Self-propelled bouncing ball

• US 5,297,981 A
• Filed: 02/04/1993
• Issued: 03/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ertl Co. (TOMY Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: The Ertl Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Thompson, Christopher, Maxim, John, Reyner, Mark F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muir, David N.
• Application Number:
  US08/013,762
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 446/437, 446/431, 446/448, 446/454, 446/457, 446/458, 446/461, 446/462, 446/463, 446/484, 273/58 K, 273/58 F, 273/58 G, 273/58 H
• US Class Current: 446/437
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/005 Motorised rolling toys

Abstract

A toy ball in accordance with this invention includes a hollow sphere with spaced apart resilient knobs extending outwardly from the sphere and an internal mechanism that causes a random motion and bouncing of the ball. A safety switch is also provided to prevent injury to a user or damage to the toy while it is disassembled.

Claims

1. A self-propelled bouncing ball comprising:

(a) a hollow sphere having interlocking first and second hemispheres;

(b) a plurality of spaced apart bounce means joined to and extending outwardly from said hollow sphere; and

(c) rotating means featuring self contained drive and off-center mass, said rotating means mounted inside said hollow sphere;

(d) whereby when said rotating means is activated said bouncing ball is caused to leave a support surface to fall back upon one or more of said bounce means causing said ball to rebound in an unexpected direction.

2. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 1 further comprising safety means for deactivating said rotating means unless said first and second hemispheres are interlocked.

3. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 1 further comprising a safety switch to deactivate said rotating means unless said first and second hemispheres are interlocked.

4. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 1 further comprising a safety switch and a power switch which must both be closed to activate said rotating means.

5. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 1 in which said rotating means rotates about a fixed axle to propel said ball.

6. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 1 in which said rotating means has a center of gravity offset from a fixed axle and said rotating means rotates about said fixed axle.

7. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 1 in which said rotating means rotates about a fixed axle and said rotating means comprises:

(a) a battery-powered motor;

(b) a drive shaft rotatably joined to said motor;

(c) a drive gear fixed to said drive shaft;

(d) a large transmission gear meshed with said drive gear;

(e) a small transmission gear fixed coaxially to said large transmission gear; and

(f) a stationary gear fixed to said axle, said stationary gear meshed with said small transmission gear.

8. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 1 in which said hollow sphere is rigid.

9. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 1 in which said bounce means are sized and spaced to prevent said sphere from contacting a flat supporting surface.

10. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 1 in which said bounce means are made of rotational molded poly-vinyl chloride.

11. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 1 in which said bounce means are made of a material having a durometer resiliency in the range of Shore A 60-65.

12. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 1 in which said bounce means are in the shape of truncated cones.

13. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 1 in which said hollow sphere is semi-rigid with a resilient covering.

14. A self-propelled bounding ball comprising:

(a) a hollow sphere having interlocking first and second hemispheres;

(b) a plurality of spaced apart bounce means joined to and extending outwardly from said hollow sphere; and

(c) a fixed axle having first and second ends fixed to said first hemisphere near where said first hemisphere interlocks with said second hemisphere;

(d) an electric motor rotationally mounted on said axle and spaced apart from said first end of said axle, said axle motor featuring an off-center mass;

(e) drive means for rotating said motor about said axle; and

(f) safety means for deactivating said electric motor, said safety means positioned between said axle first end and said electric motor;

(g) whereby when said electric motor is activated said bouncing ball is caused to leave a support surface to fall back upon one or more of said bounce means causing said ball to rebound in an unexpected direction.

15. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 14 in which said safety means comprises a normally open switch.

16. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 14 in which said safety means comprises a normally open switch which is closed when said first and second hemispheres are interlocked.

17. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 14 in which said electric motor has a center of gravity offset from said fixed axle.

18. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 14 in which said drive means comprises:

(a) a drive shaft rotatably joined to said motor;

(b) a drive gear fixed to said drive shaft;

(c) a large transmission gear meshed with said drive gear;

(d) a small transmission gear fixed coaxially to said large transmission gear; and

(e) a stationary gear fixed to said axle and meshed with said small transmission gear.

19. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 14 in which said hollow sphere is rigid.

20. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 14 in which said bounce means are sized and spaced to prevent said sphere from contacting a flat supporting surface.

21. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 14 in which said bounce means are made of rotational molded poly-vinyl chloride.

22. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 14 in which said bounce means are made of a material having a durometer resiliency in the range of Shore A 60-65.

23. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 14 in which said bounce means are in the shape of truncated cones.

24. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 14 in which said hollow sphere is semi-rigid with a resilient covering.

25. A self-propelled bounding ball comprising:

(a) a hollow sphere having interlocking first and second hemispheres;

(b) a plurality of spaced apart bounce means joined to and extending outwardly from said hollow sphere;

(c) an axle having first and second ends fixed to said first hemisphere near where said second hemisphere interlocks with said first hemisphere;

(d) an electric motor rotationally mounted on said axle and spaced apart from said first end of said axle, said electric motor featuring an off-center mass;

(e) drive means for rotating said motor about said axle;

(f) a moveable spring contact in communication with said electric motor, said moveable spring contact having a first position to deactivate said electric motor, and a second position to enable said electric motor to be activated; and

(g) means for depressing said moveable spring contact between said first and second positions, said means being slidably mounted on said axle between said first axle end and said electric motor;

(h) whereby when said electric motor is activated said bouncing ball is caused to leave a support surface to fall back upon one or more of said bounce means causing said ball to rebound in an unexpected direction.

26. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 25 in which said drive means comprises:

(a) a drive shaft rotatably joined to said motor;

(b) a drive gear fixed to said drive shaft;

(c) a large transmission gear meshed with said drive gear;

(d) a small transmission gear fixed coaxially to said large transmission gear; and

(e) a stationary gear fixed to said axle and meshed with said small transmission gear.

27. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 25 in which said hollow sphere is rigid.

28. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 25 in which said bounce means are sized and spaced to prevent said sphere from contacting a flat supporting surface.

29. The self-propelled bounding ball of claim 25 in which said bounce means are made of rotational molded poly-vinyl chloride.

30. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 25 in which said bounce means are made of a material having a durometer resiliency in the range of Shore A 60-65.

31. The self-propelled bounding ball of claim 25 in which said bounce means are in the shape of truncated cones.

32. A self-propelled bounding ball comprising:

(a) a hollow sphere having interlocking first and second hemispheres;

(b) a plurality of spaced apart resilient knobs joined to and extending outwardly from said hollow sphere;

(c) an axle having first and second ends fixed to said first hemisphere near where said second hemisphere interlocks with said first hemisphere;

(d) an electric motor rotationally mounted on said axle and spaced apart from said first end of said axle,

(e) drive means for rotating said motor about said axle;

(f) a moveable spring contact in communication with said electric motor, said moveable spring contact having a first position to deactivate said electric motor, and a second position to enable said electric motor to be activated; and

(g) means for depressing said moveable spring contact between said first and second positions, said means being slidably mounted on said axle between said first axle end and said electric motor;

said means for depressing said spring contact comprises;

(i) a coil spring slidably mounted on said axle, adjacent said electric motor; and

(ii) a cylinder slidably mounted on said axle between said coil spring and said first end of said axle, said cylinder is capable of assuming first and second positions.

33. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 32 further comprising tab means for moving said cylinder between said first and second positions, said tab means joined to said second hemisphere.

34. The self-propelled bouncing ball of claim 32 further comprising tab joined to said second hemisphere for maintaining said cylinder to said second position when said first and second hemispheres are interlocked.