IP Library Granted Patent US 12,465,819
Granted Patent B2
US 12,465,819 · App. 18/513,872 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Light-up bouncing ball

Inventors: Stephen W. Butcher (Bristol, RI); Robert Driscoll (South Deerfield, MA)
Assignee: Duncan Toys Company, LLC
A63B43/06A63B67/06A63B2220/40A63B2220/53
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,465,819
App. No.
18/513,872
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes ball and a plurality of wristbands. The ball includes a shell, a sensor, a processor, a memory, and a plurality of LEDs. The sensor is configured to detect interaction with the ball. The processor is configured to control a color of light emitted by the plurality of LEDs according to the detected interaction and a plurality of rules stored in the memory. The plurality of wristbands correspond to the colors of light emitted by the plurality of LEDs.

Claims (73)

1 . A system comprising:

a ball comprising:

a shell through which light can pass;

a sensor;

a processor;

a memory configured to store rules for operation of the processor; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit light of a plurality of different colors; and

a plurality of wristbands, each of the plurality of wristbands being a different color and corresponding to one of the plurality of colors of light emitted from the plurality of LEDs,

wherein the processor is configured to:

detect an initial input caused by bouncing or tapping the ball based on an output of the sensor;

after detecting the initial input, begin a first countdown period and cause the plurality of LEDs to emit light of a first color in a first pattern;

detect a second input caused by bouncing or tapping the ball based on the output of the sensor prior to the first countdown period expiring; and

after detecting the second input, begin a second countdown period and cause the plurality of LEDs to emit light of a second color in a second pattern,

wherein the first color and the second color are different, or the first pattern or the second pattern are different, and

wherein the second countdown period is longer than the first countdown period.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the shell is an elastomeric material.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a gyrometer, accelerometer, or force sensor.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the plurality of LEDs to stop emitting light when no input is detected within the first countdown period.

5 . A system comprising:

a ball comprising:

a shell through which light can pass;

a sensor;

a processor;

a memory configured to store rules for operation of the processor; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit light of a plurality of different colors; and

a plurality of wristbands, each of the plurality of wristbands being a different color and corresponding to one of the plurality of colors of light emitted from the plurality of LEDs,

wherein the processor is configured to:

detect an initial input caused by bouncing or tapping the ball based on an output of the sensor;

after detecting the initial input, cause the plurality of LEDs to emit light of a first color for one cycle of a first pattern;

after detecting the initial input, begin a first countdown period and a second countdown period; and

until expiration of the first countdown period or the second countdown period:

detect a subsequent input caused by bouncing or tapping the ball based on the output of the sensor;

after detecting the subsequent input, cause the plurality of LEDs to emit light of a subsequent color; and

after detecting the subsequent input, reset the first countdown period,

wherein the second countdown period is longer than the first countdown period.

6 . A system comprising:

a ball comprising:

a shell through which light can pass;

a sensor;

a processor;

a memory configured to store rules for operation of the processor; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit light of a plurality of different colors; and

a plurality of wristbands, each of the plurality of wristbands being a different color and corresponding to one of the plurality of colors of light emitted from the plurality of LEDs,

wherein the processor is configured to:

detect an initial input caused by bouncing or tapping the ball based on an output of the sensor;

after detecting the initial input, cause the plurality of LEDs to emit light of a first color for one cycle of a first pattern;

after detecting the initial input, begin a first countdown period;

detect a second input caused by bouncing or tapping the ball based on the output of the sensor prior to the first countdown period expiring; and

after detecting the second input:

cause the plurality of LEDs to emit light of a second color for a second countdown period; and

after the second countdown period, cause the plurality of LEDs to emit light of a third color for a third countdown period,

wherein at least one of the first color, the second color, and the third color is different than the other colors.

7 . A system comprising:

a ball comprising:

a shell through which light can pass;

a sensor;

a processor;

a memory configured to store rules for operation of the processor; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit light of a plurality of different colors; and

a plurality of wristbands, each of the plurality of wristbands being a different color and corresponding to one of the plurality of colors of light emitted from the plurality of LEDs,

wherein the processor is configured to:

detect an initial input caused by bouncing or tapping the ball based on an output of the sensor;

after detecting the initial input, cause the plurality of LEDs to emit light of a first color for one cycle of a first pattern;

detect at least one subsequent input caused by bouncing or tapping the ball based on the output of the sensor; and

after detecting each subsequent input, cause the plurality of LEDs to randomly emit light of a second color or a third color,

wherein the second color and the third color are different than each other and different than the first color.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the second color is red and the third color is green.

9 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the shell is an elastomeric material.

10 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the sensor is a gyrometer, accelerometer, or force sensor.

11 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the shell is an elastomeric material.

12 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the sensor is a gyrometer, accelerometer, or force sensor.

13 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the shell is an elastomeric material.

14 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the sensor is a gyrometer, accelerometer, or force sensor.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2026
From: FLAMBEAU, INC.; SEATS, INCORPORATED; COLUMBIA VEHICLE GROUP; DUNCAN TOYS COMPANY, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 075120/0585 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2023
From: BUTCHER, STEPHEN W.; DRISCOLL, ROBERT
To: DUNCAN TOYS COMPANY, LLC.
Reel/Frame 065641/0649 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250161762A1 · May 22, 2025
References Cited (18)
US 3580575A · Speeth · 1971 [cited by examiner]
US 4776589A · Yang · 1988 [cited by examiner]
US 5054778A · Maleyko · 1991 [cited by examiner]
US 5066011A · Dykstra · 1991 [cited by examiner]
US 5236383A · Connelly · 1993 [cited by examiner]
US 5445375A · Sweeny · 1995 [cited by examiner]
US 5725445A · Kennedy · 1998 [cited by examiner]
US 6464602B1 · Rottger · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 10213647B2 · Balakrishnan · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 11559725B1 · Ayal · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20010049311A1 · Lewis · 2001 [cited by examiner]
US 20050261083A1 · Liao · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20070021244A1 · Ko · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20070281811A1 · Wang · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20120040785A1 · De Sort · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120244969A1 · Binder · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20140194232A1 · Krysiak · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20180043218A1 · Hu · 2018 [cited by examiner]