TOY WATER BALL

Abstract

A toy wall ball includes a pair of petals and a connecting portion connecting the petals. Each petal includes a body, a frame extending inward from the body and a magnetic attraction assembly embedded between the body and the frame. Each magnetic attraction assembly includes magnetic members and a fixing member including fixing cases and connecting strips. Each fixing case encloses a corresponding magnetic member and is connected to a connecting strip. When the petals are in a closed state, the petals jointly enclose and define a water-carrying cavity, and the magnetic members of the petals attract each other to have the frames of the petals tightly contact each other to form a water retaining layer that seals the water-carrying cavity. The connection area between the magnetic members and the frame and body is increased, thereby greatly reducing the risk of the magnetic members falling off the petals and improving safety.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of entertainment toys, and more particularly to a toy water ball.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

As the weather gets hotter, toys with water as the medium are very popular, allowing people to play in the coolness, such as water guns. However, water guns have a high pressure of water spray and may easily hurt people, especially the eyes. Currently, there is a water ball throwing game. In the game, balloons filled with water are thrown to the players. If the balloons hit the players, the players will get wet as the balloons burst. The players will try to avoid the flying water balls. This game is really a cool, enjoyable and safe summer activity.

However, the balloons used in the current water ball throwing activities are one-time use balloons, which cannot be used again after being broken and may easily cause environmental pollution if a large number is used. Secondly, this kind of water balloons needs to be injected into water under pressure, and it often requires a faucet environment to play. Many people like to play in places with water such as grasslands, beaches or rivers in the suburbs, but under the action of normal atmospheric pressure, it is difficult to inflate the balloon by directly filling it with water. Therefore, it is difficult to fill the balloon with water and expand it in the natural environment where the water source lacks of water pressure, resulting in the playing environment being limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is desired to provide an improved toy water ball.

A toy water ball comprises a pair of petals and a connecting portion connecting the petals. Each of the petals comprises a body, a frame extending inward from a circumferential edge of the body, and a magnetic attraction assembly embedded between the body and the frame. The magnetic attraction assembly comprises a fixing member and at least two magnetic members. The fixing member comprises at least two fixing cases and at least two connecting strips. Each of the fixing cases is connected to and fixed to a surface of a corresponding one of the magnetic members. Each of the fixing cases has at least one end connected to one of the connecting strips. When the petals are in a closed state, the petals jointly enclose and define a water-carrying cavity, and the magnetic members of the petals attract each other to have the annular frames of the petals tightly fit to each other to form a water retaining layer that seals the water-carrying cavity.

Further, the fixing cases and the connecting strips are connected end to end in sequence to form a configuration of a ring.

Further, each of the fixing cases wraps around a corresponding one of the magnetic members, each of the fixing cases is formed with at least one locking notch, and the frame comprises at least one catching portion engaged in the at least one locking notch of each of the fixing cases.

Further, the number of the locking notches of each of the fixing cases is four, and the locking notches of each of the fixing cases are respectively located four corners of a side of the fixing case facing away from the frame; and the number of the catching portions corresponding to each of the fixing cases is four, and the catching portions corresponding to one of the fixing cases are respectively engaged in the locking notches of said one of the fixing cases.

Further, the locking notch penetrates through the fixing case to expose the magnetic member inside the fixing case; and the catching portion covers the locking notch, so that the frame in combination with the fixing case fully encloses the magnetic member.

Further, a surface of each of the fixing cases facing the frame is formed with an insertion hole, and the frame is formed with raised pegs each of which is embedded into a corresponding insertion hole to enhance connection of the fixing cases and the frame.

Further, the frame is formed with mounting troughs and connecting grooves connected to the mounting troughs, each of the mounting troughs fixedly receiving a part of a corresponding one of the fixing cases, each of the connecting grooves fixedly receiving a part of a corresponding one of the connecting strips.

Further, each of the bodies comprises an annular rim integrally extending inwardly into the water-carrying cavity; and each rim is formed with mounting slots and connecting slots connected to the mounting slots, each of the mounting slots fixedly receiving another part of the corresponding one of the fixing cases, each of the connecting slots fixedly receiving another part of the corresponding one of the connecting strips.

Further, each of the connecting strips is arranged in a wavy bending configuration.

Further, two ends of each of the connecting strips are respectively connected to adjacent ones of the fixing cases.

Further, each of the fixing assemblies is made of plastic material, the body is made of silicone, and the frame is made of silicone.

Further, each of the fixing cases and the connecting strips are integrally formed with the magnetic member through injection molding.

Further, each of the frames is extended into the water-carrying cavity; each of the frames is made of an elastic material such that when the petals are in the closed state, the frames of the petals are stacked together in a thickness direction and deformed toward each other to thereby tightly contact each other under an action of a magnetic attraction force generated by the magnetic members. During a course that the petals are switched to the closed state under the action of the magnetic attraction force, the two frames interfere with each other in the thickness direction to induce deformation.

Further, each of the frames comprises a fitting surface for contacting another one of the frames, the fitting surface of at least one of the frames being a concave surface in a natural state, the concave surface being deformable toward said another one of the frames under an action of a magnetic attraction force generated by the magnetic members.

Further, each of the bodies comprises a rim integrally extending inwardly into the water-carrying cavity; the frame of at least one of the petals comprises an annular base stacked on the rim of said at least one of the petals and a flange extending inward obliquely from a circumferential inside of the annular base, the flange being located on a lateral inner side of the magnetic members of said at least one of the petals, a surface of the annular base and a surface of the flange jointly forming the fitting surface of the frame of said at least one of the petals. When the petals are in the closed state, the flange of said at least one of the petals abuts against the frame of another one of the petals and deforms under the action of the magnetic attraction force.

Further, a thickness of the flange is less than a thickness of the annular base and the thickness of the flange gradually reduces in a direction away from the annular base.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a toy water ball comprising a pair of petals and a connecting portion connecting the petals. Each of the petals comprises a body, a frame mounted on the body, and a magnetic attraction assembly embedded between the body and the frame. Each of the magnetic attraction assemblies comprises multiple magnetic members. When the petals are in a closed state, the petals jointly enclose and define a water-carrying cavity, and the magnetic members of the petals attract each other to have the frames of the petals tightly contact each other to form a water retaining layer that surrounds and seals the water-carrying cavity. Each of the bodies comprises a rim extending laterally inwardly to the water-carrying cavity, the frame of each of the petals extending laterally inwardly to the water-carrying cavity and being stacked on the rim of a corresponding body. Each of the frames comprises a fitting surface for contacting another one of the frames, the fitting surface of at least one of the frames being a concave surface in a natural state, the concave surface being deformable toward said another one of the frames under an action of a magnetic attraction force generated by the magnetic members in the closed state.

Preferably, the fitting surfaces of the frames are both concave in the natural state and deformable toward each other under the action of the magnetic attraction force generated by the magnetic members in the closed state.

Preferably, the fitting surface of the at least one of the frames comprises an annular base stacked on the rim of the corresponding body and a flange extending inward and obliquely from a circumferential inside of the annular base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a toy water ball according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the toy water ball of FIG. 1 in an open state;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the toy water ball of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the toy water ball of FIG. 3 viewed from another aspect;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a circled portion B of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of annular frames, a connecting portion and magnetic attraction assemblies of the toy water ball of FIG. 4 in an assembled form;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the magnetic attraction assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the toy water ball of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the toy water ball of FIG. 9 taken along line C-C;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a circled portion D of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the toy water ball of FIG. 2 taken along line A-A;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a circled portion E of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the toy water ball of FIG. 4 taken from a different view angle, with bodies being omitted;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the magnetic attraction assembly of the toy water ball of another embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the magnetic attraction assembly of the toy water ball of another embodiment; and

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the magnetic attraction assembly of the toy

water ball of another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention, the present invention will be described in more detail below. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure of the present invention more thorough and more comprehensive.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art of the technical field of the present invention. The terms used in the specification of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

FIGS. 1-15 show a toy water ball according to a first embodiment of the present invention usable in games and entertainments as props for throwing. The toy water ball has a closed state (as shown in FIG. 1) and an open state (as shown in FIG. 2). When the toy water ball is put into water to fill water therein and then restored to the closed state, the toy water ball forms a closed water-carrying cavity in which water is filled. When the toy water ball hits a person or the ground or another hard object during the game, the toy water ball is compressed and split into the open state, and the water filled in the water-carrying cavity splashes out to achieve the purpose of the game.

Specifically, referring to FIGS. 1-15, the toy water ball 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of petals 12 and a connecting portion 14 connecting the petals 12. Each of the petals 12 is configured as a hemispherical shell and comprises a body (which may also be referred to as a water bladder or a water sack or a water pocket) 16, an annular frame 18 extending laterally inward (that is away from the circumferential edge of the body) from the circumferential edge of the body 16 and a magnetic attraction assembly 30 embedded between the body and the frame 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the body 16 has a dome shape. The inner surface of the body 16 is concave while the outer surface is convex to form a hollow cavity therein. The body 16 defines a circumferential direction as shown by arrow N and a lateral direction as shown by arrow M. The lateral direction M is perpendicular to the circumferential direction N. The annular frame 18 extends inward from the circumferential outer edge of the body 16 in the lateral direction M to exceed the inner surface of the body 16 such that the annular frame 18 extends laterally into the water-carrying cavity 22. Each of the annular frames 18 is provided with one magnetic attraction assembly 30 mounted thereon. The connecting portion 14 is bendable/foldable between an expanded state and a bent state so that the petals 12 are allowed to switch between the closed state and the open state. Specifically, when the connecting portion 14 is in the expanded state, the petals 12 are separated from each other and the toy water ball 10 is in the open state as shown in FIG. 2. When the connecting portion 14 is in the bent state, the petals 12 are closed to each other and the toy water ball 10 is in the closed state as shown in FIG. 1.

When the toy water ball 10 is in the closed state, the two petals 12 are closed to each other and jointly enclose and define the water-carrying cavity 22, and the magnetic attraction assemblies 30 provided on the two petals 12 attract each other so as to make the annular frames 18 of the two petals 12 deformed and thus tightly contact each other to thereby form a water retaining layer. The water retaining layer formed at the interface of the two petals 12 seals the water-carrying cavity 22. As clearly shown in FIGS. 10-11, the annular frames 18 extend laterally into the water-carrying cavity 22, and the water on opposite two sides of the annular frames 18 in the thickness direction inside the water-carrying cavity 22 applies pressure F to the annular frames 18 from two opposite directions, so that the annular frames 18 of the two petals 12 are further tightly fitted and firmly contact each other, thereby improving the sealing and waterproofing effects.

To use, the two petals 12 are first set in the open state and placed in water to fill water therein. Then, the two petals 12 are moved to the closed state in which the magnetic attraction assemblies 30 on the annular frames 18 attract each other to cause the two petals 12 to contact each other and be in sealing engagement with each other to prevent the water in the water-carrying cavity 22 from flowing out in advance of the toy water ball hitting an object. When the toy water ball 10 in the closed state is thrown and hits an object, the toy water ball 10 is squeezed and compressed and the magnetic attraction assemblies 30 on the two petals 12 are caused to disengage from the magnetic engagement therebetween under the action of the internal water pressure, so as to have the two petals 12 separated from each other and the water in the toy water ball 10 splashing out, thereby creating an entertaining effect. The magnetic engagement between the magnetic attraction assemblies 30 allows the toy water ball 10 to be repeatedly switched between the closed state and the open state, so that the toy water ball 10 can be repeated used, this being environmentally friendly and clean. Further, no specific pressurized water supply is required for filling water into the toy water ball 10, so that usability in various occasions can be realized, showing greater applicability.

The toy water ball 10 is not limited to any specific shape, such as a spherical shape, an elliptical spherical shape, an irregular spherical shape, and a cartoon shape, as long as water can be carried in the closed state. In the instant embodiment, the two petals 12 are both in the shape of a semi-spherical shell, and the bodies 16 of the two petals 12 are symmetrical about the midline of the connecting portion 14, and the annular frames 18 of the two petals 12 extend radially inward, and outside diameters of the annular frames 18 of the two petals 12 are substantially equal, so that the two petals 12, when closed, form the toy water ball 10 of a spherical shape.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 11, and 13, each of the annular frames 18 is an elastic element that possesses elasticity and is deformable. When the petals 12 are in the closed state, the annular frames 18 of the petals 12 are deformed and contact each other tightly under the action of the magnetic attraction force of the magnetic attraction assemblies 30. The annular frames 18 are deformable so that during the course that the two petals 12 are approaching each other under the action of the magnetic attraction assemblies 30, the annular frames 18 become deformed and the annular frames 18 generate an elastic restoration force after being deformed to make the two annular frames 18 contact each other tightly to achieve an excellent sealing effect.

Specifically, during the course that the petals 12 are acted by the magnetic attraction force generated by the magnetic attraction assemblies 30 to switch to the closed state, the two annular frames 18 interfere with each other in the thickness direction, thereby deforming in the thickness direction so as to have the two annular frames 18 contact closely together.

The annular frames 18 are not limited to any specific material, as long as it is elastic and deformable, such as a silicone material. The shape of the annular frame 18 can be circle, oval and so on.

The material of the body 16 can be the same as the material of the annular frame 18, or can be different. For example, the body 16 can be made of a thin and soft sheet such as silicone. When the body 16 and the annular frame 18 are both made of silicone, the body 16 can be integrally formed with the annular frame 18 in whole or in part.

In the instant embodiment, each of the annular frames 18 has a fitting surface 24 for fitting with another one of the annular frames 18. Namely, in the closed state of the toy water ball 10, the fitting surfaces 24 of the two annular frames 18 fit and contact together. The fitting surface 24 of at least one of the annular frames 18 is a concave surface in a natural state in which no force acts on the fitting surface 24. When the toy water ball is switched to the closed state, the concave surface is deformed toward the other one of the annular frames 18 under the action of the magnetic attraction force generated by the magnetic attraction assemblies 30. The two fitting surfaces 24 contact each other tightly under the action of the magnetic attraction assemblies 30, fulfilling a sealing effect and preventing water leakage.

In the instant embodiment, at least one of the annular frames 18 comprises an annular base 26 connected to the corresponding body 16 and a flange 28 extending inward obliquely from a circumferential inside of the annular base 26. The flange 28 is located on the lateral inner side of the corresponding magnetic attraction assembly 30 and is deformable. That is, in the lateral direction M of the body 16, the flange 28 is located on the inner side of the magnetic attraction assembly 30 (as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11). In the thickness direction of the flange 28, the flange 28 comprises an inner surface facing the corresponding body 16 and an outer surface opposite to the corresponding body 16. The outer surface of the annular base 26 and the outer surface of the flange 28 jointly form the fitting surface 24, namely the concave surface, of the annular frame 18. Under the action of the magnetic attraction force generated by the magnetic attraction assemblies 30, the flange 28 abuts against the other one of the annular frames 18, namely interferes with the other one of the annular frames 18 and thus deforms. Specifically, in the instant embodiment, one of the annular frames 18 is formed of the annular base 26 and the flange 28, and the annular base 26 and the flange 28 are arranged at an obtuse angle, and the obtuse angle between the annular base 26 and the flange 28 is greater than 90° and less than 180°, that is, the angle formed between a planar segment and an inclined segment of the concave surface is greater than 90° and less than 180°, and the fitting surface 24 of the other one of the annular frames 18 is a planar surface in a natural state. When the two petals 12 are caused to approach each other under the action of the magnetic attraction assemblies 30, the flange 28 of the annular frame 18 abuts against the other one of the annular frames 18 and deforms under the action of the magnetic attraction force generated by the magnetic attraction assemblies 30, so that the flange 28 changes from the inclined state to a straight state and finally makes the outer surface of the flange 28 coplanar with the outer surface of the annular base 26 to form a complete plane that fits and contact tightly with the planar fitting surface 24 of the other one of the annular frames 18. At this time, the flange 28 tightly abuts against the other one of the annular frames 18 under the action of its own elastic force, fulfilling an effect of enhancing the sealing (as shown in FIG. 11). The thickness of the flange 28 gradually decreases in the direction away from the annular base 26. The thickness of the flange 28 is much less than the thickness of the annular base 26. A preferred range of thickness of the flange 28 is 0.3-0.43 mm. The thickness of the annular base 26 is the thickness of the annular frame 18. The thickness of the annular base 26 is 5˜10 times of that of the flange 28.

Specifically, in the instant embodiment, the fitting surfaces 24 of the two annular frames 18 are both concave surfaces in the natural state, that is, each of the annular frames 18 comprises an annular base 26 and a flange 28 extending inward obliquely from the circumferential inside of the annular base 26. When the two petals 12 are brought closer to each other under the action of the magnetic attraction assemblies 30, the two flanges 28 abut against each other and are deformed under the action of the magnetic attraction assemblies 30. The two flanges 28 change from the inclined state to the straight state, and finally, the outer surfaces of the flanges 28 are coplanar with the surfaces of the corresponding annular bodies 26 to form two flat surfaces which fit tightly together and contact each other. In this embodiment, the natural state refers to the state of the two annular frames 18 when no external force acts thereon, such as the state in which the two magnetic attraction assemblies 30 are not in magnetic engagement with each other. When the magnetic attraction assemblies 30 of the two petals 12 attract each other, the magnetic force generated by the magnetic attraction assemblies 30 pulls the two annular frames 18 toward each other, thereby causing deformation of the concave surfaces, and finally making the two fitting surfaces contact tightly together to achieve a sealing effect and also to prevent the two annular frames 18 from leaking due to not contacting tightly resulting from processing or assembling errors, thereby reducing the requirements for precision and thus reducing the difficulty of production.

The method for forming the concave surface is not limited and can be for example concaving the middle of the fitting surface 24 of the annular frame 18 or the entire fitting surface 24 to form an arc surface, or cooperatively formed by a plurality of non-coplanar planar surfaces or curved surfaces connected together.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, in the instant embodiment, the connecting portion 14 is made of an elastic material and can be bent between an expanded state and a bent state, that is, the connecting portion 14 can be deformed and form different bending arcs so that the petals 12 are allowed to switch between the open state and the closed state. The connecting portion 14 connects the two petals 12 together so that when the toy water ball 10 hits an object, causing the toy water ball 10 to be switched to the open state, the two petals 12 are still connected together by the connecting portion 14 so as to prevent the petals 12 from being lost and be convenient for the users to use.

It is appreciated that the two ends of the connecting portion 14 can be respectively connected to the two bodies 16, or can be respectively connected to the two annular frames 18, or alternatively, one end of the connecting portion 14 is connected to the body 16 of one of the petals 12, while the other end is connected to the annular frame 18 of the other one of the petals 12. In the instant embodiment, the two ends of the connecting portion 14 are fixedly connected to the two annular frames 18 respectively.

When the pair of petals 12 are in the closed state, the connecting portion 14 is bent into a C-shaped or U-shaped structure which protrudes out of the outer surface of the petals 12. In the instant embodiment, the connecting portion 14 is a flexible sheet, and when the toy water ball 10 is in the closed state, the connecting portion 14 is bent into a C-shape or a U-shape.

As shown in FIGS. 3-8, each of the petals 12 is provided with the magnetic attraction assembly 30. Each magnetic attraction assembly 30 comprises a plurality of magnetic members 31 and fixing assemblies 40. The fixing member 40 comprises a fixing case 41 connected to and fixed to a surface of each magnetic member 31 and a connecting strip 42 connected to the fixing case 41. In the instant embodiment, the fixing member 40 is a plastic element.

The fixing case 41 wraps around the outer surface of the corresponding magnetic member 31. The term “wrapping” as used herein refers to the fixing case 41 tightly fit to most of the surfaces of the magnetic member 31 to ensure that the magnetic member 31 does not detach from the fixing case 41, and it is not necessary to enclose all the surfaces of the magnetic member 31. In the instant embodiment, the fixing case 41 is formed with at least one locking notch 410 for buckling engagement by the annular frame 18. In the instant embodiment, the fixing case 41 is a hollow hexahedron and the number of the locking notches 410 of each fixing case 41 is four, and the locking notches 410 are respectively located at the four corners of the side of the fixing case 41 facing away from the fitting surface of the annular frame 18 (namely the side facing the body 16). In this embodiment, the locking notches 410 penetrate through the corners of the side of the fixing case 41 to correspondingly expose the magnetic member 31 inside the fixing case 41. It is appreciated that the locking notch 410 can be of other shapes, such as an elongated groove surrounding the surface of the fixing case 41.

The inner surface of the annular frame 18 facing the body 16 may also be named as a mounting surface 29. The mounting surface 29 and the fitting surface 24 are respectively located on two opposite sides of the annular frame 18 in the thickness direction of the edge portion 18. The mounting surface 29 of the annular frame 18 is formed with mounting troughs 291 and connecting grooves 292 connected to and communicating with adjacent ones of the mounting troughs 291. The mounting troughs 291 respectively receive and fix corresponding ones of the fixing cases 41, and the connecting grooves 292 receive and fix corresponding ones of the connecting strips 42. In the instant embodiment, the shape of each of the mounting troughs 291 matches that of a half part of the corresponding fixing case 41 (for example the lower half part as shown in FIG. 4), and the shape of each of the connecting grooves 292 matches that of a half part of the corresponding connecting strip 42. The annular frame 18 comprises at least one catching portion 293 arranged corresponding to a periphery of the mounting trough 291, and the catching portion 293 is correspondingly engaged in the locking notch 410 of the fixing case 41 to increase the firmness of the annular frame 18 and the magnetic attraction assembly 30. In the instant embodiment, the catching portion 293, after being engaged in the locking notch 410 of the fixing case 41, covers the locking notch 410, so that the annular frame 18 in combination with the fixing case 41 enclose the magnetic member 31 completely.

Further, the surface of each fixing case 41 facing the annular frame 18 is formed with an insertion hole 415 (as shown in FIG. 3), and the mounting surface 29 of the annular frame 18 is formed with raised pegs 294 (as shown in FIG. 5). The raised pegs 294 are fit into the corresponding insertion holes 415 to thereby increase the firmness of the fixing case 41 and the annular frame 18.

It is appreciated that in other embodiments, the fixing case 41 can be in the shape of a frame or other structures that can be fixedly connected with the magnetic member 31.

In the instant embodiment, adjacent ones of the fixing cases 41 are connected together by one of the connecting strips 42, so that the fixing member 40, in the entirety thereof, is arranged in a closed ring. In other words, the fixing cases 41 and the connecting strips 42 are connected end to end in sequence to form a closed ring. In other embodiments, a certain section of connecting strip 42 can be omitted, that is, the fixing member 40 may not be a closed ring, but it is better that at least one end of each of the fixing cases 41 is connected by the connecting strip 42 to a corresponding adjacent one of the fixing cases 41. Such an arrangement is beneficial to prevent an individual one of the magnetic members 31 and the corresponding fixing case 41 from falling off in order to avoid accidental ingestion by children. By connecting one magnetic member 31 and at least one adjacent magnetic member 31 through the fixing cases 41 and the connecting strip 42, the strength of connection is greatly increased and accidental ingestion of the magnetic attraction assembly 30 by children due to small size is also prevented.

Further, through the arrangement of the fixing cases 41 and the connecting strips 42, the connection area of the magnetic attraction assembly 30 with the annular frame 18 and the body 16 can be greatly increased. Compared with a related art in which only the surface of an individual independent magnet is connected to the edge portion, the magnetic attraction assembly 30 of the instant embodiment increases the area of connection with the annular frame 18 and improves the firmness, greatly reduces the risk of the magnetic attraction assembly 30 falling off the petal 12, and improves the safety.

In the instant embodiment, each magnetic member 31 is assembled with the fixing member 40 by injection molding. Specifically, the magnetic members 31 are first placed in a first mold, followed by injection of hot melt plastic material therein to surround the magnetic members 31, and are then removed after cooling to make the magnetic attraction assembly 30 including the magnetic members 31 and the fixing member 40. The fixing member 40 including the fixing cases 41 and the connecting strips 42 has the above-described shape and structure by means of the first mold, so that, at this time, the magnetic attraction assembly 30 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is available. Then, two magnetic attraction assemblies 30 are placed into a second mold (where the surface in one side of each of the fixing cases 41 may be provided with an adhesive layer), so that the annular frames 18 and the connecting portion 14 are formed through hot pressing or injection molding; the mounting surfaces 29 of the annular frame 18s are correspondingly formed with the aforementioned mounting troughs 291 and connecting grooves 292 matching the magnetic attraction assembly 30, and are also formed with the catching portions 293 for engagement with the locking notches 410 of the fixing cases 41, and at this time, a combination of two annular frames 18, two magnetic attraction assemblies 30 and the connecting portion 14 as shown in FIG. 6 is formed. At this stage, parts of the fixing cases 41 and parts of the connecting strips 42 are exposed from the annular frames 18. Finally, the combined magnetic attraction assemblies 30, the annular frames 18, and the connecting portion 14 is placed into a third mold (where the surface in the opposite side of each of the fixing cases 41 may be provided with another adhesive layer), and the bodies 16 are then integrally formed with the combined magnetic attraction assemblies 30, the annular frames 18, and the connecting portion 14 through injection molding or hot pressing to thereby complete the production of the entire toy water ball. The parts of the fixing cases 41 and parts of the connecting strips 42 exposed from the annular frames 18 are covered by the bodies 16. Each magnetic attraction assembly 30 is embedded between and encapsulated by the corresponding frame 18 and the corresponding body 16.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10-11, each body 16 comprises an annular rim 16a extending integrally therefrom in the lateral direction M and inwardly into the water-carrying cavity 22. The outer surface of each rim 16a facing the magnetic attraction assembly 30 is formed with corresponding mounting slots 161 and connecting slots 162 connected to and communicating with adjacent mounting slots 161. The mounting slots 161 fixedly receive the remaining parts of the fixing cases 41 of the magnetic attraction assembly 30 exposed from the annular frames 18, and the connecting slots 162 fixedly receive the remaining parts of the connecting strips 42 exposed from the annular frames 18, for example: the mounting slots 161 receiving lower half parts of the fixing cases 41 and the connecting slots 162 receiving lower half parts of the connecting strips 42 as shown in FIG. 3. It is noted that the lower haft parts of the magnetic attraction assembly 30 as shown in FIG. 3 are the upper haft parts as shown in FIG. 4. Specifically, each mounting slot 161 of the body 16 cooperates with a corresponding mounting trough 291 of the annular frame 18 to jointly enclose and fix the corresponding fixing case 41, and the connecting groove 292 cooperates with a corresponding connecting groove 292 to jointly enclose and fix the corresponding connecting strip 42. Thus, each magnetic attraction assembly 30 is embedded between and encapsulated by the corresponding frame 18 and the rim 16a of the corresponding body 16. Preferably, the extension width of the rim 16a in the lateral direction M is equal to that of the annular base 26 of the annular frame 18 such that the inner circumferential surface of the rim 16a and the inner circumferential surface of the annular base 26 are flush with each other as shown in FIG. 11.

Such arrangement makes the connection between the magnetic members 31 and the annular frame 18 more firm, and even if there is some looseness between some of the magnetic members 31 and the annular frame 18, due to the presence of the fixing cases 41 and the connecting strips 42, the magnetic members 31 do not fall off the annular frame 18 alone. The number of the connecting strips 42 depends on the size of the fixing cases 41 and the spacing distance between adjacent ones of the fixing cases 41 (namely, the size of the magnetic members 31 and the spacing distance between adjacent magnetic members 31). If the size formed by two adjacent fixing cases 41 and the connecting strip 42 therebetween is large enough to be not easily accidentally ingested by children, it is also possible to group the fixed cases 41 in pairs. Namely, each of the magnetic members 31 is wrapped by the corresponding fixing case 41, and each of the fixing cases 41 has at least one end that is connected to the adjacent fixing case 41 by the connecting strip 42. It is not necessary for all adjacent fixing cases 41 to be connected together by the connecting strips 42.

The fixing member 40 is not limited to any specific material, as long as it can be firmly combined with the magnetic member 31. Preferably, the fixing member 40 is made of plastic material. Thus, the fixing member 40 can be integrally injection molded with the magnetic member 31, which not only ensures a firm and secure combination between the fixing member 40 and the magnetic member 31 but also simplifies the production process by reducing the number of separate components and assembly steps required. The plastic material used for the fixing member 40 can be nylon (also known as polyamide, abbreviated as PA), polypropylene (PP), or polyethylene (PE); and among them, the nylon material is preferred.

In other embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 16-18, the fixing member 40 may adopt a non-closed ring arrangement, that is, while ensuring each fixing case 41 is connected to at least one connecting strip 42, some of the connecting strips 42 are omitted; and some connecting grooves 292 are correspondingly omitted from the mounting surface 29 of the annular frame 18, and in addition, some connecting slots 162 are also correspondingly omitted from the body 16. Although some of the connecting strips 42 are omitted, as long as it is ensured that each fixing case 41 is at least connected to one connecting strip 42 to ensure the fixing member 40 has a sufficient size, even if it falls off the toy water ball 10, it will not be accidently swallowed by the children. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the two ends of each of the connecting strips 42 are connected to corresponding adjacent ones of the fixing cases 41. As shown in FIG. 18, each of the fixing cases 41 is only connected to one connecting strip 42, and each of the connecting strips 42 has only one end connected to one fixing case 41, while the other end is suspended. The connecting strip 42 has a length greater than that of the fixing case 41. Preferably, the length of the connecting strip 42 is 2˜10 times of that of the fixing case 41. For example, the length of the connecting strip 42 is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 times of that of the fixing case 41.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 14, and 15, in the instant embodiment, the connecting strips 42 are arranged around the circumferential direction of the annular base 26 and each connecting strip 42 has a wavy bending configuration, that is, bending inward and outward with respect to a middle circle H (the dashed line circle shown in FIG. 7) of the annular base 26. Specifically, each of the connecting strips 42 comprises multiple fold segments and extend as a whole from one corresponding fixing case 41 toward the adjacent fixing case 41. Preferably, each connecting strip 42 has a W-shaped configuration. Such arrangement makes the connecting strip 42 be deformable, enabling it to extend or contract. Change of the length of the connecting strip 42 makes the diameter of the closed ring of the fixing member 40 be enlarged or reduced. After the assembled magnetic attraction assembly 30, the annular frames 18, and the connecting portion 14 is placed in the third mold to integrally form the bodies 16 connected with the magnetic attraction assemblies 30 and the annular frames 18, the inner diameter of the annular frame 18 needs to be expanded for removal of the toy water ball 10 from the third mold. The annular frame 18 itself has elasticity and is able to expand and restore. The fixing member 40 is a plastic member that shows limited deformability. The connecting strip 42 is arranged with a wavy configuration such that the fixing member 40 has good expandability and shrinkage to allow the toy water ball to be removed from the third mold easily. Of course, if the fixing member 40 adopts a discontinuous form as shown in FIGS. 16-18, the toy water ball 10 can be taken out of the third mold even if the connecting strip 42 is nondeformable, and thus the connecting strip 42 can use a circular arc form without waves formed thereat.

In the instant embodiment, the magnetic member 31 is a magnet. The magnet can be a permanent magnet. If the magnetic flux density of the magnet is too low, the attraction force between the magnets is too small, and the water ball is easy to open before reaching the object, and the water leaks in advance. The size of the toy water ball for children cannot be too large, otherwise the child's hand cannot hold it. Thus, if the number of magnets is increased, the spacing distance between the magnets will inevitably decrease, which will affect the deformation of the fitting surfaces, influencing the sealing effect of the water ball; and if the magnetic flux density is too large, the attraction force between the magnets is too large, and the water ball is not easy to open, and it will be painful to hit the child when playing, and it is easy to hurt the child. It is necessary to take into account both the deformation ability of the edge portions and the magnetic attraction force between the two fitting surfaces (not too large or too small). After unremitting efforts, the inventors of the present application finally found an optimal magnetic flux density range, that is, the magnetic flux density at the location of the fitting surface corresponding to the center of the magnet is preferably 130 MT-260 MT (millitesla), it can well take into account the above requirements.

The number of the magnetic members 31 on each of the annular frames 18 is preferable two or more, and the specific number is not limited. In the instant embodiment, each of the annular frames 18 is provided with multiple magnetic members 31, and the magnetic members 31 on the two annular frames 18 are identical in number and are arranged to correspond in a one-to-one manner to each other. The multiple magnetic members 31 on the corresponding annular frame 18 are evenly spaced along the circumference of the annular frame 18.

The embodiments described above only express several ways of implementation of the present invention, and the description is relatively specific and detailed, but it cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the patent of the present invention. It is noted that for ordinary technicians in this field, various modifications and improvements can be contemplated without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A toy water ball, comprising a pair of petals and a connecting portion connecting the petals, wherein each of the petals comprises a body, a frame extending inward from a circumferential edge of the body, and a magnetic attraction assembly embedded between the body and the frame; each of the magnetic attraction assemblies comprises a fixing member and at least two magnetic members, the fixing member comprising at least two fixing cases and at least two connecting strips, each of the fixing cases being fixedly connected to a surface of a corresponding one of the magnetic members, each of the fixing cases having at least one end connected to one of the connecting strips; andwhen the petals are in a closed state, the petals jointly enclose and define a water-carrying cavity, and the magnetic members of the petals attract each other to have the frames of the petals tightly contact each other to form a water retaining layer that surrounds and seals the water-carrying cavity.

2. The toy water ball according to claim 1, wherein the fixing cases and the connecting strips are connected end to end in sequence to form a configuration of a ring.

3. The toy water ball according to claim 1, wherein each of the fixing cases wraps around a corresponding one of the magnetic members, each of the fixing cases is formed with at least one locking notch, and the frame comprises at least one catching portion engaged in the at least one locking notch of each of the fixing cases.

4. The toy water ball according to claim 3, wherein the number of the locking notches of each of the fixing cases is four, and the locking notches of each of the fixing cases are respectively located four corners of a side of the fixing case facing away from the frame; and the number of the catching portions corresponding to each of the fixing cases is four, and the catching portions corresponding to one of the fixing cases are respectively engaged in the locking notches of said one of the fixing cases.

5. The toy water ball according to claim 3, wherein the locking notch penetrates through the fixing case to expose the magnetic member inside the fixing case; and the catching portion covers the locking notch, so that the frame in combination with the fixing case fully encloses the magnetic member.

6. The toy water ball according to claim 1, wherein a surface of each of the fixing cases facing the frame is formed with an insertion hole, and the frame is formed with raised pegs each of which is embedded into a corresponding insertion hole to enhance connection of the fixing cases and the frame.

7. The toy water ball according to claim 1, wherein the frame is formed with mounting troughs and connecting grooves connected to adjacent mounting troughs, each of the mounting troughs fixedly receiving a part of a corresponding one of the fixing cases, each of the connecting grooves fixedly receiving a part of a corresponding one of the connecting strips.

8. The toy water ball according to claim 7, wherein each of the bodies comprises an annular rim extending integrally therefrom and inwardly into the water-carrying cavity, each frame being stacked on a corresponding one of the annular rims; and each rim is formed with mounting slots and connecting slots connected to adjacent mounting slots, each of the mounting slots fixedly receiving another part of the corresponding one of the fixing cases, each of the connecting slots fixedly receiving another part of the corresponding one of the connecting strips.

9. The toy water ball according to claim 1, wherein each of the connecting strips is arranged in a wavy bending configuration.

10. The toy water ball according to claim 1, wherein two ends of each of the connecting strips are respectively connected to adjacent ones of the fixing cases.

11. The toy water ball according to claim 1, wherein each of the fixing assemblies is made of plastic material, the body is made of silicone, and the frame is made of silicone.

12. The toy water ball according to claim 1, wherein each of the fixing cases and the connecting strips are integrally formed with the magnetic member through injection molding.

13. The toy water ball according to claim 1, wherein each of the frames is extended into the water-carrying cavity; each of the frames is made of an elastic material such that when the petals are in the closed state, the frames of the petals are stacked together in a thickness direction and deformed toward each other to thereby tightly contact each other under an action of a magnetic attraction force generated by the magnetic members; andduring a course that the petals are switched to the closed state under the action of the magnetic attraction force, the two frames interfere with each other in the thickness direction to induce deformation.

14. The toy water ball according to claim 1, wherein each of the frames comprises a fitting surface for contacting another one of the frames, the fitting surface of at least one of the frames being a concave surface in a natural state, the concave surface being deformable toward said another one of the frames under an action of a magnetic attraction force generated by the magnetic members.

15. The toy water ball according to claim 14, wherein each of the bodies comprises a rim integrally extending inwardly into the water-carrying cavity; the frame of at least one of the petals comprises an annular base stacked on the rim of said at least one of the petals and a flange extending inward obliquely from a circumferential inside of the annular base, the flange being located on a lateral inner side of the magnetic members of said at least one of the petals, an outer surface of the annular base and an outer surface of the flange jointly forming the fitting surface of the frame of said at least one of the petals; andwhen the petals are in the closed state, the flange of said at least one of the petals abuts against the frame of another one of the petals and deforms under the action of the magnetic attraction force.

16. The toy water ball according to claim 15, wherein a thickness of the flange is less than a thickness of the annular base and the thickness of the flange gradually reduces in a direction away from the annular base.

17. A toy water ball, comprising a pair of petals and a connecting portion connecting the petals, wherein each of the petals comprises a body, a frame mounted on the body, and a magnetic attraction assembly embedded between the body and the frame; each of the magnetic attraction assemblies comprises multiple magnetic members;when the petals are in a closed state, the petals jointly enclose and define a water-carrying cavity, and the magnetic members of the petals attract each other to have the frames of the petals tightly contact each other to form a water retaining layer that surrounds and seals the water-carrying cavity;each of the bodies comprises a rim extending laterally inwardly to the water-carrying cavity, the frame of each of the petals extending laterally inwardly to the water-carrying cavity and being stacked on the rim of a corresponding body; andeach of the frames comprises a fitting surface for contacting another one of the frames, the fitting surface of at least one of the frames being a concave surface in a natural state, the concave surface being deformable toward said another one of the frames under an action of a magnetic attraction force generated by the magnetic members in the closed state.

18. The toy water ball according to claim 17, wherein the fitting surfaces of the frames are both concave in the natural state and deformable toward each other under the action of the magnetic attraction force generated by the magnetic members in the closed state.

19. The toy water ball according to claim 17, wherein the fitting surface of the at least one of the frames comprises an annular base stacked on the rim of the corresponding body and a flange extending inward and obliquely from a circumferential inside of the annular base.