Rolling Play Toy

Abstract

A novel ball toy is disclosed that is formed from a first shaped volume of material. The first shaped volume of material has a first nut embedded within the first shaped volume of material between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position, the first nut comprising an inner thread approximately concentric with a first center axis of the shaped volume of material. A first bolt having a head and an outer thread disposed about a shaft thereof for having the shaft controllably threaded into the inner thread of the first nut for frictional engagement therewith. A variation of the separation between head of the first bolt and the first shaped volume of material is used for varying a trajectory of the ball toy when rolled.

1 . A ball toy comprising: 
 a first shaped volume of material comprising a first center axis and defined by an outer surface comprising a first plurality of diameters varying from a first predetermined radius at a first predetermined position along the first center axis to a second predetermined radius at a second predetermined position along the first center axis;    a first nut embedded within the first shaped volume of material between the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position, the first nut comprising an inner thread approximately concentric with the first center axis; and,    a first bolt having a head and an outer thread disposed about a shaft thereof for having the shaft controllably threaded into the inner thread of the first nut for frictional engagement therewith.    
   
   
       2 . A ball toy according to  claim 1  comprising a first cavity formed within the first shaped volume of material between the first position and the second position along the first center axis and coaxial with the inner thread of the first nut, wherein at least one of the friction between the first cavity and the outer thread and the friction between the inner thread and the outer thread results in the distance between the head of the first bolt in relation to the first nut to remain approximately fixed during a rolling motion of the ball toy.  
   
   
       3 . A ball toy according to  claim 1  comprising: 
 a first embedded core disposed within first shaped volume of material, wherein the first nut is formed as part of the first embedded core.    
   
   
       4 . A ball toy according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of sections of removed material formed about an outer surface of the first shaped volume of material between the first predetermined position along the first center axis and the second predetermined position along the center axis, wherein the plurality of sections of removed material form an other than be continuous outer surface of the first shaped volume of material.  
   
   
       5 . A ball toy according to  claim 1  comprising: 
 a second shaped volume of material comprising a second center axis and defined by an outer surface comprising a second plurality of radii varying from a third predetermined radius at a third predetermined position along the second center axis to a fourth predetermined radius at a fourth predetermined position along the second center axis.    
   
   
       6 . A ball toy according to  claim 5  comprising: 
 a second embedded core disposed within second shaped volume of material;    at least a cavity formed within the second shaped volume of material for receiving of at least a bolt.    
   
   
       7 . A ball toy according to  claim 7  comprising: a third bolt protruding from the second embedded core for threading into the first embedded core for mating of the first shaped volume of material with the second shaped volume of material when the first bolt is other than threaded into the first nut.  
   
   
       8 . A ball toy according to  claim 1  wherein the first shaped volume of material is formed from an elastic material.  
   
   
       9 . A ball toy according to  claim 8  wherein the first bolt and the first nut are formed from a rigid material.  
   
   
       10 . A method comprising: 
 providing a ball toy comprising a shaped volume of material;    providing a nut having an inner thread embedded within the ball toy;    providing a threaded bolt having an outer thread and a bolt head, the outer thread for engaging the inner thread of the nut;    controllably threading the bolt one of into the nut and away from the nut; and,    varying the center of mass of the ball toy by adjusting a separation between the bolt head and the nut as a result of the controllable threading.    
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10  comprising: 
 bowling the ball toy along a surface,    wherein the trajectory of the ball toy is at least partially dependent upon the separation between a bolt head and a nut embedded within the ball toy.    
   
   
       12 . A ball toy comprising: 
 a first shaped volume of material comprising a center axis and defined by an outer surface comprising a plurality of radii varying from a first predetermined radius at a first predetermined position along the center axis to a second predetermined radius at a second predetermined position along the center axis;    an inner thread embedded within the solid volume between the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position;    a bolt having a head and an outer thread disposed about a shaft thereof for engaging the inner thread and for being controllably rotated with respect to the inner thread for frictional engagement therewith,    wherein a trajectory of the ball for is selected from the plurality of trajectories by varying a distance between the bolt head and the first shaped volume of material as a result of the process of threading the bolt head one of away from the first shaped volume of material and towards the first shaped volume of material.    
   
   
       13 . A ball toy according to  claim 12  comprising a first cavity formed within the first shaped volume of material between the first position and the second position along the first center axis and approximately coaxial with the inner thread, wherein at least one of the friction between the first cavity and the outer thread and the friction between the inner thread and the outer thread results in the distance between the head of the first bolt in relation to the first shaped volume of material to remain approximately fixed during a rolling motion of the ball toy.  
   
   
       14 . A ball toy according to  claim 1  comprising: 
 a first embedded core disposed within first shaped volume of material, wherein the inner thread is formed as part of the first embedded core.    
   
   
       15 . A ball toy according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of sections of removed material formed about an outer surface of the first shaped volume of material between the first predetermined position along the first center axis and the second predetermined position along the center axis, wherein the plurality of sections of removed material form an other than be continuous outer surface of the first shaped volume of material.  
   
   
       16 . A ball toy according to  claim 1  comprising: 
 a second shaped volume of material comprising a second center axis and defined by an outer surface comprising a second plurality of radii varying from a third predetermined radius at a third predetermined position along the second center axis to a fourth predetermined radius at a fourth predetermined position along the second center axis.    
   
   
       17 . A ball toy according to  claim 16  comprising: 
 a second embedded core disposed within second shaped volume of material;    at least a cavity formed within the second shaped volume of material for receiving of at least a bolt.    
   
   
       18 . A ball toy according to  claim 17  comprising: a third bolt protruding from the second embedded core for threading into the first embedded core for mating of the first shaped volume of material with the second shaped volume of material when the first bolt is other than threaded into the first nut.  
   
   
       19 . A ball toy according to  claim 12  wherein the first shaped volume of material is formed from an elastic material.  
   
   
       20 . A ball toy according to  claim 12  wherein the first bolt and the first nut are formed from a rigid material.