US4077588A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Permanently buoyant balloon
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-09-15
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Granted: 1978-03-07
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Expires: 1995-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A substantially permanently buoyant balloon suitable for use as a toy or in advertising, for example, is provided which includes an envelope containing a lighter than air gas such as helium, which envelope is made from attached panels of a nonelastomeric polymer sheet material carrying a continuous metal layer on at least one side thereof. The metal layer can either be a thin metal film contiguously bonded to the polymer, or can be metal which is vapor deposited over the surface of the polymer. The balloon itself is constructed so that the ratio of its volume taken to the two-thirds power divided by its surface area is in the range of from about 0.21 to about 0.01, and the weight of the envelope can range from about 2.6 × 10 -4 gm/cm 2 to about 1.7 × 10 -2 gm/cm 2 . The envelope is preferably manufactured in two dimensional "lay-flat" form in any desired two dimensional shape unlike conventional balloon envelopes which are inherently three dimensional surfaces. Balloon envelopes having the above described volume to surface area ratio and made with the above described composite panel material will be maintained buoyant for an indefinite period of time when filled with the lighter than air gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald L. Hurst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:16
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64B; B64B1/00; B64B1/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A substantially permanently air buoyant balloon comprising a substantially gas impermeable envelope filled with a lighter than air gas at about atmospheric pressure, said envelope being made from attached panels of a composite material comprising at least one nonelastomeric polymer sheet continuous throughout said panel which has a continuous opaque coating of a vapor deposited metal on at least one side thereof, said panels being attached to form said envelope by continuous seals along peripheral portions thereof, said envelope having an internal volume of up to about 20 cu. ft. and having a ratio of its volume taken to the two-thirds power to its surface area of from about 0.21 to about 0.01, and an average envelope weight in the range of from about 2.6 × 10 -4 gm/cm 2 to about 1.7 × 10 -4 gm/cm 2 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A substantially permanently air buoyant balloon comprising a substantially gas impermeable envelope filled with a lighter than air gas at about atmospheric pressure, said envelope being made from attached panels of a composite material comprising at least one nonelastomeric polymer sheet continuous throughout said panel which has a continuous opaque coating of a vapor deposited metal on at least one side thereof, said panels being attached to form said envelope by continuous seals along peripheral portions thereof, said envelope having an internal volume of up to about 20 cu. ft. and having a ratio of its volume taken to the two-thirds power to its surface area of from about 0.21 to about 0.01, and an average envelope weight in the range of from about 2.6 × 10 -4 gm/cm 2 to about 1.7 × 10 -4 gm/cm 2 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 1 wherein said continuous coating of vapor deposited metal has a thickness in the range of from about 3 × 10 -7 inch to about 2 × 10 -3 inch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 1 wherein said layer of vapor deposited metal has a thickness in the range of from about 1 × 10 -6 inch to about 5 × 10 -5 inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 1 wherein said vapor deposited metal is aluminum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 1 wherein said nonelastomeric polymer is selected from polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride, polyesters, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, regenerated cellulose, polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, ionomers, polyamides and nitrile polymers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 1 wherein said panels of composite material comprise a first said nonelastomeric polymer sheet having said continuous coating of vapor deposited metal thereon, and a second sheet of a nonelastomeric polymer continuously bonded to said vapor deposited metal thereby leaving said vapor deposited metal sandwiched between said first and second sheets of nonelastomeric polymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 6 wherein said metal is aluminum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 1 wherein said panels of composite material comprise said nonelastomeric polymer sheet having a continuous coating of a vapor deposited metal on both sides thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 8 wherein said metal is aluminum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 1 wherein said lighter than air gas is helium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
157 words
A substantially permanently air buoyant balloon comprising a substantially gas impermeable envelope filled with helium at about atmospheric pressure, said envelope being made from attached panels of a composite material comprising at least one nonelastomeric polymer sheet continuous throughout said panel which has a continuous coating of a vapor deposited metal on at least one side thereof, said continuous coating having a thickness in the range of from about 1 × 10 -6 to about 5 × 10 -5 inch, said panels being attached to form said envelope by continuous seals along peripheral portions thereof, said envelope having an internal volume of up to about 20 cu. ft. and having a ratio of its volume taken to the two-thirds power to its surface area of from about 0.21 to about 0.01 and an average envelope weight in the range of from about 2.6 × 10 -4 gm/cm 2 to about 1.7 × 10 -2 gm/cm 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
A substantially permanently air buoyant balloon comprising a substantially gas impermeable envelope filled with helium at about atmospheric pressure, said envelope being made from attached panels of a composite material comprising at least one nonelastomeric polymer sheet continuous throughout said panel which has a continuous coating of a vapor deposited metal on at least one side thereof, said continuous coating having a thickness in the range of from about 1 × 10 -6 to about 5 × 10 -5 inch, said panels being attached to form said envelope by continuous seals along peripheral portions thereof, said envelope having an internal volume of up to about 20 cu. ft. and having a ratio of its volume taken to the two-thirds power to its surface area of from about 0.21 to about 0.01 and an average envelope weight in the range of from about 2.6 × 10 -4 gm/cm 2 to about 1.7 × 10 -2 gm/cm 2 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 11 wherein said vapor deposited metal is aluminum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 11 wherein said nonelastomeric polymer is selected from polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride, polyesters, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, regenerated cellulose, polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, ionomers, polyamides and nitrile polymers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 11 wherein said panels of composite material comprise a first said nonelastomeric polymer sheet having said continuous coating of vapor deposited metal thereon, and a second sheet of a nonelastomeric polymer continuously bonded to said vapor deposited metal thereby leaving said vapor deposited metal sandwiched between said first and second sheets of nonelastomeric polymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 14 wherein said metal is aluminum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The air buoyant balloon of claim 11 wherein said panels of composite material comprise said nonelastomeric polymer sheet having a continuous coating of a vapor deposited metal on both sides thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The air buoyant ballon of claim 16 wherein said metal is aluminum.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-06 | 1981-09-05 | 1982-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-06 | 1985-09-05 | 1986-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-06 | 1989-09-05 | 1990-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |