Patent Publication Number: US-9844712-B1

Title: Ball toss and retrieval toy in the shape of a softball bat

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to sporting/outdoor equipment, and in particular, a toy that provides for tossing and retrieving a ball from a fixed position. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Toys in the form of sporting/outdoor equipment, e.g., toy football, baseball, fishing, hunting, bowling equipment, etc., are in common use to provide entertainment and exercise for children. New forms of such toys are typically desirable, both for their novelty and for increasing the selection of toys that parents and children will want to buy and use. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide another form of toy for entertainment and exercise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objective of providing a toy for entertainment and exercise is accomplished in a ball toss and retrieval toy that includes a ball and a toy body. The toy body is hollow and has a substantially cylindrical handle portion, a substantially cylindrical end portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the handle portion and a tapered portion extending between them. The inner diameter of the end portion, which is open, is greater than an outer diameter of the ball. The tapered portion has an inner diameter such that the ball can be seated at least partially within the tapered portion of the hollow toy body when the ball is inserted in the open end of the end portion. The toy also includes a cord connected to the ball and a reel device having a spool around which the cord is wound when the ball is in the toy. The reel device also has a release mechanism, so that when the release mechanism is activated with the ball positioned in the hollow toy body, the hollow toy body can be swung downward to toss the ball out from and away from the hollow toy body. The reel device further includes a retrieval mechanism for winding the cord around the spool to retrieve the ball so that the ball is seated at least partially within the tapered portion of the hollow toy body. 
     The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like components, and: 
         FIG. 1A  is a top view and  FIG. 1B  is a side view, showing an example of a ball toss and retrieval toy  10  as disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view showing details of ball toss and retrieval toy  10  of  FIGS. 1A-1B . 
         FIG. 3  is a top view showing further details within a reel  14  of ball toss and retrieval toy  10  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 4A-4D  are pictorial views showing a use of ball toss and retrieval toy  10  of  FIGS. 1A-1B   
         FIG. 5  is a top view showing further details within a reel  14 A of a ball toss and retrieval toy  10 A that may alternatively be used to implement ball toss and retrieval toy  10  of  FIGS. 1A-1B . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention includes ball toss and retrieval toys and associated methods that provide for exercise and entertainment of children. The ball toss and retrieval toy includes a ball on a cord attached to a hollow toy body that may be in the form of a toy baseball bat with an open end. A reel device similar to a fishing reel is attached to or formed as part of the hollow toy body. The ball is placed inside the hollow body and a release button on the reel device is depressed as the hollow toy body is swung downward, simulating (and instructing) a casting operation as would be used in rod and reel fishing. The ball is allowed to fly to the extent of the cord, and is then retrieved by operating the reel device, which may be a hand-operated crank-type reel device, or a motorized retrieval device. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , an illustrative example of a ball toss and retrieval toy  10  is shown in a top view and a side view, respectively. Ball toss and retrieval toy  10  includes a ball  12 , which is shown in a ready position inside of a hollow toy body  15  in the form of a toy baseball/softball bat and that includes a substantially cylindrical handle portion  15 A (the portion to the left of line  19 A in  FIG. 1B ) having an outer diameter of approximately one inch (1.0 in) and a hand stop  15 D with a slightly greater outer diameter. Hollow toy body  15  also includes a substantially cylindrical end portion  15 C (the portion of hollow toy body  15  to the right of line  19 B in  FIG. 1B ) having a largest diameter of approximately three-and-a-quarter inches (3.25 in) and a tapered portion  15 B (the portion of hollow toy body  15  between lines  19 A and  19 B) in  FIG. 1B ) that expands from the diameter of handle portion  15 A to the diameter of end portion  15 C. Ball  12  has a diameter of approximately two and seven-eighths of an inch (2.875 in), and the thickness of hollow toy body  15  is generally less than one-sixteenth of an inch (0.625 in), so that when ball  12  is inserted in an open end  13  of end portion  15 C, ball  12  will rest at least partially within tapered portion  15 B when the ball toss and retrieval toy  10  is held upright, i.e., with the open end of end portion  15 C facing upward. Ball  12  is also retained in hollow toy body  15  prior to use by a cord  17  that extends from a reel  14  located near handle portion  15 A, which may be mounted on hollow toy body  15 , or alternatively have a housing formed contiguously with hollow toy body  15  or alternatively be located inside of hollow toy body  15  in some embodiments. Cord  17  is coupled to ball  12  by a swivel  21  that permits ball  12  to spin when being “cast” from hollow toy body  15  without twisting cord  17 . 
     Reel  14  is a mechanical reel device in the illustrated example, but may alternatively be an electrically-operated reel device as described below with reference to  FIG. 5 , and either type of reel device may be provided at an external surface of hollow toy body  15 , or partially or completely integrated within hollow toy body  15 , as long as the mechanism or button switches used to activate and release the reel device  14  are accessible by the user. Reel  14  includes a release button  20  used for “casting” ball  12  and a hand crank  18  used to retrieve ball  12 . Cord  17 , which may be a nylon cord or other suitable and durable cord attachment, passes through an aperture  16  that is provided through hollow toy body  15 . Aperture  16  and may have an oval shape as depicted, so that lateral movement of cord  16  along the circumference of hollow toy body  15  is restricted more than lengthwise movement that changes the angle of cord  16  with respect to a cylindrical axis of hollow toy body  15 .  FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of ball toss and retrieval toy  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a top view of ball toss and retrieval toy  10  is shown, illustrating details of reel  14 . Reel  14  includes a spool  24  around which cord  17  is wound when ball  12  is retrieved. Hand crank  18  operates a transmission  26  that causes rotation of an axle  23  that rotates spool  24  to wind cord  17  around spool  24 . Transmission  26  is disengaged by release button  20 , which operates a clutch  22  that operates by a threaded or geared connection to free spool  24  to rotate without rotating hand crank  18 , until hand crank  18  is operated to reverse the rotation of spool  24 , causing clutch  22  to engage and release button  20  to be restored to its original state, providing the ability to cast ball  12  again. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A-4D , operation of ball toss and retrieval toy  10  is illustrated.  FIG. 4A  shows the initial casting position after release button  20  has been pressed as ball toss and retrieval toy  10  is swung downward, causing ball  12  and cord  17  to exit the open end of hollow toy body  15 . In  FIG. 4B , ball  12  continues to fly forward from the momentum delivered by snapping hollow toy body  15  downward and in  FIG. 4C , cord  17  has just reached a maximum extent. In  FIG. 4D , reel  14  is operated to tension cord  17  causing ball  12  to return toward hollow toy body  15 , and eventually return ball  12  to again rest within hollow toy body  15 , so that ball  12  can be cast again. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an alternative example of a ball toss and retrieval toy  10 A is shown, which incorporates an electric reel device  14 A. Other features of ball toss and retrieval toy  10 A are identical to ball toss and retrieval toy  10  described above, so only differences between them will be described. Reel device  14 A incorporates a spool  24 A that is rotated by an electric motor  30  powered by one or more replaceable batteries secured in a battery holder  34 . A motor activation button switch  32  is provided to close the circuit between the batteries and electric motor  30  to cause spool  24 A to wind cord  17  around spool  24 A. A release button  20 A moves electric motor  30  to disengage a shaft  22 A of motor  30  from spool  24 A, providing a clutch that permits spool  24 A to rotate freely, until electric motor  30  is activated by button switch  32  and rotates to re-engage with spool  24 A, via a threaded or gearing arrangement that provide the clutch action. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form, and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.