US2871016A

US2871016A - Pogo stick

Info

Publication number: US2871016A
Application number: US658093A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herman I Rapaport
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-05-09
Filing date: 1957-05-09
Publication date: 1959-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1976-01-27

Description

Jan. 27', 1959 H. l. RAPAPORT 2,871,016

POGO STICK Filed May 9, 1957 J/NVENTOR mwa 02- Y maj/7e?, 6@

2,871,016 Patented Jan. 27, 1959 United j States Patent Oiice PoGo STICK Herman I. Rapaport, Chicago, Ill.` Application May 9, 1957, serial No. 658,093

` s claims. (c1. 272-57) This invention relates to improvements in Pogo sticks.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a Pogo stick which has a leg member of supporting pole which is retractable when not in use to reduce the length of the unit to permit shipment and storage of same in a minimum of space.`

Another' object of this invention is to provide `a Pogo stick with a retractable supporting pole which isretractable within the frame of the unit so that the overall length of the unit is substantially the length of the frame. This permits mailing of the unit in containers of a length to conform to post oce requirements and also enables the unit to be placed in containers or cartons of considerably less size than if the unit were not thus retracted.

Another object is to provide a Pogo stick in which the spring element is completely enclosed thereby eliminating the hazards of soiling the clothes by the lubricant used in connection with the spring and also eliminating the hazard of catching the clothing or parts of the body in the compressable coils of the spring. `The appearance ofthe unit is also enhanced thereby. i

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses. t

In the drawings: i j

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partially in cross section showing my Pogo stick in extended position ready for use.

Figure 2 is a view of the Pogo stick in collapsed or re` tracted position as for shipping. r

Figure 3 is a view partially in cross section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view taken on lines 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a View taken on lines 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on lines 6-6 of Figure 3, and

Figure 7 is an enlargedcross sectional View taken on lines 7--7 of Figure 2. l

The Pogo stick has a platform for the feet which platform is generally indicated at 10 and which is formed of two plates or two sections 12 joined together. The plates 12 are of identical construction andthe same numbers will be applied thereto. Each plate is formed with a semicircular central portion 14 so that a central circular opening 16 is provided when the plates 12 are joined together.

r The upper portions of each of the plates adjacent their struction. The lower ends of each of the tubular members 32 is slotted as at 34 (Figure 7) to t over the platform' 10 and is permanently secured thereto by rivets 36. The

uprights 32 are spaced fromv each other throughout theirlength except that they are inclined inwardly at the top as at 28 for abutting relation and there secured together by a` permanent rivet pin 40. The tubular members turn outwardly to form handles `42 and the handles are provided with rubber gripping members 44.. A pair of cross bars 46 are permanently secured by four rivet pins 47 to the tubular members 32 and the cross bars 46 are each formed to provide a central semi-circular shaped portion 46 which bars together form a central circular opening 49 for passage of a leg orsupporting pole 50.

The leg or supporting pole generally indicated at 50 is formed of a tubular member and is supported at its upper opposite ends are turned outwardly to` provide half disc shaped plates 18 with `a downwardly extending ange 20, so that a circular disc shaped foot rest 22 is provided when the two sections are joined together. Each of the plates 12 is formed to provide` angular ribs 24 for strengthening the plates. The two plates 12are permanently secured end within the opening 49 of the cross bars 46 and is supported at its lowerend within the circular opening 16 of the platform 10. `Supported on the tubular leg or`sup'` porting pole 50 adjacent the cross bars 46fis an inverted cup shaped member on collar 52 which has an enlarged centralopening 54 in the top thereof for passage of the tubular` pole 50 as best seen in Figure 3. AV coil spring 56 surrounds the supporting pole 50 and the upper end of the spring is supported within the inverted cup shaped member or collar 52. Supported on the supporting pole adjacent the platform 10 is a cup shaped member or co1- lar 59 best seen in Figure 6, having a bottom 59 which has an enlarged central opening 60 for passage of the pole 50. The lower end of the spring 56 is confined or supported in the cupV shaped member or collar 58 which istdetachably secured to the supporting pole as will be described.

`The collar S8 extends downwardly of the horizontal bottom 59 of the member andisaid downwardly extending portion is provided with a pair of aligned oppositelypositioned Slo-ts 64 opening downwardly. The supporting pole 50 has a pairof aligned transverse openings 66 which receive a threaded fastener 68. The opposite ends of the threaded fastener 68 being received in the slots 64 of the `collar 58 to retain the collar 58 and prevent it from movi ing downwardly on the supporting pole 50. The pole is provided with a rubber tip 51 at the bottom thereof.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 3, the spring 56bears against the collar 58 but the collar is prevented fronimov-` ing downwardly by virtue of the threaded fastener 68. The collar thus forms a base support for the spring 56. Figures l` and 3 show the positionof the supporting pole and the parts when the Pogo stick is in position for use or play.

The upper end of the supporting pole`50 has a plurality of spaced pairs of aligned transverse openings 70 for rei ceiving a threadedfastener 72 which will rest against the top of the cross bars 46 to compress the spring 56. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the spring 56 is held in acompressed position on the supporting pole 50 between the two cup shaped members or collars 521and 58 and the frame of the stick. The frame generally being formed by the uprights 32 and platform 10. The frame is supported on the pole 50 under tension and elevated to its uppermost position in relation to the supporting pole 50. By standing on the feet support of the platform, the childs weight will move the framedownwardly on the supporting pole 50 and compress spring 56 as the pole 50`rests on the ground or a floor surface. f

Whenthe pole 50 is lifted from the ground or oor surface as is done in play as is well understood in the art, the frame will move upwardly with respect to the pole 50 due tothe spring 56 until the pole 50 again strikes the ground or floor surface and the frame again moves downwardly with respect to the supporting pole. This` permits the child to hop about onthe Pogo stick. Normally the threaded fastener 72 `is not used, however to increase the compression of the spring56, the threaded fastener r72 is inserted v in any of the transverse openings 70 on the supporting pole 50.

For best use the springS is lubricated by a grease or oil with someof the greasem; oil retained in the cup shaped members 52 and 58. .The lgrease will normally tend to spatter when the` Pogo `stick .is used. As the spring 56 compresses and decompresses, there .is also present the danger of getting `the childs clothing or a part of the body caught in the spring. To overcome these objections, `there is provided a sleeve generally indicated at 7.06 which .surrounds thespringS and whose opposite ends are secured insidethe upper and lower cup shaped members S2 and-58. The sleeve 76 is made of a Vinylite plastic material which is exible so that as the upper cup shaped member 52 moves -downwardly with the frame in relation to the lower? xed'eup ymember 58 the sleeve will exalong its length and will-again assume its normal full length position whenthe upper cup shaped member 52 is in its uppermost elevated position.

yThe overall length of the Pogo stickwheu in its play position is as' shown in Figure l, and is of such length thatproblems are presented in packaging and shipment of same. Enlarged cartons would berequired adding costs and space and also `making it impossible to ship through the mails. With this invention the foregoing objections are eliminatedas thefsupportingpole 50 may be moved inwardly or `retracted iinside the frame, .reducing the overall length of the unit for shipment-to substantially the length of the frame. This is best shown in Figure 2. To accomplish this, the :threaded fastener 68 is withdrawn from pole 50 thus releasing the lower collar 58 from its engagement with the pole .and the .pole Suis pushed upwardly or inwardlyinside thefframe as shown in Figure 2.

yDuring shipment the removed threaded fastener 68 may be temporarily insertedin any of the openings 74. Also tolreduee thesize of the carton, the rubber foot pads 28 may be removed-fromthefoot members 22fand placed in the carton. The unit isreadyyfor use after removal from tjhecarton by moving the pole 50'downwardly and inserting the threadedfastener 68 as shown in Figure 1.

In placeofthe threadedfasteners 68 and 72 cotter pins may-beused.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and vscope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A Pogo stick comprising a foot rest, a pair of uprights secured to said foot rest,said uprights supporting a handle at the upper ends thereof, an upper cross member secured to s'aiduprights below said handle and dening an unobstructed space between said uprights and above said upper cross member and below said handle, an inverted cup shaped member positioned against said upper crossmember, a .supporting poleextending between said uprights andv throughsaid inverted cup shaped member, a lower cup shaped rmember surrounding said pole, a pin detachably secured to said pole, and engaged by said lower cup shaped member to'limit the downward movement of said lower cup shapedmember, a coil spring surrounding said pole with the opposite ends of the spring positioned in said vaforementioned cup shaped members, said pin whendetached from said pole adapted to release said lower cup shaped member from securement to said pole to permit retraction of said pole upwardly between said uprights so .that the upper portion of said supporting pole extends into said unobstructed space above said kupper cross .member and belowsaid handle and the lower extremity of the pole is positioned adjacent the foot rest so that substantially the entire pole in said retracted position is located within the length of said uprights and said foot rest.

2. A Pogo stick comprising a foot rest, a pair of uprights secured to said foot rest, said uprights supporting a handle at the upper ends thereof, an upper cross member secured to said uprights below said handle and defining an unobstructed space between said uprights and above said upper cross member and below said handle, an inverted cup shaped member positioned against said upper cross member, a supporting pole extending between said uprights and through said inverted cup shaped member, Va lower cup shaped member surrounding said pole, a pin detachably secured to said pole and engaged by said lower cup shaped member to limit the downward movement of said lower cup shaped member, a coil spring surrounding said pole with the opposite ends of thespring positioned in said .aforementioned ,cup shaped members, vsaid pin when detached from said pole adapted to release said lower cup shaped member from securement to said ,pole

is llocated within the length of said uprights and said foot.

rest, and a sleeve surrounding and enclosing said spring with the opposite ends of the sleeve retained within said cup shaped members.y

3. A Pogo stick comprising a platform formed of two platesljoined .together to forma central guide opening and a pair of spaced circular foot rests at the opposite ends thereof, a lresilient circular foot pad detachably secured to each said circular foot rest, a pair of uprights secured at their lower ends to `said platform, said uprights each having a laterally extending handle at the upper end thereof, an upper cross member secured to said uprights below said handle members and dening an unobstructed space between said uprights and above saidcross member and below said handles, an inverted cup shaped member positioned against said upper cross member, a supporting pole extending between said uprights and through said upper cross member and saidinverted cup shaped member and said central guide opening, a lower cup shaped member surrounding said pole, a pin detachably secured to said pole and engaged by said lower cup shaped member to limit the downward movement of said lower cup shaped member, a coil spring surrounding said pole with the opposite ends of the spring positioned in said aforementioned cup shaped members, said pin when detached from said pole adapted to release said lower cup shaped member from securement to said pole to permit retraction of said pole upwardly between said uprights so that the upper portion of said pole extends into said unobstructed space above said upper cross member and below said handles and the lower extremity of the pole is positioned adjacent the platform so that substantially the entire pole in said retracted position is located within the length of said uprights and said platform, and a sleeve surrounding and enclosing said spring with the opposite ends of the sleeve Krebs June 18, 1935 Hansburg May 21, 1957