US1870825A - Process of printing on inflatable articles - Google Patents

Description

Aug 9, 1932" c. c. SPRAGUE 1,870,825

PROCESS OF PRINTING ON INFLATABLE ARTICLES Filed Dec. 29. 1930 WTNESS Patented Aug. 9, 1932 OFFICE CARL o. SPRAGUE, or wns rnono; MASSACHUSETTS PROCESS or PRINTING oN INFLATABLE ARTICLES Application filed December 29, 193o.*seria1 o. 505,300.

This invention relates to improvements in the processof printing on inflatable articles, suchas balloons and the like.

Heretofore various attempts have been made to print on the surfaces of inflatable articles, such as balloons. been printed while inflated, but such method is impracticable .since the slippage of the rubber on the printing blocks during printing smudges the ink and produces irregular, distorted figures or designs on the surface of the balloon. Such articles have also been printed with words, pictures, designs or figures when deflated. The images printed by latter method become materially distorted when inflated, and the image separates into indefinitely small portions, and thereby detracts from its appearance. Neither of these methods as above mentioned are practicable, if it is desired to imprint a design extending over a considerable area of the inflatable surface.

It is the primary object of this invention to overcome these previous difliculties and to provide a process of printing on inflatable articles while in a stretched and flat condi-' tion, so that it is possible to print a design extending over any portion or practically the entire surface of the articles.

Other objects will be apparent from the following disclosure. One embodiment of this process has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts.

Fig. lis a plan view of the form indicating a balloon in position, ready to be inflated;

Fig. 2 is another plan View showing the balloon partially inflated, and partially slipped over the form; t

Fig. 3 is a further plan view showing the balloon inflated and the form slipped entirely therein;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified apparatus; and a Y V Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner of support during printmg.

This improved process of printing on inflatable articles, such as balloons, in its broadest aspect consists of inserting a form, having a predetermined shape and size, inside Balloons have of the balloon to-stretch and hold its surface for printing, and then printing on the surfaces of the article. The'form may be of a rigid, or a collapsible construction, and may be made of any suitable material.

As illustrated in the drawing, an inflatablearticle, such as a balloon 10 is first stretched so that it forms a flat object having a perimeter of the same shape and approximating the size of a great circle of the inflated article. This may be accomplished by inflating the balloon and inserting aform -12, of the predetermined shape and size, therein during inflation; The neck of the I balloon 10- is placed over the open end of the tubular form 12. The form is connected to a Valve 13 which controls the passage of air-under pressure from any suitablesource.

The neck 11 is held tightly around the form when air under pressure is admitted through the tubular form to inflate the balloon. As the balloon inflates, the neck is moved around the form as indicated in Fig. 2. The inflation ofthe balloon 10 and the movement of the neck 11 around the form= l2 continues until the form is entirely within the balloon. The. air pressure is then shut off, and the neck'll released so that airwithinthe ball'o-on may escape. Whenthe balloon is entirely deflated, the balloon fits tightly over so the form and provides two flat surfaces which may be-readily printed upon by'any well known printing apparatus. 'If desirable, the balloon may first be inflated, and then the form inserted while the balloon is wholly inflated, or as it starts deflating in size. 2

A modified apparatus is illustrated in Fig. l in which a stopper 15 is placed in the neck 11 of the balloon 12. An air pipe 16 is connected with the hole 17 in the stopper to admit air under pressure to inflate the balloon. The end 20 of a wire form 18 is then 2 passed through a hole 19 in the stopper 15. As the balloon is inflated, the stopper 15 and neck 11 are moved around the wire form, in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, until theentire form is inside the balloon. The balloon is then deflated sothat it stretches tightly and flatly over thewire form. Byutilizing a wire form, a thinner fiat object maybe obtained for printing.

The printing may then be accomplished on any well known printing apparatus. In

. the preferred manner, however, a platen 23 is provided for the printing press, having a groove 21 of size and shape so'that the form 12 or 18 fwillcfit therein. {Thecenter portion 22 of the platen forms a flat back 7 p 10 ing surface for the balloon during 7 i The impression may then -be'-- iiiade lay-any h printing type or cuts to. producethe desired impression 0r designpn'theballoon; As'illustrated in'Fig. 5, aepo rtion ioithe globe,

16 the Western Hemisph'ere'5 has beeninipressed" thereon. The balloon; then be turned over and the Eastern .Hemisphegre printed on the, other side, thus iformingla substantially continuous design around the surface a of the balloon. It. will he readily appree ciated from the above; disclosure that any words, characters,- or designs can be ima printed on the. surface ofar balloon without q the danger oismudging the ink Due to the 1 fact that theprinting is done while the bal- 7' 10011 is stretched, thedistortion of the image wheninflated Wlillbe minimized. V

The term great-circle as used inthe foregoing shall be interpreted as meaning a so eifimeter of the inflated-balloon on a plane passing therethrough and vcontaining the axis 0f the-balloon.

What-I claim as new. anddesire to secure by L tte s Patent is: I i

a 1 1. The process of printingon inflatable articles consisting in stretchingthe article v to aflatform of a shape and size approxina-ting a great circleof the article when inflated then printin-gthereon ina' stretched flat condition T ecprocess of. printing on inflatable 4 airtlcles, consisting in. inflatingthe article and M ineerting fa iorm therein having a shape and size approximating 'greatcircle ofthe artiole when inflated, thenv deflating the article sothat it is stretched firmly-arid flatly over said form, and then-printing thereon While in a stretched but flat condition.

Signed at Westboro, Massachusettg-this 59 Qth day of December, 1930;

, e VQGARL G.SPRAGUE.

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