US3060635A - Exercising and amusement devices - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 30, 1962 B. A. FIGHTMASTER EXERCISING AND AMUSEMENT DEVICES Filed Sept. 22. 1960 INVENTOR Bernard figfifinasiz'r Elite tates t 3,060,635 EXERCISING AND AMUSEMENT DEVICES Bernard Arthur Fightmaster, RR. 3, Liberty, Mo. Filed Sept. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 57,787 6 Claims. (Cl. 46-22.0)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in amusement and exercising devices, and in particular the invention concerns itself with the provision of an improved rolling hoop.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a rolling hoop having a novel, twisted configuration resembling to some extent the figure 8, which is equipped with means engageable by the feet of the user for rolling the same along the ground or floor.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, highly amusing operation, and in its adaptability to convenient and economical manufacture.

The present invention is related to that disclosed in my co-pending patent application serial No. 850,966, now abandoned, filed November 4, 1959, of which this application is a continuation-in-part.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features as 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 are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view thereof taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end view taken in the direction of the arrow 3 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is an end view taken in the direction of the arrow 4 in FIGURE 1 and showing the device in a position which it occupies when resting on a supporting surface.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the rolling hoop in accordance with the invention is dmignated generally by the reference numeral and comprises a twisted, substantially figure 8-shaped body 11 which may be formed from one piece of rod or tubing, curved to provide a loop member 12 and a loop member 13 which are disposed in planes substantially at right angles to each other. The two ends 14, 15 of such a rod or tubing are secured by welding, or the like, to its intermediate portion 16 which lies between the two loops 12, 13, as will be clearly understood. The body 11 is substantially symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal axis 17, and pairs of studs 18, 18 and 19, 19 are secured to the respective loops 12, 13 by welding, or the like, these studs being coaxial with the axis 17 and disposed at the outer sides of the loops, that is, remote from the portion 16.

When the device is placed on a supporting surface 20 such as the ground or floor, it rests substantially in the position shown in FIGURE 4, with the loop 12 being nearly horizontal and the loop 13 nearly vertical, the slight deviation from true horizontal and vertical planes being caused by a rocking contact of the outer stud 18 and of the bottom portion of the loop 13 with the surface 20 as viewed in FIGURE 1, which induces the loop to lean over in one direction or the other as viewed in FIGURE 4, until one or the other side of the loop 12 contacts the supporting surface. Alternatively, the device may rest on the surface 20 with the loop 12 being nearly vertical and the loop 13 nearly horizontal, when the surface 20 is contacted by the outer of the studs .19 and the bottom portion of the loop 12..

When the device is placed in use, it is positioned between the feet of the user so as to be straddled thereby, with the axis 17 of the device extending transversely between the feet. Thereupon, by engaging his feet with the studs 18, 19, the user may cause the device to roll along the ground, that is, from one position wherein the loop 12 is nearly horizontal and the loop 13 nearly vertical, to another position wherein the loop 12 is nearly vertical and the loop 13 nearly horizontal, and so on, it being apparent that during this rolling movement of the device the axis 17 will slant first toward one foot of the user and then to the other while at the same time the studs 18, 19 will be alternately raised and lowered relative to the surface 20. When either of the loops is nearly horizontal, the user may place his foot on both of the studs in the associated pair, and when either loop is nearly vertical, the user may engage his foot with the outer stud in the pair only, since the inner stud is not accessible when the loop is in that position. Also, the user may engage his feet with the studs 18, 19 either individually or concurrently, that is, by engaging one foot with the stud or studs 18 and then engaging the other foot with the stud or studs 19, or by engaging both feet with the studs at the same time. In the latter event, the device will act as a conveyance or a vehicle for the user, and since in any event a certain amount of dexterity and balance as well as proper timing is required to continue rolling the device, it is apparent that the operation of the same is exercising as well as amusing.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, such as may lie within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An exercising and amusement device adapted to be manipulated and rolled along the ground by the feet of a user, said device comprising a twisted, substantially figure ii-shaped rod member including a pair of loop members disposed in planes substantially at right angles to each other, said loop members having a common axis extending longitudinally of the device, and protuberances provided on and projecting outwardly from marginal edges of said loop members coaxially with said common axis, said protuberances being engageable by the feet of a user for imparting a rolling motion to the device.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said rod member is formed from a single piece of rod having an intermediate portion disposed between said loop members, portions of said rod at opposite sides of said intermediate portion forming said loop members, and the extremities of the rod being secured to said intermediate portion thereof.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said rod member has an intermediate portion disposed between said loop members, said protuberances being provided on the loop members at points remote from said intermediate portion.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said protuberances project longitudinally outwardly from said loop members on said common axis thereof.

5. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said protuberances project longitudinally both outwardly and inwardly of said loop members on said common axis thereof.

6. An exercising and amusement device adapted to be mani ulated and rolled along the ground by the feet of a user, said device comprising a twisted, substantially 3 4 figure 8-shaped rod member including a pair of loop and so positioned as to be engageable by the feet of a members disposed in planes substantially at right angles user for imparting a rolling motion to the deviceto each other, said loop members having a common axis extending longitudinally of the device, and protuberances References Cried m the file of fins patent provided on and projecting outwardly from marginal edges 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS of said loop members, said protuberances being so shaped 732,954 Mowry July 7, 1903

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