Internally illuminated tubular toy

• US 20100048097A1
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Buzz Bee Toys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Buzz Bee Toys (Hk) Co., Limited
• Inventors: Ma, Chor-Ming
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/473
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/009 Toy swords or similar toy weapons; Toy shields
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/22 flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/90 on two opposite sides of supports or substrates

Abstract

A toy sword has a translucent foam shell in the form of a blade. A light-transmissive tube is located within the foam shell and a multitude of light emitters are located along the tube and are configured to emit light through the tube to the foam shell from inside to illuminate the shell'"'"'s exterior.

Claims

1. A toy, comprising:

a light-transmissive foam shell;

a light-transmissive tube located within the foam shell;

a multitude of light emitters located along the tube and configured to emit light through the tube to the foam shell.

2. The toy of claim 1, further comprising an elongate member located within or adjacent to the tube and upon which the light emitters are mounted.

3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the tube is translucent so as to diffuse light from the light emitters.

4. The toy of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bulkheads spaced internally along the shell and through which the tube extends, or with which the tube is integrally formed, the bulkheads serving to maintain the shell in a fixed relationship about the tube.

5. The toy of claim 1, further comprising a filler tube located within the shell alongside the tube.

6. The toy of claim 1, further comprising circuitry selectively controlling illumination of the light emitters.

7. The toy of claim 1, wherein the light emitters comprise LEDs.

8. The toy of claim 1, wherein the foam shell and tube are substantially linear.

9. The toy of claim 8, further comprising a handle attached to one end of the foam shell and/or tube and housing a battery for powering the light emitters.

10. The toy of claim 1, wherein the foam shell and tube are curved to form a segment of a hoop.

11. The toy of claim 10, further comprising a hoop section to which the foam shell and/or tube are connected and housing a battery for powering the light emitters.

12. The toy of claim 1, wherein the foam shell and light-transmissive tube are flexible.

13. The toy of claim 2, wherein the elongate member is flexible.