US3658325A

US3658325A - Tight rope apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3658325A
Application number: US841907A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cyril F Baker; Florence Baker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-07-15
Filing date: 1969-07-15
Publication date: 1972-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-25

Abstract

Tightwire sports equipment suitable for use either indoors or out-of-doors. The tightwire or rope is supported at either end by apparatus including horizontal plates. A topmost plate is used for a standing platform and for rope support by having a hole therethrough. The rope curves around a portion of the plate, extends through the hole and is anchored to a base. The base may be the ground, or may be a rigid member such as a wooden beam.

Description

United States Patent Baker et al.

[ 51 Apr. 25, 1972 [54] TIGHT ROPE APPARATUS [72] inventors: Cyril F. Baker; Florence Baker, both of 37 Willow Avenue, Rockaway, NJ. 07866 [22 Filed: July is, 1969 [21]. Appl. No.: 841,907

, [52] U.S. Cl ..'...272/60 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 23/04 [58] Field of Search ..272/60, 1, 23-25; 182/10, 178, 179, 40; 273/26 E [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,4l9,19l 6/1922 Acker ..272/23 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 350,241 6/1931 Great Britain ..273/26 E 27,240 12/1911 Great Britain ..l82/i79 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley Attorney-Stephen J. Phillips [57] ABSTRACT Tightwire sports equipment suitable for use either indoors or out-of-doors. The tightwire or rope is supported at either end by apparatus including horizontal plates. A topmost plate is used for a standing platform and for rope support by having a hole therethrough. The rope curves around a portion of the plate, extends through the hole and is anchored to a base. The base may be the ground, or may be a rigid member such as a wooden beam.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTFDAPRZSISYE 3,658,325 SHEET 1 UF 2 PATENTEBAPMS m2 3. 658,325 sum 2 [IF 2 I N VEN TORS.

TIGHT ROPE APPARATUS This invention relates to games, and more particularly to a tight rope game.

It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide a tight rope game which may be used indoors or outdoors when desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tight rope apparatus which will consist of support brackets and plates for holding the tope taut in order that a person may balance themselves upon it.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tight rope apparatus which will include bolt means for securing the support members together and the kit when assembled will support the user at approximately 18 inches from the ground 1 level.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a tight rope apparatus which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will become readily evident upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the closed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the kit in open position with the components removed therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing one half of the assembly with the supports and anchor members in place ready for use indoors;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but showing the device as used and anchored outdoors;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the rope supports;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the kit;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing a portion of the components that are contained within the case;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the assembly of the rope and anchor elements preparatory to use; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the rope supports shown in FIG. 8.

According to this invention, a tight rope kit 10 includes a box II in which is carried a rope 12 which may be round or square in cross-sectional configuration. Also included in kit 10 are a plurality of L-shaped configurated plates 13 made of steel or other suitable material, plates 13 in conjunction with bars 14 allowing the support means for rope I2. A handkerchief 15, a parasol 16 and a bag of bolts 17 are also included in kit 10 for purposes for which hereinafter will be described. A telescoping balance rod 18 made of plastic can serve to aid in balancing upon rope 12 as also does the parasol 16 which may be used instead.

As will be seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings, a two inch by four inch base 19 is used to support the elements herein described when kit 10 is assembled for indoor use. A pair of spaced apart openings 20 through the main portion of plates 13 allow for the passage of rope 12 in order to prevent it from slipping laterally when the device is in use. Rope 12 is also carried through opening 21 of top plates 13. Through openings 23 of bars 14 bolt fasteners 17 are received which thus secures bars 14 to plates 13. The lower ends of bars 14 when tightened to plates 13 are inserted into the ground 24 as are the anchors 25.

In use, the plates 13 are used in pairs and are spaced parallel with each other in an oppositely opposed condition, a pair of bars being secured by bolts 17 to the ends of the pair of plates 13, the lower portion of the bars extending into ground 24 and the rope 12 extending outwardly from plates 13, the ends of which carry the anchor 25.

The user then walks upon rope 12 by balancing himself with the parasol 16, or the balance rod 18 and after practice, is able to perform tricks such as picking up handkerchief l5 and so on.

present invention shown Looking now at FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9, you will see a modified form of kit 26 which is contained within box 11', kit 26 having a handkerchief 15', a parasol 16', a bag of bolts 17', and a balance rod 18', as well as a pair of plates 27.

Through plate 27 nylon rope 12 is carried by means of the opening 28 and legs 29 are secured to plates 27 by means of fasteners 30.

It will be noted that nylon rope 12' is carried through hole 28 around the lip 31 of plate 27 and legs 29 are provided with spike ends 32 for insertion into ground 24 and extensions 33 of legs 29 serve to rest upon ground 24 and prevent the device from sinking downwards and anchors 25' carried at the ends of rope 12' serve to keep the device rigid.

What I now claim is:

1. Tight rope apparatus, comprising, in combination:

at least one plate having at least one hole therethrough, at least a portion of said plate being disposed horizontally above a base support;

at least one bar member attached to said plate, extending downward therefrom and supporting said plate at a fixed distance above said base support; and

a rope anchored at one end to said base support by anchoring means, curved around a portion of said plate and frictionally engaged therewith and the other end extending through said hole, said rope being stretched taut and attached to supporting means at its said other end.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

a second plate attached to said bar member, at least a portion of said second plate being disposed parallel to and resting upon said base support.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein:

said bar member extends downward beyond said second plate into said base support, thereby bracing said apparatus.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein:

said anchoring means is a stake.

5. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein:

said base support comprises an elongated rigid member resting upon a horizontal surface; and

said second plate is attached to said elongated member at one end thereof.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein:

said elongated member comprises a wooden beam of rectangular cross section;

and wherein said supporting means at said other end of said rope comprises:

a third plate having at least one hole therethrough, at least a portion of said plate being disposed horizontally above said wooden beam;

at least a second bar member attached to said third plate, extending downward therefrom and attached to a fourth plate, said fourth plate resting upon and attached to said wooden beam at the other end thereof, and supporting said third plate at a fixed distance above said wooden beam;

and wherein:

said rope extends through said hole in said third plate,

curves around a portion of said third plate and is frictionally engaged therewith and is anchored to said wooden base.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein:

said bar member being bifurcated into a substantially X- shape, the two upstanding leg portions being attached to said plate, the two downwardly directed leg portions have at their ends thereof two extensions, one of said extensions extending into said base support and the other of said extensions resting upon said base support.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein:

said anchoring means is a stake.

9. Tight rope apparatus, comprising, in combination:

a base support comprising an elongated rigid member;

a first plate attached to said base support at one end thereof;

a second plate attached to said base support at the other end thereof;

by said second bar member a fixed distance above said second plate;

a rope attached at either end to either end of said base support, said rope extending through the holes in said third and fourth plates and being stretched taut.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said elongated rigid member comprises a wooden beam of substantially rectangular cross section.

Claims

1. Tight rope apparatus, comprising, in combination: at least one plate having at least one hole therethrough, at least a portion of said plate being disposed horizontally above a base support; at least one bar member attached to said plate, extending downward therefrom and supporting said plate at a fixed distance above said base support; and a rope anchored at one end to said base support by anchoring means, curved around a portion of said plate and frictionally engaged therewith and the other end extending through said hole, said rope being stretched taut and attached to supporting means at its said other end.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: a second plate attached to said bar member, at least a portion of said second plate being disposed parallel to and resting upon said base support.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein: said bar member extends downward beyond said second plate into said base support, thereby bracing said apparatus.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein: said anchoring means is a stake.

5. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein: said base support comprises an elongated rigid member resting upon a horizontal surface; and said second plate is attached to said elongated member at one end thereof.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein: said elongated member comprises a wooden beam of rectangular cross section; and wherein said supporting means at said other end of said rope comprises: a third plate having at least one hole therethrough, at least a portion of said plate being disposed horizontally above said wooden beam; at least a second bar member attached to said third plate, extending downward therefrom and attached to a fourth plate, said fourth plate resting upon and attached to said wooden beam at the other end thereof, and supporting said third plate at a fixed distance above said wooden beam; and wherein: said rope extends through said hole in said third plate, curves around a portion of said third plate and is frictionally engaged therewith and is anchored to said wooden base.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: said bar member being bifurcated into a substantially X-shape, the two upstanding leg portions being attached to said plate, the two downwardly directed leg portions have at their ends thereof two extensions, one of said extensions extending into said base supporT and the other of said extensions resting upon said base support.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein: said anchoring means is a stake.

9. Tight rope apparatus, comprising, in combination: a base support comprising an elongated rigid member; a first plate attached to said base support at one end thereof; a second plate attached to said base support at the other end thereof; at least a first bar member attached to said first plate and extending upward therefrom; at least a second bar member attached to said second plate and extending upward therefrom; a third plate, having at least one hole therethrough, attached to said first bar member and being supported by said first bar member at a fixed distance above said first plate; a fourth plate, having at least one hole therethrough, attached to said second bar member and being supported by said second bar member a fixed distance above said second plate; a rope attached at either end to either end of said base support, said rope extending through the holes in said third and fourth plates and being stretched taut.