Segmented ball with lighted elements

• US 7,867,115 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tangle Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tangle Incorporated
• Inventors: Zawitz, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baldori; Joseph B
• Application Number:
  US11/957,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20090156092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/571, 473/612, 446/91, 446/175, 446/438, 446/439
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 39/00 Hollow non-inflatable balls , i.e. having no valves rigid balls A63B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/18 Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys discs used in athletics A63B65/10as part of a game A63F9/02; sling weapons F41B3/00; spring toy guns F41B7/08
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08

Abstract

Embodiments of the instant invention include lighted bounceable toys for play and amusement. Such toys or structures can be made in an infinite number of graceful and useful configurations. Exemplary bounceable ball toys include a light assembly having a power source and a plurality of light emitting elements, and a spherical skeletal structure having a plurality of segments. The spherical skeletal structure defines an open interior cavity, and at least some segments of the skeletal structure include a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity. Light emitting elements transmit light to the channel openings.

Claims

1. A bounceable ball toy, comprising:

a light assembly having a power source and a plurality of light emitting diodes;

a first end cap;

a second end cap; and

a spherical skeletal structure having a plurality of curved loop segments which form a continuous loop, the spherical skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity and having a first end and a second end,

wherein each curved loop segment has a curved end and an opposite end, wherein the curved end of each loop segment is coupled with the first end cap at the first end of the spherical skeletal structure, wherein the opposite end of each loop segment is coupled with the second end cap at the second end of the spherical skeletal structure, wherein at least some segments of the skeletal structure comprise a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity, wherein the light assembly extends between adjacent skeletal structure segment channels, and wherein the light emitting diodes are disposed at least partially within the channel openings.

2. The bounceable ball toy of claim 1, wherein the spherical skeletal structure defines at least two apertures that provide fluid communication between the open interior cavity and an ambient space disposed outside of an external boundary defined by the skeletal structure.

3. The bounceable ball toy of claim 1, wherein the light assembly is configured to direct light toward a surface of the channel opening.

4. The bounceable ball toy of claim 1, wherein at least some of the segments comprise a portion that is transparent or translucent to light.

5. The bounceable ball toy of claim 1, wherein the light assembly comprises a wire that is disposed at least partially within the channel openings.

6. A bounceable ball toy, comprising:

a light assembly; and

a skeletal structure having a plurality of curved loop segments which collectively form a single continuous loop, the skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity and having a first end and a second end,

wherein each curved loop segment has a curved end and an opposite end, wherein the curved end of each loop segment meets at the first end of the skeletal structure without intersecting, wherein the opposite end of each loop segment meets at the second end of the skeletal structure without intersecting, wherein the single continuous loop of the skeletal structure provides a single continuous non-intersecting central longitudinal axis extending coaxially within each of the curved loop segments, wherein at least some segments of the skeletal structure comprise a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity, wherein the light assembly extends between adjacent skeletal structure segment channels, and wherein the light assembly is disposed at least partially within the channel openings.

7. A toy, comprising:

a light assembly; and

a skeletal structure having a curved loop segment that forms a single continuous loop, the skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity and having a first end and a second end,

wherein the curved loop segment has at least three curved ends and at least three opposite ends, wherein each curved end of the loop segment meets at the first end of the skeletal structure without intersecting, wherein each opposite end of the loop segment meets at the second end of the skeletal structure without intersecting, wherein at least some segments of the skeletal structure comprise a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity, wherein the light assembly extends between adjacent skeletal structure segment channels, and wherein the light assembly is disposed at least partially within the channel openings.

8. The toy of claim 7, wherein the light assembly comprises a light emitting diode or a glowstick.

9. The toy of claim 7, wherein the skeletal structure defines two or more apertures that provide fluid communication between the open interior cavity and an ambient space disposed outside of an external boundary defined by the skeletal structure.

10. The toy of claim 7, wherein the skeletal structure defines a shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a spheroid, a prolate spheroid, an oblate spheroid, an ellipsoid, a toroid, and a geodesic sphere.

11. The toy of claim 7, wherein the light assembly comprises a processor.

12. The toy of claim 7, wherein the skeletal structure is coupled with a logo plate comprising a filter or an aperture.

13. The toy of claim 7, wherein the skeletal structure comprises a thermoplastic resin having a durometer of about 60.