Patent · US Expired

Self-propelled musical toy ball

US5533920A · kind A · utility

81Cited by
4References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 13, 1995
Grant dateJul 9, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 13, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA63H33/005
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A self-propelled musical toy rolling ball which plays musical tunes and sound effects. The ball may also include decorative images on its surface which may generally correspond to the musical tune or sound effects played by the ball. The electronics of the ball, once energized, operate to propel the ball and simultaneously activate an integrated circuit sound effects chip which plays first sound sequence, typically a musical tune. When the ball bumps into a wall or other object, the propulsion mechanism, typically a drive motor which may be transmissivly connected to a central axis shaft, is disengaged and the circuit then plays a second sound sequence, typically a randomly selected pre-programmed sound effect from one of a plurality of different sounds. Thereafter, the propelling mechanism is again activated and the ball resumes playing the musical tune.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.