A latex balloon neck is pretreated by refreshing a region (18) of the inner surface (16) of the neck. The refreshed region extends substantially entirely around the inner circumference of the neck. The refreshing consists of cleaning the latex surface with a solvent e.g. isopropanol. The balloon neck is sealed by pressing (e.g. pinching and/or stretching) opposed areas of the refreshed surface (18) into direct contact with each other to form a latex-latex bond without requiring any additional ad...

A balloon containing a volume of lighter than air gas sufficient to render it buoyant has attached to it self-adjusting expandable or collapsible spring-like member in order to counteract the buoyancy of the balloon and retain it at an essentially stationary vertical position.

An inflatable article comprises a primary inflatable portion and at least one inflatable extension connected to the primary inflatable portion. The inflatable extension has a generally hook-shaped configuration adapted for interlocking engagement with a generally hook-shaped inflatable extension of another similar inflatable article in a manner to removably interlock the articles with one another when the articles are substantially inflated.

An aeronautical balloon is fabricated from a biaxially oriented plastic film which is obtained from a polyolefin resin composition comprising a homopolymer of copolymer of ethylene of at least about 50 percent by weight.

An inflatable medical balloon for multiple procedures, including angioplasty procedures, procedures for delivering medical devices, such as stents, and a method of making the catheter systems. The catheter system employs a balloon having a plurality of flexible portions and a combination of hard and soft portions.

A balloon apparatus includes a balloon having an inflation opening that can be closed for keeping the balloon inflated. The apparatus also includes a light source inside the balloon, wiring connecting a power source to the light source, and a tube through which the wiring extends. The tube may be entirely enclosed in the balloon. This balloon can be inexpensive to fabricate and can provide an attractive advertising medium.

An inflatable balloon is sealed gas-tight by forcing an intermediate section of the neck of the balloon through a hole in a disc sufficiently far to double the intermediate section over upon itself and to pinch the doubled-over portions together between the edges of the hole.

A toy balloon has an inflation valve secured thereon to selectively fill a chamber of the balloon with a fluid, such as helium. The valve comprises a stem defining a filling passage therethrough for communicating a pressurized fluid source with the inflatable chamber of the balloon and an elastomeric plug reciprocally mounted in the passage for movement in a first direction towards the chamber to openly communicate the passage with the chamber to permit filling thereof and for further movement i...

A toy balloon is automatically filled with helium gas using a system responsive to gas pressure. A novel check valve in the neck of the balloon is automatically opened upon insertion of a filler element. The flow of gas to the filler element from a constant pressure source is initiated by operation of a pushbutton which opens a valve which is resettable as a result of subsequent pressure build-up in the system. Opening of this valve results in opening a pilot valve through which gas flows to the...

A hot air balloon of conventional construction with a balloon envelope having an inlet aperture for hot air received from a heat generating device coupled with the envelope and directed into the aperture is provided with a hood coupled with the envelope adjacent the aperture. The hood extends part way round the aperture and is of scoop form extending outwardly from the aperture and partially around the heat generating device and serves to direct wind and hot air into the aperture to facilitate i...