Patent Publication Number: US-5895341-A

Title: Jump rope simulator

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to jump rope simulators and more particularly pertains to a new jump rope simulator for providing an exercise workout simulating the jumping of a jump rope. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of jump rope simulators is known in the prior art. More specifically, jump rope simulators heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art jump rope simulators include U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,777; U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,899; U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,119; U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,123; U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,149; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 352,236. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new jump rope simulator. The inventive device includes a pair of hand-held units. Each unit includes a handle and a flexible cord. The handle has opposite first and second ends. One of the ends of the flexible cord is coupled to the first end of the handle such that the flexible cord may be twirled about a twirling axis extending from the handle. 
     In these respects, the jump rope simulator according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing an exercise workout simulating the jumping of a jump rope. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of jump rope simulators now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new jump rope simulator construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing an exercise workout simulating the jumping of a jump rope. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new jump rope simulator apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the jump rope simulators mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new jump rope simulator which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art jump rope simulators, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a pair of hand-held units. Each unit includes a handle and a flexible cord. The handle has opposite first and second ends. One of the ends of the flexible cord is coupled to the first end of the handle such that the flexible cord may be twirled about a twirling axis extending from the handle. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new jump rope simulator apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the jump rope simulators mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new jump rope simulator which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art jump rope simulators, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new jump rope simulator which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new jump rope simulator which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new jump rope simulator which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such jump rope simulator economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new jump rope simulator which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new jump rope simulator for providing an exercise workout simulating the jumping of a jump rope. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new jump rope simulator which includes a pair of hand-held units. Each unit includes a handle and a flexible cord. The handle has opposite first and second ends. One of the ends of the flexible cord is coupled to the first end of the handle such that the flexible cord may be twirled about a twirling axis extending from the handle. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new jump rope simulator that allows a user to simulate jumping rope in confined spaces and areas with low head room in which a traditional jump rope would be impractical. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a new jump rope simulator in use according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded side view of a unit of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of another unit of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic partial side view of the handle of a unit of the present invention taken from the circle 4 on FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of the flexible cord of a unit of the present invention taken from line 5--5 on FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic cross sectional view of a handle of a unit of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a hinge member of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new jump rope simulator embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the jump rope simulator 10 generally comprises a pair of hand-held units 11,12. Each unit 11,12 includes a handle 13 and a flexible cord 17. The handle 13 has opposite first and second ends 14,15. One of the ends 18 of the flexible cord 17 is coupled to the first end 14 of the handle 13 such that the flexible cord 17 may be twirled about a twirling axis extending from the handle 13. 
     In use, the hand-held units 11,12 are designed to be held in the hands of a user in the same fashion as holding the handles of a jump rope. The user then jumps up and down and twirls their hands so that the units are twirled in a similar fashion as a traditional jump rope. In closer detail, the handle 13 of each unit has opposite first and second ends 14,15. Ideally, the handle 13 is contoured to comfortably fit a hand of a user. In this ideal embodiment, the handle 13 preferably has a resiliently compressible outer layer 16 therearound. Ideally, the outer layer 16 of the handle 13 comprises a resiliently compressible foamed rubber. 
     The elongate flexible cord 17 has a pair of opposite ends 18,19. One of the ends 18 of the flexible cord 17 is coupled to the first end 14 of the handle 13 such that the flexible cord 17 may be twirled by a user holding the handle 13 about a twirling axis extending from the handle 13. Preferably, a hinge member 20 pivotally couples the flexible cord 17 to the first end 14 of the handle 13. The hinge member 20 has a first portion 21 and a second portion 22. The first and second portions 21,22 of the hinge member 20 are pivotally coupled together. The first portion 21 of the hinge member 20 is detachably attached to the first end 14 of the handle 13. Ideally, the first portion 21 of the hinge member 20 is threadably inserted into the first end 14 of the handle 13 to detachably attach the first portion 21 of the hinge member 20 to the first end 14 of the handle 13. The second portion 22 of the hinge member 20 is coupled to the one end 18 of the flexible cord 17. 
     Preferably, the flexible cord 17 has a distribution of weight is biased toward the free end 19 of the flexible cord 17 for helping provide a smooth twirling motion by the flexible cord 17 about the twirling axis. In one preferred embodiment, the cord 17 is simply a length of flexible rope with a weight at its free end 19 for biasing its weight distribution towards that end 19. In another preferred embodiment, the flexible cord 17 comprises a flexible tubular casing 23 having a lumen. Ideally, a cloth material exterior layer 24 is provided on the casing for providing padding. In this embodiment, the flexible cord 17 has ballast 25 provided in the lumen of the tubular casing 23. Ideally, the ballast 25 substantially fills the lumen of the tubular casing 23. In this embodiment, the diameter of the flexible cord 17 progressively tapers from the attached end 18 towards the free end 19 of the flexible cord 17 so that the weight of the flexible cord is biased towards the free end 19. 
     Preferably, the handle 13 of one of the units 11 has a jump counting device therein for counting the number of jumps performed by a user twirling the unit. The jump counting device has a visual display 27 for numerically displaying the number of jumps counted by the jump counting device. Preferably, the visual display 27 of the jump counting device is mounted on the handle 13 of the one unit and positioned towards the second end 15 of the handle 13 of the unit 11. The jump counting device preferably has a reset actuator 28 mounted on the second end 15 of the handle 13 of the one unit. This reset actuator 28 resets the number of jumps counted by the jump counting device to zero when the reset actuator is engaged (that is, pressed) by a user. 
     Also preferably, the handle 13 of the other unit 12 has a calorie counting device therein for calculating the number of calories consumed (that is, burned) by a user twirling the unit. The calorie counting device has a visual display 29 for numerically displaying the number of consumed calories calculated by the calorie counting device. The visual display 29 of the calorie counting device is mounted on the handle 13 of the unit 12 preferably positioned towards the second end 15 of the handle 13 of this unit 12. Like the jump counting device, the calorie counting device also preferably has a reset actuator 30 mounted on the second end 15 of the handle 13 of the other unit. This reset actuator 30 permits a user to reset the number of consumed calories calculated by the calorie counting device to zero when the reset actuator is engaged by a user. 
     A battery power source 26 for powering the associated counting device is disposed in a space in the interior of the handle 13 with a removable cap 31 provided on the first end of the handle closing the space. The battery 26 of each unit is electrically connected to the associated counting device of the unit. The battery 26 is removable from the space in the interior of the handle 13 for convenient replacement when the hinge member 20 is detached from the first end 14 of the handle 13. 
     In an ideal illustrative embodiment, the handle 13 has a diameter of about 1 inch and each unit has a length defined between the second end 15 of the handle 13 and the weighted end 19 of the flexible cord 17 of about 21/2 feet. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.