Balloon inflation apparatus and plug therefor

Abstract

A balloon inflation apparatus for inflating balloons is provided. A balloon plug having a resilient body with an outer perimeter designed to engage the inside of the neck of a balloon. The balloon plug is interconnected to a spool. A pierceable central portion is provided. The inflation apparatus includes an inflation station supported by a support frame. The inflation station includes an engagement opening for retaining a balloon plug with a balloon engaged therewith. The station also includes an inflation needle which has a retracted position and an inflation position that extends through the pierceable central portion of a balloon plug retained by the plug connector when the needle is in the inflation position. The inflation station also includes an actuator to move the needle between the retracted and inflation positions. A pressurized gas supply is in fluid communication with the needle and operable to selectively supply gas to the needle when the needle is in the inflation position so that a balloon engaged with the pierced plug is inflated.

Primary Examiner: Banks; Derris H.
Assistant Examiner: Suhol; Dmitry
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gifford, Krass, Groh, Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.

Claims

We claim:

1. A balloon inflation apparatus for inflating a balloon of the type having a neck and a body, comprising:

a balloon plug having a resilient body with an outer perimeter for engaging the inside of the neck of the balloon and a pierceable central portion;

a spool for interconnecting with said plug, wherein said spool includes a cylindrical central core and a plurality of outwardly extending walls, and a radial engagement slot is formed therebetween said walls for engaging said interconnected spool and plug with an inflation station on the inflation apparatus;

wherein said inflation station is supported by a support frame and includes an inflation needle having a retracted position and an inflation position, said needle extending through said central portion of said balloon plug interconnected to said spool when the needle is in the inflation position and the needle not extending through said central portion when the needle is in the retracted position, said inflation station further including an actuator operable to move the needle between the retracted and inflation positions;

a pressurized gas supply in fluid communication with the needle and operable to selectively supply gas to the needle;

means operable to actuate the actuator so that the needle moves from the retracted position to the inflation position so that the central portion of said plug connected to said spool is pierced, said means further operable to supply gas to the needle when the needle is in the inflation position so that the balloon engaged by said pierced plug is inflated.

2. A balloon inflation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inflation station further includes a sensor for sensing whether said interconnected balloon plug and spool are engaged within an engagement opening in an inflation face of said inflation station.

3. A balloon inflation apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said inflation station includes a controller in communication with said sensor and operable to actuate said actuator if said interconnected balloon plug and spool are engaged in the engagement opening.

4. A balloon inflation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional inflation station.

5. A balloon inflation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means operable to actuate said actuator and supply gas includes a controller in communication with said actuator and said gas supply.

6. A balloon inflation apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said controller includes an adjustable timer and is operable to supply gas to the needle for a set period of time.

7. A balloon inflation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said gas supply includes a pressure regulator and a flow control valve.

8. A balloon inflation apparatus comprising:

a balloon plug having a resilient body with an outer perimeter for engaging the inside of the neck of the balloon and a pierceable central portion;

a spool for interconnecting with said plug, wherein said spool includes a cylindrical central core and a plurality of outwardly extending walls, and a radial engagement slot is formed therebetween said walls for engaging said interconnected spool and plug with an inflation station on the inflation apparatus;

wherein said inflation station is supported by a support frame and includes an inflation needle having a retracted position and an inflation position, said needle extending through said central portion of said balloon plug interconnected to said spool when the needle is in the inflation position and the needle not extending through said central portion when the needle is in the retracted position, said inflation station further including an actuator operable to move the needle between the retracted and inflation positions;

a pressurized gas supply in fluid communication with the needle and operable to selectively supply gas to the needle;

means operable to actuate the actuator so that the needle moves from the retracted position to the inflation position so that the central portion of said plug connected to said spool is pierced, said means further operable to supply gas to the needle when the needle is in the inflation position so that the balloon engaged by said pierced plug is inflated;

wherein said inflation station includes a sensor for sensing whether said interconnected balloon plug and spool are engaged within an engagement opening in an inflation face of said inflation station, wherein said sensor includes a detection cam having a detection finger for detecting finger position so as to be moved when said interconnected balloon plug and spool are engaged within the engagement opening.

9. A balloon inflation apparatus comprising:

a balloon plug having a resilient body with an outer perimeter for engaging the inside of the neck of the balloon and a pierceable central portion;

a spool for interconnecting with said plug, wherein said spool includes a cylindrical central core and a plurality of outwardly extending walls, and a radial engagement slot is formed therebetween said walls for engaging said interconnected spool and plug with an inflation station on the inflation apparatus;

wherein said inflation station is supported by a support frame and includes an inflation needle having a retracted position and an inflation position, said needle extending through said central portion of said balloon plug interconnected to said spool when the needle is in the inflation position and the needle not extending through said central portion when the needle is in the retracted position, said inflation station further including an actuator operable to move the needle between the retracted and inflation positions;

a pressurized gas supply in fluid communication with the needle and operable to selectively supply gas to the needle;

means operable to actuate the actuator so that the needle moves from the retracted position to the inflation position so that the central portion of said plug connected to said spool is pierced, said means further operable to supply gas to the needle when the needle is in the inflation position so that the balloon engaged by said pierced plug is inflated;

wherein said inflation station includes an inflation face with an engagement opening formed by a slot receiving said interconnected spool and plug.

10. A plug and spool assembly for use with a balloon of the type having an inflatable body and a filler neck having an inner surface, the filler neck terminating in a bead, said assembly comprising:

a plug having a resilient body with an outer perimeter for engaging the inner surface of the filler neck and a pierceable central portion, said plug having an inner face configured to face the body of the balloon and an outer face configured to face the bead of the balloon; and

a spool for interconnecting with said plug with a first face having an engagement means for engaging the outer face of the plug and a second face opposing said first face, said spool configured to support a ribbon thereon.

11. A plug and spool assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said pierceable portion of said plug has a slit defined at least partially therethrough to facilitate passage of a generally cylindrical needle.

12. A plug and spool assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein the slit is defined completely through said pierceable portion.

13. A plug and spool assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein the resilient body of said plug is formed of a material chosen from the group including natural rubber, silicon rubber, latex, and combinations thereof.

14. A plug and spool assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said spool includes a slot in said spool forming a ribbon attachment.

15. A plug and spool assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said spool includes a central core with a pair of radially extending walls defining a radial slot therebetween, said slot forming an attachment for attaching said spool to an inflator.

16. A balloon inflation apparatus for simultaneously inflating a plurality of balloons of the type having a neck and a body, comprising:

a balloon plug having a resilient body with an outer perimeter for engaging the inside of the neck of the balloon and a pierceable central portion;

a plurality of inflation stations supported by a support frame at spaced intervals, each of said inflation stations including a plug connector interconnected with a spool for retaining the balloon, wherein each station includes an inflation needle having a retracted position and an inflation position, said needle extending through the central portion of said balloon plug when said needle is in said inflation position and said needle not extending through the central portion when said needle is in said retracted position, and an actuator operable to move said needle between said retracted and inflation positions;

a pressurized gas supply in fluid communication with each of said needles and operable to selectively supply gas to said needles; and

a controller operable to control said actuators and said gas supply.