Lighted ball toy
First Claim
1. A ball toy having a plurality of elongated light transmitting members each having a pair of ends, a light source optically coupled to one end of said members, the other end of said members being disposed in a selective array, and a color chamber disposed intermediate said light source and said one end of said members, said color chamber having a plurality of color elements, said ball including a shell having at least a partially translucent surface, whereby light may be communicated along said members and transmitted through said surface when said light source is activated.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A ball toy has an inner spherical shell within an outer spherical shell, a light source being mounted within the inner shell adjacent to a first end of a plurality of etched optical fibers having the other ends arrayed between the inner and outer shells. The outer shell is translucent while the inner shell has a coated outer surface that reflects light from the optical fibers. Between the light source and the first end of the optical fibers is a color chamber having different color elements through which light may be transmitted and which may move when the ball moves so as to vary the colors received by the optical fibers thereby effecting variation in the color seen as the ball rolls or is otherwise moved, the light seen at the translucent shell fluctuating according to the colors transmitted. A motion switch and/or a master switch may be used to turn the system on and off. A timer may deactivate the circuits if the ball is not moved after a period of time.
-
Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A ball toy having a plurality of elongated light transmitting members each having a pair of ends, a light source optically coupled to one end of said members, the other end of said members being disposed in a selective array, and a color chamber disposed intermediate said light source and said one end of said members, said color chamber having a plurality of color elements, said ball including a shell having at least a partially translucent surface, whereby light may be communicated along said members and transmitted through said surface when said light source is activated.
- 4. A ball toy comprising, a first shell and a second shell disposed within said first shell, a plurality of elongated light transmitting members each having a first end disposed within said second shell and a second end disposed intermediate said first and second shells, said first shell comprising at least a partially translucent surface, a light source optically coupled to one end of said members, the other end of said members being disposed in a selective array, and a color chamber disposed intermediate said light source and said one end of said members, said color chamber having a plurality of color elements, whereby light may be communicated along said members and transmitted through said surface in an array when said light source is activated.
Specification