U.S. patent application number 14/301021 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-10 for moving portable dance floor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Susan Michelle Johnson. Invention is credited to Susan Michelle Johnson.
Application Number | 20150352401 14/301021 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54768758 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150352401 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnson; Susan Michelle |
December 10, 2015 |
MOVING PORTABLE DANCE FLOOR
Abstract
The present device is a portable dance floor designed to
accommodate a dancer doing spins on an endless movable dance
surface. The device is wide enough to prevent the dancer falling
off the device doing dance moves.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Susan Michelle;
(Youngsville, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Johnson; Susan Michelle |
Youngsville |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54768758 |
Appl. No.: |
14/301021 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0235 20130101;
A63B 6/00 20130101; A63B 2071/0683 20130101; A63B 2244/22 20130101;
A63B 22/02 20130101; A63B 2225/50 20130101; A63B 2210/50 20130101;
A63B 2071/0063 20130101; A63B 21/4035 20151001 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. A portable dance floor comprising: a) a dance floor frame having
a front, back, left and right sides; b) an endless movable dance
surface moving from a front of the frame to the back of the frame
and having a minimum usable surface of 7 ft. long and 3 ft. wide;
and c) a motor assembly for moving the endless dance surface.
2. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 which further
comprises lateral safety devices.
3. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 which further
comprises at least one of a front or rear safety device.
4. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 which further
comprises the movable dance floor being motorized to move laterally
while moving forward and back.
5. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 wherein the
movable dance surface can move both in a forward and backwards
direction.
6. The portable device according to claim 1 which further comprises
a dance mirror positioned for a user of the device to see
themselves while dancing on the portable dance floor.
7. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 which further
comprises a dancer dancing on the dance floor executing half turns
while the dance surface is moving in a front to back motion.
8. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 wherein the dance
floor surface has about the same width and length.
9. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 which further
comprises retractable handles.
10. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 wherein the dance
surface covers the entire lateral surface of the dance frame.
Description
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material
that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no
objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or
the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark
Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a moving dance floor. In
particular, the present invention relates to a continuous moving
dance floor providing room and safety for spinning dance steps.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] The need for flooring surfaces suitable for amateur,
professional and semi-professional dance is well known. Because
people prefer particular types of dance surfaces when dancing,
portable dance floors of all types have been patented. These
include interlocking panels, raised flooring systems, cushioned
systems, vibrating systems and the like. One particular issue is
the size of the flooring system. Dance can cover a lot of ground,
for example, in a large theater and creating a large space to
either perform or rehearse requires a space equal to the distance
covered by the dance and/or equal to the area being rehearsed for.
This requires a large rehearsal space. The larger the number of
people rehearsing the more challenging having enough space
becomes.
[0006] While moving sidewalk, treadmill and staircase type devices
have been developed for exercise and for the transportation of an
individual, it's clear that these do not provide the kind of
lateral and backward space and safety necessary for a dancer who is
moving in more than just a forward direction such is the case in a
dance number or an exercise type of dance movement where the dancer
is spinning backwards and forward repetitively. There is certainly
nothing of a portable nature to accomplish such objectives.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates to a portable dance floor at
least 7 ft long and 3 ft wide with moving front to back floor and
optional side to side movement that allows a dancer to do spins,
forward and backward movements while dancing in a back to forward
motion.
[0008] Accordingly in one embodiment the present invention relates
to a portable dance floor comprising: [0009] a) a dance floor frame
having a front, back, left and right sides; [0010] b) an endless
movable dance surface moving from a front of the frame to the back
of the frame and having a minimum usable surface of 7 ft. long and
3 ft. wide; and [0011] c) a motor assembly for moving the endless
dance surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the dance floor of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding
that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered
as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the
invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the
description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the
same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the
drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the
terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order
for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.
DEFINITIONS
[0014] The terms "about" and "essentially" mean .+-.10 percent.
[0015] The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or
as more than one. The term "plurality", as used herein, is defined
as two or as more than two. The term "another", as used herein, is
defined as at least a second or more. The terms "including" and/or
"having", as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open
language). The term "coupled", as used herein, is defined as
connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily
mechanically.
[0016] The term "comprising" is not intended to limit inventions to
only claiming the present invention with such comprising language.
Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one
or more claims using "consisting" or "consisting of" claim language
and is so intended.
[0017] Reference throughout this document to "one embodiment",
"certain embodiments", and "an embodiment" or similar terms means
that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described
in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one
embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such
phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not
necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the
particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined
in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without
limitation.
[0018] The term "or" as used herein is to be interpreted as an
inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, "A, B
or C" means any of the following: "A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and
C; A, B and C". An exception to this definition will occur only
when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in
some way inherently mutually exclusive.
[0019] The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of
illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present
invention, and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. The
term "means" preceding a present participle of an operation
indicates a desired function for which there is one or more
embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for
achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art
could select from these or their equivalent in view of the
disclosure herein and use of the term "means" is not intended to be
limiting.
[0020] As used herein the term "portable dance floor" refers to a
device, machine or the like that can be relatively easily moved
from one position to another. This as opposed to being fixed to the
floor or weigh enough that it takes a number of people to move it
from one place or another. A portable dance floor can then be used
at a desired location usually by one person such as home or at an
exercise location in the middle of the floor and be put away in a
closet or other out of the way location so the space can be
utilized for something else. The design of the present invention
lends itself to such portability. The portability of devices in the
exercise industry is well known with such devices as climbing
machines, running machines, devices to simulate cross country
skiing, weight machines and the like. The portable dance floor will
also have a "frame" having a front, back, left and right sides
designed to hold the dance surface of the portable dance floor.
[0021] As used herein the term "endless movable dance surface"
refers to a surface mounted on the dance floor frame that moves
from the front to the back in a manner that allows the dancer to
dance forward, run, walk etc and stay in place. Typically a
continuous belt material mounted on rollers would come under the
definition of endless movable dance surface. The surface can be
motorized or non-motorized. Treadmill type rollers work the same
way, however are too narrow and short for use by a dancer. This
device can be remote controlled or have controls mounted on the
device.
[0022] As used herein the term "minimum usable surface" refers to
the length and width the dancer can step on left, right, forward
and back during use of the device. Because a dancer will do 180 to
360 spins while moving forward, back, left and right on the
moveable dance floor there must be a different surface area than is
normally available. Typical running treadmills e.g., are 2 foot by
5 foot (i.e. the usable surface at any given moment even if the
tread itself is longer on the loop it forms). In order to be large
enough for dancing the usable surface must be at lease 7 ft. long
and 3 ft. wide. In other embodiments the length is 8, 9, 10 ft. or
more. In other embodiments the width is 4, 5, 6, 7 ft. or more. In
one embodiment, the surface is a rectangular surface, e.g. 7 ft. by
7 ft. In one embodiment, the surface covers the entire surface of
the dance frame (lateral surface with no edges showing laterally.)
In one embodiment, the dance floor is mounted as low to the floor
as possible. In one embodiment it is set in a trough such that the
dance floor is even with the surface of the floor.
[0023] As used herein the term "motor assembly" and "motorized"
refers to the fact that the endless movable dance surface must be
powered electrical or other motor in order to keep the movement
going. One skilled in the art can build a motor to use to power the
surface.
[0024] As used herein the term "safety devices" refers to devices
that are placed at the front, rear, left or right side of the frame
to prevent the user from falling off or to cushion the user should
the user fall off the device during use. They can be solid,
cushions or any material; they can be attached or separate and in
one embodiment they can fold out from the sides or back. Railings,
for example, can be utilized to keep a dancer on the device and
cushions (inflatable or padded) can be positioned strategically in
case of a fall especially from the sides or the back of the floor.
There can be a rubberized surface where desired as well. cause a
dancer is spinning, a fall off the sides or back is more likely
than on a running treadmill.
[0025] As used herein the term "dance mirror" refers to a mirror of
a size and shape to allow a dancer to watch their entire body while
performing dance moves on the movable dance floor. Running and
walking forward are not considered dance moves by themselves and
require upper body and or spinning movements to be considered
dance.
[0026] As used herein the term "retractable handles" refers to
handles that can be pulled or swing into place when necessary or
can be moved out of the way when desired.
[0027] As used herein the terms "dancer" and "dancing" refers to an
individual using the endless movable dance surface that would be
doing 180 and 360 spin moves such that the dance at some point will
be facing the front of the frame and at other times the back, left,
and right sides of the frame. Arm dance movements are also included
in the term "dancer" and in this case it is a combination of
exercise due to the nature of the continuous movable dance floor
and the dance moves utilized by the dancer.
[0028] Now referring to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a portable dance
floor of the present invention. Portable dance floor 1 consists of
a frame 2. Frame 2 has front 3, back 4 left, 5 and right 6 sides.
Mounted on the frame 2 is endless movable dance surface 7 which is
an endless loop surface having minimum dimensions of 7 ft. length 8
and 3 ft. wide 9 which can be motorized or not. Also shown in this
view is cushion 10, which can surround the entire frame 2, but a
piece is shown for clarity sake. Fencing in the front 11 prevents
falling off the front 3 but could be on any of the sides. It also
has retractable handles 12 and dance mirror 13. A rubber coating is
shown on a portion of the device. A remote control for operating a
motorized device is shown but controls could be built into the
device.
[0029] Those skilled in the art to which the present invention
pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments
employing principles of the present invention without departing
from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering
the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are
to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not
restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore,
indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention
has been described with reference to particular embodiments,
modifications of structure, sequence, materials and the like
apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of
the invention as claimed by the Applicant.
* * * * *