Tethered LED illuminated ball

• US 8,926,331 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin Schlapik
• Original Assignee: Kevin Schlapik
• Inventors: Schlapik, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US13/425,502
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 446/220, 446/228, 446/247, 446/252, 446/219, 473/570, 473/571, 473/576
• US Class Current: 434/219
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/06 Elastic cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/007 Arrangements on balls for connecting lines or cords
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/02 with a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/08 Juggling or spinning ball games played as games of skill A63B67/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

The present invention is related to a tethered LED illuminated ball comprising a tether assembly and a soft compressible ball coupled therewith. A retention member having one or more loops is coupled to one end of the tether assembly. A swivel is coupled to the second end of the tether assembly and operatively coupled to the ball by a ball retention cord. An illumination assembly is coupled to the ball and provides various light emitting patterns. The illumination assembly is coupled adjacent to the ball retention cord. The illumination assembly includes at least one LED and a battery operatively coupled therewith.

Claims

1. A tethered LED illuminated ball comprising:

a tether assembly having a first end and an opposing second end;

a spherical ball having at least two retention apertures arranged in a spaced-apart configuration;

a ball retention cord coupled to said at least two retention apertures of said spherical ball and extending between said two retention apertures;

at least one swivel coupled to said first end and/or said second end of said tether assembly; and

an illumination assembly coupled within an aperture positioned between said at least two retention apertures.

2. A tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 1, further comprising a retention member coupled to said first end of said tether assembly.

3. A tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 2, wherein said retention member comprises at least one loop.

4. A tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said spherical ball is fabricated from a soft compressible material.

5. A tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one swivel is coupled to said second end of said tether assembly.

6. A tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one swivel is coupled to said first end of said tether assembly.

7. A tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said illumination assembly is configured to actuate at least one LED operatively coupled therewith in a predefined light emitting pattern.

8. A tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 7, wherein said predefined light emitting pattern transitions from a first color to a second color over a predefined time interval.

9. A tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 7, wherein said predefined light emitting pattern flashes at a predefined frequency.

10. A tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said ball retention cord is coupled to two retention apertures only, wherein said illumination assembly is positioned between said two retention apertures to which the ball retention cord is coupled.

11. A method of fabricating a tethered LED illuminated ball, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a tether assembly having a first end and an opposing second end;

b) providing a spherical ball having at least two retention apertures arranged in a spaced-apart configuration;

c) coupling a ball retention cord to said at least two retention apertures of the spherical ball;

d) coupling at least one swivel to said first end and/or said second end the tether assembly; and

e) coupling an illumination assembly within an aperture formed between said at least two retention apertures.

12. A method of fabricating a tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of:

f) providing a retention member coupled to the first end of the tether assembly.

13. A method of fabricating a tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 12, wherein said step f) of providing comprises at least one loop.

14. A method of fabricating a tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 11, wherein said step b) of providing comprises fabricating the spherical ball from a soft compressible material.

15. A method of fabricating a tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 11, wherein said step d) of coupling comprises at least one swivel coupled to the second end of the tether assembly.

16. A method of fabricating a tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 11, wherein said step d) of coupling comprises at least one swivel coupled to the first end of the tether assembly.

17. A method of fabricating a tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of:

g) configuring the illumination assembly to actuate at least one LED operatively coupled therewith to emit light in a predefined light emitting pattern.

18. A method of fabricating a tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 17, wherein said step g) of configuring comprises the predefined light emitting pattern transitioning from a first color to a second color over a predefined time interval.

19. A method of fabricating a tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 17, wherein said step g) of configuring comprises the predefined light emitting pattern flashes at a predefined frequency.

20. A method of fabricating a tethered LED illuminated ball as recited in claim 11, wherein said step c) comprises coupling said ball retention cord to two retention apertures only.