POCKET BALL TOY

Abstract

The present invention relates to a collapsible pocket-sized ball toy and a pocket-sized container or package for the toy, wherein the toy comprises a light weight exterior covering surrounding a light weight expandable spring.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collapsible ball toy and a container or package for the toy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Balls are a universal toy with a great deal of appeal for players of all ages. There are a large variety of toy balls, some which bounce, others for throwing games, and still others perform more specialized uses. Balls are particularly well suited to a great many different kinds of games and sports.

Balls for particular games and sports are shaped, textured and weighted differently. A standard play ball, for example, a soccer ball, has a spherical shape and is made of an inflatable, high strength inner bladder and an outer casing formed of heavy leather, rubber or other flexible material. Volley balls, basketballs and footballs are fabricated in a similar manner. Conventional athletic balls are typically heavy and bulky.

The toy and game industry has continuously recognized the need for more versatile play balls, which involve educational and healthy motor activity while combining fun and excitement. Inflated balls have been introduced, which are larger, lighter, and softer. Balls in various shapes and sizes are now commercially available which are molded of polyurethane foam material and other light-weight compressible plastics.

One class of balls is a referred to as a footbag. An example of a footbag is the HACKY SACK, which is a registered trademark of Wham-O Corporation, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,994. Footbags are generally constructed of an outer leather or fabric casing having a diameter of about three inches, which is filled with small bead material. This construction results in the footbag having a pliant but non-resilient response to contact with objects, in particular the players' feet.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

There remains a need for a portable toy that can be carried conveniently on the person, can be used virtually anywhere, and can entertain both children and adults in a variety of games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collapsible pocket-sized ball toy and a pocket-sized container or package for the toy, wherein the toy comprises a light weight exterior covering surrounding a light weight expandable spring. More specifically, the toy comprises a ball having a light-weight exterior covering surrounding a light-weight collapsible spring, wherein the ball is able to be collapsed from an original shape to an essentially flat position and then resume the original shape, and a package for containing the ball in the essentially flat position.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a toy that can be carried on an individual, for example, in a pocket. The resulting device can be utilized anywhere. The toy is also light weight and appropriately sized to entertain all ages and requires no special tools or other accessories, beyond an individual body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective of an uncompressed or open ball in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective of a compressed, flattened or closed ball in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3a illustrates a ball and a package or pocket for containing the ball in the flattened, essentially two-dimensional position in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3b illustrates the expanded ball after removal from the pocket.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the spring utilized to uncompress the ball according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the spring utilized to uncompress the ball according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a view of an uncompressed view of the ball showing the position of the spring contained therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable, versatile ball and a convenient pocket for use by players of any age in a variety of games. The ball comprises an exterior covering surrounding and expandable means. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is referred to herein as a “pocketball”.

The exterior or outer covering can be made from any light weight material, such as, for example, paper, fabric, such as cotton, or light weight plastic, such as nylon, Kevlar, or polyvinyl, making the ball very light weight. Preferably, the interior of the ball is hollow. The exterior covering material should be tough enough to avoid damage during use, and remain intact and able to retain its shape through multiple compressions/flattenings and rebounds/re-expansions. The material may be any color or texture, include printing, stitching or embroidery, designs, logos and other markings. Any material inside the ball must not impede the flattening of the toy, when compressed.

The exterior of the pocketball surrounds an expandable means, preferably a very light weight spring, making the ball collapsible, as well as very light, and capable of re-expanding to its original shape. The spring may be made from wire, music or piano wire, memory wire, or any other material, which will return to its original expanded shape after released from compression. The wire may be heat-treated after shaping or forming of the coil. The spring provides sufficient rebound or expansion strength to return the flattened ball to its original three-dimensional shape. The spring or other expandable means is preferably not intended to provide momentum or energy to aid in tossing, or throwing the ball.

The spring may or may not be visible from the outside. The spring may or may not be attached to the exterior covering. A wire rim may be attached at each end of the spring to enhance the shape of the toy. For example, square rims may be included on the end of the spring, if the ball is a cubic or rectangular shape. These rims may be either separate pieces or continuous with the material of the spring. The end of the spring may also be bent to a cross-piece at each end of the spring, which runs diagonally across the top and bottom ends of the ball. The preferred measurements of the spring will be 2¼″ tall by 2¼″ wide by 2¼″ deep.

Preferably, the ball is a 2¼″ essentially rounded collapsible cube, although other shapes are possible. Other shapes can include, for example, a cylinder, rectangle, prism, oval or round shapes. The toy must be able to expand from a collapsed, flattened shape into a three-dimensional uncompressed shape when removed from the essentially two-dimensional pocket-like container. Most preferably, the pocket is shaped and sized to fit into or resemble a pant pocket.

When not in use, the ball is stored away in the pocket shaped carrying compartment. The pocket, also referred to herein as a package, may be made of any material which is capable of containing the ball in a substantially compressed or flattened configuration. Preferably, the pocket is fabric or clear plastic, although the pocket may also be opaque of translucent. The ball can be flattened into an approximately 2-dimensional shape, when placed in the carry pocket and, once removed from the pocket, will expand automatically into the 3-dimensional ball shape.

In use, the package or pocket is placed in a shirt pocket, pants pocket, backpack, purse or other container that can be easily carried on an individual person. When entertainment or exercise is desired, the pocket/package is removed from the shirt pocket, for example. The flattened ball is withdrawn from the package and automatically inflates to assume a ball shape. The ball is then tossed, batted with the hand, foot, head or other body part from one individual to another or by a single individual. The ball is designed to accelerate initially, but gradually decelerates or floats before it is contacted again.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective of an uncompressed, unflattened or open ball. This embodiment illustrates a three-dimensional, 6-sided rectangular or square embodiment, having first end 1, second opposing end 2, and sides 3, 4, 5, and 6 (not shown).

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective of a compressed, flattened or closed ball 8 according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3a illustrates a ball in a package or pocket 7 for containing the ball in the flattened, essentially two-dimensional position or shape. Once the ball is removed from the package or pocket, the ball assumes the expanded or uncompressed, 3-dimensional shape. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a, the pocket is transparent.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the spring 9 contained within and utilized to uncompress the ball. In this embodiment, the one-piece spring 9 is a square or rectangular coil having opposed ends 10 and 11 with optional cross-wires 12 and 13 at each end bent into a continuous wire.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the spring utilized to uncompress the ball.

FIG. 6 is a view of an uncompressed view of the ball showing the position of the spring contained therein.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A toy comprising:

a ball having a light-weight exterior covering surrounding a light-weight expandable means, wherein the ball is able to be collapsed from an original shape to an essentially flat position and then resume the original shape, and a package for containing the ball in the essentially flat position.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the original shape is an essentially rounded cube.

3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the expandable means has the same shape as the covering.

4. The toy of claim 3, wherein the expandable means is a collapsible spring.

5. The toy of claim 4, wherein the spring is a wire spring.

6. The toy of claim 5, wherein the wire spring is a memory wire spring.

7. The toy of claim 4, further comprising a wire rim attached to each end of the spring.

8. The toy of claim 4, further comprising cross-wire bend at each end of the spring.

9. The toy of claim 1, wherein the package is pocket-shaped.