Darle L Kerkenbush

US Patent:

43402224, Jul 20, 1982

Filed:

Jun 30, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/164280

Inventors:

Darle L. Kerkenbush - Diamond Bar CA
Peter P. Blaszcak - Sierra Madre CA

Assignee:

Wham-O Mfg. Co. - San Gabriel CA

International Classification:

A63B 4110
A63B 3908

US Classification:

273 61R

Abstract:

A tennis ball consisting of two identical hemispheres joined together and including small upstanding integral fingers molded into the outer surface of the ball to provide surface texture, and enable the ball to grip the surface of the racquet. Each hemisphere incorporates an integrally molded plug in the interior of the hemisphere for providing means for introducing pressure into the ball. One or both of the plugs are pierced by a needle during fabrication to provide a conduit for a needle valve inflating device. A cylindrical sphincter is placed around the inflation plug during manufacture to squeeze the plug and prevent the escape of air when the ball is inflated. The ball is manufactured by first injection molding the hemispheres and then placing the hemispheres in facing mold halves. The hemispheres are provided with a rim of material to enable the hemispheres to be held in the mold, and a hot plate is inserted between the halves, which are then advanced and pressed against the plate rendering the abutting surfaces soft and partially molten. The plate is then withdrawn and the mold halves pressed together to fuse the rims of the two hemispheres together.

US Patent:

43511295, Sep 28, 1982

Filed:

Sep 26, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/191073

Inventors:

Darle L. Kerkenbush - Diamond Bar CA
Jimmie L. Whittington - Diamond Bar CA
Terry J. Sanchez - Pomona CA

Assignee:

Wham-O Mfg. Company - San Gabriel CA

International Classification:

A63H 2700

US Classification:

46 74D

Abstract:

A circular flying disc is provided. The flying disc has an insert permanently secured across a circular aperture through its center by means of a fusion bond between an annular section of the disc and a retaining ring.

US Patent:

42353785, Nov 25, 1980

Filed:

Jul 16, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/058069

Inventors:

Arthur K. Melin - San Gabriel CA
Richard L. Gillespie - San Gabriel CA
Darle L. Kerkenbush - Diamond Bar CA
Jim L. Whittington - Diamond Bar CA
Douglas A. Geller - Monrovia CA

Assignee:

Wham-O Mfg. Co. - San Gabriel CA

International Classification:

B05B 300

US Classification:

239229

Abstract:

A water play toy shaped in the form of an animal or cartoon character in which the body is provided with an outlet section which has a plurality of flexible hollow tubes attached to water outlets spaced around the outlet section. A source of water under pressure is coupled to a conduit passing through the body and communicates with the outlet section for distributing water to the hollow tubes. When the water pressure is turned on, a plurality of individual jets of water are emitted by the individual tubes. Because the tubes are flexible they writhe and twist in a random motion pattern due to the action and reaction forces of the water acting on the tubes. In one embodiment a first enclosed chamber compresses the outlet section. A second enclosed chamber is built into the upper interior portion of the first chamber which communicates with a small pinhole-type outlet to provide a misting or fogging aspect to the overall water pattern emitted by the water play toy. As long as water pressure is uninterrupted water continues to flow through the flexible lines and the fogger creating a pattern of small waving streams of water within which a heavy mist pattern of water droplets is interspersed.