Abstract:
The present invention provides a multi-use product. Products in accordance with the present invention may be used in entertainment and physical conditioning. Devices in accordance with the present invention may also be collected and traded.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to devices for use in entertainment, and physical conditioning. Devices in accordance with the present invention may also be collected and traded. 
         [0002]    Reference materials of Interest to the Reader 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,705 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,886 
         [0005]    PPA No. 61456995 (Nov. 16, 2010 filing—same inventor) 
         [0006]    Products referred to as “Jianzi” or “Da Cau” 
         [0007]    http://www.kikbo.com, website and marketing material for one embodiment of the device described above. Owned by the inventor. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Coordination, athleticism, and fitness are generally desirable. Devices which improve these traits in an individual at minimum cost, be it financial or otherwise, are therefore valuable, those which can infuse the improvement of said traits with fun, even more so. 
         [0009]    Improving one&#39;s fitness and/or losing weight are held to be desirable but may require considerable effort, often in the form of strenuous exercise. Many people spend time strengthening, toning, and training their muscles. Devices which accomplish this task, in a way thought to be fun, making the task less onerous are valuable. For example, there is a reason why health clubs accept the cost of installing televisions on their treadmills. 
         [0010]    People, and in particular, children enjoy trading for and collecting things of perceived value. Further, perceived scarcity, variety, and customizability of a device or set of devices tend to be positively correlated with the desire to trade for and collect said devices. A device, which not only facilitates and lessens the burden of exercise, but also is durable, portable, and customizable with tradable components, and even further is associated with activities held to be fun surely would be an interesting proposition, especially to children. 
         [0011]    Of course, in order for a product to achieve the aforementioned goals, it must be widely available and sufficiently sellable. The distribution growth of many tradable low-cost objects of perceived value and scarcity are often powered by self-replicating purchases. The Consumer Product Safety Act of 2008 (CPSIA), its forefathers, similar laws in other countries, and perhaps their descendants limit the breadth of products available to children—the very audience to whom exercise devices and trading low-cost objects of perceived value and scarcity often appeals the most. Compliance with the aforementioned laws would therefore greatly increase the distribution of such a device. 
         [0012]    This patent application describes a device which endeavors to address the aforementioned observations. Further, it endeavors to describe a device which addresses the, in many respects, inadequacy, with regard to the aforementioned aims, of U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,705, as well as the products known as “jianzi” or “da cau” available on today&#39;s market. It is founded on a provisional patent application No. 61/456,995, filed on Nov. 16, 2010. Many aspects of the device can be seen in Kikbo Kick Shuttlecocks™ (http://(www.kikbocom)—a product designed and manufactured by the inventor, which, at the time of writing is experience commercial success, no doubt in part owing to the increased distribution afforded by innovation implicit in the forthcoming device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Here follows, an apparatus which is a game device, sporting good, fitness device, coordination improvement device, strengthening and rehabilitation device, and customizable collectible comprising of a means for creating drag, annuli, and a base including a shaft. In one embodiment of the invention, one means for creating drag is in the form of feathers. The product is not limited to the use of natural feathers—any material, or collection of materials, synthetic or natural, which create drag and therefore slow the product during its airborne trajectory is a perfectly acceptable substitute. Further, when the author of this patent application uses the term “feather” or “feathers”, he is, where it is reasonable, referring not only to natural feathers, but the reasonable substitutes for natural feathers defined by the characteristics in the foregoing sentence. Each part may be interchanged for another like part of a different style, shape, material or color, with the purpose of creating a customizable collectible, altering the user&#39;s experience with the product in a sporting capacity, or simply replacing a broken component. The product may be hit with various parts of the body to keep it afloat. It may be used to perform tricks and other feats of skill and talent. It also may be used exclusively as a customizable collectible, or even a paper-weight or fashion accessory that expresses the interests and preferences of the user. Using the product can be a form of extremely vigorous aerobic exercise and thus a fitness tool. Further, depending on which limbs are used to make contact with the product and the product&#39;s customizable weight, it can be used to target, strengthen and rehabilitate particular muscles. Again, depending on which limbs are used to make contact with the product, it can be used to improve coordination (This use may be of extra significance to soccer players who wish to improve their juggling or general footwork and play). The product may be used as the game ball for a sport that is very similar to volleyball, perhaps with the prohibition of the use of hands. The product can be used as the focus of games like “horse” and “monkey in the middle”. Similarly, it can be used in competitions of repeated juggling or greatest height attained. 
         [0014]    Annuli sit on the base and the base houses the feathers. The feathers create drag, slowing the product&#39;s descent, thereby allowing the user more time to intercept it and perform tricks, vs. similar devices (for example: soccer ball or footbag). The number and type of annuli can be altered to allow the user to customize the appearance of the product, its speed of descent, the noise generated by collision between annuli when the product is struck, or the strength required to keep it afloat; fewer/lighter annuli to increase ease of use, more/heavier annuli to increase speed of play and muscular resistance. Should a feather (or any other component part) break, the user may replace it with another. The product is easily assembled and disassembled (but does not fall apart during use), allowing what might otherwise be a bulky, clumsy, and fragile device to become portable and durable. The product may be manufactured so as to comply with toy regulations such as the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and its future descendants with the intention of selling the product to children, to whom many of the product&#39;s characteristics appeal. 
         [0015]    The product may be packaged with spare feathers, annuli, or even bases, all of which may come in different styles, colors, shapes, materials, weights, and adorned with various graphics and expressions. The types and quantities of each component may be concealed from the purchaser and/or inserted randomly (or with consideration) into the package to increase the entertainment derived from the pursuit of collecting or assembling one&#39;s preferred customization. Further, each type of component may occur in the package with a different frequency, suggesting different scarcities and thus perceived values. 
         [0016]    Still further advantages will become apparent from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a manner in which the product may be used. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the product after it has been assembled by the user. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the base. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the feather. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a partial assembly of one embodiment of the product. The part of  FIG. 5  that is drawn with dashed lines resides inside another element and would otherwise not be visible. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the product with the feathers all oriented in the same direction. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the feather. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a combination of the two elements which form the embodiment in  FIG. 7 . The part of  FIG. 8  that is drawn with dashed lines resides in another element and would otherwise not be visible. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a magnified perspective view of part of two embodiments of the feather. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a magnified perspective view of part of two embodiments of the feather. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the annulus. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the base with annuli from  FIG. 11  resting on it. 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the base with annuli from  FIG. 11  after being struck upward at its bottom. 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a CAD drawing of two embodiments of the base. 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of two embodiments of the base. 
           [0032]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a receptacle with filaments and nubs on its interior walls. The part of  FIG. 16  that is drawn with dashed lines would otherwise not be visible. 
           [0033]      FIG. 17  is four perspective views of one embodiment of packaging for the product. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    The product is a device comprised of a plurality of feathers or any other potentially interchangeable object or material which creates drag, annuli, and a base, into which the feathers or drag-creating members may be inserted and about which the annuli may be placed. The product may be struck (by any part of the body) by one player or passed between more than one player for entertainment. Further, this use of the product may improve the personal fitness of the players and may improve their coordination. 
         [0035]    The product may be used for decorative purposes or as a collectible. Some embodiments of the product allow for interchangeable feathers (or other drag-creating members), annuli, and bases. Users of the product may collect and trade these interchangeable parts to create a product that suits them best. The interchangeable parts which comprise the product may be switched in and out should the user wish to change the characteristics of his product or should one of the parts become broken. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a manner in which the product  10  may be employed. The product  10  is being juggled (using the foot) by the person in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the product  10  in its entirety, consisting of the base  13 , the annuli  12 , and the feathers  11 . In this embodiment of the product  10 , the annuli  12  rest on the base  13  which houses the feathers  11  which create drag and slow the product&#39;s  10  trajectory. The means by which the feathers  11  remain attached to the base  13  are explained in the following figures and their corresponding descriptions. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the base  13 . The shaft  33  is hollow except for the divider  32  which extends from the top of the base  13  to the top of the foundation  34  of the base  13 . The divider  32  quadrisects (in this embodiment, it quadrisects, but the divider could create any number of receptacles  31 ) the shaft  33  into four receptacles  31  of equal size (in this embodiment) into which the feathers  11  may be inserted. U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,705 does not specify a separate receptacle  31  for each feather  11 . In embodiments which use elasticity and friction, providing a separate receptacle  31  for each feather  11 , decreases the likelihood of feathers  11  becoming detached during use of the product  10 . The inside of the shaft  33  (the receptacles  31 ) may be lined with separate material which increases the friction between the feathers  11  and the base  13 . The bottom  35  is one place where the base  13  may be struck. The base  13  may be made of a single continuous material so as to encourage ease of production. The base  13  may come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and materials to allow for product  10  customization. It may be furnished in various ways and places with different designs, graphics, and expressions. Further, it may be fashioned out of or covered in glow-in-the-dark material. The thickness of the base bottom  35  may be increased or its material chosen so as to alter the elasticity and bounciness of the base  13  and by extension the product  10 , depending on where the product  10  is struck. Both glow-in-the-dark material and increased bounciness may further contribute to the variety, customizability, and collectability of the product  10  (the same could be said for many other changes which increase the variety of any component part). So as to create the widest possible audience for the product  10 , the components may be made to comply with laws regulating the breadth of products available to children (2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, its descendants, forefathers, and other such rules in other countries). Accordingly, the base  13  may be made with less than 100 ppm lead. Further, the base  13  may be made with less than 1000 ppm of the following chemicals (phthalate plasticizers): DEHP (C 24 H 38 O 4 ), DBP (C 16 H 22 O 4 ), BBP (C 19 H 20 O 4 ), DINP (C 26 H 42 O 4 ), DIDP (C 28 H 46 O 4 ), and DnOP (C 24 H 38 O 4 ). 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the feather  11 . The rachis  21  may be angled a variety of ways. The barb  23  is the principal creator of drag. It may be furnished with a stamp  24  (the word stamp  24  is a placeholder for a distinguishing mark, be it actually stamped on, or painted, sprayed, created in any other reasonable manner) and/or be cut and colored in a variety of ways to encourage customization and collectability of the product  10 . Similarly, it may be fashioned out of or covered in glow-in-the-dark material. The hollow shaft or calamus  22  is the part of the feather  11  which is inserted into the base  13 . 
         [0040]    As mentioned in the description of  FIG. 3 , the feather  11  may be produced in accordance with current or future regulations applying to the product  10 , perhaps with the use of lead-free dye and natural bird feathers. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a partial assembly of one embodiment of the product  10 . The calamus  22  of the feather  11  is drawn with dashed lines to represent that it resides inside one of the receptacles  31  of the base  13  and would otherwise not be visible. The feathers  11  may be glue-bonded or heat-sealed (or held in position using any other reasonable method) to the base  13  or they may be held in the receptacles  31  by friction and elasticity. The latter method of feather  11  retention allows for the replacement of each feather  11  should it become broken and also allows for greater customizability and collectability. Note that there is a receptacle  31  for each feather  11 , so as to, in some embodiments, maximize the force, frictional and elastic, applied to the feathers  11 , holding them in place. In one embodiment, the feather  11  does not leave the receptacle  31  during use of the product  10 , but nonetheless can be removed manually for replacement, customization, or portability. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the product  10  with the feathers  11 , after insertion, angled such that the smallest parallel-piped in which the product  10  fits is minimized. In other words, the feathers  11  may be rotated in their receptacles  31 , such that each rachis  21  points in the same direction to make the product  10  easier to package and to allow the product  10  to be packed more compactly and thus numerously. In one embodiment of the invention, the calami  22  are larger than the receptacles  31 . In this embodiment, the elasticity of the base  13 , in conjunction with friction, hold the feathers  11  in place during play. Storing the feathers  11  in the receptacles  31  for packaging and consumption, perhaps as displayed in  FIG. 6  or  FIG. 2 , may allow for easier assembly, as the elastic receptacles  31  will be more receptive to reversible deformation (since the calami  22 , in some embodiments, are larger than the receptacles  31 ) than they would be had the feathers  11  not been stored in the receptacles  31 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the feather  11 . In this embodiment, the calamus  22  has an opening  25  into which the calamus  26  of the smaller feather  27  can be inserted. 
         [0044]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a combination of the two elements (feather  11  and smaller feather  27 ) which form the embodiment in  FIG. 4 . The calamus of the smaller feather  26  is drawn with dashed lines to demonstrate that it resides in the calamus  22  of the feather  11  and would otherwise not be visible. The smaller feather  27  may be fastened to the larger feather  11  by glue (or other suitable adhesive/method) or simply held in its position by the friction between the two elements. The smaller feather  27  may come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and materials and allows for further product  10  customization and collectability. 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  is a magnified perspective view which compares the calami  22  of two embodiments of the feather  11 . Despite the apparent differences in barb  23 , the feathers  11  were more or less identical prior to the changes made at the crease  28  and terminus  29 . In order to ensure that each feather  11  fits snugly into the base  13 , the feather  11  may be cut at the terminus  29  and then shaped, in some embodiments, resulting in the crease  28 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 10  is a magnified perspective view which compares the calami  22  of two embodiments of the feather  11 . The calamus  22  at right has been shaped such that it fits snugly into the base  13 . The calamus  22  at left, after having been shaped, was exposed to humidity and moisture and expanded, resulting in the expanded terminus  30 . In order to ensure a snug fit of the calami  22  into the receptacles  31  of the base  13 , the feathers  11  may be stored in the air-tight receptacles  31 , sealed with a material that forms an air-tight bond and/or come in air-tight packaging. This seal may also increase the calamus&#39;s  22  coefficient of friction. After shaping, the calamus  22  can also be glued to prevent expansion in humidity. 
         [0047]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the annulus  12 . The annulus  12  may come in a variety of sizes, shapes, materials, and colors. The annulus  12  may also be made or covered in glow-in- the-dark material. Further, the maker of the annulus  12  may furnish the top and bottom  42  with designs that are raised or of a different color or both. The same is true for the side  43 . The inner radius  41  rests circumferentially about the base  13 . Instead of simple annuli  12 , the maker of the product  10  could fasten an electronic counter (perhaps one that functions in a manner similar to that of a pedometer) which displays the number of hits (so as to make juggling, solo or with a partner, easier to keep track of), a form of electronic incandescence or chemical luminescence, or even a device which plays music while the product  10  stays in the air. So as to create the widest possible audience for the product  10 , the annuli  12  may be made to comply with current and future regulations mandated by congress (CPSIA  2008 , its forefathers, descendants, and similar laws of other countries). Accordingly, the annulus  12  may be made with less than 100 ppm lead. Further, the annulus  12  may be made with less than 1000 ppm of the following chemicals (phthalate plasticizers): DEHP (C 24 H 38 O 4 ), DBP (C 16 H 22 O 4 ), BBP (C 19 H 20 O 4 ), DINP (C 26 H 42 O 4 ), DIDP (C 28 H 46 O 4 ), and DnOP (C 24 H 38 O 4 ). 
         [0048]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the base  13  with annuli  12  resting on it. The weight of the product  10  moderates the drag created by the feathers  11  and thus the speed of descent. The weight of the product  10  therefore also changes the speed of play and can determine the muscular strength needed to keep the product  10  afloat. The number of annuli  12  and their weights, as determined by their material, can alter the total weight of the product  10 . Making the annulus  12  in various colors, shapes, sizes, and materials grants great customizability in function and appearance. By using annuli  12  with great elasticity, the user may increase the overall elasticity of the product  10 , potentially resulting in a greater bounce. 
         [0049]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the base  13  and annuli  12  shortly after being struck upward at its bottom. At the end of the product&#39;s  10  descent the annuli  12 , return to their normal positions in  FIG. 12  and, depending on the material used, making a clicking sound. This clicking sound is particularly pronounced if the annuli  12  are multiple and made of metal. An annulus  12  with a smaller hole  41  (relative to the other annuli  12 ), to ensure that the annuli  12  do not rise above the shaft  33  during play. Since the insertion of the feathers  11 , in some embodiments, makes the shaft  33  expand, the aforementioned innovation does not prevent annuli  12  from being stacked about the shaft  33 , but still prevents the annuli  12  from rising above the shaft  33  after the feathers  11  have been inserted. 
         [0050]      FIG. 14  is a CAD drawing comparing two bases  13 . Where the base meets the shaft  38 , on the base  13  at right, the shaft  33  is thicker and the receptacles  31  are narrower, relative to the base  13  on the left. This difference expedites removal of the base  13  from, in some embodiments, compression or injection molds (of course that is not to say that the base  13  must be molded using compression or injection molding techniques). It also improves the resilience of the base  13  to damage from people stepping on it during play and other conceivable trauma. Lastly, the calami  22 , in some embodiments, are narrower at the terminus  29 . To maximize the force of retention created by the elasticity of the base, it may be wise to narrow the receptacles  31  where the calamus  22  is narrow. 
         [0051]      FIG. 15  is a comparison of two bases  13 . Where the base meets the shaft  38 , the base  13  at right has a right angle joint, while the base  13  at left has a smoother transition between the shaft  33  and the top of the base-bottom  34 . My testing has shown that the latter configuration greatly improves the resilience of the base to physical injury. 
         [0052]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the base  13  with filaments  37  and nubs  36 . In some embodiments, the feathers  11  are held into place with a combination of elasticity and friction. In  FIG. 16 , we see use of filaments  37  and nubs  36  to increase the coefficient of friction between the base and feathers&#39;  11  calami  22 , which, depending on the material used, may be of variable thickness. This method is not limited to the use of filaments  37  and nubs  36 , and could conceivably use separate material on either the feathers&#39;  11  or receptacles  31  to increase friction. Since some embodiments of the product require assembly, the filaments  37  or nubs  36  could conceivably be configured to readily accept the feathers  11 , but nonetheless hold the feathers  11  in place during play. 
         [0053]      FIG. 17  consists of four perspective views of one embodiment of packaging for the product  10 . The embodiment pictured is a blister pack. One purpose of the packaging pictured is to allow the maker of the product  10  to pack the product  10  more numerously in boxes. The first view  91 , shows the annuli  12  stacked on the base  13  with the bottom of the base  35  furnished with a logo, facing out. It also features stacked feathers  11  and a high capacity barcode  81 . The high capacity barcode  81  could be linked to a video of how the product  10  can be used, which could be very useful as the product  10  is new. The second view  92  is the same packaging viewed from the side at an angle. The third view  93  and fourth view  94  are views (from the side and top, respectively) of two packages stacked on top of each other such that they take up less space. The base  13 , annuli  12 , and feathers  11  are drawn with dashed lines to indicate that without the dashed lines they would not be visible. 
       REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  Product 
           11  Feathers 
           12  Annuli 
           13  Base 
           14  System 
           21  Rachis 
           22  Calamus 
           23  Barb 
           24  Stamp 
           25  Opening into which another feather may be inserted 
           26  Calamus of the smaller feather 
           27  Smaller feather 
           28  Crease made to shape and size feather for insertion into the base 
           29  Terminus 
           30  Expanded terminus 
           31  Receptacles of the base 
           32  Divider 
           33  Shaft 
           34  Top of base bottom 
           35  Base bottom 
           36  Receptacle Nubs 
           37  Receptacle Filaments 
           38  Where the shaft meets the base bottom 
           41  The inside of the annulus 
           42  Top and bottom of the annulus 
           43  Side of the annulus 
           81  High Capacity Barcode 
           91  View from the top of one package 
           92  View from the side of one package 
           93  View from the side of two packages stacked 
           94  View from the top of two packages stacked, dashed lines to indicate the location of relevant components that would otherwise not be visible. 
       
     
       EXAMPLES 
       [0085]    The user of the product  10  first determines his or her desired use for the product  10  and then accordingly chooses annuli  12 , a base  13 , and feathers  11  that suit. 
         [0086]    For vigorous aerobic exercise, the user of the product  10  may choose medium-weighted annuli  12  that are not too numerous. By keeping the product  10  afloat without a partner, the user will burn more calories in the same amount of time. 
         [0087]    For muscle strengthening, the user may choose heavy annuli  12  that are numerous. 
         [0088]    To increase the ease of use (by slowing the speed of descent), the user may choose light annuli  12  that are not too numerous, as weight counteracts the drag and slowing-effect of the feathers  11 .