U.S. patent application number 15/227930 was filed with the patent office on 2018-02-08 for tethered hand toy.
The applicant listed for this patent is FSD, LLC. Invention is credited to Steven Edward Walterscheid.
Application Number | 20180036604 15/227930 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61071720 |
Filed Date | 2018-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180036604 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Walterscheid; Steven
Edward |
February 8, 2018 |
Tethered Hand Toy
Abstract
A skill toy that is juggled, spun, and flipped in one hand or
between both hands. The skill toy has two subassemblies that each
contains a rounded translucent shell. The translucent shell
surrounds an internal illumination unit, wherein the rounded
translucent shell has a maximum diameter of under two inches. The
illumination units are motion activated and contain lights. A
tether joins the subassemblies together. The tether can be
selectively attached to, and detached from, the two subassemblies.
The tether has a length of between four inches and six inches, so
it is just long enough to span the back of a hand.
Inventors: |
Walterscheid; Steven Edward;
(Bend, OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FSD, LLC |
Bend |
OR |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
61071720 |
Appl. No.: |
15/227930 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 43/06 20130101;
A63B 67/10 20130101; A63B 69/0079 20130101; A63B 43/007 20130101;
A63B 2225/74 20200801; A63B 67/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 43/06 20060101
A63B043/06; A63B 43/00 20060101 A63B043/00 |
Claims
1. A toy assembly comprising: two subassemblies that each contain a
rounded translucent shell, wherein each said rounded translucent
shell has a maximum diameter of under two inches; an illumination
unit disposed within each said rounded translucent shell for
internally illuminating each said rounded translucent shell; a
receptacle that extends into each said rounded translucent shell; a
tether that can selectively attach to, and detach from, said
subassemblies, said tether having a first end and an opposite
second end, wherein said tether has a length between said first end
and said second end that is between four inches and six inches; a
first connector at said first end of said tether; and a second
connector at said second end of said tether, wherein said first
connector and said second connector are identical, and wherein said
first connector and said second connector are sized to pass into
either said receptacle on said subassemblies and engage said
receptacle with an interference fit wherein friction keeps said
first connector and said second connector engaged with each said
receptacle until selectively pulled out of each said
receptacle.
2. The toy assembly according to claim 1, wherein said internal
illumination unit includes a battery, a logic circuit, and at least
one LED.
3. The toy assembly according to claim 2, wherein said internal
illumination unit contains a motion activator that activates said
at least one LED when said internal illumination unit experiences
motion.
4. The toy assembly according to claim 3, wherein said logic
circuit causes said at least one LED to remain active for a
predetermined period of time after said motion.
5. The toy assembly according to claim 1, wherein said translucent
shell is made of an elastomeric material.
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. The toy assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tether is
configured as a flat ribbon.
10. A toy assembly comprising: a first translucent ball; a first
receptacle extending into said first translucent ball; a second
translucent ball; a second receptacle extending into said
translucent ball; a ribbon tether having a first end and an
opposite second end that can selectively attach to, and detach
from, said first translucent ball and said second translucent ball,
wherein said first end terminates with a first connector that is
received within said first receptacle and secured with an
interference fit where friction keeps said first connector engaged
with said first receptacle until selectively pulled out of said
first receptacle, and wherein said second end terminates with a
second connector that is received within said second receptacle and
secured with an interference fit, where friction keeps said second
connector engaged with said second receptacle until selectively
pulled out of said second receptacle, and wherein said ribbon
tether has a length of between two inches and four inches between
said first connector and said second connector.
11. (canceled)
12. The toy assembly according to claim 10, wherein said first
translucent ball and said second translucent ball each have a
diameter of between one-half inch and two inches.
13. The toy assembly according to claim 10 further including
internal illumination units disposed within said first translucent
ball and said second translucent ball for internally illuminating
said first translucent ball and said second translucent ball.
14. The toy assembly according to claim 13, wherein each of said
internal illumination units includes a battery, a logic circuit,
and at least one LED.
15. The toy assembly according to claim 14, wherein each of said
internal illumination units contains a motion activator that
activates said at least one LED when said internal illumination
units experience motion.
16. The toy assembly according to claim 14, wherein said logic
circuit causes said at least one LED to remain active for a
predetermined period of time after said motion.
17. The toy assembly according to claim 10, wherein both said first
translucent ball and said second translucent ball have elastomeric
shells.
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] In general, the present invention relates to items, such as
bolas, where two balls are joined together by a flexible tether.
The present invention also relates to toy balls that contain
internal lighting units for internally illuminating the toy
balls.
2. Prior Art Description
[0002] Tethered balls, in the form of bolas, have existed as a
hunting weapon throughout recorded history. Bolas consist of two
balls, rocks or other weighted objects that are joined together by
a flexible tether. Bolas typically have long tethers and are spun
as they are thrown. When the bola strikes an animal's legs, wings
or neck, the weighted objects cause the tether to wrap around the
animal, therein incapacitating the animal.
[0003] Bolas are ancient weapons that are rarely used for hunting
in the modern world. However, the physics of a bola are fascinating
and have been adapted to other less deadly products. For example,
in the toy industry, bolas have been made using rubber balls and
string tethers. The toy bolas are used as projectiles in games
where the target has poles or pegs around which the toy bola can
wrap. Such prior art toy bolas are exemplified in U.S. Pat. No.
5,522,597 to Hanks, entitled Game Apparatus, and U.S. Pat. No.
5,375,848 to Colemant, entitled Bola Ball Game.
[0004] In such prior art, the balls used with the tether tend to be
of a large size and a large mass. The tether provides significant
wind resistance. As such, the balls must have a significant mass in
order to be thrown any useful distance. A large diameter is also
needed so that the ball can be effectively gripped and thrown.
Accordingly, a diameter of at least 2.5 inches is required to
enable the toy balls to be readily grasped and thrown. Few, if any,
hand-thrown bolas exist with balls under a two inch diameter. This
is because the balls become too small to be comfortably grasped and
thrown. Also small diameter balls tend to lack the mass needed for
a bola to travel long distances and effectively wrap around a
target object.
[0005] In the toy industry, there are also many toys that are
internally illuminated and contain activation mechanisms that are
triggered by motion. Such illumination units have been placed in
balls and in other objects that are thrown, bounced, or caught.
Such prior art is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,150 to
Chernick, entitled Illuminated Elastomeric Flying Disc And Its
Method Of Manufacture.
[0006] In the present invention, the concept of a bola is
transformed into a unique skill game toy. The skill game toy has
two balls joined by a tether. However, the tether is shortened and
the balls have a small diameter. The skill game toy is designed not
to be thrown at an object, but rather, to be flipped and twirled in
a user's hand. The combination of ball size and tether length
combine to produce an advancement in the art, as is described and
claimed below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is a skill toy that is juggled, spun,
and flipped in one hand or between both hands. The skill toy has
two subassemblies that each contains a rounded translucent shell.
The translucent shell surrounds an internal illumination unit,
wherein the rounded translucent shell has a maximum diameter of
under two inches. The illumination units are motion activated and
contain lights that actually internally illuminate the translucent
shell.
[0008] A tether joins the subassemblies together. The tether has a
first end and an opposite second end. The tether can be selectively
attached to, and detached from, the two subassemblies. The tether
has a length of between four inches and six inches, so it is just
long enough to span the back of a hand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] 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:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a
toy assembly;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a combined cross-section and schematic showing the
components within a ball-shaped subassembly of the toy
assembly;
[0012] FIG. 3 shows the toy assembly in conjunction with a user's
hand to illustrate the importance of length and size in proportion
to the user's hand;
[0013] FIG. 4 shows the toy assembly in a first position of a
performed skill manipulation;
[0014] FIG. 5 shows the toy assembly in a second position of a
performed skill manipulation;
[0015] FIG. 6 shows the toy assembly in a third position of a
performed skill manipulation;
[0016] FIG. 7 shows the toy assembly in a fourth position of a
performed skill manipulation; and
[0017] FIG. 8 shows the toy assembly in a fifth position of a
performed skill manipulation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Although the present invention toy assembly can be embodied
in many ways, only one embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated and described. The exemplary embodiment is selected in
order to set forth one of the best modes contemplated for the
invention. The illustrated embodiment, however, is merely exemplary
and should not be considered a limitation when interpreting the
scope of the appended claims.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a toy assembly 10 is shown.
The toy assembly 10 has two ball-shaped subassemblies 12 that are
joined together by a flexible tether 14. Each of the ball-shaped
subassemblies 12 preferably has an external diameter D1 of between
0.5 inches and 2.0 inches. The flexible tether 14 has a preferred
length of between four inches and six inches. The importance of
these dimension ranges is later explained.
[0020] Each of the ball-shaped subassemblies 12 has a spherical
shell 16. The spherical shell 16 is preferably made of a
translucent elastomeric material. The elastomeric material has a
high durometer, so as to provide the spherical shell 16 with a high
resiliency and the ability to rebound well when impacted against a
hard surface. Accordingly, it will be understood that the
ball-shaped subassemblies 12 will bounce when dropped against a
hard surface. Likewise, they will bounce against each other if the
two ball-shaped subassemblies 12 collide while being
manipulated.
[0021] An electronic unit 18 is disposed within each spherical
shell 16. Each electronic unit 18 consists of a small circuit board
20 that supports a battery 22, a switch 24, a logic circuit 26 and
at least one LED 28. The switch 24 is preferably an accelerometer
switch or another such switch that can sense when the circuit board
20 is experiencing physical movement. The logic circuit 26 turns
the LEDs 28 on for a predetermined period of time, such as a few
seconds, each time movement is detected. Once the movement stops
and the predetermined period of time for activation has expired,
the logic circuit 26 turns the LEDs 28 off.
[0022] The LEDs 28 are bright enough to shine light through the
translucent material of the spherical shell 16. As such, the
spherical shell 16 appears to be internally illuminated when it
experiences movement. The circuit board 20 can flash or sequence
the lighting of the LEDs 28 when the LEDs 28 are activated, therein
producing changing light patterns in the internal illumination of
the ball-shaped subassemblies 12.
[0023] Each of the ball-shaped subassemblies 12 also includes a
receptacle 30. The receptacle 30 is sized to receive and engage a
connector 32, which is used to terminate the tether 14. The tether
14 can be a length of string, but is preferably a length of flat
woven ribbon, like that of a sneaker shoelace. A flat ribbon adds a
level of comfort to the toy assembly 10, as is later explained. A
tether 14 of flat ribbon also provides a widened surface for a
manufacturer's graphics.
[0024] The tether 14 has two free ends 34, 36. The ends 34, 36 of
the tether 14 are terminated with connectors 32. The connectors 32
at either end 34, 36 of the tether 14 are identical. The connectors
32 are dimensioned and sized to engage the receptacles 30 formed
into each of the ball-shaped subassemblies 12. The connectors 32
preferably engage the receptacles 30 with an interference fit,
wherein friction keeps the connectors 32 engaged within the
receptacles 30. Releasable mechanical features, such as threading
or a tab lock can also be used. Regardless, it will be understood
that each ball-shaped subassembly 12 will remain attached to the
tether 14 and will not inadvertently separate. However, a user can
detach each of the ball-shaped subassemblies 12 from the tether 14
when desired.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2,
it will be understood that the toy assembly 10 is sized and
dimensioned to be a skill game that is held in one hand and passed
from hand to hand. The ball shaped subassemblies 12 are kept in a
size range so that both of the ball-shaped subassemblies 12 can be
held in the palm of the same hand by a user's thumb. This size
range corresponds to a maximum diameter D1 on the ball-shaped
assemblies 12 of between 0.5 inches and 2.0 inches. The length L1
of the tether 14 is held in a size range that is just long enough
so it can span the back of the hand from one ball-shaped
subassembly 12 to the other as both ball-shaped subassemblies 12
are being held in the palm of the same hand. This size range is
between four inches and six inches.
[0026] With the size of the ball-shaped subassemblies 12 and the
length of the tether 14 described, a person can perform a variety
of tricks with the toy assembly 10. By way of example, one of the
tricks is called a roundabout. To perform a roundabout, a user
holds the toy assembly 10 in one hand with a first of the
ball-shaped subassemblies 12A in the palm under the ring finger and
a second of the ball-shaped subassemblies 12b pinched between the
thumb and forefinger. See FIG. 4. The second of the ball-shaped
subassemblies 12B is released as the hand is moved in a clockwise
direction. This causes the second of the ball-shaped subassemblies
12b to rotate behind the hand. See FIG. 5 and eventually rotate
under the pinky finger and up over the palm. The user then allows
the tether 14 to rotate back over the thumb, where the second of
the ball-shaped subassemblies 12 can again be caught between the
thumb and forefinger. See FIG. 6.
[0027] This can end the trick. However, the tether 14 is taut and
can transfer the energy of momentum to the first of the ball-shaped
subassemblies 12A. The pinky finger can be bent forward to release
the first of the ball shaped subassemblies 12A. The first of the
ball-shaped subassemblies 12A then uses the momentum to rotate away
from the palm and up over the forefinger to the back of the hand.
See FIG. 7. The pinky finger can then be extended to catch the
tether 14 between the pinky finger and the ring finger as it
rotates around the back of the hand. See FIG. 8 The first of the
ball-shaped subassemblies 12A is then caught under the ring finger
and returns to the original position of FIG. 4.
[0028] It will be understood that the size of the ball-shaped
subassemblies 12 and the length of the tether 14 between the
ball-shaped subassemblies 12 is critical to the ability to perform
a maneuver such as is described between FIG. 4 and FIG. 8. The
ball-shaped assemblies 12 must be large and heavy enough to swing
the tether 14 but small enough to be held in place by a finger over
the palm. The tether 14 must be just long enough to enable the
tether 14 to wrap around the back of one's hand. If the tether is
too long or too short, it will over-wrap or under-wrap. Either way,
it will not position one of the ball-shaped assemblies over the
palm where it can be grasped between a finger and the palm.
[0029] Since many of the tricks involve swinging and wrapping the
tether 14 around the hand, a tether 14 with a flat profile is
preferred. A tether 14 with a flat profile prevents the tether 14
from rolling along a finger or the edge of the hand. A tether 14
with a flat profile also inhibits the tether 14 from cutting into
the hand should the tether 14 come into contact with skin while
taut.
[0030] It will be understood that the embodiment of the present
invention that is illustrated and described is merely exemplary and
that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to that
embodiment. For instance, the ball-shaped subassemblies can be made
with an oblong shape or a pear shape as a matter of design choice.
All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope
of the present invention as defined by the claims.
* * * * *