Football style thrown objects having light sticks

• US 20030199344A1
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lloyd E. Peterson
• Original Assignee: Lloyd E. Peterson
• Inventors: Peterson, Lloyd E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,726,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/603
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A thrown object having a body shaped at least partially like an American football includes a light stick carried thereon for illuminating the object as it is thrown through the air. The light stick can be carried in an interior bore passing at least partially through the body of the object. The body may be made at least partially from a material capable of transmitting light to allow the light produced by the light stick to be visible through the body. Alternatively, one or more light sticks can be attached to the body of the object in exterior grooves. The light sticks produce light using a chemical reaction after the light sticks are first snapped and shaken.

Claims

1. A football style thrown object, which comprises:

a) an oval body that may be gripped by one hand of the user and passed through the air in the manner of an American football; and

b) a light stick carried on the body for providing illumination as the object travels through the air, wherein the light stick produces light using a chemical light producing reaction after the light stick is activated.

2. The football style thrown object of claim 1, wherein the light stick is carried at least partially in an interior of the body.

3. The football style thrown object of claim 2, wherein the light stick is carried entirely in the interior of the body.

4. The football style thrown object of claim 2, wherein the body has a longitudinal centerline, and wherein the light stick is carried in an elongated bore located along the longitudinal centerline of the body.

5. The football style thrown object of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the body overlying and surrounding the bore that carries the light stick is made of a material that is capable of transmitting light such that light produced by the light stick is transmitted through the light transmitting portion of the body to be visible.

6. The football style thrown object of claim 4, wherein a tube forms the bore, and wherein the tube is formed at least partially of a material capable of transmitting light.

7. The football style thrown object of claim 6, further including a removable end cap for at least one end of the tube to allow access to be had to the tube for inserting the light stick into the tube.

8. The football style thrown object of claim 7, wherein the removable end cap forms one end of the body.

9. The football style thrown object of claim 6, further including a set of tail fins attached to the body and extending outwardly from the body, and wherein the tube that carries the light stick extends both inside the body and outside of the body through the tail fins.

10. The football style thrown object of claim 1, wherein the light stick is carried on an exterior of the body.

11. The football style thrown object of claim 10, wherein the body includes a groove on the exterior of the body, and wherein the light stick is press fit into the groove.

12. The football style thrown object of claim 11, wherein the body includes a plurality of grooves on the exterior of the body for carrying a plurality of light sticks therein.

13. The football style thrown object of claim 1, wherein the body has four longitudinal seams extending between opposite ends of the body, and wherein the grooves are located along the longitudinal seams of the body.

14. A thrown object that may be thrown through the air by a user, which comprises:

a) a body that is made at least partially from a material that is capable of transmitting light with the body being sized to be able to be gripped by one hand of the user and thrown through the air;

b) an interior bore within the body that is at least partially covered by the light transmitting material in the body; and

c) a light stick received in the bore for illuminating the object through the light transmitting material of the body after the light stick is activated to cause the light stick to glow.

15. The thrown object of claim 14, wherein the body at least partially resembles an American football.

16. The thrown object of claim 14, wherein the bore is formed from an elongated tube in which the light stick is slidably contained, the tube being made of a material that is capable of transmitting light.

17. The thrown object of claim 16, wherein the light stick can be releasably enclosed within the tube during use of the body to prevent the light stick from falling out of the tube.

18. The thrown object of claim 17, wherein the tube has an end that can be releasably opened and closed by an end cap to allow the light stick to be inserted in and removed from the tube.

19. The thrown object of claim 18, wherein the end cap forms a portion of the body.

20. The thrown object of claim 14, wherein the tube extends both inside and outside the body.