DYNAMIC TOY WITH INFLATABLE BLADDER

• US 20060205544A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PolyWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PolyWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Fox, Richard B., Wyner, Daniel M., LaFlamme, Roger J.
• Application Number:
  US11/276,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20060205544A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/569
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/12 Tools or devices for blowing up or closing balls for pricking-balls A63B39/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/04 with an eccentric centre of gravity; with mechanism for changing the centre of gravity solid balls A63B37/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1033 Inflation devices or methods for inflating balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1075 Special shapes or constructions for aircraft type balloons A63H2027/1066
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/18 Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys discs used in athletics A63B65/10as part of a game A63F9/02; sling weapons F41B3/00; spring toy guns F41B7/08

Abstract

An object with a dynamically changeable configuration is provided. The outer surface configuration and/or the weight displacement configuration can be dynamically changed to alter the characteristics of the object, which can be a toy, such as a football, baseball or flying disc. To change the outer configuration of the object, a cover having an outer surface and at least one aperture therethrough is provided. A surface changing member, such as a bladder, is urgable into the at least one aperture to dynamically change the outer surface of the object. To change the weight displacement of the object, the main body includes a first chamber and a second chamber therein where fluid, such as gas or liquid, can flow therebetween. The positioning of the fluid within the first chamber and the second chamber is controlled by a pump and valve system. As a result, the weight displacement of the object is dynamically changeable.

Claims

1. An object with a dynamically changeable outer surface, comprising:

a cover having an outer surface;

a surface changing member in communication with the cover;

whereby the outer surface of the object is dynamically changeable upon changing of the surface changing member.

2. The object of claim 1, wherein the surface changing member is a bladder.

3. The object of claim 2, wherein the fluid is a gas.

4. The object of claim 3, wherein the gas is air

5. The object of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a liquid.

6. The object of claim 5, wherein the liquid is water.

7. The object of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the surface changing member is tacky.

8. The object of claim 1, wherein the cover is in the shape of a football.

9. The object of claim 1, wherein the cover is in the shape of a baseball.

10. The object of claim 1, wherein the cover is in the shape of a flying toy.

11. The object of claim 1, wherein the cover further defines at least one aperture therethrough and a chamber therein;

the surface changing member residing within the chamber and being urgable through the at least one aperture.

12. The object of claim 11, wherein the a least one aperture is an array of apertures for receipt of the surface changing member therein when the surface changing member is inflated.

13. The object of claim 11, wherein the surface changing member extends through the at least one aperture and past the outer surface of the cover.

14. The object of claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid pump in fluid communication with the bladder;

the fluid pump being capable of controlling the amount and location of fluid within the bladder.

15. The object of claim 14, wherein the fluid pump includes a filling chamber, a filling valve and a release valve;

the filling chamber being in fluid communication with the bladder.

16. The object of claim 1, wherein the cover is elastic and the surface changing member is positioned thereunder;

inflation of the surface changing member changes the outer surface of the cover.

17. The object of claim 1, wherein the surface changing member is affixed to the outer surface of the cover.

18. An object with a dynamically changeable weight displacement, comprising:

a main body having an outer surface;

the main body defining a first chamber and a second chamber therein;

fluid being movable between the first chamber and the second chamber;

means for controlling position of the fluid within the first chamber and the second chamber;

whereby the weight displacement of the object is dynamically changeable.

19. The object of claim 18, wherein the first chamber is a first bladder and the second chamber is a second bladder.

20. The object of claim 19, wherein the first bladder has a unitary chamber.

21. The object of claim 19, wherein the first bladder is a ring-shaped tube and positioned proximal to the outer surface of the main body.

22. The object of claim 19, wherein the second bladder has a unitary chamber.

23. The object of claim 18, wherein the fluid is a liquid.

24. The object of claim 23, wherein the liquid is water.

25. The object of claim 18, wherein the main body is in the shape of a football.

26. The object of claim 18, wherein the main body is in the shape of a baseball.

27. The object of claim 18, wherein the means for controlling position of the fluid within the first chamber and the second chamber is a fluid pump in fluid communication with the first chamber and the second chamber;

the fluid pump being capable of controlling the amount and location of fluid within the first chamber and the second chamber.

28. The object of claim 27, wherein the fluid pump includes a filling valve and a release valve.

29. The object of claim 18, further comprising:

an air bladder disposed within the main body;

the air bladder being inflatable to control position of the fluid within the first chamber and the second chamber

30. The object of claim 18, further comprising:

means for indicating position of fluid within the first chamber and the second chamber.

31. The object of claim 30, wherein the means for indicating is a first window in the first chamber and a second window in the second chamber.

32. The object of claim 30, wherein the means for indicating is an electronic sensor.

33. The object of claim 30, wherein the means for indicating is an air pressure sensor.

34. An object with a dynamically changeable configuration, comprising:

a main body defining a chamber therein;

a configuration changing member residing within the chamber of the main body;

whereby action upon the configuration changing member dynamically changes the configuration of the object.

35. The object of claim 34, wherein the configuration member is a bladder inflatable with a fluid.

36. The object of claim 34, wherein the fluid is a gas.

37. The object of claim 34, wherein the fluid is a liquid.