GB2216809A - Inflatable balls - Google Patents

Abstract

An inflatable ball 1 includes a hollow compartment 7 which is produced from a soft membraneous material, typically p.v.c., and which receives a light source comprising a bulb 6 and a cell 11, such that the ball 1 can be illuminated in use. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Inflatable Ball The present invention relates to an inflatable ball, and in particular to an inflatable ball including a light source.

Inflatable balls have hitherto found wide applicability as recreational and sporting articles. However, the balls do suffer from the disadvantage that they can become difficult to see when ambient light levels are low such as at dusk or at night time.

It has been previously proposed to provide an inflatable ball incorporating a light source such as in US-4179832, US-4292999, US-4335538, US-2849819, US-3058261, US-4282680, US-2838872, US-3304651, US-2020484, US-2903820, US-3580575 and DE-1172585. However, these designs all incorporate a hard outer shell which cannot be collapsed or deflated to reduce the volume when not in use. The bulbs incorporated in these designs also tend to break in use due to excessive vibration as a result of the hard outer shell. The structure of the wall of the outer shell with the power source wires running therethrough means that the structure is not absolute airtight. Consequently, the ball is unsuitable for use in water.

The complex structure of the previously proposed designs has led to high production costs and the hard shell can cause injury especially to heads or faces during play.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the problems outlined above.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an inflatable ball including a hollow compartment formed from the soft membraneous material, typically p.v.c., which is adapted to receive a light source comprising a bulb and a cell such that the ball can be illuminated in use.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a ball according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional side view of a ball shown in Figure 1 with the power cells removed; Figure 3 shows a sealing member as used in the example shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a sectional side view of a ball according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 shows a connector in a separated configuration; Figure 6 shows a connector in a joined configuration; Figure 7 shows a structural pattern for an insulated member; Figure 8 shows an insulated member formed according to the pattern shown in Figure 7; and Figure 9 shows a yet further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the embodiment shown in Figure 1 comprises an inflatable ball 1 made of a soft p.v.c. plastics, a hollow compartment 3 being provided within the ball 1 and being defined by a further p.v.c.

layer 2. A closure member 31 is provided in the ball 1, -said closure serving to close the compartment 3 so as to prevent the ingress of moisture and retain the compartment contents therein. A closed zone 4 is provided adjacent the lower end of the compartment 3, a cell seat 5 being supported thereon. The end of the cell seat 5 is provided with an on-off switch 10 for energising the bulbs 6 which are connected to the cell seat 5.

Four bulbs 6 are each fixed in one of four projecting rings 14 formed in the layer 2. In an alternative embodiment, the bulbs 6 are directly installed on the cell seat 5 as shown in Figure 5. The bulbs 6 can be in a variety of colours, in keeping with the ball surface 1 if required. A sealing member 61 is provided in an aperture in the layer 2 so that wires can be led from the cell seat 5 to the bulb 6 while maintaining the airtight integrity of the ball and compartment.

The sealing member 61 is produced by sandwiching wires 71 between insulating layers 61 using appropriately shaped upper and lower moulds 15, 16. A connector 9is provided on the outer ends of the wire 71, the connector 9 allowing the bulb wire 7 to be disconnected from the cell wire 71 if required (see Figures 5 and 6), especially when sealing the cell wires 71 into the sealing member 61 by high frequency welding, thus avoiding damage to the bulb wire 7.

An alternative arrangement of the sealing member 61 is shown in Figures 7 and 8 and is produced by injection moulding.

A mould A is provided with holes B for the cell wire 71 such that the sealing member 61 is formed with the wires integrally bound therein. The finished member 61 can then be welded into the surface of the compartment 3 and the bulb wire 7 attached as before to arrive at the configuration shown in Figure 9. The general circuitry for connecting the cells 5 and the bulb 6 is well known.

In use, prior to inflation of the ball 1 via the air nozzle 13, the cell seat 5 is removed from the compartment 3 through the closure such that the cells 11 can be inserted therein. The on-off switch 10 is moved to the on position and the seat 5 is re-installed into the compartment 3 above the closure zone 4 and as close to the centre of the ball as possible so as not to affect the balance of the ball in use.

The ball 1 is then inflated, the inflation pressure causing the compartment 3 to collapse and retain the components within the layer 2. The lighting arrangement is thus securely held within the ball and allows continuous operation of the light source to aid observation in conditions of low ambient light.

The present invention also allows the lighting arrangement to be removed from the ball to allow easy cell replacement and actuation of the light source.

Claims (11)

Claims

1. An inflatable ball including a hollow compartment produced from a soft membraneous material which is adapted to receive a light source comprising a bulb and a cell such that the ball can be illuminated in use.

2. A ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ball and the compartment are formed from a soft p.v.c. layer.

3. A ball as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the compartment is disposed at the centre of the ball and is provided with a closure member for preventing the ingress of moisture into said compartment.

4. A ball as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the compartment includes a supporting member for supporting a cell seat in said compartment.

5. A ball as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cell seat includes an on-off switch for energising the bulbs.

6. A ball as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a projecting ring is provided in the wall of the compartment for fixing a bulb thereto.

7. A ball as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein holes are provided in the cell seat for locating bulbs directly therein.

8. A ball as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a sealing member is provided in the wall of the compartment so as to allow a wire to be passed therethrough whilst maintaining the airtight integrity of the wall.

9. A ball as claimed in claim 8, wherein a connector is provided in the wire outside the compartment, the connector comprising two parts which can be assembled and dis-assembled at will.

10. A ball as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein a sealing member comprises an injection moulded body having a wire integrally formed therewith.

11. A ball which is substantially as herein described in relation to the accompanying drawings.