Illuminated balloon

1. A party balloon comprising:

a flexible wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a balloon cavity, the flexible wall having an inlet portion defining an opening into the balloon cavity through which gas under pressure is directed into the balloon cavity in order to inflate the balloon, said wall being at least partially transparent or translucent;

a self-contained illumination device comprising a frame, and a light emitting LED diode and a battery source for the LED diode which are together mounted in the frame, the frame being provided with a projection and the illumination device being mounted inside the balloon cavity to the inner surface of the flexible wall by an attachment element which engages from outside the balloon wall with the projection of the frame; and

a parachute dimensioned for slowing the speed of movement of the illumination device in the event of rupture of the flexible wall of the balloon when the balloon is in an inflated condition, said parachute being in the form of a sheet of flexible material which is inside the balloon cavity and connected to the illumination device, this sheet of flexible material having a central region and a free periphery inside the balloon cavity and this sheet of flexible material being attached only at the central region directly to the illumination device, with the free periphery of this sheet being free of attachment.

2. A balloon as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said parachute further comprises a second sheet of flexible material which is inside the balloon cavity and connected to the illumination device, this second sheet of flexible material also having a central region and a free periphery inside the balloon cavity and being attached to the illumination device only at the central region of this second sheet with the free periphery of this second sheet being free of attachment.

3. A balloon as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first and second sheets of flexible material have a common connection to the illumination device.

4. A balloon as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first and second sheets of flexible material overlie each other at least for about half their respective areas.

5. A balloon as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said parachute further comprises at least two further sheets of flexible material which are inside the balloon cavity and connected to the illumination device inside the balloon cavity.

6. A balloon as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the sheets of flexible material have a common connection to the illumination device.

7. A balloon as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is connected to the illumination device and to the flexible wall by location over the projection and engagement by the same attachment element.

8. A balloon as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the attachment element is in the form of a clip or band.

9. A balloon as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the attachment element is in the form of a band which is elastomeric.

10. A balloon as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the attachment element is in the form of a band which is a closed loop.

11. A balloon as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is formed of polyethylene.

12. A balloon as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is provided with ribs extending outwards from the central region of the sheet of flexible material.

13. A balloon as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is rectangular and four ribs are provided extending from the central region towards respective corners of the sheet of flexible material.

14. A balloon as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is held between the illumination device and the inner surface of the flexible wall, the sheet of flexible material being held by the same attachment element which engages from outside the balloon with the projection of the frame.

15. A balloon as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sheet of flexible material forming the parachute is connected only at its central region to the flexible wall of the balloon as well as to the illumination device.

16. A party balloon comprising:

a flexible wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a balloon cavity, the flexible wall having an inlet portion defining an opening into the balloon cavity through which gas under pressure is directed into the balloon cavity in order to inflate the balloon, said wall being at least partially transparent or translucent;

a self-contained illumination device comprising a frame, and a light emitting diode and a battery source for the light emitting diode which are together mounted in the frame, the illumination device being mounted inside the balloon cavity to the inner surface of the flexible wall by an attachment element which engages from outside the balloon wall with a portion of the frame; and

a parachute in the form of a sheet of flexible material inside the balloon cavity and connected to the flexible wall and to the illumination device, this sheet of flexible material having a central region and a free periphery inside the balloon cavity;

wherein this sheet of flexible material is attached only at the central region directly to the illumination device, with the free periphery of this sheet being free of attachment such that in the event of rupture of the flexible wall of the balloon when the balloon is in an inflated condition the parachute slows the speed of movement of the illumination device.