A medical balloon and a catheter utilizing the balloon and a mechanism to attach the medical balloon to the catheter tube, and method of making the balloon. The attachement mechanism forms a joint and comprises a plurality of co-extruded and coextensive layers of different polymeric materials, at least one of which is a base structural layer and the other of which is formed of polyethylene and copolymers thereof or of Selar. The base structural layer is thicker then the other layer. The attachme...

The invention relates to a valve for toy balloons, this valve opening inwardly under very minor excess pressure and yet providing a tight seal by means of an additional cap. A container surrounding the valve and flaring conically serves for introducing the valve into the balloon aperture without the need for a special mounting or sealing means. The container is sealed by a removable lid containing the cap and simultaneously making it possible to introduce an internal illumination for the balloon...

A system and method for filling balloons. A reusable web holding uninflated balloons attached at the neck is loaded onto a machine for inflating balloons. This machine features a digital motion control apparatus which advances the web a precise distance. After the web advances, a supply nozzle is inserted into the neck of the uninflated balloon directly beneath the nozzle. The balloon is filled, the supply nozzle lifted, and the balloon is removed from the machine. The web is then advanced again...

A package for non-inflated toy elastomer balloons of like size having on the exterior thereof a picture of one of the balloons inflated to optimum size being held by a child of recognizable size thus indicating the size to which the balloons in the package can be inflated without deleterious effect to the balloon.

A medical balloon composed of a micro-composite material which provides for radial expansion of a balloon to a predetermined extent, but which has minimal longitudinal growing during balloon inflation. The micro-composite material includes a fibril component, a matrix component, and optionally, a compatibilizer. The fibril component may preferably be liquid crystal polymer fibers randomly scattered through out the balloon material. The liquid crystal polymers are created by extrusion at high spe...

A pinch ring for the thread balloon of a spinning machine or twisting machine is substantially a single wire loop forming a spiral or helix. The ring may have overlapping end portions. The degree of overlap and the shape of the overlapping end portions as well as the pitch and the axial clearance between opposite points in the overlapping portions are all critical to the performance of the ring. The pinch ring defined by the invention permits substantially higher production rates without decreas...

A closure member for sealingly closing the neck of an inflated balloon includes a pair of legs interconnected by a hinge. One of the legs is substantially linear while the other leg has an arcuate section. Complementary sealing channels and grooves are provided on the interior surfaces of the legs. A lock sealingly closes the legs together.

A cold air inflatable screen which can be inflated with a suitable air source and has sidewalls and a backwall and top and bottom and a front screen of white material. The screen is inflated and is tied down with suitable tie lines and a projector is placed inside the screen for projecting advertising or other material onto the white screen. Zippers are located in various locations so as to allow the balloon to be deflated. Thus, the inflatable screen or balloon can be moved rapidly and assemble...

The rigid helium balloon has a helium compartment and a separate, channel portion. Helium gas is filled into the helium compartment through a valve in the balloon. Fiberglass rod members are inserted into the channel portion to help retain the desired shape of the balloon. The rod members also provide a counterbalancing weight which prevents the balloon from floating upward. Thus, the balloon, once released into the air, will retain its shape and remain floating at the height from which it was r...

Metallized polymeric dipoles are affixed to the surface of balloons which are tracked by radar.