High bounce structure: sky ball

• US 8,123,638 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Maui Toys, Inc. (Jakks Pacific, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kessler, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US12/482,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20100144471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 473/594, 473/595, 473603-606, 473/609, 473/569
• US Class Current: 473/609
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 39/00 Hollow non-inflatable balls , i.e. having no valves rigid balls A63B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/42 Polycondensates having carboxylic or carbonic ester groups in the main chain
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/7671 containing only one alkylene bisphenyl group

Abstract

A play ball having a high bounce capacity of at least 20 vertical feet and as much as 50 or 75 vertical feet is formed of a solid, elastomer thermoplastic polyurethane having a wall thickness of 3-5 mm, containing gas at a pressure preferably greater than 0.65 kfg/cm².

Claims

1. An amusement ball comprising

a hollow shell of a solid, rubbery and elastic material formed of a soft, highly elastic polyester-based thermoplastic polyurethane resin,

the hollow shell having a wall thickness of 3-5 mm,

the ball being filled with a gas under a pressure of greater than 0.65 up to 0.8 kgf/cm², and

the ball being characterized in having a bounce capability such that when thrown downward it can bounce up to over 20 feet vertically;

wherein the soft, highly elastic polyester-based thermoplastic polyurethane resin is a polyester/MDI-based thermoplastic polyurethane resin having a tensile strength of at least about 45 MPa, an ultimate elongation of at least about 700%, and a shore A hardness of 70-90, and

wherein said amusement ball is transparent or translucent.

2. The amusement ball of claim 1 characterized in that it can bounce upwardly to over 35 feet vertically.

3. The amusement ball of claim 1 characterized in that it can bounce upwardly to over 50 feet vertically.

6. The amusement ball of claim 2, having a diameter of approximately 9.2 cm.

4. An amusement ball comprising

a hollow shell of a solid, rubbery and elastic material,

the hollow shell having a wall thickness of 3-5 mm,

the ball being filled with a gas under a pressure of 0.5-0.8 kgf/cm², and

the ball being characterized in having a bounce capability such that when thrown downward it can bounce up to over 20 feet vertically;

wherein the shell is formed of a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and polyol reaction product comprising approximately 25 wt % of the methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and 70 wt % of the polyol, the polyol having a molecular weight of 1000-10,000, and optionally about 5 wt % of a chain extender having a molecular weight of 50-800, the polyurethane reaction product having a density of about 1.1 to about 1.2 g/cm³ and a Shore A hardness of 70-90.

5. An amusement ball comprising

a hollow shell of a solid, rubbery and elastic material,

the hollow shell having a wall thickness of 3-5 mm,

the ball being filled with a gas under a pressure of 0.5-0.8 kgf/cm², and

the ball being characterized in having a bounce capability such that when thrown downward it can bounce up to over 20 feet vertically;

wherein the shell is formed of a polyester based thermoplastic polyurethane resin having a Shore A hardness of 72, a specific gravity of 1.17, a tensile strength of 45 MPa, and ultimate elongation of 700%, a tensile stress at 100% elongation of 4 MPa, a tensile stress at 300% elongation of 6 MPa, a Graves tear strength of 7.9 kg/mm, and a glass transition temperature of −

52°

C.