MULTIPURPOSE RECREATIONAL TOY FOR CONVERTING A BALLOON TO AN ITEM USED IN SPORTS

Abstract

Disclosed is a multipurpose recreational toy for converting a balloon into an item used in sports. The multipurpose recreational toy includes an outer ring mounted on exterior side of the balloon and plurality of support bars attached to the outer ring for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports. The multipurpose recreational toy further includes an adhesive unit for attaching the outer ring and the plurality of support bars on exterior side of the balloon. The support bars includes one or more horizontal bars attached to the outer ring and one or more vertical bars attached to the horizontal bars, one or more of angular bars connected to the one or more horizontal bars and the one or more vertical bars for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

The present invention claims priority of the provisional patent application No 61/968,714 filed on 03/21/2014; all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to amusement devices and more particularly to multipurpose recreational toy for converting a balloon to an item used in sports.

2. Description of Related Art

A balloon is a flexible bag that can be inflated with gas. Balloons or air filled balls are recreational and amusement devices for children of all ages and are suitable for many activities.

The use of balloons has long been known in the prior art. Balloons are used in many occasions as decorations for example, at children's birthday parties. Balloons are used for wide range of applications as balloons are low in density and cost.

However, balloons mainly serve to provide only decorative effect and are rarely used in games in which the user can participate actively. Also, the balloons are getting boring, and there exists a need to make the recreational balloons which are interactive and usable in different fields.

With rapid development in the society, children spend more time on indoor games and sometimes ignore the importance of their health. Exercise is a key to attain a healthy life and play balls are most popular form of exercise. Playing with balls becomes entertaining when people play together.

While children are fascinated by the athletic balls like volleyballs, footballs, basketballs, soccer balls and other ball games. But, these conventional athletic balls are heavy and dangerous for the children, especially for indoor play. The inflated athletic balls have a relatively large diameter with hard outer casing which makes it very difficult for a small child to either grasp, throw, catch, kick, or for performing other playing activities.

Therefore, there exists a need of an amusement ball which is light and soft but also is potentially safe for young children. Further, there is a need to provide a multipurpose recreational toy which converts a balloon to an item used in sports. Furthermore, the multipurpose recreational toy enables sports-related performance by creating a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a multipurpose recreational toy for converting a balloon into an item used in sports.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose recreational toy which includes an outer ring mounted on the exterior side of the balloon and plurality of support bars attached to the outer ring for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

A further object of present invention is to provide the support bars that includes one or more horizontal bars attached to the outer ring and one or more vertical bars attached to the horizontal bars for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports. The support bars may further include one or more angular bars connected to the one or more horizontal bars and connected to the one or more vertical bars.

Further, the support bars includes one or more inner ring co-axially oriented with the outer ring and furthermore connected to at least one of the one or more horizontal bars; the one or more vertical bars; and the one or more angular bars for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

Furthermore, an object of present invention is to provide the support bars that forms honeycomb-like pattern with the outer ring for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide multipurpose recreational toy that includes the outer ring and the plurality of support bars whose combined weight is equal to or less than about six ounces. The outer ring and the plurality of support bars may be made up of plastic and are semi-spherical shaped for mounting on the exterior side of the balloon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adhesive unit for attaching the outer ring and the plurality of support bars on the exterior side of the balloon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide multipurpose recreational toy for playing a sport. The multipurpose recreational toy includes an inflatable bladder formed of a thin rubber skin, an outer ring mounted on the exterior side of the inflatable bladder and plurality of support bars attached to the outer ring for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the inflatable bladder with the weight of the item used in the sport.

These and other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of a multipurpose recreational toy, in accordance with first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates a front view of another multipurpose recreational toy, in accordance with second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1C illustrates a front view of another multipurpose recreational toy having honeycomb-like pattern, in accordance with third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of multipurpose recreational toy for converting a balloon into a volleyball, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B illustrates front view of multipurpose recreational toy for converting a balloon into a football, in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2C illustrates front view of multipurpose recreational toy for converting a balloon into a soccer ball, in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2D illustrates front view of multipurpose recreational toy for converting a balloon into a dart, in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

While this technology is illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment, a multipurpose recreational toy for converting a balloon into an item used in sports, may be produced in different sizes, shapes and colors. This is depicted in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, as a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and the associated functional specifications for its construction and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations within the scope of the technology described herein.

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever feasible and convenient, the same reference numerals are used in the figures and the description to refer to the same or like parts. The drawings are in a simplified form and not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front may be used with respect to the accompanying drawings. In addition, words such as attached, affixed, coupled, connected and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes are used interchangeably, unless the difference is noted or made otherwise clear from the context. These words and expressions do not necessarily signify direct connections, but include connections through mediate components and devices.

FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of a multipurpose recreational toy 100 for converting a balloon (not shown in the FIG. 1A) into an item used in sports in accordance with first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The multipurpose recreational toy 100 includes an outer ring 102 mounted on the exterior side of the balloon (not shown in the FIG. 1A) and plurality of support bars 104 attached to the outer ring 102 for forming a weighted framework to match with the weight of the item used in sports.

Examples of the item used in sports include but not limited to a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball, a baseball, javelin throw, darts or any other type of ball or configuration. Examples of the item used in sports mentioned are for reference purposes only; however it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the various examples of item used in sports may be envisioned without deviating from the scope of the present invention. The item used in sports are explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support bars 104 includes one or more horizontal bars 106 such as 106a, 106b, 106c and 106d attached to the outer ring 102, one or more vertical bars 108 such as 108a, 108b, 108c and 108d attached to the horizontal bars 106 for forming for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the support bars 104 further includes one or more angular bars 110 such as 110a and 110b connected to the one or more horizontal bars 106 and connected to the one or more vertical bars 108 for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

In an exemplary embodiment the multipurpose recreational toy 100 may be used to convert a balloon (not shown in FIG. 1A) into a volleyball. The placement of the multipurpose recreational toy 100 on a balloon to match the weight of a volleyball is shown in FIG. 2A of the present invention.

For example the horizontal bar 106a and the horizontal bar 106b is attached with the vertical bar 108d. Further, the horizontal bar 106c, the horizontal bar 106d is attached with the vertical bar 108a. Furthermore, the angular bar 110a is attached with the horizontal bar 106c and the horizontal bar 106a and the one or more vertical bars 108. The angular bar 110b is attached to the horizontal bar 106b and the horizontal bar 106d and the one or more vertical bars 108. The multipurpose recreational toy 100 forms a weighted framework to be mounted on the exterior side of the balloon to match the weight of the volleyball.

In other preferred embodiment the number and size of the one or more vertical bars 108, the one or more horizontal bars 106 and the one or more angular bars 110 may be varied, without deviating from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates a front view of another multipurpose recreational toy 200 for converting a balloon (not shown in the FIG. 1B) into an item used in sports in accordance with second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The multipurpose recreational toy 200 includes an outer ring 202 mounted on exterior side of the balloon (not shown in the FIG. 1B) and plurality of support bars 204 attached to the outer ring 202 for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

In an exemplary embodiment the multipurpose recreational toy 200 may be used to convert a balloon (not shown in the FIG. 1B) into a football. The support bars 204 further includes one or more inner rings 206 co-axially oriented with the outer ring 202 and further the one or more inner rings 206 is connected to at least one of the one or more horizontal bars 208 and the one or more vertical bars 210 for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the football.

For example the multipurpose recreational toy 200 further includes the inner ring 206a and the inner ring 206b co-axially oriented with the outer ring 202 and are connected with the outer ring 202 by the one or more horizontal bars 208, the one or more vertical bars 210 and the one or more vertical bars 210 are arranged as diagonal bar 212a and diagonal bar 212b to form a weighted framework to match the weight of a football.

FIG. 1C illustrates a front view of another multipurpose recreational. toy 300 for converting a balloon (not shown in the FIG. 1C) into an items used in sports in accordance with third preferred embodiment of the present invention. The multipurpose recreational toy 300 includes an outer ring 302 mounted on exterior side of the balloon (not shown in the FIG. 1C) and plurality of support bars 304 forming a honeycomb-like pattern attached to the outer ring 302 for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

In an exemplary embodiment the multipurpose recreational toy 300 may be used to convert a balloon (not shown in the FIG. 1C) into a soccer ball. The support bars 304 forms honeycomb-like pattern 304 with the outer ring for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the soccer ball.

The honeycomb-like pattern 304 may be formed with multiple hexagonal pattern units 304a, 304b being closely configured together. The hexagonal pattern unit 304a, hexagonal pattern unit 304b are formed in such a way that each side of each hexagonal pattern unit 304a is adjacent to one side of another hexagonal pattern unit 304b.The honeycomb-like pattern 304 forms a weighted framework to match the weight of the soccer ball.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multipurpose recreational toy 100, the multipurpose recreational toy 200 and the multipurpose recreational toy 300 further includes an adhesive unit.

The multipurpose recreational toy 100 may use the adhesive unit for attaching the outer ring 102 and the plurality of support bars 104 on the exterior side of the balloon.

Similarly, the multipurpose recreational toy 200, may use the adhesive unit for attaching the outer ring 202 and the plurality of support bars 204 on the exterior side of the balloon. The multipurpose recreational toy 300, may use the adhesive unit for attaching the outer ring 302 and the plurality of support bars 304 on the exterior side of the balloon.

The adhesive unit may be stable and water-resistant. Examples of the adhesives includes but not limited to chemical adhesives like glue, mucilage, paste and gel. In an exemplary embodiment the adhesive unit may be an adhesive layer laminated on the multipurpose recreational toy 100, the multipurpose recreational toy 200 and the multipurpose recreational toy 300 respectively.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the combined weight of the outer ring and the plurality of support bars may be equal to or less than about six ounces.

For exemplary purpose in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer ring 102, outer ring 202 and the outer ring 302 of the multipurpose recreational toy 100, the multipurpose recreational toy 200 and the multipurpose recreational toy 300 respectively may be of semi-spherical shape for mounting on the exterior side of the balloon (not shown in the fig) and may be of various diameters.

The multipurpose recreational toy 100, the multipurpose recreational toy 200 and the multipurpose recreational toy 300 bearing a weight no heavier than 6 ounces, may be sized and shaped with great variety to accomplish the result of providing performance characteristics to the balloon, when attached to the balloon's exterior surface, for play in such sports as soccer, football, volleyball, baseball, the javelin throw, and darts.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multipurpose recreational toy 100, the multipurpose recreational toy 200 and the multipurpose recreational toy 300 may allow more than 60% of the balloon's outer surface to remain unexposed for performance, economic and safety identification reasons.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multipurpose recreational toy 100, the multipurpose recreational toy 200 and the multipurpose recreational toy 300 may be made up of plastic. The plastic may consist wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organics that are malleable and molded into solid objects of diverse shapes.

Examples of plastics include but not limited to polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene and the like; thermoplastic elastomers, linear low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene and blends thereof; polypropylene, polybutylene; and copolymers as well as blends thereof.

However other examples of the materials selected for making the multipurpose recreational toy 100, the multipurpose recreational toy 200 and the multipurpose recreational toy 300 may be leather or other materials that are generally durable, elastic, water repellant, and has electrical resistance.

The multipurpose recreational toy 100, the multipurpose recreational toy 200 and the multipurpose recreational toy 300 may also include or more agents such as aging protectors, anti-oxidants, vulcanizing agents, anti-static agents, accelerators, activators, reinforcement agents, softeners, oils, plasticizers, pigments, lubricants and combinations thereof.

The multipurpose recreational toy 100, the multipurpose recreational toy 200 and the multipurpose recreational toy 300 may assume any shape and size as needed.

The support bars 104, the support bars 204 and the support bars 304 may also have a variety of other shapes. Examples of the shapes of the support bars 104, the support bars 204 and the support bars 304 includes but not limited to triangular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, round, oval, non-geometrical and may combine in various manners to form the multipurpose recreational toy 100, the multipurpose recreational toy 200, the multipurpose recreational toy 300.

The multipurpose recreational toy 100, the multipurpose recreational toy 200, the multipurpose recreational toy 300 may also exhibit non-regular or non-geometrical shapes.

FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of multipurpose recreational toy 400a for converting a balloon 402 into a volleyball, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The multipurpose recreational toy 400 includes an inflatable bladder 402 formed of a thin rubber skin, an outer ring 404 mounted on the exterior side of the inflatable bladder 402 and plurality of support bars 406 attached to the outer ring 404 for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the inflatable bladder with the weight of the item used in the sport.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mouth-inflatable bladder 402 may be a balloon. The balloon 402 may be formed of an elastomeric material. Examples of materials used to make inflatable bladder include but not limited to synthetic rubber, natural rubber or any other conventional bladder material.

The balloon 402, in its uninflated or inflated state may be formed of a thin elastomeric material having a stem 408 which initially projects through an opening. The opening may be in the form of a slit such as a buttonhole. After the balloon 402 has been inflated, the stem 408 may be tied off with a thread or may be knotted using a polymeric plastic film, such as a polyvinyl chloride.

The inflatable bladder 402 has an exceptional strength and may be subjected to rough handling. The inflatable bladder 402 may be inflated by mouth or may be inflated using a pump.

The outer ring 404 and the plurality of support bars 406 having a semi-spherical shape are mounted on the exterior side of the inflatable bladder 402 via adhesive. For example the outer rings 404a and 404b may be mounted on opposite sides of the balloon 402 respectively, to match the weight of the balloon 402 with the weight of the volleyball.

FIG. 2B illustrates front view of multipurpose recreational toy 400b for converting a balloon into a football, in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In an exemplary embodiment the multipurpose recreational toy 400b includes an inflatable bladder formed of a thin rubber skin, an outer ring mounted on the exterior side of the inflatable bladder and plurality of support bars attached to the outer ring for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the inflatable bladder with the weight of the football.

FIG. 2C illustrates front view of multipurpose recreational toy 400c for converting a balloon into a soccer ball, in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Further, the multipurpose recreational toy 400c includes an inflatable bladder formed of a thin rubber skin, an outer ring mounted on the each of opposite exterior sides of the inflatable bladder and plurality of support bars attached to the outer ring for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the inflatable bladder with the weight of the soccer ball.

FIG. 2D illustrates front view of multipurpose recreational toy 400d for converting a balloon into a dart, in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The multipurpose recreational toy 400d includes an inflatable bladder 502 formed of a thin rubber skin, an outer ring 504 mounted on the exterior side of the inflatable bladder 502 for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the inflatable bladder 502 with the weight of the dart.

The present invention offers various advantages. The present invention offers an alternative to regular balloons which are getting boring. The present invention further makes a recreational inexpensive balloon which is interactive and converted to an item used in sports to enable sports-related performance.

There has thus been shown and described a multipurpose recreational toy for converting a balloon into an item used in sports. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred embodiments thereof. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is to be limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A multipurpose recreational toy for converting a balloon into an item used in sports; the multipurpose recreational toy comprising:

an outer ring mounted on exterior side of the balloon; and

plurality of support bars attached to the outer ring for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

2. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 1 further comprising an adhesive unit for attaching the outer ring and the plurality of support bars on exterior side of the balloon.

3. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 1, wherein the support bars comprising:

one or more horizontal bars attached to the outer ring; and

one or more vertical bars attached to the horizontal bars for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

4. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 3, wherein the support bars further comprising one or more angular bars connected to the one or more horizontal bars and the one or more vertical bars for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

5. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 1, further comprising one or more inner rings co-axially oriented with the outer ring, further the one or more inner rings connected to at least one of the one or more horizontal bars; the one or more vertical bars; and the one or more angular bars for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

6. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 1, wherein the support bars forms honeycomb-like pattern with the outer ring for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in sports.

7. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 1, wherein the combined weight of the outer ring and the plurality of support bars is equal to or less than about six ounces.

8. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 1, wherein the outer ring is of semi-spherical shaped for mounting on the exterior side of the balloon.

9. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 1, wherein the outer ring and the plurality of support bars are made up of plastic.

10. A multipurpose recreational toy for playing a sport comprising:

an inflatable bladder formed of a thin rubber skin;

an outer ring mounted on exterior side of the inflatable bladder; and

plurality of support bars attached to the outer ring for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the inflatable bladder with the weight of the item used in the sports.

11. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 10, wherein the inflatable bladder is a balloon.

12. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 10 further comprising an adhesive unit for attaching the outer ring and the plurality of support bars on exterior side of the inflatable bladder.

13. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 10, wherein the support bars comprising:

one or more horizontal bars attached to the outer ring; and

one or more vertical bars attached to the horizontal bars for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in the sports.

14. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 13, wherein the support bars further comprising one or more angular bars connected to the one or more horizontal bars and the one or more vertical bars for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in the sports.

15. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 10, wherein the support bars form one or more inner ring co-axially oriented with the outer ring and attached with the one or more horizontal bars, the one or more vertical bars and the one or more angular bars for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in the sports.

16. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 10, wherein the support bars form honeycomb-like pattern for forming a weighted framework to match the weight of the item used in the sports.

17. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 10, wherein the combined weight of the outer ring and the plurality of support bars is equal to or less than about six ounces.

18. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 10, wherein the outer ring is of semi-spherical shaped for mounting on exterior side of the inflatable bladder.

19. The multipurpose recreational toy according to claim 10, wherein the outer ring and the plurality of support bars are made up of plastic.