Balloon with a pocket and method of making

Abstract

A non-latex balloon has at least two outer balloon layers of a polymer such as nylon, with an inner layer of heat-sealable material. A self-sealing valve is heat-sealed to the inner surface of one of the outer layers. An inner balloon layer is placed adjacent the outer balloon layers and heat-sealed to one of them to form an enclosed pocket. Two inner balloon layers may be used to form two pockets. The seal of the pockets may be releasable by the user to put a sundry item into the pocket or the sundry item may be manufactured into the pocket. A method of manufacture of a balloon product includes the steps of: placing a valve between two outer sheets of heat-sealable material; placing an inner sheet of material between the two outer sheets; and heat-sealing the valve to the outer sheets and heat-sealing the inner sheet to an outer sheet to form a sealed balloon with a pocket between the inner sheet and the outer sheet. Two pockets may be produced by using a second inner sheet.

1 . A non-latex balloon comprising: 
 (a) at least two outer balloon layers, each outer balloon layer having an edge, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the inner surfaces having a heat-sealable material;    (b) a self-sealing valve, heat-sealed to the inner surface of the edge of one outer balloon layer;    (c) an inner balloon layer having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an edge, placed adjacent the outer balloon layers; and    (d) wherein the inner surface of one outer balloon layer is heat-sealed to the outer surface of the inner balloon layer at the edges of the inner balloon layer, thereby forming an enclosed pocket therebetween.    
     
     
         2 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-sealable material further comprises linear low-density polyethylene.  
     
     
         3 . The balloon of  claim 1 , further comprising a metallic layer on the outer surface of the inner balloon layer.  
     
     
         4 . The balloon of  claim 3 , wherein the metallic layer comprises vacuum-deposited aluminum.  
     
     
         5 . The balloon of  claim 1 , further comprising a sundry item enclosed in the pocket.  
     
     
         6 . The balloon of  claim 5 , wherein the outer balloon layer is releasable from the inner balloon layer at the edges of the pocket, thereby permitting access to the sundry item.  
     
     
         7 . The balloon of  claim 1 , further comprising an access opening in the outer balloon layer over the pocket, thereby permitting sundry items to be inserted in the pocket.  
     
     
         8 . A non-latex balloon comprising: 
 (a) two outer balloon layers, each outer balloon layer having an edge, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the inner surfaces having a heat-sealable material;    (b) a self-sealing valve, heat-sealed to the inner surface of the edge of one outer balloon layer;    (c) two inner balloon layers, each having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an edge, the inner surfaces comprising a material resistant to heat-sealing, placed adjacent the outer balloon layers; and    (d) wherein the inner surface of each outer balloon layer is heat-sealed to the outer surface of the corresponding inner balloon layer at the edges of the inner balloon layer, thereby forming an enclosed pocket therebetween.    
     
     
         9 . The balloon of  claim 8 , wherein the heat-sealable material further comprises linear low-density polyethylene.  
     
     
         10 . The balloon of  claim 8 , further comprising a metallic layer on the outer surface of the inner balloon layer.  
     
     
         11 . The balloon of  claim 10 , wherein the metallic layer comprises vacuum-deposited aluminum.  
     
     
         12 . The balloon of  claim 8 , further comprising a sundry item enclosed in the pocket.  
     
     
         13 . The balloon of  claim 12 , wherein the outer balloon layer is releasable from the inner balloon layer at the edges of the pocket, thereby permitting access to the sundry item.  
     
     
         14 . The balloon of  claim 8 , further comprising an access opening in the outer balloon layer over the pocket, thereby permitting sundry items to be inserted in the pocket.  
     
     
         15 . A non-latex balloon comprising: 
 (a) at least two outer balloon layers, each outer balloon layer having an edge, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the inner surfaces having a heat-sealable material;    (b) a self-sealing valve, heat-sealed to the inner surface of the edge of one outer balloon layer;    (c) an inner balloon layer having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an edge, placed adjacent the outer balloon layers;    (d) wherein the inner surface of one outer balloon layer is heat-sealed to the outer surface of the inner balloon layer at the edges of the inner balloon layer, thereby forming an enclosed pocket therebetween; and    (e) a valve communicating with the pocket for inflating the pocket.    
     
     
         16 . The balloon of  claim 15 , further comprising an additional inner balloon layer opposing the first inner balloon layer, the opposing surfaces of the inner balloon layers comprising a material resistant to heat sealing.  
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a balloon product, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) placing a valve between two outer sheets of heat-sealable material;    (b) placing an inner sheet of material between the two outer sheets, and    (c) heat-sealing the valve to the outer sheets and the inner sheet to an outer sheet, thereby forming a sealed balloon with a pocket between the inner sheet and the outer sheet.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of: 
 (d) placing a second inner sheet of material between the two outer sheets;    (e) temporarily adhering the two inner sheets to one another; and    (f) heat sealing the second inner sheet to the other outer sheet.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the inner sheets each comprise an inner surface of non-heat sealable material, thereby preventing the inner sheets from sealing to one another.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of cutting through the outer and inner layers to produce a finished balloon.