Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft – lighter-than-air – Balloons
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-27
2001-05-08
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3641)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft, lighter-than-air
Balloons
C244S033000, C244S115000, C244S030000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227484
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to tethered balloons used for aerial film or video recording, advertisements, shows and other activities done in the air and more particularly to tethered balloons used at relatively low altitudes (between 30 and 150 m).
Telecasting of ball games, film or video recording, advertisements, shows and other activities are often carried out at a fixed point in the air. These activities are carried out by using helicopters, airships and tethered balloons that can remain floating in the air. However, helicopters cannot remain floating at any given point in the air for a prolonged period of time. Besides, they produce large noises and vibrations. Airships and tethered balloons cannot be used when strong winds are blowing (at a speed of, for example, 7 meters per second or above) because they roll and pitch considerably. Tethered balloons usually employ a connecting net so that the tethering load acting on the balloon proper (or the floating power of the balloon) does not concentrate at the joint where the balloon proper and tether are connected together. The connecting net is a cone formed by multiple connecting ropes that are attached to the balloon proper at the bottom of the cone. The stationary satellite balloon contrived by the inventor is an example of the tethered balloons of the type just described (see Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. 198188 of 1996).
Conventional tethered balloons have a connecting net that extends vertically down. In the presence of strong winds, therefore, they sway back and forth (in the direction of wind), lose their stability and sometimes crash against the ground. The connecting net extending vertically down gets into the field of vision of the camera used for bird's-eye view film or video recording, as well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide a tethered balloon that can remain stable even in the presence of strong winds. Another object of this invention is to provide a tethered balloon that permits bird's-eye view film or video recording from a high point in the air without being hindered by the connecting net.
A tethered balloon according to this invention comprises a spherical balloon proper inflated with a gas whose specific gravity is lower than that of the outside air, a gondola attached to the bottom of the balloon proper, a vertical stabilizer attached to the balloon proper, and a connector attached to the balloon proper. The connector being positioned opposite to the vertical stabilizer with the gondola in between and a straight line connecting the center of the balloon proper and the connector being inclined with respect to the central axis of the balloon that connects the center of the balloon proper and the center of gravity of the whole balloon. The tethered balloon also comprises a tether connected to the connector, and a tether holder having a drum to take up and pay off the tether and placed on the ground.
When wind blows, the tethered balloon of this invention thus constructed is positioned so that the vertical stabilizer lies parallel to the direction of wind. Because only a small force acts on the balloon perpendicular to the direction of wind (i.e. transversely), the balloon remains stable transversely. The balloon also sways little in the direction of wind (i.e. back and forth) because the straight line connecting the center of the balloon proper and the connector is inclined with respect to the central axis of the balloon that connects the center of the balloon proper and the center of gravity of the whole balloon. When taking an omnidirectional (covering 360 degrees) bird's-eye view photograph, the tether comes into the field of vision, but the connector remains outside.
Preferably, the connector is a connecting net made of multiple connecting ropes that are attached to the periphery of a circle on the surface of the balloon proper at one end and gathered together at the other end to form a conical shape. The connecting net is placed opposite to the vertical stabilizer with the gondola in between. A straight line connecting the center of the balloon proper and the apex of the conically shaped connecting net is inclined with respect to the central axis of the balloon that connects the center of the balloon proper and the center of gravity of the whole balloon. The tether is connected to the apex of the connecting net.
Preferably, the connector comprises a ring plate attached to the surface of the balloon proper and a metal connector to which the tether is connected. Provision may be made so that an air bag is placed in a spherical frame formed by horizontal and vertical belts and the ring plate is attached to the balloon proper by the vertical belts.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1270945 (1918-07-01), Hawrylasz
patent: 2954187 (1960-09-01), Winzen
patent: 3834655 (1974-09-01), Crosby, Jr.
patent: 5082205 (1992-01-01), Caufman
patent: 5429325 (1995-07-01), Hunt
patent: 5857760 (1999-01-01), Pelton
patent: 1282164 (1962-06-01), None
patent: 2630397 (1989-10-01), None
patent: 109033 (1934-06-01), None
patent: 230490 (1992-08-01), None
patent: 8-198188 (1996-08-01), None
Dentsu Tec Inc.
Dinh Tien
Jordan Charles T.
Wenderoth Lind & Ponack, LLP.
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