US20080003918A1

US20080003918A1 - Hula-hooping device having no hoop

Info

Publication number: US20080003918A1
Application number: US11/697,517
Authority: US
Inventors: Jin HYUNG
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-30
Filing date: 2007-04-06
Publication date: 2008-01-03
Also published as: JP2008012279A; KR100624340B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a hula-hooping device having no hoop. The hula-hooping device includes a case having a circular inner space, and a movable-object movably accommodated inside of the inner space. The movable-object performs a circular motion inside the inner space of the case by means of centrifugal force as the case performs a circular motion. A hanger is combined with the case. The case is comprised of a circular-shaped lower case, an upper case facing and combined with the lower case to form the inner space, and a connection means for combining the upper and lower cased into one unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hula-hooping device, more particularly to a hula-hooping device, which a user can wear on his or her waist or the like to perform hula-hoop exercise.
2. Background of the Related Art
A conventional ring-type hula-hoop has a bulky size. Thus, it has a limitation in using at narrow and confined spaces and is not convenient in carrying and storage. In addition, it takes a lot of time for a beginner to get used to the conventional ring-type hula-hoop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hula-hooping device, which can be easily used in a small confined space by anyone and has a small size to thereby enable easy-carrying and storage in a narrow space.
In order to accomplish the above objects, according to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a hula-hooping device having no ring. The device comprises: a case having a circular inner space, a movable-object movably accommodated inside of the inner space, and a hanger combined with the case. The movable-object performs a circular motion inside the inner space of the case by means of centrifugal force as the case performs a circular motion.
In an embodiment, the case includes a circular-shaped lower case, an upper case facing and combined with the lower case to form the inner space, and a connection means for combining the upper and lower cases into one unit. It can be used a female latching hole and a male protrusion, male and female threads, a welding process, a fusion bonding or application of adhesives for the connection means.
In an embodiment, the lower case is provided with a first thread portion protruded upwardly from the center thereof, the upper case is provided with a connection hole formed at the center thereof to be combined with the first thread portion, and the connection means includes a thread member having a second thread portion to be combined with the first thread portion through the connection hole from the upper case.
Preferably, the movable-object is a spherical ball or a spherical ball coated with rubber or synthetic resin at the surface thereof, the spherical ball being formed of a weight body such as metals of lead, steel and the like, stones, ceramics, compressed papers or the like.
In an embodiment, the hanger has an insert groove. In addition, the hanger is provided at both sides of the lower end thereof with a latch plate round-bent towards the case such that the hanger is prevented from being released from the belt and contacts smoothly and resiliently a user's body while wobbling.
Preferably, the movable-object includes a spherical ball, liquid or synthetic resin particles.
In an embodiment, a plurality of protrusions is formed at certain intervals along the inner circumferential face of a projection part of the case such that the movable-object contacts the protrusions while circulating to cause vibration to the case.
In an embodiment, the hula-hooping device may further comprise a belt for wearing the device on a user's body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hula-hooping device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hula-hooping device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a liquid movable-object inside of the case;

FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the hula-hooping device shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional and plan views when in circular motion;

FIG. 7 shows a user wearing the hula-hooping device on his or her waist belt;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a modification to the hula-hooping device of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 9 to 11 are exploded sectional views showing modifications to the case of device;

FIG. 12 shows a user wearing the hula-hooping device on his or her leg; and

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a modification to the hula-hooping device of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1 to 7, a hula-hooping device according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The hula-hooping device includes a lower case 12 and an upper case 11, which have the form of a disk. The lower case 12 is provided with a nut pipe 12 a protruded at the center thereof. The upper case 11 is provided with a connection hole 11 a formed at the center thereof.
The nut pipe 12 a of the lower case 12 passes through and is then coupled with the connection hole 11 a of the upper case. The upper and lower cases 11 and 12 are coupled to each other to form a disk-like case 10 having a circular space formed thereinside. Here, the circular space means a space inside of which a movable-object such as a ball 20 received inside of the case 10 can perform a circular motion. For example, it may include a circular-shaped space where the inner face has an equal distance from the center, an oval-shaped space, a hook-like annular space, a spherical space, a disk-shaped space, and an egg-shaped space. The connection hole 11 a is covered with a cover 13 and combined with it. The cover 13 has a bolt 13 a protruded at its center. The bolt 13 a is connected to the nut pipe 12 a passing through the connection hole 11 a. Here, the nut pipe 12 a is referred to as a first thread portion and the bolt 13 a as a second thread portion. The size of the case 10 may be made into small, medium and large ones for children, and small, medium and large ones for adults.
The case 10 is provided at one side thereof with a U-shaped hanger 14. As shown in FIG. 7, the hanger 14 is configured to be hung on the belt 30. Formed at both sides of the hunger 14 is a latch plate 14 a round-bent towards the case 10. The latch plate 14 a prevents the device from being released from the belt 30 and functions to allow the device to smoothly and resiliently contact the user's body while wobbling to the left and right when he or she exercises. A buffer member 15 is attached to the inner side of the hanger 14 to provide for a smooth contact with the user's body and thus improve its wearing comfort.
A weight ball 20 is accommodated inside of the case 10. The weight ball 20 is a movable-object that carries out a circular motion inside of the case 10 as the case 10 moves. Preferably, the weight ball 20 is formed of a metallic material such as steel or lead. The weight ball may be made of other materials such as stone, highly-compressed paper, compressed synthetic resin or the like. The outer surface of the ball 20 may be coated with soft rubber or synthetic resin to reduce noises when the ball 20 circulates.
In the drawings, unexplained reference 16 denotes a packing interposed between the upper and lower cases 11 and 12. Unexplained reference 31 denotes a synthetic resin buckle combined to the belt 30.
The hula-hooping device having the above construction is designed such that a user can wear it on the waist by way of the belt 30. If the user wears the hula-hooping device on his or her waist and then moves his or her waist in a circle motion, the weight ball 20 received in the case 10 turns around along the inner circumference of the case 10 by means of centrifugal force. As the waist moves fast, the ball speed becomes fast, so that the centrifugal force becomes stronger, thereby producing an exercise effect of doing a hula-hoop.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the weight ball 20, a liquid 21 such as water, or particles 22 such as synthetic resin particles may be injected so as to turn around, along with the weight ball 20. At this time, movable-objects such as the liquid 21 or the particles 22 circulates with the ball 20 to thereby increase rotational resistance. The weight ball 20 heavier than the liquid 21 or the particles 22 tends to move faster, passing the liquid or particles, which results in a dual-resistance, thereby generating a different exercise effect.
In addition, a user can wear multiple hula-hooping devices, i.e., one to four or more, depending upon his or her physical stamina.
Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of protrusions 10 a is formed in the inner circumference of the case 10. These protrusions 10 a contact with the ball 20, when it moves, to thereby produce vibration.
Referring to FIG. 8, instead of the protrusions 10 a formed inside of the upper and lower cases 11 and 12, protrusions 16 c may be formed in the inner circumferential face of a projection part 16 b of the packing 16 a in such a way to protrude towards the inner space of the case 10. Remaining details are the same as in FIGS. 1 to 7.
Referring to FIG. 9, the lower case 12 is provided with a female latching hole 12 b formed along the edge thereof and the upper case 11 is provided with a male latching protrusion 11 b, or vice versa. These male and female latching elements are combined with each other to form the case 10. In some cases, as shown in FIG. 10, the upper case 11 is provided with a male thread 11 c formed in the outer surface thereof and the lower case 12 is provided with a female thread 12 c formed in the inner surface thereof, or vice versa. These male and female threads can be coupled to each other to form the case 10.
Referring to FIG. 11, the lower case 12 may be provided with a threaded protrusion 12 d formed at the center thereof. The threaded protrusion 12 d has a thread portion formed in the outer peripheral face thereof. Formed at the center of the upper case 11 is a nut portion 11 d to be combined with the threaded protrusion 12 d so as to form the case 10. The threaded protrusion 12 d and the nut portion 11 d can be switched over with each other.
Besides, the upper and lower cases may be combined with each other through various other connecter means. Furthermore, in case where the case is made of metallic materials, the upper and lower cases can be connected to each other through a welding process, or a fusion bonding, or application of adhesives to form a single body case.
Referring to FIG. 12, according to an embodiment of the invention, the hula-hooping device may be applied to a user's leg or thigh by using a shorter belt 30, thereby facilitating exercises for the legs or lower torso of human body. Besides the leg, it can be used for other part of human body such as arm and the like.
As shown in FIG. 13, the case 10 may be formed into an oval shape, or in some cases, a spherical shape.
As described above, according to the invention, the hula-hooping device can be used in a narrow confined space for hula-hoop exercise.
In addition, the belt can be received into the case, thus providing a good portability.
The hula-hooping device of the invention provides for a new type of hula-hoop exercise, which is totally different from the convenient ones. Further, due to the ball and protrusions inside of the case, vibration is generated to smoothly massage the user's waist area.
While the present invention has been described with reference to several exemplary embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications and variations may occur to those skilled in the art, departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hula-hooping device comprising:

a case having a circular inner space;

a movable-object movably accommodated inside of the inner space, the movable-object performing a circular motion inside the inner space of the case by means of centrifugal force as the case performs a circular motion; and

a hanger combined with the case.

2. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case includes a circular-shaped lower case, an upper case facing and combined with the lower case to form the inner space, and a connection means for combining the upper and lower cases into one unit.

3. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lower case is provided with a first thread portion protruded upwardly from the center thereof, the upper case is provided with a connection hole formed at the center thereof to be combined with the first thread portion, and the connection means includes a thread member having a second thread portion to be combined with the first thread portion through the connection hole from the upper case.

4. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable-object is a spherical ball or a spherical ball coated with rubber or synthetic resin at the surface thereof, the spherical ball being formed of a weight body such as metals of lead, steel and the like, stones, ceramics, compressed papers or the like.

5. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hanger has an insert groove, and the hanger is provided at both sides of the lower end thereof with a latch plate round-bent towards the case such that the hanger is prevented from being released from the belt and contacts smoothly and resiliently a user's body while wobbling.

6. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable-object includes a spherical ball, liquid or synthetic resin particles.

7. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of protrusions is formed at certain intervals along the inner circumferential face of a projection part of the case such that the movable-object contacts the protrusions while circulating to cause vibration to the case.

8. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a belt for wearing the device on a user's body.

9. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a belt for wearing the device on a user's body.

10. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a belt for wearing the device on a user's body.

11. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a belt for wearing the device on a user's body.

12. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a belt for wearing the device on a user's body.

13. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a belt for wearing the device on a user's body.

14. The hula-hooping device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a belt for wearing the device on a user's body.