GB2456329A

GB2456329A - A jumping plaything

Info

Publication number: GB2456329A
Application number: GB0800512A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sean William Mumbray
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-01-11
Filing date: 2008-01-11
Publication date: 2009-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2028-01-11
Also published as: WO2009087388A1; GB0800512D0; GB2456329B

Abstract

A jumping plaything comprises a shell formed from upper 2 and lower 4 shell members, the lower shell member 4 being formed from an elastomeric material and being invertible from an outwardly convex rest state (see figure 3) to an outwardly concave loaded state (figure 5) upon application thereto of an axial force. The configuration of the plaything being such that the lower shell member 4 is held in the loaded state after removal of the axial force but is caused to flip back to the rest state upon subsequent impact of the lower shell member 4 against a surface, whereby the flipping of the lower shell member 4 from the inverted state back to the rest state serves to propel the plaything away from the surface.

Description

A PLAYTHING

This invention relates to a toy or plaything.

Summary of the Invention

More particularly, the invention provides a substantially ball-shaped toy or plaything comprising a pair of connected shell members, a lower one of which is formed from an elastomeric material. The lower shell member is inverted from a convex to a concave configuration by the application of an axial force and remains in the inverted configuration after removal of the axial force. When the toy or plaything is dropped onto a surface from an appropriate height, the force of the impact causes the lower shell member to flip back to its original convex shape. As it does so, the stored energy released propels the toy away from the surface and, in many cases, the height reached by the plaything exceeds the height from which it was dropped.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a plaything comprising a shell formed from upper and lower shell members, the lower shell member being formed from an elastomeric material and being invertible from an outwardly convex rest state to an outwardly concave loaded state upon application thereto of an axial force, the configuration of the plaything being such that the lower shell member is held in the loaded state after removal of the axial force but is caused to flip back to the rest state upon subsequent impact of the lower shell member against a surface, whereby the flipping of the lower shell member from the inverted state back to the :::: rest state serves to propel the plaything away from the surface.

The terms "upper" and "lower" as used herein in relation to the shell members refer to their relative positions when the plaything is in use. *..S

25 The upper and lower shell members are preferably held together by means of a post extending across the interior of the shell. The post is typically anchored to the : lower shell member and is slidable through an opening in the upper shell member.

The post may be provided at its upper end with an end cap or enlarged portion to prevent the upper shell member sliding off the post.

In order to allow the lower shell member to be inverted, air must be able to escape from the interior of the shell as the axial force is applied. In one embodiment, therefore, the upper shell member has one or more vent holes. For example, where the upper shell member has an opening in which the post is slidable, a plurality of vent holes may be arranged around (e.g. may surround) the opening. In one embodiment, the vent holes are elongate and extend in a radial direction away from the said opening.

At least the lower shell member is formed from an elastomeric material, for example a natural or synthetic rubber (e.g. a silicone rubber) or a mixture thereof.

However, the upper shell member may also be formed from an elastomeric material. In one embodiment, the upper and lower shell members are made from the same elastomeric materials.

The shell typically has a single upper shell member and a single lower shell member, and is usually substantially spherical. The upper and lower shell members may each be substantially hemispherical or near hemispherical.

In order to assist the upper and lower shell members to fit together in the rest state, they may have overlapping edges. For example, the upper shell portion may have an annularly recessed skirt portion that fits inside the edge of the lower shell member.

The plaything of the invention in use is compressed by applying an axial force to or through the lower shell member so as to cause it to invert. Where the upper and lower shell members are connected by a post, the force needed to invert the lower shell member may be applied by pushing the lower end of the post, or a cap I...

thereon, in the direction of the upper shell member.

* * 25 Once the lower shell member has inverted, and the axial force is removed, the lower I..

shell member remains in the inverted configuration. If the plaything is then :..: dropped from a suitable height onto a surface such as the ground, the force of impact of the lower shell member against the surface causes the lower shell member to flip from the inverted state back to its rest state. The energy released as the lower shell member flips back to its rest state serves to propel the plaything away from the surface.

The invention will now be illustrated, but not limited, by reference to the specific embodiment shown in Figures.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a plaything according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view from direction D of the plaything shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation along line I-I in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side view of a component part of the plaything of Figures Ito 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation showing the plaything with one shell member inverted.

Detailed Description of the Invention

An apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1 and comprises upper 2 and lower 4 shell members that fit together to form a substantially spherical whole. The upper shell member 2 has a central recess 6 leading to a hole 8 and is bounded at its lower end by a recessed annular skirt 10 which functions as a spigot and fits inside the rim of the lower shell member 4 * when the two shell members are pushed together. Surrounding the central recess 6 is a plurality of radially extending slots or holes 12. ***.

The lower shell member 4 (and typically also the upper shell member 2) is formed ****** * I *.,. from an elastomeric material such as a rubber, e.g. a silicone rubber, and has a scalloped rim 14. Like the upper shell member 2, the lower shell member 4 has a central hole 16. On the inner surface of the lower shell member 4 and surrounding 25 the hole 14 but set back from the edge thereof is an upstanding annular wall 18.

The upper 2 and lower 4 shell members are held together by a central post 20 which is shown more clearly in Figure 4. The post 20 has integrally formed larger 22 and smaller 24 radially outwardly extending annular flanges at one end and an annular rib or groove (not shown) at the other end. The smaller flange 24 is slightly larger in diameter than the hole 16.

To assemble the plaything, the flanged end of the post 20 is inserted through the hole 16 from the concave side of the lower shell member 4 with sufficient force that the smaller flange is urged through the hole. Because the shell member 4 is formed from an elastomeric material, it can be deformed to allow the flange through the hole 16 but then resiles to hold the post in place. The wall of the lower half shell is thus held between the smaller 24 and larger flanges 22. In order to complete the connection of the post 20 to the lower shell member 4, a cap 26 is pushed onto the end of the post. The cap 26 can be constructed so that it forms a tight friction fit on the end of the post. Alternatively, the post and cap can be providing with recesses and/or ribs or other protrusions that allow the cap and post to be connected together by means of a snap fit.

Once the post 20 is securely attached to the lower half shell 4, the other end of the post 20 is inserted through the hole 8 in the upper half shell and the two shell members are pushed together so that the recessed annular skirt 10 of the upper shell member 2 fits inside the rim of the lower shell member 4 as shown in the figures.

A second cap 28 is then pushed onto the end of the post, the ribs or grooves on the post engaging complementary ribs or grooves on the interior surface of the cap 28 to form a secure snap fit.

The plaything is a novelty toy and, when loaded as described below and dropped from an appropriate height, can spring back up to a height exceeding the height from which it was dropped. p...

The plaything is "loaded" by application of an axial force by pushing the cap 28 S... . . . . . inwardly against the resilience of the elastomeric material of the lower shell * member 4 so as to flip the lower shell member from the outwardly convex state shown in Figure 1 to the inverted state as shown in Figure 5. When the axial force applied through the cap 28 is released, the lower shell member remains in the inverted state and does not immediately spring back to the rest state. A proportion of the energy used to invert the lower shell member 4 remains stored in the member 4 as potential energy.

The lower shell member can be caused to flip out to the original convex configuration simply by pushing against the cap 30 on the upper end of the post 20.

However, in order to realise the play potential of the plaything, it is dropped from an appropriate height.

When the plaything is dropped, the rim of the lower shell member 4 contacts the ground (or other surface) initially and the rim is therefore deformed upwardly. At the same time, the lower edge of the annular skirt 10 of the upper shell member impacts against the surface of the lower shell member and urges it downwardly.

The combined effect of these two actions is to cause the lower shell member 4 to flip back from the inverted position to its original rest position. As it does so, the potential energy stored in the inverted shell member is released and the shell is propelled away from the surface. Tests carried out have shown that the amount of energy stored in the inverted shell member is such that the shell can be propelled to a height greater than the height from which it has been dropped.

It will be appreciated that the amount of energy stored in the inverted shell member 4 will depend on the amount of energy required to bring about inversion and this will vary according to the thickness of the wall of the lower shell member. It will also be appreciated that the plaything will need to be dropped from a height such that the impact of the plaything when it hits the ground is sufficient to cause it to : flip back to the rest position. * * **.

Equivalents *S Se.. *

** It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made * to the specific embodiments of the invention described above without departing * from the principles underlying the invention. All such modifications and alterations * are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims

I. A plaything comprising a shell formed from upper and lower shell members, the lower shell member being formed from an elastomeric material and being invertible from an outwardly convex rest state to an outwardly concave loaded state upon application thereto of an axial force, the configuration of the plaything being such that the lower shell member is held in the loaded state after removal of the axial force but is caused to flip back to the rest state upon subsequent impact of the lower shell member against a surface, whereby the flipping of the lower shell member from the inverted state back to the rest state serves to propel the plaything away from the surface.
2. A plaything according to claim 1 wherein the upper and lower shell members are held together by means of a post extending across the interior of the shell.
3. A plaything according to claim I wherein the post is anchored to the lower shell member and is slidable through an opening in the upper shell member.
4. A plaything according to claim 3 wherein the post has an end cap or enlarged portion at its upper end to prevent the upper shell member sliding off the post.
5. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper shell member has one or more vent holes.
6. A plaything according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the shell member has a plurality of vent holes surrounding the opening in the upper shell member.

*::::
7. A plaything according to claim 6 wherein the vent holes are elongate and extend in a radial direction away from the said opening.

* .1.:
8. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper a * **** shell member is formed from an elastomeric material. * S **.S
9. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the shell *S*S *: .* has a single upper shell member and a single lower shell member.
10. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the shell is substantially spherical.
11. A plaything according to claim 9 wherein the upper and lower shell members are each substantially hemispherical.
12. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper and lower shell members have overlapping edges.
13. A plaything according to claim 11 wherein the upper shell portion has an annularly recessed skirt portion that fits inside the edge of the lower shell member.
14. A plaything substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. ***. * 0* S. * *..* * S **.. *

S..... * S **S. * S *a.. S. *S *.S. S. * * * S * S.