US3073594A

US3073594A - Swivel for dance partners

Info

Publication number: US3073594A
Application number: US82836A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sr Dee H Byrd
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-01-16
Filing date: 1961-01-16
Publication date: 1963-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-15

Description

Jan. 15, 1963 o. H. BYRD, SR 3,073,594

SWIVEL FOR DANCE PARTNERS Filed Jan. 16, 1961 FIG- 2 DEE Ex/@553.

United States Patent ice 3,073,594 SWIVEL FOR DANCE PARTNERS Dee H. Byrd, Sr., 19 E. Main, Walla Walla, Wash. Filed Jan. 16, 1961, Ser. N 0. 82,836 6 Claims. (Cl. 272-1) The present invention may be classified broadly among sporting devices and relates particularly to a swivel for dance partners.

While dancing, where-in there are partners, one executes dance steps which require one partner to rotate with respect to the other partner. For example, in Western dancing there are predominantly two types of dances; commonly termed the square dance and the round or pattern dance. In the round or pattern dance, frequently the lady will spin while lightly holding a finger of her dance partner to maintain a relative orientation with her dance partner. This dance step is commonly termed a twirl, where the leading partner remains at a relatively constant location and the other partner spins or revolves under the hand of the leading partner.

There is also a dance step commonly termed a roll or roll across, wherein one partner transfers from one side to the other of his partner and makes a complete turn or revolution during this transfer.

It is customary for one partner to lightly hold a finger of the other partner while these spins, turns and/or revolutions are being completed, while the finger is permitted to pivot in the hand of the other partner.

While performing these dance steps and similar steps in other dances and acrobatic performances, the steadying influence of the leading partner is reduced substantially at the very time when the spinning or twirling partners equilibrium is most susceptible momentarily to vertigo.

The present invention lies in the provision of a swivel for dance partners which is adapted to have its opposed ends selectively fixed with respect to a hand of each dance partner whereby the steadying influence of one partner to another may be maintained and yet the ability to twirl or roll will not be impaired but Will be enhanced because of the aforesaid steadying influence which provides means for maintaining relative orientation with ones partner.

This and other important objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following description when considered in conjunction with the exemplifying drawings wherein I have disclosed a preferred embodiment and a modified species of the present invention.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate similar parts:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my improved swivel and showing the hands of dance partners in broken lines;

FIGURE 2 is a vie-w in elevation having parts broken away for convenience of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the swivel and showing a part in section; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified species of the swivel.

Having reference now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral indicates in its entirety the improved swival constituting the subject matter of this present invent which, it will be seen, has a pair of

heads

12 and 14 having means 16 interconnecting the heads in spaced relationship with the configuration of a sleeve or ring 18 having a central finger-receiving aperture 20 and a radially disposed boss 22. The ring preferably is to encircle the middle or third finger of the leading partners hand M. A socket 24 is formed in the boss 22 of the head 12 and has a restricted throat 26 by means of which a spheral enlargement 28 is confined for pivotal movements relative to the head 12. The socket 24 is open at both ends radially through the ring thus providing for entrance of the spheral enlargement 28 into the socket 24 from the central opening 20 and also admits from the opposite side an inflexible rod 30 which is releasably secured as by a pin 32 to the spheral enlargement 28.

At its opposed end the rod 30 is provided with a second spheral enlargement 34 which is confined in a socket 36 for pivotal movements and permits limited angular displacement of the rod 30 with respect to the head 14 which has the configuration of a lenticular disc of a size adapted to be grasped in the hand F of a following dance partner while the rod 30 extends therefrom between the fingers.

The socket 36 of the head 14 extends axially through the head 14 and is provided with a constriction at 38 which prevents passage of the spheral enlargement 34 from the socket 36.

Opposed to the rod 30 the socket 36 is provided with an internally threaded bore 40 in which a retainer plug 42 is threadedly engaged. The plug 42 is provided with a kerf to receive the bit of a screw driver for applying or removing said plug 42, and has a concave recess 44 fitting about a segment of the spheral enlargement 34 to retain it therein.

The rod 30 is provided with an annular concave-com vex shield 46 which is secured thereto as for example, by welding 48, and covers the boss 22 of the head 12 and a portion of the ring 18 to preclude contact with the ring by the hand F of a partner grasping the head 14.

In FIGURE 4 I have shown a modified structure wherein the head 12a is provided with plural rings 18' and the rod 30 is swivel mounted in a fillet 50 formed tangentially with respect to the adjacent rings.

Having thus described my invention I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

1. A swivel for dancers, comprising: a pair of heads, each adapted to be selectively fixed with respect to a hand of each dance partner, at least one said head being a lenticular disc of a size adapted to be grasped by one dance partner and means interconnecting said heads in spaced relationship for relative swivel movements of said heads.

2. A swivel for dancers, comprising: a ring adapted to receive a finger of one dance partner, and constituting a first head; a second head adapted to be grasped by a second dance partner; and means interconnecting said heads in spaced relationship for relative swivel movements of said heads.

3. A swivel for dancers, comprising: a head adapted .to be releasably fixed upon the hand of one dance partner; a lenticular disc of a size adapted to be grasped by a second dance partner, and constituting a second head; and means interconnecting said heads in spaced relationship for relative swivel movements of said heads.

4. A swivel for dancers, comprising: a ring for receiving at least one finger of one dance partner, and constituting a head, a lenticular disc-shape head of a size for being grasped by a second dance partner; and an inflexible rod of predetermined length and having spheral enlargements on the ends thereof; and said heads each having a socket in which one said spheral enlargement is confined for pivotal movements and limited angular displacement of said rod with respect to each head.

5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein a concave-convex annular shield is concentrically disposed on said rod and covers a portion of said ring, whereby to prevent the hand of the dance partner who is grasping said disc from contacting said ring.

6. A swivel for dancers, comprising: a pair of heads each adapted to be selectively fixed with respect to a hand of each dance partner; an inflexible rod of predetermined 3 length and having spheral enlargements on the ends thereof; said heads each having a socket in which one said spheral enlargement is confined for pivotal movements and limited angular displacement of said rod with respect to each head and a shield concentrically disposed on said rod and covering a portion of one head for protecting the hand of one partner from contacting the opposed said head.

References Cited in the file of this patent