1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to toys and accessories therefor, and more specifically to an apparatus for filling toy balloons with a liquid such as water.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Toy balloons are typically made from latex rubber or similar expandable material, and are usually filled with air or other gas for use as a toy or decoration. Alternatively, many users desire to fill their balloons with water or other liquid so they may use them as "water balloons", which can then be thrown to intentionally break or "explode" upon impact with a target as such as the ground, or an unfortunate playmate. It is the process of filling these water balloons with water that is the subject of this invention.
Most users fill a water balloon by expanding the balloon opening (neck) over a sink faucet, hose bib, drinking fountain, or other pressurized water supply fitting. The user then opens the water supply valve so that the pressurized water fills the balloon with water to the desired volume, whereupon the user closes the water supply valve, removes the filled balloon from the fitting, and ties off and seals the neck of the water balloon for play.
However, many play areas do not have access to a supply of water under pressure, making it difficult if not impossible to fill water balloons. For example, while swimming pools, creeks, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water make ideal locations for water balloon play, it is difficult to fill the balloons with water for lack of a pressurized water supply.