Novelty item and method of manufacture

Abstract

A squeeze ball novelty device having an elastomeric casing that is filled with a fill composition. When the elastomeric casing is squeezed in a person's hand, it deforms and bulges. A plurality of secondary objects are attached to the exterior of the elastomeric casing. Each of the secondary objects is individually attached to the surface of the elastomeric casing with a small amount of adhesive. Although the secondary objects are separate, they abut in position creating a cage-like structure around the elastomeric casing. By selectively squeezing the elastomeric casing, a selected one of the secondary objects can be separated from the remaining secondary objects and positioned atop a bulbous deformation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to novelty items that have an elastic casing that is filled with gel or liquid. Such products are commonly referred to as “squeeze balls” in the novelty industry. More particularly, the present invention refers to squeeze balls with secondary external features.

2. Description Of The Prior Art

In the field of novelty items, there are many items in which an elastic casing is filled with a gel or a liquid. Such novelty items are typically referred to as “squeeze balls” in the toy and novelty product industries. With most squeeze ball designs, the casing of the squeeze ball is sized to fit in a person's hand and deforms when the item is squeezed in the hand. The deformation of the squeeze ball, provides both an unusual visual observance and an unusual tactile sensation to the person holding the squeeze ball.

In the history of such novelty squeeze balls, many variations have been developed. Many squeeze balls have been produced where objects are placed inside the squeeze balls along with the liquid or gel filler. Such objects become visually predominant when the squeeze ball is squeezed. Such, prior art squeeze balls are exemplified by the Oddballz™ line of squeeze balls manufactured by Play Visions Inc., of Woodinville, Wash.

However, due to the highly elastic nature of a squeeze ball casing, secondary objects are not attached to the exterior of the squeeze ball. Rather, prior art squeeze balls are made from colored polymers or are painted. Any external protrusions are molded into the structure of the ball casing. However, when an object is molded into the structure of the ball casing, the ball casing becomes thick in the area of that added object. The deformability of the ball casing, therefore, is altered and is not consistent around the entire squeeze ball.

The present invention presents a novel variation of the traditional squeeze ball, wherein secondary objects are affixed to the exterior of the squeeze ball casing, rather than being contained within the interior of the squeeze ball. The secondary objects are provided in a manner that they do not inhibit the ability of the squeeze ball casing to be squeezed and deformed. The details of this improvement are described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a squeeze ball novelty device. An elastomeric casing is provided that is filled with a fluid fill composition. Thus, when the elastomeric casing is squeezed in a person's hand, it will bulge and otherwise deform.

A plurality of secondary objects are attached to the exterior of the elastomeric casing. The secondary objects are three-dimensional. Each of the secondary objects is individually attached to the surface of the elastomeric casing with a small amount of adhesive. Although the secondary objects are separate, they abut in position creating a cage-like structure around the elastomeric casing.

When the elastomeric casing is squeezed, at least one bulbous area of deformation is created where the elastomeric casing expands. By selectively squeezing the elastomeric casing, a selected one of the secondary objects can be separated from the remaining secondary objects and positioned atop a bulbous deformation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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:

FIG. 1 is front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 being deformed by being squeezed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the present invention novelty item can have any shape, such as a cylinder, square, block, animal shape or the like, it is anticipated that the present invention novelty item will be manufactured predominantly in a spherical shape. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiment of the invention being shown is spherical in order to set forth the best mode contemplated for the invention. However, the shown shape should not be considered a limitation to the invention. It should be understood that the external shape of the present invention novelty item is a matter of design choice and that all shapes are intended to be included in the scope of this specification.

Referring to FIG. 1, a novelty item 10 is shown. The novelty item 10 is comprised of an elastic casing 12. The elastic casing 12 defines an interior. The interior of the elastic casing 12 contains a fill composition 14. The fill composition 14 can be any traditional fill composition used for squeeze balls. A traditional fill composition typically includes a non-toxic liquid that is mixed with colorants and particle confetti. Small elastic objects can also be included within the fill composition, as is well known and practiced in the industry.

The casing 12 of the novelty item 10 is elastic. The casing 12 can be made of a silicone rubber or another synthetic rubber. However, the preferred material for the casing is a styrene triblock copolymer, such as poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) or poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) that is mixed with a plasticizing oil.

A plurality of secondary objects 20 are provided. Each of the secondary objects 20 is an individually molded elastomeric three-dimensional piece. Preferably, the secondary objects are made from the same class of styrene triblock copolymer materials as is the casing 12 of the novelty item 10. However, this is preferred, not necessary. The secondary objects 20 need only be elastic and soft so that they present no hard edges that can cut into the underlying casing 12.

The secondary objects 20 are preferably small compared to the size of the casing 12. As such, although any plurality of secondary objects 20 can be used, it is preferred that at least ten secondary objects 20 be provided. The secondary objects 20 are individually adhered to the exterior of the casing 12. Each of the secondary objects 20 is separate and is not attached to any of the other secondary objects 20.

Each of the secondary objects 20 has a bottom surface 22. Although, the secondary objects 20 can be long, they are attached to the casing 12 only in the center of their bottom surfaces 22. Each of the secondary objects 20 is attached to the casing 12 at a single point using a very small dab of adhesive 24. By attaching the secondary objects 20 to the casing 12 only in small points, the presence of the adhesive 24 against the casing 12 does not adversely effect the ability of the casing 12 to uniformly stretch and deform when squeezed.

The secondary objects 20 are attached to the casing 12 in a symmetric pattern that causes the secondary objects 20 to encircle the casing 12. Although the secondary objects 20 are individual and are independently mounted to the casing 12, each of the secondary objects abuts at least one other of the secondary objects 20. As a result, even though the secondary objects 20 are not interconnected, they appear to create a continuous cage-like structure 26 around the casing 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that when the novelty device 10 is squeezed, the casing 12 is deformed by the displacement of the fill composition 14. The deformation of the casing 12 typically occurs in defined areas of deformation. In the areas of deformation, the distance between points on the surface of the casing 12 expands. Thus, any secondary objects 20 contained in an area of deformation will separate apart.

By selectively squeezing the casing 12, a single area of deformation 28 can be created. That area of deformation 28 can be at any point on the casing 12. By controlling where and how the casing 12 is squeezed, a single secondary object 20 can be made to be positioned at the apex of the area of deformation 28. Accordingly, with the proper squeezing technique, any one of the secondary objects 20 can be selected and can be made to stand alone atop the area of deformation 28.

By randomly squeezing the novelty item 10, the secondary objects 20 can appear to be alive, in that all of the secondary objects 20 will move with the deformation of the casing 12. By selectively squeezing the novelty item 10, a game of skill can be played. As was previously explained, a single selected secondary object 20 can be isolated and be caused to be positioned at the apex of an area of deformation 28 by selectively squeezing the novelty item 10.

In the shown embodiment, the secondary objects 20 are shown as rats. It will be understood that the secondary objects 20 can be insects, fingers, eyeballs, airplanes or any other three-dimensional object. Regardless of the shape of the secondary object 20, the secondary object 20 is an item that is manufactured separately from the casing 12 of the novelty item 10. In this manner, the secondary objects 20 does not significantly effect the deformation dynamics of the casing 12 when the casing 12 is squeezed.

A person skilled in the art can therefore make many variations to the shown embodiment of the invention by using different shaped casing and secondary objects of different shapes. All such variations, modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A novelty device comprising:

an elastomeric casing defining a closed interior;

a volume of fill material disposed within said closed interior of said casing; and

a plurality of secondary objects, wherein each of said secondary objects is adhesively joined to said elastomeric casing.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of secondary objects are elastomeric.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of said secondary objects has a bottom surface and a central point along said bottom surface.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein each of said secondary objects is glued to said casing at its central point along said bottom surface.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of said secondary objects touches at least one other of said secondary objects when said casing is not deformed.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said secondary objects encircle said casing.

7. A method of manufacturing a novelty device, comprising the steps of:

providing an elastomeric casing;

providing a plurality of elastomeric objects;

filling said elastomeric casing with a fluid fill composition;

gluing said plurality of elastomeric objects to an exterior of said elastomeric casing in a predetermined pattern.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said elastomeric objects are symmetrically dispersed around said casing when in said predetermined pattern.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said elastomeric objects encircle said casing when in said predetermined pattern.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein each of said elastomeric objects contact at least one other of said elastomeric objects when in said predetermined pattern.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein said step of gluing said plurality of elastomeric objects to an exterior of said elastomeric casing includes gluing each of said elastomeric objects to said casing with a single small dab of adhesive.

12. A squeeze ball assembly, comprising:

a ball casing having an exterior surface;

a plurality of objects glued to said exterior surface of said ball casing, wherein each of said objects abuts at least one other of said objects and said objects encircle said ball casing.

13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein said ball casing is elastic.

14. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein said ball casing is filled with a fill composition that is at least part liquid.

15. The assembly according to claim 14, wherein said objects are elastomeric.