the sides 33 of the first and second slot are substantially straight between the mouth of the slot and the end 32 of the slot. It was found that this openingThe sides 33 directly go over in a rounded U-shaped curve 35 which defines the end 32 of the first and second slot.

The body of material has a width W and a length L. The width varies over the length L of the body of material, and the first and second slot are located at a position where the width reaches a maximum.

The width of the body of material increases from an end 30 of the body of material to the position of the first and second slots. The hinge 13 is provided between said end and the slots. The width W of the body of material is greater at the slots than at the hinge 13.

Figure 4 depicts a detail of the slot 7, 9. At least one of the slots has a width 17 of 1 to 3 mm, preferably about 1 ,5 mm. With these dimensions it becomes possible to secure the balloon with a relatively small appliance. The slots 7, 9 may have an elongate shape along an axis19. The first slot may have an elongate shape along a first axis and the second slot may have an elongated shape along a second axis and the first and second axis may be on one axis 19. Thereby it becomes possible to secure the balloon with a relatively small appliance. The slots 7, 9 may have a converging width from an edge of the body of material 1 e.g the mouth 21 of the slot towards the centre of the body of material 1. The converging width may converge at an angle 23 of between 1 to 5 degrees, preferably between 2 to 4 degrees and most preferably about 2,5 degrees. At least one of the slots 7, 9 may have a rounded end R and in particular both slots may have a rounded end. The diameter of the rounded end R may be 1 to 3 millimeter preferably about 1 ,5 millimeter. The neck of the balloon may perfectly fit the rounded end R.

The body of material 1 may have a balloon, heart, car, tennis, football, golf, animal, bicycle, cloth or cartoon shape.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.

The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term multiple, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language, not excluding other elements or steps). Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims or the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the system without departing from the scope as defined in the claims.