Segmented ball with lighted elements

Abstract

Embodiments of the instant invention include lighted bounceable toys for play and amusement. Such toys or structures can be made in an infinite number of graceful and useful configurations. Exemplary bounceable ball toys include a light assembly having a power source and a plurality of light emitting elements, and a spherical skeletal structure having a plurality of segments. The spherical skeletal structure defines an open interior cavity, and at least some segments of the skeletal structure include a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity. Light emitting elements transmit light to the channel openings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bounceable spherical ball toy, comprising:
 a first end cap disposed toward a first end of the ball toy;   a second end cap disposed toward a second end of the ball toy opposing the first end;   a plurality of longitudinal segments extending between the first end cap and the second end cap; and   a plurality of undulating latitudinal circumference portions disposed between the first and second end caps and intersecting the plurality of longitudinal segments.   
     
     
         2 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of undulating latitudinal circumference portions comprises an undulating equatorial loop disposed about a central portion of the ball toy. 
     
     
         3 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of undulating latitudinal circumference portions comprises a first undulating equatorial loop disposed about a first portion of the ball toy located between the first end cap and a central portion of the ball toy. 
     
     
         4 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of undulating latitudinal circumference portions comprises a second undulating equatorial loop disposed about a second portion of the ball toy located between the second end cap and a central portion of the ball toy. 
     
     
         5 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of undulating latitudinal circumference portions comprises:
 a first undulating equatorial loop disposed about a first portion of the ball toy located between the first end cap and a central portion of the ball toy; and   a second undulating equatorial loop disposed about a second portion of the ball toy located between the second end cap and the central portion of the ball toy.   
     
     
         6 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of undulating latitudinal circumference portions comprises:
 a first undulating equatorial loop disposed about a first portion of the ball toy located between the first end cap and a central portion of the ball toy; and   a central undulating equatorial loop disposed about the central portion of the ball toy.   
     
     
         7 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of undulating latitudinal circumference portions comprises:
 a second undulating equatorial loop disposed about a second portion of the ball toy located between the second end cap and a central portion of the ball toy; and   a central undulating equatorial loop disposed about the central portion of the ball toy.   
     
     
         8 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of undulating latitudinal circumference portions comprises:
 a first undulating equatorial loop disposed about a first portion of the ball toy located between the first end cap and a central portion of the ball toy;   a second undulating equatorial loop disposed about a second portion of the ball toy located between the second end cap and the central portion of the ball toy; and   a central undulating equatorial loop disposed about the central portion of the ball toy.   
     
     
         9 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 8 , wherein the first equatorial loop forms a first undulating pattern, wherein the second equatorial loop forms a second undulating pattern, and wherein the first undulating pattern is synchronous with the second undulating pattern. 
     
     
         10 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 8 , wherein the first equatorial loop forms a first undulating pattern, wherein the second equatorial loop forms a second undulating pattern, and wherein the first undulating pattern is asynchronous with the second undulating pattern. 
     
     
         11 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 10 , wherein the central equatorial loop forms a third undulating pattern, and wherein the third undulating pattern is synchronous with the first undulating pattern and asynchronous with the second undulating pattern. 
     
     
         12 . A bounceable spherical ball toy, comprising:
 a first equatorial loop that is positioned along a central circumferential portion of the spherical ball toy, the central circumference portion disposed between first and second ends of the ball toy;   a second equatorial loop that is positioned along a first latitudinal circumferential portion of the spherical ball toy, the first latitudinal circumferential portion disposed between the central circumference portion and the first end of the ball toy;   a third equatorial loop that is positioned along a second latitudinal circumferential portion of the spherical ball toy, the second latitudinal circumferential portion disposed between the central circumference portion and the second end of the ball toy; and   a plurality of longitudinally extending segments coupled with the first, second, and third equatorial loops.   
     
     
         13 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the first equatorial loop forms a first undulating pattern. 
     
     
         14 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the second equatorial loop forms a second undulating pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the first undulating pattern is synchronous with the second undulating pattern. 
     
     
         16 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the first undulating pattern is asynchronous with the second undulating pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 16 , wherein the third equatorial loop forms a third undulating pattern, and wherein the third undulating pattern is synchronous with the first undulating pattern and asynchronous with the second undulating pattern. 
     
     
         18 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the loops comprises a channel or lumen. 
     
     
         19 . The bounceable spherical ball toy according to  claim 12 , wherein at one of the loops comprises a channel having a concave surface that faces toward an open interior cavity of the ball toy. 
     
     
         20 . A bounceable spherical ball toy, comprising:
 a first equatorial loop that is positioned along a central circumferential portion of the spherical ball toy, the central circumference portion disposed between first and second ends of the ball toy;   a second equatorial loop that is positioned along a first latitudinal circumferential portion of the spherical ball toy, the first latitudinal circumferential portion disposed between the central circumference portion and the first end of the ball toy;   a third equatorial loop that is positioned along a second latitudinal circumferential portion of the spherical ball toy, the second latitudinal circumferential portion disposed between the central circumference portion and the second end of the ball toy; and   a plurality of longitudinally extending segments coupled with the first, second, and third equatorial loops,   wherein each of the first, second, and third equatorial loops form an undulating patter, and   wherein each of the first, second, and third equatorial loops and longitudinally extending segments comprise a thermoplastic resin having a durometer of about 60.