Internal balloon illumination with self-sealing valve apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus for illuminating a balloon from within includes an illumination assembly mounted on a power supply unit. The assembly includes a hollow cylindrical body having a light source (e.g., LED) disposed at one end and electrical inputs protruding from another end. The body of the power supply unit is provided at one end thereof with a shoulder flange and cylindrical spacer to facilitate sealing of the balloon against the assembly. The power supply unit receives power from a power source (e.g., battery), and supplies power to circuitry for controlling the light source. Preferably, the assembly, made of light-weight plastic materials, together with the power source, weighs less than the lift of a helium-filled balloon in which it may be installed.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . An illuminable apparatus, comprising: 
 a housing having formed therein a region for accepting a power supply and a region for accepting a control circuit;    a control circuit disposed in the region for accepting a control circuit, the control circuit including circuitry for providing a time-modulated voltage to a light source electrically connected thereto;    a cylindrical spacer having an external diameter, secured at a first axial end thereof to the housing, configured to receive a portion of an inflatable structure and provide a surface against which that portion of the inflatable structure may be secured;    a shoulder flange having a region whose diameter is greater than the external diameter of the cylindrical spacer, secured to the cylindrical housing at a second axial end opposite the first axial end, configured to permit the placement of a portion of an inflatable structure thereover, but to resist removal of that portion of the inflatable structure;    an elongated cylindrical body secured at a first axial end thereof to the shoulder flange and extending axially away from the housing;    a polychromatic light source secured at a second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body opposite the first axial end;    electrical interconnections connecting the polychromatic light source and the control circuit; and    a hollow structure including a self-sealing valve for accommodating the elongated cylindrical body, the hollow structure being self-sealable by an internal gas pressure acting on the valve, and the hollow structure comprising at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting essentially of inflatablity, translucence, and transparence.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the light source is a surface mount technology light emitting diode.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a generally dome-shaped casing forming a cap at the second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body within which the light source is disposed.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the light source is disposed proximate the second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body but within the interior of the elongated cylindrical body.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the elongated cylindrical body is configured to be inelastically deformed without breaking.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising an attachment device receiving region secured to the housing, configured to allow the connection of an external attachment device thereto.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , 
 wherein self-sealing valve comprises an extended length for preventing valve breakage, and    wherein the extended length comprises a range of up to approximately 36 inches.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the extended length comprises a preferred range of approximately 6 inches to approximately 12 inches.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the extended length comprises a preferred extended length of approximately 9 inches.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the self-sealing valve comprises: 
 a slit for facilitating insertion of the elongated cylindrical body through the valve; and    a pocket for accommodating the housing.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the self-sealing valve comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive being disposed at the slit for insuring a better seal of the valve against the housing and for facilitating disposition of the housing in a retaining sleeve.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , 
 wherein the apparatus is gyroscopic under operation, wherein the inflatable structure is readily balanced by the elongated cylindrical body, and    wherein the elongated cylindrical body maintains centering of the light source within the inflatable structure.    
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the self-sealing valve comprises a film.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the film comprises at least one material selected from a group consisting essentially of a foil, a polymer film, a polyethylene film, a polypropylene film, a non-latex film, a metallized polymer film, a Mylar film, and a vinyl film.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the film comprises: 
 a clear portion for facilitating transmission of light; and    a color portion for maintaining a color of the inflatable structure.    
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the color portion comprises at least one feature such as a monochromatic element, a polychromatic element, and a pattern element.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the pattern element comprises a camouflage feature for maintaining a pattern of the structure.  
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the color portion comprises at least one color being selected from a color defined by the Pantone® Matching System (PMS) Color Guide.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the film comprises at least two material layers, wherein the at least two material layers are longitudinally fused together to accommodate the elongated cylindrical body, wherein the at least two material layers are transversely fused to the hollow structure, and wherein the valve comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive for reinforcing the self-sealing of the hollow structure against the elongated cylindrical body.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the control circuit comprises at least one programmable semiconductor device and a switch for controlling a plurality of LED light effects.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one semiconductor device comprises a program for providing a plurality of illumination patterns.  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one semiconductor device comprises a program for providing a plurality of illumination colors.  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the at least one semiconductor device comprises a program for providing a strobing effect which paces through the plurality of illumination colors.  
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one semiconductor device comprises a program for providing a variable speed illumination color effect and a variable frequency illumination color effect.  
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one semiconductor device comprises a program for providing a variable saturation illumination color effect and a variable brightness illumination color effect.  
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a character structure mounted to a distal end of the elongated cylindrical body and over the light source, the character structure and the elongated cylindrical body, together, becoming a wand after the hollow structure is spent.  
   
   
       48 . An illuminable balloon assembly of the type for receiving a balloon having a central region and an inflation region, comprising: 
 a housing having formed therein a region for accepting a power supply and a region for accepting a control circuit; a control circuit disposed in the region for accepting a control circuit, the control circuit including circuitry for providing a time-modulated voltage to a light source electrically connected thereto;    a cylindrical spacer having an external diameter, secured at a first axial end thereof to the housing, receiving a portion of the inflation region thereover and providing a surface against which that portion of the inflation region is secured;    a shoulder flange having a region whose diameter is greater than the external diameter of the cylindrical spacer, secured to the cylindrical housing at a second axial end opposite the first axial end, over which a portion of the inflation region extends, which resists removal of that portion of the inflation region;    an elongated cylindrical body secured at a first axial end thereof to the shoulder flange and extending axially away from the housing, through the inflation region, and into the central region;    a polychromatic light source secured at a second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body opposite the first axial end and disposed within the central region such that it is at or near the circumferential center of the balloon; and    electrical interconnections connecting the polychromatic light source and the control circuit; and    a balloon including a self-sealing valve for accommodating the elongated cylindrical body, the balloon being self-sealable by an internal gas pressure acting on the valve.    
   
   
       49 . The assembly of  claim 48 , further comprising a power supply disposed within the housing such that the control circuit is enabled to provide a time-modulated voltage to the light source.  
   
   
       50 . The assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.  
   
   
       51 . The assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the light source is a surface mount technology light emitting diode.  
   
   
       52 . The assembly of  claim 48 , wherein a portion of the balloon is disposed such that it overlays the shoulder flange and the cylindrical spacer, but does not overlay the housing.  
   
   
       53 . The assembly of  claim 52 , wherein when the balloon is filled with helium gas, the lift provided by the helium gas is equal to or exceeds the weight of the illuminated balloon assembly.  
   
   
       54 . The assembly of  claim 48 , further comprising an attachment device receiving region secured to the housing, configured to allow the connection of an external attachment device thereto.  
   
   
       55 . The assembly of  claim 52 , wherein the balloon has indicia provided on the sides thereof.  
   
   
       56 . The assembly of  claim 55 , where the indicia may be projected onto a surface external to the balloon when the light source is illuminated.  
   
   
       57 . The assembly of  claim 52 , wherein the self-sealing valve disposed under the balloon at the portion thereof overlying the cylindrical spacer such that a secure mechanical connection is established between the balloon and the cylindrical spacer.  
   
   
       58 . The assembly of  claim 57 , wherein the self-sealing valve closes into a generally circular configuration under the balloon at the portion thereof overlying the cylindrical spacer so as to have an inside diameter which is less than the greatest diameter of the shoulder flange.  
   
   
       59 . A method of providing an illuminated inflated balloon by introducing therein selected parts of an illumination assembly which includes a housing, a cylindrical spacer attached thereto, a shoulder flange attached to the cylindrical spacer, an elongated cylindrical body attached to the shoulder flange, and a light source attached to the elongated cylindrical body, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a self-sealing valve in a balloon for accommodating the elongated cylindrical body; and    inflating the balloon with an inflation gas, thereby self-sealing the balloon by an internal pressure of the inflation gas acting on the valve.    
   
   
       60 . An illuminable apparatus, comprising: 
 a housing having formed therein a region for accepting a power supply and a region for accepting a control circuit;    a control circuit disposed in the region for accepting a control circuit, the control circuit including circuitry for providing a time-modulated voltage to a light source electrically connected thereto;    a cylindrical spacer having an external diameter, secured at a first axial end thereof to the housing, configured to receive a portion of an inflatable structure and provide a surface against which that portion of the inflatable structure may be secured;    a shoulder flange having a region whose diameter is greater than the external diameter of the cylindrical spacer, secured to the cylindrical housing at a second axial end opposite the first axial end, configured to permit the placement of a portion of an inflatable structure thereover, but to resist removal of that portion of the inflatable structure;    an elongated cylindrical body secured at a first axial end thereof to the shoulder flange and extending axially away from the housing;    a polychromatic light source secured at a second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body opposite the first axial end; and electrical interconnections connecting the polychromatic light source and the control circuit;    a generally dome-shaped casing forming a cap at the second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body within which the light source is disposed;    an attachment device receiving region secured to the housing, configured to allow the connection of an external attachment device thereto; and    an inflatable structure including a self-sealing valve for accommodating the elongated cylindrical body, the inflatable structure being self-sealable by an internal gas pressure acting on the valve,    wherein the light source is a light emitting diode,    wherein the light source is a surface mount technology light emitting diode,    wherein the light source is disposed proximate the second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body but within the interior of the elongated cylindrical body, and    wherein the elongated cylindrical body is configured to be inelastically deformed without breaking.    
   
   
       61 . A kit for illuminating a self-sealable inflatable structure, comprising: 
 an illuminable apparatus comprising: 
 a housing having formed therein a region for accepting a power supply and a region for accepting a control circuit;  
 a control circuit disposed in the region for accepting a control circuit, the control circuit including circuitry for providing a time-modulated voltage to a light source electrically connected thereto;  
 a cylindrical spacer having an external diameter, secured at a first axial end thereof to the housing, configured to receive a portion of an inflatable structure and provide a surface against which that portion of the inflatable structure may be secured;  
 a shoulder flange having a region whose diameter is greater than the external diameter of the cylindrical spacer, secured to the cylindrical housing at a second axial end opposite the first axial end, configured to permit the placement of a portion of an inflatable structure thereover, but to resist removal of that portion of the inflatable structure;  
 an elongated cylindrical body secured at a first axial end thereof to the shoulder flange and extending axially away from the housing;  
 a polychromatic light source secured at a second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body opposite the first axial end;  
 electrical interconnections connecting the polychromatic light source and the control circuit;  
   an inflatable structure including a self-sealing valve for accommodating the elongated cylindrical body, the inflatable structure being self-sealable by an internal gas pressure acting on the valve; and    a retaining sleeve comprising: 
 a generally conically shaped inflatable structure support region having an opening extending the length of the elevation of the inflatable structure support region sized and disposed for receiving the elongated cylindrical body;  
 a circuitry and power supply housing receiving region, having a lateral open face sized and disposed for receiving the housing;  
 a securing device receiving region, extending between and connecting the inflatable structure support region and the housing receiving region, having an opening therein sized and disposed for receiving at least one of: a portion of the elongated cylindrical body, the cylindrical spacer, and the shoulder flange; and  
 a holding mechanism receiving region connected to the housing receiving region opposite the securing device receiving region having a opening therein sized and disposed to receive an auxiliary holding device.  
   
   
   
       62 . A kit of  claim 61 , wherein the holding mechanism further comprises an auxiliary holding device.  
   
   
       63 . A kit of  claim 62 , wherein the auxiliary holding device comprises a hollow cylindrical member.