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 light up ball toy, comprising:
 a light assembly, having a power source and a light emitting diode;   a first end cap;   a second end cap; and   a skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity, the skeletal structure having a plurality of curved loop segments which form a continuous loop comprising alternating closed curved ends, wherein:
 each closed curved end is coupled with one of the first end cap and the second end cap such that each closed curved end terminates at an opposite end from an adjacent closed curved end, 
 at least some segments of the skeletal structure comprise a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity, and 
 the light assembly is coupled with the skeletal structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ball toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the skeletal structure further comprises a logo portion on a side of the skeletal structure. 
     
     
         3 . The ball toy according to  claim 2 , wherein the skeletal structure further comprises a platform portion on a side of the skeletal structure. 
     
     
         4 . The ball toy according to  claim 3 , wherein the light assembly is disposed on one or both of the platform portion and the logo portion. 
     
     
         5 . The ball toy according to  claim 3 , wherein the light assembly directs light toward one or more of the logo portion and the platform portion. 
     
     
         6 . The ball toy of  claim 1 , wherein the skeletal structure defines two or more apertures that provide fluid communication between the open interior cavity and an ambient space disposed outside of an external boundary defined by the skeletal structure. 
     
     
         7 . The ball toy of  claim 1 , wherein the skeletal structure defines a shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a spheroid, a prolate spheroid, an oblate spheroid, an ellipsoid, a toroid, and a geodesic sphere. 
     
     
         8 . The ball toy of  claim 1 , wherein the skeletal structure defines a prolate spheroid. 
     
     
         9 . The ball toy of  claim 1 , wherein the light assembly comprises a processor. 
     
     
         10 . The ball toy of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the segments comprise a portion that is transparent or translucent to light. 
     
     
         11 . The ball toy of  claim 1 , wherein the skeletal structure comprises a thermoplastic resin having a durometer of about 60. 
     
     
         12 . A ball toy, comprising:
 a light assembly having a power source and a plurality of light emitting diodes;   a first end cap;   a second end cap; and   a skeletal structure having a plurality of curved loop segments which form a continuous loop, the skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity and having a first end and a second end, wherein:
 each curved loop segment has a curved end and an opposite end, 
 the curved end of each loop segment is coupled with the first end cap at the first end of the skeletal structure, 
 the opposite end of each loop segment is coupled with the second end cap at the second end of the skeletal structure, 
 at least some segments of the skeletal structure comprise a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity, and 
 the light assembly is coupled with the skeletal structure. 
   
     
     
         13 . The ball toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the skeletal structure further comprises a platform portion on a side of the skeletal structure. 
     
     
         14 . The ball toy according to  claim 13 , wherein the skeletal structure further comprises a logo portion on a side of the skeletal structure. 
     
     
         15 . The ball toy according to  claim 14 , wherein the light assembly is disposed on one or both of the platform portion and the logo portion. 
     
     
         16 . The ball toy of  claim 12 , wherein the skeletal structure defines two or more apertures that provide fluid communication between the open interior cavity and an ambient space disposed outside of an external boundary defined by the skeletal structure. 
     
     
         17 . The ball toy of  claim 12 , wherein the skeletal structure defines a shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a spheroid, a prolate spheroid, an oblate spheroid, an ellipsoid, a toroid, and a geodesic sphere. 
     
     
         18 . The ball toy of  claim 12 , wherein the skeletal structure defines a prolate spheroid. 
     
     
         19 . The ball toy of  claim 12 , wherein the light assembly comprises a processor. 
     
     
         20 . The ball toy of  claim 12 , wherein at least some of the segments comprise a portion that is transparent or translucent to light. 
     
     
         21 . The ball toy of  claim 12 , wherein the skeletal structure comprises a thermoplastic resin having a durometer of about 60. 
     
     
         22 . A ball toy, comprising:
 a light assembly; and   a skeletal structure having a plurality of curved loop segments which collectively form a single continuous loop, the skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity and having a first end and a second end, wherein:
 each curved loop segment has a curved end and an opposite end, 
 the curved end of each loop segment meets at the first end of the skeletal structure without intersecting, 
 the opposite end of each loop segment meets at the second end of the skeletal structure without intersecting, 
 the single continuous loop of the skeletal structure provides a single continuous non-intersecting central longitudinal axis extending coaxially within each of the curved loop segments, 
 at least some segments of the skeletal structure comprise a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity, and 
 the light assembly is coupled with the skeletal structure. 
   
     
     
         23 . A ball toy, comprising:
 a light assembly; and   a skeletal structure having a curved loop segment that forms a single continuous loop, the skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity and having a first end and a second end, wherein:
 the curved loop segment has at least three curved ends and at least three opposite ends, 
 each curved end of the loop segment meets at the first end of the skeletal structure without intersecting, 
 each opposite end of the loop segment meets at the second end of the skeletal structure without intersecting, 
 at least some segments of the skeletal structure comprise a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity, and 
 the light assembly is coupled with the skeletal structure.