US2229801A

US2229801A - Tap jumping rope

Info

Publication number: US2229801A
Application number: US269000A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel C Dozier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-04-20
Filing date: 1939-04-20
Publication date: 1941-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 1958-01-28

Description

Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES 3 Claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in jumping ropes, whereby with the rope in use a sound will be produced which is timed with the operation of the rope and which in efiect simulates the sound of tap dancing.

The primary object of the present invention is to materially enhance the pleasure and novelty in the use of the jumping rope through the medium of the tap dancing effect which being more or less synchronous with the use of the feet of the child in using the rope as to indicate, at least in a general sense, that the child is tap dancing while jumping the rope.

The invention primarily involves the intro duction between the handle and the rope proper of an element which moves with the rope and is rotative with respect to the handle. Within this element are mounted spring-like members which are raised against their inherent tension at each relative rotation of the element and handle and released for sharp and direct contact with a part of the element, which may be in the form of a sounding board, to simulate the tap dancing effeet.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of the rope andthe element and handle connected to one end of the rope.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the element with the operating shaft and rope handle in elevation.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 showing a slightly modified arrangement.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of Figure 4, the handle and rope being omitted.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

With particular reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the rope proper is indicated at I, the handle at 2 and the intermediate sounding element at 3. The sounding element is generally of spherical form made of approximately two similar semi-spherical sections 4 and 5 to be appropriately joined at their marginal edges by seaming 6. Sound amplifying diaphragms l and 8, preferably of wood though obviously of any appropriate material, are arranged within the sounding element, the movement of each in the relatively outward direction being limited by ears 9 instruck from the material of the element.

Secured at diametrically opposite points within the seaming 6 are members In and H of inherently spring material which are formed to present a main length l2 exceeding the radius of the element 3 and inclining downwardly from their rigid connections in the seam 6 to a rounded end l3 normally in contact with the diaphragms,

then extended from the rounded end toward and beyond the axis of the element 3, as at I4, and terminally formed with a return bend l5 located beyond the axis relative to the diaphragm with which they contact, with the free terminals [6 of the return bends arranged immediately adjacent the axis of'the element.

A'shaft H is secured in the handle 2 and extends through diametrically opposed openings [8 in the element, being headed beyond the element at H) to maintain a position of the shaft for free rotative movement relative to the element but held against separation from the element. The central portion 20 of the shaft is of triangular formation in cross section and the transverse area of this part is such that in any one position of the shaft, one side of the triangular form underlies one terminal Id of the spring member, the terminal l6 of the other spring member being also contacted by another side of the triangular form.

The rope lis passed through an opening. 2| in the member 3 and the sections 4 and 5 of such member 3 are formed with appropriate openings 22 to facilitate sound escape. 1

In this form, as the ropeis used in jumping, the element 3 will be caused to turn relative to the shaft I1. At each rotation of the shaft, the spring members will be lifted away from their diaphragms, or lifted to permit the diaphragms to be moved away from their limiting ears 9, and as the relative rotation of the element 3 continues under the action of the rope, the spring members are released and permitted under their increased tension to snap into contact with the sounding boards 1 and 8, imparting a sharp, clearly defined sound simulating the efiect of castanets or as if the feet of the user of the rope were tap sounding member and of slightly less diameter than the main cylindrical wall.

The interior construction of this form is similar to that of the form first described including inherent spring members 32 terminally secured in the seam 33 uniting the sections 26 and 21 of the sounding member with such spring members having inclined lengths 34, diaphragm contact points 35, inwardly extending lengths 36 and terminal return bends 31, the ends 38 of which return bends are positioned adjacent the axial line of the sounding element.

A shaft 39 is secured in the handle mounted in the sounding element similar to the main form and having a triangular central portion 40 which cooperates with the terminals 38 of the spring members in the relative movement of the sounding element and the handle. The flattened ends of the sounding element are formed with sound emitting elements 4| and in the sound producing contact of the spring members with the sounding boards or diaphragms, the latter are forced against the sounders 29 to increase the sound effect.

It is to be particularly noted that in both forms of the device the sound producing movement of the spring members is provided for only in rotation of the sounding element in one direction. In the operation of this element in the opposite direction, the triangular portion of the shaft does not lift and release the sounding members and hence in the use of the rope in this direction no sound will result. Therefore, the rotative relation between the sounding element and the shaft are arranged so that when the rope is in one position, that is the handles of the rope disposed in the proper hands of the user, the tap producing sound will result, while if it is not desired to produce such sound, the rope is merely reversed in the hands of the user and no sound will be produced in the use of the rope.

It will of course be understood that the rope and handle may be of conventional character; that the sounding element is preferably of thin metal or other appropriate material; that the sounding boards are of such material as to provide for the maximum sound efiect; and that the sounding members are of relatively thin inherently spring material.

What is claimed to be new is:

1. In combination, a jumping rope, a handle for said rope, means rotatably mounted on said handle and attached to said rope for producing sounds when said rope and handle are relatively moved, said means comprising a housing, a re-- silient striking member therein, cam means on said handle for actuating said striking member, means defining a projection within said housing, and a sounding board free intermediate said striking member and said projection defining means and adapted to be sharply engaged by the former when the rope and handle are relatively moved, whereby a castanet effect will be produced by the combined engagement of said striking member and said board and said board and said projection defining means.

2. In combination, a jumping rope, a handle for said rope, means rotatably mounted on said handle and attached to said rope for producing sounds when said rope and handle are relatively moved, said means comprising a housing, resilient striking members therein, cam means on said handle for actuating said striking member, said cam means being triangular in cross-section, means defining projections within said housing, and sounding boards free intermediate respective striking members and projection defining means and adapted respectively to be sharply engaged by the former when the rope and handle are relatively moved, whereby castanet effect will be produced by the combined engagement of said striking member and said board and said board and said projection defining means.

3. In combination, a jumping rope, a handle for said rope, means rotatably mounted on said handle and attached to said rope for producing sounds when said rope and handle are relatively moved, said means comprising a housing, a resilient striking member therein, cam means on said handle for actuating said striking member,

means defining a projection within said housing,

and a sounding board free intermediate said striking member and said projection defining means, the walls of said housing limiting the lateral movement thereof, said board adapted to be sharply engaged by the former when the rope and handle are relatively moved, whereby a castanet effect will be produced by the combined engagement of said striking member and said board and said board and said projection defining means.

DANIEL C. DOZIER.