Tethered hand toy

• US 9,895,579 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FSD, LLC
• Original Assignee: FSD, LLC
• Inventors: Walterscheid, Steven Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US15/227,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20180036604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/007 Arrangements on balls for connecting lines or cords
• 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 67/10 Games with thread-suspended or swingably-mounted bodies, e.g. balls, pointed bodies shaped as birds, animals, or the like, for aiming at and hitting targets games using a bat with a ball tethered thereto A63B67/20, pin games with tethered balls A63D7/00 ; Games using tethered bodies, e.g. balls, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0079 Balls tethered to a line or cord A63B43/007 takes precedence; other games using tethered balls A63B67/10; games using a bat or racket with a ball tethered thereto A63B67/20

Abstract

A skill toy that is juggled, spun, and flipped in one hand or between both hands. The skill toy has two subassemblies that each contains a rounded translucent shell. The translucent shell surrounds an internal illumination unit, wherein the rounded translucent shell has a maximum diameter of under two inches. The illumination units are motion activated and contain lights. A tether joins the subassemblies together. The tether can be selectively attached to, and detached from, the two subassemblies. The tether has a length of between four inches and six inches, so it is just long enough to span the back of a hand.

Claims

1. A toy assembly comprising:

two subassemblies that each contain a rounded translucent shell, wherein each said rounded translucent shell has a maximum diameter of under two inches;

an illumination unit disposed within each said rounded translucent shell for internally illuminating each said rounded translucent shell;

a receptacle that extends into each said rounded translucent shell;

a tether that can selectively attach to, and detach from, said subassemblies, said tether having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein said tether has a length between said first end and said second end that is between four inches and six inches;

a first connector at said first end of said tether; and

a second connector at said second end of said tether, wherein said first connector and said second connector are identical, and wherein said first connector and said second connector are sized to pass into either said receptacle on said subassemblies and engage said receptacle with an interference fit wherein friction keeps said first connector and said second connector engaged with each said receptacle until selectively pulled out of each said receptacle.

2. The toy assembly according to claim 1, wherein said internal illumination unit includes a battery, a logic circuit, and at least one LED.

3. The toy assembly according to claim 2, wherein said internal illumination unit contains a motion activator that activates said at least one LED when said internal illumination unit experiences motion.

4. The toy assembly according to claim 3, wherein said logic circuit causes said at least one LED to remain active for a predetermined period of time after said motion.

5. The toy assembly according to claim 1, wherein said translucent shell is made of an elastomeric material.

6. The toy assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tether is configured as a flat ribbon.

7. A toy assembly comprising:

a first translucent ball;

a first receptacle extending into said first translucent ball;

a second translucent ball;

a second receptacle extending into said translucent ball;

a ribbon tether having a first end and an opposite second end that can selectively attach to, and detach from, said first translucent ball and said second translucent ball, wherein said first end terminates with a first connector that is received within said first receptacle and secured with an interference fit where friction keeps said first connector engaged with said first receptacle until selectively pulled out of said first receptacle, and wherein said second end terminates with a second connector that is received within said second receptacle and secured with an interference fit, where friction keeps said second connector engaged with said second receptacle until selectively pulled out of said second receptacle, and wherein said ribbon tether has a length of between two inches and four inches between said first connector and said second connector.

8. The toy assembly according to claim 7, wherein said first translucent ball and said second translucent ball each have a diameter of between one-half inch and two inches.

9. The toy assembly according to claim 7 further including internal illumination units disposed within said first translucent ball and said second translucent ball for internally illuminating said first translucent ball and said second translucent ball.

10. The toy assembly according to claim 9, wherein each of said internal illumination units includes a battery, a logic circuit, and at least one LED.

11. The toy assembly according to claim 10, wherein each of said internal illumination units contains a motion activator that activates said at least one LED when said internal illumination units experience motion.

12. The toy assembly according to claim 10, wherein said logic circuit causes said at least one LED to remain active for a predetermined period of time after said motion.

13. The toy assembly according to claim 7, wherein both said first translucent ball and said second translucent ball have elastomeric shells.