Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/041,141, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/953,428, filed on Sep. 29, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,339, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/446,925, filed May 28, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,814. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     N/A 
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates, in general, to hoop-type amusement devices and, more particularly, to a counter for an improved hoop-type amusement device. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     The HULA HOOP® is an amusement device that was initially introduced by Wham-O, Inc. in the early 1950&#39;s. HULA HOOP is a registered trademark of Wham-O, Inc. Since introduction, the HULA HOOP has enjoyed widespread use as a device for physical exercise and amusement used by men, women, and children of all ages. The classic HULA HOOP is formed from a hollow piece of plastic tubing having connected ends so as to form an annular shape having a fixed diameter. The HULA HOOP is generally placed around a users waist, legs, arms, or even neck, and user gyrations cause the HULA HOOP to rotate about the user. 
     While widely popular, the classic HULA HOOP is burdened with significant limitations. Specifically, the simple annular shape of the HULA HOOP limits its functionality and playing method, such that the user is merely able to rotate the hoop about their waist often causing the user to quickly become bored. Furthermore, the simple hoop structure is further incapable of adjustment of either size or shape thereby limiting appeal. 
     In an effort to overcome such disadvantages and limitations, a variety of improvements have been proposed and used in the art of hoop-type amusement devices. For example, in an effort to improve playability and/or enhance functionality, luminous hoops, glow-in-the-dark hoops, and fluid filled hoops have been developed and used in the art. Nevertheless, there exists a need for further improvements in technology relating to hoop-type play devices to enhance enjoyment and playability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved hoop-type amusement device adapted with a counter for counting the number of revolutions achieved by the user. The counter is preferably adapted for attachment to any of a variety of hoop type devices, including the HULA HOOP, as well as specially configured hoop type devices, such as the type that may be formed from a plurality of variously sized and shaped connectable components that are selectively interconnected by the user to form a simple or complex hoop configuration of a particular desired size and shape. Accordingly, as used herein, the term “hoop” may refer to a wide variety of shapes, including annular, square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal, etc. A counter is provided for connection to the hoop assembly. The counter functions to count the number of revolutions achieved by the user thereby allowing the user to monitor and gage performance. A counter in accordance with the present invention is preferably adapted for removable attachment to the hoop-type amusement device. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvements relating to hoop-type amusement devices. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a hoop-type amusement device formed of a plurality of connectable components. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hoop-type amusement device adapted with a counter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the counter in relation with a hoop-type amusement device; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view of the counter in relation with a hoop-type amusement device; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the counter in relation with an alternate configuration hoop-type amusement device; 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of shows a frontal side perspective view of the counter; 
         FIG. 5  is an opposing side perspective view thereat 
         FIG. 6  is a side view thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is top perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the hoop-type amusement device, wherein the counter may be incorporated on a connecting member; 
         FIG. 8  is a detail perspective view of a component connector adapted to receive a counter in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a component connector attached to a hoop forming member; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a counter attached to the component connector shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  depicts a composite hoop device having a counter attached to a component connector; 
         FIG. 12  is a detail partial perspective view of the counter attached to the component connector; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a hoop-type amusement device with the counter attached to a component connector; and 
         FIG. 14  is a partial exploded view showing hoop-components adapted with a mating extender connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-14  show hoop-type amusement device, generally referenced as  10 , adapted with a counter  20  in an operational position in accordance with the present invention.  FIG. 1  shows counter  20  in relation with a complex hoop-type amusement device, including an inner annular hoop member  12  and an outer octagonal hoop member  14  secured in concentric relation by connectors  16 . Device  10  provides a hoop-type amusement device that rotates about the user in response to movement and gyrations produced by the user thus providing the source of amusement. In the operation of the hoop-type amusement device  10 , one point of the inner surface of the inner annular hoop member  12  remains in contact with the hips of the user, such that during one complete rotation of the device  10 , virtually every point in the entire surface of the inner annular member  12  makes contact with the hip of the user just once. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 , counter  20  is preferably adapted to function as either a mechanical or electrical tally counter device, and is specifically configured for attachment to a portion of hoop-type amusement device  10 . Counter  20  includes a housing  22  having a C-shaped connector, generally referenced as  24 . C-shaped connector  24  is preferably sized and shaped so as to allow for removable attachment of counter housing  22  to inner annular member  12  thereby allowing for removable attachment of counter  20 . As should be apparent, C-shaped connector  24  fits tightly enough around the inner annular member  12  to ensure that the counter remains rigidly secured during the operation of the hoop-type amusement device  10 . 
     Counter  20  further includes a counter actuator arm  26  pivotally connected thereto and projecting from housing  22 . When counter  20  is in operative engagement with hoop inner annular member  12  actuator arm  26  projects into the void formed radially within the inner angular member  12 . Actuator arm  26  terminates in an end portion that is bent upwards so that the bottom of the actuator creates a flat surface that makes contact with the user when the actuator is triggered. As the hoop-type amusement device  10  rotates around the hips of the user, the counter actuator arm  26  is caused to move by contact with the user&#39;s body once during every rotation. In turn, every actuation of counter actuator arm  26  represents one full rotation of the hoop-type amusement device  10  about the user. The number of times the counter actuator arm  26  is activated represents the total number of times the hoop-type amusement device  10  has rotated completely around the user. Counter housing  22  further includes a transparent window  28  for displaying the tally to the user. As should be apparent, the tally is continuously updated in real time during the operation of the hoop-type amusement device  10  and actuation of arm  26 . 
     Counter  20  further includes a reset knob  29  to allow the user to reset the counter back to zero, or any other desired count. A counter resetting actuator  29  protrudes from the sidewall  10  of the counter housing  22 . Resetting actuator  29  is used to re-set the number that is presented on the counter display to a specific number, such as zero. The number on the display can also be reset to any number depending on the preference of the user. The counter resetting actuator  29  is preferably a rotatable knob that is turned in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction, however any suitable reset actuator structure is considered within the scope of the present invention. 
     Counter  20  can be attached to the hoop-type amusement device  10  through any suitable means. In the preferred embodiment, counter  20  is attached through a simple C-shaped connector  24 . C-shaped connector  24  consists of two C-shaped extension pieces, referenced as  24   a  and  24   b , which extend from opposing lateral ends of the bottom front side of the counter housing  22 . C-shaped extension pieces  24 A and  24 B fit around the innermost member of the hoop-type amusement device  10  forming a secure connection as to limit the lateral and vertical displacement of the counter  20  during the operation of the device  10 . In a preferred attachment embodiment, counter  20  is mounted in a position so that the front of the housing  22  faces the center of the hoop-type device  10  and the display window  28  faces vertically upward. 
       FIGS. 7-13  present an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the counter is adapted for attachment to a component connector coupling multiple members that axe used to form a complex hoop-type device  10 . The complex device configuration can consist of multiple members of varying shapes that are each coupled together. Specifically,  FIG. 8  shows a connector member  30  for use in forming an octagonal outer hoop  14  concentrically disposed around an inner circular hoop member  12 . A plurality of connectors referenced as  30  are disposed in engagement with inner member  12 , and the intersection point of two sides of the octagonal outer member  14  as best seen in  FIG. 11 . Each connector  30  functions as a coupler for connecting individual side members  40  to form a complete octagonal outer member  14 , and further functions to couple octagonal outer member  14  with inner member  12 . Accordingly, each connector  30  includes a first pair of tubular openings  32  that receive members forming the outer hoop member, and a second pair of tubular openings  34  that receive members forming the inner hoop member. In addition, inserts  42  may be provided to allow for the connection of members  40  to form an enlarged hoop configuration. 
     Connector  30  further includes a raised, generally cylindrical, mount  36  that functions to receive a counter  20  in press fit engagement therewith. In this embodiment, counter housing  22  is attached to a mount  36  on one of the connectors  30 . In turn, the connectors  30  receive hoop side members  40  which form each side of the octagonal shaped outer member  14 . As should be apparent, counter  20  is positioned so that the C-shaped connector  24 , which protrudes from counter housing  22  extends inwards towards the center of the hoop-type device  10 . More particularly, the C-shaped connector  24  fits around the inner circular member  12 , thereby connecting the inner member  12  to the outer member  24 . 
     Counter actuator arm  26  extends from the bottom of the counter housing  22 , and projects radially inward so as to be in position to engage a portion of the user&#39;s body as the hoop rotates. As with the previous disclosed embodiment of the present invention, activation of the counter actuator arm  26  causes the number stored by counter mechanism to increase by a value of one for each actuation/revolution. Since the counter actuator piece  30  can only be activated once during a full rotation of the hoop-type amusement device  10 , the value stored by the counter mechanism represents the total number of rotations performed in the operation of the device  10 . As noted above, a reset actuator  29  extends from the side of counter housing  22  into the space between the inner and outer members  12  and  14 . The reset actuator  29  can be but is not limited to a winding knob. By turning the winding knob in a specific direction, the reset actuator  29  is activated, and the number stored by the counter mechanism is set to a desired value. 
     The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious structural and/or functional modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Technology Category: 1