Balloon carrousel

Claim 1

A balloon carousel useful as a small or large scale device for amusement and educational purposes comprising a balloon inclusive of a bag constructed of a material impervious to a lighter-than-air gas which can be used to fill the bag and provide buoyancy, a stationary platform provided with a rotatable member, a rigid rod one end of which is pivotally connected to the balloon, and the other end of which is provided with a finger and pivotally connected to the rotatable member located on the stationary platform, motor means associated with said rotatable member located on the stationary platform for driving said rotatable member, and rigid rod secured thereto, ballast located on said balloon sufficient to ground said balloon, but for the presence of which the balloon can ascend from ground to an overhead position due to its buoyancy, ballast release means suitable for release of the ballast to produce ascent of the balloon from ground to overhead position, lift of the rigid rod from which the balloon is tethered to the rotatable member and stationary platform, and effect movement of said finger, a first electrical circuit providing a first switch which can be actuated by the finger of the rigid rod on ascent of the balloon which brings the finger into contact with said first switch to electrically operate and energize said first electrical circuit thereby starting the motor means so that it can drive the rotatable member located on the platform and move the rigid rod and balloon through a circular path, and a second electrical circuit providing a second switch which can be contacted and actuated by the finger of the rod, the actuation of said second switch de-energizing said first circuit by actuation of a solenoid, the plunger of which contacts and cuts off the first switch and pushes against the finger to return the rigid rod to its starting position and produce descent of the balloon.