Patent Publication Number: US-2003228829-A1

Title: Splash Hoop

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The invention relates to improvements to the well-known “Hula Hoop” toy.  
       [0002] More generally speaking to a toy constructed of a large, lightweight hoop.  
       [0003] Normally made of plastic or similar material, the hoop is placed around the waist of the user and is suspended above the ground using undulating hip movements.  
       [0004] The original version of the toy was just a hollow light weight hoop. This was manufactured by connecting the ends of the plastic tube to form a circle, binding the ends without seams or with a separate connector, of various forms. Later improvements to the device consisted of materials sealed inside the hoop for the purpose of making noise or to assist in the rotation. One such improvement, designed to assist rotation, consists of the addition of water sealed inside the hoop taking up about {fraction (1/16)} th  of the internal volume.  
       [0005] However, this very basic design or the ones with rotational improvements did not significantly change the “hooping” experience.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] The present invention, the “Splash Hoop”, consists of a plastic circular hoop (as in the original design) that is manually filled by the user with water in to the hollow shell. The improvements to the basic hoop design include small holes of varying dimensions as described below. The hoop, when filled with water and rotated around the waist by a person would emit fine streams of water thereby splashing everyone in the direct vicinity and increasing the enjoyment of the toy for all.  
       [0007] The hoop toy can be altered to produce more or less spray by varying the size of the holes in different embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0008]FIG. 1 Depicts the user “hooping” with the new invention, the splash hoop. Note the water jets emitting a stream of water splashing the others in the near vicinity.  
     [0009]FIG. 2 Depicts a close up view of water release holes, on a section of the hoop  
     [0010]FIG. 3 Depicts a close up view of water fill up hole, a water hose and an adapter used to fill up the hoop, as well as a plug to seal the fill hole after water is injected into the hoop.  
     [0011]FIG. 4 Depicts an alternate positioning of the holes for more control of the spray. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0012] Referring to FIG. 1, the user is shown using the Splash Hoop. While coordinated hip movements keep the hoop revolving around the waist of the user, water is emitted through a multiplicity of “splash” holes located about the circumference. The location of the holes, their size and number as well as the speed at which the hoop is rotated determine the direction flow rate of the water. The interior volume of the hollow section of the tube would determine the amount of water available, and would also be the primary contributor to the weight of the toy, when filled. A hoop with a larger diameter hollow area for example could deliver longer or wetter play time. More complex “splash holes” equipped with shut off mechanisms or adjustable slides, or ones designed to permit flow only while the hoop is rotating are also envisioned, but would add complexity to the toy, increasing costs.  
     [0013] Referring to FIG. 2, one section of the preferred embodiment of the Invention is shown in an enlarged view. The holes shown continue around the entire circumference. In this embodiment, the “splash” holes are located at 45 degrees towards outside of the ring, with the top center of the ring being zero degrees. In addition the small size of these holes allows for limited water loss during transportation to the play area, and a long “splash time”. Using this location for the splash holes, the water will be projected up and away from the user while the hoop rotates. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the splash holes are located every 6″ around the perimeter of the hoop and have a diameter of approximately 0.65 mm  
     [0014] The tube would be filled from a conventional hose or other water source, but in most cases would require an adapter in a funnel shape to reduce the orifice from the hose end to one that would fit in to the fill hole on the hoop. In the preferred embodiment of the invention this hole “Fill-Up” hole is ¼″ in diameter and is located at the top of the hoop when the hoop is level. FIG. 3 shows a simple fill up hole and a funnel shaped filling aid attached to a common garden hose. The hose with the funnel shaped filling aid is simply inserted into the fill-up hole on the hoop, the water from the hose is then injected into the hollow cavity of the hoop. Also in reference to FIG. 3, the fill-up hole is then sealed with a device and in a manner that one would use with small squirt guns. More complex versions including a one-way valve could also be used, but would add complexity to an otherwise simple design.  
     [0015] In other versions of splash hole placement (refer to FIG. 4), locating the holes all on the same quarter of the hoop as the “Fill-Up” hole would allow more targeted or directed spray of the water and nearly eliminate the loss of water as the hoop was filled at the hose and transported vertically to the play area.