Patent Publication Number: US-6217482-B1

Title: Entertainment and exercise device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an entertainment and exercise device, and more particularly to an entertainment and exercise device which allows waist and neck exercise by placing it at a person&#39;s midsection or head and swiveling the body. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Generally, a hula hoop used for recreation and exercise is formed from a ring shaped plastic tube, and is an exercise instrument for training a person&#39;s body by placing it at the waist and swiveling the hips. 
     Conventionally, there have been disclosed many techniques related to the hula hoop. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,556 has taught a hula hoop having illuminating effect, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,134 has taught a collapsible hula hoop comprising a number of extended separate tube sections. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,217 has disclosed an elastically deformable circular ring shaped device. 
     However, because the hula hoop only allows for the simple exercise by swiveling the waist, the user is apt to feel repugnant. 
     Further, because many people have no skill to revolve the hula hoop which frequently cause the hula hoop to fall from their body, there is a drawback that they can&#39;t continuously use the hula hoop. 
     Furthermore, the big size causes difficult to carry the hula hoop due. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To solve the above problems, it is the object of the present invention to provide an entertainment and exercise device which obtains a continuous exercise effect and a finger-pressure effect by placing it on a person&#39;s body and swiveling the waist or the head. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an entertainment and exercise device which is easily portable and increases interest of use. 
     To obtain these objects, the entertainment and exercise device comprises a belt being circular and flexible, of which one portion is disconnected; a turning member rotating along a periphery of the belt and elongated outwardly from the belt; a rotating means installed on the periphery of the belt for rotating the turning member; and a locking means installed in the belt for connecting and disconnecting the belt. Also, a plurality of permanent magnets are mounted on an inner periphery of the belt. 
     The rotating means comprises a guide rail having a C-shaped section and longitudinally formed on the periphery of the belt; and a sliding plate inserted in the guide rail to slide along the guide rail, the sliding plate having a ball bearing at each of two end portions and a protrusion at a central portion. 
     The locking means comprises a lug projected respectively on an upper face and a lower face of one part of the disconnected belt; a hook connected to the lug; and a ring projected respectively on an upper face and an lower face of the other part of the disconnected belt, wherein the hook is separably combined with the ring. 
     As another embodiment of the present invention, the rotating means comprises a guide rail having an I-shaped section and longitudinally formed on the periphery of the belt; and a carrier supporting an upper portion of the guide rail to slide along the guide rail, the carrier having two ball bearings between both end portions of the carrier and the upper portion of the guide rail, and a protrusion at a central portion. 
     As a further embodiment of the present invention, an entertainment and exercise device comprises a disconnected belt being circular and flexible, and forming a guide recess along a longitudinal periphery of the belt; a turning member rotating along a longitudinal periphery of the belt and elongated outwardly from the belt, the turning member having a first mass rotatably inserted in the guide recess of the belt, a connecting bar of which one end is connected with the first mass, and a second mass jointed with the other end of the connecting bar; and a locking means installed in the belt for connecting and disconnecting the belt. 
     At this time, a pair of first holes are formed on an end face of one part of the disconnected belt, a pair of second holes are formed on an end face of the other part of the disconnected belt, and a pair of securing holes are formed on the periphery of the other part of the disconnected belt in order to vertically communicate with the second holes. 
     Furthermore, the locking means comprises a first fixing member inserted in each first hole; a second fixing member inserted in each second hole and forming a slit in a periphery thereof; a pin of which one end is screwed into the first fixing member and the other end is inserted in the second fixing member, the pin having a groove formed along a periphery of the other end thereof; a button inserted in each securing hole and having a rib fitted into the groove of the pin through the slit of the second fixing member; a spring placed on a head portion of the button for applying elastic force on the button; and a cover for restraining movement of the spring and covering the securing hole. 
     As a further embodiment of the present invention, the entertainment and exercise device has a helmet for wearing on the head; a rotating means integrally installed on the helmet; and a turning member separably combined with the rotating means and elongated outwardly from the helmet. 
     Accordingly, the entertainment and exercise device of the present invention is convenient to carry and keep, thereby being used for the exercise irrespective of the exercising area. Also, the entertainment and exercise device obtains a simple finger-pressure effect and increases interest. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     This invention will be better understood and its various objects and advantages will be more fully appreciated from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded-perspective view of an entertainment and exercise device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines A—A of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded-perspective view showing a locking means of the entertainment and exercise device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, 
     FIG. 4A is a sectional view showing the state before the locking means of FIG. 3 is locked, 
     FIG. 4B is a sectional view showing the state after the locking means of FIG. 3 is locked, 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the operating state of the entertainment and exercise device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the entertainment and exercise device placed at a person&#39;s head, 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the entertainment and exercise device placed at a person&#39;s waist, 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an entertainment and exercise device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the entertainment and exercise device of FIG. 8, 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an entertainment and exercise device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the entertainment and exercise device of FIG. 10, and 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an entertainment and exercise device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded-perspective view of an entertainment and exercise device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines A—A of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded-perspective view showing a locking means of the entertainment and exercise device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIG.  1  through FIG. 3, the entertainment and exercise device  1  according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a belt  10  placed at a person&#39;s body and a turning member  20  turning along a longitudinal periphery of the belt  10 . 
     The belt  10  made from a flexible synthetic resin is a circular belt of which one portion is disconnected, and has a guide recess  11  along a central portion of the longitudinal periphery of the belt. The guide recess  11  has an opened-circular section and is opened on the periphery of the belt  10  by a desired range. The opened range is determined by size and shape of the turning member  20 . 
     A plurality of permanent magnets  13  are projected on an inner periphery of the belt  10  contacting with the person&#39;s body in order to obtain a finger-pressure effect. 
     A pair of first holes are formed on an end face of one part of the disconnected belt, and a pair of second holes are formed on an end face of the other part of the disconnected belt with each second hole opposed to each first hole. Also, a pair of securing holes are formed on the periphery of the other part of the disconnected belt in order to vertically communicate with the second holes. 
     The turning member  20  has a first mass  21  rotatably inserted in the guide recess  11  of the belt  10 , a connecting bar  22  of which one end is connected with the first mass  21 , and a second mass  23  jointed with the other end of the connecting bar  22 . 
     A diameter of the first mass  21  is smaller than that of a cross-section of the guide recess  11  so that the first mass  21  is apt to slide in the guide recess  11 . Also, a diameter of the second mass  23  is greater than that of the first mass  21 . 
     Preferably, the second mass  23  is made from flexible material such as rubber or synthetic resin so that the second mass  23  wouldn&#39;t injure others if upon being rotated it made impact on them. In addition, the entertainment and exercise device may obtain a fireworks effect in the night by applying a luminous paint on the second mass  23 . 
     The belt  10  has a locking means  30  for separably connecting the disconnected portion of the belt  10 . 
     The locking means  30  comprises a first fixing member  32 , a second fixing member  37 , a pin  34 , a button  39 , a spring  41 , and a cover  40 . 
     The first fixing member  32  is inserted and secured in the first hole  31  by a bonding or welding. The second fixing member  37  is inserted in the second hole  35  and has a slit  36  on a periphery thereof. 
     One end of the pin  34  is screwed into the first fixing member, and the other end is inserted in the second fixing member  37 . Also, a groove  33  is formed along an entire periphery of the other end of the pin  34 , and a front end of the groove  33  has a rounded-shape. 
     The button  39  inserted in the securing hole  38  has a rib  39   a  which is fitted in the groove  33  of the pin  34  through the slit  36  of the second fixing member  37 . 
     The cover  40  is screwed into the securing hole  38 , and the spring  41  is disposed between the cover  40  and the button  39  for applying elastic force on a head portion of the button  39 . That is, the spring  41  is supported on the head portion of the button  39 . 
     The turning member  20  is mounted and separated on and from the belt  10  by the locking means  30 . 
     Hereinafter, the operation of the first embodiment according to the present invention will be described. 
     Before using the entertainment and exercise device, the user inserts the turning member  20  into the belt  10 , and wears the belt  10  on his/her body. 
     FIG. 4A is a sectional view showing the state before the locking means of FIG. 3 is locked, and FIG. 4B is a sectional view showing the state after the locking means of FIG. 3 is locked. 
     As shown in FIG.  4 A and FIG. 4B, when the user inserts the turning member  20  into the guide recess  11  of the belt  10  and connects one part of the disconnected belt  10  with the other part thereof, the other end of the pin  34  of which one end is screwed into the first fixing member  32  is inserted in the second fixing member  37 . At this time, because the front end of the pin  34  has a rounded-shape, the pin  34  pushes the rib  39   a  of the button  37  outwardly and is inserted in the second fixing member  37 . The rib  39   a  moved outwardly is returned by restoring force of the spring  41 , being fitted in the groove  33  of the pin  34 . Accordingly, the belt  10  is connected in an operable state. 
     On the other hand, when the user takes off the belt  10  or separates the turning member  20  from the belt  10 , the user removes the cover  40  from the periphery of the belt  10 . Then, the spring  41  and the button  39  are released and simultaneously the rib  39   a  is removed from the groove  33  of the pin  34 , thereby separating the pin  34  from the second fixing member  37 . Accordingly, the user takes off the belt from the body through the release of the locking means  30 . 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the operating state of the entertainment and exercise device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, when the user wears the entertainment and exercise device  1  on his body and swivels his body, the first mass  21  of the turning member  20  rotates along the guide recess  11  of the belt  10 , and the connecting bar  22  and the second mass  23  rotate together with rotation of the turning member  20 . The user obtains the exercise effect by means of the swiveling exercise of the body, and a finger-pressure effect of the body contacting the permanent magnets  13 . 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the entertainment and exercise device placed on the head, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the entertainment and exercise device placed at the waist. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the user wears the belt  10  on his head and swivels the head, the turning member  20  rotates along the guide recess  11  of the belt, and the permanent magnets  13  installed in the inner periphery of the belt  10  slightly apply pressure to the head. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the connecting bar  22  of the turning member  20  is made from flexible material such as plastic, so that the user bends the connecting bar  22  of the turning member  20  and easily keeps the second mass  23  in the user&#39;s pocket. 
     Hereinafter, a second preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an entertainment and exercise device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the entertainment and exercise device of FIG.  8 . 
     As shown in FIG.  8  and FIG. 9, a belt  110  of the entertainment and exercise device has a C-shaped guide rail  112 . A sliding plate  130  rotating along the guide rail  112  is installed in the guide rail  112 . The sliding plate  130  has a ball bearing  150  at each of two end portions and a protrusion  121  forming a thread hole  122  at a central portion. One end of turning member  120  is separably screwed into the thread hole  122  of the protrusion  121 , and a mass  123  is integrally formed at the other end of the turning member  120 . 
     Further, a locking means  180  for connecting and disconnecting the belt  110  is installed on the disconnected belt  110 . 
     The locking means  180  has a pair of lugs  181  projected respectively on an upper face and an lower face of one part of the disconnected belt  110 , a pair of hooks  183  connected to each lug  181 , and a pair of rings  184  projected respectively on an upper face and an lower face of the other part of the disconnected belt  110 . Each hook  183  is separably combined with each ring  184 . 
     A plurality of permanent magnets  113  is projected on an inner periphery of the belt  110  in contact with the person&#39;s body in order to obtain a finger-pressure effect. 
     Hereinafter, the operation of the second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. 
     When the user wears the belt  110  on his body and hangs the hook  183  on the ring  184 , the belt  110  is secured to his body. In this state, when the user swivels his body, the ball bearing  150  rolls about an inner wall of the guide rail  112 , thereby the sliding plate  130  rotates along the guide rail  112 . Accordingly, the turning member  120  connected with the sliding plate  130  rotates so that the user undertakes exercise and obtains a finger-pressure by the permanent magnets  113 . 
     Further, when the user doesn&#39;t use the entertainment and exercise device, the turning member  120  is separated from the sliding plate  130 . 
     Hereinafter, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail. 
     An entertainment and exercise device  300  according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the second embodiment except for substituting an I-shaped guide rail  312  and a carrier  330  for the C-shaped guide rail  112  and the sliding plate  130 . Thus, the description for the other portions will be omitted. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an entertainment and exercise device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the entertainment and exercise device of FIG.  10 . 
     As shown in FIG.  10  and FIG. 11, a belt  310  of the entertainment and exercise device  300  has an I-shaped guide rail  312 . A carrier  330  movable along the guide rail  312  is installed on an upper portion of the guide rail  312 . The carrier  330  has two ball bearings  350  between both end portions of the carrier  330  and the upper portion of the guide rail  312 , and a protrusion  331  forming a thread hole  333  at a central portion. One end of turning member  320  is separably screwed into the thread hole  333  of the protrusion  331 , and a mass  323  is integrally formed at the other end of the turning member  320 . 
     Hereinafter, a forth embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an entertainment and exercise device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 12, the entertainment and exercise device  400  has a C-shaped guide rail  410  integrally formed on a helmet  470 . A sliding plate  430  is installed in the guide rail  410 . The sliding plate  430  has a ball bearing  450  at each of both ends thereof and a protrusion  435  forming a thread hole  433  at the central portion. A turning member  420  is separably screwed into the thread hole  433  of the protrusion  435 . 
     Accordingly, when the user wears the helmet  400  on his head and swivels the head, the turning member  420  rotates along the guide rail  410 . Thus, the user will be amused and have proper exercise. 
     Furthermore, the other embodiments of the present invention are substituted for the C-shaped guide rail  410 . 
     As mentioned above, the entertainment and exercise device of the present invention is convenient to carry and store, thereby being used for exercise irrespective of the exercising area. Also, the entertainment and exercise device obtains a simple finger-pressure effect and increases amusement. 
     While this invention has been specifically shown and described with reference to the particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.