Toy football and method therefor

• US 7,288,037 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D. Myers
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D. Myers
• Inventors: Myers, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US11/193,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 473/613, 473/614, 473/570, 473/571, 473/575, 473/576, 473/595, 446/36, D21/712
• US Class Current: 473/613
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

An improved toy football having a plurality of fins dimensioned to stabilize the toy football while in flight, to provide for a controlled throw, and to reduce drag so that the toy football may be thrown farther than prior art toy footballs. An improved toy football for use at night or in areas where there is little light. A method for increasing throwing distance of a toy football.

Claims

1. A toy football comprising:

an elongated spheroid body section;

a tail section coupled to and extending longitudinally from the body section, the tail section comprising;

a rod member coupled to a back end of the body section; and

a plurality of fins coupled to and along a length of the rod member in an S-configuration, the plurality of fins being dimensioned to stabilize the body section while in flight and to force the air impacted by the body section downstream on each of the fins sequentially; and

a light circuit for illuminating the toy football, the light source comprising;

at least one light bulb;

a power source coupled to the at least one light bulb; and

a switch for activating and deactivating the light circuit, the switch being coupled to the at least one light bulb and coupled to the power source;

wherein the rod member is substantially transparent in order to allow light from the light circuit to be visible through the rod member.

2. The toy football of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of channels defined by the rod member, the plurality of channels dimensioned to secure the plurality of fins to the rod member.

3. The toy football of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fins is of identical geometric configuration.

4. The toy football of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fins is spaced equally along the rod member a like distance apart.

5. The toy football of claim 1 wherein each fin travels approximately one-third around an outer circumference of the rod member.

6. The toy football of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fins is coupled along the entire length of the rod member.

7. The toy football of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fins is coupled along a portion of the length of the rod member.

8. The toy football of claim 1 wherein the rod is rotatably coupled to the body section.

9. The toy football of claim 8 wherein the S-configuration aids the rotation of the rod member thereby reducing drag on the toy football.

10. The toy football of claim 1 wherein each of the fins has a substantially triangular shape.

11. The toy football of claim 10 wherein the longest side of each triangularly shaped fin is slightly curved.

12. The toy football of claim 1 wherein at least one of the fins defines a plurality of holes, the holes being dimensioned to reduce air drag.

13. The toy football of claim 1 wherein the body section defines:

a hollow interior; and

at least one window to allow light from the light circuit to be visible through the at least one window.

14. The toy football of claim 8 further comprising a counting device for measuring the number of revolutions of the rod member, the counting device being coupled to the rod member.

15. The toy football of claim 14 wherein the counting device comprises a display coupled to the rod member for indicating the number of revolutions of the rod member.

16. An improved toy football comprising:

an elongated spheroid body section;

a tail section coupled to and extending longitudinally from the body section, the tail section comprising;

a rod member rotatably coupled to a back end of the body section; and

a plurality of fins coupled equidistantly to and along a length of the rod member in an S-configuration, each of the fins having;

a substantially triangular shape, the longest side of each the triangularly shaped fin curving approximately one-third around an outer circumference of the rod member; and

a plurality of holes defined by each of the fins and dimensioned to reduce air drag; and

a plurality of channels defined by the rod member, the plurality of channels dimensioned to secure the plurality of fins to the rod member; and

a light circuit for illuminating the toy football, the light source comprising;

at least one light bulb;

a power source coupled to the at least one light bulb; and

a switch for activating and deactivating the light circuit, the switch being coupled to the at least one light bulb and coupled to the power source;

wherein the rod member is substantially transparent in order to allow light from the light circuit to be visible through the rod member.