BACKGROUND Inflated, large latex balloons which have articles contained therein, such as soft toys, smaller balloons, flowers and gifts are very popular decorative items, often used to enliven parties, festive events and the like.

Such balloons are used in shops, or at events, for decoration and as a means for presenting products for sale and advertisement. Additionally, such balloons are decorative and appealing for sale as commercial products.

Further, as the balloon industry has become more sophisticated, it is becoming increasingly popular to use balloon special effects as part of event entertainment, including dynamic displays such as"exploding"balloons, especially where such balloons contain items such as smaller balloons or confetti which shower the room when the external balloon"explodes".

A method currently used to explode filled balloons is laying a network of wires across the ceiling of a venue, from a power supply to the balloons and turning the power on to allow electricity to flow through the wiring, thereby rupturing the attached balloons.

Another method involves attaching explosives such as squibs with cable to a detonator for exploding the balloons.

These methods can cause significant fire hazards and may result in structural damage to the ceiling. The use of these methods is often restricted depending on the structure and layout of the venue to determine whether the necessary wires can be laid.

Thus, these methods are only suitable for venues where the ceiling is suitably reinforced to support the wiring and retard fire from any explosion or electrical fault. Additionally, it is common using these methods for one or more balloons not to explode on cue, due to problems with the wiring, thereby ruining the exploding effect.

The present invention is concerned with providing a safe and reliable alternative hereto which substantially ameliorates the above problems or at least provides the

consumer with a useful commercial choice.

In addition, introducing articles into balloons is however a difficult, cumbersome time-consuming task, whereby damage to either the balloons and/or the articles is not uncommon. Stuffing machines for semi-automatically introducing articles into balloons are known. However these machines are expensive, difficult to transport, technically complicated in arrangement and difficult to use. In particular, these machines commonly consist of a box which draws the balloon into the confines thereof for stuffing.

Thus the size of the stuffed balloon is limited to the volume available inside the machine.

Additionally the weight and dimensions of the machine make it difficult to transport to event locations.

The present invention also is concerned with providing a device for stuffing a balloon which substantially ameliorates the above problems or at least provides the consumer with a useful commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a collar for mounting a balloon stuffed with decorative items to a support, the collar comprising a receiver and a battery wherein said receiver and said battery are connected to a rupturing means wherein on a signal from a transmitter, the receiver and the battery activate the rupturing means whereby the rupturing means bursts said balloon without substantially damaging the decorative items.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a decorative balloon assembly comprising a balloon stuffed with decorative items, a collar for mounting said balloon to a support, and a receiver and a battery attached to the collar wherein said receiver and said battery are connected to a rupturing means wherein on a signal from a transmitter, the receiver and the battery activate the rupturing means whereby the rupturing means bursts said balloon without substantially damaging the decorative items.

According to yet another aspect there is provided a system comprising the above referred to decorative balloon assembly and a transmitter for remotely rupturing said balloon.

As such, an inflated stuffed balloon, filled with decorative items or articles, such as smaller balloons, may be burst and the stuffing released remotely at a desired period in time to create a desired effect.

Preferably the collar is mountable to a pole by providing a depression in the collar that corresponds to a flange on a pole. The collar may alternatively or also include an attachment means whereby the collar is mountable to a ceiling. Additionally the collar preferably includes one or more hooks whereby the collar is mountable to a cable suspended from the ceiling.

Generally, the collar includes a recess for receiving the balloon. The recess may be a shallow concave curve to correspond to a typical curvature of a balloon.

Additionally, the collar may include an aperture for receiving the neck of the balloon.

The aperture may be formed to produce a sufficiently tight fit such that the neck of a balloon is held in place when inserted into the aperture.

Preferably the rupturing means is one or more wires. The wires may be made from nickel chromium or any other suitable conductive material, such as copper, but preferably with a low resistance to reduce the risk of fire. The wire may be formed so that the wire is burnt out after each use to indicate when the device has been activated.

The rupture means may be replacable or disposable, so that it is tamper evident.

Alternatively the rupturing means may be a spike or other sharp implement urged into the large balloon. Preferably the spike may be activated to rupture the balloon by a mechanical or electrical means such as a piezoelectric transducer.

Multiple collars may be used to receive a signal from a single transmitter simultaneously. Thus advantageously, a number of stuffed balloons may be ruptured simultaneously by the one transmitter. Alternatively, a single collar may rupture multiple balloons so that one collar may be set up to have, for example, ten balloons attached thereto for simultaneous rupturing.

The transmitter may be a simple signal transmitter to send a fire instruction to the receiver. Likewise, the receiver may be a simple receiver to receive the fire instruction from the transmitter. In one embodiment, the transmitter and the receiver may both be transceivers allowing two-way communication therebetween. Two-way communication allows a test signal to be sent and the operability of the collar confirmed to the operator.

Upon receipt of a signal the receiver may respond by activating the rupture means to rupture the balloon. Preferably the collar also includes a test indicator such as an LED or a transmitter where a signal can be received at or from the collar in the later case by the transceiver to indicate the signal is being received without activating the rupture means. Thus advantageously, the collar may be tested prior to priming the

rupture means and thus without bursting the balloons, unlike other methods.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a device for stuffing a balloon with decorative items wherein said device comprises: a tube, said tube being releasably attached to the balloon and having a first opening through which the balloon may be inflated and stuffed, a second opening through which decorative items may be inserted into said tube and an intermediate third opening through which air may be introduced into said tube for inflating said balloon.

The device for stuffing an inflatable body, such as a large latex balloon, is portable and comprises a first opening to which a balloon is releasably attachable, and through which opening inflating gas such as air is introduceable into the balloon, a second opening through which the inflating gas is releasable from the device and, a housing in the form of a tube extending between the second opening to the first opening.

Decorative items or articles, such as balloons, soft toys, gifts, flowers and the like are introduceable into the second opening of the device, displaceable through the device and out of the first opening into an interior of the balloon.

Due to the simple, relatively lightweight design of the device, the arrangement and operating thereof at a desired location, for example at parties, events, festivals, shopping malls, specialty shops and the like, the inflation of, and introduction of articles into, a plurality of large balloons is quick, easy and efficient.

The first opening can be provided with holding means, for releasably holding the inflatable body in position during inflation thereof, and/or during the filling thereof with articles, which holding means preferably comprise one or more lugs, which extend outwardly from an edge of the first opening, over which lugs the inflatable body is releasably attachable to the housing. Accordingly a large latex balloon can be more effectively attached to the device during inflation thereof.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate the feeding of articles into the device, the second opening may be provided with an outwardly flared lip section.

The device generally includes a gas supply attachable to the third opening. The gas supply is suitably a balloon inflator that may be attached using a hose connection.

The third opening will be sufficiently small to provide air or gas at a suitable pressure to inflate the balloon attached to the first opening. In order to ensure the gas flows into the balloon and not out of the second opening, the second opening may be blocked by sequentially inserting the decorative items inside the tube so that one or more remains between the second and third openings. Thus, using items such as small balloons, the

second opening will be restricted from allowing gas to egress therethrough when one or more items are inside the tube between the second and third openings.

The third opening is preferably continuous with a channel section arranged on the housing tube between the first and second openings, the channel section terminating in this third opening. The channel may take the form of an elbow section which depends from the third opening of the housing to extend towards the second opening of the housing and terminate at another end in a mouth part. This provides the device with a compact, space saving form whereby the elbow does not constrict the first opening.

The diameter of the first and second openings, which are preferably circular in shape, may be roughly the same. Accordingly articles, such as pre-inflated balloons which are preferably chosen to have an inflated diameter roughly corresponding to the diameters of the first and second openings, will have the same amount of play therewithin, whereby any possible gas escape from the second opening is limited during the feeding of decorative items or articles into the device.

As such the housing is tubular being preferably substantially cylindrical, the internal diameter of the cylinder being roughly the same as that of the first and second openings. Since the third opening is used for supplying the gas for inflating the body, this opening is preferably substantially smaller in diameter than the first and second openings.

In order to improve fixing of the gas supply to the mouth part of the elbow channel, the latter may be provided with a locking profile, preferably taking the form of one or more ribbed sections, in order to releasably lock the gas supply, which may take the form of a gas pipe, over the third opening.

The device may be provided one or more releasable supports for supporting the device during use thereof, which supports are preferably provided with one or more protruding male parts which are coupleable with one or more corresponding female parts arranged on the cylinder.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of stuffing a balloon with decorative items using a device according to claim 1 wherein said method comprises the steps of i) attaching a balloon to the tube whereby the first opening is received within the balloon, ii) feeding the air through said intermediated third opening and through the second opening, and iii) inserting decorative items through the second opening into the tube wherein said decorative items substantially block the second opening and restrict the egress of air therethrough.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is proved a method for

inserting one or more articles, such as balloons, into an inflatable body, such as a large balloon, said method comprising the steps of at least partially inflating the inflatable body, and introducing one ore more of the articles therein.

Most preferably the method for inflating, and optionally filling with articles, a large inflatable body is effected utilising the device according to the present invention, whereby a mouth of the first body is arranged around the first opening of the device, and gas, preferably air, is introduced through the second and/or third opening of the device, into the body until this attains a desired level of inflation. Thereafter articles, such as smaller pre-inflated balloons, may be introduced into the large balloon via the second opening of the device.

In order to substantially prevent air loss from the body whilst feeding articles therein, the articles are preferably chosen to have such a form as to substantially extend across the diameter of the cylinder when feeding into the expanded body.

A further aspect of the present invention is concerned with using the device referred to above for inflating a large balloon and filling this large balloon with articles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of the following description with reference to the figures, wherein: Figures 1-9 show a remote control balloon exploding unit according to one aspect of the present invention.

Figure 10 shows a first perspective view of a stuffing device according to one aspect of the present invention; Figure 11 shows a second perspective view of a stuffing device according to one aspect of the present invention; Figure 12 shows a third perspective view of a stuffing device according to one aspect of the present invention; Figure 13 shows a fourth perspective view of a stuffing device according to one aspect of the present invention; Figure 14 shows a fifth perspective view of a stuffing device, minus the supports, according to one aspect of the present invention; Figure 15 shows a perspective view of a support for a stuffing device according to one aspect of the present invention; Figure 16 shows a perspective view of a support for a stuffing device according to one aspect of the present invention; and

Figures 17-24 show a sequence of cut away side elevations of a stuffing device according to one aspect of the present invention when in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Part of a remote controlled, battery operated, balloon rupturing unit having a collar 100 for automatically bursting the balloons once filled with articles and sealed, is shown in figures 1-9.

The unit can cause a balloon to rupture without any external wiring or connections.

The unit 100 is attached to balloon B, figure 1, by firstly tying a knot in the neck of the inflated balloon and subsequently pulling the knotted neck of the balloon through the aperture 102 in the underside of the collar, and then stretching the knot over an underside of the collar to arrange it in a retaining slot 104, see figure 4.

As shown in figure 9 two pins 105, arranged either side of the slot 104, assist to keep the sealed neck of the balloon in place.

The unit provided with two triangular shaped closed hooks, 106, attached to a cover 107 for hanging the unit and balloon up.

The unit 100 is shaped with a shallow convex recess to allow the top of a fully inflated standard 36 inch balloon to fit snugly into a lower surface thereof.

The unit 100 holds 4 double"A"size batteries that are positioned on a top face of a circuit board associated therewith.

Once the balloon is attached to the unit, two lenghts of wire which are connected to one length of nickel chromium wire, thus making one continuous length of wire, are attached at either end to the unit 100 via a cable connector 108. B connecting this wire to the connectors, a circuit is completed with the circuit board.

The nickel chromium wire 110 is attached to the balloon via sticky tape 112 approximately 1/3 other way down the balloon.

The circuit is activated by a signal. This signal is sent by a hand held remote control transceiver that sends signals to and receives signals from the unit 100.

The transceiver (not shown) is made up of a keypad with six buttons and a L. C. D screen.

The first four buttons are able to be pre-tuned to send a coded signal to the power units it has been assigned to. If any of these four buttons are pressed without any other buttons being pressed at the same time then all power units assigned to that signal

will send a charge of energy to the wire placed on the balloon.

Each individual button has the capacity to signal up to fifty individual units at the same time, making the remote control unit capable of firing 200 power units.

The fifth button is used to tune/assign each of the buttons numbered 1 through 4 to their appropriate power units. This is achieved by pressing both the selected numbered buttons (1 through to 4) and the tune button at the same time. The remotes'transceiver then reads and stores the coded number of any operating power units. By placing fully charged batteries in the battery holders attached to the circuit boards, the unit 100 is activated.

The sixth button is used to test all power units that are assigned to the appropriate button. This is achieved by pressing both the selected numbered button (1 through 4) and the test button at the same time. The remotes'transceiver sets the appropriate power units into test mode and the power units then advise the remote, via there transceivers, the status of the wire and the status of the batteries. This is relayed to the operator via the L. C. D interface on the remote control.

When the circuit board receives the operating signal the transceiver initiates the discharge of a capacitor that sends a charge across the nickel chromium wire heating this wire up, as this wire heats up it causes a weakening in the sidewall of the balloon.

As the balloon wall weakens the pressure of the gas inside the balloon bursts the balloon. Once this occurs the contents of the balloon escape.

Although the wires are re-usable, and as such do not have to be replaced when attaching the unit to a new balloon, used wires may be replaced by new wires.

Disposable wires may be used having a low resistance such that the wires burnt out with each use making them tamper evident.

A device (figure 10) comprises a cylinder shaped housing 2, having, at a first end thereof, a first circular opening 4, and, at the other end thereof, a second circular opening 6 (see also figure 11).

A hollow elbow bend 8 is arranged to depend from an underside of the cylinder 2, and terminates in a third, smaller opening 10.

A first section 12 of the elbow bend 8 is continuous with a hole 14 (see for example figures 12 and 13) arranged in the underside of the cylinder 2.

A second section 16 of the elbow bend 8 extends roughly parallel with the cylinder 2 towards the second opening 6 to terminate in the opening 10.

A ribbed profile section 18 is arranged on the second section 16 of the elbow 8,

whereover a gas supply, in the form of a flexible pipe (see figures 17-22) is releasably fixable thereto when the device is in use.

A circular, outwardly flared lip section 22 which has the form of a truncated cone is arranged on the cylinder 2 around the second opening 6.

Two lugs 24,26 which are oppositely arranged on the first opening to be flush thereto extend outwardly therefrom.

Two supports 28,30 are arranged respectively between the second opening 6 of the cylinder 2 and the elbow bend 8, and the first opening of the cylinder 2 and the elbow bend 8.

Each support is provided with a rectangular base 32 (see also figure 16) from which two legs 34,36 extend up and out. The legs 24,36 are joined by a U-profile 38 into which the cylinders shaped housing 2 fits.

The U-profile 28 is provided with a raised tab 40 which clicks into a corresponding recess 42, see figure 5, in the cylinder 2 to releasably fix the cylinder 2 to the supports 28,30.

In use, the cylinder 2 can by firstly mounted on the supports 28,30.

This can either be done at the balloon release site for example, or beforehand.

Subsequently, the mouth of a large inflatable body, such as a giant latex balloon B, is stretched over the first opening 4 of the cylinder 2 and held in place by the lugs 24, 26, figure 17.

Air is subsequently pumped into the large balloon B through the flexible piping 20, via the elbow bend 8 through the hole 14 in the underside of the cylinder 2 and out through the opening 4 into the large balloon B, figure 17.

The arrows A indicate the direction of airflow through the flexible pipe 20, which is for example connected to a conventional balloon inflator (not shown) the elbow bend 8, into the cylinder 2, and into the balloon B.

At this stage a first pre-inflated smaller balloon SB1, figure 18, is inserted, preferably manually, into the cylinder 2, via the second opening 6.

The pre-inflated smaller balloons are preferably chosen so their inflated diameter is roughly the same as the internal diameter of the cylinder housing 2.

As such any air being emitted from opening 6 is reduced and furthermore this facilitates air being forced into the larger balloon thereby further inflating this.

Subsequently a second smaller balloon SB2 is inserted through opening 6, whereby on manually pushing the second balloon into the cylinder 2, the first small

balloon SB 1 is pushed through the cylinder towards opening 4, figure 19.

A subsequent balloon SB3 can be introduced into the cylinder in the same manner, whereby the first smaller balloon SB1 is pushed through the opening 4 of the cylinder housing 2 into an interior of the large balloon B, figure 20.

This procedure is continued in order to introduce further smaller inflated balloon into the large balloon B, figure 21.

Preferably on reaching full inflation, the large balloon is filled with smaller inflated balloons.

However should the large balloon have reached full inflation before it is filled to capacity with smaller balloons, it is preferable that a little air is allowed to flow out of the large balloon before introducing any further smaller inflated balloons, in order to prevent possible bursting of the large balloon at this stage.

If this is in danger of occurring, air is allowed to escape from the large balloon B simply by turning off the air supply for a desired period, or alternatively inserting one's arm, for example, into the cylinder housing 2 to manually retain the smaller balloons within the larger balloon and prevent these smaller balloons from sealing the opening 4.

This latter procedure allows air to escape the larger balloon out through opening 4, trough the cylinder and out through opening 6. Additionally, the balloon B may be depressed manually to assist deflation therof.

Subsequently, further smaller balloons can be inserted until the large balloon B reaches its maximum inflation whereafter the large balloon B can be removed from the device, its neck tied up, or secured in any suitable fashion to prevent air escaping from the large balloon, to be ready for release, bursting and the subsequent explosive release of the multitude of smaller balloons.

Figures 23 and 24 illustrate the introduction of a toy into a balloon in the same manner as the introduction of smaller balloons as referred to above.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

The term"comprise", or variations of the term such as"comprises"or "comprising", are used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or stated integers but not to exclude any other integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required.