Easy-to-carry canister that places an SOS balloon 150 feet above a person for a week and illuminates an SOS signal using an LED light. It can be used for emergencies or for recreation. Essentially, it’s a flare that lasts a week.

In detail, Rescue Me Balloon is a cylindrical canister, similar to a lightsaber. It is Coast Guard Orange in color, about 6 inches in length and 2 inches in diameter and weighs about a quarter of a pound. The canister is easy to hold, and has a hoop for a clip for attaching to a belt, backpack, or life jacket, with glow-in-the-dark reflective tape to make it easy to find at night.

Inside the canister at the bottom is a small helium tank attached to a deflated and folded inflatable balloon. Also attached to the balloon is a 150 feet of monofilament string with a super-bright LED connected to small circuit board. In the Emergency Version, the circuit board is programmed to flash an SOS signal; in the Recreational Version, it is programmed to be a solid light. All of this is sealed inside the canister by a cap at the top with an O-Ring installed, making a water-tight seal when closed.

How to use Rescue Me Balloon

1. Remove the top of canister and take out the balloon.

2. Undo the reflective tape at the bottom, pulling the folder corner for easy removal.

3. Then twist the bottom, which breaks the seal between the helium canister and the balloon, and the balloon will inflate with helium.

4. On the LED light, pull out the tab between the battery and LED and the LED will turn on.

5. The balloon self-seals once inflated and you remove the inflation tube. Release the balloon and hold onto the canister.

6. The balloon will rise 150 feet into the air, above treetop level, while tethered via monofilament line attached to the canister, thus pinpointing the location of the canister. Both the balloon and LED will stay aloft and flashing for up to seven days.

During our engineering and design processes, we have created numerous working prototypes of Rescue Me Balloon and hold United States Patent Number 6,523,778 with additional patents pending. We now want to take Rescue Me Balloon from prototype to manufacturing and need your help!

Risks and challenges

Our prototype will need some additional design work to ensure that it can withstand the rigors of the stresses of emergency situations. While the prototype works, we know we have some design improvements to be made and we need the funding to ensure our engineers can make the improvements we need. Our staff of engineers have been on the product since it’s inception and know the product better than anybody.

About this project

Risks and challenges