Spherical recreational hollow body

A spherical hollow body for recreational use is disclosed. The sphere has a portal for exit and entry of an occupant and a plurality of ventilation apertures in its surface. Three circumferential ribs are also provided. The inside of the sphere is further provided with at least one pair of diametrically-spaced handles. In a variation of the preferred embodiment, the ribs can be provided with radially-outwardly-projecting paddles, whereby the sphere can be used on water.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a toy for both adults and children, more 
specifically to a hollow sphere arranged to carry one person and roll over 
a flat supporting surface. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Games and general recreational movement have always been enjoyed by 
children and adults. Various sports and exercise programs have all evolved 
from such enjoyment. As cases in point, one can note football, soccer, 
hockey, water-polo and amusement rides in play-grounds and fairs, to cite 
but a few activities. As for exercise programs, it has long been 
demonstrated that the most popular and beneficial programs are those that 
combine exercise with some sort of play or game-oriented structure. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a 
spherical hollow body made of transparent rigid material, constructed to 
contain a person who is able to move the sphere multidirectionally by 
walking on the inside surface of the sphere. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a spherical body of the 
above type, which is provided with spaced-apart paddles all around at 
least one circumference of the sphere, whereby the sphere can be used on a 
water surface. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a sphere of the above 
type, which is simple in design and non-costly to produce. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention are realized 
according to a preferred embodiment, comprising a hollow body generally in 
the form of a sphere and made of rigid transparent unbreakable material. 
The surface of the sphere is provided with a plurality of ventilation 
apertures and a portal through which a person can enter into and exit from 
the sphere. Hinge means and lock means are provided for the portal. 
The sphere is further provided with three circumferential external ribs: a 
first rib longitudinally oriented and defining a plane perpendicular to a 
first rotational axis of the sphere; a second rib, also longitudinally 
oriented, at 90 degrees to the first rib and defining a second plane 
perpendicular to a second rotational axis of the sphere; and a third rib 
latitudinally oriented and being located along the equator of the sphere. 
Preferably, the outer surface of all three ribs are provided with 
frictional anti-skid material. 
The inside surface of the sphere is further preferably provided with at 
least one pair of diametrically spaced-apart handles. Each of the latter 
has a mounting means which allows it to swing through an entire circle of 
arc and also to revolve about its own axis. 
In a variation of the preferred embodiment, at least one of the 
circumferential ribs is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart and 
radially outwardly-projecting paddles, whereby the sphere may be moved 
about on water. 
It is within the scope of the invention to provide a sphere, therefore, 
which can be moved by an occupant, either a child or an adult, who moves 
the sphere by walking on the inside surface while grasping the handles on 
either side. To stop the sphere, the occupant simply walks backwards. To 
change direction, the occupant turns his body in the desired direction. 
With a minimum amount of practice, it is possible to control the movement 
of the sphere in a very enjoyable way while restraining this movement to 
the rolling surfaces provided by the three ribs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As seen clearly in FIG. 1, the invention consists of a solid hollow sphere 
1, made of rigid, transparent and unbreakable material, such as 
polycarbonate. Sphere 1 is adapted to contain a person 2 standing upright 
and capable of walking therein. 
Preferably, sphere 1 is formed of eight sections 1', all generally 
triangular and each corresponding to an eighth section of a geometric 
sphere. 
Each section 1' has at its three edges an outwardly-extending rib half 3", 
each of the latter having a flat transverse face 3' adapted to abut 
against a contiguous rib half of another adjacent section 1', as shown 
clearly in FIG. 3. In this manner, each section 1' is rigidly secured to 
its three adjacent sections 1' at its rib halves 3" by means of a 
plurality of circumferentially-spaced bolts 4 and nuts 5, the bolts 
extending through the rib halves 3". 
It will be clear that each two rib halves 3", joined together, form three 
circumferential ribs 3, all around the sphere when all the sections 1' are 
assembled. Two of the ribs 3 are longitudinal, being spaced from each 
other ninety degrees, while the third rib is latitudinal, extending around 
the equator of the sphere (as shown in FIG. 1; of course, the terms 
latitudinal and longitudinal are relative). Preferably, each rib 3 has an 
outer surface provided with anti-skid material 35. 
The sphere 1 is provided with a plurality of ventilation apertures 6. 
Sphere 1 is further provided with a portal for the entry and exit of the 
occupant. The portal is simply made in one of the sections 1' and is 
pivotally attached to the marginal part of said section by means of hinge 
7 secured to one side thereof. At least one of the edges of the portal 
opposite the hinged edge is provided with a fastening means, preferably a 
strip 8, of material known under the registered trademark "VELCRO", as 
shown in FIG. 6. Preferably, also, this edge is bevelled inwardly, as 
shown at 9 in FIG. 6. It will be evident that strip 8 serves also as a 
sealing means. 
In order to prevent the portal from opening during rolling movement of the 
sphere 1, a lock means is provided for the portal, this lock means being 
illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 and consisting of a barrel 10 rigidly secured 
to the portal adjacent its bevelled edge 9. Barrel 10 contains a 
spring-loaded tongue 11 adapted to engage a slot made in a block 12, the 
latter being secured to the section 1' adjacent the said edge of the 
portal. Tongue 11 is retracted by pressing a button 13, in a known manner. 
Button 13 is operated by a finger 14. 
In order to provide a support and directional stability to the user of 
sphere 1, at least two diametrically spaced-apart handles 21 are provided 
inside sphere 1. One of these is shown in FIG. 3; a plate 20 conforming to 
the curvature of sphere 1 is rigidly secured to the inner surface of 
sphere 1 directly underneath one of the ribs 3 by means of screws 19. The 
central portion of plate 20 is formed in an inwardly-extending bell-shaped 
bulge 20' having a wide circular opening 20" at its inner end. A 
dumbbell-shaped handle 21 has one of its balls engaged in bulge 20', 
whereby it can swing through a fairly wide circular arc and also pivot 
about its own longitudinal axis. Thus, the user grabs both handles with 
his or her hands while "walking" inside the sphere. 
In a variation of the preferred embodiment, sphere 1 is adapted to float 
and move on water. To provide motive means, at least one circumferential 
rib 3 is provided with a plurality of outwardly radially-projecting 
paddles 25, which are also equally spaced from each other. Each paddle 25 
is formed with a pair of laterally-spaced flanges 25', which fit on either 
side of a rib 3, being secured thereto by bolt 4 and nut 5. A reinforcing 
strip 26 is provided between the flanges 25'. 
FIG. 8 shows how paddles 25 extend in the water to enable forward movement 
of sphere 1 by walking inside the latter. 
In FIG. 9, there is shown a sealing strip 30, made of rubber or plastic, 
located between the rib halves 3" to make sphere 1 watertight. 
It will be appreciated that sphere 1 can be enjoyed either singly or in 
groups. For example, FIG. 1 shows a ball 31 in dashed outline, which may 
be used in a game, played on a demarcated field, which would have rules 
and opposing teams.