Pivoting jump stick

An amusement and exercise device which includes an elongated pole pivotally attached at one end to a base which is removably attached to the ground or floor. Attached to the distal end of the pole is a rope which is manipulated by the user which causes the pole to rotate in a circular path around the base and under the user. The user must coordinate his or her arm and wrist movement and jump over the pole to operate the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention: 
This invention relates to amusement and exercise devices and, more 
particularly, to such devices operated by a single user which requires the 
user to raise his or her arms and jump over a rotating object. 
2. Description of the Related Art: 
Jump roping is a popular amusement and exercise activity for children and 
adults which requires the user jump over a rotating rope controlled by the 
user or by others. Typically, for single users, the ends of the rope are 
held waist high so that the control portion of the rope rotates under and 
over the user. During the exercise, the user's legs, lower arms and wrists 
are exercised, while the upper arms and chest are generally at rest. 
One important drawback with jump roping is that a sufficient amount of 
space above the user is required during use. Due to this requirement, 
jumping rope inside a building with a standard 8' ceiling is impossible. 
Another important drawback is that the jumping surface must be smooth so 
that movement of the rope across the jumping surface is not impeded. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the invention to provide an amusement and exercise 
device which requires an individual user to exercise the upper arm 
muscles, chest muscles, and leg muscles. 
It is another object of the invention to provide such a device that is easy 
to use indoors and outdoors by one or two individuals. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a device which is 
safe to use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. 
These and other objects are met by providing a pivoting jumping stick 
comprising an elongated pole pivotally attached at its proximal end to a 
base which may be temporarily and securely attached to the jumping 
surface. A double axis pivoting means is provided between the pole and 
base which enables the pole rotate horizontally 360.degree. and vertically 
180.degree. around the base. Attached to the distal end of the pole is a 
rope with an optional handle attached thereto. The rope is of sufficient 
length so that when the pole is rotated around the base and positioned 
under the user, the pole is substantially horizontally aligned above the 
jumping surface near the user's feet so that the user may jump thereover. 
In one embodiment, the handle is hollow and includes a removable cap which 
enables stakes used to attach the base to the jumping surface to be stored 
therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
Shown in the accompanying FIGS. 1-7, there is shown a pivoting jumping 
stick, generally indicated by reference number 8, which comprises an 
elongated pole 10 attached at its proximal end 14 to a base 40. The base 
40 is temporarily attached to a jumping surface 60. Disposed between the 
proximal end 14 of pole 10 is a double axis pivoting means, generally 
referred to as 50, which enables the pole 10 to rotate horizontally 
360.degree. and vertically 180.degree. around the base 40 during use. 
Attached to the distal end 12 of the pole 10 is a flexible rope 20 with an 
optional handle 30 attached to its distal end 22. 
In a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, the pole 10 is hollow and made if 
lightweight material, such as aluminum or PVC, 4 to 6 feet in length and 
3/4 to 1 inch in diameter. In a second embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, the 
pole 10 is covered by an outer tube 11 made of foam material to provide 
additional protection against impacts. 
The proximal end 24 of the rope 20 is attached directly to the distal end 
12 of the pole 10. In the embodiment shown, rope 20 is between 5 to 7 feet 
in length. 
Attached to the distal end 22 of the rope 20 is an optional handle 30. In 
the preferred embodiment, the handle 30 is rotatably attached to the 
distal end 22 so that the rope 20 freely rotates in the user's hand during 
use. In the embodiment shown, the handle 30 includes a short, tubular body 
32 with a fixed lower end cap 34 and a removable upper cap 35. The tubular 
body 32 is approximately 1 inch in diameter and 6 inches in length. The 
tubular body 32 is hollow so that the removable stakes 45 used to attach 
the base 40 to a soft jumping surface 60, as described, may be stored 
inside. 
In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the stakes 45 are replaced with a 
suction cup 47 which enables the base 40 to be temporarily attached to a 
hard, smooth jumping surface 62. 
The base 40 includes a flat plate 42 with a plurality of perpendicularly 
aligned stakes 45 or suction cups 47 attached to the bottom surface. 
During use, the stakes 45 or suction cups 47 are used to temporarily yet 
securely attach the base 40 to a soft jumping surface 60. In one 
embodiment, the stakes 40 are removably attached to the plate 42 so that 
they may be detached thereon and stored in the handle 30. 
Attached to the upper surface of the plate 42 is a double axis pivoting 
means which attaches the proximal end 14 of the pole 10 to the base 40. In 
the embodiment shown, the double axis pivoting means 50 is an upward 
extending, rotating bracket 52 with a horizontally aligned axle 54 
attached between two bores 56 formed in the two arms on bracket 52. A 
transversely aligned hole 13 is formed near the distal end of the pole 10 
through which the axle 54 is extended to pivotally attach the pole 10 to 
the bracket 52. The bracket 52 is rotatably connected to the top surface 
of plate 42 similar to a castor wheel. 
During manufacturing, the pole 10, rope 20, handle 30 and base 40 are 
properly assembled in the manner described above. To use the device 8, a 
suitable jumping surface 60 or 62 is selected to which the base 40 can be 
attached. The base 40 is then attached to the jumping surface 60 or 62 
using stakes or suction cup 47. The user positions himself or herself 
adjacent to the base 40 while holding the handle 30 in the hand on the 
opposite side of the body to the base 40. The user then begins to rotate 
the pole 10 in a circular path around the base 40 by twisting his or her 
wrists and raising his or her hand between an a position immediately above 
his or her head and his or her shoulder. By moving his arms and hands in 
this manner, the pole 10 is able to rotate freely around the base 40. As 
the pole 10 is rotated to a position immediately adjacent to the user, the 
handle 30 is held above the user's head so that the pole 10 is positioned 
adjacent to his or her feet and slightly above the ground so that the user 
may jump thereover. Movement of the user's wrist, arms and legs are then 
coordinated so that the pole 10 moves in an elliptical path around the 
base 40. 
In compliance with the statute, the invention, described herein, has been 
described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It 
should be understood, however, the invention is not limited to the 
specific features shown, since the means and construction shown comprised 
only the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The 
invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications 
within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately 
interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.