GB2417433A

GB2417433A - Portable dance pole

Info

Publication number: GB2417433A
Application number: GB0415182A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Turner
Original assignee: MooCow Ltd
Current assignee: MooCow Ltd
Priority date: 2004-07-06
Filing date: 2004-07-06
Publication date: 2006-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-06
Also published as: GB2417433B8; GB0415182D0; GB2417433B; GB2417433A8

Abstract

A portable dance pole comprising a first pole part 2 and a second pole part 3. A joint is provided whereby the first and second pole parts can be assembled into a unified dance pole. The joint incorporates a biasing unit (Figure 2) for urging the first pole part axially away from the second pole part when the pole parts are joined. Foot parts adapted to be attached to the outer end of each of the pole parts are provided and each foot part has a plane surface perpendicular to the axis of the dance pole. The surface area of each plane surface is greater than the cross-sectional area of the main body of its associated pole part. During use one of the plane surfaces is urged against a ceiling of a room and the other plane surface is urged against a floor of the room, under the force of the biasing unit.

Description

Portable Dance Pole

The present invention relates to a portable dance pole and a game in combination with a portable dance pole.

Background

The use of a vertically aligned pole as an aid to a dancer, particularly for exotic dancers, is known. State of the art poles of this type are permanently fixed to, or into, the ceiling and the floor of the room in which they are used and therefore cannot be removed without considerable construction work to remove the pole and to repair any damage caused by the pole fixings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dance pole which can be easily erected into a room and removed from a room without the need for construction work to permanently anchor the pole or any of its components into the ceiling or floor of the room. This is advantageous because it allows a room to be used as a dance studio when the pole is erected and for other purposes when the pole is removed. It is also advantageous in that a single pole may be taken to and used in several different rooms and then removed without leaving signs of its use.

Statements of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a portable dance pole comprising; a first pole part; a second pole part; a joint whereby the first and second pole parts can be assembled into a unified dance an pole wherein the joint incorporates a biasing unit for urging the first pole part axially away from the second pole part when the pole parts are joined; and foot parts adapted to be attached to the outer end of each of the pole parts, each foot part being provided with a plane surface perpendicular to the axis of the dance pole, the surface area of each plane surface being greater than the cross-sectional area of the main body of its associated pole part, wherein - 2 during use one of the plane surfaces is urged against a ceiling of a room and the other plane surface is urged against a floor of the room, under the force of the biasing unit.

According to a second aspect of the current invention there is provided method of playing a game in combination with the portable dance pole according to the invention, comprising the steps of; a first player carrying out a dance move or a series of dance moves in combination with the portable dance pole, wherein the dance moves are selected from a variety of specified dance moves; a second player judging the first player's dance moves and awarding points depending upon the type and success of each of the dance moves.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A portable dance pole embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a portable dance pole; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the part denoted A in figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic section of a portable dance pole; Figures 4 a, b, c are illustrations showing the erection of the portable dance pole of figure 1; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the part denoted B in figure 1; Figure 6 is a sectional view of the part denoted B in figure 1; Figure 7 is a sectional view of the part denoted C in figure 1;

Detailed Description

A portable dance pole 1, as illustrated in figure 1, has an elongate first pole part 2 and an elongate second pole part 3 which join together, the second pole part 3 slotting into the first pole part 2, to provide a unified dance pole. There are also provided two foot components 4, 5 attached to the lower and upper ends of the first and second pole parts 2, 3 respectively. The foot components 4, 5 are provided with axially outer plane surfaces 11, 12 perpendicular to the long axis of their respective pole parts. The foot components 4, 5 may be permanently attached to or may be releasably joined to their respective pole parts. In the illustrated embodiment the first and second pole parts are tubular and cylindrical. It will be clear that solid shafts or partly solid shafts and alternative cross sections of shaft may be used.

As illustrated in figure 2 the first pole part 2 and the second pole part 3 are joined together via a compression spring 6. The compression spring 6 is anchored to the first pole part 2 at one end via a bar 7. The spring is attached to the second pole part 3 via a shaft 8 and a threaded member 9. The threaded member 9 is provided with a thread on its radially outer face and a complementary thread 10 is provided on the inside wall of the second pole member 3. In this way one end of the spring 6 is fixed relative to the first pole part 2 and the second pole part 3 can be moved back and forth, in the direction of the long axis of the pole 1, relative to of the spring 6. In this way the length of the pole can be extended or reduced by screwing the second pole part 3 into or out of the first pole part 2. This allows the length of the pole 1 to be adjusted for fitting into rooms of different heights. The first pole part is provided with a guiding sheath 16 to guide the second pole part 3 during axial movement.

In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in figure 3, the spring 6 may be attached directly to the threaded member 9 instead of via the shaft 8 illustrated in figure 2.

The second pole part 3 can be pushed into the first pole part 2 compressing the spring 6 and shortening the length of pole 1 from a relaxed state to a compressed state.

When the second pole part 3 is pushed into the first pole part 2, the spring acts as a resilient biasing member urging the second pole part in the axial direction away from the first pole part 2. Thus when the pole 1 is placed between the ceiling and floor of a room 13, the distance between which is less than the relaxed length of the pole 1, axially outer plane surfaces 11, 12 of the feet parts 4, 5 and are pushed into engagement with the floor and ceiling respectively, under the force of the spring 6.

As illustrated in figures 4 a, b and c, the pole is erected in a room by screwing the second pole part 3 into or out of the first pole part 2 so that the overall length of the pole 1, in its relaxed state, is greater than the height 14 of the room 13. As illustrated in figure 4b, the length of the pole 1 is then reduced by applying a compressing force to push the second pole part 3 into the first pole part 2, compressing the spring 6. The pole 1 is then positioned vertically between the ceiling and floor of the room 13 and the compressing force is removed so that the plane surfaces 11, 12 of the feet 4, 5 engage the ceiling and floor under the force of the compressed spring 6, and the pole 1 is jammed in place.

The plane surfaces 11, 12 of the feet 4, 5 are provided with a surface area which is greater than the cross sectional area of the main body of the pole part to which they are attached. This is advantageous because the load exerted on the floor and the ceiling by the pole 1 is spread by the larger surface area and thereby reduces the likelihood of damage to the surfaces of the ceiling and floor. It also increases the frictional area with which the pole contacts the ceiling and floor, holding the pole in place more securely.

As illustrated in figure 5 the plane surfaces 11, 12 preferably comprise a pad of foam and/or rubber material. Particularly foam and or rubber which conforms to the shape of the ceiling or floor enhancing engagement of the plane surface with the ceiling or floor and helping to prevent marking and damage to the ceiling or floor. The foam and/or rubber pad preferably has a friction coefficient which is higher than that of the surface of the pole 1.

In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in figure 6, contouring in the form of raised nodules 17 can be provided on one of the plane surfaces 11, 12, helping to increase the grip of the pole 1 on the floor and/or ceiling. Preferably the nodules 17 comprise a rubber or foam material. In a preferred embodiment the nodules have a diameter of 1.0 to 1.2 mm and a height of between 0.6 to 1 mm. Preferably there are provided approximately 23 nodules per square cm on one or both of the plane surfaces.

Preferably the surface area of at least one of the plane surfaces 11, 12 is between 20 and 80 cm2, more preferably the surface area is between 23 and 50 cm2, even more preferably the surface area is 28 to 29 cm2.

Preferably the first pole part 2 is formed of two or more separable sections 2a, 2b, 2c which join end to end to make up the first pole part 2. As illustrated in figure 1 the first pole part 2 is preferably formed of three sections 2a, 2b, 2c which are adapted to be separated. Separating the first pole part 2 into a number of sections allows for the pole 1 to be easily stored and transported both for the purposes of retailers and for the end user. Particularly it allows for the pole 1 to be easily packed, when taken apart, for instance in a box or a bag.

The three sections 2a, 2b, 2c of the illustrated embodiment are joined together using a spigot and socket as illustrated in figure 7. It will be clear however that alternative methods of joining the sections, such as complementary screw threads, may be used.

The three sections 2a, 2b, 2c are preferably of substantially the same length. In a preferred embodiment the lengths of the lower section 2c, middle section 2b and the upper section are between 735 to745 mm, 730 to 735 mm and 635 to 715 mm respectively, including the means with which they join to the other sections.

Preferably the outer diameter of the main body of the three sections 2a, 2b, 2c is between 40 and 60 mm and more preferably the diameter is 50 mm.

The portable dance pole is suitable for use in a game. The game comprising the steps of a first player carrying out a dance move or a series of dance moves in combination with the dance pole, selected from a variety of set dance moves; and a second player, acting as a judge, awarding points according to the dance move or moves attempted and the success with which the moves were carried out. The judge is preferably provided with tokens denoting numbers of points. The judge passes or gives the tokens to the first player according to the points they score. - 6

Claims

Claims 1. A portable dance pole comprising; a first pole part; a second

pole part; a joint whereby the first and second pole parts can be assembled into a unified dance pole, wherein the joint incorporates a biasing unit for urging the first pole part axially away from the second pole part when the pole parts are joined; and foot parts adapted to be attached to the outer end of each of the pole parts, each foot part being provided with a plane surface perpendicular to the axis of the dance pole, the surface area of each plane surface being greater than the cross-sectional area of the main body of its associated pole part, wherein during use one of the plane surfaces is urged against a ceiling of a room and the other plane surface is urged against a floor of the room, under the force of the biasing unit.
2. A portable dance pole according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the plane surfaces has a surface area of at least 28 to 29 cm2.
3. A portable dance pole according to claim 2 wherein the plane surface has a higher friction coefficient than the radially outer surface of the dance pole.
4. A portable dance pole according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the plane surfaces comprises a foam and or rubber material.
5. A portable dance pole according to any one of the preceding claims wherein contouring is provided on at least one of the plane surfaces.
6. A portable dance pole according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the biasing unit comprises a resilient member.
7. A portable dance pole according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the biasing unit comprises a spring anchored at one end to the first pole part; a joining piece, to join the spring and the second pole part, the joining piece being adapted to allow the second pole part to be moved axially between a plurality of fixed positions in relation to the spring.
8. A portable dance pole according to claim 7 wherein the joining piece is threaded to engage a complementary axially extending thread on the second pole part.
9. A portable dance pole according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first pole part is comprised of two or more separable sections.
10. A portable dance pole according to claim 9 wherein the sections are adapted to be joined end to end with one another, utilising a spigot and socket system.
11. A portable dance pole according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the sections are of substantially the same length.
12. A portable dance pole according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a package wherein the separable sections and the feet are packed
13. A portable dance pole according to claim 11 wherein the package is a bag.
14. A portable dance pole according to claim 11 wherein the package is a box.
15. A portable dance pole according to claim 11 wherein the package is a cylindrical box.
16. A portable dance pole according to any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein the package contains tokens for playing a game with a dance pole according to any one of the preceding claims.
17. A method of playing a game with a portable dance pole according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of; a first player carrying out a dance move or a series of dance moves in combination with the portable dance pole, wherein the dance moves are selected from a variety of specified dance moves; a second player judging the first player's dance moves and awarding points depending upon the type and success of each of the dance moves. - 8
18. A method of playing a game according to claim 16, wherein the second player awards points by giving the first player tokens denoting the points scored.
19. A dancing apparatus comprising a portable dance pole according to any one of claims1 to 11; and a room having a ceiling and a floor; wherein the plane surface of one of the foot parts is urged against the ceiling and the plane surface of the other foot part is urged against the floor so that the dance pole is held vertically between the ceiling and the floor.
20. A portable dance pole as substantially herein described and with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.