Self-Righting Toy Having Fluid-Filled Base that is Both Resilient and Transparent

Abstract

A self-righting toy having a base with a convex-shaped exterior bottom surface. A watertight internal chamber is disposed within the base. Liquid fill material is used to fill the internal chamber. The liquid fill material is visible through the material of the convex bottom surface. Flotsam objects are disposed within the internal chamber that swirl within the liquid fill material when the liquid fill material is disturbed. A toy body section is affixed to the base. The toy body section is lighter than the base. This causes the toy body section to self-right into an upright position when said self-righting toy is placed on a flat surface. In a variation of the self-righting toy, games can be formed within the internal chamber that are played by disturbing the flotsam objects swirling within the internal chamber.

1 . A self-righting toy, comprising:
 a base having a hemispherical bottom surface, wherein said base defines a watertight internal chamber;   liquid fill material filling said internal chamber, wherein said liquid fill material is visible through said hemispherical bottom surface;   flotsam objects disposed within said internal chamber that swirl within said liquid fill material when said liquid fill material is disturbed;   a toy body section affixed to said base, wherein said toy body section is lighter than said base, causing said toy body section to self-right into an upright position when said self-righting toy is placed on a flat surface.   
     
     
         2 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said toy body section has a plush construction that includes a fabric shell stuffed with lightweight fill material. 
     
     
         3 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said toy body section is generally hemispherical in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said base is molded from a thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         5 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said hemispherical bottom surface has a wall thickness of at least five millimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 1 , further including a mechanism for actively agitating said liquid fill material. 
     
     
         7 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism includes a squeezable diaphragm disposed within said toy body section. 
     
     
         8 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said base has an internal surface that communicates with said internal chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 1 , wherein game elements are anchored to said internal surface and extend into said internal chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said flotsam objects include at least one game piece. 
     
     
         11 . A self-righting toy, comprising:
 a base having a convex bottom surface;   a watertight internal chamber;   liquid fill material filling said internal chamber, wherein said liquid fill material is visible through said bottom surface;   a body section affixed to said base, wherein said body section is lighter than said base, causing said body section to self-right into an upright position when said self-righting toy is placed on a flat surface.   
     
     
         12 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 11 , further including flotsam objects that swirl within said internal chamber when said liquid fill material is disturbed. 
     
     
         13 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 11 , wherein said body section has a plush construction that includes a fabric shell stuffed with lightweight fill material. 
     
     
         14 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 11 , wherein said body section is generally hemispherical in shape. 
     
     
         15 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 11 , wherein said base is molded from a polyurethane-based material. 
     
     
         16 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 11 , wherein said convex bottom surface has a wall thickness of at least three millimeters. 
     
     
         17 . The self-righting toy according to  claim 11 , further including a mechanism for actively agitating said liquid fill material. 
     
     
         18 . A toy assembly having a low center of gravity, comprising:
 a base having a convex bottom surface;   a watertight internal chamber;   liquid fill material filling said internal chamber, wherein said liquid fill material is visible through said bottom surface; and   a body section affixed to said base, wherein said body section is lighter than said base.   
     
     
         19 . The toy assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein further including flotsam objects that swirl within said internal chamber when said liquid fill material is disturbed. 
     
     
         20 . The toy assembly according to  claim 18 , further including a mechanical fastener for selectively joining said body section to said base.