Football style thrown objects having light sticks

• US 6,726,580 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lloyd E. Peterson
• Original Assignee: Lloyd E. Peterson
• Inventors: Peterson, Lloyd E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US10/126,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20030199344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/571, 473/572, 473/573, 473/596, 473/597, 473/599, 473/613, 273/DIG.24
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A thrown object having a body shaped at least partially like an American football includes a light stick carried thereon for illuminating the object as it is thrown through the air. The light stick can be carried in an interior bore passing at least partially through the body of the object. The body may be made at least partially from a material capable of transmitting light to allow the light produced by the light stick to be visible through the body. Alternatively, one or more light sticks can be attached to the body of the object in exterior grooves. The light sticks produce light using a chemical reaction after the light sticks are first snapped and shaken.

Claims

1. A football style thrown object, which comprises:

a) an oval body that may be gripped by one hand of the user and passed through the air in the manner of an American football, wherein the body has a longitudinal centerline;

b) a light stick carried at least partially in an interior of the body in an elongated bore located along the longitudinal centerline of the body for providing illumination as the object travels through the air, wherein the light stick produces light using a chemical light producing reaction after the light stick is activated; and

c) wherein a tube forms the bore, the tube being formed at least partially of a material capable of transmitting light.

2. The football style thrown object of claim 1, wherein the light stick is carried entirely in the interior of the body.

3. The football style thrown object of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the body overlying and surrounding the tube that carries the light stick is made of a material that is capable of transmitting light such that light produced by the light stick is transmitted through the light transmitting portion of the body to be visible.

4. The football style thrown object of claim 1, further including a removable end cap for at least one end of the tube to allow access to be had to the tube for inserting the light stick into the tube.

5. The football style thrown object of claim 4, wherein the removable end cap forms one end of the body.

6. The football style thrown object of claim 1, further including a set of tail fins protruding from one side of the body, and wherein the tube that carries the light stick extends both inside the body and outside of the body through the tail fins with the tail fins being mounted at least partially on a portion of the tube extending outside of the body.

7. A football style thrown object, which comprises:

a) an oval body that may be gripped by one hand of the user and passed through the air in the manner of an American football, wherein the body has a longitudinal centerline;

b) a tube located along the longitudinal centerline of the body with at least a portion of the tube extending outside of the body;

c) a set of tail fins mounted at least partially on the portion of the tube extending outside of the body; and

d) a light stick inserted within the tube for providing illumination as the object travels through the air, wherein the light stick produces light using a chemical light producing reaction after the light stick is activated.

8. The football style thrown object of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the tube also extends inside of the body.

9. The football style thrown object of claim 8, wherein the tube is at least partially made of a light transmitting material.

10. The football style thrown object of claim 9, wherein the portion of the tube inside of the body is made of a light transmitting material.

11. The football style thrown object of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the body surrounding the portion of the tube inside of the body is also made of a light transmitting material.

12. The football style thrown object of claim 9, wherein the portion of the tube outside of the body is made of a light transmitting material.

13. The football style thrown object of claim 9, wherein the portions of the tube both inside and outside of the body are made of a light transmitting material.

14. The football style thrown object of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the body surrounding the portion of the tube inside of the body is also made of a light transmitting material.

15. The football style thrown object of claim 14, wherein the light stick is long enough to be received in the portions of the tube both inside and outside of the body.

16. A football style thrown object, which comprises:

a) an oval body that may be gripped by one hand of the user and passed through the air in the manner of an American football, the oval body having a central portion lying between two rounded noses and being made of a substantially solid, soft, spongy material;

b) a plastic tube encased at least partially within the oval body and located along a longitudinal centerline of the oval body, the plastic tube extending over at least the central portion of the oval body;

c) wherein the plastic tube is made from a light transmitting material and at least the central portion of the oval body is made from a light transmitting material; and

d) a light stick removably carried within the tube such that light given off by the light stick will shine radially outwardly through the tube and through the central portion of the oval body to illuminate at least the central portion of the oval body as the oval body is thrown through the air.

17. The football style thrown object of claim 16, wherein the tube extends through at least one of the rounded noses of the oval body with a portion of the tube extending outside of the body, and further including a set of tail fins attached to the portion of the tube extending outside of the body.

18. The football style thrown object of claim 16, wherein the tube has a predeterimed and the light stick is long enough to extend over a majority of the length of the tube.