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Coupling apparatus for inflating members

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a coupling apparatus, and more particularly to an inflating member coupling apparatus for coupling one or more balloons or gas inflating members and for allowing the balloons or gas inflating members to be coupled together in various suitable or selected shapes or patterns or configurations easily and quickly without additional tools or fasteners.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical balloons comprise an inflatable or inflating envelope body including a diameter reduced neck portion for forming or acting as an air port and for filling air or gas into the inflating envelope body. The air port or the diameter reduced neck portion of the inflating envelope body will then be twisted or tied into a knot for preventing the air or gas from flowing out of the inflating envelope body.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,347 to Ikemoto discloses one of the typical balloon neck fittings including a check valve section attached or coupled to the air port or the diameter reduced neck portion of an inflating envelope body or balloon, and a guide section coupled to the check valve section with a string for allowing the balloon or inflating member to be coupled and retained or positioned in place.

However, the typical balloon neck fittings may be used for coupling one inflating envelope body or balloon to the guide section only, but may not be used for coupling two or more inflating envelope bodies or balloons together.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,568 to Nakamura et al discloses another typical gas inflatable toy or covered balloon including a rubber balloon to be fitted into an outer cover which includes an inlet for engaging the rubber balloon into the outer cover.

However, similarly, after the typical gas inflatable toys have been inflated with the air or gas, the typical gas inflatable toys are also required to be twisted or tied into a knot for preventing the air or gas from flowing out of the inflating envelope body. The outer covers will then be coupled or secured to an attaching member with such as a stick or may be coupled together to form various shapes or patterns or configurations.

For example, in the wedding ceremonies or the like, a number of balloons or gas inflating members are required to be coupled together into various suitable or selected shapes or patterns or configurations.

However, the outer covers are normally coupled together to form various shapes or patterns or configurations with a number of strings, and it will take a long time to tie the strings to the outer covers and then to tie the strings together into the suitable or selected shapes or patterns or configurations.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,961 to Ishiwa discloses a further typical gas inflatable toy including a bag toy unit accommodated in a folded manner before swelling. However, after the typical gas inflatable toys have been inflated with the air or gas, the typical gas inflatable toys may not be easily coupled together into various suitable or selected shapes or patterns or configurations.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional coupling devices for coupling balloons or gas inflating members together.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a coupling apparatus for coupling one or more balloons or inflating members and for allowing the balloons or inflating members to be coupled together in various suitable or selected shapes or patterns or configurations easily and quickly without additional tools or fasteners.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an inflating member coupling apparatus comprising an inflating member including an air valve for filling air or gas into the inflating member, and a coupling device including a base member having at least one aperture formed therein for engaging with the air valve of the inflating member and for coupling the coupling device to the inflating member easily and quickly without additional tools or fasteners.

The coupling device includes at least one flap extended from the base member and having the aperture formed in the flap for engaging with the air valve of the inflating member. The flap is preferably perpendicular to the base member.

The coupling device includes a slit formed therein and communicating with the aperture thereof for allowing the aperture of the base member to be selectively opened and for allowing the air valve of the inflating member to be detachably engaged into the aperture of the base member.

The inflating member includes at least one ring member each having an orifice formed therein for engaging with the aperture of the coupling device. The coupling device includes a passage formed therein for engaging with a wire. The inflating member is preferably made of polyvinyl chloride materials.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.