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WO2003000369A1 - Crochets raccordables - Google Patents

Crochets raccordables Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2003000369A1
WO2003000369A1 PCT/NZ2002/000006 NZ0200006W WO03000369A1 WO 2003000369 A1 WO2003000369 A1 WO 2003000369A1 NZ 0200006 W NZ0200006 W NZ 0200006W WO 03000369 A1 WO03000369 A1 WO 03000369A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
clip
linkable
balloon
neck
elongated member
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NZ2002/000006
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Warren Verndell Wainohu
Original Assignee
Warren Verndell Wainohu
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Warren Verndell Wainohu filed Critical Warren Verndell Wainohu
Priority to US10/181,732 priority Critical patent/US20040077268A1/en
Publication of WO2003000369A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003000369A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H27/00—Toy aircraft; Other flying toys
    • A63H27/10—Balloons
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H27/00—Toy aircraft; Other flying toys
    • A63H27/10—Balloons
    • A63H2027/1041—Holding or sealing means, e.g. handling rods, clamps or plugs

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a clip for holding items, the clip capable of becoming linked to other items, including other similar clips as in a daisy-chained arrangement, and more particularly the invention relates to linkable clips for use in holding one or more decorative items which may then be assembled into structures.
  • the invention arose out of a realisation that it is difficult to blow up latex (party) balloons and then link them together in arrays or other structures, generally as part of a decorative activity.
  • people have been tying off the neck of each balloon with a knot, and then to rather slowly make assemblies of very limited size and also restricted configuration; perhaps two to four balloons sharing a common knotted-together neck.
  • persons wishing to arrange festoons of decorative balloons about a venue have had to tie them together with string, rubber bands, or the like and the process is generally regarded as fiddly and difficult to manage. What if one of the balloons is not as tight as the remainder? It is especially difficult to modify such an arrangement once the balloons have been tied together, yet on many occasions a person will step back and wish to modify an arrangement in progress.
  • the immediate problem to be solved is to provide means with which to link a plurality of distended latex (party) balloons in a cluster, so that they can be arranged in a pleasing manner with a minimum of effort.
  • parties distended latex
  • Previously known balloon clips (such as those described in the patent citations below) are solely dedicated to actually sealing compressed gas within the balloon by forcibly constricting the neck of the balloon. They seal the balloons, but are not also capable of being attached to anything else. It appears that means to arrange already-distended balloons by linking them together in a convenient cluster have not previously been provided.
  • Linkable clips (wherein any one clip - of any type - is capable of becoming linked together with another clip) are generally uncommon.
  • US 1201045 Head provides a metal clip that traps the neck of the balloon within mating parts of the clip.
  • US 3612475 Dinger and US 3713622 Dinger provide a plastics clip, made of unitary construction able to be cut off an extruded section of a plastic material, for sealing the valve of a balloon or the like. There is no evidence of means for joining these clips with any other thing.
  • US 4380103 McGrath et al describes a very similar clip to Dinger though with some internal sculpting of the channel formed at the most bent portion of the clip.
  • US 4416038 Morrone has a hinged injection-moulded clip having several pairs of mating catches the broad one of which is intended to trap the balloon neck.
  • US 4648178 McGrath provides a magazine for dispensing a series of clips according to his previous patent (US 4380103), each clip having with a hinge, locking arms, and an open-ended channel so that a series of balloons can be tied off at speed.
  • US 5411527 Nelson describes a balloon weight and latch assembly for lighter-than- air balloons.
  • US 5666709 Suzuki et al provides a device for readily causing clips of the McGrath style to become sealed around the neck of a balloon. Clips surrounding balloon necks are drawn down an increasingly narrowed gap.
  • the invention provides a clip for use in creating chains, assemblies, or festoons of items, the clip comprising an elongated member having at a first end an engagement means capable of forming a reversible coupling with a complementary engagement means at a second end of a like clip, the clip also being provided, along the length of the elongated member, with at least one engagement means capable of forming a reversible attachment with at least one item.
  • the invention provides a linkable clip wherein the linkable clip comprises an elongated member bearing at least one holding structure comprising a branch of the elongated member, the branch being curved back through a substantial fraction of a circle in order to form a throat against a part of the elongated clip and in order to delimit a partially enclosed aperture, the holding structure being capable of holding a neck of a distended balloon in a sealed state, so that the linkable clip can support at least one distended balloon.
  • the linkable clip also includes at least one fully enclosed aperture formed at one end of the elongated member' this aperture being capable of receiving a nail, wire, or other holder as well as a branch or holding structure of another clip.
  • the number of holding structures is in the range of from one to at least nine.
  • the number of holding structures is in the range of from one to five.
  • the linkable clip is made of a stiff though not rigid (i.e. tough) material.
  • the linkable clip is made of a plastics material, and preferably the linkable clip is made by an injection moulding process.
  • the moulding process is a simple one-step moulding, though optionally the process may create twisted or bent clips.
  • the linkable clip is made of a metal; preferably a tough metal capable of resuming its original shape after being deformed.
  • the linkable clip may be made by being pressed or stamped from a sheet of raw material.
  • edges may be smoothed over.
  • the invention provides a method for constructing a display comprised of distended latex (or similar) balloons, the method including the steps of taking a first linkable clip and a selected, distended balloon, holding the balloon by the base of the neck so that the contents cannot escape during the following procedure, wrapping the neck around the side branch of the elongated member of the linkable clip, and catching the open end of the neck against a holder of the linkable clip so that the neck cannot unwrap itself.
  • a further step comprises the act of repeatedly adding distended balloons to available holders of the linkable clip.
  • a yet further step comprises the act of clipping another linkable clip to the linkable clip.
  • a still further step comprises the act of attaching at least one linkable clip to a substrate, such as a pole, a wall, or a ceiling.
  • Fig 1 An oblique view of a "three-holder” clip according to the invention.
  • Fig 2 A plan view of the clip of Fig 1.
  • Fig 3 An oblique view of a "five holder” clip according to the invention.
  • Fig 4 An edge view of the clip of Fig 3.
  • Fig 5 An oblique view of a "one holder” clip according to the invention.
  • Fig 6 A "one holder" clip including an embedded cord.
  • Fig 7 A linked assembly of clips from Fig 3 and Fig 5.
  • Fig 8 An earlier version of a linkable clip.
  • Fig 9 Diagram of a method for tying a balloon neck about a clip.
  • Fig 10 Tracing from an image of a method for tying a balloon neck about a clip.
  • the clips of this invention are intended to be able to hold (1) items to be held, or (2) other clips, or (3) both.
  • Fig 5 shows a "one-holder” clip.
  • Fig 1 shows a "three-holder clip", capable of holding up to three other clips or other items such as balloons.
  • Fig 3 shows a five-holder example. Any reasonable number of holders can be included in a clip; nine or even more; 110 though we consider the five-holder version to be convenient. A user may snip off any unwanted jaws using a pair of side cutters or scissors.
  • the clip shown in oblique view in Fig 1 is an injection-moulded shape made of a stiff though bendable (that is, tough but not brittle) plastics material.
  • 115 straight section 101 of Fig 1 is about 39 mm.
  • a typical cross section is about 2.5 mm square, or an equivalent area in circular profile.
  • Suitable plastics materials are selected from the available range of injection-mouldable polymers currently including polypropylene, ABS, polycarbonate or other blends (alloys) of polymers, as will be well known to one skilled in injection moulding. Fillers and dyes may be used, even fluorescent dyes and phosphors, in order to make the clips more attractive.
  • One requirement of the plastic is that when fabricated in the selected dimensions it is capable of supporting and
  • Each clip should have a controlled amount of flexibility at room temperature so that the holding structures can be loaded easily and the clip then holds on to the item(s) to be held. Extended lifetimes in adverse environments are not usually a requirement, but we prefer to design for re-use up to 8 times or so.
  • the presently preferred manufacturing process is injection moulding, although other methods may be applicable such as pressing, stamping, or cutting from a sheet of plastic, (optionally while softened by heat), or any other commercially viable method.
  • the basic clips of the examples described herein can be made extremely cheaply. Dies to make the preferred shapes can be milled simply into a flat surface using a 2.5 mm end mill on a numerically controlled
  • the clip has a first widened end 103 enclosing a closed circular aperture 102 (typically 3.5 mm diameter), which may be used to hold the clip to another clip, or the clip may be pinned or nailed through the aperture and so fixed onto a surface. (More than one widened end 103 enclosing an aperture 102 may be provided). Alternatively the clip may be tied to a 150 string, wire or the like through the hole and so held in space. Each other "limb" of the clip (104, 107, 112) incompletely encloses a respective aperture, which is like a pair of jaws, capable of opening a little against the resilience of the material, and then closing back again. This construction is termed a "holding structure". Note that we prefer that at rest these jaws are closely apposed, but not in contact at the throat 109, simply to aid in balloon assembly, but
  • Each holding structure is primarily intended to hold a tied, distended latex party balloon (or similar) to the clip (see Figs 9 and 10).
  • the item to be held is passed sideways through the gap 109 or 108 or 106, temporarily widening the aperture during entry, and is then held in place.
  • Provision of an elongated entry section or throat assists in holding the items in place.
  • 160 of the holding structures can also be used to make linkages with loops 103 of other clips in order to make up chains, complex branching and cross-linked structures with up to thousands of clips, according to the whim of the designer.
  • any clip-to-clip coupling can be undone later with a small application of force, so that the assembly of clips (with or without attached balloons) can be modified according to a 165 perceived need.
  • Every second clip lies in a plane at right angles to the first because in the moulds used to date we have adopted a simple unidirectional design without twists (as 100 in Fig 7) or bends.
  • each clip of a chain of clips will tend to hold one or more balloons in a perpendicular direction to that of the adjoining clip.
  • Fig 3 shows a different configuration, having four open jaws (301, 302, 303, and 304) along the 170 shaft 305, and a further jaw at the end farthest from the closed loop 102.
  • the jaws (301, 302, 303, and 304) could all face in the same direction. These examples do not. A user may snip off any unwanted jaws using a pair of side cutters or scissors.
  • Fig 4 is an elevation view 400 of the clip of fig 3, confirming the simple, untwisted shape of the basic example clip.
  • Fig 5 shows a simple form of clip 500, primarily intended as an extender.
  • This clip comprises an elongated member (of any length) having an aperture 102 at one widened end 501 capable of receiving a nail, thumb tack, pin, or an open end of another clip (such as the open jaws at 503).
  • the elongated member could be any length - perhaps even a metre - if that can be moulded, or may be substituted (as in Fig 6) by a moulded-in flexible fibre 601 of any length
  • Fig 7 shows how some clips of the type taught by this invention may be joined together to 185 form a linked assembly.
  • the clip labelled 100 includes a twist).
  • FIG 8 is a diagram of this version 800 of the clip showing a preferred shape, based on an elongated body 805.
  • this version we had constructed a separate form of holding structure 803 190 for balloon gripping as opposed to linking (by 802) to other clips (see Fig 11 in which 5 clips (800) are shown linked together).
  • An entrance to the gripping section is shown at 804.
  • This version illustrates the variety of jaws that may be provided within the basic structure of the clip in order to hold different articles.
  • the functional characteristics of the elongated gap are defined partly by the shape of the clip 195 and also by the physical characteristics (deformability) of the injection moulded plastics used to make the clip.
  • the hook shape at 802 comprises either a second site to hold a balloon, or one member of a coupling to join to another linkable clip.
  • Figs 9 and 10 show how the neck of a distended balloon may be tied simply by passing it a few 200 times through the jaws and around a holding structure of a clip, so that the neck becomes an airtight seal.
  • This is an unexpected advantage of the shapes of clips of Figs 1-7 and 9-10, and makes the task of a balloon decorator very much simpler. No knotting (the standard practice) nor application of a prior-art closing clip is required.
  • the assembly is fully reversible - unlike a knotted balloon neck - at least until the latex of the balloon has degraded over time.
  • Fig 9 is a diagram 900 including part of a distended balloon 901, and a clip 200.
  • the neck 902 of the balloon is held in a gas-tight way near the body of the balloon with the finger and thumb one hand, and the free end or mouth of the neck 903 is left in a degree of tension pulling against a holding structure hence blocking the tendency of the twisted rubbery neck to unravel, after the neck has been twisted several times around the curved holder under some
  • Fig 10 is a tracing 1000 from a photograph, including a first clip 200A, a second clip 200, and a distended balloon 901. The mouth 903 is caught around the jaw of a holder and the neck 902 of the balloon is twisted around a holding structure 1001. 215 VARIATIONS
  • Similar clips may be made of plastics or metal in larger sizes and with different holding arrangements for holding other items, such as fishing lures, or hooks, wires and cables (such as an array of ignition wires leading to spark plugs of a petrol engine, or other wiring looms such as within computers), flower stems (for use by florists) or to hold lights.
  • An adaptation of this 220 clip may be used with helium balloons (such as weather balloons) to hold a weight or a payload to the balloon and to close off the neck of the balloon.
  • These clips will be sold in packs of typically 20-50 clips or thereabouts, each pack also including instructions for use.
  • the plastics material may 225 be selected for biodegradability or ease of recycling.
  • a person assembling a festoon of balloons for a display can put together: a 6-balloon cluster in a minute, a cluster of 20 balloons hanging from the ceiling in 5 minutes, and a five- column pillar of about 80 balloons in 1.5 hours. All are evenly distended and in one trial, were arranged in five spiralling rows each of a selected colour. These times are under half the time previously taken to create a similar arrangement.
  • the assembly is reversible; for example if a balloon in an array is too big or too small it can be taken off the clip and re-distended, then put back.
  • Linked clips can be unlinked and then replaced in a different configuration.

Landscapes

  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne un crochet (100) utilisé pour la création de chaînes, d'ensembles ou de guirlandes d'objets tels que des ballons de fête en latex, lequel crochet (100) comprend un élément allongé (101) pourvu, à une première extrémité, d'un élément de prise (110) pouvant former un raccord réversible avec un élément de prise supplémentaire (102) à une seconde extrémité d'un même crochet. Ce crochet (100) est également pourvu, sur la longueur de l'élément allongé (101), d'au moins un élément de prise (106, 108) pouvant former une fixation réversible avec au moins un objet. Selon un mode de réalisation préféré de cette invention, les crochets sont moulés dans une matière plastique.
PCT/NZ2002/000006 2001-06-22 2002-01-23 Crochets raccordables WO2003000369A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/181,732 US20040077268A1 (en) 2001-06-22 2002-01-23 Linkable clip

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ512551 2001-06-22
NZ51255101 2001-06-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003000369A1 true WO2003000369A1 (fr) 2003-01-03

Family

ID=19928523

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NZ2002/000006 WO2003000369A1 (fr) 2001-06-22 2002-01-23 Crochets raccordables

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20040077268A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003000369A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102004002803B3 (de) * 2004-01-19 2005-06-09 Franz-Josef Schulte Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Verknoten eines Ballons
EP1616608A1 (fr) * 2004-07-15 2006-01-18 Zibi Balloon Accessories AG dispositif d'étanchéité, de fermeture et d'accrochage amovible d'un ballon gonflable
WO2006121416A1 (fr) * 2005-05-13 2006-11-16 Zdenko Malcho Support a ballon
GB2433446A (en) * 2005-12-23 2007-06-27 David Nigel Manning Device for mounting balloons
GB2447608A (en) * 2007-03-20 2008-09-24 Glyn Dix A balloon holder
US8292254B2 (en) 2009-10-29 2012-10-23 Groepler Elizabeth A Method for hanging party favors and apparatus and kits related thereto

Families Citing this family (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2424376A (en) * 2005-04-21 2006-09-27 Philip John Taylor A hanger for balloons
US8968047B1 (en) * 2011-05-09 2015-03-03 Balloon Innovations, LLC Balloon display system with inflatable balloon, balloon holder cup and flexible rod with mounting pole
US8840440B2 (en) * 2011-06-08 2014-09-23 Express Dental Products, Inc. Balloon holder
US8568190B2 (en) * 2012-02-01 2013-10-29 Premium Balloon Accessories, Inc. Balloon sealing and displaying device
US10005205B1 (en) 2013-03-07 2018-06-26 Balloon Innovations, Inc. Reflective helium-free balloon system
US9227145B2 (en) * 2014-01-07 2016-01-05 Chun-Yeh Chang Planar-part-based toy assembly set
US11058963B2 (en) 2014-06-18 2021-07-13 Balloon Innovations Inc. Modular balloon support
US9314706B1 (en) 2014-08-20 2016-04-19 Balloon Innovations Inc. Partially bisected pole-attaching balloon
US9858835B2 (en) 2014-11-03 2018-01-02 Balloon Innovations Inc. Display support system
US9399176B1 (en) 2015-06-16 2016-07-26 Balloon Innovations, Inc. Helium free balloon support bracket system
US10232544B2 (en) 2015-07-31 2019-03-19 Balloon Innovations, Inc. Method of manufacturing a helium-free balloon
US10679529B1 (en) 2016-02-18 2020-06-09 Balloon Innovations Inc. Modular pole display assembly
USD813316S1 (en) 2016-07-26 2018-03-20 Balloon Innovations, Inc. Balloon stem handle
USD947653S1 (en) * 2019-06-14 2022-04-05 DM Consulting Inc. String management device
USD1031426S1 (en) * 2022-07-27 2024-06-18 Green Manatee, LLC Holder

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3366999A (en) * 1965-09-22 1968-02-06 John R. Darby Balloon holder and seal
US6050874A (en) * 1994-08-19 2000-04-18 Ries; Mary Kae Balloon coupling strip
WO2001083066A1 (fr) * 2000-04-27 2001-11-08 Juhani Turjanmaa Procede et dispositif d'attache de ballon

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3366999A (en) * 1965-09-22 1968-02-06 John R. Darby Balloon holder and seal
US6050874A (en) * 1994-08-19 2000-04-18 Ries; Mary Kae Balloon coupling strip
WO2001083066A1 (fr) * 2000-04-27 2001-11-08 Juhani Turjanmaa Procede et dispositif d'attache de ballon

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102004002803B3 (de) * 2004-01-19 2005-06-09 Franz-Josef Schulte Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Verknoten eines Ballons
EP1616608A1 (fr) * 2004-07-15 2006-01-18 Zibi Balloon Accessories AG dispositif d'étanchéité, de fermeture et d'accrochage amovible d'un ballon gonflable
WO2006121416A1 (fr) * 2005-05-13 2006-11-16 Zdenko Malcho Support a ballon
GB2433446A (en) * 2005-12-23 2007-06-27 David Nigel Manning Device for mounting balloons
WO2007071948A1 (fr) * 2005-12-23 2007-06-28 David Nigel Manning Dispositif de montage de ballons
GB2433446B (en) * 2005-12-23 2008-03-12 David Nigel Manning Device for mounting balloons
GB2447608A (en) * 2007-03-20 2008-09-24 Glyn Dix A balloon holder
US8292254B2 (en) 2009-10-29 2012-10-23 Groepler Elizabeth A Method for hanging party favors and apparatus and kits related thereto

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