Production of a sound-producing PU-ball

• US 5,203,560 A
• Filed: 01/28/1992
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shyr-Yuh Wang
• Original Assignee: Shyr-Yuh Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Shyr-Yuh
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Steven B.
• Application Number:
  US07/826,871
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 273/58 R, 273/58 A, 273/58 E, 273/58 G, 273/65 ED, 273/DIG. 8, 273/20, 273/213, 264/275, 264/277, 264/278
• US Class Current: 29/899
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/12 Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/08 Urethane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4957 Sound device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49712 Ball making

Abstract

The production of a sound-producing polyurethane foamed ball is disclosed in which the sound producing hardware having a sound generating circuit connected to a battery set by a spring switch, is placed in a mold for producing a polyurethane foam ball in which the polyurethane covers the sound generator through a foaming process. The sound generating hardware is supported in the mold by a metal column extending into the mold cavity. The polyurethane ball thus made has an elongated sound hole for transmitting sounds from said sound generator to the outside.

Claims

1. A method of making a sound producing polyurethane ball in a mold comprising the steps of:

a) extending a rod member from the mold into a mold cavity,

b) removably supporting a sound generator on the rod member such that the sound generator is out of contact with the mold, said sound generator having a music integrated circuit, a speaker, a spring, and a battery set mounted thereon,

c) placing a foamable polyurethane material into the mold cavity and causing the polyurethane material to undergo a foaming process such that the polyurethane material encloses the sound generator; and

,

d) removing the ball from the mold and withdrawing the rod member from the ball so as to leave a passage extending through the ball to the sound generator.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

a) providing a speaker cover over the speaker, the speaker cover defining a sound hole therethrough and an annular flange extending around the sound hole; and

,

b) removably supporting the sound generator in the mold cavity by inserting the rod member into the sound hole in the speaker cover.