U.S. patent application number 10/963075 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-13 for toy with spherical-shaped object.
Invention is credited to Peter C. McEachen, Thomas Matthew Walraven.
Application Number | 20060079148 10/963075 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36145951 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060079148 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Walraven; Thomas Matthew ;
et al. |
April 13, 2006 |
Toy with spherical-shaped object
Abstract
A toy comprising an object (12) which performs a spherical
function, such as a striker for drum. The object (12) comprises a
generally spherical body (30) having surface regions (40, 42, 44,
46) which together define a spherical surface area that performs
the spherical function of the object. The object (12) also has
grooves (32, 34, and 36) and throughways (38) which define air
passages configured to allow for the passage of air through a
child's windpipe regardless of how the object (12) is lodged
therein.
Inventors: |
Walraven; Thomas Matthew;
(Cuyahoga Falls, OH) ; McEachen; Peter C.;
(Macedonia, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Cynthia S. Murphy;Renner, Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
Nineteenth Floor
1621 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland
OH
44115
US
|
Family ID: |
36145951 |
Appl. No.: |
10/963075 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/418 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2208/12 20130101;
A63H 5/00 20130101; A63B 67/20 20130101; A63B 43/00 20130101; A63B
2243/0054 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/418 |
International
Class: |
A63H 5/00 20060101
A63H005/00 |
Claims
1. A toy comprising an object which performs a spherical function,
said object comprising a generally spherical body having surface
regions which together define a spherical surface area that
performs the spherical function of the object, and air passages
configured to allow for the passage of air through a windpipe
regardless of how the spherical body is lodged in the windpipe.
2. A toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein the air passages are
arranged so that any diametrical plane through the generally
spherical body is intersected by at least one of the air passages
and wherein the intercepted air passage(s) extends through
spherical body in a direction perpendicular to the diametrical
plane.
3. A toy as set forth in claim 2, wherein any diametrical plane
through the generally spherical body is intersected by at least two
of the air passages.
4. A toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein the air passageways
include at least one air passageway in a first direction, at least
one air passageway in a second direction perpendicular to the first
direction, and at least one air passageway in a third direction
perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.
5. A toy as set forth in claim 2, wherein the air passageways in
the first direction and the second direction are formed by grooves
in the spherical body.
6. A toy as set forth in claim 3, wherein the air passageway in the
third direction are formed by a throughway through the spherical
body.
7. A toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein the air passageway in at
least one of the directions is formed by a throughways through the
spherical body.
8. A toy as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a stick and
wherein the spherical object is attached to the stick.
9. A toy as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a musical
percussion instrument which is contacted by the spherical
object.
10. A toy as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a stick and
wherein the spherical object is attached to the stick.
11. A toy as set forth in claim 10, wherein the musical percussion
instrument is a drum.
12. A toy as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a paddle and
wherein the spherical object is attached to the paddle.
13. A toy as set forth in claim 1, further comprising non-spherical
objects which are unattached to the spherical object.
14. A toy as set forth in claim 13, wherein the non-spherical
objects are pins which are intended to be knocked down by rolling
the spherical object.
15. A toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spherical object has
a diameter between about two inches and about three inches.
16. A toy comprising a percussion object and a spherical object
which strikes the percussion object to produce a sound; wherein the
spherical object comprises a generally spherical body having
surfaces which together define a spherical surface area that
performs the striking function of the spherical object, and air
passages configured to allow for the passage of air through a
windpipe regardless of how the spherical body is lodged in the
windpipe; wherein the air passages are arranged so that any
diametrical plane through the generally spherical body is
intersected by at least one of the air passages and wherein the
intercepted air passage(s) extends through spherical body in a
direction perpendicular to the diametrical plane; wherein some of
the air passageways are formed by grooves in the surface of the
spherical body and some of the air passageways are formed by
throughways through the spherical body; and wherein the spherical
body has a diameter between about two inches and about three
inches.
17. A toy comprising an object which performs a spherical function,
said object comprising a generally spherical body having surfaces
which together define a spherical surface area that performs the
spherical function of the object, and air passages configured to
allow for the passage of air through a windpipe regardless of how
the spherical body is lodged in the windpipe; wherein the air
passages are arranged so that any diametrical plane through the
generally spherical body is intersected by at least one of the air
passages and wherein the intercepted air passage(s) extends through
spherical body in a direction perpendicular to the diametrical
plane; wherein the air passageways include at least one air
passageway in a first direction, at least one air passageway in a
second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and at least
one air passageway in a third direction perpendicular to the first
direction and the second direction; wherein some of the air
passageways are formed by grooves in the surface of the spherical
body and some of the air passageways are formed by throughways
through the spherical body; and wherein the spherical body has a
diameter between about two inches and about three inches.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally, as indicated, to a
toy including a spherical-shaped object.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Musical instrument toys are popular with children. Certain
musical toys, such as a drum, include a spherical object for
striking a percussion surface to create the desired sounds. This
spherical object, commonly called a striker, is usually attached to
a stick which may be held by the child to manipulate the striker.
For purely acoustic purposes, the best striker geometry is a
spherical shape having a diameter small enough to allow the striker
to become lodged in a child's windpipe. This presents a danger of
choking should the striker become separated from the stick. With
musical toys, safety issues override acoustic objectives whereby,
in the past, a striker was non-spherically shaped and/or oversized
to prevent choking. Many other toys also incorporate
spherical-shaped objects (e.g., paddle games, bowling sets, etc.)
and these toys must also often compromise other objectives in the
interest of safety when designing and/or sizing the
spherical-shaped objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides a toy including a spherical
object that can be of a size which is swallowable by a child, as
choking concerns are addressed by other than oversizing of the
object. Thus, the toy need not compromise other objectives in the
interest of safety when designing and/or sizing its
spherical-shaped object.
[0004] More particularly, the present invention provides a toy
comprising an object which performs a spherical function. The
object comprises a generally spherical body having surfaces which
together define a spherical surface area that performs the
spherical function of the object, and air passages configured to
allow for the passage of air through a windpipe regardless of how
the spherical body is lodged in the windpipe. More specifically,
the air passages are configured so that any diametrical plane
through the generally spherical body is intersected by at least one
of the air passages and the intercepted air passage(s) extends
through the spherical body in a direction perpendicular to the
diametrical plane. The air passageways can be formed by grooves in
the surface of the spherical body and/or throughways in the
spherical body.
[0005] These and other features of the invention are fully
described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following
description and annexed drawings set forth in detail certain
illustrative embodiments of the invention, these embodiments being
indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles
of the invention may be employed.
DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy according to the
present invention, the toy including a drum and a spherical object
(attached to a stick) for striking the drum's percussion
surface.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another toy according to the
present invention, the toy including a paddle and a spherical
object (attached to the paddle by a string) for bouncing against
the paddle's surface.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another toy according to the
present invention, the toy including miniature bowling pins and a
spherical object (unattached to the bowling pins) for knocking down
the bowling pins.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a top view of the spherical object.
[0010] FIGS. 4A-4D are sectional views as seen along the
corresponding lines in FIG. 4.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side view of the spherical object.
[0012] FIGS. 5A-5D are sectional views as seen along the
corresponding lines in FIG. 5.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a front view of the spherical object.
[0014] FIGS. 6A-6D are sectional views as seen along the
corresponding lines in FIG. 6.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the spherical object lodged in
a child's windpipe in a first orientation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3,
toys 10 according to the present invention are shown. Each of these
toys 10 includes a spherical object 12 which is of a size that it
could possibly become lodged in a child's windpipe. For example,
the spherical object 12 can be attached to a stick 14 and used to
strike the percussion surface of a musical instrument, such as a
drum 16 (FIG. 1) or attached by a string 18 to a paddle 20 (FIG.
2). The spherical object 12 can instead be unattached to the other
components of the toy and used, for example, to knock down
miniature bowling pins 22 (FIG. 3). In fact, the present invention
can be applied to any toy that uses a spherical shaped object to
add value, enjoyment or function to the toy.
[0017] The spherical object 12 can be of a size which is
swallowable by a child (e.g., one to three inch diameter and/or two
to three inch diameter), as choking concerns are addressed other
than by oversizing of the object. Thus, the toys 10 need not
compromise other objectives in the interest of safety when
designing and/or sizing their spherical-shaped objects 12.
[0018] Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, the spherical object 12 is shown
isolated from the rest of the components of the toy 10. The object
12 comprises a generally spherical body 30 which can be made of any
suitable material (e.g., plastic) that provide the desired
characteristics for the toy 10, is not harmful to a child if
contacted or tasted, and is compatible with manufacturing processes
(e.g., injection or other molding). The material of the spherical
body 30 can be non-porous or otherwise non-air-passing whereby,
absent the present invention, air would not be able to pass
therethrough should the spherical object become lodged in a child's
windpipe.
[0019] The illustrated spherical object 12 has four grooves 32,
four grooves 34, four grooves 36, and two throughways 38, which, as
explained in more detail below, form air passageways through the
spherical body 30. The non-grooved regions of the surface area of
the body 30 form surfaces 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 which together
define a substantially spherical surface area that performs the
spherical function (e.g., striking, bouncing, rolling, etc.) of the
object 12.
[0020] The four grooves 32 each provides an air passageway in a
first direction z, which in the illustrated orientation, is from
the top to the bottom of the body 30 or vice-a-versa. (FIG. 4.) The
four grooves 34 also each provide an air passageway in the first
direction z from the top to the bottom of the body 30. (FIG. 4.)
The four grooves 36 each define an air passageway in a second
direction x perpendicular to the first direction z which, in the
illustrated orientation, is from side to side. (FIG. 5.) The two
throughways 38 each define an air passageway in a third direction
y, perpendicular to the first direction z and the second direction
x which, in the illustrated orientation, is from front to back or
vice-a-versa. (FIG. 6.)
[0021] The grooves 32, 34 and 36, and the throughways 38, are
configured to allow for the passage of air through a windpipe
regardless of how the object 12 is lodged in the windpipe. (FIG.
7.) Specifically, the air passages are configured (e.g., sized,
shaped and arranged) so that any diametrical plane through the body
30 is intersected by at least one of the air passages, and
preferably at least two of the air passageways. (See FIGS. 4A-4D,
5A-5D, and 6A-6D.) The intercepted air passage(s) extends through
spherical body 30 in a direction perpendicularto the diametrical
plane whereby air can pass therethrough.
[0022] The air passage(s) are shaped, arranged, and sized so that
the intercepted air passage(s) will individually or collectively
provide a suitable cross-sectional flow area through the spherical
body 30 in any diametrical plane. For example, the cross-sectional
flow area in any diametrical plane can be at least about 0.20
in.sup.2, at least about 0.30 in.sup.2, and/or at least about 0.40
in.sup.2. At the same time, the air passage(s) are not so extreme
as to detract from the intended spherical-shaped surface of the
object 12. For example, the grooves 32, 34 and 36 can invade less
than about 40%, less than about 30%, and/or less than about 20% of
an analogous spherical surface area without such grooves.
[0023] One may now appreciate the present invention provides a toy
10 that need not compromise other objectives in the interest of
safety when designing and/or sizing its spherical-shaped object
12.
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