Inflation valve for recreational balloon

Abstract

An inflation valve for a recreational balloon includes a housing for fitting within the neck of a balloon and formed of resilient, highly stretchable material. A wall of the housing surrounds an internal compartment and a housing port extends from the compartment through the wall. A needle extends through the compartment and has a longitudinal air passage therein and a needle port extending from the air passage. The needle is movable within the compartment from a closed position in which the needle port is not aligned with the housing port to an open position in which the needle port is aligned with the housing port.

1 . An inflation valve for a recreational balloon, comprising: 
 a housing for fitting within the neck of a balloon and formed of resilient, highly stretchable material having a wall surrounding an internal compartment and a housing port extending from the compartment through the wall,    a needle extending through the compartment and having a longitudinal air passage therein and a needle port extending from the air passage, the needle movable within the compartment from a closed position in which the needle port is not aligned with the housing port to an open position in which the needle port is aligned with the housing port.    
   
   
       2 . The inflation valve of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a capsule captured within the compartment of the housing and having a cylinder therein and a capsule port aligned with the housing port, wherein    the needle fits within and extends through the cylinder and wherein in the closed position of the needle, the needle port is not aligned with the capsule port and in the open position of the needle, the needle port is aligned with the capsule port.    
   
   
       3 . The inflation valve of  claim 1 , comprising a pair of said needle ports and a pair of said housing ports all mutually aligned in the open position.  
   
   
       4 . The inflation valve of  claim 2 , comprising a pair of said needle ports, a pair of said capsule ports and a pair of said housing ports all mutually aligned in the open position.  
   
   
       5 . The inflation valve of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a top opening and a bottom opening both extending from the compartment and being of similar diameter to the diameter of the cylinder, both openings being stretchable over the capsule to enable insertion of the capsule in the compartment.  
   
   
       6 . The inflation valve of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is made of a gelatinous composite material consisting of SEBS and mineral oil.  
   
   
       7 . The inflation valve of  claim 6 , wherein the gelatinous composition to mineral oil ratio of the housing is about 1:8.  
   
   
       8 . The inflation valve of  claim 2 , wherein the capsule is harder than the housing.  
   
   
       9 . The inflation valve of  claim 8 , wherein the capsule is made of a gelatinous composite material consisting of SEBS and mineral oil.  
   
   
       10 . The inflation valve of  claim 9 , wherein the gelatinous composition to mineral oil ratio of the capsule is about 1:3.  
   
   
       11 . A balloon made of a highly elastic material and having a neck into which the valve of  claim 1  is inserted.  
   
   
       12 . The balloon of  claim 11 , being made of a gelatinous composite material consisting of SEBS and mineral oil.  
   
   
       13 . The balloon of  claim 12 , wherein the gelatinous composition to mineral oil ratio of the balloon is about 1:8.  
   
   
       14 . The balloon of  claim 11 , wherein the balloon and housing are made of the same material.