U.S. patent application number 13/193263 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-02 for toy ball apparatus with reduced part count.
This patent application is currently assigned to GOT I, LLC. Invention is credited to Ian R. Muldoon, David E. Silverglate.
Application Number | 20120028743 13/193263 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44630330 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120028743 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muldoon; Ian R. ; et
al. |
February 2, 2012 |
Toy Ball Apparatus with Reduced Part Count
Abstract
A toy ball apparatus is disclosed herein that includes a mesh
defining an outer surface of the toy ball apparatus. The mesh
includes four mesh components that are coupled together to enclose
a closed volume, each mesh component including a plurality of loop
structures, each loop structure having a curved inner perimeter
surface formed to at least partially surround a hole communicating
with the closed volume and surrounded at least partially by a
polygonal outer perimeter. Each mesh component has cooperative
mating surfaces formed along an outer perimeter of the mesh
component, the cooperative mating surfaces being formed along at
least a portion of the outer perimeter of each of a plurality of
the loop structures in the mesh component. The adjacent mesh
components are joined together along the cooperative mating
surfaces.
Inventors: |
Muldoon; Ian R.; (Redwood
City, CA) ; Silverglate; David E.; (Santa Cruz,
CA) |
Assignee: |
GOT I, LLC
Alpharetta
GA
|
Family ID: |
44630330 |
Appl. No.: |
13/193263 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61368635 |
Jul 28, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/612 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2039/003 20130101;
A63B 39/00 20130101; A63B 43/00 20130101; A63B 2208/12
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/612 |
International
Class: |
A63B 39/00 20060101
A63B039/00 |
Claims
1. A toy ball apparatus having a surface, the apparatus comprising:
a mesh defining an outer surface of the toy ball apparatus, the
mesh including four mesh components that are coupled together to
enclose a closed volume, each mesh component including a plurality
of loop structures, each loop structure having a curved inner
perimeter surface formed to at least partially surround a hole
communicating with the closed volume and surrounded at least
partially by a polygonal outer perimeter, each mesh component
having cooperative mating surfaces formed along an outer perimeter
of the mesh component, the cooperative mating surfaces being formed
along at least a portion of the outer perimeter of each of a
plurality of the loop structures in the mesh component, wherein
adjacent mesh components are joined together along the cooperative
mating surfaces.
2. The toy ball apparatus of claim 1, wherein each mesh component
includes eight loop structures.
3. The toy ball apparatus of claim 2, wherein each mesh component
includes three smaller loop structures and five larger loop
structures.
4. The toy ball apparatus of claim 3, wherein the smaller loop
structures are pentagonal and the larger loop structures are
hexagonal.
5. The toy ball apparatus of claim 2, wherein each mesh component
includes an outer perimeter having 17 external edges.
6. The toy ball apparatus of claim 1, wherein each mesh component
has a maximum internal curvature of less than 90 degrees.
7. The toy ball apparatus of claim 1, wherein each mesh component
has a maximum aggregate external dihedral angle of less than 270
degrees.
8. The toy ball apparatus of claim 2, wherein each mesh component
includes 8 faces, 14 vertices, and 31 edges, of which 14 are
internal edges and 17 are external edges.
9. The toy ball apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mesh components
are identical in shape and size.
10. The toy ball apparatus of claim 1, wherein each mesh component
is injection molded.
11. The toy ball apparatus of claim 1, wherein a parting line is
formed along an outer surface of the mesh where the mesh components
are joined to each other.
12. The toy ball apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mesh is plastic
and resiliently deformable.
13. The toy ball apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner perimeter
surfaces are continuously curved.
14. The toy ball apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner perimeter
surfaces are circular.
15. The toy ball apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mesh is formed
in the shape of a truncated icosahedron.
16. A toy ball apparatus having a surface, the apparatus
comprising: a mesh including four coupled mesh components which
together form a truncated icosahedron and enclose a closed volume,
each mesh component including a plurality of loop structures, each
loop structure having a continuously curved inner perimeter surface
formed to surround a hole communicating with the closed volume and
surrounded at least partially by a polygonal outer perimeter, each
mesh component having cooperative mating surfaces formed along an
outer perimeter of the mesh component, the cooperative mating
surfaces being formed along at least a portion of the outer
perimeter of each of a plurality of the loop structures in the mesh
component; wherein each mesh component has a maximum internal
curvature of less than 90 degrees; and wherein adjacent mesh
components are joined together along the cooperative mating
surfaces; and wherein the mesh is made of plastic and is
resiliently deformable.
17. The toy ball apparatus of claim 16, wherein the mesh is formed
in the shape of a truncated icosahedron.
18. The toy ball apparatus of claim 17, wherein each mesh component
includes three smaller loop structures and five larger loop
structures, the smaller loop structures being pentagonal and the
larger loop structures being hexagonal.
19. The toy ball apparatus of claim 16, wherein the mesh components
are identical in shape and size.
20. A toy ball apparatus having a surface, the apparatus
comprising: a mesh including four coupled mesh components which
together enclose a closed volume, each mesh component being
identical in size and shape, and including a five larger loop
structures with hexagonal outer perimeters and three smaller loop
structures with pentagonal outer perimeters, each loop structure
having a curved inner perimeter surface formed to surround a hole
communicating with the closed volume and surrounded at least
partially by a polygonal outer perimeter, each mesh component
having cooperative mating surfaces formed along an outer perimeter
of the mesh component, the cooperative mating surfaces being formed
along at least a portion of the outer perimeter of each of a
plurality of the loop structures in the mesh component, wherein
adjacent mesh components are joined together along the cooperative
mating surfaces, wherein the mesh is made of plastic and is
resiliently deformable.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/368,635, filed Jul. 28, 2010, entitled TOY BALL
APPARATUS WITH REDUCED PART COUNT, the entirety of which is hereby
incorporated by reference for all purposes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The outer surfaces of many conventional balls can be
difficult to grasp for some people, particularly young children and
infants who are still developing motor control, making catching and
throwing such balls a challenge. This challenge, and its attendant
frustration, is increased for persons engaged in one-handed
grasping and throwing. One prior invention which addresses this
difficulty is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,984, entitled TOY
BALL APPARATUS, filed by David Silverglate, the entire disclosure
of which is herein incorporated by reference. The commercial
embodiments of U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,984, offered under the brand
name OBALL.RTM., have been well-received in the marketplace,
delighting parents and children alike.
[0003] While U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,984 describes balls that are easy
to grasp, the balls have relatively complicated structures, with
many component parts. A high part count can increase the costs of
manufacturing, as more molds are required, and more parts must be
assembled, consuming valuable time.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present disclosure addresses the above issue by
providing a ball that is easy to grasp, but that features a smaller
number of components, so that it is more easily manufactured. A toy
ball apparatus is disclosed herein that includes a mesh defining an
outer surface of the toy ball apparatus. The mesh includes four
mesh components that are coupled together to enclose a closed
volume, each mesh component including a plurality of loop
structures, each loop structure having a curved inner perimeter
surface formed to at least partially surround a hole communicating
with the closed volume and surrounded at least partially by a
polygonal outer perimeter. Each mesh component has cooperative
mating surfaces formed along an outer perimeter of the mesh
component, the cooperative mating surfaces being formed along at
least a portion of the outer perimeter of each of a plurality of
the loop structures in the mesh component. The adjacent mesh
components are joined together along the cooperative mating
surfaces.
[0005] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed
subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not
limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages
noted in any part of this disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front exploded view of a toy ball apparatus
according to an embodiment of the invention, showing four mesh
components from which the toy ball apparatus is assembled, and
drawn approximately to scale.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a top view of a mesh component of the toy ball
apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a front view of the mesh component of FIG. 2.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side view of the mesh component of FIG. 2.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a top partial assembly view showing two of the
mesh components of the toy ball apparatus of FIG. 1, as viewed from
the top in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a rear partial assembly view showing two of the
mesh components of the toy ball apparatus of FIG. 1, as viewed from
the left rear side in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a left side partial assembly view showing two of
the mesh components of the toy ball apparatus of FIG. 1, as viewed
from the left side in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a net diagram of the mesh components that form the
truncated icosahedrons of the mesh of the toy ball apparatus of
FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a front view of the assembled toy ball apparatus
of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a front view a toy ball apparatus according to
another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a toy ball apparatus 10
according to one embodiment of the present invention. Toy ball
apparatus 10 includes a mesh 12 that defines an outer surface of
the toy ball apparatus 10. The mesh 12 includes a plurality of mesh
components 14 from which the mesh 12 is assembled. During
manufacture, the mesh components 14 are first molded as separate
components, and then assembled together by a suitable assembly
process. During assembly, the plurality of mesh components 14 are
coupled together to enclose a closed volume 20. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 1, the mesh 12 includes four mesh components
14, including a first mesh component 14a, a second mesh component
14b, a third mesh component 14c, and a fourth mesh component
14d.
[0017] Mesh 12 may be formed in a polyhedron shape such as a
truncated icosahedron, which approximates a sphere. Other
polyhedral shapes may also be used to approximate a sphere, or
other ball shape. It will be appreciated that by using four mesh
components, the number of mesh components has been reduced as
compared to the ten mesh components which are disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,729,984, which can result in reduced manufacturing
costs. As discussed below, the particular shape of the mesh
components also simplifies molding, since the mesh components 14
may be molded in a mold without overhang portions that would make
removal of the part from the mold difficult, as discussed in more
detail below.
[0018] Each mesh component 14 includes a plurality of loop
structures 15. In the illustrated embodiment, these loop structures
15 are categorized into a plurality of smaller loop structures 16
and a plurality of larger loop structures 18. Each loop structure
15 has a curved inner perimeter surface formed to at least
partially surround a hole 92 communicating with the closed volume
20. The hole is sized to accommodate passage of one or more digits
of the user into the closed volume, to enable grasping of toy ball
apparatus 10 by the loop structures 15.
[0019] Further, each loop structure 15 is surrounded at least
partially by a loop structure perimeter, which may be polygonal. In
the illustrated embodiment, the smaller loop structures 16 are
bounded by pentagonal loop structure perimeters formed around all
or part of the smaller loop structure 16, while larger loop
structures 18 are bounded by hexagonal loop structure perimeters
formed around all or part of the lager loop structure. The loop
structures 15 of each mesh component 14 are integrally molded
together, and as a result all or a portion of the loop structure
perimeters of each individual loop structure may be integrally
molded with one or more adjacent loop structures of the same mesh
component.
[0020] It will be further appreciated that each mesh component
includes cooperative mating surfaces 19 formed on an outer
perimeter of the mesh component. The cooperative mating surfaces 19
are formed along at least a portion of the loop structure
perimeters of a plurality of the loop structures 15 in the mesh
component, and adjacent mesh components 14 are joined together
along the cooperative mating surfaces 19 to form mesh 12. Since the
outer perimeter of each mesh component 14 is formed by portions of
the loop structure perimeters of each loop structure 15 that bounds
the edge of the mesh component 14, it will be appreciated that the
cooperative mating surfaces 19 of each mesh component 14 are formed
by part of the loop structure perimeters of a plurality of loop
structures 15 in the assembly. Thus, the external edges, shown at
16b and 18b in FIGS. 2-4, of the loop structure perimeters also
function as the cooperative mating surfaces 19 of each mesh
component 14.
[0021] As discussed above, loop structures 15 may be sized to
receive the fingers of a user's hand, such as a child's hand. The
inner perimeter surfaces of the loop structures 15, such as inner
perimeter surfaces 16a and 18a of loop structures 16 and 18,
respectively, are typically curved, and may be continuously curved
around their entire perimeter. In some examples, the inner
perimeter surfaces may be circular. In other examples, the inner
perimeter surfaces may be oval, or formed of complex curves. Some
of the inner perimeter surfaces may have straight portions joined
by curved portions, rather than corners. In this way, user
discomfort from gripping the ball at sharp angular junctions, such
as the corner of a square or pentagon, may be avoided. Further, for
example, when a small hand inserts fingers into the holes of
adjacent loop structures 15 and clenches to grip the ball, the
curved inner perimeter surfaces gently guide the fingers toward
each other and toward a vertex of the mesh, thereby promoting a
secure grip on the toy ball apparatus 10 without discomfort on the
fingers of the hand.
[0022] The shape and number of the mesh components 14 are designed
in a manner that decreases manufacturing costs incurred using a
process such as injection molding. Regarding the number of mesh
components 14, it will be appreciated that when four mesh
components 14 are utilized the production time may be significantly
reduced when compared to a toy ball apparatus 10 having ten mesh
components. The decreased production time may in turn decrease the
toy ball apparatus's manufacturing cost.
[0023] Further, the shape of each mesh component 14 features no
overhang portions and has a shape that, while curved, is typically
constrained to have no more than 90.degree. degrees of internal
curvature (270.degree. of external curvature). With such a shape,
complicated molding techniques, such as the use of molds with
sliders, may be avoided, also helping to control manufacturing
costs, and in some cases multiple mesh components may be produced
in a single mold cycle with a single mold. Specifically, as
illustrated in FIG. 1, each mesh component includes both hexagonal
loop structures 18 and pentagonal loop structures 16, and the
hexagon-hexagon external dihedral angle .alpha. is approximately
217.degree. and the corresponding hexagon-hexagon internal dihedral
angle is approximately 143.degree. (142.62.degree.), while the
pentagon-hexagon external dihedral angle .beta. is approximately
222.degree. and the corresponding pentagon-hexagon internal
dihedral angle is approximately 138.degree. (138.19.degree.). As
can be seen in FIG. 1, the mesh component 14a has a maximum
internal curvature of less than 90 degrees, which prevents molded
components from having undercut regions. The maximum internal
curvature of the depicted mesh component is formed where two
hexagon loop structures and one pentagon loop structure are linked
together, along the same arc, resulting in an internal curvature of
(180-143)+(180-138)=79.degree. (computed by summing the difference
between 180 degrees and the internal dihedral angle, for each of
the internal dihedral angles). Put another way, each mesh component
has a maximum aggregate external dihedral angle of less than 270
degrees. Along the same stretch of two hexagonal loop structures
and one pentagon loop structure, the aggregate external dihedral
angle equals (217+(222-180))=259.degree. (computed by summing the
first external dihedral angle and the difference between 180 and
each of the remaining external dihedral angles along a path in the
mesh component). Line 91 in FIG. 8 illustrates one exemplary
location of such a path on the mesh component at which the maximum
internal and external curvatures are reached. It will be
appreciated that other locations on the same mesh component have
similar geometries (hexagon-hexagon-pentagon) and accordingly have
the same maximum internal and external curvatures. While 79 degrees
of maximum internal curvature and the corresponding 259 degrees
maximum aggregate external curvature are depicted in the
illustrated embodiment, it will be appreciated that other
embodiments may have internal curvatures of between 70 and 90
degrees, or between 250 and 270 degrees of external curvature.
[0024] FIGS. 2-4 respectively show top, front and side views of a
single mesh component 14a. Although a single mesh component 14a is
shown in these figures it will be appreciated that each of mesh
components 14a-14d is substantially identical in size and shape in
the depicted embodiment. As shown, each mesh component includes
eight loop structures, including three smaller loop structures 16
and five larger loop structures 18. An outer loop structure
perimeter of each of the smaller loop structures 16 is pentagonal
and an outer loop structure perimeter of each of the larger loop
structures 18 is hexagonal. The outer loop structure perimeter of
each loop structure 15 includes edges that may be internal or
external to the mesh component 14. For example, external edges 16b
of loop structures 16 and external edges 18b of loop structures 18
collectively surround the outer perimeter of the depicted mesh
component 14a. On the other hand, internal edges 18c are formed
along edges of the loop structures in an internal region of the
mesh component 14a. Further, it will be appreciated that each of
the smaller loop structures 16 is typically spaced apart from the
other smaller loop structures 16. That is to say, the outer loop
structure perimeters of the smaller loop structures 16 are
typically not in direct contact with each other. In the mesh
component 14a, one hexagonal loop structure 18 is bordered by only
internal edges 18c, and is not bordered by any external edges
18b.
[0025] The loop structures 15 are arranged to form each mesh
component 14 in such a manner that each mesh component 14 includes
an outer perimeter having 17 external edges. As one example, these
external edges are labeled A1-A17 for mesh component 14a in FIG. 8.
Each mesh component 14 includes 8 faces (in which holes 92 are
positioned), 14 vertices, and 31 edges (along which the loop
structures 15 are formed). Of these 31 edges, 14 are internal edges
such as internal edges 18c in FIGS. 2-4, and 17 are external edges
such as external edges 16b, 18b in FIGS. 2-4.
[0026] It will be appreciated that other geometric configurations
for the mesh 12 and mesh components 14 may be utilized in other
embodiments. As one example, the mesh components 14 may take the
form of other polyhedral segments, and thus the loop structures may
be shaped in the form of other polygons or curves, alternatively or
in addition to the hexagon and pentagon shaped loop structures. As
another example, the mesh components 14 may be formed entirely of
loop structures having outer perimeters shaped as pentagons, which
are assembled to make a dodecahedron-shaped ball. Other embodiments
of the mesh 12 of the toy ball apparatus 10 may be formed as a
rhombicosidodecahedron, truncated icosidodecahedron, or snub
dodecahedron, as some examples. As another variation, some or all
of the loop structures may be filled in with material, so that they
do not contain any curved inner perimeter surface. In this way,
material may span the entirety of the interior of each loop
structure, to create a partially or completely solid surface.
[0027] FIGS. 5-7 show mesh component 14a respectively coupled to
mesh components 14d, 14c and 14b. These figures provide
illustrations of the mating surfaces 19 of the mesh components in
various orientations, and possible examples of how the components
may be fitted into a single mold during the molding process. In
particular, FIG. 5 shows mating surfaces 19 of mesh component 14a
arranged to contact with mating surfaces 19 of mesh component 14d,
as viewed from the top in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 shows mating surfaces 19
of mesh component 14a arranged to contact with mating surfaces 19
of mesh component 14c, as viewed from the rear in FIG. 1. FIG. 7
shows mating surfaces 19 of mesh component 14a arranged to contact
with mating surfaces 19 of mesh component 14b, as viewed from the
left side in FIG. 1. FIGS. 5-7 also illustrate that neither of the
mesh components shown in the orientations in each of FIGS. 5-7
include any overhang regions, which would otherwise be visible in
the background through the holes in the mesh, but noticeably are
not visible. This is due to the maximum internal curvature of each
mesh component 14 being less than 90 degrees, in some embodiments
between about 70 and 90 degrees, and most specifically about 79
degrees. The lack of overhang regions facilitates the use of simple
molds during the injection molding process, as described above.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a net of the toy ball apparatus
10 and its constituent mesh components 14a-14d. In this net
representation, the mesh components 14a-14d have been flattened and
schematically represented as pentagons and hexagons. Internal edges
(such as internal edges 18c in FIG. 2) of the loop structures 15
within each mesh component that are connected to one another are
indicated in dashed lines 93 where the edges have been separated
due to flattening. The connections between these separated internal
edges are represented by dot dashed lines. External edges (such as
external edges 16b and 18b described above) along the outer
perimeter of each mesh component are drawn in solid lines, and
connections between the external edges on the outer perimeter of
each mesh component and external edges of other mesh components are
also indicated by dot dashed lines. In this manner it can be seen
how each external edge is joined with another corresponding
external edge when the mesh components 14a-14d are assembled. For
ease of understanding, each external edge of each mesh component
has been respectively labeled A1-A17, B1-B17, C1-C17, and D1-D17 on
mesh components 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d. As an example, D6 is an
external edge on the outer perimeter of mesh component 14d, which
is joined to external edge C6 during assembly.
[0029] FIG. 9 illustrates toy ball apparatus 10 in its assembled
state, in which the plurality of mesh components 14a, 14b, 14c, and
14d have been coupled to enclose the closed volume 20 and form the
mesh 12, by joining adjacent mesh components 14 along their
cooperative mating surfaces 19 and securing the mesh components 14
together, for example, by plastically welding the mesh components
14 together along the cooperative mating surfaces 19. The assembled
toy ball apparatus 10 has an outer surface in the form of a
truncated icosahedron, which has 32 faces, 90 edges, and 60
vertices. A seam or parting line 94 may be visible, showing the
divisions between the mesh components in the assembled ball. By
plastically welding the mesh components, toxic adhesives may be
avoided, and the structural integrity of the assembled toy ball
apparatus may be promoted. Alternatively, other joining and
securing techniques may be used which are not toxic and which offer
suitable structural integrity.
[0030] It will be appreciated that when fewer mesh components are
utilized in the toy ball apparatus the number of seams or parting
lines is also decreased. During the manufacturing process, each
seam is mated, and then reworked or finished to produce the final
product. Thus, by decreasing the seam count of the toy ball
apparatus, the assembly, rework and finishing labor is also
reduced, thereby helping to lower manufacturing costs. Further, in
embodiments that are not plastically welded, but are bonded with
adhesive, the structural integrity of the toy ball apparatus may be
increased when the number of seams is decreased, due to the fact
that the adhesively bonded seams generally do not have as much
structural integrity as the molded mesh components. Further, by
reducing part count, it becomes easier to employ an automated
process, as opposed to manual labor, to couple the mesh components
to form the toy ball apparatus, to further reduce manufacturing
costs.
[0031] Toy ball apparatus 10 is typically formed of a plastic, such
as a thermoplastic, which may have a shore "A" hardness of between
approximately 50 and 150. As a result, toy ball apparatus 10 may be
resiliently deformable. It will be appreciated that toy ball
apparatus 10 may be at least partially deformed into the closed
volume 20 that is surrounded by mesh 12. Typically, once a force,
or object, causing such deformation is removed from toy ball
apparatus 10, the resilient character of mesh 12 results in toy
ball apparatus 10 substantially returning to its original shape.
Due to mesh 12 being substantially deformable and substantially
resilient, toy ball apparatus 10 may bounce when thrown against an
object or impediment. Such deformability and resiliency of toy ball
apparatus 10 may also make it more comfortable to catch and throw
as compared to prior devices. In some embodiments, materials of
different hardness and rigidity may be combined in the same toy
ball apparatus 10. Further, in some embodiments a more rigid
material may be used to manufacture the toy ball apparatus 10, for
example, to provide a ball with superior bounce
characteristics.
[0032] One potential advantage of the above described toy ball
apparatus over the toy ball apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,729,984 is that by reducing the component count by 60% from ten
to four, manufacturing costs may be significantly reduced. Another
potential advantage is that by using mesh components that do not
have overhang regions, manufacturing of these mesh components may
be accomplished using molds that do not incorporate complicated and
costly sliders. These advantages are simply illustrative, and not
exhaustive.
[0033] FIG. 10 illustrates a toy ball apparatus 100 according to
another embodiment of the invention. Toy ball apparatus 100 is
similar in many respects to toy ball apparatus 10 described above,
and such similarities will not be re-described for the sake of
brevity. Toy ball apparatus 100 includes a mesh 112 that surrounds
a closed volume, the mesh 112 being formed of a plurality of
interlinked loop structures 115. In this embodiment, the mesh 112
is formed in the shape of a truncated icosahedron and the loop
structures 115 have hexagonal and pentagonal outer loop structure
perimeters.
[0034] The loop structures 115 include inner perimeters that have a
plurality of straight portions 119 joined at radiused corners, the
straight portions 119 and radiused corners collectively defining
substantially hexagonal and pentagonal inner perimeter surfaces of
the loop structures. Some of the loop structures 115 include inner
perimeter surfaces that bound a hole that communicates with the
closed volume, and other of the loop structures are fitted with a
spanning structure 117, which is a plate-shaped structure bounded
by an inner perimeter of the loop structure in which it is fitted.
Thus, only a subset of the loop structures 115 include holes, while
another subset of the loop structures 115 include the solid
spanning structure 117. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the spanning
structures 117 are pentagonal, and are positioned in loop
structures with pentagonal outer loop structure perimeters
symmetrically about the mesh 112. The toy ball apparatus 100 may be
manufactured of four mesh components as described above in relation
to toy ball apparatus 10, with a parting line between the mesh
components of substantially the same configuration as shown in FIG.
9. In addition to the manufacturing advantages of having a
comparatively low part count discussed above, it will be
appreciated that the configuration of toy ball apparatus 100
provides the external appearance of a soccer ball through solid
spanning structures 117 and straight portions 119 on the loop
structure inner perimeter surfaces, while retaining the resilient
deformability and reduced wind resistance provided by having holes
in many of the loop structures.
[0035] It will be appreciated that the configurations and/or
approaches described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these
specific embodiments or examples are not to be considered in a
limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The
subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and
nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various
features, functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as
well as any and all equivalents thereof.
* * * * *