Lighted ball toy

• US 6,428,432 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce S. Kachel
• Original Assignee: Bruce S. Kachel
• Inventors: Kachel, Bruce S.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/510,884
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/571, 473/603, 473/604, 473/605, 473/606, 473/609, 473/610, 473/611
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A ball toy has an inner spherical shell within an outer spherical shell, a light source being mounted within the inner shell adjacent to a first end of a plurality of etched optical fibers having the other ends arrayed between the inner and outer shells. The outer shell is translucent while the inner shell has a coated outer surface that reflects light from the optical fibers. Between the light source and the first end of the optical fibers is a color chamber having different color elements through which light may be transmitted and which may move when the ball moves so as to vary the colors received by the optical fibers thereby effecting variation in the color seen as the ball rolls or is otherwise moved, the light seen at the translucent shell fluctuating according to the colors transmitted. A motion switch and/or a master switch may be used to turn the system on and off. A timer may deactivate the circuits if the ball is not moved after a period of time.

Claims

1. A ball toy having a plurality of elongated light transmitting members each having a pair of ends, a light source optically coupled to one end of said members, the other end of said members being disposed in a selective array, and a color chamber disposed intermediate said light source and said one end of said members, said color chamber having a plurality of color elements, said ball including a shell having at least a partially translucent surface, whereby light may be communicated along said members and transmitted through said surface when said light source is activated.

2. A ball toy as recited in claim 1, wherein said members comprise fiber optic elements.

3. A ball toy as recited in claim 1, wherein said color elements move relatively to said one end when said ball is moved, thereby to vary the color optically coupled to each member.

4. A ball toy comprising, a first shell and a second shell disposed within said first shell, a plurality of elongated light transmitting members each having a first end disposed within said second shell and a second end disposed intermediate said first and second shells, said first shell comprising at least a partially translucent surface, a light source optically coupled to one end of said members, the other end of said members being disposed in a selective array, and a color chamber disposed intermediate said light source and said one end of said members, said color chamber having a plurality of color elements, whereby light may be communicated along said members and transmitted through said surface in an array when said light source is activated.

5. A ball toy as recited in claim 4, wherein said first and second shells comprise spheroids.

6. A ball toy as recited in claim 5, wherein said second shell has a light reflective surface.

7. A ball toy as recited in claim 4, wherein said members comprise fiber optic elements.

8. A ball toy as recited in claim 4, wherein said color elements move relatively to said one end when said ball is moved, thereby to vary the color optically coupled to each member.

9. A ball toy as recited in claim 8, wherein said color chamber includes a disk mounted for revolving about an axis, and said color elements comprise transparent color sections of said disk.

10. A ball toy as recited in claim 8, wherein said color chamber includes a housing and said color elements include transparent color balls moveable relatively to said housing about an axis through said housing.

11. A ball toy as recited in claim 8, wherein said second shell has a light reflective surface.

12. A ball toy as recited in claim 4, wherein said second shell comprises a pair of hemispheres, said hemispheres each having a bulkhead at the major diameter closing the respective hemisphere, one of said bulkheads carrying connecting elements which cooperate with corresponding connecting elements carried by the other of said bulkheads for fastening the hemispheres of the second shell together selectively.

13. A ball toy as recited in claim 12, wherein each second shell is secured to a respective hemisphere of said first shell, and said hemispheres of said first shells are fastened together when the hemispheres of the second shells are fastened together.

14. A ball toy as recited in claim 12, wherein said light source is carried by one of said bulkheads.

15. A ball toy as recited in claim 4, wherein said one end of said light transmitting members are mounted within an annular retaining ring and disposed in a circumference about said ring.

16. A ball toy as recited in claim 15, color elements are located within the annular retaining ring, and said color elements move relatively to said one end when said ball is moved, thereby to vary the color optically coupled to each member.

17. A ball toy as recited in claim 16, wherein said color chamber includes a disk mounted for revolving about an axis, and said color elements comprise transparent color sections of said disk.

18. A ball toy as recited in claim 16, wherein said color chamber includes a housing and said color elements include transparent color balls moveable relatively to said housing about an axis through said housing.

19. A ball toy as recited in claim 16, wherein said second shell has a light reflective surface.