Amusement devices: toys – Body-carried or worn – Torso
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-25
2001-10-30
Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Body-carried or worn
Torso
C446S236000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309273
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED ART
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 20-2000-1030, filed on Jan. 14, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circular hoop, commonly known has a hula hoop, and particularly, relates to a circular hoop consisting of a plurality of arcuate modules individually having one plug and one socket at opposite ends and being assembled into a hoop.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A hula hoop, consisting of a plurality of, for example, 6 to 8, arcuate modules individually having one plug and one socket at opposite ends and being assembled into a hoop by inserting the plugs into the sockets, has been proposed. In the hula hoop, a plurality of guide grooves and a plurality of locking slots are formed on each of the plugs, while a plurality of locking projections are interiorly formed on the sidewall of each of the sockets. When the modules are assembled into a hoop by inserting the plugs into the sockets, the locking projections of the sockets are brought into engagement with the locking slots of the plugs. Even though the hula hoop has a good appearance, it is problematic in that the locking projections may undesirably play in the locking slots and allow the modules to be undesirably separated from each other, thus resulting in a disassembly of the hoop during use. Another problem of the above hula hoop resides in that it may be twisted at the connected junctions formed by the plugs and sockets thus disfiguring the circular shape of the hoop. The above hula hoop is thus less likely to be used. The connected junctions of such a hula hoop have been thus typically formed by screw-type connectors since the screw-type connectors accomplish a firm connection of the modules even though the connectors have a complex construction in addition to a spoiling of the appearance of the hoop. On the other hand, a plurality of pressure domes are seated on the dome seats regularly formed along the inside edge of the hoop. However, such pressure domes may be undesirably removed from the hoop since the locking force between the domes and the dome seats is not sufficient to firmly hold the domes on the seats for a lengthy period of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a circular hoop or better known as hula hoop that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a circular hoop which has improved locking projections and slots formed at the plugs and sockets of the arcuate modules, thus allowing the modules to be easily and firmly assembled into a hoop through a pressure fitting process.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a circular hoop which uses magnetic tips or jade tips as skin contact tips, thus enhancing therapeutic effects.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a circular hoop with easily replaceable tips that are attached to the pressure domes.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a circular hoop for use around a waist of a person comprises a plurality of arcuate modules serially and circularly coupled to form the hoop. Each module includes at least one bulged portion projecting toward a hoop center; a first connector and a second connector being formed at opposite ends of each of the module, wherein the first connector of the module couples with the second connector of an adjacent module; a receptacle formed on the bulged portion; a dome coupled to the receptacle of the bulged portion to make contact with the waist of the person; and a contact tip provided at a tip of the dome.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the first connector is a plug and the second connector is a socket. The plug and the socket are formed at opposite ends of each of the module. A guide groove and a locking slot are formed on the plug, and a locking projection is formed on a sidewall of the socket at a position corresponding to the locking slot.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a pressure projection and a guide projection are formed on the sidewall of the socket in a way that the pressure projection engages with the guide groove of the plug. An engaging slot is formed on the plug at a position diametrically opposite to the guide groove, and an engaging projection is formed on the inside wall of the socket at a position corresponding to the engaging slot.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an annular groove is formed at the tip of the bulged portion. A raised disc-shaped flat base has a continuous tang along a circular top edge and is defined by the annular groove with a recessed locking groove formed along the root of the base at a position under the tang.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a pressure dome is attached to the bulged portion. The pressure dome has a fitting ring formed along the inside skirt of the pressure dome. Preferably, the lower edge of the skirt is seated in the annular groove with the fitting ring engaging with the tang of the base when the pressure domes is assembled with the base. According to another aspect of the present invention, the tip placed on the dome is a magnet. Alternatively, the tip may be made of jade. Further alternatively, the hoop according to the present invention may have tips that are magnet and jade disposed in alternating order.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide a further explanation of the invention as claimed.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 399969 (1998-10-01), Lin
patent: 2910804 (1959-11-01), White
patent: 3217446 (1965-11-01), Steiert
patent: 3337984 (1967-08-01), Tomasello
patent: 4052982 (1977-10-01), Ozeryansky
patent: 4380885 (1983-04-01), Komagata
patent: 4480596 (1984-11-01), Shumiyashu
patent: 4480831 (1984-11-01), Muller-Deinhardt
patent: 4850340 (1989-07-01), Onishi
patent: 4915666 (1990-04-01), Maleyko
patent: 4917644 (1990-04-01), Sunshine
patent: 5083964 (1992-01-01), Arand et al.
patent: 5108340 (1992-04-01), Farrow
patent: 5139014 (1992-08-01), Chang
patent: 5338244 (1994-08-01), Huang
patent: 5492526 (1996-02-01), Chen
patent: 5782743 (1998-07-01), Russell
patent: 5997449 (1999-12-01), Lee
patent: 6056621 (2000-05-01), Lin
patent: 6059632 (2000-05-01), Sassak
patent: 6109999 (2000-08-01), Kuo
patent: 61-54864 (1986-04-01), None
Ackun Jr. Jacob K.
Francis Faye
Lee & Hong
LandOfFree
Hula hoop does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Hula hoop, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hula hoop will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2611067