System and method for filling containers with fluids

Abstract

In a method embodiment, an example method for simultaneously filling balloons with water, using an apparatus sufficiently compact to be operated while being held by hand, is disclosed. The method includes attaching the apparatus to a water supply. The method further includes simultaneously providing water from the attached water supply to a plurality of balloons removably attached to the apparatus, such that each balloon contains water. The method further includes simultaneously detaching from the apparatus the plurality of balloons, with each balloon having water from the water supply provided therein and each balloon automatically sealing upon detachment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for simultaneously filling balloons with water using an apparatus sufficiently compact to be operated while being held by hand, comprising:
 attaching the apparatus to a water supply;   simultaneously providing water from the attached water supply to a plurality of balloons removably attached to the apparatus, such that each balloon contains water; and   simultaneously detaching the plurality of balloons from the apparatus, each balloon having water from the water supply provided therein and each balloon automatically sealing upon detachment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of balloons includes at least ten balloons removably attached to the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein simultaneously detaching the plurality of balloons from the apparatus includes applying an upward acceleration to the apparatus while each balloon has water from the water supply provided therein. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removably attaching the plurality of balloons to the apparatus using a plurality of fasteners, in which each fastener removably attaches a respective balloon of the plurality of balloons to the apparatus, and each fastener automatically seals the respective balloon upon detachment of the respective balloon from apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each fastener is a plastic o-ring. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for simultaneously filling balloons with water, comprising:
 a fitting bulkhead comprising an inlet configured to connect to a water source; and   a plurality of balloons, each balloon removably attached to the apparatus and configured to simultaneously receive water from the water source via a channel including the fitting bulkhead and to automatically seal inside the balloon the received water upon detachment of the balloon from the apparatus.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each balloon of the plurality of balloons is removably attached to the apparatus by a respective o-ring compressing the balloon against a respective tube coupled to the fitting bulkhead. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each balloon of the plurality of balloons is removably attached to the apparatus by a respective fastener configured to automatically seal inside the balloon the received water upon detachment of the balloon from the apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of balloons includes at least ten balloons removably attached to the apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each balloon of the plurality of balloons is further configured to automatically detach from the apparatus responsive to the weight of the received water contained in the balloon and an upward acceleration applied to the apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of branch assemblies, each branch assembly having a respective tube coupling a respective balloon of the plurality of balloons to the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for simultaneously filling balloons with fluid, comprising:
 a fitting bulkhead comprising an inlet configured to connect to a fluid source; and   a plurality of balloons, each balloon removably attached to the apparatus and configured to receive fluid from the fluid source via the fitting bulkhead, to automatically detach from the apparatus responsive to the weight of the received fluid contained inside the balloon and an upward acceleration applied to the apparatus, and to automatically seal the received fluid contained in the balloon upon detachment of the balloon from the apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each balloon of the plurality of balloons is removably attached to the apparatus by a respective o-ring compressing the balloon against a respective tube coupled to the fitting bulkhead. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each balloon of the plurality of balloons is removably attached to the apparatus by a respective fastener configured to automatically seal the received fluid contained within the balloon upon detachment of the balloon from the apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of balloons includes at least ten balloons removably attached to the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of branch assemblies, each branch assembly having a respective tube coupling a respective balloon of the plurality of balloons to the apparatus.