US3837116A

US3837116A - Hoop toy

Info

Publication number: US3837116A
Application number: US00276370A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Sun
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-10-09
Filing date: 1972-07-31
Publication date: 1974-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-24

Abstract

A hoop toy comprising an annular member of circular shape made of a flexible resilient material, said annular member having generally parallel side walls and a wall connecting wall spanning the side walls at their inner edge defining a radially outwardly facing channel, a clip connecting the terminal ends of the body in end-to-end relation, said clip conforming generally to the contour of the outer faces of the side walls and connecting wall of said annular member and means for securing said clip to said annular member to lock the ends thereof in end-to-end relation.

Description

United States Patent 1 Sun [ HOOP TOY [76] Inventor: George C. Sun, 801 Cooper Landing Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ. 08034 [22] Filed:- July 31, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 276,370

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 79,434, Oct. 9, 1970,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 46/220 [51] Int. Cl A63h ll/00 [58] Field of Search 46/220; 24/265 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 943,976 12/1909 Kornreich 24/265 1,116,786 11/1914 Beadles 46/220 X Myslinski 46/220 1 Sept. 24, 1974 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Attorney, Agent, or FirmI-lowson and Howson; Eugene E. Renz, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A hoop toy comprising an annular member of circular shape made of a flexible resilient material, said annular member having generally parallel side walls and a wall connecting wall spanning the side walls at their inner edge defining a radially outwardly facing channel, a clip connecting the terminal ends of the body in end-to-end relation, said clip conforming generally to the contour of the outer faces of the side walls and connecting wall of said annular member and means for securing said clip to said annular member to lock the ends thereof in end-to-end relation.

1 Claim, 11 Drawing Figures SHEET 2 OF 2 FIGS.

HOOP TOY This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 79,434, filed Oct. 10, 1970 now abandoned.

This invention relates to toys and more particularly to a hoop-type toy designed for rolling or pushing along a surface by means of a stick.

There are many toys and recreational items which provide recreational as well as physical activity for children. The present invention is designed to provide such a toy at a relatively modest cost. The toy of the present invention also has a variety of uses. The toy is of durable construction and is extremely economical to manufacture.

The toy of the present invention is in the form of a circular hoop having an out-turned U-shaped channel which is adapted to be engaged by a control stick to manipulate the device and actuate it over a surface such as the ground. Thus, in its primary function, the child simply grips the control stick in one hand and positions it inside the channel and then urges the hoop forwardly along the ground. Another way of using the hoop is to secure a plurality of the control sticks in endto-end relation so that they form a rail or a trackway and then suspend the rail between two persons. The object of the game would then be to either balance the hoop on the rail or to make the hoop ride the rail from one end to the other without falling off.

These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. I is a view showing the hoop in one of its functions;

'FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section of the-terminal ends of the connecting clip;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clip or bracket for connecting the terminal ends of the hoop;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views showing the steps for assembling the clip to hold the terminal ends of the hoop in confronting relation;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view partly in section similar to FIG. 2 ofa modified form of hoop in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the control stick for actuating the hoop;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines l0l0 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view showing two control sticks joined together in end-to-end relation.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a hoop-type toy generally designated by the numeral 10 which is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The hoop toy comprises an annular body member 12 of generally U-shaped cross section having generally

parallel side walls

14 and 16 and a connecting wall 18 bridging the side walls at the inner terminal circumferential edge so that the channel 20 defined faces radially outwardly. The hoop is preferably made of a resilient material which may be extruded, for example high density polyethylene, polypropelene, polyvinyl chloride or a high-impact polystyrene.

The hoop is joined at its terminal ends as illustrated in FIG. 2 by means ofa clip or bracket 22. The clip 22, which is preferably made of metal, comprises a body portion 24 of generally U-shaped cross section terminating in a pair of inwardly directed

flanges

26 and 28. The flanges as illustrated have locking means in the form of angularly disposed pairs of teeth at opposite axial ends of the flanges as at 30a,30b and 32a,32b. In

the assembled relation, the

flanges

26 and 28 overlie the top edge of the

side walls

14 and 16 of the hoop and a portion of the inner wall with the teeth firmly imbedded in the inside side wall in the manner shown in FIG. 3. The upper edge of the

side walls

14 and 16 adjacent the terminal ends is recessed as at 16a and 18a to a depth approximately the thickness of the

clip flanges

26 and 28 so that the clip does not protrude outwardly beyond the trace of the upper edge of the side walls when assembled.

Rivets

34 and 36 which engage through aligned

openings

38 and 40 in the clip and terminal end portions of the hoop may be provided to more firmly secure the terminal ends of the hoop in confronting end-to-end relation.

The hoop-type toy described above is comparatively economical to manufacture and simple to assemble. For example, the hoop body 12 is preferably made of an extrudable material and is extruded in the form of an elongated rod. The rod then is cut to suitable lengths as determined by the finished size or diameter of the hoop. Thereafter, the rod section is bent to a circular shape and the clip loosely applied over the terminal ends. The assembly is then positioned over a fixture or die 41 having an arcuate saddle 42 to receive the clip and a ram 44 bends the flanges over the edge of the side walls and causes the teeth to embed in the inside face of the side walls in the manner shown.

The hoop toy described above is preferably of an outside diameter between about 22 inches to 32 inches and the wall thickness W of the annular member is preferably between one-sixteenth inch to about seven sixty-fourths inch. Additionally, the height H extending from the top edge of the side walls to the bottom edge of the axial wall 128 is preferably between one-half inch to about three-fourths inch, and the width W of the body portion is preferably between about seveneighths inch to about 1 inch. It has been found that when the hoop toy is made in this configuration, and is made of a resilient material such as high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride or highimpact polystyrene, it lends itself to formation into a circular configuration after extrusion in a rod-like form. Further it has been found that if the annular member of the hoop toy is made ofa configuration outside of the above-recited parameters, there are certain problems in the formation of thecircular shape and assembly of the clip to fasten securely the terminal ends of the annular member.

There is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 a modified form of the hoop toy constructed in accordance with the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the hoop-type toy consists of an annular body portion 116, the terminal ends of which are supported in confronting relation by means of a clip 118. The clip in the present instance is of generally U- shaped configuration conforming to the outer contour of the annular member and is secured thereto by means of rivets and 122. The body portion is of generally U-shaped configuration having

radial side walls

124 and 126 and an axial wall 128. As best illustrated in H6. 8, the side walls are enlarged at the outer edge portions to provide a circumferentially extending shoulder as at 130. Additionally, the outer surface of the annular body 116 is provided with a series of circumferentially extending ribs 132 which, in the present instance, are spaced radially down the side walls and terminate at the juncture of the side wall and axial wall 128. These ribs serve as a friction means when the hoop is rolled along a surface and tends to sway to oneside of a plane which is vertical to the ground or the other. Additionally, note that the clip sides terminate adjacent the shoulder 130 and merge in a continuous line with the enlarged circumferentially extending terminal edges of the annular member.

The hoop toy described above as in the embodiment described above is preferably of an outside diameter between about 22 inches to 32 inches and the wall thickness W of the annular member is preferably between one-sixteenth inch to about seven sixty-fourths inch. Additionally, the height H extending from the top edge of the side walls to the bottom edge of the axial wall 128 is preferably between one-half inch to about three-fourths inch and the width W of the body portion is preferably between about seven-eighths inch to about 1 inch. It has been found that when the hoop toy is made in this configuration, and is made ofa resilient material such as high-density polyethylene, polypropelene, polyvinylchloride or high-impact polystyrene, that it lends itself to formation into a circular configuration after extrusion in a rod-like form.

This hoop-type toy is made in generally the same manner as the method described above. Thus, the annular member initially is of rod-like form and is formed by means, for example of an extrusion, which extrusion is cut into appropriate predetermined lengths to form rod sections. The rod sections are then preformed to a circular shape and then the clip, having preformed holes therein, is assembled by means of the

rivets

120 and 122.

The hoop-type toy has many entertaining, interesting and beneficial uses. For example, the primary use is as an exercise device wherein the control stick 50 is positioned downwardly at an angle relative to the ground and in engagement in the U-shaped groove. In this position the user simply moves in a forwardly direction whereby the continued engagement of the stick in the groove stabilizes the hoop and effects rolling action of the hoop relative to the stick. This provides good exercise for the user and requires a degree of dexterity in maintaining the hoop in a continuous rolling action. Another useful utilization of the hoop consists in telescoping or connecting a plurality of the control sticks 50 togetherto form a trackway or rail which then is suspended between two persons. To this end, the X- shaped ribs extending interiorly of the control stick may be terminated short of the outer terminal ends to form pockets to receive a plug insert 52 whereby the sticks may be joined in end-to-end relation. It is noted that the control stick may have other configurations facilitating connection thereof in end-to-end relation. The hoop is then positioned on the rail by one person and the balance maintained to roll the hoop to the other person.

I claim:

1. A hoop toy comprising an elongated member made of a flexible resilient material having opposite terminal ends and formed to a circular configuration. said elongated member having generally parallel radially outwardly directed side walls and an axial connecting wall spanning the side walls at their inner edge defining a radially outwardly facing channel, a clip connecting the terminal ends of the body in end-to-end relation, said clip conforming generally to the contour of said elongated member and including a pair of flanges overlying the top edge of the side walls and having pairs of angularly disposed teeth members at opposite ends of each flange engaging the inner face of the side walls to lock the ends of said annular member in end-to-end relation whereby said flanges are spaced apart approximately the width of said outwardly-facing channel, the upper edge of the side walls adajcent the terminal ends being recessed to a depth approximately the thickness of the portion of the clip overlying the upper edge of the side walls and said flanges of the clip engaging the inner face of the side walls so that the outwardly directed U-shaped channel is continuous for the entire circumference of the hoop toy, said elongated member being preferably of an outside diameter of between about 22 to 32 inches, the thickness of said side walls being between one-sixteenth inch to about seven sixtyfourths inch, the height extending from the top edge of the side walls to the bottom edge of the connecting wall being preferably between one-half inch to about threefourths inch, and the width of the elongated member being preferably between about seven-eighths inch to about 1 inch.

Claims

1. A hoop toy comprising an elongated member made of a flexible resilient material having opposite terminal ends and formed to a circular configuration, said elongated member having generally parallel radially outwardly directed side walls and an axial connecting wall spanning the side walls at their inner edge defining a radially outwardly facing channel, a clip connecting the terminal ends of the body in end-to-end relation, said clip conforming generally to the contour of said elongated member and including a pair of flanges overlying the top edge of the side walls and having pairs of angularly disposed teeth members at opposite ends of each flange engaging the inner face of the side walls to lock the ends of said annular member in end-to-end relation whereby said flanges aRe spaced apart approximately the width of said outwardly-facing channel, the upper edge of the side walls adajcent the terminal ends being recessed to a depth approximately the thickness of the portion of the clip overlying the upper edge of the side walls and said flanges of the clip engaging the inner face of the side walls so that the outwardly directed U-shaped channel is continuous for the entire circumference of the hoop toy, said elongated member being preferably of an outside diameter of between about 22 to 32 inches, the thickness of said side walls being between onesixteenth inch to about seven sixty-fourths inch, the height extending from the top edge of the side walls to the bottom edge of the connecting wall being preferably between one-half inch to about three-fourths inch, and the width of the elongated member being preferably between about seven-eighths inch to about 1 inch.