Amusement Device Including a Fabric Formed of a Plastic Strand

Abstract

An amusement device is provided. One embodiment of the amusement device includes a plastic strand wound upon itself to form a fabric that encloses a void. The plastic strand is plastically welded to itself at a plurality of locations throughout the fabric. Such a construction may yield a fabric that is resiliently deformable, and may be formed into a variety of shapes, such as a ball. In some cases, a plurality of nested fabrics may be employed in the amusement device.

1 . An amusement device, comprising:
 at least one plastic strand wound upon itself to form a fabric enclosing a void;   wherein the at least one plastic strand is plastically welded to itself at a plurality of locations throughout the fabric.   
     
     
         2 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric forms a closed surface. 
     
     
         3 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the amusement device substantially covers the area of a three dimensional surface of revolution. 
     
     
         4 . The amusement device of  claim 2 , wherein the fabric is in the shape of a sphere. 
     
     
         5 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic strand is plastically welded to itself at a plurality of asymmetric locations on the fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The amusement device of  claim 5 , wherein the plastic strand forms multiple loops intersecting at varying angles. 
     
     
         7 . The amusement device of  claim 7 , wherein the plastic strand defines a plurality of gaps in the fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The amusement device of  claim 7 , wherein the gaps have substantially straight sides, as viewed in plan view. 
     
     
         9 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic strand has a durometer hardness between 70 A and 90 A. 
     
     
         10 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic strand has a diameter of between about 1 and 4 millimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic strand substantially maintains its cross sectional shape throughout the location of each weld. 
     
     
         12 . The amusement device of  claim 11 , wherein the cross sectional shape is substantially round or oval. 
     
     
         13 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is resiliently deformable. 
     
     
         14 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is a first fabric and the plastic strand is a first plastic strand, the amusement device further comprising:
 at least one second plastic strand wound upon itself to form a second fabric enclosing a void;   wherein second fabric is nested within the first fabric.   
     
     
         15 . The amusement device of  claim 14 , wherein the first fabric and second fabric are plastically welded to each other. 
     
     
         16 . The amusement device of  claim 14 , wherein the first plastic strand and second plastic strand have a different cross sectional shape, a different diameter, and/or a different color. 
     
     
         17 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is formed in the shape a ball. 
     
     
         18 . The amusement device of  claim 17 , wherein the amusement device in the shape of the ball includes surface ornamentation formed from an additional plastic strand adorned on the ball. 
     
     
         19 . An amusement device, comprising:
 at least one plastic strand wound upon itself to form a fabric enclosing a void;   wherein the plastic strand is plastically welded to itself at a plurality of asymmetric locations throughout the fabric;   wherein the plastic strand forms multiple loops around the void intersecting at varying angles to define a plurality of gaps in the fabric;   wherein the plastic strand substantially maintains its cross sectional shape throughout the location of each weld; and   wherein the fabric is resiliently deformable.   
     
     
         20 . An amusement device, comprising:
 at least one plastic strand laid upon itself to form a fabric;   wherein the plastic strand is plastically welded to itself at a plurality of asymmetric locations and varying angles throughout the fabric;   wherein the plastic strand defines a plurality of gaps in the fabric; and   wherein the plastic strand substantially maintains its cross sectional shape throughout the location of each weld.