Glow-in-the-dark wrist toy

Abstract

A wrist toy is provided and includes an adjustable wrist band and an elastic band having a first end and an opposing second end. The first end is secured to the wrist band and a ball is coupled to the second end of the elastic band. An outer surface of the ball has a glow-in-the-dark material disposed thereon. The material is activated by radiant energy to glow-in-the-dark.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A wrist toy comprising: 
 an adjustable wrist band;    an elastic band having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end being secured to the wrist band; and    a ball coupled to the second end of the elastic band, wherein an outer surface of the ball has a glow-in-the-dark material disposed thereon.    
     
     
         2 . The wrist/toy of  claim 1 , wherein the wrist band includes a fastening means.  
     
     
         3 . The wrist toy of  claim 2 , wherein the fastening means comprises a hook and loop fastening means.  
     
     
         4 . The wrist toy of  claim 1 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material comprises a photostorage material selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, strontium oxide, calcium oxide, europium oxide, and boron oxide.  
     
     
         5 . The wrist toy of  claim 1 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material includes a phosphor that provides luminescence when activated by a source of light having a predetermined wavelength.  
     
     
         6 . The wrist toy of  claim 5 , wherein the phosphor is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, zinc cadmium sulfide, and alkaline earth sulfide.  
     
     
         7 . The wrist toy of  claim 6 , wherein the phosphor includes an activator selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, and manganese.  
     
     
         8 . The wrist toy of  claim 1 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is incorporated into a carrier that is disposed over the outer surface of the ball to define glow-in-the-dark indicia.  
     
     
         9 . The wrist toy of  claim 8 , wherein the carrier comprises paint.  
     
     
         10 . The wrist toy of  claim 1 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark indicia occupies more than 50% of the outer surface of the ball.  
     
     
         11 . The wrist toy of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the ball includes indicia formed over the glow-in-the-dark material, the indicia being of a non-glow-in-the-dark type.  
     
     
         12 . The wrist toy of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member comprises an elastic cord attached as a first end to the wrist band and an elastic attachment member which connects a second end of the elastic cord through a bore formed completely through the ball.  
     
     
         13 . The wrist toy of  claim 1 , further including a first knot formed in the elastic cord at the first end to securely retain the first end to the wrist band and a second knot at a connection point between the second end of the elastic cord and the elastic attachment member.  
     
     
         14 . A wrist toy comprising: 
 an adjustable wrist band;    an elastic band having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end being secured to the wrist band;    a ball coupled to the second end of the elastic band; and    phosphorescent material disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the ball, wherein the phosphorescent material can be activated by radiant energy to glow-in-the-dark.    
     
     
         15 . The wrist toy of  claim 14 , wherein the radiant energy is selected from the group consisting of incandescent light, daylight, and ultraviolet light.  
     
     
         16 . The wrist toy of  claim 14 , wherein the phosphorescent material is a zinc sulfide material.  
     
     
         17 . The wrist toy of  claim 1 , wherein the ball comprises a rubber ball.  
     
     
         18 . A wrist toy comprising: 
 an adjustable wrist band having an opening formed therethrough;    a grommet securely attached to the wrist band around the opening;    an elastic band having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end being disposed through the opening formed in the wrist band and looped back and tied in a knot;    a ball coupled to the second end of the elastic band; and    a glow-in-the-dark material disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the ball, wherein the material can be activated by radiant energy to glow-in the-dark.    
     
     
         19 . The wrist toy of  claim 18 , wherein the radiant energy is selected from the group consisting of incandescent light, daylight, and ultraviolet light.  
     
     
         20 . The wrist toy of  claim 18 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is a phosphorescent material.  
     
     
         21 . The wrist toy of  claim 18 , wherein the outer surface has a paint layer formed over the entire outer surface, the glow-in-the-dark material being in the form of a paint that is disposed over the paint layer according to a pattern, wherein only the pattern has glow-in-the-dark properties.