Patent Publication Number: US-6220917-B1

Title: Body suspended amusement system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     In general, the present invention relates to amusement devices that challenge a person&#39;s physical coordination and sense of timing. More particularly, the present invention is related to amusement devices that attach to the body and are manipulated without use of the hands or arms. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     When a person grasps or manipulates another object, it is almost always done with the hands. As such, it is a physiological necessity that people develop good hand/eye coordination and dexterity. The degree of coordination of the hands and arms is usually vastly superior to that of any other major muscle group in the body. 
     Since physical coordination of muscle groups other than the hands and arms is typically undeveloped, it can be somewhat amusing to attempt to complete otherwise simple tasks using these muscle groups. It is also amusing to watch a person attempt to complete simple tasks using a muscle group other than those contained in the arms and hands. It is for these reasons that the prior art is replete with amusement devices that attach to the body at different points and provide simple tests of coordination and timing. The most famous of such prior art devices is the Hula Hoop, which is spun around the waist. Other prior art amusement devices that attach to the waist and test coordination are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,124 to Voss, entitled Peg And Hoop Exercising Toy; U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,482 to Paolone, entitled Waist Mounted Gyration Rod Recreational Device; U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,622, entitled, Hip-Toss Ball Game; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,224,774 to Klotz, entitled Ball And Paddle Device. 
     In addition to the waist, amusement devices have been developed that attach to the head and legs. Prior art amusement devices that are worn on the leg are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,165,315 to Petrusek, entitled Skipping Device and U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,651 to Shure, entitled Bubble-Producing Skipping Toy. 
     Prior art amusement devices that are worn on the head are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,098,316 to McCarthy, entitled Child&#39;s Toy and U.S. Pat. No. 3,216,725 to Hing, entitled Head Attached Balancing Toy. 
     A problem associated will all such prior art amusement devices, is that each time a person plays with the amusement device, that person develops his/her coordination through practice. After a short time, it is no longer challenging to complete the coordination test embodied by the amusement device. When the amusement device loses its challenge, it no longer is very amusing to play or watch. 
     A need therefore exists in the art for an amusement device that can be attached to a part of the body other than the arms and hands, yet can be selectively varied to present a variety of different challenges to the user. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an amusement device. The amusement device includes a mounting assembly that is selectively attachable to a person&#39;s body. The mounting assembly can be eyeglass frames, a hat, a head band, a body band or the like. A mounting rod is provided that has a first end and a second end. The first end of the mounting rod engages the mounting assembly. As such, the mounting rod extends outwardly from the mounting assembly away from the body of the person wearing the mounting assembly. A plurality of coordination games are provided. Each of the coordination games can be selectively attached to the second end of the mounting rod. Accordingly, each of the coordination games can be selectively suspended from a player&#39;s body. The player plays the coordination game by moving his/her body in the area of the mounting assembly. If a player masters the skills needed to play one of the coordination games, the coordination game can be changed to maintain a degree of difficulty and amusement. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an amusement system in accordance with the present invention that illustrates a variety of coordination games; and 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an amusement device in accordance with the present invention that illustrates a variety of coordination games and a variety of body engagement devices. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an amusement system  10  in accordance with the present invention. The exemplary embodiment of the amusement system  10  includes a pair of eyeglass frames  12 . The eyeglass frames  12  contain a bridge region  14  that extends across the top of the nose and two temple elements  16  that extend over the ears. A mounting hole  18  is formed through the bridge area  14  directly above the nose. 
     The eyeglass frames  12  are worn on the head in a conventional manner, wherein the bridge area  14  is positioned over the nose and the temple elements  16  pass over the ears. The eyeglass frames  12  can contain lenses, however, lenses are not required. As will later be explained, in certain embodiments, lenses may be preferred to protect the eyes from inadvertent contact. 
     The amusement system  10  consists of a variety of physical coordination games  20  that attach to the eyeglass frames  12  via the mounting hole  18  in the bridge area  14 . Each of the coordination games  20  connect to the eyeglass frames  12  via a mounting rod  22 . The first end  23  of the mounting rod  22  is free and is both shaped and sized to engage the mounting hole  18  in the eyeglass frame  12 . The interconnection between the first end  23  of the mounting rod  22  and the mounting hole  18  can be made via an interference fit, a keyed hole interconnection or a threaded interconnection. In the shown embodiment, a keyed hole interconnection is shown, wherein both the mounting rod  23  and mounting hole  18  are asymmetrically formed and interconnect in only one orientation. 
     The second end  24  of the mounting rod  22  engages a connector port  26  that extends from part of each of the coordination games  20 . The connector port  26  on each coordination game  20  is a cylindrical structure that defines an opening through which the second end  24  of the mounting rod  22  passes. The interconnection between the second end  24  of the mounting rod  22  and the hole in the connector port  26  can also be made via an interference fit, a keyed hole interconnection or a threaded interconnection. 
     A wide variety of coordination games  20  can be attached to the second end  24  of the mounting rod  22 . A coordination game  20 , for the purposes of this disclosure, is defined as any game or activity that requires controlled coordinated movements and/or timing in order to achieve an end goal. Examples of some coordination games  20  are shown in FIG.  1 . In FIG. 1, there is a maze game  30 . The maze game  30  requires that a ball  31  be moved through the maze from one end of the maze to the other. The maze  30  connects to the mounting rod  22  and the eyeglass frames  12 , via the connector port  26 . As such, the maze  30  is moved by the controlled movements of a person&#39;s body, neck and head. 
     A second coordination game shown is an aperture maze game  32 . In this coordination game, a game board is provided that contains a plurality of apertures  33 . A plurality of balls  34  are provided on the game board. The object of the game is to manipulate the maze game  32  so that the different balls  34  come to rest in the different apertures  33 . The maze game  32  connects to the mounting rod  22  and the eyeglass frames  12 , via a connector port  26 . As such, during play, the maze game  32  is moved by the controlled movements of a person&#39;s body, neck and head. 
     A third coordination game shown is a spinning hoop game  36 . In this coordination game, the second end  24  of the mounting rod  22  engages the connector port  26 , which is part of an enlarged cap  37 . A hoop  38  is then placed around the mounting rod  22 . The object of the spinning hoop game  36  is to continuously spin the hoop  38  around the mounting rod  22 , wherein the en d cap  37  prevents the hoop  38  from falling off the mounting rod  22 . The mounting rod  22  is connected to the eyeglass frames  12 . As such, during play, the movement of the hoop  38  is governed by the controlled movements of a person&#39;s body, neck and head. 
     A fourth coordination game  40  shown is set of clackers. Clackers is the name used in the toy industry to define a game of colliding rotating spheres. In this coordination game  40 , two rotational arm elements  42  are connected to the mounting rod  22 . The rotational arm elements  42  contain round ball weights  43  at their far ends. The rotational arm elements  42  are prevented from sliding off the mounting rod  22  by an enlarged end cap  44 . The object of the game is to move the mounting rod  22  up and down so that the ball weights  43  continuously rotate in opposite directions and collide with one another. The mounting rod  22  is connected to the eyeglass frames  12 . As such, during play, the rotating arm elements  42  are moved by the controlled movements of a person&#39;s body, neck and head. 
     The fifth coordination game shown is a tethered ball game  46 . I n this coordination game, a hoop structure  48  is attached to the second end of the mounting rod, via the connector port  26 . A ball  50  is connected to the hoop structure  48  with a tether  52 . The object of the game is to manipulate the hoop structure  48  so as to cause the tethered ball  50  to land in the hoop structure  48 . The ho op structure  48  connects to the mounting rod  22  and the eyeglass frames  12 . As such, during play, the hoop structure  48  is moved by the controlled movements of a person&#39;s body, neck and head. 
     The five different coordination games  20  illustrated in FIG. 1 are merely exemplary and it should be understood that many other similar coordination games can be adapted for use with the present invention. If the game includes a tethered ball or any other object that can possibly contact a player&#39;s eye, it is desired to lace lenses in the eyeglass frames. In this manner, the eyeglass frames not only support the coordination games but provide protection to the player&#39;s eyes. 
     In FIG. 1, all of the coordination games  20  attached to a pair of eyeglass frames  12 . As such, all manipulation of the ordination games  20  comes from the movements of the head on which the eyeglasses  12  are worn. The use of eyeglasses  12  is also exemplary. Other means of connecting the mounting rod  22  to the body can also be used. Referring to FIG. 2, the eyeglass frames  12  previously described are shown. Also shown are substitutes for the eyeglass frames  12 . Among the substitutes include a head band  60  that can be worn around the head. The head band  60  contains a mounting hole  62  that accepts the first end  23  of the mounting rod  22  in the same manner as the eyeglass frames  12 . 
     Similar to the head band  60  is a hat  64  that can be worn on the head. The hat  64  contains a sun shade  66 . A mounting hole  68  is manufactured in the sun shade  66 . The mounting hole  68  accepts the mounting rod  22  in the same manner as the eyeglass frames  12  originally described. 
     Also in FIG. 2, is shown a chin strap  70  that is worn on the chin. The chin strap  70  contains a mounting hole  72  that accepts the first end  23  of the mounting rod  22  in the same manner as the eyeglass frames  12 . 
     Lastly, in FIG. 2, a body strap assembly  74  is shown. The body strap assembly  74  includes a mounting plate  75  in which a mounting hole  76  is formed. The mounting hole  76  accepts the first end  23  of the mounting rod  22  in the same manner as the eyeglass frames  12 . The mounting plate  75  is connected to a strap  79 . The strap  79  can be secured around the waist, arm, leg or any other part of the body. 
     It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention amusement system that are described and illustrated herein are merely exemplary and a person skilled in the art can make many variations to the embodiment shown without departing from the scope of the present invention. All variations, modifications and alternate embodiments that serve the stated function are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.