CENTRIFUGALLY EXPANSIBLE HULA HOOP
United States Patent 3729860
A circumferentially curved member has its one end portion slidably telescoped in its other end portion and thus forms a closed annulus, the telescoped end portions being relatively slidable with sufficient freedom to permit diametric expansion of the annulus by centrifugal force when the hoop is gyrated by the body of a user. The annulus remains in its expanded position to show its enlargement, more-or-less in relation to the gyrating effort involved in expanding the same.
Application Number:
05/240941
Publication Date:
05/01/1973
Filing Date:
04/04/1972
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Export Citation:
Primary Class:
International Classes:
A63B19/00; A63H33/02
Field of Search:
46/47,51
Primary Examiner:
Mancene, Louis G.
Assistant Examiner:
Cutting, Robert F.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A centrifugally expansible hula hoop, comprising a circumferentially curved member having one end portion thereof slidably telescoped in its other end portion and thus forming a closed annulus, the telescoped end portions of said member being relatively slidable with sufficient freedom to permit diametric expansion of the annulus by centrifugal force when the hoop is gyrated by the body of a user, said expansion taking place within the telescoped end portions, releasable means reacting between the slidably telescoped end portions of said member for holding the same in a given relatively slid position corresponding to a given diameter of said diameter annulus, said holding means being self-releasing to permit diametric expansion of the annulus by centrifugal force as aforesaid, said holding means comprising a set of circumferentially spaced notches provided on one end portion of said member, and a resilient tongue provided on the other end portion of said member, said tongue being releasably engageable with said notches.
2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with means for indicating the extent of diametric expansion of said annulus as a function of relative sliding of the telescoped end portions of said member.
3. The device as defined in claim 1 which is further characterized in that said releasable holding means are effective successively step-by-step circumferentially of said annulus.
4. A centrifugally expansible hula hoop, comprising a circumferentially curved member having one end portion thereof slidably telescoped in its other end portion and thus forming a closed annulus, the telescoped end portions of said member being relatively slidable with sufficient freedom to permit diametric expansion of the annulus by centrifugal force when the hoop is gyrated by the body of a user, said expansion taking place within the telescoped end portions, releasable means reacting between the slidably telescoped end portions of said member for holding the same in a given relatively slid position corresponding to a given diameter of said annulus, said holding means being self-releasing to permit diametric expansion of the annulus by centrifugal force as aforesaid, said holding means comprising a set of circum-ferentially spaced notches provided on one end portion of said member, and a resiliently pressed detent provided on the other end portion of said member, said detent being releasably engageable with said notches.
5. The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said notches and said tongue are slanted in a direction to permit outward expansion of said hoop but will resist inward sliding of said one end portion relative to said other end portion.
6. The device set forth in claim 4 wherein said resiliently pressed detent comprises a resilient integrally hinged tongue formed in said other end, said tongue having a socket formed in the underside thereof; and a ball detent seated in said socket.
1. A centrifugally expansible hula hoop, comprising a circumferentially curved member having one end portion thereof slidably telescoped in its other end portion and thus forming a closed annulus, the telescoped end portions of said member being relatively slidable with sufficient freedom to permit diametric expansion of the annulus by centrifugal force when the hoop is gyrated by the body of a user, said expansion taking place within the telescoped end portions, releasable means reacting between the slidably telescoped end portions of said member for holding the same in a given relatively slid position corresponding to a given diameter of said diameter annulus, said holding means being self-releasing to permit diametric expansion of the annulus by centrifugal force as aforesaid, said holding means comprising a set of circumferentially spaced notches provided on one end portion of said member, and a resilient tongue provided on the other end portion of said member, said tongue being releasably engageable with said notches.
2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with means for indicating the extent of diametric expansion of said annulus as a function of relative sliding of the telescoped end portions of said member.
3. The device as defined in claim 1 which is further characterized in that said releasable holding means are effective successively step-by-step circumferentially of said annulus.
4. A centrifugally expansible hula hoop, comprising a circumferentially curved member having one end portion thereof slidably telescoped in its other end portion and thus forming a closed annulus, the telescoped end portions of said member being relatively slidable with sufficient freedom to permit diametric expansion of the annulus by centrifugal force when the hoop is gyrated by the body of a user, said expansion taking place within the telescoped end portions, releasable means reacting between the slidably telescoped end portions of said member for holding the same in a given relatively slid position corresponding to a given diameter of said annulus, said holding means being self-releasing to permit diametric expansion of the annulus by centrifugal force as aforesaid, said holding means comprising a set of circum-ferentially spaced notches provided on one end portion of said member, and a resiliently pressed detent provided on the other end portion of said member, said detent being releasably engageable with said notches.
5. The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said notches and said tongue are slanted in a direction to permit outward expansion of said hoop but will resist inward sliding of said one end portion relative to said other end portion.
6. The device set forth in claim 4 wherein said resiliently pressed detent comprises a resilient integrally hinged tongue formed in said other end, said tongue having a socket formed in the underside thereof; and a ball detent seated in said socket.
Description:
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in exercising devices of the so-called "hula hoop" type, involving an annulus which is revolved around the mid-section of a user's body by subjecting the body to gyrations. Devices of this type have become very popular among both children and adults in that the use thereof is not only exercising but also very amusing and, with two or more participants acting as a group, the activity can easily become a contest as to either or both, the duration and the intensity of hula hoop gyrations which the respective participants can sustain.
While the time element or duration of the activity can be readily determined, it has not been possible to obtain a reasonable evaluation of the intensity or dexterity with which the hoop is gyrated by a particular user, this being an aspect which heretofore has been judged solely by visual assessment which may or may not be always accurate in regard to different observers and different participants.
It is, therefore, the principal object of the invention to provide an improved hula hoop which is equipped with means for positively indicating different degrees of gyrating activity to which it has been subjected by movements of the user, such indication being more-or-less proportional to the intensity of the user's movements as well as his or her dexterity in sustaining and coordinating movements for an adequate period of time to develop gyratory indications of optimum value.
As such, the invention provides a centrifugally expansible hula hoop consisting of a circumferentially curved member which has its end portions slidably telescoped and thus defines a closed annulus. The telescoped end portions are slidable with sufficient freedom to permit diametric expansion of the annulus by centrifugal force when the device is gyrated by the user's body, and the extent of such diametric expansion thus serves to indicate, in a more-or-less directly proportional manner, the intensity of the gyrating effort by which the expansion was produced.
Moreover, the invention provides releasable means for holding the telescoped end portions in a given relatively slid position, corresponding to a given diameter of the annulus, such holding means being self-releasing to permit the diametric expansion to take place by centrifugal force. When gyration is discontinued, the annulus is retained by the holding means at the maximum diameter to which it has been expanded during use, and a positive indication of the intensity of gyration is thus obtained.
The improved hula hoop of the invention is simple in construction and lends itself to convenient and economical manufacture.
With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features which may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hula hoop of the invention, the dotted lines showing the same diametrically expanded;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 2--2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the hoop in the process of expansion;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the hoop partially expanded;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5--5 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 6--6 in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing a modified embodiment; and
FIG. 8 is a sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 8--8 in FIG. 7.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the numeral 10 in FIG. 1 generally designates the centrifugally expansible hula hoop of the invention. The solid lines show the hoop contracted, while the dotted lines 10a show it in its diametrically expanded condition.
The hoop 10 comprises a circumferentially curved member 12 of rubber, plastic, or any other suitable pliable material, the member 12 having a diametrically reduced end portion 13 which is slidably telescoped into the other tubular end portion 14 of the member, so as to form a closed annulus, ring or hoop. It will be apparent that when the end portions 13, 14 are slid together as shown in FIG. 2, the hoop has a minimum contracted diameter, but when the end portions are slid further and further apart, as exemplified in FIG. 4, the diameter of the hoop will be progressively increased. The end portion 13 is slidable in the end portion 14 with sufficient freedom to permit such sliding to take place by centrifugal force when the hoop is subjected to gyrations by movement of a user's body.
Means are provided for releasably holding the slidably telescoped end portions 13, 14 in a given relatively slid position, corresponding to a given diameter of the hoop. Such means comprise a plurality of notches 15 which are provided at circumferentially spaced points in the inner end portion 13. The outer end portion 14 is provided with a pair of transversely spaced parallel open-ended slots which define therebetween a longitudinal tongue 16. The tongue has a downturned free end forming a detent 17 which is engageable with the notches 15 in the end portion 13, it being understood that the tongue 16 normally tends to conform to the cross-section of the end portion 14 and is inherently resilient so that when the portion 14 is slid on the portion 13, the tongue is deflected outwardly as the detent 17 passes from one notch 15 to the next, at which point the tendency of the tongue to return to its initial inward position causes the detent 17 to be seated in the notch.
In this manner, the end portions 13, 14 are releasably held by the means 15, 16, 17 in a given relatively slid position, corresponding to a given diameter of the hula hoop. However, the holding means are self-releasing so as to automatically permit diametric expansion of the hoop by centrifugal force while the hoop is being gyrated. When gyration is discontinued, the means 15, 16, 17 hold the hoop in its maximum expanded position, and since this amount of expansion is more-or-less directly proportional to the intensity of the gyrating effort, the extent of diametric expansion of the hoop serves to indicate how much effort the user has expended. Conveniently, indicia such as numbers 1, 2, 3, etc. may be provided on the end portion 13 adjacent the respective notches 15, as shown at 18 in FIG. 4, to indicate the amount of diametric expansion of the hoop.
The holding means 15, 16, 17 are effective successively step-by-step circumferentially of the hoop and while they are self-releasing in the direction of hoop enlargement, it is preferred that they have to be manually released in order for the hoop to be contracted. Thus, the notches 15 and the detent 17 may be slanted in the direction of expanding movement as indicated by the arrow 19 in FIG. 3 so as to facilitate self-releasing of the holding means in the direction of expansion and resist releasing of the holding means in the direction of contraction.
FIG. 7 and 8 show a slightly modified embodiment of the holding means wherein the tongue 16a does not have an integral detent such as the detent 17, but has a pocket 16b to accommodate a separate detent in the form of a ball bearing 20 which is engageable with the notches 15 in the end portion 13.
While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications and equivalents may be restored to within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.
While the time element or duration of the activity can be readily determined, it has not been possible to obtain a reasonable evaluation of the intensity or dexterity with which the hoop is gyrated by a particular user, this being an aspect which heretofore has been judged solely by visual assessment which may or may not be always accurate in regard to different observers and different participants.
It is, therefore, the principal object of the invention to provide an improved hula hoop which is equipped with means for positively indicating different degrees of gyrating activity to which it has been subjected by movements of the user, such indication being more-or-less proportional to the intensity of the user's movements as well as his or her dexterity in sustaining and coordinating movements for an adequate period of time to develop gyratory indications of optimum value.
As such, the invention provides a centrifugally expansible hula hoop consisting of a circumferentially curved member which has its end portions slidably telescoped and thus defines a closed annulus. The telescoped end portions are slidable with sufficient freedom to permit diametric expansion of the annulus by centrifugal force when the device is gyrated by the user's body, and the extent of such diametric expansion thus serves to indicate, in a more-or-less directly proportional manner, the intensity of the gyrating effort by which the expansion was produced.
Moreover, the invention provides releasable means for holding the telescoped end portions in a given relatively slid position, corresponding to a given diameter of the annulus, such holding means being self-releasing to permit the diametric expansion to take place by centrifugal force. When gyration is discontinued, the annulus is retained by the holding means at the maximum diameter to which it has been expanded during use, and a positive indication of the intensity of gyration is thus obtained.
The improved hula hoop of the invention is simple in construction and lends itself to convenient and economical manufacture.
With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features which may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hula hoop of the invention, the dotted lines showing the same diametrically expanded;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 2--2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the hoop in the process of expansion;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the hoop partially expanded;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5--5 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 6--6 in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing a modified embodiment; and
FIG. 8 is a sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 8--8 in FIG. 7.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the numeral 10 in FIG. 1 generally designates the centrifugally expansible hula hoop of the invention. The solid lines show the hoop contracted, while the dotted lines 10a show it in its diametrically expanded condition.
The hoop 10 comprises a circumferentially curved member 12 of rubber, plastic, or any other suitable pliable material, the member 12 having a diametrically reduced end portion 13 which is slidably telescoped into the other tubular end portion 14 of the member, so as to form a closed annulus, ring or hoop. It will be apparent that when the end portions 13, 14 are slid together as shown in FIG. 2, the hoop has a minimum contracted diameter, but when the end portions are slid further and further apart, as exemplified in FIG. 4, the diameter of the hoop will be progressively increased. The end portion 13 is slidable in the end portion 14 with sufficient freedom to permit such sliding to take place by centrifugal force when the hoop is subjected to gyrations by movement of a user's body.
Means are provided for releasably holding the slidably telescoped end portions 13, 14 in a given relatively slid position, corresponding to a given diameter of the hoop. Such means comprise a plurality of notches 15 which are provided at circumferentially spaced points in the inner end portion 13. The outer end portion 14 is provided with a pair of transversely spaced parallel open-ended slots which define therebetween a longitudinal tongue 16. The tongue has a downturned free end forming a detent 17 which is engageable with the notches 15 in the end portion 13, it being understood that the tongue 16 normally tends to conform to the cross-section of the end portion 14 and is inherently resilient so that when the portion 14 is slid on the portion 13, the tongue is deflected outwardly as the detent 17 passes from one notch 15 to the next, at which point the tendency of the tongue to return to its initial inward position causes the detent 17 to be seated in the notch.
In this manner, the end portions 13, 14 are releasably held by the means 15, 16, 17 in a given relatively slid position, corresponding to a given diameter of the hula hoop. However, the holding means are self-releasing so as to automatically permit diametric expansion of the hoop by centrifugal force while the hoop is being gyrated. When gyration is discontinued, the means 15, 16, 17 hold the hoop in its maximum expanded position, and since this amount of expansion is more-or-less directly proportional to the intensity of the gyrating effort, the extent of diametric expansion of the hoop serves to indicate how much effort the user has expended. Conveniently, indicia such as numbers 1, 2, 3, etc. may be provided on the end portion 13 adjacent the respective notches 15, as shown at 18 in FIG. 4, to indicate the amount of diametric expansion of the hoop.
The holding means 15, 16, 17 are effective successively step-by-step circumferentially of the hoop and while they are self-releasing in the direction of hoop enlargement, it is preferred that they have to be manually released in order for the hoop to be contracted. Thus, the notches 15 and the detent 17 may be slanted in the direction of expanding movement as indicated by the arrow 19 in FIG. 3 so as to facilitate self-releasing of the holding means in the direction of expansion and resist releasing of the holding means in the direction of contraction.
FIG. 7 and 8 show a slightly modified embodiment of the holding means wherein the tongue 16a does not have an integral detent such as the detent 17, but has a pocket 16b to accommodate a separate detent in the form of a ball bearing 20 which is engageable with the notches 15 in the end portion 13.
While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications and equivalents may be restored to within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.