Novelty LED-projection message balloon

Abstract

Described herein is a novelty led-projection message balloon for allowing a delightful and novel method of communicating endearing messages and/or animation. The inventive device includes a circuit board, lens assembly, housing, and power source. The circuit board consists of LEDs, a microcontroller, interfacing circuitry, spring brushes, a position detector, and a motor. The power supply provides power to the housed circuit board mounted inside a balloon. The circuit board spins with light emitting elements that are projected via a lens assembly onto the balloon inner wall. The elements are rapidly turned on-off in a sequenced manner to give the illusion of a message or animation (through the persistence of vision) being projected onto the exterior of the balloon.

1 . A novelty projection device for allowing a delightful and novel method of communicating endearing messages and/or animation comprising:
 plurality of light sources, to be of single color for monochrome displays, multiple colors for multicolor displays;   lens fixture to project light sources onto the inner surface of a balloon or onto the wall of a building;   controller to independently turn on/off the light sources in a time-sequenced manner dependant upon rotational position;   method for programming the controller to a customized display;   motor to spin light sources upon a rotational axis;   sensor to determine rotational position, and relay this information to the controller;   remote energy source with intelligence (may be derived from controller) to supply power to the device for short durations.   
   
   
       2 . A projection device, as set forth in  claim 1 , whence the light sources, lens fixture, controller, and motor are mounted onto a printed circuit board. 
   
   
       3 . A projection device according to  claim 2 , where in addition, an audio speaker is connected to the controller to provide sound accompaniment. 
   
   
       4 . A projection device according to  claim 2 , where in addition, a microphone is connected to the controller to provide a means to turn the device on for short durations due to audio stimuli such as, but not limited to a clapping noise and human speech. 
   
   
       5 . A projection device according to  claim 2 , where the plurality of light sources consists of a linear row of LEDs. 
   
   
       6 . A projection device according to  claim 2 , where the plurality of light sources consists of a linear row of laser diodes. 
   
   
       7 . A projection device according to  claim 2 , where the plurality of light sources consists of a single integrated circuit package containing a plurality of independently controlled light emitting elements. 
   
   
       8 . A projection device according to  claim 5 , where the lens fixture consists of fiber optics connected to each LEDs' light emitting element carrying the light to a rigid row of diffusive balls or discs. 
   
   
       9 . A projection device according to  claim 5 , where the lens fixture consists of a row of spherical lenses mechanically offset from the row of LEDs such that the lenses approximately focus an image of the LEDs' emitting elements onto a given surface. 
   
   
       10 . A projection device, as set forth in  claim 6 , where the remote energy source consists of AC wall power such that
 the projection device is mounted in the proximity of a wall,   the device projects a message onto the wall of a building.   
   
   
       11 . A projection device, as set forth in  claim 9 , where the remote energy source consisting of
 a set of batteries housed in a handle with an external switch,   a pair of high gauge wires connecting the remote energy source to the printed circuit board.   
   
   
       12 . A projection device according to  claim 11 , where the device is mounted within a helium filled balloon such that the balloon provides a diffusive surface optimal for rear projection display. 
   
   
       13 . A projection device according to  claim 12 , where the device mounted within the balloon is light enough to float. 
   
   
       14 . A projection device according to  claim 11 , where the device is mounted within an air filled balloon with the entire structure supported into mid-air via a long rigid stick (giving the illusion of flotation).