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 soccer ball toy, comprising:
 a light assembly having a power source and a plurality of light emitting diodes, the light assembly comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a motion sensor and an accelerometer;   a spherical skeletal structure having a plurality of segments arranged to form a plurality of pentagonal features and a plurality of hexagonal features, the skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity, wherein each of the plurality of pentagonal features and each of the plurality of hexagonal features defines an aperture;   a plurality of sheaths covering at least some of the apertures; and   wherein at least some segments of the skeletal structure comprise a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity, and wherein the light assembly is configured to transmit light toward at least some of the channel openings.   
     
     
         2 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitting diodes are disposed at least partially within the channel openings. 
     
     
         3 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sheaths cover all the apertures formed by the plurality of hexagonal features. 
     
     
         4 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the apertures defined by the plurality of pentagonal features are not covered by sheaths. 
     
     
         5 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 1 , wherein the sheaths comprise a member selected from the group consisting of a solid element, a translucent element, and a transparent element. 
     
     
         6 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a logo plate coupled with the spherical skeletal structure. 
     
     
         7 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 1 , wherein the skeletal structure comprises a thermoplastic resin having a durometer of about 60. 
     
     
         8 . A bounceable soccer ball toy, comprising:
 a light assembly having a power source and a plurality of light emitting diodes;   a spherical skeletal structure having a plurality of segments arranged to form a plurality of pentagonal features and a plurality of hexagonal features, the skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity, wherein each of the plurality of pentagonal features and each of plurality of hexagonal features defines an aperture;   a logo plate coupled with the spherical skeletal structure;   a plurality of sheaths covering at least some of the apertures; and   wherein at least some segments of the skeletal structure comprise a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity, wherein the apertures defined by each of the plurality of pentagonal features are not covered by sheaths; and wherein the light assembly is configured to transmit light toward at least some of the channel openings.   
     
     
         9 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 8 , wherein the skeletal structure comprises a thermoplastic resin having a durometer of about 60. 
     
     
         10 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 8 , wherein the light assembly is configured to direct light toward a surface of at least one of the channel openings. 
     
     
         11 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 8 , wherein at least some of the plurality of segments comprise a portion that is transparent or translucent to light. 
     
     
         12 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 8 , wherein the light emitting diodes are disposed at least partially within the channel openings. 
     
     
         13 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 8 , wherein the light assembly comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a motion sensor and an accelerometer. 
     
     
         14 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of sheaths cover all the apertures formed by the plurality of hexagonal features. 
     
     
         15 . A bounceable soccer ball toy, comprising:
 a light assembly having a power source and a plurality of light emitting diodes;   a spherical skeletal structure having a plurality of segments arranged to form a plurality of pentagonal features and a plurality of hexagonal features, the skeletal structure defining an open interior cavity, wherein each of the plurality of pentagonal features and each of the plurality of hexagonal features defines an aperture;   a logo plate coupled with the spherical skeletal structure;   a plurality of sheaths covering the apertures defined by each of the plurality of hexagonal features; and   wherein at least some segments of the skeletal structure comprise a channel opening that faces toward the interior cavity, wherein the apertures defined by each of the plurality of pentagonal features do not have sheaths; and wherein the light assembly is configured to transmit light toward at least some of the channel openings.   
     
     
         16 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 15 , wherein the skeletal structure comprises a thermoplastic resin having a durometer of about 60. 
     
     
         17 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 15 , wherein the light assembly is configured to direct light toward a surface of at least one of the channel openings. 
     
     
         18 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 15 , wherein at least some of the plurality of segments comprise a portion that is transparent or translucent to light. 
     
     
         19 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 15 , wherein the light emitting diodes are disposed at least partially within the channel openings. 
     
     
         20 . The bounceable soccer ball toy of  claim 15 , wherein the light assembly comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a motion sensor and an accelerometer.