Illuminated playing ball

• US 5,186,458 A
• Filed: 10/21/1991
• Issued: 02/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald E. Redondo
• Original Assignee: Ronald E. Redondo
• Inventors: Redondo, Ronald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US07/780,046
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 273/58 R, 273/58 A, 273/58 G, 273/65 EF, 273/213, 273/DIG. 20, 273/DIG. 24, 273/58 B, 273/58 BA, 273/58 K, 273/60 A, 446/409, 446/439, 446/485, 446/219, 362/32
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A throw ball made of light, translucent material contains an electric bulb or light emitting diode powered by a small battery. The ball is made of two separable, similar half-sections having symmetrical axial tubular cavities housing the electrical assembly. An illuminating switch is activated when the two half-sections are brought together and aligned to a discrete operating position, and de-activated when the two half-sections are rotated away from said operating position.

Claims

1. An illuminated ball which comprises:

a rounded body made of resilient material, said body having a transversal tubular cavity;

at least one light-emitting element mounted into said cavity;

an electrical battery;

releasable means for electrically connecting said light-emitting element to said battery;

a first strip of translucent material meridionally mounted around the periphery of said body;

said strip comprising a projection engaged into said cavity, said projection having a end exposed to said light-emitting element

a length of transparent tubular sleeve lining said cavity;

a second strip of translucent material meridionally mounted around the periphery of said body, said second strip merging integrally with said first strip at two opposite poles of said body to form a rib cage;

wherein said tubular sleeve has opposite openings at said poles; and

one of said openings is engaged by said projection.

2. The ball of claim 1, wherein said resilient body comprises two symmetrical half-sections joined about an equatorial plane.

3. The ball of claim 2, wherein said tubular sleeve comprises two half-parts having mating interconnection at said equatorial plane.

4. The ball of claim 3, wherein said means for electrically connecting comprises electrical terminals located on each of said half-parts, said electrical terminals being shaped and positioned to come into contact upon axial movement of each of said half-parts toward the other.

5. The ball of claim 1, wherein each of said strips comprises a plurality of fiber optic conduits embedded into said strip, wherein each of said conduits has one extremity in said portion proximal to said light-emitting element.

6. The ball of claim 1, wherein said resilient material is translucent.

7. The ball of claim 6, wherein said resilient body comprises two symmetrical half-sections joined about an equatorial plane.

8. The ball of claim 7, wherein said tubular sleeve comprises tow half-parts having mating interconnection at said equatorial plane.

9. The ball of claim 8, wherein means for electrically connecting comprises electrical terminals located on each of said half-parts, said electrical terminals being shaped and positioned to come into contact upon axial movement of each of said half-parts toward the other.