Suspended ball water toy
US4946164A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 5, 1988 |
| Grant date | Aug 7, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 5, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63B2069/0077
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The present invention comprises a base coupled to a water source, the base outputting a stream of water for supporting a toy ball in mid air. The base includes filtering device for substantially eliminating turbulence from the water stream so that it is substantially laminar. The flowing stream contacts a toy ball and lifts it into a position of equilibrium where the upward force of the stream balances the downward force of gravity acting on the ball so that the ball is suspended in mid air. The flowing water clings to the surface of the ball and generates a force tending to center the ball in this supporting stream. If the ball becomes off center, an unequal force on the side of the ball furthest from the center of the stream will force the ball back to the stream center.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.