U.S. patent number 3,716,229 [Application Number 05/022,749] was granted by the patent office on 1973-02-13 for recreational apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Les Usines Fabelty Societe Anonyme. Invention is credited to Wilfried F. Ribbens, Rafael J. J. Van Der Cleyen.
United States Patent |
3,716,229 |
Van Der Cleyen , et
al. |
February 13, 1973 |
RECREATIONAL APPARATUS
Abstract
The present invention relates to a recreational apparatus
comprising a resilient ball and foot supports connected to the ball
on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the ball, such that in
use a person disposed on the foot supports is capable to bounce
above a floor surface. The foot supports are for example provided
by a single rigid annular platform encircling the resilient
ball.
Inventors: |
Van Der Cleyen; Rafael J. J.
(Erwetegem, BE), Ribbens; Wilfried F. (Hillegem,
BE) |
Assignee: |
Les Usines Fabelty Societe
Anonyme (Bastogne, BE)
|
Family
ID: |
3841200 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/022,749 |
Filed: |
March 26, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/77 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C04B
35/80 (20130101); A63B 5/166 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
5/16 (20060101); A63B 5/00 (20060101); A63b
025/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/106,16B,105.5
;46/89,57,88,74D ;272/57R,57A,57E,52,70,79R,1R ;280/205,87.04
;9/311 ;115/6.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
791,569 |
|
Aug 1968 |
|
CA |
|
778,279 |
|
Dec 1934 |
|
FR |
|
441,789 |
|
Mar 1927 |
|
DL |
|
273,105 |
|
Apr 1951 |
|
CH |
|
370,108 |
|
Apr 1932 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Assistant Examiner: Apley; Richard J.
Claims
What we claim is :
1. Recreational apparatus consisting of only a resiliently
deformable ball of sufficient strength to support the weight of a
person and to ounce with a person supported thereon, substantially
rigid, relatively thin and generally planar foot supports of
sufficient strength to support the weight of a person and being
immovably connected directly to the outer peripheral surface of
said ball and disposed on opposite sides of the vertical axis of
the ball intermediate the top and bottom of the ball with a
substantial part of the ball unencumbered and exposed above and
below the foot supports, the part above said supports being
accessible for direct gripping contact by the feet of the person on
said supports.
2. Recreational apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the foot
supports are separate from but securely attached to the resilient
ball.
3. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the foot
supports are provided by a single rigid annular platform encircling
the resilient ball.
4. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the outer
periphery of the platform is circular in shape.
5. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the foot
supports are welded to the resilient ball.
6. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the annular
platform is attached to the resilient ball solely by frictional
engagement therewith.
7. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the annular
platform is formed of an injection molded plastics material.
8. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means for
holding a user's feet upon the foot supports.
9. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
resilient ball comprises a hollow inflatable ball.
10. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including foot
clasps carried by said apparatus and engageable with part of the
upper portion of a user's feet when using the apparatus.
11. Recreational apparatus consisting of only an inflatable hollow
resiliently deformable ball of sufficient strength to support the
weight of a person and to bounce with a person supported thereon;
foot supports in the form of an annular, substantially rigid,
generally planar platform of sufficient strength to support the
weight of a person substantially diametrically encircling the
resilient ball; the annular platform having an internal diameter
less than the fully inflated diameter of the resilient ball so as
to constrict the portion of the resilient ball encircled, whereby
the foot supports are immovably secured directly to the outer
peripheral surface of said resilient ball by friction therewith,
with a substantial part of the ball unencumbered exposed above and
below said platform, the part above said platform being accessible
for direct gripping contact by the feet of the person on said
platform.
Description
This invention relates to recreational apparatus.
More particularly this invention relates to bounceable play or
sports apparatus.
According to the invention there is provided recreational apparatus
comprising a resilient ball, and foot supports connected to the
ball such that in use a person disposed with his feet on the foot
supports is capable of bouncing above a floor surface upon the
resilient ball.
The foot supports may be integral with the ball, for example a
thickened planar portion on one side of the ball, or thickened
indented foot shaped portions on either side of the ball, or they
may comprise a separate member or members securely attached to the
ball.
In the latter case the foot supports may comprise two platforms
disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the ball.
Alternatively, the foot supports may be provided by a single rigid
annular platform encircling the ball, the platform having an outer
periphery of any desired and suitable shape, such as circular,
oval, or polyhedral.
Where the foot supports are separate from the resilient ball they
may be attached thereto by welding for example. However, where the
foot supports comprise an annular platform encircling the ball, the
platform may be attached to the ball solely by frictional
engagement therewith, although in this case also, welding
attachment may be used.
The annular platform may be formed of any suitable rigid material,
such as metal, wood or a plastics material.
The resilient ball may be formed of a natural or synthetic rubber
material and may be hollow and inflatable, or may be of cellular or
solid construction.
The apparatus may include clasps or attachments for holding a
user's feet upon the foot supports. Such clasps may comprise
straps, or may comprise for example metal hooks, secured to the
foot support.
By means of the apparatus according to the invention a person
standing with his feet upon the supports can, with skill, perform
successive bouncing operations on a floor by exerting a succession
of bodily flexions and extensions in order to cause the ball to
bounce.
It will be apparent that the apparatus according to the invention
can be used purely as a toy, or for performing balancing or
limbering up exercises.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood,
embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which :
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
invention,
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the
invention,
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is an under plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.
The embodiment of the invention shown somewhat schematically in
FIG. 1 comprises a ball 1, made of a resilient material such as a
natural or synthetic rubber.
The ball 1 is surrounded by an annular platform 2 disposed
diametrically about the ball and having a circular outer periphery.
The platform is formed of a sufficiently rigid material to be able
to withstand a user's weight.
Clasps or attachments 3 are provided for engagement with part of
the upper sides of the user's feet when he is mounted on the
platform.
Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 it will be seen
that the recreational apparatus 11 shown therein comprises a hollow
inflated resilient ball 5 of natural or synthetic rubber
material.
The ball 5 is encircled by a rigid annular foot-support platform 6
formed for example of polyethylene by injection moulding, and
provided on the underside with radial and circular strengthening
ribs 7 and 8 respectively. The upper surface of the platform 6 is
roughened and provided with small circular ribs 9 so as to increase
the friction of a user's feet with the platform.
The apparatus is assembled by positioning the deflated ball within
the annular platform and then inflating the ball, by means of the
inflation valve member 10, until the ball fits tightly within the
annular platform 6 and in fact is constricted thereby as shown at
4, so as to bulge out on either side of the platform 6.
As can be seen in FIG. 3, the ball 1 protrudes slightly more from
the lower side of the platform 6, so as to provide a greater
resilient volume below the platform.
We have found that the frictional contact of the ball 5 with the
platform 6 is sufficient in normal usage to retain the platform 6
securely in position around the ball 5.
In order to perform successive bounces on a floor surface, a person
stands in a balanced position on the upper surface of the platform
6 with his feet on opposite sides of the ball 5, the lower surface
of the ball 5 being disposed on the floor surface. The person then
performs a succession of body flexions and extension at a rate such
as to cause the apparatus 11 to bounce on the floor surface. By
adjusting the intensity of the flexions and extensions, the person
can regulate the amplitude of the bounces of the apparatus.
* * * * *