Abstract:
Disclosed is a hula-hooping device having no hoop. The hula-hooping device includes a case having a circular inner space, and a movable-object movably accommodated inside of the inner space. The movable-object performs a circular motion inside the inner space of the case by means of centrifugal force as the case performs a circular motion. A hanger is combined with the case. The case is comprised of a circular-shaped lower case, an upper case facing and combined with the lower case to form the inner space, and a connection means for combining the upper and lower cased into one unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a hula-hooping device, more particularly to a hula-hooping device, which a user can wear on his or her waist or the like to perform hula-hoop exercise. 
         [0003]    2. Background of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A conventional ring-type hula-hoop has a bulky size. Thus, it has a limitation in using at narrow and confined spaces and is not convenient in carrying and storage. In addition, it takes a lot of time for a beginner to get used to the conventional ring-type hula-hoop. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a hula-hooping device, which can be easily used in a small confined space by anyone and has a small size to thereby enable easy-carrying and storage in a narrow space. 
         [0006]    In order to accomplish the above objects, according to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a hula-hooping device having no ring. The device comprises: a case having a circular inner space, a movable-object movably accommodated inside of the inner space, and a hanger combined with the case. The movable-object performs a circular motion inside the inner space of the case by means of centrifugal force as the case performs a circular motion. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment, the case includes a circular-shaped lower case, an upper case facing and combined with the lower case to form the inner space, and a connection means for combining the upper and lower cases into one unit. It can be used a female latching hole and a male protrusion, male and female threads, a welding process, a fusion bonding or application of adhesives for the connection means. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the lower case is provided with a first thread portion protruded upwardly from the center thereof, the upper case is provided with a connection hole formed at the center thereof to be combined with the first thread portion, and the connection means includes a thread member having a second thread portion to be combined with the first thread portion through the connection hole from the upper case. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the movable-object is a spherical ball or a spherical ball coated with rubber or synthetic resin at the surface thereof, the spherical ball being formed of a weight body such as metals of lead, steel and the like, stones, ceramics, compressed papers or the like. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, the hanger has an insert groove. In addition, the hanger is provided at both sides of the lower end thereof with a latch plate round-bent towards the case such that the hanger is prevented from being released from the belt and contacts smoothly and resiliently a user&#39;s body while wobbling. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the movable-object includes a spherical ball, liquid or synthetic resin particles. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, a plurality of protrusions is formed at certain intervals along the inner circumferential face of a projection part of the case such that the movable-object contacts the protrusions while circulating to cause vibration to the case. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, the hula-hooping device may further comprise a belt for wearing the device on a user&#39;s body. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a hula-hooping device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the hula-hooping device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing a liquid movable-object inside of the case; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an exploded sectional view of the hula-hooping device shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are sectional and plan views when in circular motion; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  shows a user wearing the hula-hooping device on his or her waist belt; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view showing a modification to the hula-hooping device of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 9 to 11  are exploded sectional views showing modifications to the case of device; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  shows a user wearing the hula-hooping device on his or her leg; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a plan view showing a modification to the hula-hooping device of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0025]    Hereafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1 to 7 , a hula-hooping device according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The hula-hooping device includes a lower case  12  and an upper case  11 , which have the form of a disk. The lower case  12  is provided with a nut pipe  12   a  protruded at the center thereof. The upper case  11  is provided with a connection hole  11   a  formed at the center thereof. 
         [0027]    The nut pipe  12   a  of the lower case  12  passes through and is then coupled with the connection hole  11   a  of the upper case. The upper and lower cases  11  and  12  are coupled to each other to form a disk-like case  10  having a circular space formed thereinside. Here, the circular space means a space inside of which a movable-object such as a ball  20  received inside of the case  10  can perform a circular motion. For example, it may include a circular-shaped space where the inner face has an equal distance from the center, an oval-shaped space, a hook-like annular space, a spherical space, a disk-shaped space, and an egg-shaped space. The connection hole  11   a  is covered with a cover  13  and combined with it. The cover  13  has a bolt  13   a  protruded at its center. The bolt  13   a  is connected to the nut pipe  12   a  passing through the connection hole  11   a . Here, the nut pipe  12   a  is referred to as a first thread portion and the bolt  13   a  as a second thread portion. The size of the case  10  may be made into small, medium and large ones for children, and small, medium and large ones for adults. 
         [0028]    The case  10  is provided at one side thereof with a U-shaped hanger  14 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the hanger  14  is configured to be hung on the belt  30 . Formed at both sides of the hunger  14  is a latch plate  14   a  round-bent towards the case  10 . The latch plate  14   a  prevents the device from being released from the belt  30  and functions to allow the device to smoothly and resiliently contact the user&#39;s body while wobbling to the left and right when he or she exercises. A buffer member  15  is attached to the inner side of the hanger  14  to provide for a smooth contact with the user&#39;s body and thus improve its wearing comfort. 
         [0029]    A weight ball  20  is accommodated inside of the case  10 . The weight ball  20  is a movable-object that carries out a circular motion inside of the case  10  as the case  10  moves. Preferably, the weight ball  20  is formed of a metallic material such as steel or lead. The weight ball may be made of other materials such as stone, highly-compressed paper, compressed synthetic resin or the like. The outer surface of the ball  20  may be coated with soft rubber or synthetic resin to reduce noises when the ball  20  circulates. 
         [0030]    In the drawings, unexplained reference  16  denotes a packing interposed between the upper and lower cases  11  and  12 . Unexplained reference  31  denotes a synthetic resin buckle combined to the belt  30 . 
         [0031]    The hula-hooping device having the above construction is designed such that a user can wear it on the waist by way of the belt  30 . If the user wears the hula-hooping device on his or her waist and then moves his or her waist in a circle motion, the weight ball  20  received in the case  10  turns around along the inner circumference of the case  10  by means of centrifugal force. As the waist moves fast, the ball speed becomes fast, so that the centrifugal force becomes stronger, thereby producing an exercise effect of doing a hula-hoop. 
         [0032]    On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in addition to the weight ball  20 , a liquid  21  such as water, or particles  22  such as synthetic resin particles may be injected so as to turn around, along with the weight ball  20 . At this time, movable-objects such as the liquid  21  or the particles  22  circulates with the ball  20  to thereby increase rotational resistance. The weight ball  20  heavier than the liquid  21  or the particles  22  tends to move faster, passing the liquid or particles, which results in a dual-resistance, thereby generating a different exercise effect. 
         [0033]    In addition, a user can wear multiple hula-hooping devices, i.e., one to four or more, depending upon his or her physical stamina. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a plurality of protrusions  10   a  is formed in the inner circumference of the case  10 . These protrusions  10   a  contact with the ball  20 , when it moves, to thereby produce vibration. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , instead of the protrusions  10   a  formed inside of the upper and lower cases  11  and  12 , protrusions  16   c  may be formed in the inner circumferential face of a projection part  16   b  of the packing  16   a  in such a way to protrude towards the inner space of the case  10 . Remaining details are the same as in  FIGS. 1 to 7 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the lower case  12  is provided with a female latching hole  12   b  formed along the edge thereof and the upper case  11  is provided with a male latching protrusion  11   b , or vice versa. These male and female latching elements are combined with each other to form the case  10 . In some cases, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the upper case  11  is provided with a male thread  11   c  formed in the outer surface thereof and the lower case  12  is provided with a female thread  12   c  formed in the inner surface thereof, or vice versa. These male and female threads can be coupled to each other to form the case  10 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the lower case  12  may be provided with a threaded protrusion  12   d  formed at the center thereof. The threaded protrusion  12   d  has a thread portion formed in the outer peripheral face thereof. Formed at the center of the upper case  11  is a nut portion  11   d  to be combined with the threaded protrusion  12   d  so as to form the case  10 . The threaded protrusion  12   d  and the nut portion  11   d  can be switched over with each other. 
         [0038]    Besides, the upper and lower cases may be combined with each other through various other connecter means. Furthermore, in case where the case is made of metallic materials, the upper and lower cases can be connected to each other through a welding process, or a fusion bonding, or application of adhesives to form a single body case. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , according to an embodiment of the invention, the hula-hooping device may be applied to a user&#39;s leg or thigh by using a shorter belt  30 , thereby facilitating exercises for the legs or lower torso of human body. Besides the leg, it can be used for other part of human body such as arm and the like. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , the case  10  may be formed into an oval shape, or in some cases, a spherical shape. 
         [0041]    As described above, according to the invention, the hula-hooping device can be used in a narrow confined space for hula-hoop exercise. 
         [0042]    In addition, the belt can be received into the case, thus providing a good portability. 
         [0043]    The hula-hooping device of the invention provides for a new type of hula-hoop exercise, which is totally different from the convenient ones. Further, due to the ball and protrusions inside of the case, vibration is generated to smoothly massage the user&#39;s waist area. 
         [0044]    While the present invention has been described with reference to several exemplary embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications and variations may occur to those skilled in the art, departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.