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Dynamic toy with inflatable bladderRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Projectile, Per Se; Part Thereof Or Accessory ThereforDynamic toy with inflatable bladder description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060205544, Dynamic toy with inflatable bladder. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from prior U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/659,468 filed on Mar. 8, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to inflatable objects. More specifically, the present invention relates to a new and unique toys that can be modified using inflatable bladders. [0003] In the prior art, various types of toys are very well known. Typically, a toy has a given shape and configuration that is static and cannot be modified. For example, a toy for throwing, such as a football or baseball, is of a fixed shape and configuration. Thus, each time that it is thrown, it exhibits the same general flight characteristics. In another example, a toy, such as an action figure, may have a given aesthetic appearance that can only be modified by adding or removing parts or reconstructing the parts at hand. In general, known toys are static in nature in that they cannot be altered to make the toy more unique in appearance and operation each time. [0004] There have been many attempts in the prior art to provide toys that can transform from one type of toy to another to make the toy more interesting and fun. Typically, these toys have moveable parts that can be reconfigured to construct a toy of a different appearance. However, the basic function and operation of the toy is, essentially, the same as before but with a different aesthetic appearance. [0005] In other example, toys can change in appearance by simply adding and subtracting parts. For example, there are many construction oriented toys that use building blocks or sticks to create a toy. Again, the overall function of the toy remains as aesthetic in nature. [0006] The foregoing prior art toy products suffer from the problem that they cannot dynamically change their function where the characteristics of the operation and use of the toy are modified and made more unique and fun. More specifically, sports-related toys are not well-suited to being modified as are the toys of the prior art. In sports-related toys, additional parts cannot easily be added. While it is possible to add a fin to a football or magnetic tape to a flying disc to alter their flight characteristics, such modification is cumbersome and can lead to unpredictable results. [0007] In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a toy that can dynamically change to alter its flight characteristics in a unique way. There is also a need for a toy that can be dynamically modified to achieve unique results that are not capable with prior art toys. There is a further need for a toy that can dynamically change to assist the user in operation of the toy. In addition, there is a need for a toy that can dynamically change both in its functional characteristics but optionally its aesthetic characteristics as well. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art objects, such as toy articles and related devices. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available objects, toys and related devices and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available objects, toys and related devices. [0009] The invention is generally directed to a novel and unique dynamic object, such as a throwable toy. The object of the present invention includes at least one unique internal bladder that can be modified by the user to easily change the characteristics of the object. [0010] An object with a dynamically changeable configuration is provided. The outer surface configuration and/or the weight displacement configuration can be dynamically changed to alter the characteristics of the object, which can be a toy, such as a football, baseball or flying disc. To change the outer configuration of the object, a cover having an outer surface and at least one aperture therethrough is provided. A surface changing member, such as a bladder, is urgable into the at least one aperture to dynamically change the outer surface of the object. To change the weight displacement of the object, the main body includes a first chamber and a second chamber therein where fluid, such as gas or liquid, can flow therebetween. The positioning of the fluid within the first chamber and the second chamber is controlled by a pump and valve system. As a result, the weight displacement of the object is dynamically changeable. [0011] It should be understood that the dynamically changeable object can be employed in many different environments and be used for different purposes. The present invention is particularly well-suited to serve as a toy, particularly toys that are thrown in the air, such as footballs, baseballs and flying discs. For ease of discussion herein, the object of the present invention will be shown an described in connection with throwable toys as a preferred use of the present invention. However, this shall in now way limit the scope of the present invention to throwable toys. [0012] The use of at least one inflatable bladder can alter a number of different functional characteristics of a throwable toy. Many different types of throwable toys can employ the features of the present invention, such as footballs, baseballs and flying discs. [0013] As a first example, the grip of the toy can be modified by the technology of the present invention. The outer surface of a football is typically a roughened surface leather or plastic material. For example, a bladder may be inflated with a material, preferably gas, so it protrudes through apertures in the cover or expand the outer cover of the toy to provide additional grip for the user. For example, additional grip ridges can be created as described in detail below. [0014] It is also envisioned that the bladder can alter the flight characteristics of the toy. The movement of structure within a throwable toy typically affects flight. For example, an inflatable bladder can raise spiral ridges to encourage a football to spiral or shift weight displacement within a baseball to facilitate it to curve. Such weight displacement may be carried out by movement of a liquid, gas, gel or solid material within the body of the toy. For example, the bladder may re- orient water or push a solid mass within the toy body to carry out this weight displacement. Such movement can occur in real-time while the toy is being thrown to create unique results. [0015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a toy that can be dynamically changed. [0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide a toy that can have its surface dynamically changed. [0017] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toy that can change its surface to change its grip. [0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide a toy that can change its surface to change its flight characteristics. [0019] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a toy that can change its weight distribution. [0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy that can change its weight distribution to change its flight characteristics. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Continue reading about Dynamic toy with inflatable bladder... Full patent description for Dynamic toy with inflatable bladder Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Dynamic toy with inflatable bladder patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Dynamic toy with inflatable bladder or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Ball play racket, especially tennis racket Next Patent Application: Aerodynamically augmented hockey puck Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Dynamic toy with inflatable bladder patent info. 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