Illuminated Rolling Game Ball

• US 20150072810A1
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bede Kortegast
• Original Assignee: Bede Kortegast
• Inventors: Kortegast, Bede
• Granted Patent: US 8,992,353 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0062 Petanque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An improved LED illuminated rolling game ball designed to use three AAA batteries. The ball includes a plastic, opaque spherical body with an axially aligned bore in which a multiple LED light assembly extends. The light assembly includes an outer tube, an intermediate sleeve, a multiple AAA battery holder, a multiple LED bulb holder, one switch cap and one end cap. In one embodiment, outer tube is a solid structure made of electrical conductive material includes two opposite end openings that connect to the switch and end caps that hold the outer tube in place in the bore. LED bulb holes are formed on the outer tube. The intermediate sleeve is located inside the outer tube and the battery holder is located inside the intermediate sleeve. The LED bulb holder includes a PCB with two or more LED bulbs arms that hold the LED bulbs outward through the bores formed on the outer tube.

Claims

1. An improved LED illuminated rolling ball, comprising:

a. a plastic, opaque spherical body with an axially aligned bore;

b. an outer tube axially aligned inside said bore, said outer tube includes a cylindrical outer body with two end openings and a plurality of LED bulb holes formed thereon;

c. a cylindrical intermediate sleeve coaxially aligned and mounted inside said outer tube;

d. a multiple AAA battery holder located inside said intermediate sleeve, said battery holder contains three parallel, longitudinally aligned AAA batteries, said batteries are connected together in series inside said battery holder, said battery holder includes an upper electrical contact and a lower electrical contact;

e. a multiple LED bulb holder mounted inside said outer tube, said bulb holder includes a PCB with two or more LED arms, each said LED arms includes a perpendicularly aligned LED bulb, said PCB being positioned transversely inside said outer tube and coaxially aligned with and position adjacent to said intermediate sleeve, said LED arms extend into said outer tube and over said intermediate sleeve so said LED bulbs are aligned and maintained in said LED bulb holes, said PCB includes two electrical contacts;

f. a switch cap attached to said outer tube and disposed over said bore, said switch cap includes a switch with one pole electrically connected to said battery holder and a second contact that connects to said outer tube; and

,

g. an end cap attached to the end of said outer tube opposite said switch cap and disposed over said bore;

2. The rolling ball, as recited in claim 1, wherein said outer tube is made of electrically conductive material configured to complete an electrical circuit between said switch and said PCB.

3. The rolling ball, as recited in claim 1, wherein said outer tube includes two rings each made of electrically conductive material connected together

4. An light assembly for an illuminated rolling ball, comprising;

a. an outer tube configured to fit into a bore formed along the mid-line axis of a rolling ball, said outer tube includes a cylindrical outer body with two end openings and a plurality of LED bulb holes formed thereon;

b. a cylindrical intermediate sleeve coaxially aligned and mounted inside said outer tube;

c. a multiple AAA battery holder located inside said intermediate sleeve, said battery holder contains three parallel, longitudinally aligned AAA batteries, said batteries are connected together in series inside said battery holder, said battery holder includes an upper electrical contact and a lower electrical contact;

d. a multiple LED bulb holder mounted inside said outer tube, said bulb holder includes a PCB with two or more LED arms, each said LED arms includes a perpendicularly aligned LED bulb, said PCB being positioned transversely inside said outer tube and coaxially aligned with and position adjacent to said intermediate sleeve, said LED arms extend into said outer tube and over said intermediate sleeve so said LED bulbs are aligned and maintained in said LED bulb holes, said PCB includes two electrical contacts; and

,

f. a switch cap attached to said outer tube, said switch cap includes a switch with one pole electrically connected to said battery holder and a second contact that connects to said outer tube.

5. The rolling ball, as recited in claim 4, wherein said outer tube is made of electrically conductive material configured to complete an electrical circuit between said switch and said PCB.

6. The rolling ball, as recited in claim 4, wherein said outer tube includes two rings each made of electrically conductive material connected together