U.S. patent application number 10/968410 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-20 for reversible ball having hyper-elastic properties.
Invention is credited to Mark Chernick, Webb T. Nelson, Tak Ko Wong.
Application Number | 20060084353 10/968410 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36181380 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060084353 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wong; Tak Ko ; et
al. |
April 20, 2006 |
Reversible ball having hyper-elastic properties
Abstract
A novelty device and the method of covering an object with the
device. The device has an elastic casing that defines an internal
area. The elastic casing has an external outer surface and an
internal inner surface. The outer surface and the inner surface are
different from each other, wherein both surfaces are visually
and/or tactilely distinct. An aperture of a first diameter is
disposed in the elastic casing. The aperture enables the elastic
casing to be selectively inverted. The aperture can be elastically
stretched to a diameter at least ten times greater than the
original diameter of the aperture. Consequently, a small aperture
can be elastically enlarged to a much greater size. This enables
the casing to be easily turned inside out. It also enables the
casing to be easily stretched over secondary objects that are
originally much larger than the casing.
Inventors: |
Wong; Tak Ko; (Chaiwan,
HK) ; Chernick; Mark; (Woodinville, WA) ;
Nelson; Webb T.; (Woodinville, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAMORTE & ASSOCIATES P.C.
P.O. BOX 434
YARDLEY
PA
19067
US
|
Family ID: |
36181380 |
Appl. No.: |
10/968410 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/71 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/071 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/00 20060101
A63H033/00 |
Claims
1. A novelty device, comprising: an elastic casing defining an
internal area, said elastic casing having an external outer surface
and an internal inner surface, wherein said outer surface and said
inner surface are visually distinct from each other; an aperture of
a first diameter disposed in said elastic casing through which said
elastic casing can be selectively inverted, wherein said aperture
can be elastically stretched to a diameter at least ten times
greater than said first diameter without damage.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elastic casing is
free standing, therein defining said internal area in an
uncollapsed condition when unstressed by any force other than
gravity.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elastic casing
defines a rim that surrounds said aperture, wherein said rim is
reinforced by a thickening of said elastic casing at said rim.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elastic casing is
generally spherical in shape.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elastic casing is
comprised of poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene)
mixed with a plasticizing oil.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said protrusions extend
from said inner surface.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said outer surface and
said inner surface have different textures.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said outer surface has
the form of an animal disposed thereon.
9. A method of selectively covering an object with one of two
possible designs, said method comprising the steps of: providing an
elastic casing having an opening of a first size therein, wherein
said elastic casing has an inner surface of a first design and an
outer surface of a second design, wherein said elastic casing can
be selectively inverted through said opening, and wherein said
opening can be elastically stretched to a second size at least ten
times greater than said first size; choosing a selected design from
either said first design or said second design on said casing;
manipulating said casing so that said selected design is oriented
on the exterior of the elastic casing; and stretching said opening
of said casing around an object, wherein said casing elastically
conforms to the object and covers the object with said selected
design.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said casing is
spherically shaped.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said first design is
smooth and said second design includes protrusions.
12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said elastic casing
defines a rim that surrounds said opening, wherein said rim is
reinforced by a thickening of said elastic casing at said rim.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said elastic casing
is comprised of poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene)
mixed with a plasticizing oil.
14. The method according to claim 9, wherein said first design and
said second design have different textures.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] In general, the present invention relates to reversible
balls that can be selectively turned inside out. More specifically,
the present invention relates to the structure, materials and
methods of manufacture associated with such reversible balls.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] The idea of reversibility has long been designed into toys
and novelty products. For example, dolls have long been provided
with clothes that have one pattern on the inside of the clothing
and a second pattern on the outside. The style of clothes can then
be changed simply by turning the clothes inside out.
[0005] The idea of reversibility has also been applied to the
structure of toys. For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,399 to
Reynolds, entitled Toy Alterable Between Two Different Shapes, a
toy is shown that changes from a racing car to a racing helmet
depending upon if the toy is turned inside out or right side
in.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,938 to Reynolds, entitled Toy Or Other
Object Alterable Between Two Different Shapes, shows a toy that can
be reversed between a ball and a stuffed animal.
[0007] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,101 to Wong, entitled Transformable
Ball, a reversible ball is provided having different textures on
its inside and outside surfaces. As such, the appearance of the
ball can be changed by turning the ball inside out.
[0008] In the structure of a reversible toy, an opening must be
formed in the casing of the toy. The aperture is usually just large
enough so that the toy can be pushed and pulled inside out through
the aperture. However, once the toy is either inside out or right
side in, the aperture remains. This detracts from the appearance of
the toy. The presence of the aperture also allows dirt and other
debris to collect within the toy structure. With plush toys, such
as those shown in the two cited Reynolds patents, the aperture in
the toy can be closed with a zipper. However, with a molded ball,
such as that shown in the Wong patent, the aperture remains open
and visible.
[0009] The diameter of the aperture in a reversible toy can be
minimized to reduce adverse effects. However, when the size of the
aperture is reduced, the difficulty involved in reversing the toy
through that aperture increases. Furthermore, the smaller the
aperture in the reversible toy, the more likely the aperture will
rip as the toy is reversed.
[0010] The present invention provides a reversible toy having only
a small aperture. However, the aperture is designed to resiliently
open to a diameter even larger than the structure of the toy
itself. In this manner, the aperture becomes the key novelty
feature of the toy, while enabling the toy to be easily reversed
without effort or damage. The details of the present invention are
described and claimed below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention is a novelty device and the method of
covering an object with that novelty device. The novelty device
contains an elastic casing that defines an internal area. The
elastic casing has an external outer surface and an internal inner
surface. The outer surface and the inner surface are different from
each other, wherein both surfaces are visually and/or tactilely
distinct.
[0012] An aperture of a first diameter is disposed in the elastic
casing. The aperture enables the elastic casing to be selectively
inverted by being pulled inside out through the aperture. The
aperture can be elastically stretched to a diameter at least ten
times greater than the original diameter of the aperture.
Consequently, a small aperture can be elastically enlarged to a
much greater size. This enables the casing to be easily turned
inside out. It also enables the casing to be easily stretched over
secondary objects that are originally much larger than the casing,
therein covering a secondary object with one of the two different
surface designs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] 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:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention novelty device;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the
novelty device of FIG. 1 shown partially inverted;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the
novelty device of FIG. 1 being stretched to an enlarged size;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a view of the novelty device of FIG. 1 being
applied over a person's head; and
[0018] FIG. 5 is a view of the novelty device of FIG. 1 being
applied over a person's foot.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Although the present invention novelty device can have any
configuration, such as that of a doll or an animal, 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.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention novelty device 10
is embodied as a toy ball. The novelty device 10 includes a hollow
spherical casing 20 having an external diameter D1. The spherical
casing 20 has an outer surface 12 and an inner surface 14. The
inner surface 14 of the spherical casing 20 defines the boundaries
of an open internal area 16.
[0021] The spherical casing 20 is thin and flexible. However, the
spherical casing 20 is substantial enough to be free standing. The
spherical casing 20 maintains its own shape and the shape of the
internal area 16 when the novelty device 10 experiences no external
forces other than that of gravity.
[0022] An aperture 18 is formed in the spherical casing 20. The
aperture 18 is circular and has a diameter D2 that is only a small
fraction of the size of the diameter D1 of the unstretched
spherical casing 20. A rim 22 immediately surrounds the aperture
18. The rim 22 is part of the spherical casing 20 but is thickened
to provide reinforcement to the rim 22. The rim 22 of the aperture
18 is also rounded to help prevent tears from forming along the rim
22 of the aperture 18.
[0023] The spherical casing 20 itself is preferably formed from a
poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) copolymer mixed
between two percent and twenty percent, by weight, with a
plasticizing oil, such as mineral oil. The resulting composition is
both highly elastic and highly tear resistant. An oxidizing agent
can also be added to the elastic polymer composition to reduce the
tackiness of the elastic polymer composition.
[0024] The outer surface 12 of the spherical casing 20 is molded to
a desired shape and texture. In the shown embodiment, the outside
surface 12 of the spherical casing 20 has a frog shape 24 formed on
it. The frog shape 24 is merely exemplary and it will be understood
that any other shape can be substituted for that of the frog shape
24.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 2. it can be seen that the inner surface
14 of the spherical casing 20 is molded to a shape, texture and
color scheme that is preferably different from that of the outer
surface 12. However, it is preferred that the outer surface 12 of
the spherical casing 20 and the inner surface 14 of the spherical
casing 20 have a related theme. For instance, one surface of the
spherical casing 20 can be colored and textured as the earth, while
the opposite surface can be colored and textured as the moon. In
the shown embodiment, the outer surface 12 of the spherical casing
20 contains a frog shape 24. The inner surface 14 of the spherical
casing 20 has a frog skin theme, wherein the inner surface 14 has
the color of the frog's skin and is textured with protrusions 26
that give the impression of warts. Thus, the outer surface 12 and
the inner surface 14 have complementary themes.
[0026] The inner surface 14 of the spherical casing 20 is brought
out of the spherical casing 20 by pulling or pushing the spherical
casing 20 inside out through the aperture 18.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 3. it can be seen that the aperture 18 in
the spherical casing 20 can be elastically expanded to a diameter
that is more than four times the size of the original spherical
casing itself. Preferably, the aperture 18 can elastically expand
in diameter at least ten times its original diameter D2 without
damaging the rim 22 surrounding the aperture 18 or any other part
of the spherical casing 20. When the aperture 18 of the spherical
casing 20 is so hyper-extended, the spherical casing 20 becomes
flat and dish-shaped. The rim 22 of the aperture 18 is positioned
near the periphery of a flattened spherical casing 20.
Consequently, both the outer surface 12 of the spherical casing 20
and inner surface 14 are equally visible. The choice of which
surface will be on the outside of the spherical casing 20 depends
entirely upon the direction in which the spherical casing 20 is
allowed to collapse when the stretching forces are removed.
[0028] Due to the highly elastic construction of the novelty device
10, the aperture 18 within the spherical casing 20 can be stretched
open to a size at least ten times its original size. Thus, a
novelty device 10 having an aperture 18 of only a one inch diameter
can be opened to a diameter of at least ten inches without becoming
damaged. The result is a novelty device 10 that can be stretched
over much larger objects.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, it can be seen that by
stretching the spherical casing 20 to a large size, an object can
be easily placed into the spherical casing 20. As the spherical
casing 20 collapses around such an object, the spherical casing 20
conforms to the shape of the inner object and covers that object
like a second skin. In FIG. 4, the spherical casing 20 is stretched
over a person's head 30 and worn like a hat. In this manner, a
person can have the appearance of having a frog on their head 30.
Or, as is shown, provide their head 30 with the textured appearance
of the skin of a frog.
[0030] In FIG. 5, the spherical casing 20 is stretched over a
person's foot 32 and worn like a sock. In this manner, a person can
provide their foot 32 with the appearance that they just stepped
upon, and flattened, a frog. However, if the spherical casing 20 is
reversed, the foot 32 can be provided with the textured appearance
of the skin of a frog.
[0031] 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
designs of a frog and frog skin on the surfaces of the novelty
device are merely a matter of design choice. Most any design,
texture and/or color scheme can be utilized. What is preferred is
that the design, texture and/or color scheme on the inside and
outside surfaces of the novelty device be visibly different.
Therein encouraging a child to invert the novelty device at
different times. All such modifications, variations and alternate
embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the
present invention as defined by the claims.
* * * * *