U.S. patent application number 13/016550 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-02 for exercise and play hoop (rain hoop).
This patent application is currently assigned to MAUI TOYS, INC.. Invention is credited to Brian D. KESSLER.
Application Number | 20120196501 13/016550 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46577730 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120196501 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KESSLER; Brian D. |
August 2, 2012 |
EXERCISE AND PLAY HOOP (RAIN HOOP)
Abstract
A play and/or exercise hoop is formed by a hollow tube
containing hard particles, wherein the hollow tube has a
non-circular internal cross-section, preferably adjacent flat
surfaces, whereby the hard beads fall from one surface to another
as the hoop is rotated about the body, so as to produce the sound
of falling rain.
Inventors: |
KESSLER; Brian D.; (Los
Angeles, CA) |
Assignee: |
MAUI TOYS, INC.
Los Angles
CA
|
Family ID: |
46577730 |
Appl. No.: |
13/016550 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/236 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2209/00 20130101;
A63B 19/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/236 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/02 20060101
A63H033/02 |
Claims
1. A hoop for rotation about a user, formed of a generally circular
hollow tube of hard material, the hollow tube containing a
plurality of beads therewithin, and the interior of the hoop having
a non-circular cross-section, whereby the sound of rain is provided
by the hard beads moving along the non-circular internal
cross-section and moving or falling from one internal part thereof
to another internal part thereof.
2. The hoop of claim 1 formed of hard plastic.
3. The hoop of claim 2 wherein the hard plastic is translucent or
transparent.
4. The hoop of claim 1 wherein the non-circular internal
cross-section of the hoop comprises a plurality of flat
surfaces.
5. A hoop in accordance with claim 4 wherein the non-circular
internal cross-section of the hoop comprises 5-7 flat surfaces.
6. The hoop of claim 5 wherein the flat surfaces extend spirally
along the interior length of the hoop.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to play and/or exercise hoops
of the type commonly known as "HULA HOOPS".
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Play hoops for rotation about the body are widely known, and
used for rolling and gyrating about the hips and other parts of the
body. These hoops are typically made from a length of plastic
tubing having a circular cross-section. The plastic tubing is bent
into the length of a circle and the ends are joined to form the
hoop. Decoration is commonly provided by covering or wrapping the
curved cylindrical surface, e.g. see Kessler U.S. Pat. No.
5,538,454; Kessler U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,136 and Kessler U.S. Pat.
No. 6,494,760.
[0003] Such hoops may take other forms as well, noting Roh et al
U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,939, and be internally weighted (Kessler '136
and '760 and Roh '939), but such hoops are still formed of tubes
having an internal circular cross-section, i.e. an annular profile
in cross-section through the interior of the tubing.
[0004] It is also well known to provide a freely flowing material
within the hoop, e.g. hard beads, small ball bearings, sand or
liquid, e.g. water, or even a mixture of such materials. As the
ends of the tube which form the hoop must be joined, it is well
known to use a connector plug which is hollow and has a bore of
substantial cross-section which permits substantially unrestricted
flow of the freely flowing material within the hoop.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is directed to a play and/or exercise
hoop of the general type discussed above, and is characterized by a
construction which produces a particular sound when in use, and
more particularly the sound of rain falling when the hoop is used
by rotation about the body. The unique sound of rain provided by
the present invention is achieved primarily by two features in
combination, namely (1) the provision of a non-circular internal
cross-section of the hoop, and (2) the provision of freely flowing
hard particles within the hoop. The unique sound of falling rain is
achieved by movement and falling from one internal surface to
another of the freely flowing hard particles over the irregular
internal surface of the hoop tubing, defined by its non-circular
internal cross-section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
[0006] FIG. 1 is an exterior view of a play and/or exercise hoop in
accordance with the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-section of such a hoop, along lines 2-2 of
FIGS. 1 and 3.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a partial exterior view, with the internal
configuration shown in broken lines, of the hoop tube of FIGS. 1
and 2.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the hoop interior
with particulate material therewithin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0010] A hoop 10 is shown according to the present invention formed
of a tube 12 having an internal cross-section of irregular
configuration, such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 wherein the internal
cross section if formed of six flat surfaces 14 in a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with
conventional practice, the ends of the tube 12 are joined together
to form the hoop 10 by a connector plug (not shown), wherein the
connector plug may optionally be itself hollow so that the
particulate material 16 within the tube may optionally flow past
the connector plug. In accordance with standard practice, the
connector plug has an outer dimension sufficiently close to the
internal dimensions of the tube 12 so as to provide a good tight
friction fit. Alternatively, or in addition to the friction fit,
staples are driven through the tube 12 and the connector plug from
the exterior of the tube 12.
[0011] The tube 12 of the hoop 10 is formed of rigid or semi-rigid
plastic, extruded polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate glycol
(PETG) being conventional. The tube 12 is preferably formed of
PETG, although other relatively hard plastics such as PVC can be
used as well. Preferably, the plastic of the tube 12 of the hoop 10
is transparent or translucent so as that the interior can be seen
showing the moving particulate material.
[0012] In a presently preferred cross-sectional embodiment as shown
in FIG. 2, the internal diameter of the tube 12 of the hoop 10 is
0.585-0.81 inches, although the range is more desirably 0.30-1.50
inches. Returning to the specific embodiment, the external diameter
of the tube 12 of the hoop 10 is 0.75 inches, the thickness of the
wall varies in the illustrated embodiment with the maximum
thickness being approximately 0.065 inches; and the width of each
of the six internal sides of the tube is 0.33 inches. The internal
dimensions are only limited by the effect produced, namely the
sound created by the particulate material 16 as it moves along the
varying interior of the tube 12.
[0013] To facilitate this unique sound, the interior configuration
changes along the length of the tube 12, namely around the
circumference of the hoop 10. In a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the internal configuration as shown in FIGS. 2
and 4 rotates in the form of a spiral, with one complete spiral
length spanning approximately 11.5 inches in the preferred
embodiment. The faceted cross-section coupled with the spiral twist
along the interior of the tube 12 of the hoop 10, as best shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4, provides unique optical elements as the particulate
material e.g. beads 16 travel, along the length of the hoop 10.
This channeled effect along the interior of the hoop 10, created by
the facets and twists, also helps to slow down the travel of the
beads 16, prolonging the sound of rain as the beads strike the
surfaces 14.
[0014] It will be understood, however, that the sound desired and
provided according to the present invention is not limited to the
particular configuration shown in the drawing. For example, instead
of the internal configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, there may
instead be provided a series of ribs or ridges. Or in the case
where there are flat surfaces similar to that shown in FIGS. 2 and
4, the number of flat surfaces can vary, preferably within the
range of 5-7 or the surfaces need not be flat and need not all be
of the same size. In the embodiment illustrated, one complete
spiral spans 11.5 inches, but the length of each spiral and the
number of spirals can vary considerably.
[0015] As noted above, the hoop 10 contains a plurality of hard
beads 16 which produce the sound of falling rain as they rotate
about the interior of the hoop 10 and fall from one internal
surface 14 to other such surfaces. The beads 16 are preferably
spherical so as to roll more easily, although other shapes may be
used so long as the beads 16 are capable of rolling. The beads 16
are preferably formed of hard plastic, although they may be formed
of metal or ceramic, so long as the sound of falling rain is
capable of being produced by the aforementioned rotation.
[0016] In a presently preferred embodiment, there are approximately
100 glass beads used, these glass beads each being of approximately
3 mm to 5 mm diameter. While the beads 16 are desirably all
approximately the same size an shape, this is not essential and
different size beads or metal ball bearings may be used.
[0017] Providing the tube 12 of the hoop 10 of clear or translucent
plastic also produces an enhanced visual effect in addition to the
sound of rain. Because the wall thickness of the hoop 10 varies
circumferentially, viewing the beads 16 through the wall gives the
appearance that the beads are elongated.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the hoop 10 is preferably fully circular
to enhance rotation by the user. The optical and auditory effects
produced according to the present invention result entirely from
the combination of the hard beads and the internal configuration of
the tube 12 of the hoop 10. Thus, any variations in the overall
outside circular configuration of the hoop 10 should be kept to a
minimum.
[0019] The exterior of the tube 12 is desirably circular in
cross-section as illustrated, although this is not essential.
Various external configurations of the tube 12 can be used without
departing from the present invention. However, for ease of use by
the user, it is desirable that at least the hemisphere of the tube
12 facing inwardly in the hoop 10 has a semi-circular
configuration.
[0020] The illustrated embodiments are configured with an internal
surface of the hoop 10 containing six (6) flat walls 14 as
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, and which spiral as shown in FIG. 2.
However, as already mentioned other configurations can be provided
within the scope of the invention having different internal
configurations, so long as the sound of falling rain is produced by
the hard beads 16 moving from one location within the hoop to
another location. Thus, other means for producing the sound of
falling rain as the hoop rotates about the user and the beads move
within the hoop include the provision of ridges and/or valleys
within the interior of the hoop 10. The provision of such ridges
and/or valleys, not shown, also need not be uniform along the
internal radius of the hoop tube.
[0021] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will
so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others
can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for
various applications such specific embodiments without undue
experimentation and without departing from the generic concept,
and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are
intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of
equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood
that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the
purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials,
and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a
variety of alternative forms without departing from the
invention.
[0022] Thus the expressions "means to . . . " and "means for . . .
", or any method step language, as may be found in the
specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a
functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever
structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure,
or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which
carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely
equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the
specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out
the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such
expressions be given their broadest interpretation.
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