Magnetic bouncing ball and target game

Abstract

A magnaball toy is advantageously formed from an embedded spherical rare earth magnet (e.g., NdFeB, SmCo, AlNiCo, etc.) placed within an elastopolymer shell. A pair of balls may be dropped from about a meter and have a high probability of sticking together as they bounce. In some applications, allowing for free rotation of a spherical magnet inside the ball allows for a predictable attractive behavior of the ball. This feature brings various novel gaming aspects to the magnaball toy.

1 . (canceled).  
   
   
       2 . The game of  claim 13 , wherein the spherical rare earth magnet comprises a neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) magnet.  
   
   
       3 . The game of  claim 13 , wherein the spherical rare earth magnet comprises a samarium cobalt (SmCo) magnet.  
   
   
       4 . The game of  claim 13 , wherein the spherical rare earth magnet comprises an aluminum nickel cobalt (AlNiCO) magnet.  
   
   
       5 . The game of  claim 13 , wherein the elastic shell comprises an elastopolymer.  
   
   
       6 . The game of  claim 13 , wherein the elastic shell comprises a polymer foam.  
   
   
       7 . (canceled).  
   
   
       8 . The game of  claim 13 , wherein said ball is generally spherical.  
   
   
       9 . The game of  claim 13 , wherein said elastic shell is formed from two generally hemispherical portions.  
   
   
       10 . The game of  claim 13 , wherein said target layer comprises a non-metal sheet with an image printed thereon, said sheet being temporarily mounted to a surface comprising material selected from the group consisting of ferrous material and magnetic material.  
   
   
       11 . (canceled).  
   
   
       12 . (canceled).  
   
   
       13 . A game for a player to bounce a ball against a solid surface and toward a target, the game comprising: 
 a ball comprising a spherical, rare earth magnet having a magnetic field, and an elastic shell encompassing the spherical rare earth magnet, said elastic shell providing sufficient elasticity for causing said ball to bounce upon impact of said ball with said solid surface; and    a target layer comprising material selected from the group consisting of ferrous material and magnetic material, the target layer having goals formed therein wherein at least one of said goals has a magnetic polarity;    wherein said magnetic field is of sufficient strength to overcome said elasticity when said ball impacts said target layer and to cause said ball to magnetically attach to said target layer when said ball and said target layer come in contact with each other.    
   
   
       14 . (canceled).  
   
   
       15 . (canceled).  
   
   
       16 . (canceled).