SEGMENTED BALL WITH LIGHTED ELEMENTS

• US 20090156092A1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tangle Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tangle Incorporated
• Inventors: Zawitz, Richard E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/438
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 39/00 Hollow non-inflatable balls , i.e. having no valves rigid balls A63B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08

Abstract

Embodiments of the instant invention include lighted bounceable toys for play and amusement. Such toys or structures can be made in an infinite number of graceful and useful configurations. Exemplary bounceable ball toys include a light assembly having a power source and a plurality of light emitting elements, and a spherical skeletal structure having a plurality of segments. The spherical skeletal structure defines an open interior cavity, and at least some segments of the skeletal structure include a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity. Light emitting elements transmit light to the channel openings.

Claims

1. A bounceable ball toy, comprising:

a light assembly having a power source and a plurality of light emitting diodes; and

a spherical skeletal structure having a plurality of segments, the spherical skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity,

wherein at least some segments of the skeletal structure comprise a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity, and wherein the light emitting diodes are disposed at least partially within the channel openings.

2. The bounceable ball toy of claim 1, wherein the spherical skeletal structure defines at least two apertures that provide fluid communication between the open interior cavity and an ambient space disposed outside of an external boundary defined by the skeletal structure.

3. The bounceable ball toy of claim 1, wherein the light assembly is configured to direct light toward a surface of the channel opening.

4. The bounceable ball toy of claim 1, wherein at least some of the segments comprise a portion that is transparent or translucent to light.

5. The bounceable ball toy of claim 1, wherein the light assembly comprises a wire that is disposed at least partially within the channel openings.

6. A bounceable ball toy, comprising:

a light assembly; and

a skeletal structure having a plurality of segments, the skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity,

wherein at least some segments of the skeletal structure comprise a support, and wherein the light assembly is configured to direct light into the supports.

7. The bounceable ball toy of claim 6, wherein the support comprises a channel or a lumen.

8. The bounceable ball toy of claim 6, wherein the support comprises a channel having a concave surface that faces toward the open interior cavity.

9. The bounceable ball toy of claim 8, wherein the light assembly is configured to direct light toward the concave surface of the channel.

10. The bounceable ball toy of claim 6, wherein the support comprises a lumen, and the light assembly comprises a light emitting element disposed within the lumen.

11. A toy, comprising:

a light assembly; and

a skeletal structure having at least one segment, the skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity,

wherein the light assembly is configured to direct light into at least one segment of the skeletal structure or into a core module disposed at least partially within the skeletal structure.

12. The toy of claim 11, wherein the light assembly comprises a light emitting diode or a glowstick.

13. The toy of claim 11, wherein the segment or the core module comprises a channel, and the light assembly comprises a light emitting diode or a glowstick configured to direct light toward a surface of the channel.

14. The toy of claim 11, wherein the segment or the core module comprises a lumen, and the light assembly comprises a light emitting diode configured to direct light toward a surface of the lumen.

15. The toy of claim 11, wherein the skeletal structure defines two or more apertures that provide fluid communication between the open interior cavity and an ambient space disposed outside of an external boundary defined by the skeletal structure.

16. The toy of claim 11, wherein the skeletal structure defines a shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a spheroid, a prolate spheroid, an oblate spheroid, an ellipsoid, a toroid, and a geodesic sphere.

17. The toy of claim 11, wherein the light assembly comprises a processor.

18. The toy of claim 11, wherein the skeletal structure is coupled with a logo plate comprising a filter or an aperture.

19. The toy of claim 11, wherein the core module comprises one or more struts.

20. The toy of claim 11, wherein the skeletal structure comprises a thermoplastic resin having a durometer of about 60.