Abstract:
An improved jump rope handle and method of assembling the same. The jump rope handle includes a head. The head includes a channel, a set hole perpendicular to the channel, and a set mechanism adjustably insertable into the set hole. The jump rope handle further includes a grip. The grip includes a cylindrical member, first and second bearings arranged along the cylindrical member, an inner bushing arranged along the cylindrical member between the first and second bearings, and a sleeve around said inner bushing, said bushing being fixedly attached to an inner surface of the grip. An end portion of the cylindrical member is fixedly attached to the head whereby the cylindrical member and the head rotate together about a same axis. The channel of the head is configured to receive a rope. The set mechanism is configured to be inserted into the set hole to secure the rope.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to jump ropes. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to an improved jump rope handle and method of assembling the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Jump ropes have a long history and are widely used for entertainment and exercise. Typically, a jump rope includes a rope attached to two jump rope handles. A user can, while holding the jump rope handles in the user&#39;s hands, move the jump rope handles so as to cause the rope to move around the user. Whenever the rope rotates towards the user&#39;s feet, the user may jump and the rope may pass under the user&#39;s feet. 
     How a rope attaches to each jump rope handle varies considerably among existing ropes. In some ropes, the rope attaches to a rotating head attached to a grip portion of the jump rope handle. Such a configuration can improve the performance of the jump rope in that the rope may more freely move around the user. However, manufacture and assembly of such jump ropes may be complex. In other ropes, the length of the rope may be adjustable using a collar mechanism allowing the length of the rope to be customized for the user. However, adjustability may be time consuming and difficult. 
     In light of the foregoing and other shortcomings in the art, it is desirable to provide an improved jump rope handle and method of assembling the same. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     It is an aspect of the invention to provide a precision rotating jump rope handle with an improved assembly. 
     It is a further aspect of the invention to provide flexibility with respect to a length and a type of rope of a jump rope. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, a jump rope handle is provided. The jump rope handle includes a head. The head includes a channel, a set hole perpendicular to the channel, and a set mechanism adjustably insertable into the set hole. The jump rope handle further includes a grip. The grip includes a cylindrical member, first and second bearings arranged along the cylindrical member, an inner bushing arranged along the cylindrical member between the first and second bearings, and a sleeve around said inner bushing, said bushing being fixedly attached to an inner surface of the grip. An end portion of the cylindrical member is fixedly attached to the head whereby the cylindrical member and the head rotate together about a same axis. The channel of the head is configured to receive a rope. The set mechanism is configured to be inserted into the set hole to secure the rope. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a jump rope handle is provided. The jump rope handle may include a head. The head may include a bolt hole, a channel perpendicular to the bolt hole, a set screw hole in line with the bolt hole and perpendicular to the channel, and a set screw adjustably screwed into the set screw hole. The jump rope handle includes a grip including a shaft therein. The shaft includes a bolt, first and second bearings arranged along the bolt, an inner bushing arranged along the bolt between the first and second bearings, and a sleeve around said inner bushing, an outer surface of the sleeve being fixedly attached to an inner surface of the shaft of the grip. A threaded end of the bolt is screwed into the bolt hole of the head and attached thereto whereby the bolt and the head rotate together about a same axis. The channel of the head is configured to receive a rope. The set screw is configured to be screwed into the set screw hole to secure the rope. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method of assembling a jump rope handle may be provided. The method includes securing a sleeve inside a shaft of a grip of the jump rope handle. The sleeve is positioned around an inner bushing arranged along a bolt in between first and second bearings. The method further includes connecting the bolt to a head of the jump rope handle. The head includes a set screw hole to receive a set screw. 
     The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a jump rope handle according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of a cutaway of the jump rope handle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of a cutaway of a portion of the jump rope handle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 4-6  are schematic representations of the head of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are schematic representations of the grip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic representation of a jump rope handle according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic representation of a method of assembling the jump rope handle of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
     As used in the description of this application, the terms “a”, “an” and “the” may refer to one or more than one of an element (e.g., item or act). Similarly, a particular quantity of an element may be described or shown while the actual quantity of the element may differ. The terms “and” and “or” may be used in the conjunctive or disjunctive sense and will generally be understood to be equivalent to “and/or”. Elements from an embodiment may be combined with elements of another. No element used in the description of this application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Further, when an element is described as “connected,” “coupled,” or otherwise linked to another element, it may be directly linked to the other element, or intervening elements may be present. 
     According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, an improved jump rope handle and method of assembling the same are provided. In an embodiment, a jump rope handle may include a grip and a rotating head. The grip may include an assembly including a sleeve around a bushing through which a bolt may pass. Bearings may be arranged on the bolt on either side of the bushing and sleeve. The assembly may be secured inside the grip by virtue of the sleeve being fixedly attached to the inside of the grip. An end of the bolt may be attached to the head. The bolt may rotate within the bearings and the bushing enabling the head to rotate. Accordingly, an embodiment may provide a precision rotating jump rope handle with an improved assembly. Additionally, the head of the jump rope may include a bolt hole to receive the bolt, a channel perpendicular to the bolt hole, and a set screw hole in line with the bolt hole. A set screw may be screwed into the set screw hole to secure a rope within the channel. Accordingly, an embodiment may provide flexibility with respect to a length and a type of a rope of a jump rope. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a jump rope handle  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The jump rope handle  100  may include a grip  102  and a head  104 , both arranged along axis A when assembled. The head  104  may rotate around axis A during use. The grip  102  and the head  104  may be formed of aluminum. In an alternative embodiment, the grip or the head may be formed of any suitable material, such as injection molded plastic. Although the jump rope handle is shown having a particular shape, the jump rope handle may have an alternative configuration such as that shown in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of a cutaway of the jump rope handle  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of a cutaway of a portion of the jump rope handle  100  of  FIG. 1 . The inside of the grip  102  may define a shaft that is hollow that may house a bolt  106 , first and second bearings  108 ,  110 , a inner bushing  112 , and a sleeve  114 . The bolt  106  may be formed of alloy steel. In an alternative embodiment, the bolt may be formed of any suitable material such as stainless steel. The first and second bearings  108 ,  110  may be formed of steel. In an alternative embodiment, the bolt may be formed of any suitable material such as stainless steel. The inner bushing  112  may be cylindrical and may be formed of brass. In an alternative embodiment, the inner bushing may be formed of any suitable material such as steel. The sleeve  114  may be cylindrical and may be formed of steel. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve  114  may be formed of any suitable material. 
     The bolt  106  may be surrounded by the first and second bearings  108 ,  110  and the inner bushing  112 . The inner bushing  112  may be located between the first and second bearings  108 ,  110 . The sleeve  114  may be located around the inner bushing  112 . An outer diameter of the sleeve  114  may be slightly larger than an inner diameter of the shaft of the grip  102  and may thereby provide an interference fit securing the bolt  106 , the first and second bearings  108 ,  110 , and the inner bushing  112  within the grip  102 . A suitable adhesive material such as thread-lock glue may be added to an outer surface of the sleeve  114  and an inner surface of the grip  112 . In operation, the sleeve  114  may remain stationary and not rotate due to the interference fit and the adhesive material. In an alternative embodiment such as one featuring an injection molded plastic grip, the sleeve may be formed integral with the grip. In a further alternative embodiment, the sleeve may be affixed to the grip using an interference fit. In a further alternative embodiment, an outer diameter of the sleeve may match or be slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the shaft of the grip and adhesive material may be used to affix the sleeve to the shaft of the grip. 
       FIGS. 4-6  are schematic representations of the head  104  of  FIG. 1 . The head  104  may include a bolt hole  116 , a channel  118 , a set screw hole  120 , and a set screw  122 . The set screw  112  may be formed of alloy steel. In an alternative embodiment, the set screw may be formed of any suitable material such as stainless steel. 
     When assembled with the grip  102 , the bolt hole  116  and the set screw hole  120  may each be in line with the handle axis A while the channel  118  may be perpendicular to the handle axis A. The head  104  may rotate about axis A during use while the channel  118  may remain perpendicular to the handle axis A during rotation of the head. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are schematic representations of the grip  102  of  FIG. 1 . The shaft of the grip  102  may include first and second portions  126 ,  128 . The first portion  126  of the shaft may be larger in diameter than the second portion  128  of the shaft. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the bolt hole  116  of the head  104  may receive an end of the bolt  106 . The bolt  106  may be tightened thereby putting tension on the head  104 . By tightening the bolt  106 , the head  104  may thereby be pulled towards the grip  102  thereby sandwiching the first and second bearings  108 ,  110  and the inner bushing  112 . A shim-washer  130  may be placed between the second bearing  110  and the head  104 . 
     In more detail, the inner bushing  112  may be located between the first and second bearings  108 ,  110 . The inner bushing  112  may be longer than the sleeve  114 . The ends of the inner bushing  112  may contact only inner races of the first and second bearings  108 ,  110  and may prevent the first and second bearings from being over-tightened. When being assembled, the bolt  106  may be tightened until there is no play in the first and second bearings  108 ,  110  and not further so as to not reduce functionality of the first and second bearings  108 ,  110 . A suitable adhesive material such as a thread-lock glue may be used to form a bond between threads of the bolt  106  and threads of the bolt hole  116  once the bolt  106  has been appropriately tightened. 
     An assembly of the bolt  106 , the first and second bearings  108 ,  110 , and the inner bushing  112  may be contained within the second portion  128  of the shaft of the grip  102  by the sleeve  114  and its attachment to the grip through the interference fit and adhesive or other attachment as already described. When assembled, a compression load may be held by the inner races of the first and second bearings  108 ,  110  and the inner bushing  112  by the bolt  106  to the head  104 . Ends of the sleeve  114  may contact the outer races of the first and second bearings  108 ,  110 . According to this construction, the first and second bearings  108 ,  110  may be isolated from the handle  102  and may spin freely during operation and not be bound. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the set screw hole  120  may extend from an end of the head  104  through to the channel  118 . The set screw  122  may be screwed into the set screw hole  120 . A tip of the set screw  122  may insert into the channel  118  when the set screw  122  is screwed into the screw hole  120  thereby pressing against an end of a jump rope (not shown). Because the set screw  122  may be removable, a length of the jump rope may be adjustable for a user. 
     It should be noted that the jump rope handle  100  may be compatible with a variety of different jump rope shapes and materials. For example, a jump rope may be formed of a traditional rope, a metal chain, a beaded chain, a metal wire, or any other suitable material. 
     The set screw  122  may include an extended point  124  (or “dog point”) that may clamp down on the jump rope. In an alternative embodiment, the set screw may include any suitable shape, such as a cone point, a round point, or a cup point, such as may be desirable based on the material of the jump rope. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic representation of an exemplary method of assembling the jump rope handle  100  of  FIG. 1 . In one or a set of operations, the sleeve  114  may be secured inside of the shaft of the grip  102  of the rope handle. For example, in operation  1002 , the bolt  106  may be inserted through the first bearing  108  and the inner bushing  112 . In operation  1004 , the sleeve  114  may be placed around the inner bushing  112 . In operation  1006 , the bolt  106  may be inserted through the second bearing  110 , thereby completing the assembly of the bolt  106 , first and second bearings  108 ,  112 , the inner bushing  112 , and the sleeve  114 . 
     In operation  1008 , the assembly of the bolt  106 , first and second bearings  108 ,  110 , the inner bushing  112 , and the sleeve  114  may be inserted into the second portion  128  of the shaft of the grip  102 . A suitable adhesive material may first be applied to the outer surface of the sleeve  114  and the inner surface of the second portion  128  of the shaft of the grip  112 . The assembly of the bolt  106 , first and second bearings  108 ,  110 , the inner bushing  112 , and the sleeve  114  may be secured in position by press-fitting the assembly of the bolt  106 , first and second bearings  108 ,  110 , the inner bushing  112 , and the sleeve  114  into second portion  128  of the shaft of the grip  102 , and by the adhesive. In an alternative embodiment including a sleeve having a matching or smaller diameter than the second portion  128  of the shaft, the assembly (bolt  106 , first and second bearings  108 ,  110 , inner bushing  112 , and sleeve  114 ) may be secured in the second portion using an adhesive. The adhesive may cure thereby securing the sleeve  114  to the second portion of the shaft. 
     In another operation or set of operations, the bolt  106  may be connected to the head  104  of the jump rope handle  100 . For example, in operation  1010 , the shim-washer  130  may be placed on the bolt  106 , and the head  104  may be connected to (i.e., screwed onto) the bolt  106 . The bolt  106  may be tightened into the bolt hole  116  thereby pulling the head  104  towards the grip  102  thereby sandwiching the first and second bearings  108 ,  110  and the inner bushing  112 . Adhesive may be used to secure the bolt in the bolt hole  116 . 
     According to embodiments of the invention, a precision rotating jump rope handle may be provided with an improved assembly. The manufacture and the assembly of the jump rope handle may be desirable. Further according to the embodiments, flexibility with respect to a length and a type of a rope of a jump rope may be provided. The length may be customized to a user. The type of rope used with the jump rope handle may vary. 
     Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. For example, operations of the method for assembling a jump rope handle may be performed in a different order. For example, an inner bushing may first be inserted into the sleeve  114  and then the bolt  106  may be inserted through the first bearing  108  and the inner bushing  112  having the sleeve  114  thereon. As a further alternative, during the assembly of the jump rope handle  100 , the sleeve  114  may first be inserted into the second portion  128  of the shaft of the handle and fixed in position with adhesive. Thereafter, the bolt  106  and first bearing  108  may be inserted through the first portion  126  of the shaft into the second portion  128  and the inner bushing  112  and second bearing  110  could be inserted into the second portion  128  of the shaft. These and other changes are considered to be within the scope of the invention.