Systems and methods for a light-up object with enhanced features for animals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10512247-B2
Application number	US-201715398573-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2017
Priority date	Jan 5, 2016
Publication date	Dec 24, 2019
Grant date	Dec 24, 2019

Abstract

A light-up object includes a rubberized outer body; a plug in a cavity of the outer body; and a lighting device located in the plug. The light-up object further includes a first inner capsule piece, the first inner capsule piece located in the plug, and a second inner capsule piece located in the cavity of the outer body, the second inner capsule piece shaped to engage with the first inner capsule piece. The first and second inner capsules are threaded to fit together. The outer body includes grooves, running around multiple circumferences of the outer body. The outer body has a size of approximately a baseball; the outer body is shaped approximately like a sphere; and the grooves are at least 5 mm deep in the outer body.

First claim

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A light-up object comprising:
a rubberized outer body, the outer body including a pair of first depressions on opposing first and second sides of the outer body, a plurality of second depressions on only the first side of the outer body and radially adjacent one of the pair of first depressions, a plurality of third depressions on only the second side of the outer body and radially adjacent the other of the pair of first depressions, and a plurality of grooves defined within an outer surface of the outer body, the plurality of grooves extending between the pair of first depressions, each of the plurality of grooves in open communication with the pair of first depressions, at least one of the plurality of second depressions, and at least one of the plurality of third depressions;
a plug in a cavity of the outer body; and
a lighting device located in the plug.

2. The light-up object of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first inner capsule piece, the first inner capsule piece located in the plug; and
a second inner capsule piece located in the cavity of the outer body, the second inner capsule piece shaped to engage with the first inner capsule piece.

3. The light-up object of claim 2 , wherein the first and second inner capsules are threaded to fit together.

4. The light-up object of claim 3 , wherein the first inner capsule is fixed in the plug.

5. The light-up object of claim 4 , wherein the plug is overmolded on the first inner capsule.

6. The light-up object of claim 5 , wherein the second inner capsule is fixed in the cavity.

7. The light-up object of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves run around multiple circumferences of the outer body.

8. The light-up object of claim 7 , wherein the outer body has a circumference between 9 inches and 9.25 inches; the outer body is shaped approximately like a sphere; and the plurality of grooves are at least 5 mm deep in the outer body.

9. The light-up object of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of grooves are at least 1 cm deep and the plurality of grooves are located around the circumference of the outer body.

10. The light-up object of claim 6 , wherein the plug includes an indentation and the first inner capsule includes a notch, the notch aligned with the indentation, such that a screwdriver head may be placed through the indentation and into the notch to apply torque to the plug and first inner capsule.

11. The light-up object of claim 10 , wherein the plug and the outer body are composed of translucent Thermo Plasticized Rubber (TPR).

12. The light-up object of claim 11 , wherein the first and second inner capsules are composed of polycarbonate.

13. The light-up object of claim 1 , wherein the lighting device includes an LED.

14. The light-up object of claim 13 , wherein the lighting device includes a control board connected to the LED, the control board including and executing code to cause the LED to be activated in a first operational mode for a first time period when a first impulse or greater is measured by the control board.

15. The light-up object of claim 14 , wherein the control board includes a first accelerometer and a second accelerometer for measuring the first impulse.

16. The light-up object of claim 14 , wherein after the first period of time the LED is activated in a second operational mode for a second period of time.

17. The light-up object of claim 16 , wherein after the second period of time, the LED is deactivated.

18. The light-up object of claim 17 , wherein if at any time, the first impulse or greater is measured by the control board, the first time period is reset and the LED is activated in the first operational mode.

19. The light-up object of claim 1 , wherein the pair of first depressions define major depressions, and wherein the plurality of second depressions and the plurality of third depressions define minor depressions.

20. A light-up object comprising:
a rubberized outer body;
a plug in a cavity of the outer body;
a lighting device located in the plug;
a first inner capsule piece fixed in the plug, the plug overmolded on the first inner capsule piece; and
a second inner capsule piece fixed in the cavity of the outer body, the first and second inner capsule pieces threaded to fit together;
wherein the plug includes an indentation and the first inner capsule piece includes a notch, the notch aligned with the indentation such that a screwdriver head may be placed through the indentation and into the notch to apply torque to the plug and first inner capsule piece.

Assignees

• Nite Ize Inc

Inventors

• Ormsbee Bowden
• Stevens Rex W

Classifications

• H05B47/105

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• A63B43/06

  with illuminating devices {; with reflective surfaces} · CPC title

• A63B2220/40

  Acceleration · CPC title

• H05B47/16

  by timing means · CPC title

• F21V23/0492

  the sensor detecting a change in orientation, a movement or an acceleration of the lighting device, e.g. a tilt switch · CPC title