US3731425A - Hoop roller game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for the playing of a game is disclosed. The apparatus includes a ring member and an elongated rod for controlling the ring so that the ring may be rolled along the ground or other suitable surface. The end of the rod which engages the ring is formed in the shape of a notch for the purpose of providing an enclosure, open on one side, into which the ring may be fitted. The rod provides a means of controlling both the speed and direction of rotation of the ring member. A brake may be attached to the ring member for actuation by the rod when it is desired to stop the motion of the ring.

Description

tes iii t m1 1 3 L Streeter May 8, 1973 [54] HOOP ROLLER GAME APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever t l! L. t t 2 l S t [76] Inven or W: re Sree er, 12 H tree, Att0mey FrederiCk LBergert N.W., Washington, DC. 20037 [22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 193,859 Apparatus for the playing of a game is disclosed. The apparatus includes a ring member and an elongated rod for controlling the ring so that the ring may be {52] US. g] 46/220 rolled along Hm ground or other suitable Surface The (51 l Int. (,l. ..A63h 33/02 I 58 M {S h 46/220 end of the rod which engages the rmg is formed in the ie 0 care Shape of a notch for the p p of providing an em closure, open on one side, into which the ring may be [56] References Cited fitted. The rod provides a means of controlling both UNITED STATES PATENTS the speed and direction of rotation of the ring member. A brake may be attached to the ring member RCIldOTl for actuation the rod when is desired to top the 3,535,820 10/1970 Thompson ..46/22O motion of the ring 2,748,533 6/1956 Cipolla ..46/220 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures noor ROLLER GAR/m APPTUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION other suitable surface with the direction and speed of movement of the ring being subject to control by a rod operated by a person who is playing the game.

The game is what I choose to call Fast Wheel in that it includes a ring and means for controlling the speed of the ring so that the person playing the game may increase the speed to the limit of the players ability to keep up with the ring.

The apparatus of the present invention provides a game which is simple and interesting and capable of being played by small children as well as adults. Means is provided for controlling the speed and also for guiding the ring as well as for stopping the motion of the ring.

Various games may be played with the present apparatus, one general scheme being to keep the ring moving in an upright position by means of the rod and to vary the speed and direction of the ring as desired. The present apparatus lends itself to group play in which several players may engage in a contest to determine which player can keep his ring in an upright posi tion for the longest period of time. An alternative game would be the laying out of a course on the ground and a requirement that each player successfully navigate the course with his Fast Wheel.

Referring to the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an annular or ring member which may be employed in the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rod which may be employed in guiding and controlling the annular or ring member used in the present apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the end of the rod which engages the ring member; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ring member of FIG. I with a brake installed for actuation by the rod.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, apparatus is provided which includes a ring member 11, formed of metal or similar durable material and a rod 12. The rod 12 may also be formed'of metal or a similar material and is often of a more lightweight construction than the ring member 11 which is relatively heavier to promote stability. The rod 12 is provided with a handle 13 on one end and on the other or operating end, the rod is fashioned into a configuration which allows the rod 12 to engage a section of the ring member 11 while permitting the rod .12 to be easily engaged and disengaged from proximity to the ring 11. One configuration which allows such a relationship between the rod 12 and the ring I l is the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 with the operating end of the rod 12 being formed into a notch 14 having side portions 15 and lower portion 16 in the shape of a square having the upper side removed. The square-shaped notch 14 is preferably oriented in a plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the main length of rod 12, as shown in FIG. 2. The perpendicular orientation of the square-shaped notch 14 with respect to the main length of the rod 12 allows the person playing the game to engage the ring member 11 firmly with the rod 11 and thus maintain control of the ring member 11 and also to develop sufficient force in a horizontal direction to keep the ring member 1 l rolling smoothly along on the ground. The notch is so positioned around the particular section of the ring with which it is in contact at any given moment as to provide support for the sides and lower portion of the ring section while allowing the ring to pass freely through the notch as the ring is being rolled along.

The ring member 11 may be in the form of a hoop or cylinder with the outer periphery having a flat surface for contact with the ground or other horizontal surface on which the ring member is rolled. Alternatively, the outer periphery may have a rounded or convex surface with respect to the ground to provide a ring member I l which is more difficult to control and maintain in an upright position. The width of the ring member I1 is preferably sufficiently narrow that the ring will not remain in an upright position as it moves across a horizontal surface unless it is controlled by an outside force such as the rod 12 operated by a person playing the game. The outer surface and the width of the ring may be varied, depending upon the degree of difficulty which is desired to be incorporated into the game. Also the size of the notch 14 in the rod 12 into which a section of the ring 11 fits may be varied, with the larger notch enclosure in general providing game apparatus which is more difficult to control.

In operation, the ring member 11 is caused to begin rolling by manually positioning the ring member 11 in an upright position on the ground or other horizontal surface and bringing the notch 14 of the rod 12 into engagement with the ring 1 1 at the rear portion of the ring 11 so that the notch 14 fits around the section of the ring with which it is in engagement and provides support for the sides and lower portion of the ring section which is in contact with the notch 14 at any particular time as the ring member 11 rotates. By directing the movement of the rod 12 forward in a direction parallel to the ground, the ring member 11 will begin to roll along the ground and the speed and direction of movement of the ring member 1 1 may be controlled by guiding the ring member 11 with the rod 12.

In order to stop the forward motion of the ring member 11, a brake 17 may be attached to the ring member 11 as shown in FIG. 4 for actuation by the rod 12. The brake 17 includes a sleeve portion 18 which is attached to the ring and which has a sufficiently large diameter that the ring may easily pass through the sleeve as the ring rotates. The brake 117 also includes a tail portion H which extends behind the ring 11. The sleeve 18 and the tail portion 19 may be formed of metal or other durable material. Since the ring member 11 passes easily through the sleeve 18 of the brake 17 as the ring member 1 1 rotates, the brake 17 will tend to slide down the ring and to remain in close contact with the ground as the ring is rolled along. When it is desired to stop the forward movement of the ring member 11, the rod 12 is moved downwardly along the circumference of the ring 11 by the person operating the ring 11 until the lower portion 16 of the notch 14 is in engagement with the brake 17. Further depressing the rod 12 results in the brake 17 being compressed between the ground and the notch 14 of the rod 12 so that forward motion of the brake 17 ceases and, as the brake 17 is attached to the ring member 11, the ring member 11 also ceases its forward motion. I

As an example of the dimensions and materials which may be employed in the game apparatus of the present invention, a ring member was formed of a strip of cast iron having a thickness of if; inch and a width of A inch with the strip being formed into a ring having a diameter of about 8 inches. The rod employed was formed of /1 inch diameter copper wire, the rod having a length of about 2 feet with the square shaped notch being approximately 2 inches on each side. The ring member and rod of the previously mentioned dimensions provide game apparatus capable of being controlled by children of the age of about 8 years and older. To allow the game to be played by younger children, the width of the ring member may be increased, for example, to provide a ring having greater stability in an upright position.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the subject apparatus may be employed to provide a variety of interesting and enjoyable games requiring varying degrees of skill and coordination.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

It is claimed:

1. Game apparatus comprising:

a. a ring member,

b. an elongated rod having one end portion adapted to engage the ring member for imparting rotary motion to the ring member on a substantially horizontal surface, the end portion having a notch into which a section of the ring member fits for support of both sides and the lower portion of the section of the ring member while allowing the ring member to pass freely through the notch as the ring member is being rotated, and

c. a brake member slidably attached to the ring member, said brake member including a sleeve portion attached to the ring member and having a sufficiently large diameter that the ring member may easily pass through the sleeve as the ring member rotates, and a tail portion attached to the sleeve, the brake member serving to stop the rotary motion of the ring member when the brake member is compressed between the notch and the surface on which the ring member rotates.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the notch into which a section of the ring member fits comprises a square-shaped enclosure having one side removed, the notch lying in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the main length of the rod.

Claims (2)

1. Game apparatus comprising: a. a ring member, b. an elongated rod having one end portion adapted to engage the ring member for imparting rotary motion to the ring member on a substantially horizontal surface, the end portion having a notch into which a section of the ring member fits for support of both sides and the lower portion of the section of the ring member while allowing the ring member to pass freely through the notch as the ring member is being rotated, and c. a brake member slidably attached to the ring member, said brake member including a sleeve portion attached to the ring member and having a sufficiently large diameter that the ring member may easily pass through the sleeve as the ring member rotates, and a tail portion attached to the sleeve, the brake member serving to stop the rotary motion of the ring member when the brake member is compressed between the notch and the surface on which the ring member rotates.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the notch into which a section of the ring member fits comprises a square-shaped enclosure having one side removed, the notch lying in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the main length of the rod.

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