[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/182, 122, filed on June 19, 2015, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/254,487, filed on November 12, 2015, and U.S. Application Serial No. 14/997,230, filed on January 15, 2016. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

[0002] The present application generally relates to devices, apparatus, systems and methods for filling containers with a fluid. Specifically, the present application relates to automatically filling multiple balloons with a fluid mixture.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Some containers, particularly fluid-inflatable containers such as balloons, can be difficult to fill with a fluid, especially when there is a need to fill multiple containers simultaneously and/or quickly. To make the filling of these containers easier and more efficient, various products are currently available that facilitate the filling of fluid-inflatable containers. These fluid-inflatable containers may be filled or inflated using various fluids, such as, e.g., liquids such as water, gases such as helium, or medications. Examples of fluid-inflatable containers include those used for recreational purposes, such as balloons.

[0004] Additionally, there may be times where it may be desirable to be able to introduce an additive, such as a dye or other soluble or insoluble material, to the fluid used to fill the fluid-inflatable containers. Nevertheless, it may be difficult, impossible, inefficient, or undesirable to first mix the fluid with the additive and subsequently fill the containers with the mixture. Further, many of the existing products may connect directly to a fluid source, such as a hose or faucet, thereby making it impracticable to pour a mixture to fill fluid-inflatable containers using such products.

SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention can provide an apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a fluid. The apparatus may include a connector having a coupling mechanism proximate to a first end of the connector, the coupling mechanism being configured to removably couple the apparatus to a fluid source, a plurality of conduits coupled to the connector, each of the plurality of conduits having a distal end; and a plurality of containers, each container coupled proximate to the distal end of a corresponding conduit via a corresponding coupling element. Further, the connector and conduits may be configured such that each distal end of the plurality of conduits is located at a respective distance from the first end of the connector, and all the respective distances associated with each of the distal ends may be different.

[0006] Further the conduits may be coupled to the connector in a spiral arrangement and the distal ends of the plurality of connectors may form a cascading spiral arrangement. Additionally, each of the plurality of conduits may ail have substantially a same length, and each of the plurality of containers may include a balloon. According to yet another aspect, the apparatus may further include a flow path providing fluid communication between the fluid source and each of the containers coupled to the apparatus and a mixing mechanism disposed in the flow path and configured to receive an additive and introduce the additive into the flow path.

[0007] Another embodiment of the present invention can provide an apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a fluid, which may include a connector having a plurality of channels and a coupling mechanism proximate to a first end of the connector configured to removably couple the apparatus to a fluid source, a plurality of conduits coupled to the channels of the connector, each of the plurality of conduits all having substantially a same length, and a plurality of containers being coupled proximate to a distal end of the conduits. The conduits may be coupled to the connector such that each distal end of the plurality of conduits is located at a respective distance from the first end of the connector, all the respective distances associated with each of the distal ends may be different.

[0008] Further the conduits may be coupled to the connector in a spiral arrangement and the distal ends of the plurality of connectors may form a cascading spiral arrangement. Additionally, each of the plurality of containers may include a balloon. According to yet another aspect, the apparatus may further include a flow path providing fluid communication between the fluid source and each of the containers coupled to the apparatus and a mixing mechanism disposed in the flow path and configured to receive an additive and introduce the additive into the flow path.

[0009] Yet another embodiment of the present invention can provide an apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a fluid, which may include a connector having a plurality of channels disposed in a spiral arrangement and a coupling mechanism proximate to a first end of the connector configured to removably couple the apparatus to a fluid source, a plurality of conduits coupled to the channels of the connector, and a plurality of containers being coupled proximate to a distal end of the conduits. The conduits may be coupled to the connector such that each distal end of the plurality of conduits is located at a respective distance from the first end of the connector, and all the respective distances associated with each of the distal ends may be different.

[0010] Further the distal ends of the plurality of connectors may form a cascading spiral arrangement. Additionally, each of the plurality of conduits may all have substantially a same length, and each of the plurality of containers may include a balloon. According to yet another aspect, the apparatus may further include a flow path providing fluid communication between the fluid source and each of the containers coupled to the apparatus and a mixing mechanism disposed in the flow path and configured to receive an additive and introduce the additive into the flow path.

[0011] Yet another embodiment of the present invention can provide an apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a fluid, which may include a connector having a plurality of channels and a coupling mechanism proximate a first end of the connector configured to removably couple the apparatus to a fluid source, a plurality of conduits coupled to the channels of the connector, and a plurality of containers being coupled to the conduits proximate to a distal end of the conduit. The plurality of channels may be arranged in a sequential pattern such the first conduit has a respective distance defined as a distance from the distal end to the first end of the connector and each subsequent conduit has a respective distance from the distal end of the conduit to the first end of the connector that is greater than the respective distance associated with a preceding conduit. [0012] Further the sequential pattern may include a spiral pattern and the distal ends of the plurality of connectors may form a cascading spiral arrangement. Additionally, each of the plurality of conduits may all have substantially a same length. According to yet another aspect, the apparatus may further include a flow path providing fluid communication between the fluid source and each of the containers coupled to the apparatus and a mixing mechanism disposed in the flow path and configured to receive an additive and introduce the additive into the flow path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 A is an illustration of an exemplary fluid filling apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 1 B is an illustration of an exemplary fluid filling apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0016] Figures 2A and 2B are a perspective views of an exemplary connector according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 3A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary fluid filling apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention; and

[0017] Figure 3B is a top view of an exemplary fluid filling apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method according to embodiments of the present invention. [0019] Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for filling containers with a fluid. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for filling multiple balloons at substantially the same time. Certain embodiments of the present invention facilitate introducing an additive to a fluid source to enable automatic filling of multiple containers in a substantially simultaneously manner with a fluid mixture. Although the embodiments of the present invention are primarily described with respect to dyes and fluid-inflatable containers, it is not limited thereto, and it should be noted that the apparatus and systems described herein may be used to fill any type of containers with any type of fluid and/or fluid mixture.

[0020] In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, Figure 1 A shows an exemplary fluid filling apparatus 100. As shown in Figure 1 , fluid filling apparatus 100 may include connector 1 10, conduits 130, containers 150, and fasteners 140. !n use, fluid filling apparatus 100 is coupled to a fluid source, and when the fluid source is activated, the fluid passes through connector 1 10, conduits 130 and into containers 150, thereby filling containers 150 with the fluid at substantially the same time. Optionally, connector 1 10 may include an additive which may mix with the fluid as the fluid is passing through connector 1 10 so that containers 150 are filled with a mixture of the fluid and the additive. The fluid used to fill containers 150 may include any type of fluid, such as, water and other liquids, as well as helium and other gases.

[0021] According to embodiments of the present invention, fasteners 140 may be self-sealing. For example, fasteners 140 may automatically seal containers 150 when containers 150 are decoupled from fluid filling apparatus 100. This may be accomplished by overcoming the force that each fastener 140 exerts in coupling each respective container 150 to fluid filling apparatus 100, As this force is overcome, the respective container is detached from fluid filling apparatus 100, and fastener 140 automatically seals the end of respective container 150 that was attached to fluid filling apparatus 100. This may be accomplished, for example, by the weight of the fluid filling each container 150, manual removal of each container 150, or some other action, such as shaking fluid filling apparatus 100, to remove containers 150 from fluid filling apparatus 100. According to certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, fasteners 140 may include rubber bands or damps, and containers 150 may include balloons such as latex balloons. It should be noted, however, that fasteners 140 and containers 150 are not limited to these particular examples and may include any type of fastener and fillabie container, respectively.

[0022] Figure 1 B shows another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1 B, certain embodiments of the present invention provide a fluid filling apparatus 100 having conduits 130 which are arranged such that the distal end of conduits 130 (e.g., the end of conduit 130 furthest from connector 1 10) are disposed at different distances from a first end 1 12 of connector 1 10. Accordingly, each distal end may be disposed at a respective distance from first end 1 12 of connector 1 10 and all the respective distances may be different. For example, as shown in Figure 1 B, conduits 130 and containers 150 may be arranged in a cascading spiraling arrangement, where the distal end of each conduit 130 is disposed at a different distance from first end 1 12 of connector 1 10. Although a cascading spiraling arrangement is shown in Figure 1 B, conduits 130 may take be arranged in any arrangement. For example, conduits 130 and containers 150 may be arranged in any arrangement or pattern in which the distal end of each conduit 130 is disposed at a different distance from first end 1 12 of connector 1 10. Alternatively, conduits 130 may be arranged in a sequential arrangement such as, e.g., a zig-zag pattern, a linear pattern, an arcing pattern, a shaped pattern (e.g., a star shape, a moon shape, a rectangle, a square, a circle, a triangle, etc.). According to one embodiment, when conduits 130 are arranged in a sequential arrangement, the distance from the distal end of a given conduit 130 to first end 1 12 of connector 1 10 may be greater than the distance from the distal end of the preceding conduit to first end 1 12 of connector 1 10. Additionally, although the distal end of conduits 130 are disposed at different distances from a first end 1 12 of connector 1 10, conduits 130 may all be substantially the same length. This may be achieved, for example, by coupling conduits 130 at different distances from first end 1 12 within connector 1 10.

[0023] Figures 2A and 2B show an exemplary connector 1 10 according to embodiments of the present invention. As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, connector 1 10 may be substantially cylindrical and may include a first portion 1 10a and a second portion 1 10b. According to certain embodiments, first portion 1 10a and second portion 1 10b may be two distinct components that can be removably or permanently coupled together. Alternatively, according to other embodiments, first portion 1 10a and second portion 1 10b may be formed from a single piece. As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, connector 1 10 includes coupling element 122, flow path 124, and openings/channels 128. Openings/channels 126 may include an interior end and an exterior end and provides fluid communication between the exterior of connector 1 10 and the interior of connector 1 10. Further, openings/channels 126 may be dimensioned and sized to receive, or otherwise connect with, conduits 130. Coupling element 122 is configured to removably couple connector 1 10, and thereby couple fluid filling apparatus 100, to an upstream component, such as a fluid source. Coupling element 122 may include threads, as shown in Figure 2A, or any other type of clamping or coupling mechanism. Although connector 1 10 is shown to be substantially cylindrical, connector 1 10 may take on any shape (e.g., square, rectangular, etc.) that may be desired. Additionally, the shape of connector 1 10 may differ depending on the type of upstream component that is to be used with connector 1 10. Further, according to certain exemplary embodiments, second portion 1 10b may be an adapter that enables connector 1 10 to be coupled to different upstream components. For example, second portion 1 10b may include various different types of coupling element 122 and may removably couple to first portion 1 10a so that connector 1 10 can be coupled to a variety of upstream components. Further, connector 1 10 may include features on the exterior to assist a user in actuating coupling element 122 to couple end cap 120 to an upstream component. According to an embodiment of the present invention, coupling element 122 may include standardized threads for receiving the threads of a standard faucet or hose.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2A, flow path 124 and openings/channels 126 may define a flow path that the fluid may follow from the upstream component, such as a fluid source, through connector 1 10 to conduits 130, Preferably, conduits 130 are received in or otherwise connected to openings/channels 126. Accordingly, fluid entering connector 1 10 may flow through flow path 124 and through openings/channels 126 to conduits 130. The number and dimensions of the openings/channels 126 correspond to the number and dimensions of conduits 130. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the number, size, and dimensions of openings/channels 126 may be selected in view of the number of containers 150 to be filled at one time and the speed at which they are to be filled. Accordingly, connector 1 10 may include any number of openings/channels 126 that is desired. As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, according to an embodiment of the present invention, connector 1 10 may include forty openings/channels 126.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, openings/channels 126 may be configured in a spiraling helical arrangement. As shown in Figure 2B, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the exterior of connector 1 10 may include a plurality of faceted surfaces 128 in a spiraling helical arrangement. The configuration of faceted surfaces 128 may correspond to the position of openings/channels 126 so that the exterior end of openings/channels 126 may be disposed on faceted surfaces 128. Although Figure 2B is shown as each faceted surface 128 have a single opening/channel 126 disposed therein, aiternatively, each faceted surface 128 can have any number of openings/channels 126 disposed therein, and each faceted surface 128 could have a different number of openings/channels 126 disposed therein. For example, each faceted surface 128 could have two openings/channels 126 disposed therein, alternatively, a first stepped surface 128 could have a single opening/channel 126 disposed therein and a second stepped surface could have three openings/channels 126 disposed therein. According to other embodiments, faceted surfaces 128 can be arranged in any configuration or arrangement. Aiternatively, connector 1 10 may not include faceted surfaces 128 and openings/channels 126 may, for example, be disposed on a smooth ramp-like spiraling helix surface or in a spiral arrangement on a fiat exterior surface. Alternatively, openings/channels 126 may be arranged in other types of arrangements. For example, openings/channels 126 may be arranged in a zig-zag pattern, a linear pattern, an arcing pattern, a randomized pattern, a shaped pattern (e.g., a star shape, a moon shape, a rectangle, a square, a circle, a triangle, etc.) or the like.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2A, the interior end of openings/channels 126 may also be disposed in a plurality of faceted surfaces disposed in a spiraling helical arrangement in the interior of connector 1 10 corresponding to the plurality of faceted surfaces 128 disposed on the exterior of connector 1 10. Alternatively, the interior end of openings/channels 126 may disposed on a smooth ramp-like spiraling helix surface or in a spiral arrangement on a flat surface within the interior of connector 1 10.

[0027] Figure 3A shows a cross sectional view of fluid filling apparatus 100 according to embodiments of the present invention. As shown in Figure 3A, connector 1 10 may be substantially cylindrical, and may define a flow path 124. Further, connector 1 10 preferably includes coupling element 122. Coupling element 122 may include any type of coupling mechanism, such as, e.g., threads or clamps. Coupling element 122 may be configured to couple connector 1 10 to an upstream component such as a fluid source. According to an embodiment of the present invention, coupling element 122 may include standardized threads for receiving the threads of a standard faucet or hose. Alternatively, coupling elements 122 may include various other types of coupling mechanisms. In operation, connector 1 10 is preferably coupled to a fluid source via coupling element 122. Once the fluid source is activated, the fluid travels into connector 1 10, through flow path 124 and into each of the openings/channels 126. The fluid then passes through openings/channels 126 to conduits 130, which are coupled to openings/channels 126. The fluid then passes through conduits 130 to fill containers 150.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3A, connector 1 10 can include an additive 200 and an additive mixing mechanism. For example, additive mixing mechanism may include a separator 202 which secures additive 200 within the interior of connector 1 10 and defines two chambers 204 and 206, which are in fluid communication with each other, within the interior of connector 1 10. Separator 202 secures additive 200 within chamber 206 of the interior of connector 1 10 during operation of the fluid filling apparatus 100. For example, when the fluid source is activated, the fluid comes into contact with additive 200 in chamber 204 and mixes with additive 200 in chamber 206 and/or chamber 204. The mixture of the additive and the fluid passes through openings/channels 126 to conduits 130, which are coupled to openings/channels 126. The fluid and additive mixture then passes through conduits 130 to fill containers 150. Mixing mechanism may include any mechanism by which additive 200 may be introduced to the flow of the fluid, and may be as simple as disposing additive 200 in any portion of fluid filling apparatus 100, such as connector 1 10, conduit 130, or containers 150. Although additive 200 is shown in pellet form in Figure 3A, additive 200 may take any form. For example, additive 200 may be in the form of, e.g., a pellet, a powder, or a gel, and may be any material or substance for which a fluid mixture is desired. According to certain exemplary embodiments, additive 200 may include any substance, such as, e.g., soda ash, bicarbonate, lactose, citric acid, mineral oil, or a dye. Additionally, although only one additive 200 is shown in Figure 3A, any number of additives may be disposed within chamber 206 of connector 1 10. [0029] Figure 3B snows a top-view of connector 1 10 with the mixing mechanism. As shown in Figure 3B, connector 1 10 inciudes separator 202 and additives 200. Preferably, separator 202 substantially secures additives 200 to the interior of connector 1 10 so that additives remain within chamber 206 of connector 1 10 while fluid filling apparatus 100 is in use. Preferably, separator 202 substantially secures additives 200 within chamber 206 of connector 1 10 even as additives 200 experience turbulence introduced by the fluid flowing through chamber 206. Accordingly, additives 200 substantially remain within chamber 206 while ensuring that chambers 204 and 206 remain in fluid communication with each other. It is contemplated that separator 202 may not secure additive 200 in chamber 206 permanently. For example, as the mixture is being created and additive 200 becomes smaller, portions of additive 200 may become sufficiently small that portions of additive 200 may pass through the portions of separator 202 that provide the fluid communication between chambers 204 and 206 into chamber 204. Although separator 202 is shown in Figure 3B to have a star configuration with an annular ring and a circular center, separator 202 may include any mechanism that can secure additives 200 within chamber 206 while maintaining fluid communication between chambers 204 and 206. For example, separator 202 can include a mesh, a component with holes or openings in any configuration, etc.

[0030] In use, connector 1 10 may be coupled to a fluid source via coupling element 122. When the fluid source is activated, the fluid flows through flow path 124 of connector 1 10. The fluid then chamber 206 of connector 1 10 and interacts with additive 200. As the fluid mixes with additive 200, the mixture exits chamber 206 and enters exits chamber 206 through openings/channels 126. From there, the mixture flows through openings/channels 126 to conduits 130. The mixture then passes through conduits 130 to containers 150, thereby automatically filling containers 150 with a mixture of the fluid and additive 200 in a substantially simultaneous manner.

[0031] Figure 4 shows an exemplary method 400 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. According to certain embodiments, method 400 may be performed, for example, using fluid filling apparatus 100. As shown in Figure 4, in step 410, a balloon filling apparatus can be coupled to a fluid source. If method 400 is being performed using fluid filling apparatus 100, this can include coupling connector 1 10 via coupling elements 122 to a fluid source. In step 420, the fluid source can be activated. In step 430, an additive can be introduced to the fluid provided by the fluid source, thereby creating a fluid-additive mixture. If method 400 is being performed using fluid filling apparatus 100, this can include introducing an additive using a mixing mechanism, such as those described herein. For example, the fluid can come into contact with additive 200 in chamber 204 and mix with additive 200 in chamber 206 and/or chamber 204, thereby creating the fluid-additive mixture. In step 440, the balloons can be filled with the fluid- additive mixture. With respect to fluid filling apparatus 100, after the mixture of the fluid- additive is created, it can pass through openings/channels 126 to conduits 130, which are coupled to openings/channels 126, and then pass through conduits 130 to fill containers 150.

[0032] The embodiments and examples shown above are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced to them without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative and exemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other and/or substituted with each other within the scope of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the disclosure, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.