Patent Publication Number: US-9409080-B1

Title: Educational ball

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to an educational ball, and more particularly to an educational ball that can increase fun and challenge of using the educational ball and can provide multiple spatial arrangements. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With the ever-changing technology, currently multiple kinds of conventional educational products can be availed to train mental, spatial concepts and logical thinking. However, the conventional educational products mostly have only a single specific mode of arrangement or a single spatial arrangement of structure, and this cannot enhance interest and attraction for users to use the conventional educational products. In addition, the specific arrangement or the single array structure of the conventional educational products also reduce the challenge of the conventional educational products, and this may reduce the training effect of mental, spatial concepts and logical thinking for the users. 
     To overcome the shortcomings, the present disclosure provides an educational ball to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The main objective of the present disclosure is to provide an educational ball that can increase fun and challenge of using the educational ball and can provide multiple spatial arrangements. 
     The educational ball in accordance with the present disclosure has a body and multiple operating sets. The body is a square block and has six outer surfaces, six mounting recesses respectively formed in the outer surfaces, and six engaging holes respectively formed through the mounting recesses. The operating sets are connected to the body, are respectively and rotatably mounted in the mounting recesses, and each one of the operating sets has a rotating mount, two covering plates, a sliding groove, and multiple sliding sheets. The rotating mount is rotatably mounted in a corresponding mounting recess, and has an engaging jacket and two inserting holes. The covering plates are connected to the rotating mount, and each of the covering plates has a connecting pipe, multiple track grooves, and a guiding channel. The sliding sheets are movably mounted in the track grooves of the covering plates and the sliding groove of the operating set to cover the rotating mount. 
     Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an educational ball in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2A  is an exploded perspective view of the educational ball in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is an enlarged perspective view of a covering plate of the educational ball in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional front side view of the educational ball in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the educational ball in FIG.  1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of the educational ball in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are enlarged and operational perspective views of the educational ball in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a second embodiment of an educational ball in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of an educational ball in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2A , a first embodiment of an educational ball in accordance with the present disclosure has a body  10  and multiple operating sets  20 . 
     The body  10  is a square block and has six outer surfaces, six mounting recesses  11 , and six engaging holes  12 . The outer surfaces are connected to each other to form the square body  10 . The mounting recesses  11  are respectively formed in the outer surfaces of the body  10 , and each one of the mounting recesses  11  has a center. The engaging holes  12  are respectively formed through the centers of the mounting recesses  11 . 
     Preferably, the body  10  is composed of two half-casings  13 , the half-casings  13  are connected to each other, and each one of the half-casings  13  is hollow and has an inner side, an external surface, an opening  131 , two connecting tabs  132 , and two connecting recesses  133 . The inner sides of the half-casings  13  face and contact each other, and each inner side has four edges. The opening  131  is formed through the inner side of the half-casing  13  between the four edges of the inner side of the half-casing  13 . The two connecting tabs  132  are formed on and protrude from two of the four edges of the inner side of the half-casing  13 , and face to each other. In addition, the connecting recesses  133  are formed in the other two edges of the inner side of the half-casing  13 . 
     As the half-casings  13  are connected to each other to form the square body  10 , the connecting tabs  132  and the connecting recesses  133  of one of the half-casings  13  are respectively connected to the connecting recesses  133  and the connecting tabs  132  of the other half-casing  13 . Preferably, one of the half-casings  13  has multiple mounting tubes  134  formed in and protruding outwardly from the half-casing  13  and extending to the opening  131  of the half-casing  13 , and the other half-casing  13  has multiple inserting posts  135  formed in and protruding outwardly from the half-casing  13 . The inserting posts  135  are respectively mounted in and connected to the mounting tubes  134  to connect the half-casings  13  securely with each other. Furthermore, four of the engaging holes  12  are formed through the four connecting tabs  132  of the half-casings  13 , and the other two engaging holes  12  are respectively formed through the half-casings  13  opposite to the openings  131  of the half-casings  13 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the operating sets  20  are connected to the body  10 , are respectively and rotatably mounted in the mounting recesses  11 , and each one of the operating sets  20  has a rotating mount  21 , two covering plates  22 , and multiple sliding sheets  23 . 
     The rotating mount  21  is round, is rotatably mounted in a corresponding mounting recess  11  of the body  10 , and has an inner side, an outer side, an outer periphery, an engaging jacket  211 , an engaging ring  212 , two cutting slots  213 , two inserting holes  214 , and multiple notches  215 . The engaging jacket  211  is formed on and protrudes from the inner side of the rotating mount  21 , extends in one of the outer surfaces of the body  10 , and engages one of the engaging holes  12  to hold the rotating mount  21  in the corresponding mounting recess  11  of the body  10 . The engaging jacket  211  is hollow and has a free end and an external surface. The free end of the engaging jacket  211  extends in the body  10  via a corresponding engaging hole  12 . The engaging ring  212  is formed on and protrudes from the external surface of the engaging jacket  211  at the free end, and abuts against the corresponding outer surface of the body  10 . 
     The cutting slots  213  are axially formed through the external surface of the engaging jacket  211  and the engaging ring  212  to enable the engaging jacket  211  to deform relative to the corresponding engaging hole  12  of the body  10 . Then, the engaging ring  212  can be passed through the corresponding engaging hole  12  to abut against the corresponding outer surface of the body  10  to hold the rotating mount  21  in the corresponding mounting recess  11 . The inserting holes  214  are formed through the outer side of the rotating mount  21  beside the engaging jacket  211 . The notches  215  are formed through the outer side and the inner side of the rotating mount  21  at the outer periphery of the rotating mount  21  and are spaced apart from each other at intervals, and each one of the notches  215  has a width. 
     Preferably, with reference to  FIGS. 2A and 3 , when the engaging jacket  211  securely engages the corresponding engaging hole  12  by the engaging ring  212 , each operating set  20  further has a T-shaped limiting element  24  mounted in and abutting against the engaging jacket  211  via the free end of the engaging jacket  211  to prevent the engaging jacket  211  from deforming relative to the engaging hole  12  to hold the rotating mount  21  securely on the corresponding outer surface of the body  10 . The limiting element  24  has a pushing rod  241  and a limiting board  242 . The pushing rod  241  has an end. The limiting board  242  is transversally formed on the end of the pushing rod  241  to form the T-shaped limiting element  24 , and is mounted in and abuts against the engaging jacket  211  to enable the engaging ring  212  to abut against the body  10  at the corresponding engaging hole  12 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2A, 2B and 4 , the two covering plates  22  are connected to the rotating mount  21  at an interval to cover the outer side of the rotating mount  21 , and each one of the covering plates  22  is semi-circular and has an inner surface, a flat inner edge, a curved outer edge, an outer side, a connecting pipe  221 , an abutting ring  222 , two cutting grooves  223 , multiple track grooves  224 , and a guiding channel  225 . 
     The inner surface of the covering plate  22  covers a part of the outer side of the rotating mount  21 . The flat inner edge of the covering plate  22  faces the flat inner edge of the other covering plate  22  at an interval. The connecting pipe  221  is formed on and protrudes from the inner surface of the covering plate  22 , extends in the outer side of the rotating mount  21 , and engages one of the inserting holes  214  to hold the covering plate  22  with the rotating mount  21 . The connecting pipe  221  is hollow and has a free end and an external surface. The free end of the connecting pipe  221  extends in the rotating mount  21  via a corresponding inserting hole  214 . The abutting ring  222  is formed on and protrudes from the external surface of the connecting pipe  221  at the free end, and abuts against the inner side of the rotating mount  21 . 
     The cutting grooves  223  are axially formed through the external surface of the connecting pipe  221  and the abutting ring  222  to enable the connecting pipe  221  to deform relative to the corresponding inserting hole  214  of the rotating mount  21 . Then, the abutting ring  222  can be passed through the corresponding inserting hole  214  to abut against the inner side of the rotating mount  21  to hold the covering plate  22  with the rotating mount  21 . The track grooves  224  are formed through the curved outer edge of the covering plate  22 , are space apart from each other at intervals, align with some of the notches  215  of the rotating mount  21 , and each one of the track grooves  224  has a width. The width of the track groove  224  is wider than the width of a corresponding notch  215  of the rotating mount  21 . The guiding channel  225  is formed in the flat inner edge of the covering plate  22 . In addition, each one of the track grooves  224  of the operating set  20  communicates with one of the track grooves  224  of one of the adjacent operating sets  20 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , when the covering plates  22  are mounted on the rotating mount  21 , the operating set  20  has a sliding groove  25  formed between the guiding channels  225  of the covering plates  22 , and the sliding groove  25  aligns with two of the notches  215  of the rotating mount  21 . That is, the notches  215  of the rotating mount  21  align with the sliding groove  25  and the track grooves  224  of the covering plates  22 . Furthermore, the sliding groove  25  of the operating set  20  communicates with the two sliding grooves  25  of two of the adjacent operating sets  20 . Preferably, each one of the covering plates  22  has a color. 
     The sliding sheets  23  are movably mounted in the track grooves  224  of the covering plates  22  and the sliding groove  25  of the operating set  20  to cover the rotating mount  21 . Each one of the sliding sheets  23  is a curved and rectangular sheet and has an outer surface and a mark  231 . The outer surface of the sliding sheet  23  is exposed from one of the track grooves  224  or the sliding groove  25  of the operating set  20 . The mark  231  is formed on the outer surface of the sliding sheet  23 , and the mark  231  can be a numeral or an English alphabet as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Additionally, the mark  231  of the sliding sheet also can be a pattern of Chinese Animal Zodiac, Constellations, Poker or Numerology. Furthermore, the outer surface and the mark  231  of the sliding sheet  23  have different colors. Preferably, the color of the outer surface of the sliding sheet  23  is same or different from the colors of the two covering plates  22 . The amount of the sliding sheets  23  of one of the operating sets  20  is fewer than amount of the other operating sets  20  to form a gap on the operating set  20 , and this can enable the sliding sheets  23  of the operating set  20  to move to another operating set  20  via the gap. 
     In use, with reference to  FIG. 5 , a user can turn the educational ball over to enable the operating set  20  that has fewer sliding sheets  23  to move to a top of the educational ball. In the first embodiment of an educational ball, the gap is formed in the sliding groove  25  of the corresponding operating set  20 . With reference to  FIG. 6 , the user can rotate one of the adjacent operating sets  20  to enable one of the sliding sheets  23  of the adjacent operating set  20  to align with the gap. Then, the user can push the corresponding sliding sheet  23  to move into the gap to fill the sliding groove  25  of the operating set  20  that has fewer sliding sheets  23  as shown in  FIG. 7 , and the gap is moved and formed on the adjacent operating set  20 . 
     According to the above-mentioned operation, the user also can rotate two adjacent operating sets  20  to enable the gap to align with one of the track grooves  224  of one of the two adjacent operating sets  20  to form different spatial arrangements. In addition, each one of the operating sets  20  can be rotated relative to the four adjacent operating sets  20  to move the sliding sheets  23  between the operating sets  20 . Furthermore, the user can move the sliding sheets  23  in the track grooves  224  annularly according to the order and sequence of numerals or English alphabets or move the sliding sheets  23  in the sliding grooves  25  to align with each other according to the order and sequence of numerals or English alphabets. In addition, the user also can push the sliding sheets  23  with same colors to move in the track grooves  224  and the sliding groove  25  of one of the operating sets  20 . Therefore, the educational ball in accordance with the present disclosure can provide different spatial arrangements and modes of operation, and this can increase operational variability, fun and challenge of using the educational ball. Then, the training effect of mental, spatial concepts and logical thinking for the users can be improved by the educational ball of the present disclosure. 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , a second embodiment of an educational ball in accordance with the present disclosure is substantially the same as the first embodiment except for the following features. Only one of the operating sets  20  has a sliding groove  25 , and the mark  231  of each one of the sliding sheets  23  is an English alphabet. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , a third embodiment of an educational ball in accordance with the present disclosure is substantially the same as the first embodiment except for the following features. Each rotating mount  21 A of the operating sets  20 A does not have the engaging ring  212  and the cutting slots  213 , and the engaging jacket  211  cannot be deformed. In addition, each limiting element  24 A further has an engaging head  243 A formed on the limiting board  242 A opposite to the pushing rod  241 A. The engaging head  243 A is resilient and is securely mounted in the engaging jacket  211 A to enable the limiting board  242 A to abut against the body  10 . Then, the rotating mount  21 A can be mounted on the corresponding mounting recess  11  of the body  10 . Preferably, glue is coated on the engaging head  243 A and is connected to the engaging jacket  211 A to increase the structural strength between the rotating mount  21 A and the body  10 . 
     Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.