Safe toy balloon closure and sealing device and assemblies using same

Abstract

A safe toy balloon closure and sealing device is provided that includes (a) a generally flat member having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge, (b) a balloon neck receiving aperture formed through the generally flat member and between the first end and the second end, (c) an inserting passage for inserting a balloon neck from the first end into the balloon neck receiving aperture, and (d) at least one non-aligned stretched neck retaining device formed on at least one of the second end, the first side edge and the second side edge at a location that is not aligned with the inserting passage, for creating at least one angled sharp bend and seal in a balloon neck being stretched from the balloon neck receiving aperture for reinsertion through the inserting passage and the balloon neck receiving aperture; thereby effectively closing and sealing the stretched balloon neck without tying and without a risk of the balloon neck unraveling and causing premature balloon deflation. In order to make the closure and sealing device of the present invention safe, it includes a safety device in form of a tail portion or a repulsive taste agent.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toy balloon closure and sealing device comprising: 
 (a) a generally flat member having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, a first side edge and a second side edge opposite said first side edge;    (b) a balloon neck-receiving aperture formed through said generally flat member and between said first end and said second end;    (c) inserting passage means for inserting a balloon neck from said first end into said balloon neck receiving aperture; and    (d) at least one non-aligned stretched neck retaining means formed on at least one of said second end, said first side edge and said second side edge at a location that not aligned with said inserting passage, for creating at least one angled sharp bend and seal in a balloon neck being stretched from said balloon neck receiving aperture for reinsertion through said inserting passage means and through said balloon neck receiving aperture; thereby effectively closing and sealing the balloon neck without tying and without a risk of the balloon neck unraveling and causing premature balloon deflation.    
     
     
         2 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein said generally flat member is made of a plastic material that is colorless.  
     
     
         3 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein said generally flat member has a first flat face and a second flat face, and its use is not face dependent, thereby allowing for ease of use instructions.  
     
     
         4 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein said generally flat member has a convoluted perimeter.  
     
     
         5 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein said balloon neck receiving aperture is generally rectangular.  
     
     
         6 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein said balloon neck receiving aperture includes an inwardly projecting tongue member for urging a portion of said balloon neck within said balloon neck receiving aperture to be out of alignment with said inserting passage means.  
     
     
         7 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein said inserting passage means includes a lead-in notch from said first end, and a slit from said lead-in notch into said balloon neck receiving aperture.  
     
     
         8 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , including a single said at least one stretched neck retaining means formed into said second end of said generally flat member and across from said inserting passage means on said first end.  
     
     
         9 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , including a pair of said at least one stretched neck retaining means formed one on each of said first side edge and said second side edge for causing any escaping forces in the stretched elastic neck of the toy balloon to act in a direction approximately 90 degrees to said inserting passage means.  
     
     
         10 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , including a single said at least one stretched neck retaining means comprising a notch formed into said second end of said generally flat member and across from said inserting passage means on said first end, and having a generally half-rectangular shape for flattening the elastic neck of the toy balloon so as to create said at least one sharp bend and seal therein.  
     
     
         11 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , including a pair of said at least one stretched neck retaining means comprising a notch formed one each into each of said first side edge and said second side edge, and each having a generally half-rectangular shape for flattening the elastic neck of the toy balloon so as to create said at least one sharp bend and seal therein.  
     
     
         12 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , including three said at least one stretched neck retaining means formed one on each of said second end, said first side edge and said second side edge, for causing the elastic neck of a toy balloon to create said at least one sharp bend and seal therein.  
     
     
         13 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein said generally flat member is made of a biodegradable material.  
     
     
         14 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein said passage means includes a lead-in notch from said first end, and a slot from said lead-in notch into said balloon neck receiving aperture, said slot having a slot width less than 0.04 inches for preventing a stretched balloon neck within said receiving aperture from escaping.  
     
     
         15 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 1 , including a pair of said passage means located symmetrically one at each of said first end and said second and opposite end of said flat member.  
     
     
         16 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 8 , wherein each of said pair of said at least one stretched neck retaining means comprises a notch.  
     
     
         17 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 9 , wherein each of said pair of said at least one stretched neck retaining means comprises a notch.  
     
     
         18 . The toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 9 , wherein each of said pair of said at least one stretched neck retaining means comprises a tab member.  
     
     
         19 . A toy balloon closure and sealing device comprising: 
 (a) a generally flat member having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, a first side edge and a second side edge opposite said first side edge;    (b) a balloon neck-receiving aperture formed through said generally flat member and between said first end and said second end;    (c) inserting passage means for inserting a balloon neck from said first end into said balloon neck receiving aperture;    (d) at least one non-aligned stretched neck retaining means formed on at least one of said second end, said first side edge and said second side edge at a location that not aligned with said inserting passage, for creating at least one angled sharp bend and seal in a balloon neck being stretched from said balloon neck receiving aperture for reinsertion through said inserting passage means and through said balloon neck receiving aperture; thereby effectively closing and sealing the balloon neck without tying and without a risk of the balloon neck unraveling and causing premature balloon deflation; and    (e) a safety device in the form of a tail portion connected to one of said second end, said first side edge and said second side edge.    
     
     
         20 . A toy balloon closure and sealing device comprising: 
 (a) a generally flat member having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, a first side edge and a second side edge opposite said first side edge;    (b) a balloon neck-receiving aperture formed through said generally flat member and between said first end and said second end;    (c) inserting passage means for inserting a balloon neck from said first end into said balloon neck receiving aperture;    (d) at least one non-aligned stretched neck retaining means formed on at least one of said second end, said first side edge and said second side edge at a location that not aligned with said inserting passage, for creating at least one angled sharp bend and seal in a balloon neck being stretched from said balloon neck receiving aperture for reinsertion through said inserting passage means and through said balloon neck receiving aperture; thereby effectively closing and sealing the balloon neck without tying and without a risk of the balloon neck unraveling and causing premature balloon deflation; and    (e) a safety device in the form of a repulsive taste agent applied to said generally flat member.    
     
     
         21 . A safe toy balloon closure and sealing device comprising: 
 (a) a structured member having a balloon neck receiving aperture, inserting passage means, and at least one stretched neck retaining means formed therethrough; and    (b) a safety device formed on said structured member for reducing a risk of injury from ingestion by children, thereby making the toy balloon closure and sealing device safe.    
     
     
         22 . The safe toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 21  wherein said safety device comprises a tail portion attached to one of said second end, said first side edge and said second side edge.  
     
     
         23 . The safe toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 21 , wherein said safety device comprises a repulsive taste agent applied to said structured member.  
     
     
         24 . The safe toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 22 , wherein said tail portion includes at least on slot formed therein.  
     
     
         25 . The safe toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 22 , wherein said tail portion has a distal end and said distal end includes a taper for enabling display of an inflated balloon assembly using said closure and sealing device thereof on a pegboard.  
     
     
         26 . The safe toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 23 , wherein said repulsive taste agent is applied directly to said structured member.  
     
     
         27 . The safe toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 23 , wherein said repulsive taste agent is applied directly to an adhesive tape that is then applied to said structured member.  
     
     
         28 . The safe toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 23 , wherein said repulsive taste agent comprises a bittering agent.  
     
     
         29 . The safe toy balloon closure and sealing device of  claim 28 , wherein said bittering agent is Denatonium Benzoate.