Games using tangible projectile – Projectile – per se; part thereof or accessory therefor – Having projections extending outwardly from external surface...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-08-28
Wong, Steven (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Projectile, per se; part thereof or accessory therefor
Having projections extending outwardly from external surface...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280356
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The following invention relates to balls for recreation and/or the teaching of coordination and motor skills. More particularly, this invention relates to balls which include a series of resilient arms which radiate from a central core and methods for manufacturing such balls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Balls formed from soft and resilient lightweight materials are known in the art for providing amusement and for teaching coordination and motor skills while minimizing the risk of injury to players and damage to furniture and other structures where such balls are being used. Some such balls of various different shapes and sizes are formed of hydrocarbon foam material and are marketed under the trademark “NERF.”
Some such soft and resilient balls are particularly characterized by having a plurality of soft flexible arms which radiate from a central core of the ball. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,276 to Judkins teaches a non-injurious amusement ball which includes a series of foam strips having resilient characteristics with the foam strips bound together so that they extend radially from a core. The Judkins ball is particularly configured to have a periphery thereof defined by ends of the foam strips with relatively small gaps between the foam strips so that the ball has a relatively high density and stable trajectory. While effective for its purpose, the Judkins ball, having its relatively higher density, is not fully effective when utilized with young children or players with poorly developed coordination and motor skills. The Judkins ball can be both difficult to handle (i.e. catch and throw) and can be heavier than desired for its size, making the Judkins ball less than desirable in many circumstances.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,529 to Stillinger teaches a spherical object with floppy filaments that also fits within the general category of balls configured to have soft flexible arms radiating from a central core. While the Stillinger ball has many desirable characteristics, it is formed of filaments which are not resilient, but rather merely flexible/floppy, providing a ball which does not hold its shape when deformed. The Stillinger ball thus does not exhibit any form of bouncing characteristics and does not otherwise exhibit an ability to return to its original shape.
Accordingly, a need exists for a ball which includes resilient arms radiating from a central core which are sufficiently spaced so that gaps around the arms allow fingers of a player to reach in amongst the arms for secure capture and a ball which resiliently returns to its original shape when deforming loads are removed therefrom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The ball of this invention beneficially provides a soft ball which includes resilient arms that can be easily grasped by a player and which maintain an original shape when not experiencing deforming loads. The ball includes a plurality of arms which radiate from a central core. The arms are formed from a resilient foam material, such as foam rubber or other hydrocarbon foam materials or similar materials, which can be deformed and yet return to their original shape when deforming loads are removed. The arms extend out to tips which define a portion of a peripheral contour of the ball. Gaps between adjacent tips define a greater portion of the peripheral contour than the tips themselves. Thus, fingers of a player's hands can easily pass in amongst the arms by passing through the gaps, allowing the player to easily grab the ball. In this way, players with a lesser degree of coordination and motor skills, particularly in their hands and arms, are more able to develop these skills and enjoy ball associated games than when playing with other prior art balls. The arms can radiate linearly or non-linearly in a zig-zag, wavy or other manner away from the core.
While the ball can be formed from a variety of different techniques, the preferred technique of this invention is to initially provide the ball as a sheet of the desired foam material which includes a series of slits extending to lateral edges between ends of the sheet. The slits extend only partway into the lateral edges of the sheet so that a spine which is free of slits is presented along a mid-portion of the sheet and extending between the ends of the sheet. The sheet is then rolled-up about an axis parallel to the ends of the sheet and a tie band is secured about the spine so that the spiral configuration of the sheet is maintained. The lateral edges of the sheet are not bound and so radiate away from the tie band. The resilient nature of the material forming the sheet causes the portions of the sheet between the slits to repel each other in a uniform manner such that they form the arms of the ball extending radially away from the core where the tie band is provided.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a ball which has resilient arms radiating away from a core so that the ball can be easily grasped by hands of a player without requiring a high level of coordination or motor skills.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball which is lightweight and soft so that injury to players is avoided and damage to surrounding structures is avoided.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball which is formed from a resilient material such that the ball returns to an original shape when deforming loads are removed from the ball.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball which is sufficiently flexible so that it is easily grasped by hands of a player when the hands collapse upon and deform portions of the ball.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball with a unique appearance including a central core with arms radiating from the central core.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball which includes arms radiating from a central core which are spaced apart sufficiently so that fingers of a player can pass into gaps between the arms and securely grab the arms, such that a ball that is easy to catch, grasp and throw is provided.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball which can be easily manufactured to provide a plurality of arms radiating from a central core.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball which can provide enjoyment and act as a teaching tool for players which have poorly developed coordination and/or motor skills.
Other further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the included drawing figures, the claims and detailed description of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 646350 (1900-03-01), Breinl
patent: 1548531 (1925-08-01), Knight
patent: 2213013 (1940-08-01), Owen
patent: 2290216 (1942-07-01), Steinmetz et al.
patent: 2450474 (1948-10-01), Grobner
patent: 2789305 (1957-04-01), Weil
patent: 3069170 (1962-12-01), Dillon
patent: 4131276 (1978-12-01), Judkins
patent: 4149723 (1979-04-01), Simon
patent: 4522396 (1985-06-01), Girard et al.
patent: 4756529 (1988-07-01), Stillinger
patent: 4884807 (1989-12-01), Welch
patent: 4927141 (1990-05-01), Paranto
patent: 4962926 (1990-10-01), Chen
patent: 4991841 (1991-02-01), Paranto
patent: 483502 (1952-05-01), None
patent: 197808 (1978-08-01), None
Heisler & Associates
Wong Steven
LandOfFree
Ball featuring resilient radiating arms does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ball featuring resilient radiating arms, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ball featuring resilient radiating arms will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2492909