Remote controlled movable ball amusement device

• US 5,439,408 A
• Filed: 04/26/1994
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William T. Wilkinson
• Original Assignee: William T. Wilkinson
• Inventors: Wilkinson, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US08/233,451
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 446/409, 446/456, 446/437, 446/462, 446/458, 446/431, 446/445, 446/454, 273/58 K, 273/58 G, 180/21, 280/206, 280/207
• US Class Current: 446/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/005 Motorised rolling toys

Abstract

A remote controlled movable ball amusement device includes a hollow sphere having a propulsion mechanism within the sphere. The propulsion mechanism includes a receiver and a drive unit. The drive unit causes the sphere to move when actuated by the receiver. A remote transmitter sends signals to the receiver for causing the actuation of the drive unit.

Claims

1. A remote controlled movable ball amusement device comprising a sphere, said sphere being hollow, a propulsion mechanism in said sphere, said propulsion mechanism being cantilevered mounted to said sphere, said propulsion mechanism including a receiver and a drive unit, said drive unit comprising means for causing said sphere to move, a remote transmitter, said remote transmitter including an actuator for sending signals to said receiver, said receiver actuating said drive unit in response to said signals being received, said drive unit including a motor, a weight movably mounted by said motor, and said weight being eccentrically mounted with respect to the center of said sphere.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said sphere comprises a pair of partial spherical segments joined together to form said sphere.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said transmitter includes a joy stick for controlling the direction of movement of said sphere.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said propulsion mechanism includes means for varying the speed of said sphere.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said propulsion mechanism includes at least two receivers, and each of said receivers having a respective motor as its said drive unit for causing said sphere to move in a forward/backward and in a side to side directions.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said sphere includes periodically operable light means and audio means.

7. The device of claim 3 including traction bands on the outer surface of said sphere with the portions of said sphere between said traction bands being of a lesser coefficient of friction.

8. The device of claim 7 including a plurality of projections extending outwardly from said outer surface of said sphere.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said projections are located in a cluster on said traction bands.

10. The device of claim 2 wherein said segments are detachably mounted together to provide access to the interior of said sphere.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said transmitter sends radio signals to said receiver.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is electrically connected to said receiver and sends electrical signals to said receiver.

13. The device of claim 1 including traction bands on the outer surface of said sphere with the portions of said sphere between said traction bands being of a lesser coefficient of friction.

14. The device of claim 1 including a plurality of projections extending outwardly from said outer surface of said sphere.

15. The device of claim 1 including a magnet in the sphere.

16. A remote controlled movable ball amusement device comprising a sphere, said sphere being hollow, a propulsion mechanism in said sphere, said propulsion mechanism including a receiver and a drive unit, said drive unit comprising means for causing said sphere to move, a remote transmitter, said remote transmitter including an actuator for sending signals to said receiver, said receiver actuating said drive unit in response to said signals being received, said sphere comprising a pair of partial spherical segments joined together to form said sphere, said transmitter including a joy stick for controlling the direction of movement of said sphere, said drive unit including a motor having a shaft rotatably driving an eccentric weight, and said eccentric weight including detachable weight members for adjusting said weight.