AMUSEMENT DEVICE

Abstract

An amusement device includes an outer shell of transparent or semi-transparent plastic or elastomer having good bounce characteristics, and a liquid, preferably water, and light-up device therewithin, the liquid being outside said light-up device. Glitter is also desirably within the liquid.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an amusement device, more preferably a spherical ball having good bounce characteristics, having a clear or near-transparent wall, and carrying therewithin decorative elements which give off decorative effects when the ball is in motion.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

While a device in accordance with the present invention may take various forms, a preferred form is in the shape of a spherical ball in which the wall or shell is made of a rubber or plastic or plastomer material having good bounce characteristics, and which is sufficiently transparent so that what is inside the ball can be readily seen, the elements within the ball providing pleasing and changing and aesthetic effects. Preferably within the ball is a liquid, small decorative particles such as “glitter” and at least one a “light-up ball”.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a presently preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical “light-up ball” for use in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a spherical ball 10 in partial section having a spherical wall or approximately spherical wall 12 formed of a plastic or a rubber material which is both sufficiently transparent so that what is within the ball can be seen, and which has good bounce characteristics. Perfect transparency or clarity is not needed, so long as the visual effects displayed within the ball can be seen through the wall 12. A preferred material for forming the wall 12 is an MDI-based polyurethane elastomer, but it will be understood that other materials which are sufficiently transparent and which have good bounce characteristics can also be used.

In the illustrated embodiment 10, a liquid 14 is provided within the interior of the wall 12, and the liquid 14 preferably fills the interior of the ball 10, and is preferably injected under pressure. The liquid is preferably but not essentially water containing a small (but anti-microbial) amount of a child-safe anti-microbial agent easily selected by those skilled in the art.

Also within the interior of the ball 10 there is preferably provided a plurality of small decorative and preferably reflective particles, e.g. so-called “glitter” also well known to those skilled in the art. When the ball is shaken or thrown or bounced, the glitter 16 freely floats in the liquid 14 and its decorative effects can be seen through the wall 12 of the ball 10. The glitter is not essential, but is preferred, and any decorative particles of sufficiently small size, desirably made of non-toxic materials, can be used.

Also within the interior of the ball 10 is at least one so-called light-up device, preferably a “light-up ball” 18, desirably protectively coated with a protective coating 20 to prevent the liquid 14 from penetrating to the inside of the light-up balls 18. Light-up ball are well known and are commercially available; various light-up balls are described, for example, in Kessler D419,247; Liou U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,487; Connelly U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,383; O'Rourke et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,047; Lee U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,894; Rottger U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,602, all respectfully incorporated by reference. They can be either battery powered or impact powered, and can contain either an on/off switch or an impact/motion switch, preferably the latter. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the light-up ball disclosed in Kessler D419,247, which is suitably used as the light-up ball 18 in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Any suitable sealant 20 can be used to protect the light-up ball 18 from being damaged by the liquid 14, so long as such sealant is waterproof and either transparent or near transparent. One suitable sealant is an impact resistant polycarbonate resin.

As indicated above, the liquid 14 is preferably water, which preferably contains an anti-microbial agent, e.g. a few drops of anti-microbial soap.

The ball 10 is molded in a conventional manner with the light-up ball 18 therewithin. The liquid 14 and the decorative particles 16 are then injected into the interior of the ball 10 under pressure, and the opening is then sealed with a plug. Variations of the above noted manufacturing method may be used, or other known manufacturing methods may be used, e.g. the ball 10 can be formed in two parts, the light-up ball 18 and the decorative particles (if any) can be placed in one pat, e.g. one-half, of the ball 10, the two parts can then be sealed together, and the liquid 14 could then be injected through a needle passing through the wall 12.

The amusement device 10 is used simply by bouncing it or throwing it against any hard object, such as a wall. When it hits a wall or a floor or the ground, the light-up ball 18 will strike the inside of the wall 12 of the ball 10 and will emit light thereby providing an interesting visual display. If the small particles 16 are present, preferably reflective glitter, the light emitted by the light-up ball 18 will reflect off the glitter 16 and enhance the visual effect which will be seen through the transparent or semi-transparent wall 12. The particles 16 may be of a single color or of different colors, and may be reflective or non-reflective. The light emitted by the light-up device 18 may be white light or one or more colored lights. And the wall of the light-up device 18 may be clear or tinted, as may be the wall 12 of the ball 10.

Exemplary embodiment are now set forth as non-limitative examples wherein, in each case, the material of the wall 12 is MDI-based polyurethane elastomer, a the sealant 20 is an impact resistant polycarbonate, the liquid 14 is distilled water, and the particles 16 are CE approved glitter.

EXAMPLE 1

A ball 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is produced by the method described above, and has a diameter of 4.5 cm and a weight of 55 g.

EXAMPLE 2

A ball 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is produced by the method described above, and has a diameter of 5.5 cm and a weight of 100 g.

EXAMPLE 3

A ball 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is produced by the method described above, and has a diameter of 6.5 cm and a weight of 170 g.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention.

Thus the expressions “means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. An amusement ball comprising (1) an outer shell of transparent or semi-transparent plastic, elastomer or plastomer having good bounce characteristics, (2) a liquid which fills the interior of the outer shell, and (3) a light-up device within the outer shell, the liquid being outside of the light-up device, and optionally (4) a plurality of decorative particles.

11. The amusement ball of claim 10 having a spherical shape, and wherein the light-up device within the outer shell is a light-up ball.

12. The amusement ball of claim 10 wherein the liquid within the outer shell exerts pressure against the inside of the outer shell.

13. The amusement ball of claim 10 wherein the liquid is water containing an anti-microbial agent.

14. The amusement ball of claim 10 which contains the decorative particles within the liquid, and wherein the decorative particles are optionally glitter.

15. The amusement ball of claim 14 wherein the decorative particles comprise glitter.

16. The amusement device of claim 10 wherein the light-up device is covered with a generally transparent and water impervious coating.

17. The amusement ball of claim 10 wherein the shell of the ball comprises an MDI-based polyurethane elastomer.

18. The amusement ball of claim 11 wherein the liquid within the outer shell exerts pressure against the inside of the outer shell.

19. The amusement ball of claim 18 wherein the liquid is water containing an anti-microbial agent.

20. The amusement ball of claim 19 which contains the decorative particles within the liquid, and wherein the decorative particles are optionally glitter.

21. The amusement ball of claim 20 wherein the decorative particles comprise glitter.

22. The amusement device of claim 21 wherein the light-up device is covered with a generally transparent and water impervious coating.

23. The amusement ball of claim 22 wherein the shell of the ball comprises an MDI-based polyurethane elastomer.

24. The amusement ball of claim 12 which contains the decorative particles within the liquid, and wherein the decorative particles are optionally glitter.

25. The amusement ball of claim 24 wherein the shell of the ball comprises an MDT-based polyurethane elastomer.