Portable Balloon Filling Device and Method

Abstract

A device and method for filling balloons with a fluid comprising a pressurizable container and a filling head. The device pressurizes a container filled with a fluid and releases the fluid through a barbed nozzle that engages a balloon. To use the device, a user engages a balloon on a barbed nozzle attached to the filling head and pumps a pumping mechanism. When the container is adequately pressurized, a user actuates a trigger mechanism that releases fluid in the pressurized container into a balloon engaged on a nozzle to fill the balloon with the fluid

We claim: 
     
         1 . A balloon filling device comprising:
 a pressurizable container wherein the container includes an opening;   a filling head removably secured to the opening of the container;   a pump assembly attached proximate the filling head, the pump assembly extending into the opening of the container;   a nozzle having a first end and a second end and having an internal conduit traversing from the first end to the second end wherein the nozzle is in communication with the filling head, and wherein the nozzle is sufficient to engage and maintain a balloon to be filled with the fluid; and   a trigger mechanism in communication with the nozzle, the trigger mechanism controlling the release of pressurized fluid from the container into the nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump handle operably with the pump assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle includes at least one barb of a sufficient size and dimension to prevent a balloon from disengaging the nozzle while the balloon is being filled with fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pickup tube having one end that communicates with the nozzle and a second end that contacts liquid in the container. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising a screen secured to the second end of the pickup tube to reduce clogging the pickup tube, trigger mechanism, and nozzle with foreign objects. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump assembly comprises:
 a substantially rigid, substantially cylindrical tube having an inside surface, an outside surface, a substantially open first end, a second end, and a middle portion between the first and second ends;   a pump shaft passing through the first end of the tube comprising a rigid rod having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion between the first and second ends, for reciprocating substantially within the confines of the tube;   a piston secured to the first end of the pump shaft comprising a flexible ring that engages the inside surface of the tube forming a seal and defining an inner tube cavity;   a pump handle secured to the second end of the pump shaft for gripping the pump shaft for manually reciprocating the pump shaft to expel air from the inner tube cavity; and   a one way check valve communicating with the second end of the tube that allows air to be forced out of the inner tube cavity when the pump shaft plunges towards the second end of the tube, yet prevents air from returning into the tube cavity through the second end.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump assembly comprises an electro-mechanical pump. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the filling head is secured to the container with a screw thread. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a gasket is placed between the filling head and the container to prevent fluid leaks, and wherein the gasket material is selected from the group consisting of paper, rubber, silicone, compressed fiber, grease, metal, plastic, cork, felt, neoprene, nitrile rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A balloon filling device comprising:
 a pressurizable container wherein the container includes a first opening and a second opening;   a filling head of a sufficient size and dimension to be secured to the first opening of the container;   a pump assembly of a sufficient size and dimension to be secured to the second opening of the container;   a nozzle having a first end and a second end and having an internal conduit traversing from the first end to the second end, in communication with the filler assembly, wherein the nozzle is sufficient to engage and maintain a balloon to be filled with the fluid; and   a trigger mechanism in communication with the nozzle that controls the release of pressurized fluid into the nozzle.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a pump handle in communication with the pump assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the nozzle includes at least one barb of a sufficient size and dimension to prevent a balloon from disengaging the nozzle while the balloon is being filled with fluid, wherein the barb comprises a radiused apical edge to reduce tearing the balloon. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a pickup tube having one end that communicates with the nozzle and a second end that contacts liquid in the container. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein a screen is secured to the second end of the pickup tube to reduce clogging the pickup tube, trigger mechanism, and nozzle with foreign objects. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the pump assembly comprises a substantially rigid, substantially cylindrical tube having an inside surface, an outside surface, a substantially open first end, a second end, and a middle portion between the first and second ends;   a pump shaft passing through the first end of the tube comprising a rigid rod having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion between the first and second ends, for reciprocating substantially within the confines of the tube;   a piston secured to the first end of the pump shaft comprising a flexible ring that engages the inside surface of the tube forming a seal and defining an inner tube cavity;   a pump handle secured to the second end of the pump shaft for gripping the pump shaft for manually reciprocating the pump shaft to expel air from the inner tube cavity;   a one way check valve communicating with the second end of the tube that allows air to be forced out of the inner tube cavity when the pump shaft plunges towards the second end of the tube, yet prevents air from returning into the tube cavity through the second end;   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the pump assembly comprises an electro-mechanical pump. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the fill head is secured to the container with a screw thread. 
     
     
         18 . A method of filling a balloon with fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing a fluid into a container, the container capable being pressurized by air, wherein the container includes an opening;   attaching a pump assembly proximate the filling head and extending the pump assembly in an opening of the container;   securing a filling head onto the container;   pumping the pump assembly to pressurize the container;   affixing a balloon onto a nozzle in communication with the fluid;   actuating a trigger mechanism to relieve the pressure of the container theryby forcible evacuating the container of fluid through the nozzle; and   filling the balloon with liquid.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the balloon is filled with a mixture of air and water. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the nozzle includes at least one barb of a sufficient size and dimension to prevent a balloon from disengaging the barb while the balloon is being filled with fluid.