Handheld tethered ball device

• US 9,333,398 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin Daniel Schlapik
• Original Assignee: Kevin Daniel Schlapik
• Inventors: Schlapik, Kevin Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US14/560,955
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 446/219, 446/220, 446/228, 446/247, 446/252, 473/570, 473/571, 473/576
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 handheld tethered ball device comprising a tether assembly and a ball unit coupled therewith. The tether assembly includes a cord and a handle, which can be coupled to one another by means of a swivel. The cord preferably ends in a terminal loop that attaches to a ball retention cord protruding from the ball unit. An illumination assembly is included in the ball unit to provide various light emitting patterns. The illumination assembly is powered by batteries. Batteries are concealed by a securable battery cover, which is secured by at least one screw. The illumination assembly is attached to an aperture positioned between retention apertures on the ball unit, to which the ball retention cord is coupled.

Claims

1. A handheld tethered ball device, comprising:

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

a ball unit, comprising;

a ball body,

illumination assembly configured to illuminate the ball body, said illumination assembly comprising at least one light source, a battery housing having a cavity for storing at least one battery for powering said at least one light source, and a securable battery cover for selectively concealing said cavity, wherein said securable battery cover is movable relative to said battery housing to adopt a closed position in which the securable battery cover conceals the cavity, and an open position in which the securable battery cover is moved away from the cavity and access to the cavity is granted, wherein at least one screw secures the securable battery cover to the battery housing in the closed position;

wherein

said tether assembly second end is removably attachable to said ball unit;

wherein

said tether assembly further comprises a terminal loop arranged at said second end, and wherein said ball unit comprises a ball retention cord protruding from an outer surface of said ball unit, wherein said ball retention cord and said ball unit outer surface are arranged in a space-apart configuration for the passing therebetween of said tether assembly terminal loop, and wherein said tether assembly terminal loop is configured to allow passing of said tether assembly first end handle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said ball body comprises at least two retention apertures arranged in a spaced-apart configuration, and an aperture arranged between said at least two retention apertures;

said ball unit further comprising a ball retention cord coupled to and extending between said at least two retention apertures of said ball body;

wherein

the illumination assembly is coupled to said aperture arranged between said at least two retention apertures; and

wherein

the tether assembly second end is removably attachable to said ball retention cord.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said ball retention cord comprises a cord protruding from said ball unit outer surface in a C-shaped configuration.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the tether assembly further comprises:

a handle, arranged at said first end;

a cord, extending to said second end, and removably attachable to said ball unit;

a swivel, coupling said handle to said cord.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said securable battery cover is secured to said battery housing in the closed position by two screws, and wherein the securable battery cover is rotatable relative to said battery housing along a rotation axis provided by one of said two screws when the other of said two screws is removed.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said securable battery cover is hinged to said battery housing.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said securable battery cover is rotatable with respect to said battery housing, and configured to adopt a first rotational position in which the removably battery cover can be radially assembled and disassembled from said battery housing, and a second rotational position in which the securable battery cover is radially locked to said battery housing by at least one latch.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the at least one screw for securing the securable battery cover to the battery housing secures the securable battery cover to the battery housing in the second rotational position.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said illumination assembly further comprises an inner battery cover arranged radially below said securable battery cover, wherein said inner battery cover is removably arranged between said battery housing and said securable battery cover, and access to said inner batter cover is granted by removing said securable battery cover.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said battery housing comprises a main body including an inner body portion and an outer body portion, said inner and outer body portions arranged in alignment along a radius of said ball body, said inner and outer housing bodies comprising radially aligned cavities for a radially stacked arrangement of said at least one battery and said inner battery cover.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein, in the closed position, said securable battery cover is in radially-stacked arrangement with said at least one battery and said inner battery cover, and wherein, in the open position, said securable battery cover is rotated out of said stacked arrangement.

12. The handheld tethered ball device of claim 10, said ball unit further comprising at least one screw extending between and providing assembly of said inner body portion, said outer body portion and said outer securable battery cover.

13. A handheld tethered hall device, comprising:

a ball body, having an outer surface;

a ball retention cord, protruding from said ball body outer surface in a C-shaped configuration;

a tether assembly having a first end and an opposing second end, said tether assembly comprising;

a handle, arranged at said first end;

a cord, including a terminal loop arranged at said second end;

wherein

said ball retention cord is configured to allow passing of said tether assembly second end terminal loop between said ball retention cord and said ball outer surface, and wherein

said tether assembly second end terminal loop is configured to allow passing of said tether assembly first end handle.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said terminal loop is integral to the tether assembly cord.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said tether assembly cord comprises an elongated cord body extending between a cord first end and a cord second end, wherein said cord body is looped rearwards forming said terminal loop, and wherein said second end is tied to the cord body in a sliding knot.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein said ball retention rd is coupled to and extends between two retention apertures in the ball body, said handheld tethered ball device further comprising an illumination assembly coupled within an aperture positioned between said at least two retention apertures.

17. A handheld tethered ball device, comprising:

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

a ball unit, comprising;

a ball body,

an illumination assembly configured to illuminate the ball body, said illumination assembly comprising at least one light source, a battery housing having a cavity for storing at least one battery for powering said at least one light source, and a securable battery cover for selectively concealing said cavity, wherein said securable battery cover is movable relative to said battery housing to adopt a closed position in which the securable battery cover conceals the cavity, and an open position in which the securable battery cover is moved away from the cavity and access to the cavity is granted, wherein at least one screw secures the securable battery cover to the battery housing in the closed position;

wherein

said tether assembly second end is removably attachable to said ball unit; and

further wherein

said illumination assembly further comprises an inner battery cover arranged radially below said securable battery cover, wherein said inner battery cover is removably arranged between said battery housing and said securable battery cover, and access to said inner batter cover is granted by removing said securable battery cover, wherein

said battery housing comprises a main body including an inner body portion and an outer body portion, said inner and outer body portions arranged in alignment along a radius of said ball body, said inner and outer housing bodies comprising radially aligned cavities for a radially stacked arrangement of said at least one battery and said inner battery cover.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein, in the closed position, said securable battery cover is in radially-stacked arrangement with said at least one battery and said inner battery cover, and wherein, in the open position, said securable battery cover is rotated out of said stacked arrangement.

19. The device of claim 17, said ball unit further comprising at least one screw extending between and providing assembly of said inner body portion, said outer body portion and said outer securable battery cover.