Balloon signal assembly

• Main Author: KOPEIKA; SAUL Z
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.05.1977
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRANSPORTING

The signal assembly includes a deflated balloon capable of retaining a lighter-than-air gas. It also includes a container for the gas under pressure which has an opening in it. The open edges of the balloon in deflated form are sealingly fixed to the opening. The balloon is retained in deflated form within the container by means of a lid or cap for the container which prevents outward movement of the balloon through the opening which would be necessary to inflate the balloon. The lid is normally attached to the container in a way sufficient to prevent escape of its contents except when the assembly is to be actuated. In one form of the invention, the balloon is disposed and retained in deflated form toward the open top of a rigid container having a lid that is tightly fitted around the upper edge of the container. The lid is equipped with a ring pull enabling the finger of the operator to pull the lid off thereby allowing the gas contents to move upward and out of the container due to inflation of the balloon by the gas pressure so that it extends outside the container in inflated form. In another form, the edge of the balloon is sealed to the inner top edge of the container in deflated form and a lid is tightly fitted around the upper edge. A flexible strip extends down the side of the container and is connected at its upper end to the lid. It is adhered to the side of the container and has a free lower edge which may be grasped by the operator and pulled outwardly and upwardly thereby dislodging the lid and allowing the gas within to push upward through the flexible balloon walls thereby forcing the balloon outwardly and inflating it. A tether line may be secured to the container and a fixed ground point.