Flashing light pneumatic playball

• US 5,725,445 A
• Filed: 02/28/1997
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kennedy, Melvin, Matsumoto, Susan
• Original Assignee: Kennedy, Melvin, Matsumoto, Susan
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Susan, Kennedy, Melvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven B.
• Application Number:
  US08/808,179
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/571, 473/593, 473/595, 473/599, 473/603, 473/604, 473/609, 473/610, 473/611, 273/DIG. 20
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A pneumatic playball which emits a series of strobe-like light flashes each time the ball is bounced by a player. The playball includes a spherical casing formed of flexible, translucent plastic material having internal plugs at the opposing poles of the sphere. Suspended between the polar plugs along the diametrical axis of the spherical casing is a light-flashing unit. The unit includes at least one light-emitting diode (LED) connected to a battery through an electronic blinker which each time it is activated, yields a series of voltage pulses which is applied to the LED to produce a series of light flashes. Activation of the blinker is effected by a motion sensing switch which closes to activate the blinker only when the ball is bounced or otherwise undergoes an abrupt change in velocity.

Claims

1. A pneumatic playball adapted to emit light flashes each time the ball is bounced, said playball comprising:

A;

a spherical casing having diametrically opposed poles and internal plugs provided at the poles formed of flexible, translucent synthetic plastic material enclosing air having an internal pressure above atmospheric to impart bounce characteristics to the ball; and

B;

a light flashing unit suspended within the casing to occupy a position along a diametrical axis extending between said poles from said internal plugs and including at least one light-emitting diode (LED), a battery and a motion-sensing switch effectively coupling the battery to the LED to cause the LED to produce light flashes only when the ball is bounced to close the switch.

2. A playball as set forth in claim 1, in which the casing includes a fill plug adapted to receive a hypodermic needle to inject pressurized air into said casing.

3. A playball as set forth in claim 1, in which the unit includes a pair of LED'"'"'s.

4. A playball as set forth in claim 1, in which the casing is formed by two complementary hemispherical shells which are sealed together.

5. A playball as set forth in claim 1, in which the suspension is effected by a first rubber band stretched between one end of the unit and one of the internal plugs, and a second rubber band stretched between the other end of the unit and the other of the internal plugs.

6. A playball as set forth in claim 1, in which the battery is connected to the LED through an electronic blinker which is activated only when the motion sensing switch is closed to yield a series of voltage pulses which are applied to the LED.

7. A playball as set forth in claim 6, in which the series of voltage pulses is constituted by at least five pulses per second.

8. A playball as set forth in claim 7, in which said blinker is connected to the LED through a current-limiting resistor.

9. A playball as set forth in claim 6, including a pair of LED'"'"'s which are alternately activated by said electronic blinker.

10. A playball as set forth in claim 9, in which the pair of LED'"'"'s are disposed on opposite sides of the light-flashing unit so that the light flashes come from different sites within the ball.