BALL PIT APPARATUS

• Main Author: Cassidy, Paul
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 07.03.2018
• Subjects: AMUSEMENTS; APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING,CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; CHUTES; GAMES; HUMAN NECESSITIES; MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; ROCKING-HORSES; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT; SPORTS; SWINGS; SWITCHBACKS; TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS, BUILDING BLOCKS; TRAINING EQUIPMENT

A ball pit apparatus for use with a plurality of balls. The ball pit apparatus includes: a base portion configured to provide a ball pit for holding a plurality of balls, wherein the base portion includes one or more inflatable side walls configured to, when inflated, extend around a periphery of the base portion; a roof portion configured to provide a ball chamber for holding a plurality of balls above the base portion; one or more inflatable supports configured to, when inflated, hold the roof portion above the base portion; a suction inlet configured to be in fluid communication with the ball chamber so that, when suction is provided at the suction inlet, suction is also provided to the ball chamber; a ball inlet configured to be in fluid communication with the ball chamber so that, when suction is provided to the ball chamber, a ball received at the ball inlet is drawn into the ball chamber. The roof portion includes an opening configured to face the base portion when the one or more inflatable supports are inflated. The roof portion includes at least one blocking element configured to block the opening so as to prevent balls from falling through the opening when suction is provided to the ball chamber and to not block the opening so as to allow balls to fall through the opening when suction is not provided to the ball chamber.