Collector apparatus for ribboned balloons for assembly of a balloon bouquet and method

Abstract

An apparatus in various embodiments with an elongate slot or slit with opposing contacting faces for receiving a ribbon of an inflated balloon therein for collecting as a balloon bouquet assembly, during the sequential process of inflating and tying individual balloons to ribbons. A method is disclosed of sequentially receiving in a balloon collector a ribboned inflated balloon for assembly of a balloon bouquet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collector apparatus for holding a plurality of ribbons attached to a respective inflated balloon for forming a balloon bouquet, comprising a planar member having a length and a width and a thickness that is a significant minority of the length and an edge portion, and a slot extending from an edge inwardly a predetermined distance, the edge defining an opening in the edge, and the slot having contacting opposing faces, whereby a ribbon being attached to an inflated balloon slides through the opening and along the slot with the contacting opposing faces frictionally engaging the ribbon to restrain the ribboned inflated balloon to the collector apparatus for forming a balloon bouquet. 
     
     
         2 . The collector apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive patch attached to a surface of the planar member and covered with a detachable sheet, whereby upon removal of the detachable sheet and exposing the adhesive patch, the planar member secures to a support surface by contact of the adhesive patch therewith. 
     
     
         3 . The collector apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the planar member defines a score to define a foldable portion and the adhesive patch attaches to the foldable portion, whereby the foldable portion folds at an angle on the score for attaching the collector apparatus to the support surface with the planar member disposed at an angle relative to the support surface. 
     
     
         4 . The collector apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive patch is an elongated double-sided adhesive surface tape having the detachable sheet on a first side and the adhesive surface of the opposing second side attaching the tape to the planar member. 
     
     
         5 . The collector apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the planar member is a flap of a regular slotted carton for holding a tank of an inflation gas for inflating balloons during assembly of a plurality of ribboned inflated balloons for the balloon bouquet. 
     
     
         6 . The collector apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the planar member is a side wall of a regular slotted carton for holding a tank of an inflation gas for inflating balloons during assembly of a plurality of ribboned inflated balloons for the balloon bouquet. 
     
     
         7 . The collector apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the planar member defines a score on which the planar member folds to define adjacent side walls of a regular slotted carton for holding a tank of an inflation gas for inflating balloons during assembly of a plurality of ribboned inflated balloons for the balloon bouquet, the slot formed along the score. 
     
     
         8 . The collector apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the edge of the planar member defines in a portion of the slot diverging opposing edges for receiving the ribbon therein for passage along the slot. 
     
     
         9 . The collector apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the opposing edges of the slot receive elongated resilient members for a contacting gap therebetween for receiving a portion of a balloon ribbon therein. 
     
     
         10 . A carton for holding a helium tank configured for inflating a plurality of balloons for a balloon bouquet, comprising:
 a blank having a plurality of side walls defined by spaced scores to define a folded container, a plurality of top flaps and opposing bottom flaps foldable on respective scores for closing the top and bottom of the folded container; and   a slot defined in the blank and extending from an opening therein to a distal extent with contacting opposing side faces, for receiving a ribbon of an inflated balloon therein for collecting as a balloon bouquet.   
     
     
         11 . The carton as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a tear strip defined in the blank for detaching to form an edge in an intermediate portion of the folded container and form in situ a hinge on which a portion of the folded container opens, the slot defined to open in the edge and extending therefrom in the side wall of the folded container. 
     
     
         12 . The carton as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a tear strip defined in the blank for detaching to form an edge in an intermediate portion of the folded container and form in situ a hinge on which a portion of the folded container opens, the slot defined to open in the edge and extending therefrom in one of the scores that define the side walls of the folded container. 
     
     
         13 . The carton as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the slot extends across one of the scores that define the plurality of side panels with opposing distal ends in adjacent side panels, the opening formed in the score that defines a corner edge of the folded container. 
     
     
         14 . The carton as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the slot extends from one of the scores for a respective one of the top flaps; and further comprising a second slot extending from the one of the scores aligned with the slot and extending in the side wall from which the one of the top flaps is foldably joined, whereby the top flap being folded inwardly against an interior surface of the side wall defines a opening in an edge of the side wall to the aligned slots for receiving a ribbon of an inflated ribboned balloons for collecting a balloon bouquet. 
     
     
         15 . A method of sequentially receiving in a balloon collector a ribboned inflated balloon for assembly of a balloon bouquet, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a base member that defines an elongate slot with opposing contacting faces for receiving a ribbon of an inflated balloon therein for collecting as a balloon bouquet assembly, during the sequential process of inflating and tying individual balloons to ribbons;   (b) securing the base member to a support surface;   (c) sequentially inflating a balloon and tying the inflated balloon to an elongated ribbon; and   (d) inserting a portion of the elongated ribbon though an opening of the slot and longitudinally along the opposing contacting faces for holding the inflated ribboned balloon thereby for assembly of a plurality of inflated balloon for a balloon bouquet.   
     
     
         16 . A balloon bouquet holder, comprising:
 a sheet having a medial score that defines a pair of opposing panels and a pair of lateral scores each spaced from the medial score on a respective opposing side of the medial score to define a foot foldable on the lateral score relative to the panel;   a notch defined in the opposing panels centered laterally on the medial score;   a pair of slits each extending through the sheet on a line in the panels from an edge of the notch through the respective panel to a distal extent; and   an adhesive on a backside of each foot for attaching the foot to a support,   whereby a sheet being folded on the medial score to bring the opposing panels together for attaching to a support with the adhesive of each foot folded outwardly relative to the panels, for receiving a ribbon of an inflated balloon through the notch into the slit for holding with other inflated balloons for a balloon bouquet.   
     
     
         17 . The balloon bouquet holder as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the notch is defined by a cut line to form a removable portion of the sheet. 
     
     
         18 . The balloon bouquet holder as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the cut line extends between a pair of opposing connectors of the sheet to detachably connect the removable portion to the sheet. 
     
     
         19 . A carton for holding a helium tank and having a balloon bouquet holder, comprising:
 a blank having a plurality of side walls defined by spaced scores and folded thereon to form a tubular container;   a bottom for the container;   a top for the container; and   a balloon bouquet holder comprising a notch open at an upper edge of one of the side walls and a slot extending from an edge of the notch to a distal extent in the side wall,   whereby the slot receives one or more ribbon of a plurality of ribboned inflated balloons for assembly of a balloon bouquet.   
     
     
         20 . The carton as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a removable portion of the blank defined by cut lines extending between opposing connections to the blank, the removable portion being removed to define the notch. 
     
     
         21 . The carton as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the top comprises a plurality of flaps each foldably attached on a score to an upper edge of the blank; and wherein the removable portion centers on the score and has mirroring opposing portions in the one of the side walls and in the flap foldably attached to the one of the side walls and the top flap including a slot extending from a cut line defining the removable portion therein to a distal extent, whereby the flap being folded inwardly and against an inner surface of the one of the side walls and the removable portion removed defines a notch at the upper edge of the one of the side walls and the slots in the one of the side walls and the inwardly folded flap align for receiving one or more ribbon of a plurality of ribboned inflated balloons for assembly of a balloon bouquet.