Signal emitting ball

• US 5,316,293 A
• Filed: 04/26/1993
• Issued: 05/31/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David H. Hamilton
• Original Assignee: David H. Hamilton
• Inventors: Hamilton, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/051,652
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 273/65 EF, 273/58 G, 273/65 ED, 446/230, 446/400, 446/397, 446/484, 446/485
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/76 with means enabling use in the dark, other than powered illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/06 Elastic cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A toy ball, preferably a football, that emits light and bomb-emulating sounds when spiraled. It comprises a foam body defining a central bore with open ends, conical end caps associated with the ends, and an electronic circuit responsive to a centrifugal switch. The circuit and its battery are fitted within a tubular canister, preferably coaxially disposed in the bore. Rubber tethers suspend the canister between the end caps. A D-ring bracket flexibly connects one end of each tether to the canister. An S-hook connects the other tether end to an end cap. When the ball spirals during flight, a sound simulating a bomb dropped from an aircraft is emitted from piezoceramic transducers mounted on the lids of the canister. Sound horns extend from the transducers to the end caps to conduct the sound. Radially spaced apart light emitting diodes mounted in recesses in the outer surface of the ball are activated by the circuit. The centrifugal switch is responsive to rotation of the ball about its longitudinal axis, as created by a spiral pass. The tethers and end caps facilitate service of the components in the central bore. The foam may be compressed and an end cap unhooked from the suspension system to allow access to the transducers or the circuit canister.

Claims

1. A signal emitting toy ball comprising:

a resilient body comprised of pliable material, the body defining a longitudinal axis, a central interior bore coincident with said axis, and at least one open end;

an electronic circuit disposed within said body;

switch means disposed in said ball for activating said circuit in response to acceleration of said ball;

transducer means for generating sound in response to said circuit; and

,

end cap means associated with said at least one open end for distributing sound from said transducer means.

2. The toy ball defined in claim 1 further comprising canister means for enclosing said circuit, said canister means disposed in said bore, and tether means for suspending said canister means between said ends.

3. The toy ball defined in claim 2 further comprising sound horn means disposed between said transducer means and said end cap means for conducting sound.

4. The toy ball defined in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of light emitters responsive to said circuit for radiating light.

5. The toy ball defined in claim 4 wherein said circuit means comprises a circuit board adapted to be snap fitted within said canister means, and a battery secured in said canister means.

6. The toy ball defined in claim 5 wherein said tether means comprises:

resilient cord means for anchoring said canister means, said cord means comprising spaced apart ends having eyes;

S-shaped hook means for connecting one of said eyes to said end cap means; and

,

D-shaped bracket means for connecting the second eye to said canister means.

7. An illuminated, audible football comprising:

a foam football body defining a central bore and open ends;

perforated, generally conical end caps disposed over said open ends;

one or more acceleration activated switches disposed in said football;

electronic circuit means for activating said ball responsive to said switches;

canister means for captivating said circuit means, said canister means coaxially disposed in said bore;

means for mounting said canister means between said end caps within said bore;

transducer means for generating sound in response to said circuit means; and

,

sound horns extending from said speaker means to said end caps for conducting sound.

8. The football as defined in claim 7 wherein said transducer means comprises piezoceramic transducers disposed on said canister means.

9. The football as defined in claim 7 further comprising a plurality of light sources disposed exteriorly of said body for radiating light in response to said circuit means.

10. The football as defined in claim 9 wherein said light sources are light emitting diodes.

11. The football as defined in claim 7 wherein said mounting means comprises:

a pair of resilient cords for anchoring said canister means, said cords each comprising first and second spaced apart ends;

an S-shaped hook connecting said first ends to said end caps; and

,

a bracket flexibly connecting said second ends to said canister means.

12. The football as defined in claim 11 wherein said canister means comprises a tubular shell and a pair of spaced apart lids snap fitted to the shell, said tubular shell comprising internal rib means for mechanically mounting said circuit means.

13. The football as defined in claim 12 wherein said bracket comprises a D-shaped ring having a pair of ends, each of said lids comprises a pair of spaced apart bosses, and said D-shaped ring ends are swiveled to said bosses.

14. The football as defined in claim 13 wherein:

said speakers are piezoceramic transducers disposed in the lids of said canister means; and

,

a plurality of light emitting diodes are associated with said body for radiating light in response to said circuit means.

15. An signal emitting football comprising:

a generally prolate spheroidal foam body having a longitudinal bore coincident with a longitudinal axis, said bore terminating in open ends;

generally conical end caps disposed over said open ends, said end caps defining radial slits;

canister means coaxially disposed in said bore;

tether means for suspending said canister means between said end caps, said tether means extending from each of said end caps to said canister means;

electronic circuit means for generating electronic signals responsive to the spin of said football about said longitudinal axis, said circuit comprising at least one centrifugally activated switch.

16. The football as defined in claim 15 wherein said circuit further comprises:

a power source disposed in said canister;

a timer activated by one of said switches, said timer disposed in said canister; and

,

transducers disposed in lids sealing said canister means, said transducers adapted to receive and convert said signals to an audible sound.

17. The football as defined in claim 16 wherein said circuit further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed in recesses defined in a surface of said body, said light emitting diodes receiving and converting said signals to visual light.

18. The football as defined in claim 16 further comprising sound horns extending from said transducers to said end caps.

19. The football as defined in claim 16 wherein said sound varies from a high frequency to a low frequency.

20. The football as defined in claim 15 wherein said body comprises a smooth outer surface, said outer surface defining a plurality of evenly spaced, generally round dimples.