Throwing toy with interior display surface

Abstract

A throwing toy has a football-shaped body with an openable section. A compartment within the football-shaped body is exposed when the openable section is opened. A display surface becomes exposed within the compartment when the openable section is opened. The display surface can be a writable and erasable surface such that desired information can be written and visible on the display surface and can be erased therefrom.

1 . A throwing toy comprising: 
 a football-shaped body having at least two body parts that are openable relative to one another; and    a display surface that is exposed when the football-shaped body is opened, the display surface being writable and erasable.    
   
   
       2 . A throwing toy according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a compartment within the football-shaped body that is exposed when the football-shaped body is opened, the display surface being disposed within the compartment.    
   
   
       3 . A throwing toy according to  claim 2 , wherein one of the parts of the football-shaped body is an openable section and wherein the compartment is exposed within the football-shaped body when the openable section is opened.  
   
   
       4 . A throwing toy according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a hinge assembly coupled to both parts of the football-shaped body.    
   
   
       5 . A throwing toy according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 an openable section forming one of the parts of the football-shaped body;    a hinge base secured within the football-shaped body;    a first plate pivotally coupled to the hinge base; and    a second plate secured to an underside of the openable section and pivotally coupled to the first plate.    
   
   
       6 . A throwing toy according to  claim 5 , wherein the first plate has a surface facing upward from a compartment within the football-shaped body, the first plate defining the display surface when the openable section is open.  
   
   
       7 . A throwing toy according to  claim 5 , wherein the second plate defines an indicia display surface providing informational reference indicia to a user.  
   
   
       8 . A throwing toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the writable and erasable surface includes an opaque base layer and a liftable transparent layer overlying the base layer, whereby indicia can be written on the writable and erasable surface by pressing on the transparent layer where desired, and whereby the indicia can be erased by lifting the transparent layer from the base layer.  
   
   
       9 . A throwing toy according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an indicia display surface that is exposed when the football-shaped body is opened, the indicia display surface providing useful informational reference indicia.    
   
   
       10 . A throwing toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the football-shaped body is formed from a foam rubber or polyurethane material.  
   
   
       11 . A throwing toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the two parts of the football-shaped body are biased to a closed position by a biasing mechanism.  
   
   
       12 . A throwing toy according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a latching mechanism for holding the football-shaped body in a closed position.    
   
   
       13 . A throwing toy comprising: 
 a football-shaped body having two opposite ends and at least two body parts, the body parts being movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position; and    an indicia display surface that is exposed and accessible when the body parts are in the open position, and wherein the throwing toy forms the football-shape and can be utilized as a football when the body parts are in the closed position.    
   
   
       14 . A throwing toy according to  claim 13 , wherein the indicia display surface is an erasable and reusable writing surface.  
   
   
       15 . A throwing toy according to  claim 13 , wherein the indicia display surface is a surface providing preprinted reference information useful for playing a game of football.  
   
   
       16 . A throwing toy according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a cut-out opening formed in one of the body parts and between the opposite ends; and    a compartment defined by the cut-out opening within the football-shaped body.    
   
   
       17 . A throwing toy according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 an openable body section forming the other of the body parts and movable into and out of the compartment, the openable body section providing access to the compartment when in the open position, the body section also covering the cut-out opening and forming a part of the football-shaped body when in the closed position.    
   
   
       18 . A throwing toy comprising: 
 a football-shaped body having two opposite ends, a cut-out opening formed in the body between the opposite ends, and a compartment defined by the opening within the football-shaped body;    an openable body section received in the opening and movable between an open position and a closed position, the body section providing access to the compartment when in the open position, the body section also covering the opening and forming a part of the football-shaped body when in the closed position; and    an erasable and reusable writing surface exposed and accessible within the compartment when the body section is in the open position.    
   
   
       19 . A throwing toy according to  claim 18 , wherein the writing surface is provided on a first plate disposed within and facing upward from the compartment.  
   
   
       20 . A throwing toy according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 an indicia display surface provided on an underside of the openable body section and displaying useful preprinted reference information indicia.    
   
   
       21 . A throwing toy according to  claim 20 , wherein the indicia display surface is provided on a plate coupled to the underside of the openable body section.  
   
   
       22 . A throwing toy according to  claim 18 , wherein the football-shaped body and the openable body section are each formed of a foam rubber or polyurethane material.  
   
   
       23 . A throwing toy according to  claim 18 , further comprising a hinge assembly having a first portion coupled to the football-shaped body and a second portion coupled to the openable body section, wherein the first and second portions of the hinge assembly can pivot relative to one another.  
   
   
       24 . A throwing toy according to  claim 23 , wherein the hinge assembly further includes a biasing mechanism for biasing the second portion toward the first portion such that the openable body section is biased to the closed position.