Supple core sports ball and its associated method of manufacture

Abstract

A toy ball assembly that has an outer shell structure of a first material. Open areas are defined on the exterior of the outer shell structure. A supple core is disposed within the outer shell structure. The supple core can be felt through the open areas on the outer shell structure. The supple core is softer than the outer shell structure. Thus, two different materials of differing softness can be present on the exterior of the ball. The supple core can be made from a transparent package that is filled with material. The supple core is therefore both interesting to both view and touch. The presence of supple material on the exterior surfaces of the ball makes the ball easier to grasp.

1 . A toy ball assembly, comprising: 
 an outer shell structure of a first material, wherein said outer shell structure defines open areas; and    a supple core disposed within said outer shell structure, wherein said supple core can be felt through said open areas of said outer shell structure when said toy ball is held.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said supple core consists of a liquid fill material encased in a transparent package.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , further including secondary solid objects mixed with said liquid fill material.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said supple core consists of loose elastomeric objects and lubricant encased in a transparent package.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said supple core consists of an elastomeric gel.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said supple core deforms into said open areas from within said outer shell structure and at least partially fills said open areas.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further including an inner core, wherein said supple core is disposed around said inner core within said outer shell structure.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said supple core has a density greater than that of said inner core.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said open areas are symmetrically disposed around said outer shell structure.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said supple core is softer than said first material of said outer shell structure.  
   
   
       11 . A toy ball assembly, comprising: 
 a shell structure of a first material, said shell structure having exterior surfaces, wherein a plurality of depressions are disposed on said exterior surfaces; and    a plurality of supple elements, wherein at least one of said supple elements is disposed in at least some of said plurality of depressions.    
   
   
       12 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said supple elements consists of a liquid fill material encased in a transparent package.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly according to  claim 12 , further including secondary solid objects mixed with said liquid fill material.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said supple elements consists of loose elastomeric objects and lubricant encased in a transparent package.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said supple elements consists of an elastomeric gel.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said supple elements has a density greater than that of said first material of said shell structure.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said depressions are symmetrically disposed around said shell structure.  
   
   
       18 . A method of manufacturing a toy ball, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a ball structure having exterior surfaces;    positioning supple material at predetermined positions along said exterior surfaces of said ball structure so that said supple material is exposed at said predetermined positions, wherein said supple material is softer than said ball structure.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said step of positioning supple material at predetermined positions along said exterior surfaces includes providing a core of supple material and placing said supple core within said ball structure, wherein said supple core is exposed through openings in said ball structure.