Balloon keeper bracelet

Abstract

A balloon keeper bracelet includes a bracelet and a means for securing a balloon tether. Either the bracelet, the means for securing the tether, or both are made to be releasable or frangible so as to separate from the child or other person upon the application of forces that ordinarily would be sufficient to injure or cause pain or significant discomfort to the child or other person.

1 . A balloon keeper bracelet, comprising 
 a bracelet for engaging a child's wrist; and    a balloon tether retention means attached to the bracelet; 
 wherein at least one of the bracelet and tether retention means is releasable or frangible in response to a force applied to the tether sufficient to injure the child.  
   
   
   
       2 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 1 , wherein both of the bracelet and tether retention means is releasable or frangible in response to a force applied to the tether sufficient to injure the child or cause pain or significant discomfort to the child.  
   
   
       3 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 1 , wherein the bracelet is flexibly releasable.  
   
   
       4 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 3 , wherein the bracelet is selected from the group consisting of elastic bands, snap bands, and flexible U-bands.  
   
   
       5 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 1 , wherein the bracelet is frangible.  
   
   
       6 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 1 , wherein the bracelet is selected from the group consisting of paper bands, laminated bands, scored bands, narrowed bands, bands with embedded wires, bands with shear pins, adhesively-joined bands, and bands with overlapping or butted hook and loop fasteners.  
   
   
       7 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 1 , wherein the tether retention means is selected from the group consisting of buttons, buttons with slits, adhesive strips, loops, and clamps.  
   
   
       8 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 1 , wherein the tether retention means is frangible and includes a frangible element selected from the group consisting of rivets, thread, adhesive, and hook and loop fasteners.  
   
   
       9 . A balloon keeper bracelet, comprising 
 a bracelet for engaging a person's wrist; and    a balloon tether retention means attached to the bracelet; 
 wherein at least one of the bracelet and tether retention means is releasable or frangible in response to a force applied by the tether sufficient to injure the person.  
   
   
   
       10 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 9 , wherein both of the bracelet and tether retention means is releasable or frangible in response to a force applied to the tether sufficient to injure a teen or adult person or cause pain or significant discomfort to the teen or adult person.  
   
   
       11 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 9 , wherein the bracelet is flexibly releasable.  
   
   
       12 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 11 , wherein the bracelet is selected from the group consisting of elastic bands, snap bands, and flexible U-bands.  
   
   
       13 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 9 , wherein the bracelet is frangible.  
   
   
       14 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 9 , wherein the bracelet is selected from the group consisting of paper bands, laminated bands, scored bands, narrowed bands, bands with embedded wires, bands with shear pins, adhesively-joined bands, and bands with overlapping or butted hook and loop fasteners.  
   
   
       15 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 9 , wherein the tether retention means is selected from the group consisting of buttons, buttons with slits, adhesive strips, loops, and clamps.  
   
   
       16 . The balloon keeper bracelet of  claim 9 , wherein the tether retention means is frangible and includes a frangible element selected from the group consisting of rivets, thread, adhesive, and hook and loop fasteners.  
   
   
       17 . A method for retaining a balloon, comprising 
 providing a bracelet for engaging a wearer's wrist; and    providing a balloon tether retention device on the bracelet;    attaching a balloon tether to the tether retention device; and    releasing or breaking at least one of the bracelet and tether retention device in response to a force applied by the balloon tether sufficient to injure the wearer.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising calibrating the releasing or breaking of the bracelet to a wearer selected from the group consisting of children, teens, and adults.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising calibrating the releasing or breaking of the retention device to a wearer selected from the group consisting of children, teens, and adults.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing sufficient weight to the bracelet and retention device to overcome buoyancy of a helium-filled balloon.