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Magnetic bouncing ball and target game

a magnetic bouncing ball and target technology, applied in the field of amusement devices, can solve the problems of unattractive and relatively old-fashioned ball and jack games, and achieve the effect of strong magnetic field and high degree of elasticity for bouncing

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-01-13
4LICENSING CORPORATION
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] The invention overcomes the above-noted and other deficiencies of the prior art by providing a bouncing ball with an embedded spherical rare earth magnet, or “magnetic ball”, so that the ball has both a high degr

Problems solved by technology

While this magnetic feature assists a child in cleaning up, it is believed that such a ball and jack game is still relatively old-fashioned and not appealing.

Method used

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  • Magnetic bouncing ball and target game
  • Magnetic bouncing ball and target game

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Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0012] In FIGS. 1-2, a toy, or “magnaball”, 10 is advantageously formed from an embedded spherical rare earth magnet 12 placed within an elastopolymer shell. For instance, two hemispheric shell halves 14, 16 may each include a respective centered hemispheric recess 16, 18 sized to receive the magnet 12, with a bonding surface 20 between the shell halves 20 thereafter bonded together.

[0013] It should be appreciated that the elastopolymer may be highly bouncy, like the well-known “SUPERBALL”, or be more resilient and yielding such as a polymer foam.

[0014] Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) magnets have the highest energy density of commercially available magnets. In a tested prototype, when embedded in a commercial SUPPERBALL, a pair of balls could be dropped from about a meter and have a high probability of sticking together as they bounced. Samarium Cobalt (SmCo) magnets, although weaker, may be used. In some application, Aluminum Nickel Cobalt (AlNiCO) magnets may be used when a weak m...

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PUM

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Abstract

A magnaball toy is advantageously formed from an embedded spherical rare earth magnet (e.g., NdFeB, SmCo, AlNiCo, etc.) placed within an elastopolymer shell. A pair of balls may be dropped from about a meter and have a high probability of sticking together as they bounce. In some applications, allowing for free rotation of a spherical magnet inside the ball allows for a predictable attractive behavior of the ball. This feature brings various novel gaming aspects to the magnaball toy.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates, in general, to devices for amusement, and more particularly to a bouncing ball that has magnetic properties and uses thereof in games and toys. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] There is an ever-present need for new toys and games that will capture the imagination of a child, especially such toys that are inherently safe. For instance, while there has long been interest in magnetic toys, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,539, wherein a bouncing ball included an embedded cylindrical magnet that enhanced playing ball and jacks. In particular, the weak magnetic attraction provided by the embedded cylindrical magnet simplified putting the game away by magnetically attracting the metal jacks when placed in close proximity. [0003] While this magnetic feature assists a child in cleaning up, it is believed that such a ball and jack game is still relatively old-fashioned and not appealing. Consequently, a significant need e...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A63B37/04A63B63/00A63B67/00A63F9/02
CPCA63B37/04A63B63/00A63B67/002A63F2007/405A63F9/0208A63F9/0278A63B2208/12
Inventor CHOJNACKI, THOMAS P.CHOJNACKI, JOHN S.CHANTER, EDWARD G.
Owner 4LICENSING CORPORATION
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