Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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COLLAPSTBLE HULA HOOP AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTTON
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates in general to a hula-hoop. More specifically,
embodiments of the present invention relate to a collapsible hula-hoop and
method for
exercisiiig. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a method of
storing a
hula-hoop.
2. Description of the Background Art
A hula is a.Polynesian dance which may be characterized by undulating hips.
The
hula dance may have inspired a plastic ring sold under the trade mark Hula-
Hoop,
registered to Wham-O, Inc. The Hula-Hoop brand plastic ring is a light-weight
plastic
ring which is whirled aroun.d the body in proximity to the hips and may be
used for play
or for exercise.
The plastic ring possesses a relatively large diameter, and because its
structural
form is fixed, it has practical drawbacks. A conventional hula-hoop plastic
structure is
cumbersome and may not be easily transported. Also, the plastic ring when sold
in a
store, occupies an inordinate amount of space, since it possesses a large
diameter and
may not be readily collapsed to fit into a relatively small box.
Therefore, what is needed and what has been invented is a structural ring,
preferably a plastic ring, which does not possess the abovementioned
disadvantages.
What is further needed and what has been invented is a structural ring which
may be
readily collapsed to facilitate transportation and storage.
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SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for forming a hula hoop
comprising depressing (e.g., such as into a spring-biased posture)a peg member
on a first
ternZinal end section of a cylindrical member, and passing the peg member into
an
opening on a second terminal end section of the cylindrical member to couple
the first
terminal end section with the second terminal end section to form a hula hoop.
The
method may fiufilier comprise releasing the peg member into a spring-biased
relationshi.p
with the second terminal end section. The releasing of the peg member may be
before the
passing of the peg member into the opening on the second terminal end section.
The
method may i'iu=ther comprise sliding a top of the peg member along a portion
(e.g., an
internal cylindrical surface) of the second terminal end section while the top
of the peg
member remains biased against the portion of the second terminal end section.
After the
peg member enters the opening in the second terminal end section, the spring-
biased
posture on the peg member is released.
Embodiments of the present invention furth.er provide a method for forming a
hula hoop comprising pressing a peg member of a peg assembly into a flex-
biased
posture and in general alignment with an outside cylindrical surface of a
conduit member
which houses the peg assembly and is coupled to a first terminal end section
of a tube
member. The method further comprises moving an end of the conduit member into
a
second terminal end section of the tube member, placing a top of the flex-
biased peg
member in biased contact with an internal cylindrical surface of the second
terminal end
section, and sliding the top of the flex-biased peg member along the internal
cylindrical
surface until the peg member passes into an opening in the second terminal end
section
for coupling the first terminal end section with the second terminal end
section to, form a
hula hoop.
Embodiments of the present invention also further provide a method for
collapsing a hula hoop comprising removing a peg member from an opening in a
second
terminal end section by pressing the peg member into a flex-biased posture and
in general
alignment with an outside cylindrical surface of a conduit member which is
coupled to a
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first terminal end section of a tube member and is at least partly slidably
disposed on an
i.nternal cylindrical surface in the second tenninal end section. The method
further
comprises sliding the conduit member along the in.ternal cylindrical surface
within the
second teiminal end section to move the flex-biased peg member away from the
opening
and place a top of the flex-biased peg member in biased contact with a portion
of the
internal cylindrical surface. The method also fiuther comprises sliding the
biased top of
the flex-biased peg member along the internal cylindrical surface until the
flex-biased peg
member passes out of the second terminal end section to produce the tube
member with
the first terminal end section being decoupled from the second terminal end
section, and
collapsing the tube member into a generally coiled-spring configuration having
a
plurality of overlapping loops. The plurality of overlapping loops have
generally identical
diameters.
Embodiments of the present invention yet also further provide a hula hoop
comprising a tube member having a first teinlinal end section and a second
terminal end
section, and a connector assembly having a conduit structure coupled to the
first terminal
end section and slidably disposed in the second terminal end section. The
connector
assembly additionally has a peg assembly including a peg member passing
through an
aperture in the conduit structure and slidably positioned within an opening in
the second
terminal end section. The peg assembly comprises a shoulder structure
supporting the peg
member, an arcuate structure bound to the shoulder structure, and a base
structure bound
to the arcuate structure.
These provisions together with the various ancillary provisions and features
which
will become apparent to those artisans possessing skill in the art as the
following
description proceeds are attained by devices, assemblies, apparatuses and
methods of
embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments thereof being shown
with
reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:
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BRIEF DESCRTPTION OF THE DRA.'WINGS
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a girl swirling the collapsible hula-hoop around
her
hips.
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a hula-hoop being releasably separated and folded
or
collapsed into a coil shaped configuration.
FIG. 3 is a view of a girl holding the coil-shaped configured, collapsible
hula-
hoop.
FIG. 4 is a view of a girl carrying the coil-shaped configured, collapsible
hula-
hoop.,
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the collapsible hula-hoop after having been
separated into two terminal ends and with a person holding the two terminal
ends and in
the process of connecting or releasably coupling together the two terminal
ends to
produce the collapsible hula-hoop with a generally continuous structure.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the connector assembly coupled to one of the
terminal
ends of hula-hoop.
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the connector assembly illustrating a peg member
extending through an aperture in a housing conduit.
FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken in direction of the arrows and along
the
plane of line 8-8 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken in direction of the arrows and along
the
plane of line 9-9 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken in direction of the arrows and
along the
plane of line 10-10 in FIG. 7.
FIG. i 1 is a partial top plan view of the other terminal end of the hula-hoop
illustrating an opening wherein the peg slidably, releasably lodges for
coupling together
the terminal ends of the hula-hoop to form the collapsible hula-hoop with a
generally
continuous structure.
FIG. 12 is a partial top plan view of the terminal ends coupled together by
the peg
member of the connector assembly slidably, releasably lodged within the
opening of one
of the terminal ends of the hula-hoop.
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FIG. 13 is a partial side elevational view of one of the terminal ends aligned
with
the connector assembly protruding from the other terminal end of the hula-hoop
in order
for the connector assembly to slidably mate with the intezual cylindrical
surface of the
terminal end.
FIG. 14 is a partial side elevational view of the connector assembly slidably
engaged to the terminal end having the opening with the peg member in a
depressed
posture and biasedly, slidably engaging the internal cylindrical surface of
the terminal
end.
FIG. 15 is a partial side elevational view of the terminal ends being
releasably
coupled together by the connector assembly after the peg member has been slid
along the
internal cylindrical surface of the terminal end while being continuously
biased against
the internal cylindrical surface until the peg member reaches the opening
whereupon the
flexible, flex-biased structure supporting the peg member causes the peg
member to
spring through the opening.
FIG. 16 is a partial sectional, side elevational view of another embodiment of
the
connector assembly.
FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional view taken in directions of the arrows and
along the
plane of line 17-17 in FIG. 6.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE IlVVENTION
In the description herein for embodiments of the present invention, numerous
specific details are provided, such as examples of components and/or methods,
to provide
a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. One skilled
in the
relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment of the invention can
be
practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other
apparatus, systems,
assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts, and/or the like. In other
instances,
well-known structures, materials, or operations are not specifically shown or
described in
detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the present invention.
Referring now to FIG. 1 there is seen a ring, generally illustrated as 10 and
sold
under the trade mark Hula-Hoop, registered to Wham-O, Inc. While the Hula-Hoop
brand
ring member will be broadly referred to hereafter as "hula hoop," such use of
the term
"hiula-hoop" is not to be construed as misuse of the trade mark Hula-Hoop. Nor
is the use
of the term "hula-hoop" to limit the spirit and scope of the present invention
to any
conventional Hula-Hoop brand ring member which is typically adapted to be
whirled
around a body 12 by movement of the hips 14. Such use may be for exercise
purposes or
for entertainment purposes. The hula hoop 10 may be manufactured from any
suitable
material, preferably any suitable plastic, such as polyethylene or
polypropylene.
The hula hoop 10 comprises a connector assembly 18 for releasably coupling
together sections of terminal ends 20 and 22 of the hula hoop 10 for forming a
generally
continuous ring structure. The connector assembly 18 is coupled to and/or
slidably
engaged to the terminal end section 20. Terminal end section 22 includes an
opening 23.
When the connector assembly 18 disengages the coupled terminal end sections 20
and 22,
the hula hoop 10 nlay be folded or collapsed into a generally coiled-spring
configuration
30, as best shown in FIG. 2. In the generally coiled-spring configuration 30,
the hula
hoop 10 includes a plurality of overlapping loops having generally identical
diameters. In
the collapsed structure or coiled-spring configuration 30, it may be easily
carried and
transported, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
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In the embodiment of the connector assembly 18 illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, the
connector assembly 18 has a conduit structure 18a having an outside
cylindrical surface
18c and ends 32 and 34 and an opening 36. The outside diameter of the conduit
structure
18a is slightly less than the internal diameter of the terminal end section 20
so that the
conduit structure 18a is capable of making a snug, affixed connection with the
terminal
end section 20, as best shown in FIG. 17. The terminal end section 22 has an
internal
diameter which is larger than the outside diameter of the conduit structure
18a to
facilitate the passage of the conduit structure 18a into the terminal end
section 22 for
coupling together terminal end sections 20 and 22 in accordance with the
procedure set
forth hereafter.
The connector assembly 18 also includes a peg assembly 40 having a peg meinber
42 (e.g., a lug) supported by a flexible, spring- or flex-biased structure 44
which biases
the peg member 42 upwardly after the peg member 42 is depressed downwardly.
The peg
member 42 has a top peg surface 42a that generally aligns with the outside
cylindrical
surface 18c in the procedure of using the connector assembly 18 for coupling
the terminal
ends 20 and 22 together to form a continuous hula hoop structure. The flex-
biased
structure 44 has a shoulder structure 45 supporting the peg member 42. The
spring- or
flex-biased structure 44 also has a base structure 46 supported by an internal
cylindrical
surface 18b'of the conduit structure 18a. The shoulder structure 45 and the
base structure
46 terminate in an arcuate structure 48. As peg member 42 is depressed, the
spring- or
flex-biased structure 44 flexes into a posture having an upward bias such that
when the
peg member 42 is released, the upward biasing of the spring- or flex-biased
structure
causes the peg member 42 to spring back into its original position before
being biased. As
will be fur(:her explained below, when the terminal end sections 20 and 22 are
being
releasably coupled, the peg member 42 removably lodges in the opening 23 of
the
terminal end section 22.
Referring now to FIG. 16 there is seen another embodiment of the connector
assembly 18 having the flex-biased structure 44 with an intermediate section
50 integrally
bound to the peg member 42 and to a structure 52 which defines an arcuate
channel.
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Structure 52 is connected to a flange member 54 which is bound to the terminal
end
section 20. For this embodiment of the present invention, the peg member 42
generally
operates as it does for the embodiment of FIGS. 6-10. More specifically, as
this
embodiznent of the peg member 42 is depressed, the spring- or flex-biased
structure 44
(e.g., the intennediate section 50 and structure 52) flexes into a posture
having an upward
bias such that when the peg member 42 is released, the upward biasing of the
spring- or
flex-biased structure causes the peg member 42 to spring back into its
original position
before being biased. While the embodiment of the connector assembly 18
illustrated in
FIGS. 6-10 will be used to illustrate the procedure for releasably connecting
terminal end
section 20 with terminal end section 22 such that the hula hoop has a general
continuous
structure for any suitable use, it is to be understood that the use of the
embodiment of the
connector assembly 18 of FIGS. 6-10 is not to limit the spirit and scope of
the present
invention which is to include any generally upward biasing peg member 42 for
removably lodging in opening 23 on terminal end section 22.
Referring in detail now to FIGS. 13-15 for explaining the procedure for
releasably
coupling together terminal end sections 20 and 22, the conduit structure 18a
of the
connector assembly 18 is generally aligned (as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 13)
with the
hollow end of terminal section 22. As previously indicated, because the
outside diameter
of the conduit structure 18a is slightly less than the internal diameter of
the terminal end
section 20, the conduit structure 18a is capable of making a snug, affixed
connection with
the terminal end section 20, as best shown in FIG. 17. A glue solution or
member.(not
shown) may be used to assist in connecting the outside cylindrical surface of
the conduit
structure 18a to the intem.al surface of the terminal end section 20. As
further previously
indicated, because the terminal end section 22 has an internal diameter which
is larger
than the outside diameter of the conduit structare 18a, the conduit structure
18a may
easily pass into the terminal end section 22. After the conduit structure 18a
of the
connector assembly 18 has been generally aligned with the hollow end of
terminal end
section 22, peg member 42 is pushed or depressed downwardly in directiori of
arrow B in
3o FIG. 13. Preferably, the peg member 42 is pushed or depressed downwardly
until the top
surface 42a is generally aligned with the outside cylindrical surface 18c of
the conduit
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structure 18a. When the peg member 42 is depressed or pushed downwardly, the
spring-
or flex-biased structure 44 (e.g., the intermediate section 50 and structure
52) becomes
flexed such that the peg member 42 has a posture including an upward bias.
Subsequently, the conduit structure 18a is moved in direction of arrows A=A in
FIG. 13 and into the terminal end 22 until at least a portion of the top
surface 42a of the
peg member 42 is under or superimposed by the internal cylindrical surface of
the
terminal end section 22. The peg member 42 may then be released which causes
the top
surface 42a of the peg member 42 to be biased against the internal cylindrical
surface of
the terminal end section 22 as illustrated in FIG. 14. The conduit structure
18a is
continually pushed in direction of arrow C in FIG. 14, and while the conduit
structure
18a is being continually pushed, the top surface 42a of the peg member 42
remains
biasedly engaged to the intem.al cylindrical surface of the terminal end
section 22. Thus,
as the conduit structure 18a is being pushed into the terminal end section 22,
the top
surface 42a of the peg member 42 slides along the internal cylindrical surface
of the
terminal end section 22 while remaining biasedly engaged thereto with an
upward biased
being placed on the peg member 42 by the spring- or flex-biased structure 44.
The
conduit structnre 18a is continually pushed or moved in direction of the arrow
C until the
peg member 42 is under the opening 23 of the terminal end section 22 whereupon
the
upward bias on the peg member 42 from the spring- or flex-biased structure 44
causes the
peg member 42 to be released into the opening 23 as best shown in FIG. 15.
Thus, when
the peg member 42 reaches the opening 23, the upward biasing of the spring- or
flex-
biased structure causes the peg member 42 to snap into the opening 23 and to
spring back
into its original position before being biased. The terminal end sections 20
and 22 are
now coupled together as shown in FIG. 15, and the hula hoop ring 10 is now
formed for
any suitable use, such as being swirled around, and/or movably disposed on,
hips of a
human being, such as the girl in FIG. 1.
After the hula hoop ring 10 has been used as desired, the procedure is
reversed to
fold or collapsed the hula hoop ring 10 into the coiled-spring configuration
30 as seen in
FIGS. 2-4. More specifically, the peg member 42 is pushed or depressed
downwardly
until the peg member 42 is no longer in opening 23 and the top surface 42a is
below the
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intem.al cylindrical surface of the terminal end section 22 and generally
aligned with the
outside cylindrical surface 18c of the conduit structure 18a.
As previously indicated, when the peg member 42 is depressed or pushed
downwardly, the spring- or flex-biased structure 44 (e.g., the intermediate
section 50 and
structure 52) becomes flexed such that the peg member 42 includes a posture
having an
upward bias. Subsequently, the conduit structure 18a is commenced being
withdrawn
from within the terminal end section 22 until the top surface 42a of the peg
member 42 is
not under or not superimposed by the internal cylindrical surface of the
terminal section
end 22. The conduit structure 18a is continually pulled in a direction
opposite to the
direction of arrow C in FIG. 14, and while the conduit structure 18a is being
continually
pulled, the top surface 42a of the peg member 42 remains biasedly engaged to
the
internal cylindrical surface of the terminal end section 22. Thus, as the
conduit structure
18a is being withdrawn from within the terminal end section 22, the top
surface 42a of
the peg member 42 slides along the internal cylindrical surface of the
terminal end
section 22 while remaining biasedly engaged thereto with an upward biased
being placed
on the peg member 42 by the spring- or flex-biased structure 44.
The conduit structure 18a is continually pulled until the peg member 42 is no
longer in contact with the internal cylindrical surface of the terminal end
section 22,
whereupon the upward bias on the peg member 42 from the spring- or flex-biased
structure 44 causes the peg member 42 to be released from biased engagement
with the
internal cylindrical surface of the terminal end section 22 and to spring or
snap back into
the position illustrated in FIGS. 8 and.13 where the top surface 42a is above
the outside
cylindrical surface 18c of the conduit structure 18a. The hula hoop ring 10
now has
decoupled and'available terminal end sections 20 and 22, and the hula hoop
structure may
now be folded or collapsed into a coil shaped configuration 30 in accordance
with the
flow diagram of FIG. 2. As previously indicated, when in the coil shaped
configuration
30, the coil-shaped configured, collapsible hula-hoop may be easily carried as
seen in
FIG. 4, or may be easily stowed in any suitable container for shipping or
transportation.
Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment", "an
embodiment", or "a specific embodiment" means that a particular feature,
structure, or
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characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at
least one
embodiment of the present invention and not necessarily in all embodiments.
Thus,
respective appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment",
or "in a
specific embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are
not=necessarily
referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,
structures, or
characteristics of any specific embodiment of the present invention may be
combined in
any suitable manner with one or more other embodiments. It is to be understood
that
other variations and modifications of the embodiments of the present invention
described
and illustrated herein are possible in light of the teachings herein and are
to be considered
as part of the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the
drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated
manner, or
even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in
accordance with a
particular application. Additionally, any arrows in the drawings/Figures
should be
considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically
noted.
Furthermore, the term "or" as used herein is generally intended to mean
"and/or" unless
otherwise indicated. Combinations of components or steps will also be
considered as
being noted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the ability to
separate or
combine is unclear.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, "a",
"an",
and "the" includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise. Also,
as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the
meaning of
"in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention,
including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit
the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific
embodiments of, and
examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes
only, various
equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the
present invention,
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as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As
indicated, these
modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the foregoing
description
of illustrated embodiments of the present invention and are to be included
within the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
Thus, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to
particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes
and
substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be
appreciated that in
some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed
without
a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and
spirit of the
invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a
particular
situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present
invention. It is
intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used in
following claims
and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated
for carrying
out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all
embodiments and
equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims.
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