INFLATABLE ACCESSORY

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an inflatable accessory, referable to a sort of “balloon,” basically a balloon for babies and young children.

This solution is applied in particular in the entertainment sector, in particular in the industry of balloons made of foil, that is metalized plastic (Mylar®) or nylon.

It should be noted that the terms “inflatable accessory” and “balloon” are used below without distinction since this invention is mainly applicable to this type of product for amusement and enjoyment.

In the prior art, these types of inflatable accessories, that is to say, balloons, are usually made from thin layers of metalized plastic (that is, Mylar®) which are cut according to a predetermined shape and then joined at the edges by heat, by sealing to form the shape and the final object.

Unlike balloons made of latex, these balloons are cut with a very wide range of geometries in such a way as to form, once inflated, that is to say, in use, balloons of a particular shape, which are suitable for parties, events or any type of use.

Typically, these balloons, which are commercially known, for example, as foil balloons, are shaped to make three-dimensional figures once filled with helium or simply with air.

Moreover, these balloons have drawings or colours on their outer surfaces in accordance with the figure to be formed: for example, teddy bears, puppies, animals or cartoon characters in general.

Generally, these colours or set of lines which form the character, occupy the entire outer surface so it is difficult, if not impossible, to find spaces not touched by markings or colours.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of this invention is to provide an inflatable accessory, or balloon, which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the aim of this invention to provide an inflatable accessory, or balloon, of the foil type suitable for filling with air, or gas of another type, to form a figure in which there is a space designed to be filled—more or less partly—with products other than the material constituting the accessory itself.

More specifically, the aim of this invention is to make the space free of text or colours and for this reason designed to be written on with ink.

Further, the particular aim of the invention is that the surface designed to be a free space is made of material which does not absorb the ink product positioned on it.

These aims are fully achieved by the inflatable accessory, or balloon, according to this invention, comprising the features described in one or more of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of it, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an inflatable accessory according to this invention during its use;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a variant embodiment of the solution of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic side view of the accessory according to this invention in its stretched configuration of use, that is, inflated;

FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate variant embodiments of the accessory according to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes an inflatable accessory, or balloon, according to this invention.

The balloon 1 is of the foil type, that is, made of plastic material, preferably a thermoplastic polymer.

In the preferred embodiments, the balloon is made of polyethylene terephthalate (in particular Mylar® or the like) or nylon.

In any case, the balloon 1 according to this invention is not made of latex or the like.

The balloon 1 comprises a main body 1a made, in the simplest embodiment, from sheets of plastic material which are superposed and connected by means of one or more seal lines to form a chamber 5 for inflation of the balloon 1.

It should be noted that the term “seal lines” means a generic joining line between the sheets in question, preferably made by heating the material.

It should be noted that the dosed perimeter line 6 delimits peripherally the main body 1a.

As shown in the drawings, the inflatable accessory comprises:

• • a main body 1a formed by one or more sheets 2 which are made of the thermoplastic polymer and are connected to each other by means of one or more seal lines to form the chamber 5 for inflation of the balloon.
  • at least one portion L of the main body 1a, made with the same material as the sheet 2 and as one piece with it,
  • the portion L forms a second body 1b configured in the form of a surface S, the aim and purpose of which is to allow the application of ink on it.

The term ink is defined as a preparation of variable consistency, from liquid to pasty, consisting of solutions of dyes or suspensions of pigments in a dispersing fluid, with the characteristic of fixing itself on certain materials, such as paper or other supports suitable for the writing, printing or use of a stamp.

Inks for writing are basically aqueous solutions of dye products, to which other products are added which are designed to give the most suitable features for use.

This type of ink must give a sharp line without blurs, be sufficiently clear, dry rapidly and not corrode or attack the materials with which it comes into contact.

These inks constitute the basis of common pens or felt-tip pens of colours various.

As explained above, the portion L forms a second body 1b configured in the form of a surface S, the aim and purpose of which is allow the application of ink on it: this may occur in a removable manner (that is, it may be deleted) or in permanent manner, depending on the inks and the requirements.

Preferably, the second body 1b is shaped in the form of a flat surface, with one or more faces to form a sort of book 10 or notepad.

In FIG. 1 the book 10 has the shape (or at least appearance) of a double page, whilst in FIG. 2 it has a single page shape or appearance.

Preferably, the first body 1a is configured to form, in use and with the inflatable chamber 5, a three-dimensional figure having at least one pair of protrusions 5a containing or embracing the second body 1b.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there are two pairs of protrusions 5a containing or embracing the second body 1b.

Further, preferably, the pair of protrusions 5a is made as one piece with the sheet 2.

Lastly, the first body 1a is configured to form, in use, a three-dimensional figure referable to a human or animal or fantasy figure which has at least one pair of protrusions 5a, made as one piece with the sheet 2, and embracing the second body 1b. The latter is shaped in the form of a flat surface, with one or more planes, to form a sort of book 10 or notepad.

FIGS. 4 to 7 show how the inflatable accessory has the inflatable chamber 5 divided into several sub-chambers 5p of which at least one comprises at least the above-mentioned portion L made as one piece with it, forming the second body 1b configured in the form of a surface S.

In short, the sub-chambers (which may have comparable or completely different dimensions from each other depending on the shape of the balloon to be achieved) are connected to each other in such a way that, when inflating, the air penetrates and reaches both the chambers to form the final shape.

It is all made by suitable sealing of the sheets constituting the accessory which leave a duct between the two (or more) sub-chambers.

In FIG. 4 the lower sub-chamber has smaller dimensions than the upper sub-chamber and also has the second body 1b with the relative surface S. The numeral 20 denotes the duct and the joining point between the two sub-chambers.

In FIG. 5 there are three sub-chambers 5p1, 5p2, 5p3 connected to each other at points 21 and 22.

In FIG. 6 there is a situation similar to that of FIG. 4 with the upper sub-chamber 5p1 much larger than the lower sub-chamber 5p2, with connecting duct labelled 24.

Lastly, FIG. 7 shows an extreme solution, wherein the first sub-chamber is prevalent and forms a complete fantasy figure, which is connected, by a duct 26, to a small sub-chamber 5p2 which forms the second body 1b with relative surface S.

Also, in all the solutions shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the same material of the sheet 2 is used for all the chambers, sub-chambers and portion L.

Reference has not be made in this description to how the inflatable element itself may be made. In this regard, it should be noted that the object may be made either in a single body (a single piece) or using several sheets joined together (sealed) according to the needs of the manufacturer or the more or less complex features of resulting figure.

In effect, the balloon solution according to this invention, forms, in use, that is, in the inflated three-dimensional configuration, a figure from which two pairs of protrusions 5a extend (which can form the arms and the legs of the figure), which, in turn, embrace the second body 1b. The latter being shaped to form a surface S sufficiently large to be able to contain writing which may be added to it by the end user.

In other words, the desired aim has been to create, as one piece with the main body of the balloon, a second body free beforehand of writing or colours and which acts as a portion to be used for writing. This may be single or multiple, that is, distributed, where existing, between the various sub-chambers.

The shape illustrated in the form of a book or notepad 10 is the preferred but non-limiting shape.

The balloon product will therefore have the purpose of forming a three-dimensional figure which is referable, by the colours or lines formed on the outside of it, to a fantasy subject, but in which a free space is left which can be used for writing.

An example might be that of applying on the free space a written greeting, a thought, a name, or something else, so as to personalise the product.

The material with which the balloon is made, even for the writing surface, will be of the type which does not absorb ink placed on it: in this way, it will be possible to write, cancel and rewrite as desired.