Hopping ball

• US 8,915,826 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2013
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark W. Publicover
• Original Assignee: Mark W. Publicover
• Inventors: Publicover, Mark W., Hylbert, Jon Patton, Strasser, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome w
• Application Number:
  US13/851,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20130296140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 482/77, 482/148, 239/289, 239/333, 472/128, 472/134, 472/122, 446/180, 446/183, 446/220, 446/267, 446/475
• US Class Current: 482/77
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/125 Large inflatable balls primarily used as body supports for exercising, e.g. balancing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/00 Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by the preceding groups dropping or releasing powdered, liquid or gaseous matter in flight B64D1/16

Abstract

A hopping play ball comprises a pair of elongated grips or handles adjacent to each other and extending radially outward from the surface of the ball. The ball may also comprise an array of mammillated protrusions on the lower surface, opposite the handles, to improve the stability during bouncing on a soft or elastic surface, such as a trampoline rebounding mat. In other embodiments, the ball has one or more water reservoirs in fluid communication with squirt nozzles disposed on either the surface of the ball or an outward facing portion of the handles. The squirt nozzles are activated by the player via the handle grips, and may pump or squirt water in response to each bounce or may be triggered independent of the players bouncing movement. The mammillated surface aids in preventing slippage of the balls during such types of wet play with multiple players.

Claims

1. A play apparatus comprising:

an inflatable elastic ball that is configured such that a user can sit on top of the ball and can bounce while sitting on top of the ball;

at least one reservoir defining a chamber adapted to contain a body of liquid;

at least one handle positioned to allow a user to grasp the play apparatus while sitting on top of the ball;

an array of mammillated protrusions on the landing surface portion of the ball to improve stability and inhibit slippage during bouncing;

at least one orifice disposed on an external surface of the play apparatus, the at least one orifice being in liquid communication with the chamber and being positioned to direct a stream of liquid to a location distant from the ball; and

a pump mechanism that is activated by bouncing of the ball on a surface and that is operative to expel liquid contained in the chamber through the at least one orifice to a location distant from the ball.

2. The play apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mechanism operative to expel liquid includes an apparatus manipulatable by the user to control the flow of liquid from the chamber to the at least one orifice.

3. The play apparatus of claim 1 having a reservoir disposed inside the ball.

4. The play apparatus of claim 1 having more than one reservoir.

5. The play apparatus of claim 4 wherein the reservoirs are in liquid communication with the at least one orifice.

6. A play apparatus comprising:

an inflatable elastic ball that is configured such that a user can sit on top of the ball and can bounce while sitting on top of the ball;

at least one reservoir defining a chamber adapted to contain a body of liquid;

at least one handle positioned to allow a user to grasp the play apparatus while sitting on top of the ball;

at least one orifice disposed on an external surface of the play apparatus, the at least one orifice being in liquid communication with the chamber and being positioned to direct a stream of liquid to a location distant from the ball; and

a pump mechanism that is activated by bouncing of the ball on a surface and that is operative to expel liquid contained in the chamber through the at least one orifice to a location distant from the ball.

7. A play apparatus comprising:

an inflatable elastic ball that is configured such that a user can sit on top of the ball and can bounce while sitting on top of the ball;

at least one reservoir defining a chamber adapted to contain a body of liquid;

at least one handle positioned to allow a user to grasp the play apparatus while sitting on top of the ball;

an array of mammillated protrusions on the landing surface portion of the ball to improve stability and inhibit slippage during bouncing;

at least one orifice disposed on an external surface of the play apparatus, the at least one orifice being in liquid communication with the chamber and being positioned to direct a stream of liquid to a location distant from the ball; and

a pump mechanism that is operative to expel liquid contained in the chamber through the at least one orifice to a location distant from the ball.