US 4,595,369 AGranted

Educational and amusement device

OwnerArthur R. Downsinventor

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Abstract

Rounded moveable members such as a ball are directed in two established and independent lengths of transparent tubing which are arranged within a transparent sphere. The rounded moveable members such as a ball have a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the transparent tubing thus the rounded moveable members such as a ball follow a path that gives a spinning motion. The spinning motion for the first path will be directed by the tubing secured to the inside of the transparent sphere from top to bottom. Thus the first path follows the curvature of the sphere from top to bottom. The second path is directed by the transparent tubing arranged in a cylindrical spiral about the center of the sphere which allows the rounded moveable member such as a ball to follow a cylindrical spiral path from top to bottom of the sphere. The length of tubing about the center of the sphere that is arranged in a cylindrical spiral is supported by a transparent cylinder that is secured by the transparent sphere.

An amusement device comprising:

a hollow transparent sphere;
a first length of transparent tubing;
a second length of transparent tubing;
a transparent cylinder;
said transparent cylinder being disposed within said transparent sphere, the axis of said transparent cylinder passing through the center of said transparent sphere, and each end of said transparent cylinder being attached to the inside surface of said transparent sphere;
the ends of said first length of transparent tubing being attached to the two ends, respectively, of said transparent cylinder;
said first length of transparent tubing being configured in a cylindrical helix, the axis of said cylindrical helix being coincidental with said axis of said transparent cylinder;
an intermediate section of said first length of transparent tubing being attached to said transparent cylinder at an intermediate point along the length of said transparent cylinder;
the ends of said second length of transparent tubing being attached to the inside surface of said hollow transparent sphere adjacent to the two ends, respectively, of said transparent cylinder;
said second length of transparent tubing being configured in a spherical helix, the axis of said spherical helix being coincidental with said axis of said transparent cylinder;
an intermediate section of said second length of transparent tubing being attached to the inside surface of said hollow transparent sphere;
a first moveable member disposed within said first length of transparent tubing;
said first moveable member having a convex periphery and having a maximum cross-sectional dimension less than the inside diameter of said second length of transparent tubing;
and
a second moveable member disposed within said second length of transparent tubing;
said second moveable member having a convex periphery and having a maximum cross-sectional demension less than the inside diameter of said second length of transparent tubing.

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Abstract

Claims1