Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft – lighter-than-air – Balloons
Patent
1981-07-13
1983-11-22
Barefoot, Galen L.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft, lighter-than-air
Balloons
116210, B64B 150, H04B 104
Patent
active
044164335
ABSTRACT:
A self-contained signal balloon dispensing apparatus provides a lower case having a bottom and attaches to enclosing side walls with an open top. An upper lid assembly hingedly affixes to the lower case at the open top, the lid assembly providing at least a pair of half enclosure sections, at least one of which provides a horizontal partition when in a closed position to at least partially seal the open top. A vertical partition is mounted within the lower case and divides the lower case into two parts. A shaft is mounted within the lower case and attaches at one end portion to the partition and at the opposite end portion to the side wall. A dispensing spool wound with a length of tether line is rotatably mounted on the shaft. A helium gas dispensing canister is mounted in the lower case on the opposite side of the partition from the spool. An inflatable balloon is mounted within the case and connects to the canister. A trigger includes a gripping surface extend exteriorly of the lower case for actuating the canister to dispense helium into the balloon. A signaling light source normally carried in one of the lid assembly half enclosure section attaches to the balloon and to one end of the tether line. A horizontal baffle adjacent a portion of the open end of the lower case above the canister supports the light source and separates it from both the helium canister and the dispensing spool so that when the balloon is inflated, it is free to ascend without interference from light source, the spool, or the canister.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3132626 (1964-05-01), Reid
patent: 3229517 (1966-01-01), Smith
patent: 3526202 (1970-09-01), Graulich et al.
patent: 3746285 (1973-07-01), Mango
patent: 4042882 (1977-08-01), Camacho et al.
patent: 4108405 (1978-08-01), Gibson
patent: 4295438 (1981-10-01), Porter
Barefoot Galen L.
Garvey, Jr. Charles C.
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