US3241832A

US3241832A - Power-operated jumping device

Info

Publication number: US3241832A
Application number: US315056A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernard C Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-10-09
Filing date: 1963-10-09
Publication date: 1966-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-22

Description

March 22, 1966 B. c. MILLER 3,241,832

POWER-OPERATED JUMPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BERNARD G. MILLER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS March 22, 1966 B. c. MILLER 3,241,832

POWER-OPERATED JUMPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 4 2 FIG 5 FIG 6 BERNARD C. MlLLER INVENTOR.

Byg g A TTORNE Y5 nited States Patent 3,241,832 POWER-OPERATED JUMPING DEVICE Bernard C. Miller, 6211 45th Ave. NE., Seattle, Wash. Filed Oct. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 315,056 6 Claims. (Cl. 272-74) The present invention relates in general to amusement and exercising devices of the general class known as skipping machines or jumping bars. The device is utilized for engaging in the pastime known as in-place rope jumping, without the necessity of other persons being present to manipulate or swing the rope. Jumping devices of the present type are utilized by children for amusement and exercise and also by adults for coordination training and exercise in gymnasium establishments and the like.

The present invention more specifically relates to an improved power drive for a jumping device of the type described wherein horizontally disposed jump bars are carried by a rotatable head or shell with the sole driving means constituting a light frictional contact. The present invention also concerns itself with the problem of providing a constantly rotating jump bar member which is easily removable from its mountings and which will be rendered harmless in the event that a child or other person contacts the rotatable head or the rotating jump bars.

The primary object of the present invention is therefore to provide a jumping device of the character described having a rotatable jumping bar mounting member connected to a suitable power source through a frictional drive connection.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a jumping device of the character described having a readily removable bar mounting member which is held in rotational position by its own weight and is driven by a frictional drive connection with a suitable power source.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a jumping device of the character described which may be powered by an electric motor or the like and yet is perfectly safe for use by children without supervision.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a jumping device of the type described which has flexible jumping bars and which is so shaped and constructed to be harmless in the event that a child or other person falls on the rotating parts or contacts one of the jumping bars.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a jumping device of the character described which may be easily dismantled and which lends itself to easy and econmical manufacture.

The means by which the foregoing objects and advantages are accomplished are set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the motor mounting arrangement for the jumping device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the overall base assembly for the jumping device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the jumping device in assembled condition showing the relationship of the jumping arms;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the device showing alternative positioning of the jump arms; and

FIG. 6 is a detailed illustration of a brake joint for the jump arms.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to indicate identical parts in the various views, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a base assembly indicated generally by the numeral 1 and a rotatable bowl-shaped hub member indicated generally at 2.

The base assembly 1 includes a ground support member 3 shown in circular form in the drawings, which may be of any suitable material such as plywood, plastic or metal, and which is designed to mount a cylindrical housing 4 which includes a vertical side wall 5 and a fiat circular top wall 6. The side wall 5 includes an annular horizontal flange 7 having an outside diameter which may be identical to the outside diameter of support ring 3. The flange normally rests on the ring 3 and is secured by means of screws 8. The top wall 6 includes a vertically extending annular flange 9 for a purpose presently to be described. The housing 4 serves to encase an electrical motor 10 and a reduction gear casing 11 therefor. The motor 10 and reduction gear housing 11 are supported by means of a U-shaped channel member 12 between the

upstanding side plates

13 and 14, respectively. The channel member 12 is securely fastened to the housing 4 by means of screw fasteners 15 which pass through the housing 4 and tabs 16 on the channel member. The gearbox 11 and the motor 10 are rigidly fastened by means of mounting bolts 18 to a cross plate 17 which spans the

side plates

13 and 14. The motor 10 includes a suitable lead wire 19 which passes beneath the flange 7 and through a suitable groove 20 in the support ring 3.

An output shaft 21 extends upwardly from the gearbox 11 through a suitable opening in the plate 17 and serves to mount a friction drive disc 22 secured thereto by means of a set screw 23. The friction drive disc 22 is in the form of a circular disc the outside diameter of which is slightly less than the opening provided by the circular flange 9, with the disc 22 being designed to rotate within said opening. The disc 22 has an upstanding rim or bead 24 on its top surface which extends completely around the periphery of the disc and includes a frustoconical surface 25. As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, the surface 25 converges or inclines inwardly toward the center of the disc. The hub portion 26 of the disc surrounds the output shaft 21 and provides a mounting for the set screw 23.

Although the driving means for the output shaft 21 has been illustrated as an electrical motor, it will be understood that any suitable power source may be utilized, such as a hand-wound spring motor or the like.

Mounted on the top wall 6 of the housing 4 is a spacing ring 27 secured thereto by means of screws or the like 28, with the ring 27 serving to mount a second ring 29 secured by means of screws 30. The ring 29 is generally flat and has a centrally located opening which has a diameter on the bottom face of the ring which is substantially equal to the diameter of the opening provided by the rim 9. The diameter of the opening on the top side of the ring 29 is substantially greater than the diameter of the opening on the bottom side, thus providing a continuation of the frusto-conical surface provided by the surface 25 when the disc 22 is in place.

Turning now to the details of the hub member 2, as shown in FIG. 4, the configuration of the hub is that of an inverted bowl-shaped structure. In practice, the hub 2 may be constructed from any suitable material such as wood, plastic or metal, as desired. The hub 2 includes a thickened central portion 31 near its center and a thickwalled rim 32 extending completely around its periphery. As shown in FIG. 4, the hub 2, in the mounted position, entirely covers the housing 4 with the rim 32 of the hub extending closely adjacent the support ring 3. The rim 32 of the hub also is provided with a plurality of drilled openings 33 for mounting identical radially extending jump bars 34.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a suflicient number of bores 33 may be provided for mounting various numbers of the jump bars 34 in such a manner that either three or four equidistant bars may be carried by the hub 2. The jump bars 34 are preferably made from a hollow flexible material such as a tube of plastic or may be constructed from any other lightweight solid flexible material. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the jump bars 34 may be put together in sections which are connected by a sleeve 35. In this manner, the entire unit may be conveniently broken down and packaged without excess bulk.

Continuing with the details of the hub member 2, the centrally located thickened portion 31 provides a flat circular undersurface for securing a circular plate 36. The plate 36 may be fastened to the thickened portion 31 by means of suitable screw fasteners 37. The plate 36 includes a centrally located friction ring 38 which may be integral therewith, as shown, or may comprise a separate element. The plate 36, including the friction ring 38, is preferably constructed from a molded plastic material which exhibits the desired frictional characteristics when utilized in contact With the rotating drive disc 22. As noted in FIG. 4, the friction ring 38 contacts the upper face of the drive disc 22 and includes a beveled outer edge which cooperates with the frusto-conical surface provided by the surface 25 of the rim 24 on the drive disc. It will also be noted that, when the hub 2 is in the mounted position as shown in FIG. 4, the friction ring 38 maintains the plate 36 a suflicient distance above the ring 29 to allow clearance for rotation of the hub.

With the relationship shown, the hub 2 automatically seats itself with the friction drive ring 38 being in face-toface engagement with the drive disc 22 when the hub is dropped over the housing 4. If, during operation, the

. person utilizing the device happens to either step on the jump bars 34 or displace the hub 2, the hub 2 merely ceases to rotate since the only drive connection between the disc 22 and the hub is the light frictional contact between the ring 38 and the disc 22 due to the weight of the hub. In this manner, the device is rendered completely foolproof and safe for operation by children even though the device is powered by a constantly operating electric motor.

If desired, the jumping device of the present invention can have a music box or phonograph device incorporated therewith and powered from the same motor. Variances in height of the jumping bars 34 can be provided for by including another set of the openings 33 at a higher elevation in the hub member 2, or by providing spacers to be positioned beneath the base of the ground support memher 3.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides significant improvements in jumping devices of the character described, with the novel driving arrangement enabling completely safe operation of the device by children. Other advantages of the present invention include the provision of a simplified structure capable of economic manufacture and assembly. The arrangement and types of structural components utilized within the invention may be subjected to numerous modifications well within the purview of this invention and applicant intends only to be limited to a liberal interpretation of the specification and appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A jumping device comprising, a stationary cylindrical housing including an opening in the top surface thereof, motor means mounted within said housing, a vertical power shaft driven by said motor means and extending through said opening, a friction drive disc mounted on said shaft, a peripheral ridge extending about the top surface of said disc and including an inwardly converging surface forming an angled drive surface, said disc being disposed to rotate with-in said opening, a hollow bowl-shaped shell overlying said housing, said shell having a frusto-conical friction member mounted on the underside thereof in contact with the top surface of said disc to be driven thereby, radially extending flexible jump bars mounted on said shell, the weight of said shell comprising the sole means for maintaining said friction member in contact with said disc.

2. A jumping device comprising, a base member, motor means carried by said base, a rotatable drive disc powered by said motor means, said disc being journaled to rotate in a horizontal plane, a peripheral ridge extending about the top surface of said disc and including an inwardly converging surface forming an angled drive surface, a hollow bowl shaped shell, said shell having a frusto-conical friction surface mounted on the underside thereof in contact with the top surface of said disc to be driven thereby, radially extending flexible jump bars mounted on said shell, the weight of said shell comprising the sole means for maintaining said friction surface in contact with said disc.

3. In a jumping device having a stationary base member, a rotatable member, and flexible jump arms extending radially from said rotatable member, a friction drive arrangement for said rotatable member comprising; motor means carried by said stationary member, a drive disc powered by said motor means and joumaled to rotate in horizontal plane adjacent the top surface of said stationary base member, a friction ring secured to one side of said rotatable member and adapted to contact said disc to be rotated thereby, the weight of said rotatable member comprising the sole means for maintaining said ring in contact with said disc.

4. A jumping device comprising in combination; a stationary base, a rotatable friction drive disc carried by said base, means to drive said disc, an inverted bowlshaped member overlying said base, jump bars mounted on said bowl-shaped member and extending radially therefrom, and a friction ring on the underside of said bowlshaped member in contact with said disc whereby the weight of said bowl-shaped rnember maintains said ring in driving relation With said disc.

5. A jumping device comprising in combination; a base member, a rotatable friction drive member carried by said base, means to drive said drive member, a rotatable shell overlying said base, jump bars mounted on said shell and extending radially therefrom, said shell having a friction surface on the underside thereof in frictional contact with said drive member, whereby the weight of said shell maintains said friction surface in driving relation to said drive member.

6. The combination according to claim 5, wherein said jump bars are removably mounted in a selected plurality of openings about the periphery of said hub, and each of said jump bars comprises a plurality of flexible rod members joined by hollow sleeves.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 956,838 5/1910 Treanor 272-74 2,688,206 9/1954 Nagler 4683 X FOREIGN PATENTS 11,098 5/ 1905 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.