System, device, and method for filling at least one balloon

Abstract

An apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a fluid-additive mixture. The apparatus including a connector configured to removably couple the apparatus to a fluid source, a plurality of coupling elements, each coupling element configured to couple a corresponding container to the apparatus, a flow path providing fluid communication between the fluid source and each of the containers coupled to the apparatus, and a mixing mechanism disposed in the flow path and configured to receive an additive and introduce the additive into the flow path. The apparatus being configured such that a fluid supplied by the fluid source flows through the flow path and the mixing mechanism, thereby creating the fluid-additive mixture and filling each of the plurality containers coupled to the apparatus with the fluid-additive mixture substantially simultaneously.

1 . An apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a fluid-additive mixture, the apparatus comprising:
 a connector configured to removably couple the apparatus to a fluid source;   a plurality of coupling elements, each coupling element configured to couple a corresponding container to the apparatus;   a flow path providing fluid communication between the fluid source and each of the containers coupled to the apparatus; and   a mixing mechanism disposed in the flow path and configured to receive an additive and introduce the additive into the flow path,   wherein the apparatus is configured such that a fluid supplied by the fluid source flows through the flow path and the mixing mechanism, thereby creating the fluid-additive mixture and filling each of the plurality containers coupled to the apparatus with the fluid-additive mixture substantially simultaneously.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the additive includes a dye. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the additive includes at least one of a pellet, a gel, and a powder. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector includes the mixing mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the mixing mechanism includes a separator which defines at least a first and a second chamber in an interior of the connector, the first and second chambers being in fluid communication. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the additive is substantially secured within the first chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of conduits, each container being coupled to a corresponding conduit by the corresponding coupling element. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each coupling element is configured to automatically seal the corresponding container when the corresponding container is decoupled from the apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of containers include a plurality of balloons. 
     
     
         10 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a mixture of a fluid and an additive, the apparatus comprising:
 a connector including a first coupling element configured to removably couple the apparatus to a fluid source configured to provide the fluid, the connector including:
 an interior portion defining a flow path, 
 a mixing mechanism disposed within the interior portion, 
 an additive disposed in the mixing mechanism, and 
 a plurality of openings each having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends being in fluid communication, 
   a plurality of conduits coupled to each of the plurality of openings, the plurality of containers being removably coupled to the plurality of conduits via a plurality of corresponding second coupling elements, each container being in fluid communication with the flow path,   wherein the apparatus is configured such that the fluid supplied by the fluid source flows through the flow path and the mixing mechanism, thereby creating the mixture of the fluid and the additive and filling each of the plurality containers coupled to the apparatus with the mixture substantially simultaneously.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the additive includes a dye. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the mixing mechanism includes a separator which defines at least a first and a second chamber in the interior portion of the connector, the first and second chambers being in fluid communication. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the additive is substantially secured within the first chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein each second coupling element is configured to automatically seal the corresponding container when the corresponding container is decoupled from the apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of containers include a plurality of balloons.