US20020132709A1

US20020132709A1 - Amusement apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20020132709A1
Application number: US10/096,213
Authority: US
Inventors: Lajos Varga
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-13
Filing date: 2002-03-12
Publication date: 2002-09-19

Abstract

An exercise and amusement device having a pair of spaced-apart rings or hoops which allow a person to roll while being safely contained within the device. The rings are kept in spaced-apart position by a number of support bars as well as a handle bar useful by a person using the device for stabilizing his position while the device is in use. The support bars and handle bar are attached at their opposite end to the pair of rings respectively in fixed, spaced-apart relationship. A support panel, equipped with a comfort pad, as well as a pair of foot supports, are also provided for comfortably accommodating a person within the device.

Description

Priority claimed on Ser. No. 60-275,122 Filed Mar. 13, 2001.[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of amusement devices and, more particularly, to a novel device that not only provides amusement but permits the user to exercise and to maneuver the device into a variety of positions without leaving the device or requiring additional equipment, parts or assembly.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

In the past, a variety of amusement and exercising devices have been provided which enable a user to place his body in a variety of positions in order to achieve the benefits of additional exercises or amusements. Problems and difficulties have been encountered when using conventional equipment for multiple body positioning which stem largely from the fact that changes must be made to the equipment in order to accommodate different body orientations and maneuvering. Such changes not only require added expense in equipment but require time to assemble and disassemble the equipment in order to achieve the desired configuration permitting particular body maneuvering. Furthermore, most conventional devices of this type do not fully support the entire body of the user and do not provide sufficient cushioning for user comfort.

Therefore, a long standing need has existed to provide an amusement or exercising device which can be totally occupied by the user's body and wherein the user can manipulate the equipment into a variety of positions so that various body orientations can be achieved without the user leaving the device or repositioning his body within the device. Furthermore, the user's comfort is important and sufficient cushioning must be placed critically in order to provide maximum comfort to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties are avoided by the present invention which provides a novel amusement and/or exercising apparatus which comprises a pair of spaced-apart concentric rings which are of tubular construction and which are placed in spaced-apart, parallel relationship along a common central axis. Various connecting members or support bars are positioned in the space between the rings and have their opposite ends fixly secured to inside and opposing surfaces of the rings. A selected one of the support bars includes a handgrip bar which is offset and may be readily gripped by the user during operation of the device. Other supporting bars not only serve to maintain fixed, spaced apart relationship between the pair of rings but serve to mount a rigid support panel or resilient netting that, in turn, supports a cushion material. The cushion panel or netting is detachably connected to the rings by means of fasteners detachably connected to the support bars or by straps employing hook and pile fasteners. The support bars against which the netting or the cushion panel rests are disposed about one quarter of the circumference of the rings while the remainder of the space between the rings is open. The rings may be made of tubular construction and the support bars may also be of tubular construction and attachment of the support bars to the respective rings is done by means of a socket piece secured to the opposing sides of the rings into which opposite ends of the support bars are inserted and fastened.

Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel amusement and/or exercising device which permits the user to change position without leaving the device or without repositioning his or her body with respect to the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel amusement device which is comfortable and includes adequate cushioning to prevent injury or damage to the person's back while feet and hands engage portions of the device during an exercise or maneuvering condition.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel amusement device having a handle bar held by the hands of the user and wherein the apparatus can be repositioned to a desired position without the occupant leaving the device.

Still a further object resides in employing a amusement device that maintains control by generally rocking the device and wherein the user can swiftly change position by just turning the device 180°.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood with reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: [0012]
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the novel amusement and/or exercising device incorporating the present invention; [0013]
FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1 as taken in the direction of arrows [0014] 2-2 thereof;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a mounting fixture used to connect the ends of support bars to the rings; and [0015]
FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the amusement and/or exercising device taken in the direction of arrows [0016] 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the novel amusement and/or exercising device of the present invention is illustrated in the general direction of [0017] arrow 10 and includes a pair of circular hoops or rings 11 and 12 which are arranged in fixed, spaced-apart parallel relationship about a common central axis and are joined together by at least five support bars or cross-members. Cross-members or bars 13, 14, 15, and 16 are straight bars having their opposite ends joined to the respective hoops or rings 11 and 12 by means of a fastener connector such as indicated by numeral 17. Also, 180° from support bar 13, there is provided a handle bar 18 and its opposite ends are connected to the respective hoops by fasteners similar to that indicated by numeral 17. It is to be particularly noted that the central section of the handle bar 18 is offset by means of sections 20 and 21 which lie on a common axis that is offset from the longitudinal axis of the midsection of the bar. It is also to be noted that the inside of the device includes a netting or rigid support such as a wooden panel that is identified by numeral 22 and that the edge marginal regions of the panel are attached to each of the respective hoops 11 and 12. The exposed inside of the panel 22 carries a comfort pad 23 against which the torso of the user is placed, while the legs of the user are either placed against the inside of the hoop at an approximate area identified by numerals 24 and 25 or, if desired, foot pads or supports may be carried on each of the respective hoops such as shown in broken lines and identified by numerals 26 and 27.
Referring now in detail to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the [0018] handle bar 18 is secured at its opposite ends to the respective hoops, such as hoop 11, by means of fastener connector 17 which includes a shaped fitting that is held against the hoop by means of a screw-type fastener or retainer 28. The back side of the hoop includes a nut 30 into which the threaded shank 31 of the fastener or retainer 28 is threadably engaged. When tightened, the fitted fastener 17 maintains the bar 18 in position and secure attachment.
FIG. 3 shows the arrangement in which the [0019] shaped fastener connector 17 is provided with a central bore 32 for insertably receiving the shank 31 of the retainer 28. One side of the shaped fastener or fixture 17 includes a semi-circular cut-out 33 that meets with the curved shape of the hoop 11 preparatory for tightening of the retainer with the nut 30. It is also to be noted that the mid-section of bar 18 is covered with a cushion grip material identified by numeral 34.
Referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the [0020] cushion pad 23 is attached to the surface of the panel 22 by means of an adhesive 36. The panel 22 is attached along its edge marginal regions to the respective hoops 11 and 12 by means of securement fasteners 35.
In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that person desiring to use the amusement and/or exercising device of the present invention can enter between [0021] hoops 11 and 12 and place their back against the cushion 23 while their feet can be disposed against the hoops at portions 24 and 25 on the inside of the hoops or can be placed against pads or supports 26 and 27. The user's hands are placed about the handle bar 18 and the user may then roll from one position to another while maintaining their position in the device. The user's body is exposed through the opening in the space between the hoops 11 and 12 since the cushion 23 only occupies a portion of the space. Preferably, the handle bar 18 and the bar 13 are 180° apart. No other support is needed to maintain the hoops in position with respect to one another then the handle bar and the support bars 13-16 respectively.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention. [0022]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A device for exercise and amusement comprising:

a pair of spaced-apart circular rings coaxially disposed on a common central axis and disposed in parallel relationship;

a handle bar disposed between said rings and having opposite ends joined respectfully to said rings;

at least one support bar disposed between said rings and having opposite ends joined at either end to said rings; and

a cushion means mounted between said rings and attached to said support bar.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein:

said support bar is critically located 180° opposite to said handle bar.

3. The device defined in claim 2 wherein:

at least four support bars having opposite ends attached to said rings.

4. The device defined in claim 3 wherein:

said cushion means includes a panel secured to at least two of said support bars; and

a cushion pad secured to said panel residing inside of and disposed between said rings.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein:

foot supporting means carried on said rings in spaced-apart relationship with respect to said cushion means against which the feet of the occupant bears with the occupant's hands on said handle bar.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein:

said foot supporting means includes a rigid foot pad attached to each of said rings and cantilevered outwardly from each of said rings.

7. A device for exercise and amusement comprising:

a pair of circular rings arranged in coaxial fixed, spaced-apart relationship;

a plurality of rigid support bars disposed between and attached to said rings;

a selected one of said support bars constituting a handle bar and having an offset mid-section adapted to be grasped by the hands of an occupant;

a torso supporting means disposed between said rings and secured to said rings and to at least one of said support bars;

said torso supporting means having a panel with an adhesively attached cushion adapted to comfortably support the occupant; and

foot support means carried on each of said rings for accommodating bearing of the occupant's feet thereagainst.

8. The device defined in claim 7 including:

a fitting and fastener arrangement operably coupling and securing opposite ends of each of said support bars to said rings.

9. The device defined in claim 8 wherein:

said fitting and fastener arrangement includes a connector having a semi-circular receptacle for insertably receiving said ring and a screw and nut fastener securing said fitting to said ring and to said support bar.

10. The device defined in claim 9 including:

a cushion carried on said offset mid-section of said handle bar.

11. The device defined in claim 10 wherein:

said rings and said support bars are of tubular construction; and

said rings are adapted to roll on a supporting surface in response to weight shifts of the occupant.