US20110003655A1

US20110003655A1 - Segmented High-Bounce Toy Water Ball

Info

Publication number: US20110003655A1
Application number: US12/496,196
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark J. Chernick; Webb T. Nelson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-01
Filing date: 2009-07-01
Publication date: 2011-01-06

Abstract

A toy water ball assembly and its method of construction. The toy water ball has a transparent shell that defines an enclosed interior space. At least one partition is placed within the interior space. The partition divides the interior space into a plurality of isolated compartments that can be viewed through the material of the shell. Fill material is provided that is comprised primarily of liquid mixed with solid particulate matter. Each of the isolated compartments is filled with fill material, but not the same fill material. The fill material within at least two of the isolated compartments have different appearances when viewed through the transparent shell. The individual compartments may be separable from the whole.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to toy balls wherein the ball is filled with water or another liquid. The present invention also relates to toy balls having multiple interior compartments.
2. Prior Art Description
Bouncing toy balls made from an inflated rubber or plastic shell have been in existence for well over a century. Glass globes, often called “snow globes” that are filled with water and glitter have been in existence for at least three centuries. However, it has only been in the past few years that these technologies have been combined by toy manufacturers who have begun to make bounceable toy balls out of clear plastic that is filled with water and glitter.
Opaque toy balls that are filled partially with liquids are produced for many functional reasons. For example, many golf balls have been made with liquid filled cores to provide better resilience. Likewise, street hockey balls have been partially filled with water to impede the ball from rolling. However, such prior art uses liquid fill for functional reasons not for visual aesthetics.
In recent years, formulations for polyurethane and similar polymers have been developed that enable a bounceable ball with a transparent shell to be created. The shell is strong enough to resist rupturing even if the shell is completely filled with liquid and the ball is repeatedly bounced against a hard surface. In the toy industry, such liquid filled balls have become known as “water balls”.
Since water balls can be made with a transparent shell, water balls are often filled with water that is mixed with dye, glitter, and other particulates and/or colorants. This fill provides the toy ball with the characteristics of a snow globe, wherein a person can view the swirling fill material when the ball is agitated. However, in such prior art water balls, the water ball defines only one internal compartment. As such, only one formulation of fill material can be used in any one water ball.
The present invention sets forth a water ball with multiple distinct internal chambers. The contents of each chamber can be viewed through the structure of the toy ball. As such, more than one fill material can be used to fill the toy ball, thereby greatly increasing the visual complexities of the toy ball. The present invention toy ball is described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a toy water ball assembly and its method of construction. The toy water ball has a transparent shell that defines an enclosed interior space. At least one partition is placed within the interior space. The partition divides the interior space into a plurality of isolated compartments that can be viewed through the material of the shell. Fill material is provided that is comprised primarily of liquid mixed with solid particulate matter, such as glitter. Each of the isolated compartments is filled with fill material, but not the same fill material. The fill material within at least two of the isolated compartments have different appearances when viewed through the transparent shell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a toy water ball;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a toy water ball;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a third exemplary embodiment of a toy water ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the present invention toy ball can be embodied in many ways, three exemplary embodiments are illustrated. These embodiments are selected in order to set forth three of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered limitations when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a first embodiment of a water ball 10 is illustrated. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the water ball 10 has a transparent spherical shell 12, which serves as the exterior of the water ball 10. The spherical shell 12 defines an enclosed interior 14. The interior 14 of the toy water ball 10 is divided into two separate and distinct interior compartments 16, 18. Each of the interior compartments 16, 18 is generally the same shape and volume. A volume of fill material 20 is used to fill the different compartments 16, 18. As will be explained, the fill material 20 used to fill the different interior compartments 16, 18 has different visual properties. For instance, the fill material 20(a) used to fill the first compartment 16 may be tinted yellow and contain silver glitter particulate matter. The fill material 20(b) used to fill the second compartment 18 may be tinted blue and contain gold glitter particulate matter. As such, the fill material 20(a) in the first compartment 16 is optically very different from the fill material 20(b) used in the second compartment 18. However, when the toy water ball 10 is spun very quickly, each compartment 16, 18 of the toy water ball 10 is only seen for a fraction of a second. As a result, the yellow fill material 20(a) and the blue fill material 20(b) optically blend to cause the entire toy water ball 10 to appear green to an observer. The silver and gold glitter catches the light as the ball spins, providing silver and gold flashes among the spinning colors.
The transparent spherical shell 12 is made of a polyurethane-based polymer or equivalent polymer that is between 0.4 cm and 1.5 cm thick. The polymer is transparent and highly resilient. As such, even though the toy water ball 10 is filled with mostly liquid fill material 20, the toy water ball 10 has significant bounce characteristics.
Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the toy water ball 10 is an assembly of molded parts and injected fill material. Two hemispherical shell sections 22, 24 are provided. The two shell sections 22, 24 are preferably identical so they can be made from a single injection mold. The two hemispherical shell sections 22, 24 each have circular bases 26, 28 that abut along a common equatorial line 30 to create a spherical shape. A slight depression 32 is made on the abutment face of each of the circular bases 26, 28.
A thin partition 34 is provided that fits within the depressions 32. The partition 34 is placed between the two hemispherical shell sections 22, 24. The circular bases 26, 28 of the two hemispherical shell sections 22, 24 are then brought into contact and bonded using either adhesive or a heat weld. This locks the partition 34 in place and divides the interior 14 of the toy water ball 10 into two isolated compartments 16, 18, wherein a separate compartment 16, 18 is on either side of the central partition 34.
After the two hemispherical shell sections 22, 24 are joined together, fill material 20 is introduced into each of the internal compartments 16, 18. The fill material 20 is injected through fill openings (not shown) formed in the hemispherical shell sections 22, 24. After the fill material 20 is injected into the compartments 16, 18, the fill openings are sealed with a plug and/or a dab of transparent sealant. The fill material 20(a) used to fill the first compartment 16 is optically different from the fill material 20(b) used to fill the second compartment 18. However, it is preferred that the volume and density of the two types of fill material 20(a), 20(b) be the same so that the resulting toy water ball 10 rolls and bounces in an evenly balanced manner.
In the illustrated embodiment, the central partition 34 is shown as a separate element that is attached to both the hemispherical shell sections. 22, 24. It will be understood that the partition 34 can be molded as part of one or both of the hemispherical shell sections 22, 24 if such a manufacturing technique is deemed prudent by a toy manufacturer.
Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a second embodiment of a toy water ball 40 is illustrated. In FIGS. 3 and 4, a toy water ball 40 is shown having a transparent spherical shell 42. However, the interior 44 of the toy water ball 40 is divided into four separate and distinct compartments 45, 46, 47, 48 that are symmetrically disposed about a central imaginary axis 50. Each of the interior compartments 45, 46, 47, 48 is generally the same shape and volume. However, the fill material 52 used to fill the different compartments 45, 46, 47, 48 is not the same for all the compartments. For instance, the fill material 52(a), 52(c) used to fill the first and third compartments 45, 47 may be tinted yellow and contain silver glitter particulate matter. The fill material 52(b), 52(d) used to fill the second and fourth compartments 46, 48 may be tinted blue and contain gold glitter particulate matter. As such, the fill material 52(a), 52(c) in the first and third compartments 45, 47 is optically very different from the fill material 52(b), 52(d) used in the second and fourth compartments 46, 48. However, when the toy water ball 40 is spun very quickly, each section of the toy water ball 40 is only seen for a fraction of a second. As a result, the yellow fill material 52(a), 52(c) and the blue fill material 52(b), 52(d) optically blend to cause the entire toy water ball 40 to appear green to an observer. The silver and gold glitter catches the light as the ball spins, providing silver and gold flashes among the spinning colors.
It can be seen that the toy water ball 40 is an assembly of molded parts and injected fill material. Four quadrant shell sections 54, 55, 56, 57 are provided. The four shell sections 54, 55, 56, 57 are preferably identical so they can be made from a single injection mold. The four quadrant shell sections 54, 55, 56, 57 each have a semicircular base 58 that abut along meridian lines to create a spherical shape. A slight depression 62 is made on the abutment face of each of the semicircular bases 58. An X-shaped partition 64 is provided that fits within the depressions 62. The partition 64 is placed between the four quadrant shell sections 54, 55, 56, 57. The abutment faces of the four quadrant shell sections 54, 55, 56, 57 are then brought into contact and bonded together using either adhesive or a heat weld. This locks the partition 64 in place and divides the interior 44 of the toy water ball 40 into four separate and distinct compartments 45, 46, 47, 48.
After the four quadrant shell sections 54, 55, 56, 57 are joined together, fill material 52 is introduced into each of the compartments 45, 46, 47, 48. The fill material 52 is injected through fill openings formed in the quadrant shell sections 54, 55, 56, 57. After the fill material 52 is injected into the compartments 45, 46, 47, 48, the fill openings are sealed with a transparent sealant. The fill material 52 used to fill one of the compartments 45, 46, 47, 48 is optically different from the fill material used to fill at least one of the other compartments 45, 46, 47, 48. However, it is preferred that the volume and density of all fill material 52 be the same so that the resulting toy water ball 40 rolls and bounces in an evenly balanced manner.
In the illustrated embodiment, the central partition 64 is shown as a separate element that is attached to each of the four quadrant shell sections 54, 55, 56, 57. It will be understood that the partition 64 can be molded as part of one or more of the quadrant shell sections 54, 55, 56, 57 if deemed prudent by a toy manufacturer.
Referring to FIG. 5, a third embodiment of a water ball toy 70 is illustrated. In FIG. 5, a water ball toy 70 is shown having a transparent spherical shell 72. However, the transparent spherical shell 72 is segmented into separate, distinct, and separable segments 74, 76. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the toy water ball 70 is shown having two segments 74, 76. However, any number of segments can be used. Each segment 74, 76 has a transparent structure that is filled with fill material 78. The structure of each segment 74, 76 contains a curved surface 80 and at least one flat mounting surface 82. The mounting surface 82 of the various segments 74, 76 interconnect. Once interconnected, the curved surfaces 80 of the segments 74, 76 create the spherical shape of the toy water ball 70.
The various segments 74, 76 mechanically interconnect using some form of a mechanical interlock 84. For instance, hook and loop material can be used. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the mechanical interlock 84 is comprised of a peg and hole interlock. Each flat mounting surface 82 contains at least one peg 84 and at least one peg receptacle 86. The pegs 84 from the segments 74, 76 enter the peg receptacles 86 on another of the segments 74, 76. The segments 74, 76 can then be twisted slightly to lock the pegs 84 into the peg receptacles 86 and interconnect the segments 74, 76.
Each segment 74, 76 is filled with fill material 78 consisting of liquid and suspension particles, such as glitter. The fill material 78 for different segments is preferably optically different. However, due to the mechanical interlock system, segments from different toy balls can be selectively mixed and matched. As such, a toy water ball 70 can contain one type of fill material or a different fill material for every segment present.
It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments. For instance, the toy water ball can be made with any plurality of segments. The fill material used to fill the segments can contain water, mineral oil, vegetable oil, glycerin or any other liquid that is non-toxic and does not interact with the polymer of the shell. Furthermore, although all embodiments show a spherical ball, it will be understood that the toy ball can be oblong shaped, such as a football, or oddly shaped, such as a potato. The use of a spherical ball is merely exemplary. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A toy ball assembly, comprising:

a transparent shell defining an enclosed interior space;

at least one partition within said interior space that defines said interior space into a plurality of isolated compartments; and

fill material, comprised primarily of liquid, filling each of said plurality of isolated compartments, wherein said fill material within at least two of said isolated compartments have different appearances when viewed through said transparent shell.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said transparent shell is fabricated from a resilient transparent polymer.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said transparent shell has a wall thickness of between 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said fill material contains visible particulate matter.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of isolated compartments all hold an equal volume of said fill material.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of isolated compartments are symmetrically disposed about a common imaginary axis.

7. A toy ball assembly, comprising:

a spherical ball having a transparent exterior and containing a plurality of segments, wherein each of said segments defines an interior space;

fill material, comprised primarily of liquid filling each said interior space of said segments, wherein said fill material within at least two of said segments present different appearances when viewed through said ball.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said segments are selectively attachable and detachable from said ball.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of said segments includes at least one mechanical connector for selectively connecting with others of said segments to form said ball.

10. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of said segments is identical in both shape and size.

11. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of segments hold an equal volume of said fill material.

12. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of segments are symmetrically disposed about a common imaginary axis.

13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein said transparent exterior is comprised of a resilient polyurethane based polymer.

14. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein said transparent exterior has a wall thickness of between 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm.

15. A toy ball assembly, comprising:

a hollow transparent ball shell that defines an interior space;

at least one partition within said shell that divides said interior space into a plurality of isolated compartments; and

liquid fill material filling each of said isolated compartments, wherein said fill material is visible through said transparent ball shell.

16. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said liquid fill material used to fill at least two of said isolated compartments have different visual characteristics.

17. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said liquid fill material contains solid particulate matter.

18. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein each of said isolated compartments are equal in size.

19. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of isolated sections all hold an equal volume of said fill material.