Snow man making device for making a snow person having light emitting structures

• US 9,448,002 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ignacio Marc Asperas
• Original Assignee: Ignacio Marc Asperas
• Inventors: Asperas, Ignacio Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanders, James
• Application Number:
  US13/665,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20130119231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 249/65, 249102-104, 2491141-116, 249/127, 249/137, 249/139, 249/154, 249/164, 249/173, 62344-346, 623/51, 622/64, 362/234, 362/253, 362/311.02, 362/311.1, 362/311.15, 362/361, 362/372, 362/450, 446/73, 446/79, 446/97, 446/91
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/006 provided with electrical lighting electrical lighting F21
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/001 Toy-moulding appliances; Toy moulding
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 9/00 Special methods or compositions for the manufacture of dolls, toy animals, toy figures, or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/00 Producing hollow articles tubular articles B29D23/00; pneumatic tyres B29D30/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/04 Spherical articles, e.g. balls B29D22/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/008 Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/003 Transport containers

Abstract

A ball is provided forming an inside structure of the snow person, the ball having an inner and outer surface. The ball is a unitary work piece that is free and unconnected to other work pieces. An adhesion surface is disposed on the outer surface of the ball, the adhesion surface provided with nodules that extend away from the surface of the ball to adhere snow while the ball is rolled. Light units are integrated into the surface of the ball and having light emitting portions that extend away from the surface of the ball. A light output of the light units is selected to transmit light through a layer of snow. Connections between the light units situated within the ball connect the light units together.

Claims

1. An apparatus for building a snow person, the apparatus comprising:

a ball forming an inside structure of the snow person, the ball having an inner and outer surface;

wherein the ball is a unitary work piece that is free and unconnected to other work pieces, wherein the ball is composed of a rigid material that resists an impinging force, including a pressure exerted on the surface of the ball when rolled on the ground against a snow surface;

an adhesion surface disposed on the outer surface of the ball, the adhesion surface provided with nodules that extend away from the outer surface of the ball to adhere snow while the ball is rolled;

light units integrated into the ball and having light emitting portions that extend away from the outer surface of the ball;

wherein a light output of the light units is selected to transmit light through a layer of snow; and

connections between the light units situated within the ball connecting the light units together.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light units are LEDs.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light units are selected with different colors.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller to control the light units to turn on and off in a predetermined sequence.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light units are synchronized to music.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transformer that receives electromagnetic energy to power the light units.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery within the ball to power the light units.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light units are integrated into the nodules.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesion surface includes at least two textures configured to attract snow and maintain the snow on the surface of the ball as the ball is rolled.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the nodules include a first texture configured to adhere moist snow and a second texture comprised of sand to adhere granular snow.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nodules have a top surface that is smaller than a base surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the nodules have an impinging surface that is reverse inclined.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nodules have a base surface that is smaller than a top surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nodules are trapezoidal in shape.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ball is sphere shaped such that it is rollable in any direction x, y, z.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ball is 2-3 feet in diameter.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ball is larger than about a professional basketball which is regulated to be about 9.5-9.85 inches in diameter.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ball has a diameter of about 4 feet.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ball has an interior filled with a material that is lighter than snow.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the ball is hollow.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ball is substantially comprised of metal.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nodules have a width of about 2-5 mm.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ball is formed of 2 hemispheres fixedly joined together.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ball is substantially filled with air.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ball further comprises an inflating valve.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lighting units have a portion that is inserted through holes in the ball, wherein the light emitting portions extend away from the outer surface of the ball and the connections between the light units are situated within the ball.