US2499483A - Combination ball, rattle, and mirror for infants - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1950 T. FQY 2,499,483

COMBINATION BALL, RATTLE, AND MIRROR FOR INFANTS Filed Feb. 18, 1947 THOMAS F0 Y,

Patented Mar. 7, 1950 COMBINATIOK BALL, BATTLE, AND MIRROR FOR INFANTS Thomas Foy, Norwood, Ohio Application February 18, 1947, Serial No. 729,361

This invention relates to toys for infants.

An object of the invention is to provide a toy for use by infants which is a combination of a ball, rattle and mirror.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination ball and rattle for use by infants which also incorporates a mirror securely arranged insidethe ball in such manner that the infant may play therewith in safety and without the dangers which are usuall attendant upon access to a mirror.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination ball, rattle and mirror which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, and which is effective as an amusing and educational toy for infants.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the toy, the outer surface of the ball being broken out and showing the interior mirror. the view being taken in a plane parallel to the plane of the mirror.

Figure 2 is a partly broken-out view similar to that of Figure 1. except that the view is taken in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the mirror inside the ball.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the components of the tov. the orientation of the parts being the same as that of Figure 2, namely, with the plane of the mirror perpendicular to the plane of the drawing paper.

In the manufacture of toys for use by small children, particularly infants toys, many attempts have been made to incorporate a mirror in the toys, but this has not been done with any degree of success. due to the ever-present danger of injury to the child from possible breakage of the mirror. However, the reflective characteristics of a mirror do provide interestingpossibilities in children's to s, and the present invention discloses a solution of the problem which incorporates a mirror, deriving its full reflective characteristics, yet renders it inaccessible to the child as a source of dan er, and in addition, the mirror itself is unbreakable, thus removing the danger in any case. At the same time. the toy is novel in appearance, and is attractive and useful for infants.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention. and the best means for'carrying it out, reference may now be had tothe drawings, in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views. As shown, I form a 2 claims. (01. 46-193) spherical ball I 0 out of two hemispheres l2 and I l. The hollow hemispheres are formed of clear plastic material molded or otherwise formed into the desired hemispherical shape.

The hemispheres I2 and [4 are intended to be joined together along their abuttingrim surfaces I6 and I8 to form a joint 20, the halves being shown before joining in Figure 3, and after joining in Figure 2. I provide annular recesses 22 and 24 in each rim surface, such as 16 and Hi, the recesses each having a depth equal to one-half the thickness of a circular mirror 25 which is to be supported with its margin extending into each recess when the two hemispheres l2 and M are joined together.

The diameter of the mirror 26 is greater than the inside diameters of the two hemispheres, but is less than their outside diameters. so as to fit snugly into the recesses 22 and 24 when the hemispheres are joined together, as in Figure 2. The mirror 26 is made of metal, such as stainless steel or other suitable material, which is highly polished on both faces so as to form a two-sided mirror.

Before joining the two hemispheres and the included mirror together. I prefer to place several colored plastic balls 28 inside each hemisphere so that some of the balls will be on each side of the mirror 26 of the joined toy. The hemispheres may be cemented together, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, thus forming the finished toy.

The mirror and the balls 28 are then visible through the transparent shell of the ball and when the ball I0 is shaken by the infant, the small balls 28 cause the effect of a rattle as they bounce again t each other and against the inner walls of the shell and the mirror faces. The outer surface of the transparent ball in may be further ornamented by suitable translucent or opaque stri es and animal-like figures, if desired.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A rolling, audible and visual toy, comprising a hollow thin sphere formed of transparent plastic material, a flat thin metal double-faced mirror arranged within the sphere and extending diametrically of the same and having its marginal edge attached to the sphere, and colored balls arranged within the sphere upon opposite sides of the mirror.

2. A rolling, audible and visual toy, comprising a hollow resilient sphere formed of transparent REFERENCES CITED plastic material and made in hemispherical sec- The following references are of record in the tions having meeting edges secured together, a me of this patent.

double-faced circular mirror arranged within the sphere and extending diametrically of the same 5 UNITED STATES PATEN TS and having a greater diameter than the internal Number Name t diameter of the sphere and anch red to the 1,576,231 Cohn Mar. 9, 1926 sphere at themeeting edges of the hemispherical 1567506 Romano 24 1923 sections, and colored balls arranged within the 2,430,313 Zimmerman 4, 1947 sphere upon opposite sides of the mirror and 10 freely rotatable therein.

THOMAS EOY.

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