Plush-Covered Bouncing Ball Structure With Minimal Bounce Damping

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional plush toys do not bounce effectively, while conventional bouncing balls lack a soft and cuddly exterior, failing to provide a fun and engaging play experience.

Innovation Solution

A bouncing ball toy with a plush exterior is designed, featuring a highly resilient internal structure covered by plush fabric that maintains bounce performance, using materials like polyurethane and precise sewing techniques to ensure a tight fit without damping the bounce.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a plush exterior is used, then softness and cuddliness are improved, but bounce performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesoftnessVSAvoidbounce performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The toy is divided into two distinct functional layers: an internal bouncing ball core made of highly resilient rubber material, and an external plush fabric cover. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specialized function - the core provides bounce while the cover provides softness - without compromising either property.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines two fundamentally different materials - a resilient rubber-like material for the internal structure and a soft plush fabric for the external cover - into a single composite toy. This composite structure enables the toy to exhibit both bouncing properties from the rubber core and soft tactile properties from the plush exterior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a hard exterior is used, then bounce performance is improved, but softness and cuddliness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebounce performanceVSAvoidsoftness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The toy is divided into two distinct functional layers: an internal bouncing ball core made of highly resilient rubber material, and an external plush fabric cover. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specialized function - the core provides bounce while the cover provides softness - without compromising either property.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines two fundamentally different materials - a resilient rubber-like material for the internal structure and a soft plush fabric for the external cover - into a single composite toy. This composite structure enables the toy to exhibit both bouncing properties from the rubber core and soft tactile properties from the plush exterior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If plush fabric is used, then tactile comfort is improved, but bounce height retention deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile comfortVSAvoidbounce height retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The plush fabric cover is designed with specific local qualities - appropriate thickness, tight fit, and minimal damping characteristics - to ensure it provides tactile comfort without significantly absorbing bounce energy. The cover is form-fitted to the core rather than loose, minimizing energy loss during impact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The plush cover provides sufficient softness for tactile comfort but is not overly thick or bulky. This partial application of plush material maintains the necessary bounce performance while delivering adequate softness for user comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The bouncing ball toy offers a fun and engaging experience by combining a soft, plush exterior with a lively bounce, allowing it to bounce off hard surfaces with minimal loss of height, providing a multifunctional toy experience.

Implementation Method 1

The interior ball structure can provide ample bounce and liveliness even when surrounded by the plush fabric exterior

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20260014424A1Bouncing toy with plush exterior

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 TY INC

AI summary

The present application relates to a toy comprising an internal ball structure comprising a highly resilient material capable of significant bouncing off a hard surface, a plush fabric skin configured to cover the internal ball structure such that the plush fabric exterior does not significantly impact or dampen the ability of the internal bouncing ball structure to bounce when impacting a surface.