Title:
TELESCOPIC JUMP ROPE TOY WITH SELECTIVE LATCHING STRUCTURE
United States Patent 3762704
Abstract:
A toy for children, fabricated of two sets of joined telescopic sections of flexible multi-colored plastic tubing. Each section of tubing contains spaced interior projections to serve as bearing points to furnish a smooth sliding effect to the outer diameter of the next inner telescoped section which rides on the projections. To provide for selective movement of each inner telescopic section through the next outer section in which it rides, each inner section is provided with spaced exterior projections on the outer end thereof. These exterior projections must be properly oriented with respect to the inner projections of the next outer section to permit movement of the inner section through the outer section. The innermost section is a solid flexible plastic rod which joins the two opposed sets of telescopic sections.
US Patent References:
Clothes hanger rod for automobiles
Lilly - January 1961 - 2969881
Subaqueous structures for supporting a working platform above water
Bayley - December 1958 - 2862738
Telescoping pole
McMullin - September 1963 - 3103375
SKIP ROPE FORMED OF SECTIONS
Fauvelle - October 1969 - 3475023
Clothes hanger rod for automobiles
Lilly - January 1961 - 2969881
Subaqueous structures for supporting a working platform above water
Bayley - December 1958 - 2862738
Telescoping pole
McMullin - September 1963 - 3103375
SKIP ROPE FORMED OF SECTIONS
Fauvelle - October 1969 - 3475023
Application Number:
05/254908
Publication Date:
10/02/1973
Filing Date:
05/19/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
The Raymond Lee Organization (New York, NY)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
403/109.800, D21/672, 403/106, 273/156
International Classes:
A63B5/20; A63B5/00; A63B5/20
Field of Search:
272/75,59C,70.1,70.2,74 211/105.3 287/58R,58CT,127R
Primary Examiner:
Pinkham, Richard C.
Assistant Examiner:
Stouffer R. T.
Claims:
Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is
1. A telescopic collapsible jump rope toy for children, comprising a first set of telescopic flexible tubular sections, the innermost member of which is joined by a common rod to another relatively opposed second set of similar telescopic tubular sections, in which each tubular length of the first set of telescopic sections is interchangeable with the equivalent tubular length of the second set of telescopic sections, with
2. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which additional projections are located on the inner walls of a tubular section between the projections adjacent each end thereof so as to permit latching of said tubular section to an adjacent tubular section when the two tubular sections are in the partially extended position.
3. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which the device is fabricated of a resilient flexible plastic material.
1. A telescopic collapsible jump rope toy for children, comprising a first set of telescopic flexible tubular sections, the innermost member of which is joined by a common rod to another relatively opposed second set of similar telescopic tubular sections, in which each tubular length of the first set of telescopic sections is interchangeable with the equivalent tubular length of the second set of telescopic sections, with
2. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which additional projections are located on the inner walls of a tubular section between the projections adjacent each end thereof so as to permit latching of said tubular section to an adjacent tubular section when the two tubular sections are in the partially extended position.
3. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which the device is fabricated of a resilient flexible plastic material.
Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a toy for children fabricated of two sets of joined opposed telescopic sections of flexible multi-colored flexible plastic tubing.
An advantage of this invention is that it encourages manual dexterity in young children by encouraging them to rearrange the color patterns of the telescopic sections.
A further advantage of this invention is that it is readily stored, collapsing into a relatively short length.
When the telescopic sections, comprising the toy, are engaged together in the fully extended mode, the flexible tube so formed may be used by children as a jump rope or a dancing toy.
The invention consists of an innermost flexible plastic rod which is joined at each end to a set of telescopic flexible plastic tubes. The interior of each tube contains spaced projections to serve as bearing surfaces to the outer diameter of the tube which rides inside.
Means are provided to completely remove each length of tubing from the adjacent inner and outer lengths of tubing, as desired, said means serving to prevent accidental removal of said tubes from engagement with each other. The rotational relation of each length of tubing with each of the adjacent lengths of tubing serves to determine whether said adjacent lengths of tubing may be readily pulled apart, or whether they are locked together.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the complete device;
FIG. 2 is en elevation view of one set of telescopic members forming the device;
FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the protrusions on the interior walls and walls of the tubes;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the protrusions on the exterior end wall of the tubing; and
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-section view of the protrusions on the interior walls of the tubes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now descriptively to the drawing, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates the device 10 in the extended condition, with tubular end handle members 11 and 19 each serving as the housing in the retracted mode for one set of telescopic tubes, with central flexible rod 15 joining both sets of opposed retractable tubes.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, tube 14 rides over central flexible rod 15 and inside of tube 13; tube 12 rides over tube 13 and inside of handle section 11 on one side, while on the other side, tube 16 rides over central flexible rod 15 and inside of tube 17, with tube 18 riding over tube 17 and inside of handle section 19.
Handle sections 11 and 19 are each perforated by holes 21 through their ends so as to minimize suction or pressure effects in sliding the telescopic sections.
As shown in FIG. 3, inside protuberances 22 are located inside of each hollow tube to serve as bearing points and to restrict passage of the partially externally beaded ends 23 of the adjacent next larger size tubing. Similarly the interior end 25 of each section of tubing is partially internally beaded so as to restrict passage of the partially externally beaded end 23 of the handle end of the adjacent inner plastic tube.
Internal protrubences 22 and internal end beads 25, as well as external end beads 23 are each shaped as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 so as to take up sectors of less than 90° about the circumference of the tubing, said sectors being spaced directly opposite each other. Consequently, it is possible for the internal protrubence 22 of one tube such as 12 to clear the external end bead 23 of the adjacent inner tube such as 13 when the tubes 12 and 13 are properly rotated relative to each other, while the external bead 23 of the inner tube such as tube 13 will not clear the internal protrubence 22 or internal end bead 25 of the adjacent outer tube 12 when the tubes 12 and 13 are in other rotational relations to each other.
The device 10 may be designed so that all the internal protrubences 22 and end beads 25 of all the tubes lie on the same axial plane, simplifying the task of removing an internal tube such as 13 from its adjacent external tube 12. However, the preferred embodiment adds more interest to young children, as a toy, if the internal protrubences 22 and the internal end beads 25 of the tubes do not lie in any one common axial plane, thus requiring the child to rotate each set of adjacent tubes to a particular relative rotational configuration when slipping the external end bead 23 of an inner tube such as 13 past an internal protuberance 22 or internal end bead 25 of the adjacent larger tube.
As shown in FIG. 6, each internal protuberance 22 and internal end bead 25 consists of two parallel internal circumferential ribs 27 separated by a circumferential notch 28. Each rib 27 is thickened at its rib end 29 so as to retain the end bead 25 of a tube which has been rotated into engagement in the notch 28 between adjacent ribs 27 of a protuberance 22, or internal end bead 25.
Since obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein, it is indicated that all matter contained herein is intended as illustrative and not as limiting in scope.
This invention relates to a toy for children fabricated of two sets of joined opposed telescopic sections of flexible multi-colored flexible plastic tubing.
An advantage of this invention is that it encourages manual dexterity in young children by encouraging them to rearrange the color patterns of the telescopic sections.
A further advantage of this invention is that it is readily stored, collapsing into a relatively short length.
When the telescopic sections, comprising the toy, are engaged together in the fully extended mode, the flexible tube so formed may be used by children as a jump rope or a dancing toy.
The invention consists of an innermost flexible plastic rod which is joined at each end to a set of telescopic flexible plastic tubes. The interior of each tube contains spaced projections to serve as bearing surfaces to the outer diameter of the tube which rides inside.
Means are provided to completely remove each length of tubing from the adjacent inner and outer lengths of tubing, as desired, said means serving to prevent accidental removal of said tubes from engagement with each other. The rotational relation of each length of tubing with each of the adjacent lengths of tubing serves to determine whether said adjacent lengths of tubing may be readily pulled apart, or whether they are locked together.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the complete device;
FIG. 2 is en elevation view of one set of telescopic members forming the device;
FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the protrusions on the interior walls and walls of the tubes;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the protrusions on the exterior end wall of the tubing; and
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-section view of the protrusions on the interior walls of the tubes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now descriptively to the drawing, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates the device 10 in the extended condition, with tubular end handle members 11 and 19 each serving as the housing in the retracted mode for one set of telescopic tubes, with central flexible rod 15 joining both sets of opposed retractable tubes.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, tube 14 rides over central flexible rod 15 and inside of tube 13; tube 12 rides over tube 13 and inside of handle section 11 on one side, while on the other side, tube 16 rides over central flexible rod 15 and inside of tube 17, with tube 18 riding over tube 17 and inside of handle section 19.
Handle sections 11 and 19 are each perforated by holes 21 through their ends so as to minimize suction or pressure effects in sliding the telescopic sections.
As shown in FIG. 3, inside protuberances 22 are located inside of each hollow tube to serve as bearing points and to restrict passage of the partially externally beaded ends 23 of the adjacent next larger size tubing. Similarly the interior end 25 of each section of tubing is partially internally beaded so as to restrict passage of the partially externally beaded end 23 of the handle end of the adjacent inner plastic tube.
Internal protrubences 22 and internal end beads 25, as well as external end beads 23 are each shaped as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 so as to take up sectors of less than 90° about the circumference of the tubing, said sectors being spaced directly opposite each other. Consequently, it is possible for the internal protrubence 22 of one tube such as 12 to clear the external end bead 23 of the adjacent inner tube such as 13 when the tubes 12 and 13 are properly rotated relative to each other, while the external bead 23 of the inner tube such as tube 13 will not clear the internal protrubence 22 or internal end bead 25 of the adjacent outer tube 12 when the tubes 12 and 13 are in other rotational relations to each other.
The device 10 may be designed so that all the internal protrubences 22 and end beads 25 of all the tubes lie on the same axial plane, simplifying the task of removing an internal tube such as 13 from its adjacent external tube 12. However, the preferred embodiment adds more interest to young children, as a toy, if the internal protrubences 22 and the internal end beads 25 of the tubes do not lie in any one common axial plane, thus requiring the child to rotate each set of adjacent tubes to a particular relative rotational configuration when slipping the external end bead 23 of an inner tube such as 13 past an internal protuberance 22 or internal end bead 25 of the adjacent larger tube.
As shown in FIG. 6, each internal protuberance 22 and internal end bead 25 consists of two parallel internal circumferential ribs 27 separated by a circumferential notch 28. Each rib 27 is thickened at its rib end 29 so as to retain the end bead 25 of a tube which has been rotated into engagement in the notch 28 between adjacent ribs 27 of a protuberance 22, or internal end bead 25.
Since obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein, it is indicated that all matter contained herein is intended as illustrative and not as limiting in scope.