Patent Publication Number: US-8118716-B2

Title: Pogo stick

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to United Kingdom patent application no. 05 23 769.8 filed Nov. 22, 2005, and the entire contents of this application are expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to amusement devices or toys, and more particularly, though not exclusively, to devices generally known as “pogo sticks”. 
     BACKGROUND TO INVENTION 
     Pogo sticks have been known for some time. An example is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,793,036 (HANSBURG). 
     At least one aspect of the present invention seeks to obviate or mitigate one or more problems and/or disadvantages of known pogo sticks. 
     At least one aspect of the present invention provides an improved pogo stick with a novel or novelty lighting effect. 
     It is a further object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide an alternative to known pogo sticks. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to providing one or more illumination means on a pogo stick or like amusement device. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pogo stick or like device comprising at least one illuminatable or illumination means. 
     The pogo stick may comprise a frame comprising a tubular member. 
     The tubular member may extend substantially longitudinally, and may be located substantially co-axially with a central axis of the pogo stick, and may comprise a structural member. 
     The tubular member may comprise a first (upper) tubular portion and a second (lower) tubular portion. 
     The first and second tubular portions may be joined end to end. 
     An annular baffle or wall may be provided within the tubular member, e.g. at or near adjacent ends of the first and second tubular portions. 
     The pogo stick may comprise a pair of handles extending from the frame. 
     The pogo stick may comprise platform means. 
     Each handle may comprise a fixed end and a free end. 
     The free ends of each handle may substantially face one another. 
     The pogo stick may comprise biasing means. 
     The biasing means may bias a leg member to a first extended position relative to the tubular member. 
     An end of the leg member may be received within the tubular means from an end thereof. 
     Said end of the leg member may be received within the first tubular portion via the annular baffle. 
     Biasing means may be provided within the second tubular position, e.g. extending from the annular baffle to an annular member provided mid-way along the leg member. 
     The/each illuminatable or illumination means may comprise at least one vertically extending member. 
     The illuminatable or illumination means may comprise a pair of illumination means, and each may comprise a vertically extending member located on either side of the tubular member. 
     The/each vertically extending member may be made from a polymeric or plastics material, e.g. polyvinylchloride (PVC). 
     The/each illuminatable or illumination means may comprise a plurality of illumination devices, e.g. light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     The plurality of illumination devices may comprise a plurality of sets of illumination devices. 
     The pogo stick may also comprise electronic circuitry, which may, in use, control illumination of the plurality of sets of illumination devices such that different sets are illuminated at different times. 
     Colours of illumination devices of different sets may be different from one another. 
     The illuminatable or illumination means may be powered by battery means. 
     The pogo stick may comprise switch means for switching the electronic circuitry and/or illuminatable means on or off. 
     The switch means may comprise an on-off switch, e.g. a rocker switch or push button switch. Alternatively or additionally, the switch means may comprise a vibration switch or motion sensor, which may activate when the pogo stick is in use. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a pogo stick or the like comprising a pair of handles, each handle comprising a fixed end and a free end, the free ends of each handle substantially facing one another. 
     The free end may be provided above the fixed ends. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a pogo stick or the like comprising at least one handle, where the handle is substantially U-shaped. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a pogo stick or the like comprising a single vertically extending frame or structural member. 
     The frame or structural member may comprise a tubular member. 
     An end of a leg of the pogo stick may be received within the frame member. 
     Optional features of the second to fourth aspects may be taken from those of the first aspect. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are: 
         FIG. 1  a front view of a pogo stick according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a non-operational configuration; 
         FIG. 2  a front view of the pogo stick of  FIG. 1  in an operational configuration; 
         FIG. 3  a front view of the pogo stick of  FIG. 1  in an operational configuration and first illuminated state; 
         FIG. 4  a rear view of the pogo stick of  FIG. 1  in an operational configuration and first illuminated state; 
         FIG. 5  a front view of the pogo stick of  FIG. 1  in an operational configuration and second illuminated state; 
         FIG. 6  a front view of electronic circuitry of the pogo stick of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  a front view of electronic circuitry and associated illuminatable means of the pogo stick of  FIG. 1  in a non-illuminated condition; 
         FIG. 8  a side view of the electronic circuitry and associated illuminatable means of  FIG. 7  in a first illuminated condition; 
         FIG. 9  a side view of electronic circuitry and associated illuminatable means of  FIG. 7  in a second illuminated condition; 
         FIG. 10  a side view of the electronic circuitry and associated illuminatable means of  FIG. 7  in a third illuminated condition; 
         FIG. 11  a perspective view from the front and below of a pogo stick according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  a perspective view from the rear and above of the pogo stick of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  a front view of the pogo stick of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 14  a side view of the pogo stick of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 15  an exploded perspective view from the front and above of the pogo stick of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 16  a cross-sectional side view of the pogo stick of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 17  a schematic view of electronic circuitry of the pogo stick of  FIG. 11 ; and 
         FIG. 18  a perspective view from the front and above of a pogo stick according to a third embodiment of the present invention in an illuminated configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 to 10  there is shown a pogo stick, generally designated  5 , according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The pogo stick  5  comprises illuminatable or illumination means  10   a ,  10   b  provided on either side of a central member  15 . The central member  15  comprises a sheath  20  within which is provided a frame  25  comprising a tubular member  30  (not shown), Also provided within the sheath  20  and tubular member  30  is a biasing means  35  (not shown), which will be described hereinafter in greater detail. 
     The pogo stick  5  also comprises a leg  65 . A lower end of the leg  65  comprises a ground engaging foot  70  which may be made of rubber or the like. An upper end of the leg  65  passes through a lower portion of the tubular member  30  and the biasing means  35  (which is in the form of a coiled spring), and is received within a lower end of an upper portion of the tubular member  30  through an annular wall or baffle (not shown). A lower end of the biasing means  35  is attached to the leg  65  via an annular lip member  75  (not shown), while an upper end of the biasing means  35  abuts the annular wall which is provided at or near a lower end of the upper portion of tubular member  30 . 
     Each handle  40   a ,  40   b  comprises a fixed end and a free end, the free ends of each handle  40   a ,  40   b  in this embodiment substantially facing one another, as can best be seen from  FIG. 1 . In a non-operational mode (i.e. without a user standing on the platform means  45 ) the biasing means  35  bias the leg member  65  to a first extended position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , relative to the frame  25 . 
     Each illumination means  10   a ,  10   b  comprises at least one vertically extending tubular member  80 . In this embodiment the illumination means  10   a ,  10   b  comprises a pair of vertically extending tubular members  80   a ,  80   b  located on either side of the frame  25  and sheath  20 . Each vertically extending member  80   a ,  80   b  is in this example, made from a polymeric or plastics material, e.g. polyvinychloride (PVC), or any other suitably robust and/or shatterproof material. 
     Each illumination means  10   a ,  10   b  comprises a plurality of illumination devices, and in this implementation a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs)  85 . The plurality of LED&#39;s comprise a plurality of sets of LEDs  85   a ,  85   b ,  85   c , the illumination of which is, in use, controlled by control circuitry  90  provided within electronic enclosure  60 . The circuitry  90  controls the illumination of the plurality of sets of LEDs  85   a ,  85   b ,  85   c  such that the LEDs are either nonilluminated, illuminated and/or different sets of LEDs are illuminated at different times, as can best be seen from  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 . The illumination effect can 
     also be seen from  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10 . The LEDs  85  are in this embodiment powered by battery means  95  provided within the electronic enclosure  60 . 
     Further, the pogo stick  5  comprises switch means  100  for switching the illuminatable or illumination means  10   a ,  10   b  on and/or off. The switch means  100  comprises in this embodiment, a rocker switch. However, alternative switches may be provided, as will be appreciated, for example, a push-button switch. Alternatively or additionally, the switch means may comprise a vibration switch or movement sensor, which activates when the pogo stick is in use, or is otherwise moved. 
     The leg  65  may be made of steel, footrests  50   a ,  50   b  from aluminum, support member  55  from steel, connection member  75  from steel, biasing means  35  from a suitable metal, and annular lip member  75  from steel. An inner surface of support member  55  may be provided with a bush  36  (not shown), which may be made from PVC. Further, vertically extending tubular members  80   a ,  80   b  may be made from PVC, and the sheath  20  may also be made from PVC, suitably coated or painted to have a metallic appearance. The tubular member  30  may be made from a suitable metal, e.g. steel. Further, the electronic enclosure  60  may be made from a suitable metal. Finally, the foot  70  may be made from rubber or the like, e.g. polypropylene. 
     In use, a user may hingeably deploy the footrests  50   a ,  50   b  from a first non-operational configuration as shown in  FIG. 1  to a lowered operational configuration shown in  FIG. 2 . The user may then switch on the illuminatable means by means of switch  95 . The user may then stand on the footrests  50   a ,  50   b  and use the pogo stick  5  in a conventional manner. Sequencing of illumination of the LEDs  85 , and movement of the pogo stick  5 , creates novel lighting effects. These effects can be controlled by the user by virtue of the amount by which the user causes the pogo stick to bounce or jump. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 11 to 17 , there is shown a pogo stick, generally designated  105 , according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The pogo stick  105  resembles the pogo stick  5  of  FIGS. 1 to 10  in many respects, like parts being designated by like numerals, but increased by “100”. 
     The arrangement of the upper end of the leg  165  extending within the tubular member  130  can best be seen from  FIG. 16 . 
     The tubular member  130  extends substantially longitudinally, and is positioned substantially coaxially with a central longitudinal axis of the pogo stick  105 , and comprises a structural member. The tubular member  130  comprises a first upper tubular portion  131  and a second or lower tubular portion  132 , and first and second portion  131 ,  132  being joined end to end. An annular baffle  133  is provided within the tubular member  130  between adjacent ends of the first and second tubular portions  131 ,  132 . A lower end of the second tubular portion  132  provide a tubular bush  136  for guiding the leg member  165 , and for spacing the tubular member  130  and leg member  165  one from the other. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 17  is a detailed schematic circuit diagram of LEDs  185  controlled by switch  195 , and IC  196 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 18 , there is shown a third embodiment of a pogo stick  205  according to the present invention. The pogo stick  205  resembles the pogo stick  5  of  FIGS. 1 to 10  in many respects, like parts being designated by like numerals, but increased by “200”. 
     The pogo stick  205  does, however, have a different handle arrangement  240 , wherein the ends of the handles  240   a ,  240   b  are connected to one another so as to provide a closed shape. Further, frame members  226   a ,  226   b  are provided, which extend to a connection member  227 , which connects the frame members  226   a ,  226   b  to a tubular member  230 , and illuminatable means  210   a ,  210   b.    
     It will be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described, are given by way of example only, and are not meant limit the scope thereof in any way. 
     It will be particularly appreciated that the disclosed embodiments provide novel lighting effects over prior art pogo sticks. 
     Further, it will be appreciated that the disclosed pogo sticks of the present invention provide advantage over the prior art in providing a single vertically extending central structural member.