# US 9,518,728 B2 · Sphere structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,728 B2 - Document ID: US9518728B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/558,685 - Filed: 2014-12-02 - Published: 2015-06-11 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-11 - Applicants: Wei Hung Lin - Inventors: Wei Hung Lin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518728B2 ## CPC - F21V 33/008: {Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes} - A63B 43/06: with illuminating devices {; with reflective surfaces} - F21K 9/61: using light guides - F21S 4/22: flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract A sphere structure, of which an inner ball can be disposed with a light source, the sphere structure includes: a groove, formed on the inner ball based on a disposing path, being able to be installed with the light source; a containing portion, formed on the inner ball, being capable of being set with a power supply module, supplying electric power to the light source; and a first cover layer, covering the inner ball constituting an outer surface of the sphere structure, wherein at least one portion of the outer surface is distributed with a light transmitting region, so that the light of the light source is emitted from inside of the sphere structure to outside of the same by passing through the light transmitting region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sphere structure configured to accommodate a light source at an inner ball of the sphere structure, and comprising: a groove, formed on the inner ball along a disposing path, for accommodating the light source; a containing portion, formed on the inner ball for accommodating a power supply module configured to be electrically connected to the light source; and a first cover layer covering the inner ball, forming an outer surface on the sphere structure, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface is a light transmitting region for transmitting light from the light source to outside of the sphere structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sphere structure according to claim 1, wherein the groove includes a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall extend upward from two sides of the bottom wall respectively to form the groove, the top of the first side wall is a first top portion edge, the top of the second side wall is a second top portion edge, the first top portion edge and the second top portion edge define a groove opening, a shortest distance between the first top portion edge and the second top portion edge define a groove opening width, the bottom wall has a bottom wall width, the groove opening width is greater than the bottom wall width. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sphere structure according to claim 2, wherein the groove opens toward a first turning direction defined by the first side wall defining a first turning section of the groove, the first turning section includes a first slope extending from the bottom wall to the first side wall, and the light source is disposed on the first slope in the first turning section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The sphere structure according to claim 2, wherein the groove opens toward a first turning direction defined by the first side wall defining a first turning section of the groove, and the light source is disposed on the first side wall in the first turning section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The sphere structure according to claim 2, wherein the groove opens toward a second turning direction defined by the second side wall defining a second turning section of the groove, the second turning section includes a second slope extending from the bottom wall to the second side wall, and the light source is disposed on the second slope in the second turning section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The sphere structure according to claim 2, wherein the groove opens toward a second turning direction defined by the second side wall defining a second turning section of the groove, and the light source is disposed on the second side wall in the second turning section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The sphere structure according to claim 2, wherein the groove is formed on the inner ball in a straight direction defining a straight section of the groove, and the light source is disposed on the bottom wall in the straight section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sphere structure according to claim 1, wherein a light guiding unit is disposed in the groove for guiding light emitted by the light source to the light transmitting region and out of the outer surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sphere structure according to claim 8, wherein the light guiding unit bridges the first side wall and the second side wall of the groove defining a light source containing space, the light source is arranged in the light source containing space and protected by the light source containing space from external impact and damage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sphere structure according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a light-strip-emitting module having a plurality of light-emitting units. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sphere structure according to claim 1, wherein the sphere structure further includes a cover, and the cover includes: a top portion having a second cover layer joined to the first cover layer; at least two female holes bore from the second cover layer into the cover, for engaging a plug; a first screw portion surrounding a surrounding portion of the cover for engaging a second screw portion of a surrounding wall of the containing portion; and a cover bottom portion having a first conducting portion, one end of which is configured to electrically connect a first electrode of a battery to a conducting unit on the surrounding wall, and be electrically connected to the light source through the first conducting unit, and a second conducting portion on a containing bottom portion of the containing portion is configured to electrically connect a second electrode of the battery to the light source, to be electrically connected to the light source together with the first electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sphere structure according to claim 1, wherein the light transmitting region is slits formed along a portion of the outer surface proximal to the groove. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The sphere structure according to claim 12, wherein the slits are seam slits threaded with a seam thread. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sphere structure according to claim 1, wherein the light transmitting region is a part of the first cover layer, the first cover layer has a predetermined thickness, the predetermined thickness allows at least a portion of light from the light source to pass through the first cover layer out of the outer surface.