US20140284436A1

US20140284436A1 - Balloon Centerpiece

Info

Publication number: US20140284436A1
Application number: US13/847,864
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilson Peevey Erwin
Original assignee: Rubies Costume Co
Current assignee: Rubies Costume Co
Priority date: 2013-03-20
Filing date: 2013-03-20
Publication date: 2014-09-25

Abstract

A balloon-supporting centerpiece having several tubes molded to a base with a central aperture. A tube can be secured into the tubes of the base and provides a channel for holding sticks having balloons attached thereto. The tubes can be secured beneath the base when not in use. The preferred base is a cylinder or heart shape. Tinsel strips cover the top of the base to hide the apertures and present a festive balloon centerpiece.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a simple, inexpensive, yet highly useful device for holding one or more inflated balloons in a festive manner on a table top. Mylar balloons, inflated with Helium, will maintain, by use of a holding stick or ribbons or string, the balloons elevated above the table surface and provide a very pleasing balloon display. Elevated balloons above the table surface allows more of the table surface to be used for other purposes, e.g., plates, dishes, bowls, games, etc. and, yet, a balloon centerpiece is often highly desired and needed to anchor the Helium filled balloons or provide a central cluster area for multiple balloons, The cluster often provides a more festive appearance than a single inflated balloon. Often, one balloon is elevated or suspended above the table surface but, clearly, many balloons are preferred if clumped together to form a unified and festive balloon display. The use of Mylar Helium and thus elevating balloons, however, requires a Helium inflation tank nearby (or the balloons, after filling need to be transported to the party site) and Helium tanks are often not readily accessible at the site or near the party location. Also, Helium is becoming more expensive and it is thus clear that using one's air from the lungs is a) readily accessible and b) inexpensive (no cost). However, the drawback often understood by use of air-filled balloons is that they are only suspended above a table top if suspended from above (by ribbons or string) or if attached to a stiff stick and inserted into a holder. The holder can be a piece of florist materials (a brick), a glass jar or bottle with stones or marbles, or a piece of clay, for example, These, however, are not very attractive and often are not available. The present invention, on the other hand, is directed toward a centerpiece in the form of a light weight attractive design, substantially flat when purchased (and when shipped to the retailer) and, yet, which can be quickly assembled and used with balloons, inflated by air, not requiring Helium, and when placed therein, will suspend the balloons above the table top surface. This results in an inexpensive and highly useful device, not requiring the use of relatively expensive and often unavailable Helium, and, yet, the cluster of balloons is attractive, inexpensive, and above the table surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Balloons have been used for many, many years to decorate party events, whether for Birthday Parties, Award Presentations, Weddings, Inaugurations, etc. The balloons can be suspended down from the ceiling via strings or ribbons attached on their upper ends to the ceiling and thus “floating” above the table top. If Helium filled, the prior art shows a variety of weighted centerpieces to which the lower ends of the strings or ribbons can be secured and the lighter than air balloons allowed to be suspended above the table top. If, however, the helium filled balloons are held by an upwardly extended stick, one end of which is inserted into a brick of material, like green florist foam, the balloons will be supported above the table top but the Helium is “wasted” as the sticks, by themselves, if of sufficient rigidity, will suspend the balloon upwardly. On the other hand, if the balloons are only filled with air, using one's lungs as the source, the weight of air-filled balloons will not let them “fly” up nor be elevated but, rather, they will necessarily droop down. However, it has long been acceptable, even with air-filled (i.e., non-Helium) balloons to support the same in a material like florist green bricks by having the balloons tied to one end of the sticks and the other end of the sticks inserted into the bricks. This, however, has several disadvantages which are intended to be overcome by the present invention.
More specifically, the prior art balloon center pieces for holding the sticks to which are attached air or Helium-filled balloons are of unattractive shapes, require the user to pierce the material with the free end of the sticks (often necessitating a sharp and unsafe end of the sticks), provide crumbs when the sticks are inserted and are not attractive for reuse. Also, the insertion of the sticks into the center pieces of the prior art may not be carefully done so that the balloons, and sticks, rather than exhibiting an equi-spaced and visually pleasing appearance, will be “off-line” almost helter skelter. This, of course, detracts from the aesthetic and intended effect of the balloon center piece. Also, if the bricks are reused, the original holes formed from the first set of sticks thrust and then removed therefrom, will be unsightly, unless the new set of sticks (with balloons attached thereto) are placed into the same exact (and possibly misaligned) holes as were made in the use of the balloon-holding center piece with the first set of balloons supported by sticks.
The present invention solves these and other disadvantages of the prior art. More specifically, the present invention provides a simple, lightweight, preformed in an attractive shape, piece of molded plastic. Preferably, the present invention has one, two, preferably 5 holes, four angled at an angle outwardly, one upwardly from the center, into which the sticks, holding balloons (the necks of the balloons are tied to one end of the sticks) are held. Preferably, the center piece is either in a circular or heart shape, rectangle or other shape with a substantially flat bottom for seating on a table surface. The upper surface is preferably flat, too, although it is within the scope of the invention for the upper surface to be non-parallel to the bottom, table-contacting surface of the device. The holes into the top surface of the device are preferably holding chambers, small diameter tubes with closed ends into which one end of the sticks will pass and then abut the closed end so that the other or free end of the sticks, with the balloons tied thereto, will be held, elevated and projected above the center piece and the table top surface.
Indeed, it is an aspect of the present invention for the device to be shipped substantially flat and, upon readying the same for use, the underside of the device is revealed to hold the closed-end tubes which are slid into and held by the spaced holes on the top surface of the device.
Then, the sticks, with balloons tied thereto can be inserted into the tubes which, as mentioned, have been installed (taken from the hollow bottom of the device, as needed) into the top of the device. When the celebration is finished, the balloons and sticks removed, the tubes removed from their holding apertures and, then, the tubes placed into their holding areas within the hollow bottom of the center piece, in small clips which frictionally hold the tubes below the top surface. When a new celebration is desired with the decorative use of balloon center pieces, the tubes are, again, removed from below the center piece, installed into the apertures on the top surface, and the balloons, tied to the top of sticks, are installed into the tubes (their free ends slid into the tubes until the ends abut the closed ends of the tubes) and the balloons thus seemingly elevated and displayed. In the preferred embodiment the top surface is provided with five total tubes, all of which are capable of accepting a stick with balloon secured thereto. Generally, the center tube is intended to have the stick and its attached balloon extend above the other outwardly flared balloons to maximum aesthetic effect. In the preferred embodiment, the center tube is integral with the base of the centerpiece and does not require set up. On the other hand, the other or side apertures, around the center tube, are angled outwardly with respect to a vertical line passing through the center tube, so that the closed end tubes, will project outwardly when installed. In an alternate and preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apertures are all vertically oriented for receipt of the tubes, and, yet, the tubes have a bend in them, like an elbow shape, so that when one end is installed (closed end down) into the aperture, the tube will be held therein and, yet, the bend of the tube will flare outwardly and the balloon, attached to the stick will thus surround and extend out from the center of the device.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device has two, opposed sets of frictionally securing flanges, on its bottom to hold the tubes/elbows, when not in use. These flanges are somewhat resilient and allow the tubes to be easily slid in-between the opposed flanges and, yet, when desired, the tubes/elbows can be removed therefrom.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the top surface of the device is covered, preferably with pieces of overlaying tinsel, to pleasing visual and aesthetic effect, with the tinsel covering the apertures until the tinsel is moved aside by the insertion of the tubes into the apertures. When ready for use, the tubes/elbows are installed into the apertures and the tinsel will still overlay substantially all of the top surface of the device, to decorative effect, and, yet, the tinsel strips will travel around the apertures and tubes/elbows. Thus, several different patterns of apertures can be presented, hidden by the tinsel, and only after the tubes/elbows installed into the apertures, will the pattern for the sticks (holding the balloons) be displayed.
In the preferred embodiment, the holding flanges in the hollow bottom of the center piece are two sets of opposed flanges for the four tubes/elbows although four such opposed sets of flanges, for four tubes/elbows, can be provided. If only two sets are used, the depth of the opposed flanges is sufficient to allow two tubes/elbows to be stacked upon one another, in storage, until use is desired.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the tubes/elbows are molded from plastic material and the diameter of the section of the tube with the closed end is slightly smaller than the other or open end. The closed end of the tube is slid into and frictionally held by the tubes in the base with the open ends extending upwardly for receipt of the sticks holding the balloons. The tubes or elbows can be removed and stored beneath the base of the device, between the resilient and opposed flanges, until the device is needed, once again.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention before any sticks or balloons held on sticks are inserted therein and, yet, with the outside tubes/elbows shown in place i.e., as they would appear after being installed into the apertures and tubes of the device;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the plastic molded base of the present invention, a balloon holding centerpiece;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device, fully assembled, and showing the sticks inserted into the base (into the tubes/elbows and the center aperture with its vertical tube) and showing the sticks being provided with decorative balloons, tied or otherwise secured thereto (the mouth of the balloon may be frictionally held over the smooth plastic wall of the open end of the tube/elbow and the air in the balloon thus maintained);

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the base and the tubes/elbows, also showing the apertures on the surface of the base, partially covered, except for the central aperture and vertically-oriented tube, by decorative tinsel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION AND THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 3 shows the device provided with air-filled balloons secured to sticks as intended to be seen by party-goers. The device 10 is a centerpiece (the preferred embodiment is a simple cylinder and, yet, other shapes can easily be envisioned, as, for example, a heart-shaped centerpiece for supporting balloons) and is intended to sit upon a table top and support one or more, preferably five, balloons B on sticks S which are held in tubes/elbows 12, held in apertures 14, 16, 18, and 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 4) with the center stick S1 and its balloon B1, merely inserted directly into a central hole or aperture 22. As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the plastic base is preferably decorated on its outside circumferential wall 30 with tinsel wrap 32 with cuttings 34 of the tinsel wrap 32 extending over and across the top side 36 of the cylindrical base 40 so as to at least partially hide the apertures 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22.
Depending upon the number of Balloons and sticks sought to be supported by the base, the tubes 12 (elbow bent) are located into the apertures 14, 16, 18 and 20. No tube or elbow element 12 is needed for central aperture 22. Each aperture (see FIG. 2) is open on the top surface or top side 36 and extends with a vertical tube 46, closed at their bottoms 44. Center aperture 22 is also provided with a vertical tube 48 which has a closed end 50. Each tube 46 and vertical tube 48 of the central aperture 22 is sized in diameter to accept the tubes/elbows 12 (more fully described hereafter). The closed ends 44 and 50 of the tubes prevent the sticks S, and S1 from falling through the base and into contact with the table top and also ensure relative desired heights of the sticks S and S1 and their Balloons, B and B1, respectively, to provide an attractive display. The tubes 46 and 48 are molded and integrated into the base from a preferably plastic material. The apertures 14, 16, 18, and 20 and their respective tubes 46 are located preferably equi-distant around the central aperture 22 and its tube 48. In the preferred embodiment, the tubes are all substantially vertically oriented with respect to the center axis passing through the center of the device. Alternatively, however, the tubes 46 can be outwardly oriented such that their longitudinal axis will be directed to flare outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the central tube 48.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and especially 4, tubes 12 are provided to support the sticks S (with balloons B attached thereto) for completing the balloon centerpiece. The tubes 12 are preferably plastic, substantially hollow and yet closed off by bases 54 on their downwardly projecting ends 52. The diameter of these tubes 12 is just slightly less than the internal diameter of the tubes 46 so that the tubes 12 (of elbow preferred shape) can easily yet supportably slide into and out of the tubes 46 for location therein, as desired. The downwardly projecting ends 52 have a longitudinal axis portion which will, when the tubes 12 are within the tubes 46, aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tubes 46. Extending upwardly from the downwardly projecting ends 52 are hollow tubular stick-holding portions 60. These tubular stick-holding portions 60 are preferably (but not required) of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the downwardly projecting ends 52. These tubular stick-holding portions 60 will receive the sticks S, when inserted therein. As can be appreciated by a review of the drawings, the downwardly projecting ends 52 extend fully into the tubes 46 while the tubular stick-holding portions 60 extend above the top surface 36 of the base. Each tube 12 is provided with an elbow segment 64 which bends the tubes and defines the downwardly projecting ends 52 from the tubular stick-holding portions 60. When the tubes 12 are inserted and held by the tubes 46, the elbows define a plane which is substantially co-planar with the top surface 36 of the base. The diameter of the downwardly projecting ends 52 is, as mentioned, just slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the tubes 46, and this allows, to some degree, the rotation of the tubes 12 within the tubes 46 so that there is some flexibility in location of the open end of the tube (and thus the stick and the balloon) with respect to the other tubes, sticks and balloons.
The center aperture 22 and its vertical tube 48 do not need a tube or elbow segment as the central stick S1 and its Balloon B1 can be vertically held. The sticks S and their balloons B are outwardly flared or directed so as to present a visually pleasing display and so that the balloons do not unnecessarily crush one another. Of course, by use of different length sticks and balloons, the tubes 46 and their outward flare as a consequence of the elbow segments can be eliminated and still present a visually pleasing balloon and centerpiece arrangement.
Beneath the base, on the hollow underside of the same (see FIG. 2) are a set of opposed, downwardly extending, thin-walled and resilient plastic flanges 70. These resilient and opposed flanges 70 are distanced from one another so as to allow the larger diameter of the tubes 12 to be placed therebetween and for the flanges to hold the same unless and until the tubes 12 are positively removed from between the flanges. The depth of the flanges (or extension of the flanges from the underside of the base downwardly towards the bottom edge 72, is adequate such that each set of opposing flanges 70 will retain 2 (or more) of the tubes 12. The tubes 12 can be held by their smaller diameter ends (ends 52) and the larger diameter ends 60 slid between the opposed flanges. The resiliency of the flanges will cause them to slightly bow outwardly to accept and hold the tubes 12 until they are positively removed from the grasp of the flanges. In this manner the tubes are stored below the base and, yet, are available for use when the device is desirably assembled for use as a center piece, a balloon display device.
In the preferred embodiment, the outside circumferential wall 32 of the base is wrapped with tinsel. A length of tinsel 90 is wrapped around the base and then a piece of adhesive tape or other attaching means is used to hold the length of tinsel around the base. This is intended to decorate the base and make the entire device for attractive and festive. The width of the tinsel, however, is greater, in dimension, than the height of the base so that the extra material of tinsel which extends upwardly beyond the top surface 36 of the base can be slit to provide a series of tinsel strips 92. The tinsel strips 92 are intended to overlap and cover the apertures 14, 16, 18 and 20, as well as central aperture 22, until the tubes 12 and sticks S and S1 are inserted therein. It is easy to simply move the tinsel strips 92 aside and poke the tubes 12 into the apertures (or the sticks S and S1 into the tubes and central aperture, respectively, and the tinsel strips 92 will substantially cover the top surface 36 of the device, to aesthetic effect.
In use, the device is shipped in a simple plastic and disposable bag. The tubes 12 are retained within the flanges 70, below the base. When desired to use the same as a centerpiece and balloon support on a table, the tubes 12 are removed from the flanges 70 and the smaller diameter sections of the tubes, the downwardly extending segments 52 are inserted into the apertures 14, 16, 18 and 20. The closed ends 54 will abut the closed ends 44 of the tubes 46 and that will cause the elbows 64 to be substantially co-planar with the top surface 36 of the device. Then, balloons B and B1 are inflated by air (or Helium) and secured to sticks S and S1. The securing of the balloons to the sticks can be by tying the same to the free ends of the sticks or by actually slipping the open neck of the balloon over the enlarged end of the tubes 12. The smooth wall and the large diameter of the tubes 12 in comparison to the stretchy and resilient neck of the rubber balloon will cause the neck of the inflated balloon to slide over the tube and to be held there, with substantially little leakage, especially because the end of the tubes are provided with closed ends 54. The sticks S and S1 with inflated balloons B and B1 are then inserted, by pushing the tinsel strips 92 aside, into the openings 94 of the tubes 12 and into the central aperture 22. The sticks with balloons, S, S1 and B and B1 will then be held in a festive display pattern, as shown in FIG. 3.
When the display is beyond its intended period of use, the sticks and balloons are discarded and the tubes 12 removed from the apertures 14, 16, 18, and 20. The tubes 12 can then be stored beneath the base by sliding and clipping the tubes 12 between the resilient flanges 70. Reuse, as and when desired, can then occur by assembling the device as previously described.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that in the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and illustrated by the drawings.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A balloon holding centerpiece comprising:

a base, said base being provided with at least one aperture;

at least one holding tube capable of receipt within said apertures; said holding tube capable of receipt of a stick having a balloon attached thereto.

2. A balloon holding centerpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said apertures are configured with one substantially centrally located and the others of said apertures located around said centrally located aperture.

3. A balloon holding centerpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said base is molded plastic and provided with at least one set of flanges on its interior bottom to store said holding tube(s).

4. A balloon holding centerpiece as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

said flanges are resilient to secure and selectively release said holding tubes.

5. A balloon holding centerpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said base is covered with tinsel strips.

6. A balloon holding centerpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said base has a circumferential sidewall covered with tinsel and said top surface of said base is provided with tinsel strips.

7. A balloon holding centerpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said holding tubes are provided with elbows for providing holding channels which extend at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said base.

8. A balloon holding centerpiece as claimed in claim 7 wherein:

at least a segment of said holding tubes outwardly flare with respect to the longitudinal axis of a central tube located in said base.

9. A balloon holding centerpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said holding tubes are selectively removable.