WO2008069521A1

WO2008069521A1 - The playing apparatus which it walks

Info

Publication number: WO2008069521A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/006206
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eun Young Park; Gyeng Sug Han; Eun Soon Kim
Original assignee: Eun Young Park; Gyeng Sug Han; Eun Soon Kim
Priority date: 2006-12-04
Filing date: 2007-12-03
Publication date: 2008-06-12
Also published as: KR100765417B1

Abstract

A stilt, on which the wearer can walk, play, and balance. The stilt includes upper and lower poles, which are detachable from each other, the lower pole having a foothold; a globe connector having a connecting bar in the upper portion thereof, the connecting bar detachably coupling with the lower pole, and a globe in the lower portion thereof; a hollow holder, which surrounds an outer circumference of the globe of the globe connector, so that the globe is freely rotatable inside the hollow holder; and a spring interposed between the lower pole and the hollow holder to provide elastic force to the lower pole when it is oblique relative to a treading surface. The stilt can move as smoothly as a human joint using the globe connector and the spring, and can provide body balancing ability and pleasure to the user.

Description

THE PLAYING APPARATUS WHICH IT WALKS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an apparatus with which a wearer walks, and more particularly, to a pair of stilts, each having a foothold, on which the wearer can place a foot, and a knob, which the wearer can hold, so that the wearer can walk, play and balance on the stilts. Background Art

[2] As is well known, children and teenagers addictively play computer games at home, owing to the development of the Internet. Accordingly, their legs have decreased muscular strength and balancing ability, and thus the children or teenagers easily fall down.

[3] Conventional playing devices, which are propelled by legs, include inline skates, roller skates, bicycles and the like. As a playing device in the form of a stick, there is Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application No. Sho 51-071749 (published June 5, 1976). This document discloses a simple type of stilt, which includes a bamboo stick and a foothold fixed to the bamboo stick. Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0290252 discloses a walking machine having a long stick, which is a leisure device on which a user places his/her feet in order to walk or run. A user using this device can enjoy energetic exercise due to the enlarged stride, and can also feel pleasure through rising and descending.

[4] A conventional playing device of this kind has a stick and a foothold. However, the stick, which fixedly holds the foothold so that a user can place the foot on the foothold, has a very simple function. The user can change his/her position only if he/she moves from a treading surface using the stick.

[5] The conventional playing device does not move smoothly or naturally, but with a number of constraints. The conventional device also has limited effectiveness in improving the balancing ability of the user. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[6] The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems with the prior art, and therefore the present invention provides a stilt, which can move as smoothly as a human joint using a globe connector and a spring, and also can be used as a playing device that provides body balancing ability and pleasure to a user. Technical Solution

[7] According to an aspect of the invention, the stilt includes upper and lower poles, which are detachable from each other, the lower pole having a foothold; a globe connector having a connecting bar in the upper portion thereof, the connecting bar detachably coupling with the lower pole, and a globe in the lower portion thereof; a hollow holder, which surrounds an outer circumference of the globe of the globe connector, so that the globe is freely rotatable inside the hollow holder; and a spring interposed between the lower pole and the hollow holder to provide elastic force to the lower pole when it is at an oblique angle relative to a treading surface.

[8] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the foothold may be coupled with the lower pole by a hinge pin so as to be vertically movable.

[9] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the holder may include upper and lower holder parts, the upper and lower holder parts coupled with each other by a fastener in order to maintain the globe of the globe connector therein.

[10] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the lower holder may be a rubber member, which provides frictional force relative to the treading surface, thereby preventing slipping on the treading surface.

[11] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the lower pole may include a fixing member, which maintains contact with an ankle of a wearer.

Advantageous Effects

[12] As set forth above, a user can wear a pair of the stilts of the invention on both feet to walk or run on the stilts for pleasure. The stilts of the invention can also be used as a playing device that helps the user develop body balancing ability, which is beneficial to health.

[13] Furthermore, the stilts of the invention can move as smoothly as a human joint based on the free rotation of the globe connector and the holder and the elastic force of the spring, so that the user can smoothly walk or run on the stilts, and thus enjoy safe exercise.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[14] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of stilts according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[15] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the stilt shown in FIG. 1;

[16] FIG. 3 is a view explaining the movement of the stilt of the invention; and

[17] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the usage of the stilt of the invention.

[18] <Major Reference Numerals of Drawings>

[19] 10: upper pole 12: knob

[20] 20: lower pole 22: foothold

[21] 24: hinge pin 30: globe connector

[22] 32: connecting bar 34: globe [23] 40: holder 42: upper holder part

[24] 44: lower holder part 46: fastener

[25] 50: spring 60: fixing member

[26] 62: Velcro tape

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[27] Hereinafter the stilts of the present invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an exemplary embodiment thereof is shown.

[28] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of stilts according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the stilt shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a view explaining the movement of the stilt of the invention, and FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the usage of the stilt of the invention.

[29] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a stilt 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention includes, beginning from the top end thereof, an upper pole 12 having a knob 12, a lower pole 20 coupled with one end of the upper pole 12, a globe connector 30 coupled with one end of the lower pole 20, a holder 40 disposed at a lower end side of the globe connector 30 to act as a backing block, and a spring 50.

[30] Here, the upper pole 10 may be made of a plastic or metal material having a predetermined strength, and may have various shapes, such as substantially circular, elliptical and triangular shapes. The upper pole 10 is configured as a hollow pipe in order to reduce the weight thereof, and the knob 12 is coupled to the top of the upper pole 10.

[31] The lower pole 20 is coupled to the lower end of the upper pole 10, so that the length can be increased. Threads, in the form of protrusions or grooves, may be formed in the lower end of the upper pole 10, into which the lower pole 20 can be inserted and fitted, so that the upper and lower poles 10 and 20 can be simply coupled to and separated from each other via a threaded engagement.

[32] The lower pole 20 is also configured as a hollow pipe, and the foothold 22, on which a user can put a foot, is provided to the lower pole 20. The foothold 22 has a planar surface in the form of a substantially elliptical or triangular shape or a shape similar to that of the foot, so that the foot can be securely placed on the planar surface of the foothold 22. The foothold 22 is also coupled to the lower plate 20 by a hinge pin 24, so that the foothold 22 can be folded upward or unfolded downward relative to the side face of the lower pole 20.

[33] The lower end of the lower pole 20 is provided with a hollow area and vertical thread grooves, so that the globe connector 30 can be coupled thereto.

[34] The globe connector 30 is connected, at the upper portion thereof, to the lower pole 20, and at the lower portion thereof, to the holder 40, which will be described later. The globe connector 30 includes a connecting bar 32 and a globe 34, which are made of a plastic or metal material having a specific strength.

[35] The connecting bar 32 is substantially pipe-shaped, and is provided with threads in the outer circumference thereof, so that it can be inserted and fitted into the lower end of the lower pole 20. The globe 34 is integrated with the connecting bar 32, and has a spherical shape.

[36] The holder 40 is configured as a hollow body to surround the outer circumference of the globe 34 of the globe connector 30, and includes an upper holder part 42, a lower holder part 44 and a fastener 46, so that the globe 34 is securely housed in the hollow body and does not escape therefrom. That is, the globe connector 30 is coupled to the holder 40 by seating the globe 34 of the globe connector 34 in the lower holder 44 and fastening the upper holder 42 and the fastener 46, including elongated bolts, to the lower holder 44.

[37] Here, since the lower holder 44 contacts a treading surface, such as the ground or a floor, the lower holder 44 is preferably made of rubber, which can provide frictional force to the lower holder 44, thereby preventing the holder 440 from slipping on the treading surface, and also absorb vibrations well.

[38] Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the spring 50 is provided between the lower pole 20 and the holder 40, and is placed on the outer circumference of the connecting bar 32 of the globe connector 30, thereby providing elastic force to the lower pole 30 when it is oblique relative to the treading surface.

[39] Another embodiment of the slit of the invention is shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, fixing members 60, which can be embodied with various forms, are provided in predetermined places on the lower pole 20 in order to hold an ankle or a leg of the user when the foot is placed on the foothold 22. Each of the fixing members 60 includes a strip-shaped piece of Velcro tape 62, which has a loop surface and a hook surface, so that the user can adjust the length of the fixing member 60 to use it. The fixing member 60 is not limited to Velcro tape 62, but can be implemented in various forms, such as a fastening buckle and a highly elastic band.

[40] The fixing members 60 can be provided in a plural number, so that the stilt of the invention can be more securely fixed to the ankle or the leg of the user.

[41] Now, the operation of the stilts of the invention, which are configured as above, will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[42] Two stilts of the invention make a pair. In each stilt of the pair of stilts, after the globe 34 of the globe connector 30 is seated in the lower holder 44, the upper holder 42 and the faster 46, including elongated bolts, are fastened to the lower holder 44. Then, the spring 50, having a predetermined elasticity, is fitted around the outer cir- cumference of the connecting bar 32 of the globe connector 30, and the lower pole 20 and the globe connector 30 are fastened to each other, so that the elastic force of the spring 50 can be applied to the lower pole 20. When the user walks or runs with both feet placed on respective footholds 20, which are coupled to respective lower poles 20 of the pair of stilts, the globe connector 30 freely rotates in a position in which it is inserted into the holder 40, which supports the treading surface.

[43] When the holder 40 contacts the treading surface in response to the user, who is walking or running, the lower pole 20 becomes oblique in one direction, and thus the lower pole 20 and the holder 40, connected by the globe connector 30, are staggered relative to each other at a predetermined angle.

[44] When the lower pole 20 and the holder 40 are staggered at the predetermined angle, the spring 50, mounted between the lower pole 20 and the holder 40, applies elastic force to the connecting bar 32 so that it does not move in a slanting direction. Accordingly, the spring 50 can act as a buffer in order to protect the body part (particularly, the leg) of the user and also to enhance the elasticity of the stilt, thereby satisfying the user more. Furthermore, when the stilt is raised from the treading surface for the next step, the spring 50 is restored to its original position, thereby allowing natural movement, as in the human joint.

[45] In another point of view, as the lower pole 20 and the holder 40 are staggered relative to each other, it becomes more difficult to balance on the stilts, and thus more advanced balancing can be mastered.

[46] As shown in FIG. 4, the upper pole 10 is detached from the lower pole 10, and the fixing members 60, attached to the lower pole 20, are closely and securely bound around an ankle or a leg of the user using the pieces of Velcro tape 62, so that the user can walk on the stilts with the feet and legs stably fixed to the lower pole 20 but with the hands freely movable.

[47] Furthermore, the fixing members 60 are provided with common automatic releasing devices (not shown) or the like, such as those fitted to skis or ski boots, in order to keep the user safe when he/she accidentally falls down.

[48] While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments and the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can substitute, change or modify the embodiments in various forms without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that the detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings are illustrative only, and that the present invention is in no event to be limited thereto.

Claims

[1] A stilt, comprising: upper and lower poles detachable from each other, the lower pole having a foothold; a globe connector having a connecting bar in an upper portion thereof, the connecting bar detachably coupling with the lower pole, and a globe in a lower portion thereof; a hollow holder, which surrounds an outer circumference of the globe of the globe connector, so that the globe is freely rotatable inside the hollow holder; and a spring interposed between the lower pole and the hollow holder to provide an elastic force to the lower pole when it is at an oblique angle relative to a treading surface. [2] The slit according to claim 1, wherein the foothold is coupled with the lower pole by a hinge pin so as to be vertically movable. [3] The slit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holder comprises upper and lower holder parts, the upper and lower holder parts coupled with each other by a fastener in order to maintain the globe of the globe connector therein. [4] The slit according to claim 3, wherein the lower holder comprises a rubber member, which provides frictional force relative to the treading surface, thereby preventing slipping on the treading surface. [5] The slit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower pole comprises a fixing member, which maintains contact with an ankle of a wearer.