Play device for suspending and moving a floatable object relative to

Abstract

A play device for suspending a floatable object such as a foam plastic ball or a ping pong ball in an air stream and selectively manipulating the direction and position of the air stream so as to move the ball into areas defined by movable structures. The structures are themselves movable when contacted by the air stream to thereby move the ball-receiving areas and increase the difficulty and excitement of the play of the device. The areas may comprise passageways completely through the movable structures or may be the entrances to receptacles in which the ball may be received or may be defined areas adjacent to portions of the structures. The air stream may be provided by a hand-held blower unit which preferrably includes a cradle for the ball. The cradle includes apertures or openings therein which permits the ball to be lifted by the air stream from a starting position in the cradle and suspended in the air stream a substantial distance above the cradle. This permits the ball to be moved relative to the areas without the blower making physical contact with the movable structures which define the areas. The air stream may have a generally constant thrust so as to maintain the ball a generally constant and predetermined distance from the blower unit. Movement of the ball is accomplished by varying the location of the blower unit (i.e. up, down, or to the side) and by varying the orientation of the unit (i.e., its angle or level, front to back and side to side).