Abstract:
The present invention is a jump rope having a pair of opposing handles connected to a rope portion which extends there between. The rope portion has a plurality of lights which flash and change color intermittently during use. At least one of the handles has a processor and memory which are connected to a speaker and a microphone for recording, playing and amplifying music or sounds.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/638,570 filed Apr. 26, 2012. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a jump rope. More specifically, and without limitation, this invention relates to a jump rope having light and music capabilities. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    Jump ropes are known in the art. Conventional jump ropes consist of a rope portion strung between a pair of handles connected at each end. In use, the user holds the handles as they swing the rope portion around the user&#39;s body. With each iteration, as the rope portion nears the user&#39;s feet, the user jumps to keep the rope portion swinging around the user&#39;s body. 
         [0004]    While conventional jump ropes serve as an effective form of exercise and entertainment, especially for younger children, there are deficiencies in the art. Namely, with the adoption of electronics into children&#39;s toys, conventional jump ropes now appear bland and unappealing to many children. In addition, conventional jump ropes are not interactive and therefore they are less engaging than they could be. 
         [0005]    Thus, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a jump rope with lights. 
         [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a jump rope that has musical capabilities. 
         [0007]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a jump rope that is entertaining and fun to use. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a jump rope that includes electronics. 
         [0009]    These and other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and the claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention is a jump rope having a pair of opposing handles connected to a rope portion which extends there between. The rope portion has a plurality of lights which flash and change color intermittently during use. At least one of the handles has a processor and memory which are connected to a speaker and a microphone for recording, playing and amplifying music or sounds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of an interactive jump rope. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    With reference to the drawings, a jump rope  10  includes a first handle  12  connected to a second handle  14  by a rope portion  16  which extends therebetween. Contained within one of the handles  12  is a processing module  18 . Alternatively, the processing module  18  is contained in a separate device and is connected to at least one of the handles through a first dock  20  such as a USB port, a headphone jack, or the like. 
         [0013]    Processing module  18  includes processor  22 , memory  24 , instructions or software  26  and a second dock  28 . Connected to the processing module  18  are auxiliary devices  30  that include a speaker  32 , a microphone  34 , a sensor  36 , a switch  38 , a display  40 , a input device  42  and a power source  44 . The auxiliary devices  30  are connected to the processing module  18  either wirelessly or electronically and are mounted on or in at least one of the handles  12 ,  14 , or in close proximity to handles  12 ,  14 . 
         [0014]    Jump rope  10  also contains a plurality of lights  46  which are connected to or in close proximity to rope portion  16 . Lights  46  include any light emitting device including a conventional light bulb, a light emitting diode (LED), or any other device which emits light or energy when activated. Preferably jump rope  10  has a continuous string of lights  46  extending across rope portion  16  first handle  12  to second handle  14 . Lights  46  are covered by protective covering  48 , which protects lights  46  from damage during use. Protective covering  48  is at least partially transparent in the areas around lights  46 . In addition, handles  12 ,  14  may also include one or more lights  46 . 
         [0015]    More specifically, first dock  20  and second dock  28  include any dock, port, plug-in arrangement or receptacle such as a USB port, a headphone jack, or the like. First and second docks  20 ,  28  serve to electrically or wirelessly connect jump rope  10 , processing module  18  and/or auxiliary devices  30  to one another device for the purpose of transferring or loading information onto memory  24 , (such as songs or videos), and to transfer energy to charge power source  44 . 
         [0016]    Processor  22  is any electronic circuit which processes information and executes compute programs to control the device such as CPU (central processing unit), a microprocessor, a data processor, or the like. Memory  24  is any form of memory such as flash memory, a hard drive, or the like which stores information including software  26 . 
         [0017]    Speaker  32  is any sound emitting device such as a loudspeaker as is commonly found in radios or the like that converts an electrical signal into sound. Microphone  34  is any device which receives sound and converts it into an electrical signal. While speaker  32  and microphone  34  are described as independent devices, in one arrangement speaker  32  and microphone  34  are also contemplated to be a single device with dual functions (i.e. recording sound as well as emitting sound). In a preferred arrangement speaker  32  is positioned in the first handle  12  in the end opposite rope portion  16 , whereas microphone  34  is positioned in the second handle  14  in the end opposite the rope portion  16 . 
         [0018]    Sensor  36  is any form of a sensor or detector that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal. Sensor  36  senses whether the jump rope  10  is in motion, signaling an active or in-use state. Alternatively, sensor  36  senses whether jump rope  10  is not in use therefor signaling a sleep state. Sensor  36  also senses the position of the rope portion  16  when in use; whether it is at the top of the rotation, the bottom of the rotation, the front of the rotation, the back of the rotation, or any other point there between. This information is used by processor  22  to make visual displays by activating lights  46 . Sensor  36  also senses the number of rotations, the speed of the rotation and any other information regarding the use of jump rope  10 . 
         [0019]    Switch  38  is any electrical component that closes or opens an electrical circuit. Switch  38  is in one arrangement a conventional on/off switch controlled by the user, which when closed activates interactive jump rope  10 ; when opened deactivates jump rope  10 . Alternatively, as is described above, sensor  36  acts as switch  38 , when the device is in motion/use sensor  36  activates the device; when the device is not in motion/use sensor  36  deactivates the device. Preferably switch  38  is connected to or positioned within a handle  12 ,  14 . 
         [0020]    Display  40  is any output device for the presentation of information to the user. Display  40  includes a plurality of lights, an LCD (liquid crystal display), an arrangement of LEDs (light emitting diodes), an electroluminescent display (ELD), a plasma display (PDP), a touch screen or the like. Display  40  displays information to the user regarding the status of the device  10 , the information contained in memory  24 , the mode of use, or any other information regarding device  10 . 
         [0021]    Input device  42  is any mechanism used to control jump rope  10  so that it operates in the manner desired by the user. Input device  42  includes a touch screen, a touch pad, a keyboard, a mouse, an arrangement of buttons or switches, or the like. 
         [0022]    Power source  44  preferably includes at least one battery if not a plurality of batteries. However any other form of a power source is herein contemplated such as a solar panel, a motor/generator, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, power source  44  is a plurality of removable and replaceable batteries which are positioned within a handle  12 ,  14 . Alternatively, power source  44  is contained within processing module  18 . 
         [0023]    In operation, a user installs batteries into power source  44  or charges power source  44  by connecting to first dock  20 . Once powered, the user activates the jump rope  10  by switching the switch  38  into the “on” position which powers the auxiliary devices  30 . Alternatively, sensor  36  senses movement of the device  10  which automatically activates jump rope  10 . 
         [0024]    In one mode of operation, the user holds a handle  12 ,  14  in each hand and swings the rope portion  16  around their body, jumping each time the rope portion  16  approaches their feet. During the rotation, lights  46  of rope portion  16  either illuminate continuously on or they flash and/or change color. 
         [0025]    In this arrangement lights  46  flash in multiple modes of operation. In one mode, lights  46  flash at set timed intervals controlled by processor  22 . In another mode, lights  46  flash depending on the speed of use of the device  10 . That is, lights  46  flash each time the rope portion  16  hits the ground, reaches the top of the rotation, reaches the back of the rotation, reaches the front of the rotation, or any position there between or any combination thereof. In this arrangement, sensor  36  senses the position of rope portion  16  and processor  22  activates or deactivates lights  46 . Through input device  42  and display  40  the user selects the mode of operation, that is whether the lights  40  flash intermittently, randomly, each time the rope portion  16  hits the ground, etc. 
         [0026]    The same arrangement applies to changing colors. That is, the user selects the mode of operation for the lights  46  to change color, such as each time the rope portion  16  hits the ground the lights  46  change color, or the lights  46  change color at a set time interval, etc. In this way, jump rope  10  provides an exciting jump rope that makes a beautiful and interesting display as the user jumps rope. 
         [0027]    In another mode of operation, the user selects a record mode through display  40  using input device  42 . In this mode, the user speaks or sings into microphone  34 . This sound is recorded into memory  24  which the user then plays back through speaker  32 . 
         [0028]    In another mode of operation, the user selects a repeat mode through display  40  using control device  38 . In this mode, the user sings or speaks into microphone  34 . This sound is immediately repeated and amplified through speaker  32 . 
         [0029]    In another mode of operation, the interactive jump rope  10  connects to a computing device (such as an Apple® ipod®, a smart phone, a hand held device, a conventional computer or any other computing device) either through a wired or wireless connection through first dock  20 . Once connected, the user transmits information such music or videos which are recorded into memory  24 . Next, through display  40  using input device  42  the user plays this information. The audio portions are played through speaker  32  and video portions are played through display  40 . In one arrangement, the processing module  18  is wholly replaced by the stand alone computing device, such as an Apple® iPod®, a smart phone, a hand held device, a conventional computer or any other computing device. 
         [0030]    From the above discussion it will be appreciated that the interactive jump rope presented offers many advantages over the prior art. Namely, the interactive jump rope provides a toy that is more interactive, interesting and appealing than conventional jump ropes due to its interactive features. 
         [0031]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other various modifications could be made to the device without parting from the spirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be covered thereby.