Patent Application
20090017721
1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to novelty devices and toys that are made in part, or in whole, of elastomeric gel. More particularly, the present invention relates to connection techniques that are used to join elastomeric gel to rigid material, such as hard plastic.
2. Prior Art Description
The use of elastomeric gels have become commonplace in the toy and novelty device industries. Elastomeric gels are typically made from a polystyrene copolymer that is mixed with a plasticizing oil, such as mineral oil. Depending upon the amount of plasticizing oil used, the elasticity of the elastomeric gel can be controlled. Elastomeric gels compositions exist that enable the elastomeric gel to stretch one thousand percent (1000%) without damage. Furthermore, elastomeric gels made from polystyrene copolymers are highly resistant to tearing. Accordingly, products made from such elastomeric gels are both highly elastic and highly resistant to breakage. This makes such elastomeric gel materials ideal for use with toys.
Elastomeric gel is a material that is either extruded or injection molded. Toys and novelties that contain elastomeric gel, therefore, tend to be made entirely of the elastomeric gel. Due to the fact that elastomeric gels are highly elastic and are slick with mineral oil, it is difficult to adhere other material to elastomeric gel. In the manufacturing of toy and novelty devices, it will be understood that component parts are very commonly connected using adhesives. However, conventional adhesives tend to pull away from elastomeric gel material, especially if the elastomeric gel material is repeatedly stretched. It is especially difficult to attach a rigid object to an elongated strand of elastomeric gel. This is because an elongated strand of elastomeric gel thins significantly as it is stretched. Furthermore, significant tensile forces can be experienced in a strand of elastomeric gel that is stretched to its limit. The thinning of the elastomeric gel and the tensile forces both act to detach the elastomeric gel from whatever object it was originally attached.
In the industries of toys and novelty devices, objects that separate from the original device can become choking hazards. The mere chance that an object can separate from a toy may result in the need for a product recall. A need therefore exists for an improved manner of attaching elastomer gel material to secondary objects in a more reliable manner.
The present invention is a novelty device and the associated method of fabricating component parts of the novelty device. The novelty device contains at least one protrusion that is made from an elastomeric gel. The protrusion has a distal end. A hole is formed through the protrusion proximate its distal end.
A secondary object is provided. The secondary object is made from a rigid material. The secondary object defines an interior space. The distal end of the elastomeric gel protrusion extends through the secondary object and into the interior space. The secondary object is comprised of an assembly of interconnecting parts. The parts of the secondary object are assembled around the elastomeric gel protrusion in the area of the hole. Once assembled, the secondary object engages the hole in the elastomeric gel protrusion within the interior space. As a result, the secondary object becomes mechanically interconnected to the end of the elastomeric gel protrusion.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Although the present invention novelty device can have many configurations, in its simplest form, it can be formed as a ball. Accordingly, the shown exemplary embodiment of the present invention is presented as a ball in order to provide the best and simplest mode contemplated for the invention. However, it should be understood that the novelty device can function as described below if configured into shapes more complex than a ball.
Referring to
A plurality of protrusions 14 radially extend from the exterior of the central hub 12. The number, length, and thickness of the protrusions 14 can be varied as a matter of design choice. Both the central hub 12 and the plurality of protrusions 14 are made from a polystyrene elastomeric gel. It will therefore be understood that the central hub 12 and the plurality of protrusions 14 can be molded as a single-piece unit using standard injection molding techniques.
Each of the plurality of protrusions 14 has a distal end that terminates with a secondary object 20. The secondary object 20 is made of a rigid material, such as hard plastic. It will therefore be understood that the secondary objects 20 do not share the same elastic properties as the elastomeric gel of the central hub 12 and protrusions 14.
In the shown embodiment, the secondary objects 20 are small balls. The use of small balls is merely exemplary and it should be understood that secondary objects of many other shapes can also be used.
Referring to
In the shown embodiment, each secondary object 20 has a first piece 30 and a second piece 32 that are shaped as hemispherical halves. When connected, the first and second pieces 30, 32 create a secondary object 20 that is shaped as a ball. When the two pieces 30, 32 are interconnected, the two pieces 30, 32 define an open interior space 34. The open interior space 34 is sized to enable the distal end 22 of a protrusion 14 to pass into the interior of the secondary object 20.
The first and second pieces 30, 32 of the secondary object 20 preferably snap together. Accordingly, one piece of the secondary object 20 contains a locking lip 36. The opposite piece of the secondary object 20 contains a pawl structure 38 that engages the locking lip 36 when the secondary object 20 is fully assembly. It will therefore be understood that once the two pieces 30, 32 of the secondary object 20 are assembled together, they cannot be separated in a non-destructive manner.
A dab of adhesive 40 is preferably placed in between the first and second pieces 30, 32 of the secondary object 20, prior to the assembly of the secondary object 20. The adhesive 40 fills the interior space 34 within the secondary object 20 around the distal end 22 of the protrusion 14 and in between the first and second pieces 30, 32. The adhesive helps to prevent the first and second pieces 30, 32 of the secondary object 20 from separating, even if the secondary object 20 were to become damaged.
In the shown embodiment, a single hole 24 is formed in the protrusion 14. Similarly, a single post 26 is shown in the secondary object 20 that passes through the single hole 24. The use of a single post 26 and a single hole 24 is exemplary. For larger protrusions and larger secondary objects, it should be understood that more than one hole can be formed in the secondary object. Likewise, a corresponding number of posts can be used to engage the holes.
In the embodiment of
It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention novelty device that is shown is merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to the embodiment without departing from the intended scope of the invention. For instance, it will be understood that the shown design of a novelty ball is exemplary. The present invention can be adapted for use with any toy having elastomeric gel protrusions, such as toys with elastomeric hair strands. Furthermore, the secondary objects can be formed in any shape, and need not be balls. The exterior shape of the secondary object is a matter of design choice. What is important is that the secondary object have pieces that close together over the distal end of an elastomeric gel protrusion. All such modifications, variations, and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
