Balloon with plastic container base

Abstract

A balloon including an inflatable body operatively attached to a base on a proximal side, the base including a cavity for filling with items, wherein the inflatable body is inflated by an air vent or a fan operatively attached to the base. A method of using the balloon, by placing the balloon at a display location, flowing air through the inflatable body, inflating the inflatable body, and providing access to items within the cavity. Reversible packaging including a packaging body having a first design on a first side and a second design on a second side. A method of using reversible packaging, by a user purchasing a product contained within reversible packaging showing a first design, the user removing the reversible packaging and reversing the reversible packaging to show a second design, and the user securing the reversible packaging around the product showing the second design.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A balloon comprising an inflatable body operatively attached to a base on a proximal side, said base including a cavity for filling with items, wherein said inflatable body is inflated by an air source chosen from the group consisting of an air vent and a fan operatively attached to said base. 
     
     
         2 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said inflatable body is made from a material chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene, biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate, and foil. 
     
     
         3 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said inflatable body includes at least one vent for gradually releasing air from said balloon. 
     
     
         4 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said inflatable body includes a design on a location chosen from the group consisting of a front side and a front and back side. 
     
     
         5 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said design is chosen from the group consisting of a holiday greeting, congratulations, a birthday message, a personal message, cartoon characters, general celebratory designs, sports teams logos, corporate designs, fundraiser designs, and promotional advertisements. 
     
     
         6 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said inflatable body that can be colored in with a coloring device. 
     
     
         7 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said proximal side of said base is a removable and resealable lid. 
     
     
         8 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein a distal side of said base is a removable and resealable lid. 
     
     
         9 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said cavity is sealed with a tamper proof seal. 
     
     
         10 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said base includes an opening on a distal side to receive air from said air source, and wherein said proximal side includes an opening so that air flows to said inflatable body. 
     
     
         11 . The balloon of  claim 10 , wherein said opening on said distal side includes a raised lip extending to said proximal side. 
     
     
         12 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said base includes a plurality of air intake slots to receive airflow from said air source. 
     
     
         13 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said base is made of a material chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), polyactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET), and electro static dissipation plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said base is see-through such that items within said base can be viewed. 
     
     
         15 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said items are chosen from the group consisting of candy, chocolates, cookies, nuts, snacks, t-shirts, socks, wallets, belts, jewelry, perfume, gifts, golf balls, golf tees, games, construction blocks, sports cards, art supplies, markers or stickers for do-it-yourself kits, and promotional items. 
     
     
         16 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said items are in a resealable pouch. 
     
     
         17 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said inflatable body is secured with a securing mechanism to said base until ready for use. 
     
     
         18 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said air source is a fan, and said balloon further includes a power cord for connecting to a power source to power said fan. 
     
     
         19 . The balloon of  claim 1 , wherein said air source is a fan, and said base further includes an internal battery for powering said fan operated by an on/off switch. 
     
     
         20 . The balloon of  claim 1 , further including LED light strips operatively attached to said base. 
     
     
         21 . The balloon of  claim 1 , further including packaging containing said balloon, wherein said packaging is reversible and includes a first design on a first side and a second design on a second side. 
     
     
         22 . The balloon of  claim 21 , wherein said first design is shown in a store and said second design is a gift wrap design. 
     
     
         23 . The balloon of  claim 21 , wherein said packaging includes a cut out on a distal side through which said base fits such that said base protrudes through said cut out, while said inflatable body remains within said packaging under a proximal side. 
     
     
         24 . The balloon of  claim 21 , wherein said packaging includes adhesive for securing said second design around said balloon. 
     
     
         25 . A method of using a balloon, including the steps of:
 placing the balloon at a display location, wherein the balloon includes an inflatable body operatively attached to a base on a proximal side, the base including a cavity for filling with items;   flowing air through the inflatable body;   inflating the inflatable body; and   providing access to the items within the cavity.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said flowing air step is further defined as flowing air by a mechanism chosen from the group consisting of an air vent and a fan operatively attached to the base. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the mechanism is an air vent, and said flowing air step further includes the step of plugging the fan in with a power cord. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said placing step further includes the step of removing a securing mechanism attaching the inflatable body to the base. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said inflating step further includes the step of displaying a design on the inflatable body. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the items are chosen from the group consisting of candy, chocolates, cookies, nuts, snacks, t-shirts, socks, wallets, belts, jewelry, perfume, gifts, golf balls, golf tees, games, construction blocks, sports cards, art supplies, markers or stickers for do-it-yourself kits, and promotional items. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said providing access step is further defined as opening a removable lid on the base. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further including the step of opening a tamper proof seal sealing the cavity. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , further including the step of resealing a resealable pouch containing the items. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , further including the step of refilling the cavity with items. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , further including before said placing step, the step of a user securing packaging around the balloon showing off a first design or a second design. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 25 , further including before said placing step, the step of a user applying color to the inflatable body with a coloring device. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 25 , further including the step of illuminating LED lights on the base with a power cord. 
     
     
         38 . A reversible packaging comprising a packaging body including a first design on a first side and a second design on a second side, wherein said first side includes a first sealing mechanism for securing said packaging body around a product showing said first design, and wherein said second side includes a second sealing mechanism for securing said packaging body around the product showing said second design. 
     
     
         39 . The reversible packaging of  claim 38 , wherein said first design shows a design chosen from the group consisting of contents of said packaging body, information that is commercially required or regulatory required, a display for a sales shelf, packaging for shipping, safety information and combinations thereof, and said second design is chosen from the group consisting of a gift wrap design, a return label, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The reversible packaging of  claim 38 , wherein said first sealing mechanism is chosen from the group consisting of adhesive, glue, hook and loop, and tabs, and wherein said second sealing mechanism is chosen from the group consisting of adhesive, glue, hook and loop, and tabs. 
     
     
         41 . The reversible packaging of  claim 38 , wherein said packaging body forms a shape with said second side chosen from the group consisting of the same shape as said first side and a different shape from said first side. 
     
     
         42 . The reversible packaging of  claim 38 , wherein said packaging body further includes perforations allowing said packaging body to be broken down into a smaller size when showing said second design. 
     
     
         43 . A method of using reversible packaging, including the steps of:
 a user purchasing a product contained within reversible packaging showing a first design;   the user removing the reversible packaging and reversing the reversible packaging to show a second design; and   the user securing the reversible packaging around the product showing the second design.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the first design is chosen from the group consisting of contents of said packaging body, information that is commercially required or regulatory required, a display for a sales shelf, packaging for shipping, safety information and combinations thereof, and the second design is chosen from the group consisting of a gift wrap design, a return label, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said securing step is further defined as the user using a sealing mechanism for securing the reversible packaging around the product. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , further including the step of the user giving the product as a gift to an individual. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the second design includes a return label and further including the step of the user performing a step chosen from the group consisting of taking a picture of a return label, reading a barcode, and toggling a QR code. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , further including a step chosen from the group consisting of the user sending the product to a company for a return, the user sending the product to another individual as a gift, and the user being a company and sending the product to a consumer. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the user sends the product to a company for a return, and further including the step of the company performing a step chosen from the group consisting of taking a picture of the return label, reading the barcode, and toggling the QR code and approving a return or exchange.