Airplane toy balloon

March 5, 1957

J. VENTURELLA

AIRPLANE TOY BALLOON Filed Nov. 18, 1954

2,783,584

<img file="US2783584A_D0001.tif" />

United States Patent Office

2,783,584

Patented Mar. 5, 1957

2,783,584

AIRPLANE TOY BALLOON Joseph Venturella, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application November 18,1954, Serial No. 469,606 2 Claims. (Cl. 46—89)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toy lighter-than-air craft, aerial toys and toy balloon structures.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of a toy having a balloon which can be gas filled and a helicopter pitched propeller rotatably mounted beneath the balloon on a rod removably connected at one end with the mouth of the balloon and having means at the other end for attaching a flight string thereto.

As a further object, the present invention proposes forming the toy with two rods adjustably and pivotally connected together, one rod being vertically disposed beneath the balloon and having a helicopter pitched propeller rotatably mounted thereon and the other rod having a standard pitched propeller rotatably mounted on it.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing the toy with a single propeller rod having a two-pronged hook at one end and with an adhesive tape for sealing closed the mouth of the balloon, the tape spaced holes for insertion of the propeller rod hooks.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to ⁰⁵the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a toy constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in

Kg·.¹· . ₄.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3—3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view taken on line 5—5 of

Fig. 4. ⁶⁰

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 but illustrating another modification.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the structure shown in Fig. 6 but with the propeller rod omitted and the first stage of twisting the neck of the balloon indicated in dotdash outline.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the propeller rod and tape shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The toy, in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, has a balloon IS having a body portion 16 and a neck 17 with a mouth 18. The balloon is of the conventional rubber type which can be filled with helium, hydrogen or other lighter-than-air gas.

A retainer block 19, preferably of wood, cork or the like, is provided which has an upwardly slanting side 20 ⁸⁵adapted removably and frictionally to fit in the mouth 18 of the balloon, the mouth 18 being stretched over the sides. Extending axially through the retainer block 19 is a propeller rod 21 having ends 22 and 23 disposed outside the retainer block 19. A head 24 on end 22 of rod 21 is disposed inside the mouth 18 and neck 17 of the balloon when the retainer block is in place and prevents the rod 21 from being pulled through the retainer block.

In addition to retainer block 19, a string or rubber band 25 provides closure means for the mouth opening 18 of the g balloon, the member 25 being wound around the neck 17 and spaced from the mouth 18 and disposed behind the retainer block 19.

Propeller rod 21 has two spaced bearings 26 and 27 between its ends 22 and 23. A helicopter pitched propeller 10 P^lastic’ wood, aluminum or the like is rotatably mounted on the propeller rod between the bearings 26 and 27. An end member 29 on end 23 of the propeller rod is spaced from the bearing 27 so that a flight string or cord 30 may have one end attached to the rod between end lg member 29 and bearing 27.

To operate the toy, the balloon is filled with lighter-thanair gas and the neck is constricted by rubber band or string 25 between the body portion 16 of the balloon and mouth 18, said mouth being stretched around the side 20 of the 20 ^b!^oc^^- T^be head 24 on end 22 of the propeller rod is . disposed inside the mouth and neck of the balloon'and the helicopter pitched propeller is disposed directly beneath the balloon. The flight string 30 is attached at one end to the rod between the end member 29 and bearing 25 and the child holds the other end of the flight string.

The modification of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is characterized by the provision of two propeller rods 35 and 36 pivotally and adjustably connected together at one end and having rotatably mounted thereon a helicopter pitched propeller 37 and a standard pitched airplane propeller 38, respectively. The first propeller rod 35 has one end 39 which extends through a retainer block 40 adapted removably to fit inside the mouth 41 of a balloon 42 having a body portion 43 and a neck 44. A head 45 is formed on this end 39 of the rod 35. Two spaced bearings 46 and 47 are provided on the rod 35 adjacent its other end 48 and the helicopter pitched propeller 37 is rotatably mounted on the rod 35 between these bearings 46 and 47.

The second propeller rod 36 likewise has two spaced bearings 49 and 50 adjacent its end 51 and the standard pitched airplane propeller 38 is rotatably mounted on this second rod 36 between bearings 49 and 50. An end member 52 is provided at end 51 of the second propeller rod 36 spaced from the bearing 50 so that a flight string 53 may be attached to the second propeller rod between the end member 52 and bearing 50.

The other end 54 of the second rod 36 contains a shackle 55 and the end 48 of the first propeller rod 35 has a mating shackle 56. The two shackles are connected by a pin 57 having a threaded end 58 with a wing nut 59 thereon to tighten the shackles together so that the two propeller rods may be locked together at any one of a number of angles. The helicopter pitched propeller may _6S therefore be disposed beneath the balloon and the standard pitched airplane propeller may be disposed to one side of the vertical axis of the balloon by angular adjustment of the propeller rods.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is characterized by the provision of a propeller rod 70 having an upper end 71 with two pronged spaced hooks 72 and 73. A balloon 74 having a body portion 75 and a neck 76 with a mouth 77 is filled with lighterthan-air gas and the neck 76 twisted as indicated in Fig. 7 and folded against the body portion of the balloon. An adhesive coated tape 78 is stuck to the balloon over the folded twisted neck to close the mouth of the balloon and prevent gas from escaping from the balloon.

Tape 78 has two spaced holes 79 and 80 through ₇₀ which the hooks 72 and 73 of the propeller rod 70 are extended to connect the propeller rod to the balloon.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred

2,783,584 embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.