Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
Amusement Ball
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an amusement ball, and particulary to a ball that
provides erratic motion. In one embodiment of the invention the ball also emits
sounds.
BA~KGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of balls are known including some which provide erratic
motion. An example of this is U.S. Patent No. 3,995,855 to Schultz. Also known
are balls which emit sounds. An example of a sound emitting ball is disclosed inU.S. Patent to Shishido.
It would be desirable to provide a ball with a highly lively erratic
behaviour, and also one which can emit sounds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the pr~sent invention to provide a ball with lively erratic
behavior when bounced or thrown.
A further object of one embodiment of the invention is to provide a ball
that emits sounds.
The present invention provides an amusement ball comprising an outer ball
member made of an elastic resilient material and an inner member positioned in
free-moving relationship within the outer ball.
In one embodiment of the invention the device comprises an irregular
surface defining a plurality of points for making contact with and inner surface of
the outer ball and producing sound when moved relative thereto.
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In another embodiment the outer ball is elongated, and may be provided
with a handle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAVVINGS
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the
invention.
Fig. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing details of the handle used in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is an end view of the handle shown in Fig. 4.
DESCRIPIION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to Fig. 1, which illustrates one embodiment of the
invention, the ball comprises a generally spherical outer ball member 1 made of a
elastic resilient material and an inner member 2, shown in the form of a ball,
positioned in free-moving relationship within the surrounding outer ball.
For use, the elastic material of the outer ball must be taut or stretched,
which can be conveniently done by pressurizing with air or other gas. It will beappreciated that the ball may be provided in deflated form and provided with
means allowing inflation by the user.
The material for the outer ball is selected to provide elastic deformation or
stretching when struck by the inner member.
To achieve the desired lively erratic effect, the mass of the outer ball
should be small relative to the mass of the inner member or members, such that
motion of the inner member striking the inner surface of the outer ball producesa relatively large reaction and motion of the outer ball. The outer ball will
change direction each time the inner member rebounds from the wall producing
the erratic motion of the outer ball.
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When the outer ball 1 strikes an obstacle, or is otherwise accelerated or
decelerated abruptly, the inner member 2 will bounce against the inner wall of the
outer ball. Upon contact, the moving inner member will stretch the elastic
material of the outer ball and rebound off the wall, similar to the bouncing action
of a trampoline. Typically the inner member 2 will bounce off the wall of the
outer ball repeatedly, altering the path of the outer ball with each bounce and
thereby providing erratic motion.
As discussed above, the erratic deviations in motion will be large when the
mass of the outer ball is small relative to the mass of the inner member. For a
lively erratic effect the mass of the outer ball should be less than 1/4, and
preferably less than 1/6 of the mass of the imler member.
Also, for a lively erratic effect the outer ball must be very elastic, with highelastic deformation or stretching when struck by the inner ball. Upon striking the
wall, the kinetic energy of inner ball is converted to potential energy as it
stretches the outer ball wall and is then converted again to kinetic energy to the
ball for travel in a new direction, with little absolption or loss of energy.
It appears that the desired lively motion is obtained when the outer ball
material is selected to provide deformation of the wall that is greater than 1/100
of the diameter of the outer ball when struck by the inner member. The desired
elastic deformation for the outer ball can be conveniently obtained with a thin
walled material such as used for balloons.
Lively erratic motion has been achieved where the outer ball was a balloon
having a diameter of approxi,llately 40 cm, and the inner ball was a "supper ball"
type of hard rubber ball 2.5 cm to 4 cm in diameter. It was found that non-elastic
vinyl beach balls, used as the outer ball, did not produce the desired lively erratic
motion. The absence of the desired motion in such balls is due to the non-elastic
properties of the vinyl wall of the such ball.
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The inner ball 2 can be made to roll around the inside of the outer ball by
pe,rol,nillg a rapid orbiting motion of the outer ball. If the outer ball is released
or thrown while the inner ball 2 is moving within, it will result in an erratic
motion of the outer ball.
It may be desirable to be able to kick the ball which would more likely
subject it to contacting sharp objects and tend to puncture a balloon-like outerball which is highly stretched. It has been found that by adding another larger
light balloon-like layer on the outside the main outer ball provides protection
reducing the likelihood of rupture. Such a configuration comprises the required
highly stletched ball component which provides a good rebounding surface for theinner member 2, while the ~ulloullding outer ball component provides a low
parasitic weight stress reducer. This outer protective layer need not be subjected
to the high pressurized stressed condition and hence is less likely to be ruptured.
Alternatively, the outer ball may be made of a single layer puncture
resistant material. A thick material is desired for durability, but a thicker wall
tends to result in higher mass, which is undesirable. One suitable thick material is
now used in some regular balls, which consists of an elastic foamed material with
elastomer, such as foamed polyvinvl chloride. This material has the desired elastic
properties, is light in weight and the entrained air bubbles act as stress reducers
2 0 making the ball suitable for outdoor use.
Fig. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, which shows two
inner members 12 and 13.
In Fig. 2 the inner members are in the form of polygons, defining a
number of surfaces and edges. When the inner members roll along the inner wall
of the outer ball or othenvise strike the outer ball they produce sound. The inner
- members produce vibrations in the outer ball wall when they roll and edges strike
the wall, similar to the beating of a drum, thereby producing a relatively loud
sound emission.
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It has been found that two cubes the size of die produce sounds similar to
elephant trumpeting when they roll inside the outer ball. With a single cube, with
faces appro~"nately 3 cm in length, a roaring or growling sound was produced.
It will be appreciated that the number, shape, size, mass and number of
inner members can be varied for producing different kinds of entertaining sound
and motion effects.
In another embodiment the outer ball is elongated, for example, a balloon
in the shape of a baton. Similar to embodiments described above, such a device
can be pr~vided with inner members that provide unusual motion and/or sounds
when the baton is swung.
With reference to Fig. 3, 4, and 5, a handle 30 may be provided at one end
of a baton shaped balloon 31 to facilitate handling. The handle 30 has a hollow
concave portion 34 to receive one end of the balloon reducing bending so that the
the balloon can be used as a baton or toy sword. A narrow slot 32 in the handle
holds a knotted end 33 of the balloon. A depression or recess 35 in the end
facilitates retention of the knot. Alternatively, the balloon may be retained in the
handle by means of a plug placed in the open end of the balloon. Additionally,
an air pump for inflating a balloon ma~ be incorporated into the handle.
