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US 5,297,981 AGranted
Self-propelled bouncing ball
AssigneeThe ERTL Company
InventorsJohn Maxim, Christopher Thompson, Mark F. Reyner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toy ball in accordance with this invention includes a hollow sphere with spaced apart resilient knobs extending outwardly from the sphere and an internal mechanism that causes a random motion and bouncing of the ball. A safety switch is also provided to prevent injury to a user or damage to the toy while it is disassembled.
Claims34
A self-propelled bouncing ball comprising:
- (a) a hollow sphere having interlocking first and second hemispheres;
- (b) a plurality of spaced apart bounce means joined to and extending outwardly from said hollow sphere;
- and
- (c) rotating means featuring self contained drive and off-center mass, said rotating means mounted inside said hollow sphere;
- (d) whereby when said rotating means is activated said bouncing ball is caused to leave a support surface to fall back upon one or more of said bounce means causing said ball to rebound in an unexpected direction.
2 more elements
A self-propelled bounding ball comprising:
- (a) a hollow sphere having interlocking first and second hemispheres;
- (b) a plurality of spaced apart bounce means joined to and extending outwardly from said hollow sphere;
- and
- (c) a fixed axle having first and second ends fixed to said first hemisphere near where said first hemisphere interlocks with said second hemisphere;
- (d) an electric motor rotationally mounted on said axle and spaced apart from said first end of said axle, said axle motor featuring an off-center mass;
- (e) drive means for rotating said motor about said axle;
- and
- (f) safety means for deactivating said electric motor, said safety means positioned between said axle first end and said electric motor;
- (g) whereby when said electric motor is activated said bouncing ball is caused to leave a support surface to fall back upon one or more of said bounce means causing said ball to rebound in an unexpected direction.
6 more elements
A self-propelled bounding ball comprising:
- (a) a hollow sphere having interlocking first and second hemispheres;
- (b) a plurality of spaced apart bounce means joined to and extending outwardly from said hollow sphere;
- (c) an axle having first and second ends fixed to said first hemisphere near where said second hemisphere interlocks with said first hemisphere;
- (d) an electric motor rotationally mounted on said axle and spaced apart from said first end of said axle, said electric motor featuring an off-center mass;
- (e) drive means for rotating said motor about said axle;
- (f) a moveable spring contact in communication with said electric motor, said moveable spring contact having a first position to deactivate said electric motor, and a second position to enable said electric motor to be activated;
- and
- (g) means for depressing said moveable spring contact between said first and second positions, said means being slidably mounted on said axle between said first axle end and said electric motor;
- (h) whereby when said electric motor is activated said bouncing ball is caused to leave a support surface to fall back upon one or more of said bounce means causing said ball to rebound in an unexpected direction.
6 more elements
A self-propelled bounding ball comprising:
- (a) a hollow sphere having interlocking first and second hemispheres;
- (b) a plurality of spaced apart resilient knobs joined to and extending outwardly from said hollow sphere;
- (c) an axle having first and second ends fixed to said first hemisphere near where said second hemisphere interlocks with said first hemisphere;
- (d) an electric motor rotationally mounted on said axle and spaced apart from said first end of said axle,
- (e) drive means for rotating said motor about said axle;
- (f) a moveable spring contact in communication with said electric motor, said moveable spring contact having a first position to deactivate said electric motor, and a second position to enable said electric motor to be activated;
- and
- (g) means for depressing said moveable spring contact between said first and second positions, said means being slidably mounted on said axle between said first axle end and said electric motor;
- said means for depressing said spring contact comprises:
- (i) a coil spring slidably mounted on said axle, adjacent said electric motor;
- and
- (ii) a cylinder slidably mounted on said axle between said coil spring and said first end of said axle, said cylinder is capable of assuming first and second positions.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.