Skill Game Ball with Short Finger Tether

Abstract

A skill toy that is juggled, spun, and otherwise manipulated with one hand. The ball construct is joined to a finger loop with a tether. The tether has a length that is between ten centimeters and fifteen centimeters. This enables the tether to wrap around half a user's hand from the center of the back of the hand to the palm. The diameter of the ball construct and the unique length of the tether enable the toy to be rapidly juggled in a novel manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy assembly comprising:
 a ball construct having a translucent shell of elastomeric material that surrounds an internal illumination unit, wherein said translucent shell has a maximum diameter no greater than five centimeters;   a finger loop;   a tether having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein said first end of said tether connects to said ball construct and said second end of said tether terminates with said finger loop, wherein said tether has a length between said first end and said second end that is between ten centimeters and fifteen centimeters.   
     
     
         2 . The toy assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a receptacle is disposed in said translucent shell for selectively receiving said first end of said tether. 
     
     
         3 . The toy assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said first end of said tether terminates with a connector that is received and engaged by said receptacle in said translucent shell. 
     
     
         4 . The toy assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said connector engages said receptacle with a friction fit connection. 
     
     
         5 . The toy assembly according to  claim 1 , further including a spool disposed within said translucent shell, wherein said first end of said tether is affixed to said spool and said tether can be selectively wound onto said spool. 
     
     
         6 . The toy assembly according to  claim 5 , further including a manually operated lock for selectively locking said spool. 
     
     
         7 . The toy assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said spool is spring biased to wind said tether onto said spool. 
     
     
         8 . The toy assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said internal illumination unit includes a battery, a logic circuit, and at least one LED. 
     
     
         9 . The toy assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said internal illumination unit contains a motion activator that activates said at least one LED when said internal illumination unit experiences motion. 
     
     
         10 . The toy assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said logic circuit causes said at least one LED to remain active for a predetermined period of time after said motion. 
     
     
         11 . The toy assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said tether is configured as a flat ribbon. 
     
     
         12 . The toy assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said second end of said tether is selectively detachable from said finger loop. 
     
     
         13 . A toy assembly comprising:
 a ball construct;   a finger loop;   a ribbon tether having a first end connected to said translucent ball and a second end connected to said finger loop, wherein said ribbon tether has a length of between ten centimeters and fifteen centimeters; and   a connector at said first end and said tether that selectively connects to and disconnects from said translucent ball.   
     
     
         14 . The toy assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said connector at said first end of said tether engages said ball construct with an interference fit. 
     
     
         15 . The toy assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said ball construct has a diameter no greater than five centimeters. 
     
     
         16 . The toy assembly according to  claim 13 , further including an internal illumination unit disposed within said ball for internally illuminating said ball construct. 
     
     
         17 . The toy assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said internal illumination unit contains a motion activator that activates at least one LED when said internal illumination unit experiences motion. 
     
     
         18 . A toy assembly comprising:
 a ball construct having a shell of elastomeric material;   a spring loaded spool disposed within said shell of elastomeric material,   a locking mechanism accessible on said ball construct for selectively locking said spring loaded spool into a fixed position;   a finger loop;   a tether anchored to said spool and extending out of said ball construct to said finger loop.   
     
     
         19 . The toy according to  claim 18 , wherein said tether has a length of between ten centimeters and fifteen centimeters. 
     
     
         20 . The toy assembly according to  claim 18  further including an internal illumination unit disposed within said ball construct for internally illuminating said translucent ball.