Toys have been developed to provide entertainment and stimulation for children. Many toys on the market stimulate a child's mind and desire for entertainment. Few toys however provide a combination of mental relaxation and physical stimulation capable of entertaining a child and at the same time providing training for hand-eye coordination. Such training is important for future sports activities which require highly developed motor skills. Self-esteem is also increased when a child has successfully mastered and improved his or her motor skills.

Current toys inclue, e. g., a pair of game balls interconnected by a rigid member. This device suffers from the drawback that rebounding of the device when struck against a hard surface is limited in direction and rotation by the rigidity of the connecting member. In particular, the predictability of the direction of the rebound is increased by the rigidity of the connecting member.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an entertainment device.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a training device for improving hand-eye coordination.

It is a further object to provide a training device of a relatively low cost.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a game ball training device comprises at least two game balls and a flexible and resilient webbing interconnecting the game balls.

In a particular aspect of the invention, the webbing may include a first plurality of strands extending generally parallel to each other and forming a helix along a first direction. The webbing may also include a second plurality of strands extending generally parallel to each other and forming a helix along a second direction which is different from the first direction. In this way, the first plurality of strands is disposed about the second plurality of strands so as to form an overall generally tubular shape having a longitudinal aperture and each of the first plurality of strands and the second plurality of strands engage each other at multiple locations such that a plurality of openings are formed therethrough, each of the openings having a generally diamond-like or rhombus-like shape.

In one particular embodiment, each game ball includes an axial bore and the webbing includes opposing ends, each end of which is disposed through an axial bore of a game ball and doubled back along the outer surface of a respective game ball. In another embodiment, the webbing includes sealed opposing ends and each of the game balls are disposed within the longitudinal aperture at opposing ends of the webbing. In a further embodiment each game ball includes an axial bore and the webbing includes opposing ends, each end of which is affixed within an axial bore of a game ball.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become apparent to those schooled in the art by reference the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a game ball training device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of a game ball training device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the device of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a bottom view of another game ball training device in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments One embodiment of a game ball training device in accordance with the present invention is illustrated generally at 10 in Figure 1. The game ball training device 10 comprises at least two game balls 12,12'and a webbing 14. The game balls 12,12'may be composed of a polymeric substance, and preferably, an elastomer such as a thermoplastic rubber compound. This material insures that the game balls will be exceedingly elastic and thus will rebound from any collision in a highly elastic manner.

Each ball is preferably approximately 45 millimeters in diameter, but can typically range from 25 to 100 millimeters in diameter.

The webbing 14 may also be composed of a polymeric substance that is preferably a nylon polymer composition for high flexibility and strength. The webbing 14 is formed by a multiplicity of strands 16 having a first set 18 which extend parallel to each other and form a helix spiraling about a longitudinal axis A in a first direction. A second set of strands 20 also extends in a parallel manner but spirals in an opposite direction from that in the first set along the longitudinal axis A. The first set 18 and second set 20 are arranged such that the second set is disposed inside of the first set and intersects the first set and is joined with the first set at connecting points 22. As illustrated, four connecting points 22 define openings 23 having a generally diamond or rhombus-like shape. In this way, a generally tubular, ribbon-like shape is defined by the webbing 14 with a longitudinal aperture 24 disposed therein. The webbing 14 includes a width W which may range between 35 to 75% of a game ball diameter.

It will be understood that, along with the resiliency of the polymeric material of the strands 16, the foregoing arrangement of the individual strands 16 allows the webbing 14 to be stretched in a resilient manner along the longitudinal axis A.

Referring now to Figure 2, the webbing 14 is sealed at ends 26 and 28 by, for example, melting the ends of each particular strand 16 together.

Optionally, the ends of each strand 16 may also be, or may alternatively be, clamped together by, e. g., a cable tie 30.

As illustrated in both Figures 1 and 2, the game ball training device 10 may be assemble by first providing the webbing and inserting the game balls 12,12' into the longitudinal aperture 24 at each end 26,28 of the webbing 14. Thereafter, the ends 26,28 may be sealed as described above.

Another embodiment of a game ball training device in accordance with the present invention is illustrated at 110 in Figure 3. The game ball training device 110 may be generally similar to the game ball training device 10 and may be composed of similar materials as that of the embodiment of Figure 1 excepting the manner of connection between the game balls 112, 112'and webbing 114. As illustrated, each game ball 112,112' comprises an axial bore 132,132'. As illustrated, the webbing 114 is disposed within the axial bores 132,132'and is affixed in place therein via a suitable adhesive. An example of a suitable adhesive for use in the practice of this embodiment in the invention includes any of the silicon rubber compounds such as that sold under the trademark RTV.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated generally at 210 in Figure 5. In this embodiment, webbing 214 is mounted to each game ball 212,212'entirely through a central bore 234,234'of each game ball 212,212'. In this manner, the webbing 214 is doubled back such that each end 226,228 is disposed adjacent the webbing 214 as it enters the axial bore 234,234'. In this way, the webbing nearly entirely covers the outer surface 236,236'of the game balls 212,212'.

When any of the game ball training devices 10,110,210 is thrown downwardly against a hard surface such as concrete, the rebound creates an unusual, spinning flight resulting in a revolving appearance. The device can be thrown by grasping one of the ends 26,28,126,128 or 226,228 and respective game balls 12,12', 112, 112'or 212,212', or by grasping the webbing 14,114,214. The flexibility and resiliency of the webbing 14,114 or 214 allows the game balls 12,12', 112, 112'or 212,212'to independently bounce off the concrete and oscillate away from each other and thereafter back along axis A thereby potentially engaging each other during flight. This independent movement of the game balls 12,12', 112, 112'or 212,212'long with the resiliency of the webbing 14 is believed to assist in creating the spinning flight discussed above about one or more axes B and C (Figure 1). In particular, the resiliency of the webbing 14, 114,214 and lever action at the location where the game balls 12,12', 112, 112'or 212, 212'connect to the webbing may create unbalanced forces in the game ball training device 10,110,210 during flight thereof that may be resolved by the spinning action. It has been found that when

a length of the webbing 14,114,214 between the game balls is reduced, less spinning occurs whereas when a greater length of the webbing is provided more spinning occurs. After the game ball training device 10, 110, 210 has been thrown, an attempt to grab the webbing 14,114,214 may be made. Along with providing entertainment, by attempting to grab the game ball training device 10,110,210 motor skills may be increased due to the difficulty of catching a spinning, moving device.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Rather, it is intended to cover all of the various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.