Abstract:
A BALLOON ASSEMBLY PARTICULARLY SUITED FOR DISPENSING BY A VENDING MACHINE HAS A ONE-PIECE VALVE BODY ELASTICALLY ENGAGED BY THE NECK OF A BALLOON TO NORMALLY SEAL RADIAL PASSAGES OPENING FROM AN AXIAL BORE EXTENDING FROM THE OUTER END OF THE VALVE BODY. THE SURFACE OF THE VALVE BODY IS GIVEN A PARTICULAR CONFIGURATION TO RETAIN THE BALLOON NECK THEREON DURING INFLATION, AND THE OPENINGS OF THE RADIAL PASSAGE ARE LOCATED TO PERMIT SUCH INFLATION AND TO RETAIN THE INFLATING GASES IN THE BALLOON EVEN WHERE COMPRISED OF A MIXTURE OF AIR AND HELIUM. A PLURALITY OF SUCH BALLOON ASSEMBLIES ARE RELEASABLY HELD IN THE SPACED OPENINGS OF A FLEXIBLE BELT TO SERVE AS A SUPPLY OF BALLOONS FOR A BALLOON DISPENSING OR VENDING MACHINE, WITH THE EDGE OF EACH BELT OPENING ENSURING THE RETENTION OF THE BALLOON NECK ON THE RESPECTIVE VALVE DURING INFLATION.