US3911974A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Balloon dispensing and filling machine
Assignee: MERCHANDISING ASSOCIATES Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-16
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1994-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A machine for dispensing individual balloons and inflating such balloons with a gas flowing through a selectively operated control valve. An electric circuit is provided for the machine which is powered solely by a battery, and this current operates the gas control valve as well as an indicator lamp which indicates to the user when the gas control valve should be activated. This circuit is designed to automatically open after a period of time under all operating conditions whereby neither the operator for the gas control valve nor the indicator lamp can inadvertently remain in circuit with the battery for any significant period of time, whereby the battery will not become drained of its power over a short period of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Claude W Kuykendall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:12
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F15/00; G07F15/04; F; F17; F17C; F17C7/00; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0104; F17C2201/0109; F17C2201/0119; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0323; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/04; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/07; F17C2270/0772
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for dispensing and filling balloons with gas including: a. a supply of balloons b. selectively operable means for serially dispensing individual balloons from said balloon supply; c. balloon filling means including a supply of gas, nozzle means connected to said gas supply and adapted to have a balloon fitted thereon for filling with said gas, and selectively operable valve means for controlling the flow of gas from said gas supply to said nozzle means; and d. control circuit means powered solely by a battery, and including electrical means for operating said valve means, a normally open manual switch, and circuit activating means operable in response to the operation of said dispensing means to automatically connect said battery in circuit with said valve operating means to cause energization thereof for a predetermined period of time when said manual switch is closed and to then automatically open the circuit conTaining said battery.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for dispensing and filling balloons with gas including: a. a supply of balloons b. selectively operable means for serially dispensing individual balloons from said balloon supply; c. balloon filling means including a supply of gas, nozzle means connected to said gas supply and adapted to have a balloon fitted thereon for filling with said gas, and selectively operable valve means for controlling the flow of gas from said gas supply to said nozzle means; and d. control circuit means powered solely by a battery, and including electrical means for operating said valve means, a normally open manual switch, and circuit activating means operable in response to the operation of said dispensing means to automatically connect said battery in circuit with said valve operating means to cause energization thereof for a predetermined period of time when said manual switch is closed and to then automatically open the circuit conTaining said battery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus for dispensing and filling balloons with gas as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said circuit activating means includes regulating means for selectively determining the length of said predetermined period said battery is connected in circuit with said valve operating means to energize the same.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for dispensing and filling balloons with gas as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said circuit activating means includes a two-position switch operated between first and second positions by said dispensing means, and a capacitor connected in circuit with said battery to be charged thereby in said first position of said two-position switch and connected in circuit with said manual switch when said two-position switch is at said second position thereof, said capacitor discharging through said manual switch when the latter is closed to thereby cause said battery to be connected in circuit with said valve operating means to energize the same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus for dispensing and filling balloons with gas as defined in claim 3 and further characterized in that said circuit activating means includes a relay controlled by a transistor to cause said battery to be connected in circuit with said valve operating means to energize the same when said transistor is conducting, and in that the base of said transistor is electrically biased by said capacitor during the discharge thereof through said manual switch when it is closed to cause said transistor to conduct during said discharge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus for dispensing and filling balloons with gas as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that a variable resistance is disposed between said capacitor and said transistor base to selectively regulate the bias imposed on said transistor base by said capacitor and thereby regulate the time during which said battery is connected in circuit with said valve operating means to energize the same.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus for dispensing and filling balloons with gas as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said apparatus further includes: e. indicating circuit means connected to said battery and being closed by operation of said circuit activating means, said indicating circuit means including an indicator and means for automatically opening said indicating circuit means after it has been closed for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus for dispensing and filling balloons with gas as defined in claim 6 and further characterized in that said indicator is a lamp, and in that said circuit opening means includes a thermal relay which is initially in a conductive state at a high resistance and which becomes conductive at a low resistance after the current flow therethrough generates a predetermined amount of heat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for dispensing and filling balloons with gas as defined in claim 7 and further characterized in that said indicator circuit includes a rectifier located in series with said battery, and indicator lamp and said thermal relay, and in that the gate of said rectifier is selectively connected to said battery by the operation of said circuit activating means to cause said battery to impose a bias on said rectifier gate whereby said rectifier will conduct.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus for dispensing and filling balloons with gas as defined in claim 8, and further characterized in that said circuit opening means includes a relay operated in response to said thermal relay changing to said low resistance state thereof to open said indicating circuit whereby said rectifier becomes non-conductive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus for dispensing and filling balloons with gas as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that said manual switch may be selectively opened and closed to break up said predetermined period of time into increments whereby one or more balloons may be filled with gas following one operation of said circuit activating means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3536110A
Cited
US3729033A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |