Remotely controlled steerable ball

• US 20040192163A1
• Filed: 03/29/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Paul Siegel
• Original Assignee: Robert Paul Siegel
• Inventors: Siegel, Robert Paul
• Granted Patent: US 6,855,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/486
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/04 with an eccentric centre of gravity; with mechanism for changing the centre of gravity solid balls A63B37/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/005 Rockets; Missiles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/14 Starting or launching devices for toy aircraft; Arrangements on toy aircraft for starting or launching for launching objects from an aircraft A63H27/004
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/18 Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys discs used in athletics A63B65/10as part of a game A63F9/02; sling weapons F41B3/00; spring toy guns F41B7/08

Abstract

An amusement device of a projectile nature that can be thrown or flung or propelled through the air by a launcher includes the characteristic that it can be induced through electo-mechanical means, to change it'"'"'s trajectory in mid-flight in response to a signal generated from a remote control device.

Claims

1. A remote controlled ball amusement device adapted to change trajectory in mid-flight, including:

a sphere, said sphere being hollow and having an outer surface;

a plurality of articulatable members positioned to extend above said outer surface of said sphere;

a plurality of actuators movably connected to said articulatable members;

a control circuit; and

a wireless remote control device adapted through said control circuit to actuate said actuators which in turn moves said articulatable members into an open position to thereby change the trajectory of said ball.

2. The remote controlled ball amusement device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of actuators comprise solenoids.

3. The remote controlled ball amusement device of claim 2, wherein said plurality of articulatable members are biased into a closed position.

4. The remote controlled ball amusement device of claim 3, wherein said plurality of articulatable members are biased into said closed position by the use of springs.

5. The remote controlled ball amusement device of claim 1, wherein said device includes a battery.

7. The remote controlled ball of claim 1, wherein said ball includes a battery.

10. The remote controlled ball amusement device of claim 1, including a ball launcher to provide propulsion to said ball.

6. A remote controlled ball adapted to change trajectory in mid-flight, including:

a sphere, said sphere being hollow;

a plurality of masses movably supported within said sphere;

a plurality of motors movably connected to said plurality of masses;

a control circuit; and

a hand remote control adapted through said control circuit to actuate said motors which in turn moves said masses to create an imbalance and thereby change the trajectory of said ball.

8. A remote controlled ball amusement device, including:

a sphere, said sphere being hollow and having an outer surface;

a plurality of articulatable members positioned to extend above said outer surface of said sphere;

a plurality of actuators movably connected to said articulatable members;

a control circuit;

a ball launcher that provides propulsion and initial orientation to the ball; and

a wireless remote control device adapted through said control circuit to actuate said actuators which in turn moves said articulatable members into an open position to thereby change the trajectory of said ball.

9. The remote controlled ball amusement device of claim 8, wherein said ball launcher uses a spring to provide propulsion to said ball.