US20010031677A1 - Toob ball - Google Patents

Abstract

A toob ball having a main housing with a plurality of bendable, stretchable appendages connected to the ball. The ball can be thrown between different players and each player catching the ball can change the shape of any of the appendages to a fixed position before the ball is thrown again.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/306,720 filed on May 5, 1999.[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• This invention is directed to a toob ball and more particularly to a pliable ball which includes stretchable and bendable protrusions which can be shaped by a participant in a catch game. [0002]
PRIOR ART
• Heretofore hand catchable balls have been used for the enjoyment of two or more players. Such balls include appendages of different types secured thereto which can be thrown and caught for recreation and enjoyment. [0003]
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
• It is an object of the present invention to provide a pliable ball with appendages connected thereto in which the appendages can be stretched and/or bent into different shapes. [0004]
• Another object is to provide a pliable ball in which each different player can change the features of the ball before it is thrown to another player. [0005]
• Still another object is to provide a ball having appendages which can be stretched and/or bent into different shapes in which the appendages make a noise when they are bent or stretched. [0006]
• Yet another object is to provide a pliable ball with stretchable and bendable appendages which will change their shape when caught and which will make a noise when the ball is caught because at least one of the appendages is bent during catching the ball. [0007]
• Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become obvious from a review of the specification and drawings.[0008]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a view looking toward the ball to illustrate the position of the appendages; and [0009]
• FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which the appendages are secured to the ball and which includes a small ball secured to an outer end of the appendages. Two of the appendages have been shown by dotted lines in a bent condition.[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Now referring to the toob ball, there is shown a pliable spherical central ball [0011] 10 to which a plurality of tubal appendages 12 have been secured at one end 14 to the ball. The appendages as shown extend outwardly radially from each other in different quadrants of the ball. The appendages may be made of a bendable, stretchable material such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,278, Dickhut, so that as the appendages are stretched or bent a noise will be made. It is not necessary that the appendages make a noise, but the noise adds to the fun.
• The outer end [0012] 16 of each appendage has a small ball 18 secured thereto by a connecting means 20. The small ball provides a means by which the appendages can be stretched and/or bent.
• In use of the toob ball, a player can stretch and/or bend the appendages to different shapes and the appendages remain fixed in the stretched or bent shape and then the ball is thrown to another player. The player will catch the ball and during catching the ball the appendages may make a noise due to being bent. The second player can then arrange the appendages in a different fixed shape and throw the ball back to the first player or to a third player. That person can change the shape of the appendages and throw the ball back to the second or third player or to another player. Thus, the toob ball can be used for fun between different players. The ball can be caught by one of the appendages or by trying to catch the entire ball, whatever is the pleasure of the player. The player that has the ball can change the appendages to a fixed different shape before tossing the ball to another player. [0013]
• The ball can be of any desired diameter and the appendages may be of any diameter and length consistent with the above description. [0014]
• The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, it being understood that other variants and embodiments thereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, the latter being defined by the appended claims. [0015]

Claims (10)

1. A toob ball which comprises:

a central pliable ball, and

a plurality of bendable, stretchable appendages secured to different parts of the ball, said appendages extend outwardly radially from the central pliable ball and are bendable or stretchable to a fixed shaped position relative to a radial direction.

2. A toob ball as set forth in

claim 1

, in which

said plurality of bendable, stretchable appendages are tubular.

3. A toob ball as set forth in

claim 2

, in which

said plurality of bendable, stretchable appendages have a second ball on an outer end in which the second ball is smaller than said central pliable ball.

4. A toob ball as set forth in

claim 2

, in which

said tubular appendages make a nose as said tubular appendages are bent and/or stretched.

5. A toob ball as set forth in

claim 3

, in which

said tubular appendages make a noise as said tubular appendages are bent and/or stretched.

6. A toob ball as set forth in

claim 1

, in which

said plurality of bendable, stretchable appendages are bent and/or stretched to different shapes.

7. A toob ball as set forth in

claim 2

, in which

said plurality of bendable, stretchable appendages are bent and/or stretched to different shapes.

8. A toob ball as set forth in

claim 3

, in which

said plurality of bendable, stretchable appendages are bent and/or stretched to different shapes.

9. A toob ball as set forth in

claim 4

, in which

said plurality of bendable, stretchable appendages are bent and/or stretched to different shapes.

10. A toob ball as set forth in

claim 5

, in which

said plurality of bendable, stretchable appendages are bent and/or stretched to different shapes.

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