Abstract:
A spring ball toy includes spherical core and a plurality of spring arms radiating from the spherical core. The distal end of each spring arm is fitted with one of a selection of different types of spring feet. The spherical core may be hollow to have lights and/or a sound maker controlled by digital logic and powered by a battery. The lights and sounds of the spring ball toy may be motion activated or controlled by a selector switch.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to spring toys. More particularly, the present invention relates to a toy ball utilizing springs. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Toy balls are widely known and very popular across all ages, genders, social groups, and cultural backgrounds. Ball games were popular even in ancient Greek and Roman cultures. Today, balls are used in organized team and individual sports, arcade games, board games, and even informal games such as a game of “catch”. An elastic-type ball is fun to just throw against a wall or door and catch again on its return. Toy balls can be kicked, blocked, thrown, caught, batted, clubbed or rolled. Ball play is frequently heralded for improving hand-eye coordination, strength, manual dexterity, balance, and a host of other physical attributes. Ball play is also a common means for developing good sportsmanship in children. 
         [0003]    Balls are typically shaped as round spheres, but they may also be ellipsoid (i.e., a football, or rugby ball). Balls used in ancient cultures were usually made of carved wood or shaped leather. Today, balls are made from rubber, plastic, fabric, leather, wood, ceramic, and cork, as well as other combinations of various materials. Balls may be solid, or hollow. Frequently, a ball is hollow in its construction, and then is filled with air. Filling a ball with air usually makes the surface of the ball more elastic and springy, which then makes the ball easier to bounce, kick, or hit. Some types of balls, such as a golf ball or a baseball, feature a spherical core made of very hard material which is then wrapped in successive layers of elastic material such as cloth, plastic or rubber. This type of construction makes it possible for these balls to travel farther after being hit by a bat or club. Balls may have an outer surface that is smooth like a bocce ball, or contoured like a basketball. Some ball contouring is provided for the specific purpose of increasing a ball&#39;s aerodynamic properties, such as with golf ball dimples. Certain types of balls also feature seams (such as baseballs or footballs) that allow users an enhanced grip. 
         [0004]    Certain types of balls are especially popular as toys. These balls are usually solid and made of an elastomeric polymer. These balls are referred to as “bouncy balls”, and are frequently made in bright colors with glitter. These balls are fun for children because they can bounce very high with little effort. Children enjoy throwing these bouncy balls against walls, down stairs, and on all types of flooring including: pavement, linoleum, tile, wood, and even carpet. Bouncy balls are usually small in size and relatively light, which means that parents do not have to worry about broken lamps or windows. Throwing these balls and having them quickly bounce back is found to be very enjoyable by children and adults alike. Despite this, bouncy balls are frequently dismissed as old fashioned and boring because they are so simple in their construction. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for a ball toy that features a novel and innovative construction as well as other features that will amuse and entertain the user. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention resides in a spring ball toy which comprises, generally, a core, a plurality of spring arms each having a proximal end attached to the core and extending radially outwardly from the core to a distal end, and a spring foot associated with each spring arm at the distal end thereof. 
         [0007]    The core includes a plurality of nubs to which the spring arms are connected. In a preferred form of the invention, the proximal end of each spring arm is attached to the core by means of an interference fit to a respective one of the plurality of nubs. Similarly, the distal end of each spring arm is attached to a respective spring foot by means of an interference fit. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the core is generally spherical, hollow, and at least partially translucent to house electronic components therein including a light source. The electronic components typically include a power source, and a motion sensor coupled to the light source. The light source comprises one or more LEDs. 
         [0009]    In use, the spring ball toy may be utilized much like a typical bouncy ball. The spring arms provide the return bounce when thrown or dropped against another object. When the motion sensor senses movement of the core, the light source is illuminated and shines through the translucent core material to provide a pleasing visual effect. 
         [0010]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a spring ball toy embodying the present invention illustrating the spherical core, spring arms, and spring feet associated with each spring arm; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the spring ball toy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken generally along the line  3 - 3  from  FIG. 2 , illustrating the interior of the spherical core which contains a battery/motion sensor/LED unit; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the spherical core and one spring arm and spring foot, illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    As shown in the accompanying drawings, the present invention is directed to a spring ball toy  10  which includes a central spherical core  12  having attached thereto a number of spring arms  14 . Each spring arm  14  has a proximal end  16  which is securely fastened to a corresponding nub  18  which extends outwardly from the spherical core  12 , and a distal end  20  to which is fitted a corresponding spring foot  22  as shown, all of the spring arms  14  radiate outwardly from the spherical core  12  and are of the same length. 
         [0017]    In a preferred form of the invention, the overall diameter of the spring ball toy  10  is approximately the height of a typical soda can, although the invention is not limited to that particular size. It can be much larger or much smaller, as may be desired. It has been found, however, that this particular size is easy to grip and throw. 
         [0018]    The spherical core  12  is preferably made of rubber or plastic, or any other material suitable for repeated impacts. The spherical core  12  is preferably translucent, and may be constructed so as to provide sections of different colors. As explained briefly above, the exterior of the spherical core  12  is provided with a plurality of nubs  18 . Each nub  18  is round and has roughly the same diameter as that of the spring that makes the spring arms  14 . The nubs  18  are made of a material, such as plastic or rubber, which can compress slightly when the proximal end  16  of a spring is pressed over it. Once the proximal end  16  of the spring arm  14  is pressed over the nub  18 , the elastomeric material of the nub  18  expands to create a tight fit between the nub  18  and the proximal end  16  of the spring arm  14 . In this way, the spring arm  14  may be retained on the nub  18  without any extra adhesive or molding. However, the springs may be affixed to the nub with adhesive or the like, if desired. 
         [0019]    The spherical core  12  may be solid, but a hollow core  12  is preferred to accommodate electronic components  24  therein. These electronic components  24  may include LED lights  26 , a battery  28 , and a motion sensor  30 . The motion sensor  30  detects when the spring ball toy  10  is being handled or bounced, and the LEDs  26  light up in response. The LEDs  26  may be multi-colored, and may flash or blink randomly and in patterns. Alternately, the LEDs  26  may be non-blinking. The motion sensor  30  may turn the LEDs  26  off once the spring ball toy  10  is no longer moving, or the LEDs  26  may turn off automatically after a certain amount of time. Speakers may also be provided within the spherical core  12  and connect to the battery  28  and motion sensor  30 . When the spring ball toy  10  is handled or bounced, the speakers may emit some type of sound or music. As with the LEDs  26  described above, the sounds or music may continue for a certain amount of time before automatically stopping, or may stop when the spring ball toy  10  is no longer in motion. The spherical core  12  may also include an access port (not shown) whereby a user can replace depleted batteries  28  inside the core. The spherical core  12  may also feature a multi-position switch on its surface, in-between the spring arm nubs  18 , which allow the user to select whether the lights/noise features of the spring ball toy  10  are on or off. The multi-selector switch may also allow the user to record music or a personal message that is played when the spring ball toy  10  is in use. 
         [0020]    Each spring arm  14  has a foot  22  attached at the distal end  20 . These spring feet  22  serve to provide the spring ball toy  10  with a small amount of traction and to provide either added stability or instability to the path the spring ball toy  10  takes upon each bounce. The spring feet  22  are configured as disks a flat proximal surface, a slight central recess, or even a slightly domed or dimpled surface. Such changes in configuration of the spring fee  22  allow the user to customize the spring ball toy  10  for the environment in which it is to be used. 
         [0021]    In use, the spring ball may be tossed or bounced against a surface in much the same manner as a typical as a bouncy ball. The arrangement of the springs make the return bounce of the spring ball toy  10  inherently unpredictable, which increases the enjoyment of play. When electronic components  24  including LED lights  26  are encased within a translucent spherical core  12 , night time play is especially enhanced. The motion sensor  30  activates the LEDs  26  by placing them in series with the battery  28  as the spring ball toy  10  is being played with. This further encourages the users to further bounce or throw the spring ball toy  10  to keep the translucent core  12  constantly lit. 
         [0022]    It will be appreciated that the spherical core  12  may be larger in circumference than that illustrated, and even be of different shapes, such as various types of polyhedrons and the like. Moreover, shorter and longer spring arms  14  may be utilized to achieve the desired bouncing characteristic of the spring ball toy. As mentioned previously, different materials and different shapes may be utilized at the distal end  20  of the spring arms  14  to achieve different bouncing characteristics of the spring ball toy  10 . In some cases, it may be desired to have spring fee  22  which offer very little frictional resistance to the surface on which the spring ball toy  10  may be bounced. In other instances, it may be desirable to provide spring fee  22  having a high coefficient of friction. 
         [0023]    Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made to each without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.