GB2573984A

GB2573984A - Childs ball toy with changing facial expressions and features

Info

Publication number: GB2573984A
Application number: GB1804303.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin O'shea James
Original assignee: James Martin Oshea
Current assignee: James Martin Oshea
Priority date: 2018-03-17
Filing date: 2018-03-17
Publication date: 2019-11-27
Also published as: WO2019180397A1; GB201804303D0

Abstract

A child's toy ball having upper 1B and lower 2B spherical domes attached by central fixing means enabling the portions to rotate independently. The dome surfaces display facial expressions 8B, 9, 12 and there are changeable fittings, such as hats, hair and sunglasses 7B, for the face depicted. The attachment means between the two halves of the orb may be a column 5 (16F, figure 7) with a lip (20G, figure 8) on the planar surface of one half insertable into a central hole on the planar surface of the opposing half (figured 7, 8). The facial expressions, such as eyes and mouths, may be printed or embossed on the surface of the ball. The ball may be made of compressible foam or rubber. The ball may be used to aid communication with autistic children by allowing the child to change the facial expression on the ball by rotating the halves.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

CHILDS BALL TOY WITH CHANGING FACIAL EXPRESSIONSAND FEATURES

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a soft foam or rubber ball, for play and education or to aide expression of feelings, stimulation or personal moods of autistic or otherwise impaired children.

Background

Autism is a developmental and complex disorder characterized by troubles with social various levels of interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behaviour. Parents usually notice signs in the first two or three years of their child's life. These signs often develop gradually, though some children with autism reach their developmental milestones at a normal pace and then worsen.

For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), connecting with others and interpreting social cues can be enormously challenging. ASD describes a collection of neurodevelopmental disorders relating to communication difficulties and characterized by repetitive behaviours, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

It has been discovered that children on the autism spectrum respond especially well to bright colours and simulative toys. For those working with children who have ASD, repetition and predictability are important.

A further need of these children is the ability to express feelings, which is often impossible for them, or at least very difficult owing to the nature of the condition.

Various methods for this include water filled columns or vertical tubes with bubbles rising from the bottom to the surface which are brightly lit with coloured lighting, to provide visual stimulation.

Brightly coloured toys and items are also a way of these children finding forms of expression.

The present invention aims to provide a new toy in the form of a ball which is able to be easily operated by the child to express feelings that they are having at the time or moods. It also enables them or an adult to change other aspects of the toy, such as eye wear and head fittings such as hair or hats.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a ball which is approximately 14 centimetres or more in diameter, or certainly of a size which is suitable for handling by a child and of a smaller toy ball size. The ball is constructed of a soft foam or rubber composite to enable it to be pliable but also firm enough for use.

The ball is formed by connecting to exact spherical dome halves together by means of a simple centrally located connection method thereto.

Each half of the ball is solid in body and has a planar level surface; to the centre of each is a connecting means. The means for connection comprise a docking member as a short column, to the centre of the planar level surface and perpendicular to it. The member is round, in column form, as aforementioned and has a disc formed at its tip which is slightly wider than the column onto which it is provided. All aforementioned parts are made of a single piece of moulded soft compressible foam or rubber.

The second half of the ball is of exacting size to the first but has a docking hole to its centre which is large enough to insert the member of the first half of the ball. The depth of the docking hole and the extent of the hole, are suitably sized to accommodate the inserted member.

To the end of the docking hole is a slightly wider open section which is rimmed, as shown in Figure 8. As the docking member column is inserted into the docking hole, as the two halves of the ball are pressed together, the disc at the end of the column is compressed by the walls of the docking hole, as it is pushed inward. This is possible by way of the foam or rubber of which the ball and therefore the docking member column and disc end, being soft and flexible.

The compressed disc end, of the male member column, passes to the end of the docking hole interior, where it suddenly widens in the wider round channel. The end disc expands instantly to almost fill the space within the wider round channel due to its foam or rubber body returning to its original size in the space provided at the end of the docking hole therefore.

This action connects the two spherical dome halves together. As the size of the hole into which the docking member column and its end disc, accommodates them with slight play, the bottom half of the ball can be rotated, as the top half is held by the other hand.

In effect, both halves of the ball can be rotated in both opposing directions due to the inserted docking member column inside the docking hole providing a rotation pivot.

The ball exterior is decorated for expressive and stimulation purposes of the child. Therefore, to the lower half of the ball, as it is used, at least four different embossed or printed mouth expressions are located.

These mouth expressions are equally located on the outer surface of the lower half of the ball. They are slightly raised and embossed in their creation, so a child can feel them with their fingers on the surface also. This offers an advantageous tactile feature to the facial areas of the ball.

The mouth expressions are unlimited to choice but may include a smile, a puzzled mouth, an angry mouth and a sad mouth.

To the upper half of the ball are eyes, which are unlimited in their choice, of type, size, effects and colour, with holes located near them, into which attachments may be inserted, such as sunglasses. The sunglasses, for example, will have a protruding peg (which is rounded for safety), on one or more locations which are simply inserted into the holes. As shown in the Figures, the sunglasses may insert into holes provided above the eyes therefore. They may also be attached using other means such as hook and eye pads.

The spacing between each mouth on the lower ball surface is important to ensure that when a mouth is chosen and the bottom half of the ball is turned and rotated around so the chosen mouth matches and aligns with the rest of the face, which is on the upper half of the ball, the other mouth options are not fully seen at the same time, when the face is frontally viewed. This would retract from the acceptable image of the face.

Therefore, the child can rotate the lower half of the ball to advantageously select one of the provided mouth expressions, on the bottom half of the ball. This can be done simply as an element of fun by any child or can add the ability of expression or understanding of facial expressions by an affected child, such as with autism.

The ball can have hair added to its top, in the replacement of the hat options. This is simply achieved by a member column being provided to the underside of the hat or hair, as shown in the Figures. This member column is of suitable length to enable it to slide inside a correspondingly sized hole at the top centre of the upper spherical dome. This attaches the hat or hair options, which may vary on an unlimited basis of design, material, colour or decoration thereto.

The upper spherical dome may also have a selection of different eye expressions imprinted to its surface, at spaced points around its surface. This would enable the child to also rotate the top half of the ball, being the upper spherical dome, to locate different eye expressions on the upper half of the ball with different mouth expressions on the lower half of the ball.

The ball may be accompanied by a comic book which features or relates to the ball and its expressions as the book is read. As the child or adult reads through the book, the book may refer to an expression or feeling in various ways, which the child or adult then arranges on the ball by moving the lower half or both upper and lower half of the ball. The arranged facial expressions will then match those represented in the book, which will change as the child or adult continues to read.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features which has all the advantages of the prior art protective covers and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features, which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features, which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features, which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features, which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a dimensional view of the child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features.

Figure 2 shows a dimensional view of child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features, with the bottom half of the ball toy being rotated.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features, with facial items being removed.

Figure 4 shows a dimensional internal view of the child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features, with the centre connecting method visible.

Figure 5 shows a dimensional internal view of upper spherical dome of the child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features, with the docking hole of the centre connecting method visible.

Figure 6 shows a dimensional internal view of the lower spherical dome of the child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features, with the member column of the centre connecting method visible.

Figure 7 shows a dimensional internal view of the upper and lower spherical domes with the docking hole and member column being docked together to form the complete ball toy.

Figure 8 shows a sectional view of the centre connecting method with the docking hole and the member column engaging during docking.

Figure 9 shows a dimensional view of the child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features, with hair being applied and changed facial expressions.

Figure 10 shows a dimensional view of the child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features, with the upper spherical dome being rotated.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features is shown in Figure 1. A ball toy which is constituted by an upper spherical dome 1 and a lower spherical dome 2, which are two halves that fit together to form the ball toy. A circumference line 3 indicates where the two halves 1 and 2 meet. The lower spherical dome 2 has mouth expressions 8 around its surface. Sunglasses 7 and hat 4 are attachments, means to attach them are provided. The hat 4 is attached to the upper spherical dome 1 via a column member 5 which is attached to the hat and inserted into a hole 6, as shown in Figure 1.

The lower spherical dome 2A rotates to reveal changing mouth expressions 8A, as shown. The upper spherical dome 1A remains static during the rotation of the lower spherical dome 2A by being hand held (not shown).

Eyes 9 and 12 are provided on the upper spherical dome 1B, as shown in Figure 3. Sunglasses 7B are attached to the upper spherical dome 1B via facial attachment members 13 and 14 inserted into facial attachment holes 10 thereto. Alternative hook and eye pads may also be used (not shown).

The mouth expression 8B has been changed, as shown, by rotation of 2B.

Upper spherical dome 1C and lower spherical dome 2C are fitted and held together by means of docking member column 16 which is perpendicular to planar surface 17, inserted into docking member hole 21. As shown in Figure 4.

Figure 5 shows the upper spherical dome 1D, with a planar surface 17D, the docking member hole 21 has an opening 19 into which the docking member column is inserted (not shown). A wider lip space 18 provides overlap for the inserted and re-expanded wider end disc fitting, (not shown) holding it in place. A channel wall 15 surrounds the docking member hole 21 and the wider lip space 18 allows expansion means for an end disc fitting (Shown in Figure 6).

Figure 6 shows the lower spherical dome 2E with a planar surface 17E, which has a docking member column 16E protruding from the centre. The docking member column has a flexible end disc fitting 20 which is wider than 16E therefore.

Figure 7 shows both lower and upper spherical dome halves 1F and 2F being bought together with the docking member column 16F aligned to insert into the channel wall 15F.

The docking member column 16G is inserted into the docking member hole 21G, as shown in Figure 8. The end disc fitting 20G is compressed (shown in broken lines) as it travels along the interior of the docking member hole 21G. It is then able to expand in the channel wall end 22 as it completes the insert 20G.

Figure 9 shows alternative hair attachment 23 located to the upper spherical dome 1H.

The upper spherical dome 11, may also rotate above the lower spherical dome 21, to provide a series of different eye 121 expressions.

Claims

1) A child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features constituted by: A soft ball toy comprised of an upper and lower spherical dome, these are attached together by central fixing means which enable them to rotate independently, facial expressions are provided on the dome surfaces, as are changeable novel fittings.

2) A child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 wherein, an upper spherical dome has a centrally located docking hole to its planar under surface.

3) A child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 2 wherein, a docking hole forms a small partial tube channel which has a wider round end section located perpendicularly to it.

4) A child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 3 wherein, a lower spherical dome has a vertical docking member column with a wider disc end fitting.

5) A child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 3 and 4 wherein, the disc end fitting is advantageously compressed when inserted into the docking hole.

6) A child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 5 wherein, the disc end fitting instantly expands when it is fully inserted into the docking hole, as the wider round end section provides space for this therefore.

7) A child's ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 6 wherein, the upper and lower spherical domes are rotatable due to the docking hole and docking member column being inserted together.

8) A child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claimed wherein, the two halves of a ball toy are held together by the fixing means of the docking hole and docking member column.

9) A child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 wherein, different facial mouth expressions are embossed or printed onto the lower spherical dome of a soft ball toy.

10) A child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 9 wherein, differing mouth expressions are equally spaced on a lower spherical dome of a soft ball toy.

11) A child's ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 and claimed wherein, different facial eye expressions are embossed or printed onto the upper spherical dome of a soft ball toy.

12) A child's ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 11 wherein, differing eye expressions are equally spaced on an upper spherical dome of a soft ball toy.

13) A child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 10 and 12 wherein, equally spaced mouth and eye expressions are changed by rotating the upper and lower spherical domes of a soft ball toy.

14) A child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 13 wherein, a mouth expression on a soft ball toy is chosen by rotating the lower half of the ball and aligning it with a chosen eye expression on the upper half of said ball therefore.

15) A child’s ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 14 wherein, an eye expression on a soft ball toy is chosen by rotating the upper half of the ball and aligning it with a chosen mouth expression on the lower half of said ball therefore.

16) A child's ball toy with changing facial expressions and features as set forth in claim 1 wherein, unlimited options of attachments may be fixed to and changed on the ball toy, to include; hats, hair and sunglasses.