Helium balloon ribboned mounting stick

Abstract

An apparatus for tethering a lighter-than-air balloon. The apparatus has a connector attachable to the balloon; a tether with a first end attached to the connector and a second end; and a hollow, elongated anchor with an interior core. The tether is contained in the interior core and is extendable outside the core. The tether is secured to the elongated anchor at a point between the first end and the second end. Preferably, the anchor is a straw. The apparatus includes a decorative card attached to the straw. The connector includes a tab attached to the card by perforations. The tab has an adhesive for attaching the tab to the balloon. A method of merchandizing a helium balloon, consisting of threading an end of a ribbon through a slot in a plug at an end of a straw; making a knot or placing another stop in the ribbon at a desired ribbon length; and attaching an end of the ribbon to a tab that has a covered adhesive, with the tab attached to a card which is in turn attached to the straw. This prepares the straw and balloon for shipment. When the straw and balloon are desired to be set up at the end user's location, the user then removes the tab from the card by tearing the tab at the perforations in the card; exposing the covered adhesive on the tab and adhering the tab to the balloon; and pulling the ribbon through the slot until the knot encounters the slot. The straw may then be inserted into soil in a flower pot.

1 . Apparatus for tethering a lighter-than-air balloon, comprising: 
 (a) a connector attachable to the balloon;    (b) a tether having a first end attached to the connector and a second end; and    (c) a hollow, elongated anchor having an interior core, the tether being contained in the interior core and extendable outside the core, the tether being secured to the elongated anchor at a point between the first end and second end.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector further comprises an adhesive portion bonding to the balloon.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tether further comprises a ribbon.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a stop preventing the ribbon from coming loose from the anchor.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the anchor further comprises a straw.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a decorative card attached to the straw.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the connector further comprises a tab removably attached to the card and a side attachable to the balloon.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising adhesive on the side.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the stop further comprises a plug inserted into the straw, the plug having a slot through which the ribbon exits the straw, the ribbon having a second stop between the first end and second end preventing complete passage of the ribbon through the slot.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus for tethering a lighter-than-air balloon, comprising: 
 (a) a connector attachable to the balloon;    (b) a ribbon having a first end attached to the connector and a second end; and    (c) a hollow straw having an interior core, the ribbon being contained in the interior core and extendable outside the core, the ribbon being secured to the straw at a point between the first end and second end.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a stop preventing the ribbon from coming loose from the straw.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a decorative card attached to the straw.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the connector further comprises a tab removably attached to the card and a side attachable to the balloon.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising adhesive on the side.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the stop further comprises a plug inserted into the straw, the plug having a slot through which the ribbon exits the straw, the ribbon having a knot between the first end and second end preventing complete passage of the ribbon through the slot.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for tethering a lighter-than-air balloon, comprising: 
 (a) an adhesive tab attachable to the balloon;    (b) a ribbon having a first end attached to the adhesive tab and a second end;    (c) a hollow straw having an interior core, the ribbon being contained in the interior core and extendable outside the core;    (d) a plug inserted into the straw, the plug having a slot through which the ribbon exits the straw, the ribbon having a knot between the first end and second end preventing complete passage of the ribbon through the slot; and    (e) a decorative card attached to the straw, the adhesive tab being removably attached to the card.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the tab is integral with the card and further comprising perforations permitting separation of the tab from the card.  
     
     
         18 . A method of merchandising a helium balloon, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) threading an end of a ribbon through a slot in a plug at an end of a hollow straw;    (b) placing a stop in the ribbon at a desired ribbon length;    (c) attaching an end of the ribbon to a tab having a covered adhesive and attached to a card attached to the straw.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of: 
 (a) removing the tab from the card;    (b) exposing the covered adhesive and adhering the tab to the balloon; and    (c) pulling the ribbon through the slot until the stop encounters the slot.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of inserting the straw into soil.