Pump ball

• US 5,098,095 A
• Filed: 05/06/1991
• Issued: 03/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weiss Twice Toys, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Weiss Twice Toys, Inc.
• Inventors: Weiss, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US07/695,736
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 446/224, 446/220, 273/58 R, 273/58 B, 273/58 C, 273/58 BA, 273/58 J, 273/61 D, 273/65 R
• US Class Current: 473/593
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2041/005 with counterweight for adjusting the centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/12 Tools or devices for blowing up or closing balls for pricking-balls A63B39/04

Abstract

An inflatable ball having a flexible wall defining an enclosure which can be thrown when inflated. A manually operated pump positioned on one side of the enclosure has an actuator which is contiguous with the flexible wall. The actuator can be pressed to inflate the enclosure. A release valve is positioned on an opposite side form the pump to balance the weight of the pump and provide for a manual release of air from inside the enclosure.

Claims

1. An inflatable throw toy comprising:

a flexible wall defining an enclosure which is spherical and adapted to be thrown when inflated;

manually operated inflation means in and on one side only of said enclosure, said inflation means having an actuator contiguous with said wall for inflating said enclosure when said actuator is pressed, said actuator having a dome shape with a curvature which matches the spherical flexible wall when the enclosure is inflated, said inflation means comprising a housing defining an interior space, said actuator closing said interior space, an inlet one-way valve connected to said housing for only admitting air into said space from outside the wall when said actuator is released and an outlet one-way valve for discharging air from said space and into said enclosure when said actuator is depressed; and

deflation means which is manually operated to deflate the enclosure, connected to the flexible wall and positioned in the enclosure on an opposite side of the flexible wall from said manually operated inflation means, said inflation means being spaced away from said deflation means when said enclosure is inflated to counter balance said deflation means.

2. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said deflation means comprises a cylindrical support positioned opposite to said housing on said flexible wall, said housing being engageable with said cylindrical support when beginning an inflation of the toy.

3. A toy according to claim 2, including a plunger connected to said housing and covered by said actuator.

4. A toy according to claim 3, wherein said deflation means comprise said cylindrical support having at least one hole therein, a closing disk engageable over the hole in said cylindrical support for sealing said s enclosure, and a release valve member connected to said closing disk for moving said closing disk away from the hole of said cylindrical support for releasing air from said enclosure.