Amusement Device Including a Fabric Formed of a Plastic Strand

• US 20090170645A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Got II LLC
• Original Assignee: Rhino Toys Incorporated
• Inventors: Silvergate, David E.
• Application Number:
  US12/347,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20090170645A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/612
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 39/00 Hollow non-inflatable balls , i.e. having no valves rigid balls A63B37/00

Abstract

An amusement device is provided. One embodiment of the amusement device includes a plastic strand wound upon itself to form a fabric that encloses a void. The plastic strand is plastically welded to itself at a plurality of locations throughout the fabric. Such a construction may yield a fabric that is resiliently deformable, and may be formed into a variety of shapes, such as a ball. In some cases, a plurality of nested fabrics may be employed in the amusement device.

Claims

1. An amusement device, comprising:

at least one plastic strand wound upon itself to form a fabric enclosing a void;

wherein the at least one plastic strand is plastically welded to itself at a plurality of locations throughout the fabric.

2. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the fabric forms a closed surface.

3. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the amusement device substantially covers the area of a three dimensional surface of revolution.

4. The amusement device of claim 2, wherein the fabric is in the shape of a sphere.

5. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the plastic strand is plastically welded to itself at a plurality of asymmetric locations on the fabric.

6. The amusement device of claim 5, wherein the plastic strand forms multiple loops intersecting at varying angles.

9. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the plastic strand has a durometer hardness between 70 A and 90 A.

10. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the plastic strand has a diameter of between about 1 and 4 millimeters.

11. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the plastic strand substantially maintains its cross sectional shape throughout the location of each weld.

12. The amusement device of claim 11, wherein the cross sectional shape is substantially round or oval.

13. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the fabric is resiliently deformable.

14. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the fabric is a first fabric and the plastic strand is a first plastic strand, the amusement device further comprising:

at least one second plastic strand wound upon itself to form a second fabric enclosing a void;

wherein second fabric is nested within the first fabric.

15. The amusement device of claim 14, wherein the first fabric and second fabric are plastically welded to each other.

16. The amusement device of claim 14, wherein the first plastic strand and second plastic strand have a different cross sectional shape, a different diameter, and/or a different color.

17. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the fabric is formed in the shape a ball.

18. The amusement device of claim 17, wherein the amusement device in the shape of the ball includes surface ornamentation formed from an additional plastic strand adorned on the ball.

7. The amusement device of claim 7, wherein the plastic strand defines a plurality of gaps in the fabric.

8. The amusement device of claim 7, wherein the gaps have substantially straight sides, as viewed in plan view.

19. An amusement device, comprising:

at least one plastic strand wound upon itself to form a fabric enclosing a void;

wherein the plastic strand is plastically welded to itself at a plurality of asymmetric locations throughout the fabric;

wherein the plastic strand forms multiple loops around the void intersecting at varying angles to define a plurality of gaps in the fabric;

wherein the plastic strand substantially maintains its cross sectional shape throughout the location of each weld; and

wherein the fabric is resiliently deformable.

20. An amusement device, comprising:

at least one plastic strand laid upon itself to form a fabric;

wherein the plastic strand is plastically welded to itself at a plurality of asymmetric locations and varying angles throughout the fabric;

wherein the plastic strand defines a plurality of gaps in the fabric; and

wherein the plastic strand substantially maintains its cross sectional shape throughout the location of each weld.