AU747468B2

AU747468B2 - Dual skipping ropes

Info

Publication number: AU747468B2
Application number: AU27728/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jacob Halemai; Michelle Halemai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-11-08
Filing date: 2000-04-13
Publication date: 2002-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-08
Also published as: AU2772800A

Description

2670B

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

ORIGINAL

Name Of Applicants: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: JACOB HALEMAI and MICHELLE

HALEMAI

JACOB HALEMAI and MICHELLE

HALEMAI

H.R. HODGKINSON CO.

Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys Level 3, 20 Alfred Street MILSONS POINT NSW 2061 DUAL SKIPPING ROPES Petty Patent Application No. 58347/99 dated 8 November 1999 (Petty Patent No. 715045 granted 13 January 2000) Invention Title: Divisional Application Details: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a dual skipping rope device used to imitate the skipping action or movement of a conventional skipping rope without the operating space requirements for use of a traditional skipping rope.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Many people would like to gain the cardiovascular benefits of skipping for extended periods of time. However, the average person does not have the coordination or skills required to skip over a rope for a period long enough or fast enough, to achieve cardiovascular benefits. Instead they frequently trip over the rope every few seconds, stop, start, and repeat this chain of events over and over. Not only this, but in an aerobics class environment only a limited number of people are able to fit into a room, as the use of traditional skip ropes takes up so much space.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION S "It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved skipping rope device which goes at least some way towards overcoming or at least minimizing the prior are problems or limitations outlined above, or for providing a clear alternative choice for consumers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a skipping rope device which is able to imitate the skipping action of a conventional skipping rope but without the disadvantages thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dual skipping device adapted for use simultaneously with one rope in each hand, with the two ropes not conjoined and adapted to be rotated in opposed relationship.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a skipping rope device which is relatively simple in construction and operation and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following descriptions and drawings..

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A conventional skipping rope comprises an elongate rope or cord having handles at either end, which is swung in a loop so that the holder or others jump over it, The skipping device according to the present invention comprises a rope or cord having a handle at one end and a counterpoise or counterweight at the opposite end, wherein said skipping device is adapted for use in pairs, one in each hand simultaneously, for rotation in opposed relationship.

••go In one form of the invention, the rope or cord is the equivalent of a doubled-up length of a conventional skipping rope or cord, i.e. effectively half the normal length of a conventional skipping rope cord. Preferably, the skipping device is provided with a rigid handle and wrist retaining loop or strap at its proximal end, as opposed to the counterweight at the distal end.

The user holds one rope in each hand (the ropes are not connected) and uses their hand, wrist, and forearm to rotate each rope, hence imitating the skipping action, skipping as fast as desired, having no worry of tripping, and using limited space.

In one from of the invention, the handles are fabricated from either a rigid or resilient material, each handle has an axially extending central bore hole passing through the entire length of each handle with a small bore hole at the top or anterior end of each handle and a large bore hole at the bottom or posterior end of each handle. A piece of rope, or the like, is then threaded through the bottom and out through the top, leaving a small section of the rope hanging out the bottom end. The longer section of rope hanging out the top end is then threaded through a flexible ball used as a weight, which has a hole through the center, then threaded back through the top of the handle, forming a loop, then out through bottom of the handle. The two loose ends are joined, leaving a double thickness of rope at the join, which then forms a smaller loop as a wrist fastener.

In another form of the invention, the rope can be a straight piece, rather that looped, and can have any form of weight at the end. If the rope is heavy enough it might not reqiuire any weight at all. Another form of the invention may not even need a handle.

The handles may be made of plastic, wood, metal or a combination of these, or any other durable and hard material.

.0.0 The rope may be made of any suitable material such as nylon, cotton, nylon/cotton mix, PVC, or the like.

In a further embodiment, the rope or cord may be attached to the anterior end of each handle by a rotatable swivel joint, universal joint, or the like, to assist the rotation of the rope or cord relative to the handle during use of the skipping device.

The ball or counterweight may be made of any material which is relatively flexible or soft, such as rubber, sponge, light hollow plastic, or any weight which will not harm or injure the user.

The wrist fastener can be an extension of the rope type material or can be a separate material attached to the invention such as Velcro, or any such suitable material.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show one non-limiting example of the invention.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of one of the pair of demi-skipping rope devices according to this invention; FIG. 2 shows the application of a pair of such demi-skipping rope devices being used by an exercising person.

DEATAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND V BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION :°oooo Referring to Fig. 1, it can be seen that the demi-skipping rope device comprises a rigid handle 1 having an axially extending bore hole passing throughout its entire length with a large bore 8 at its posterior end 14 and a smaller bore 7 at its anterior end 13.

The rope 2, in this embodiment comprised of a cotton/nylon mix, is threaded through the S• large bore 8 in the posterior end 14 of handle 1, then out through the small bore 7 at the anterior end 13 of handle 1. The rope 2 is then threaded thorough the holes 4 and 5 in a rubber ball 3, then back though the small bore 7 at the anterior end 13 of handle 1, forming a loop 6. The rope 2 then exits the handlel through the large bore 8 at the posterior end 14.

The free ends 10 are then joined using a steel rope clip 11. This forms the wrist fastener 9. The steel rope clip 11 is then pulled up into the handle to be hidden, as shown by the inside view of handle 12.

The wrist fastener 9 can be loosened or tightened simply by sliding the handle 1 along the rope 2 and back again, the wrist fastener 9 should always be firm when in use.

FIG. 2 shows a pair of demi-or half skipping ropes devices according to the invention in action. It can be seen from the view of the person 15 skipping, that the person holds the pair of demi-or half skipping rope devices 16 in their hands 18 and 19 and rotates them in opposed circular motion 17 next to each side of their body.

By the use of a pair demi-or half skipping rope devices of the type described herein, a person can get all the cardiovascular benefits of traditional skipping ropes without using up a great deal of space, without tripping over, and skipping as fast as they so desire.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the drawings, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications or alterations to the invention described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit of the present invention. All such changes modifications and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A skipping exercise device comprising an elongate flexible rope or cord having a handle at one or a proximal end thereof and a counterpoise or counterweight at the opposite or distal end thereof, wherein said skipping device is adapted for use in pairs simultaneously, with one in each hand of a user, for rotation in opposed relationship to simulate the skipping action of a conventional skipping rope.

2. A skipping exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the rope or cord .•.extending between the handle and the counterpoise or counterweight is looped to provide a doubled portion of the rope or cord, and wherein the rope or cord also extends from the opposite end of the handle and is looped to provide a wrist strap for the user.

S3. A skipping exercise device according o claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the handle if S. fabricated from a rigid or resilient material having an axially extending central bore hole passing from one end of the handle to the opposite end thereof, and wherein said rope or cord extends through said bore hole.

4. A skipping exercise according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is fabricated form metal, wood or plastics material, or a combination thereof.

A skipping exercise device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a portion of the flexible rope or cord constitutes the handle of the said device.

6. A skipping exercise device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible rope or cord is fabricated from natural or synthetic materials or from a combination thereof. EI*.

7. A skipping exercise device according to claim 6, wherein the flexible rope or cord is fabricated from cotton, nylon, PVC or from a combination of two or more thereof.

8. A skipping exercise device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a portion or portions of the flexible rope or cord constitute the counterpoise or counterweight of the said device.

9. A skipping exercise device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the ••counterpoise or counterweight comprises a ball of a relatively flexible soft material.

A skipping exercise device according to claim 9 wherein the counterpoise or counterweight is fabricated from sponge rubber or plastics material.

11. A skipping exercise device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the counterpoise or counterweight is fabricated from a resilient plastics material.

12. A skipping exercise device according to claim 1 further comprising an adjustable wrist strap associated with the handle.

13. A skipping exercise device according to any one of the preceding claims, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 13th day of April 2000. JACOB H 4 LAMEI and MICHELLE HALEMAI BY: i U c Patent Attorneys for th plicants H.R. HODGKINSON CO.