Reversible ball having hyper-elastic properties
A novelty device and the method of covering an object with the device. The device has an elastic casing that defines an internal area. The elastic casing has an external outer surface and an internal inner surface. The outer surface and the inner surface are different from each other, wherein both surfaces are visually and/or tactilely distinct. An aperture of a first diameter is disposed in the elastic casing. The aperture enables the elastic casing to be selectively inverted. The aperture can be elastically stretched to a diameter at least ten times greater than the original diameter of the aperture. Consequently, a small aperture can be elastically enlarged to a much greater size. This enables the casing to be easily turned inside out. It also enables the casing to be easily stretched over secondary objects that are originally much larger than the casing.
1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to reversible balls that can be selectively turned inside out. More specifically, the present invention relates to the structure, materials and methods of manufacture associated with such reversible balls.
2. Background Art
The idea of reversibility has long been designed into toys and novelty products. For example, dolls have long been provided with clothes that have one pattern on the inside of the clothing and a second pattern on the outside. The style of clothes can then be changed simply by turning the clothes inside out.
The idea of reversibility has also been applied to the structure of toys. For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,399 to Reynolds, entitled Toy Alterable Between Two Different Shapes, a toy is shown that changes from a racing car to a racing helmet depending upon if the toy is turned inside out or right side in.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,938 to Reynolds, entitled Toy Or Other Object Alterable Between Two Different Shapes, shows a toy that can be reversed between a ball and a stuffed animal.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,101 to Wong, entitled Transformable Ball, a reversible ball is provided having different textures on its inside and outside surfaces. As such, the appearance of the ball can be changed by turning the ball inside out.
In the structure of a reversible toy, an opening must be formed in the casing of the toy. The aperture is usually just large enough so that the toy can be pushed and pulled inside out through the aperture. However, once the toy is either inside out or right side in, the aperture remains. This detracts from the appearance of the toy. The presence of the aperture also allows dirt and other debris to collect within the toy structure. With plush toys, such as those shown in the two cited Reynolds patents, the aperture in the toy can be closed with a zipper. However, with a molded ball, such as that shown in the Wong patent, the aperture remains open and visible.
The diameter of the aperture in a reversible toy can be minimized to reduce adverse effects. However, when the size of the aperture is reduced, the difficulty involved in reversing the toy through that aperture increases. Furthermore, the smaller the aperture in the reversible toy, the more likely the aperture will rip as the toy is reversed.
The present invention provides a reversible toy having only a small aperture. However, the aperture is designed to resiliently open to a diameter even larger than the structure of the toy itself. In this manner, the aperture becomes the key novelty feature of the toy, while enabling the toy to be easily reversed without effort or damage. The details of the present invention are described and claimed below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a novelty device and the method of covering an object with that novelty device. The novelty device contains an elastic casing that defines an internal area. The elastic casing has an external outer surface and an internal inner surface. The outer surface and the inner surface are different from each other, wherein both surfaces are visually and/or tactilely distinct.
An aperture of a first diameter is disposed in the elastic casing. The aperture enables the elastic casing to be selectively inverted by being pulled inside out through the aperture. The aperture can be elastically stretched to a diameter at least ten times greater than the original diameter of the aperture. Consequently, a small aperture can be elastically enlarged to a much greater size. This enables the casing to be easily turned inside out. It also enables the casing to be easily stretched over secondary objects that are originally much larger than the casing, therein covering a secondary object with one of the two different surface designs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFor 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:
Although the present invention novelty device can have any configuration, such as that of a doll or an animal, in its simplest form, it can be formed as a ball. Accordingly, the shown exemplary embodiment of the present invention is presented as a ball in order to provide the best and simplest mode contemplated for the invention. However, it should be understood that the novelty device can function as described below if configured into shapes more complex than a ball.
Referring to
The spherical casing 20 is thin and flexible. However, the spherical casing 20 is substantial enough to be free standing. The spherical casing 20 maintains its own shape and the shape of the internal area 16 when the novelty device 10 experiences no external forces other than that of gravity.
An aperture 18 is formed in the spherical casing 20. The aperture 18 is circular and has a diameter D2 that is only a small fraction of the size of the diameter D1 of the unstretched spherical casing 20. A rim 22 immediately surrounds the aperture 18. The rim 22 is part of the spherical casing 20 but is thickened to provide reinforcement to the rim 22. The rim 22 of the aperture 18 is also rounded to help prevent tears from forming along the rim 22 of the aperture 18.
The spherical casing 20 itself is preferably formed from a poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) copolymer mixed between two percent and twenty percent, by weight, with a plasticizing oil, such as mineral oil. The resulting composition is both highly elastic and highly tear resistant. An oxidizing agent can also be added to the elastic polymer composition to reduce the tackiness of the elastic polymer composition.
The outer surface 12 of the spherical casing 20 is molded to a desired shape and texture. In the shown embodiment, the outside surface 12 of the spherical casing 20 has a frog shape 24 formed on it. The frog shape 24 is merely exemplary and it will be understood that any other shape can be substituted for that of the frog shape 24.
Referring to
The inner surface 14 of the spherical casing 20 is brought out of the spherical casing 20 by pulling or pushing the spherical casing 20 inside out through the aperture 18.
Referring to
Due to the highly elastic construction of the novelty device 10, the aperture 18 within the spherical casing 20 can be stretched open to a size at least ten times its original size. Thus, a novelty device 10 having an aperture 18 of only a one inch diameter can be opened to a diameter of at least ten inches without becoming damaged. The result is a novelty device 10 that can be stretched over much larger objects.
Referring to
In
It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention novelty device that is shown is merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to the embodiment without departing from the intended scope of the invention. For instance, it will be understood that the shown designs of a frog and frog skin on the surfaces of the novelty device are merely a matter of design choice. Most any design, texture and/or color scheme can be utilized. What is preferred is that the design, texture and/or color scheme on the inside and outside surfaces of the novelty device be visibly different. Therein encouraging a child to invert the novelty device at different times. All such modifications, variations and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A novelty device, comprising:
- an elastic casing defining an internal area, said elastic casing having an external outer surface and an internal inner surface, wherein said outer surface and said inner surface are visually distinct from each other;
- an aperture of a first diameter disposed in said elastic casing through which said elastic casing can be selectively inverted, wherein said aperture can be elastically stretched to a diameter at least ten times greater than said first diameter without damage.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elastic casing is free standing, therein defining said internal area in an uncollapsed condition when unstressed by any force other than gravity.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elastic casing defines a rim that surrounds said aperture, wherein said rim is reinforced by a thickening of said elastic casing at said rim.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elastic casing is generally spherical in shape.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elastic casing is comprised of poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) mixed with a plasticizing oil.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said protrusions extend from said inner surface.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said outer surface and said inner surface have different textures.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said outer surface has the form of an animal disposed thereon.
9. A method of selectively covering an object with one of two possible designs, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an elastic casing having an opening of a first size therein, wherein said elastic casing has an inner surface of a first design and an outer surface of a second design, wherein said elastic casing can be selectively inverted through said opening, and wherein said opening can be elastically stretched to a second size at least ten times greater than said first size;
- choosing a selected design from either said first design or said second design on said casing;
- manipulating said casing so that said selected design is oriented on the exterior of the elastic casing; and
- stretching said opening of said casing around an object, wherein said casing elastically conforms to the object and covers the object with said selected design.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said casing is spherically shaped.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said first design is smooth and said second design includes protrusions.
12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said elastic casing defines a rim that surrounds said opening, wherein said rim is reinforced by a thickening of said elastic casing at said rim.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said elastic casing is comprised of poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) mixed with a plasticizing oil.
14. The method according to claim 9, wherein said first design and said second design have different textures.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 18, 2004
Publication Date: Apr 20, 2006
Inventors: Tak Wong (Chaiwan), Mark Chernick (Woodinville, WA), Webb Nelson (Woodinville, WA)
Application Number: 10/968,410
International Classification: A63H 33/00 (20060101);