Self-sealing toy balloon

J. STEEN ET AL

SELF-SEALING TOY BALLOON

Filed Jan. 21, 1948

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INVENTORS.

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Patented Jan. 20, 1953

2,625,770

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

........ . . . 2,625,770 . .-/,

SELF-SEALING TOY BALLOON

James Steen and Edward P. Coskey,

Detroit, Mich.

Application January 21,1948, Serial No. 3,608

Claims.

This invention relates to balloons, and particularly to a pair of balloons disposed one inside the other and so arranged that the inner balloon forms a valve for the outer balloon when inflated.

One object of the invention is to arrange two balloons, one inside the other, with the necks joined in sealed relation and with minute passageways in the inner balloon for the escape of air therefrom into the outer balloon.

A further object of the invention is to so secure one balloon to another disposed therewith at the neck opening to cause both balloons to be inflated simultaneously and the air within the inner balloon to pass through apertures therein into the outer balloon when the neck is held closed to prevent the air in the inner balloon from escaping until the outer balloon is filled.

A still further object of the invention is to arrange a pair of balloons one inside the other, joined at the neck opening and provided with an opening through a reinforced area of the inner balloon which, when stretched, will permit the passage of air from the inner balloon into the outer balloon until the pressure is equalized to seal the opening.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a balloon embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 taken through the line

2—2 thereof with both balloons in extended position;

Fig. 3 is a broken view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2 after the inner balloon is collapsed;

Fig. 4 is a broken view of the inner balloon illustrated in Fig. 3, showing a modified form thereof, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, as viewed from line 5—5 thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a balloon of the present invention is illustrated embodying an outer balloon 10, an inner balloon II, with the neck 12 of the balloon 10 joined to the neck 13 of the balloon 11 at the outermost end thereof, as at 14. Both balloons are made of thin elastic material such as that commonly employed in toy balloons, with the inner balloon 11 having a plurality of minute openings 15 in the portion (Cl. 46—90) thereof which is not subject to a great degree of stretch, such as in the neck portion 13.

When the balloon is inflated, the air is blown through the neck 13 of the inner balloon II to 5 cause it to expand and the air therein to escape through the expanded openings 15 of the neck 13 into the interior of the balloon 10. The inflation is continued until the balloon 10 reaches a desired size, after which the neck of the balloon 12 10 is held sealed in some manner, such as by the thumb and finger of the hand, as herein illustrated. The air within the balloon 11 and the balloon 10 would be at the same pressure except for the tension provided in the stretched material 15 of the balloon II which causes the air to pass through the openings 15 into the interior of the balloon 10. This will continue until all of the tension is released in the material of the balloon

II. At that time, the minute holes 15 are closed 20 and the further sealing of the neck 12 is produced by the inner balloon being forced thereinto by the air in the outer balloon 10. This is illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a further form of 25 invention is illustrated, that wherein the inner balloon II has a reinforced area 16 containing one or a plurality of small apertures 17 which permit flow of air from the inner balloon 11 into the outer balloon 10 when the balloons are in_go flated and during the time tension is maintained in the material of the inner balloon 11 while stretched. The reinforced area 16 prevents the material from tearing due to the presence of the aperture 17 when the material is stretched. By regulating the size of the openings 15 and 17, the balloon 10 may be retained inflated for a considerable period of time, or for a short time only. When the outer balloon is completely sealed, it may be deflated by using the eraser end of a pencil, or a like implement, which is inserted within the balloon 11 to open the apertures 15 or 17 and permit the air to flow from the balloon 10 therethrough.