Patent Application
20100197464
The invention relates to dance exercise poles, and in particular to portable poles which can be erected and dismantled at different sites.
Poles for use in dance exercise have become very popular in recent years. Such poles extend between floor and ceiling and generally have a ground engaging base and a ceiling assembly. The poles comprise one or more pole sections connected together in series according to the height required and an adjustable section must be provided so that the overall height of the pole enables it to fit closely against both floor and ceiling. It is also essential that the part of the pole which is used by the dancer is completely smooth. For this reason adjustment of the overall height is normally provided by a threaded adjustment between the uppermost pole section and the ceiling assembly. This is inconvenient since it is usually necessary to stand on a chair or ladder to make the adjustment.
It is also generally preferred for the pole sections to be able to rotate relative to the base if required. A dance pole having height adjustment at its lower end has been proposed but the arrangement has precluded rotation of the pole sections relative to the base.
The present invention sets out to provide a dance exercise pole which can be height adjusted and height locked by means located at its lower end, which can permit rotation of the pole sections relative to the base with the height locked, and which presents a substantially smooth outer surface for engagement by a user over substantially the whole of the height of the pole.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a dance exercise pole comprising: a base; a lower cylindrical section journalled for rotation on the base about a substantially vertical axis; a connector extending upwardly from the lower cylindrical section and having an externally threaded portion; a lowermost pole section having an internally threaded portion at its lower end for connection to the externally threaded portion of the connector, such that the position of the pole section is vertically adjustable by relative rotation of the pole section on the connector; means for selectively locking the pole section against relative rotation on the connector; and a sleeve depending from the lowermost pole section and mounted to slide over the outside of the lower cylindrical section.
An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
A dance exercise pole shown in the drawings comprises a base 1, a lower cylindrical section 2, an adjustable connector 3, a plurality of pole sections 41 and 42 and a ceiling assembly 5. Referring firstly to
The base 1 comprises a floor engaging plate 6 having a plurality of feet 7. Bearing plates 8 and 9 are retained at the centre of the floor plate 6 by a locking ring 10 and provide a part spherical journal for a part-spherical enlargement 11 formed on the lower end of an upright pole axle 12. By virtue of the part-spherical journal thus provided, the axle 12 and the floor plate 6 can move slightly relative to one another so that the axle can remain upright on slightly sloping or irregular floors. Rotation of the axle 12 about its own axis is prevented, however.
The lower cylindrical section 2 of the exercise pole has a central bore 13 running through its length and is supported and journalled on the axle 12 by bearings 14, 15 and 16 surrounding the lower part of the bore 13.
Grub screws 17, threaded in radial bores 18, can engage flats formed on the axle to lock the lower cylindrical section 2 against rotation on the axle 12. A marking on the base indicates the position of the flats.
The connector 3 has a lower portion 20 which is a close sliding fit in the upper part of the bore 13. Upper and lower pairs of grub screws 19 in bores 21 serve to prevent rotation of the connector 3 relative to cylindrical section 2. The lower portion 20 may be provided with flats for this purpose.
The upper portion 22 of the connector 3 is externally threaded along its length and extends upwardly from the lower cylindrical section to provide for both attachment of the lowermost pole section 41 and adjustment of the vertical position of the pole by relative rotation between the pole section and the connector. In practice this is achieved by relative rotation between the pole section 41 and the lower cylindrical section 2 to which the connector is firmly coupled.
As shown, the connector 3 is formed as a separate component from the lower cylindrical section 2. This is because it is preferred for them to be made from different metals. In use, however, the connector 3 need never be separated from the lower cylindrical section so they may be formed integrally or permanently fixed together.
As shown in
In order to maintain a smooth outer surface of the pole, a covering sleeve 30 depends from the lowermost pole section 41 and is detachably connected thereto. The sleeve is a smooth cylindrical tube which has an internal thread at its upper end for engagement with an external thread formed at the lower end of the insert 25. The diameters of the various components are selected such that the external diameters of the pole sections 41 and 42 are the same as that of the sleeve 30. The internal diameter of the sleeve is just great enough for it to slide over the lower cylindrical section 2. As an alternative to the screw threaded connection described, the sleeve 30 may be detachably connected to the lowermost pole section 41 by a bayonet fitting or other suitable means. In another embodiment (not shown) the sleeve may be permanently fixed to the lowermost pole section.
The uppermost pole section 42, seen in
Two pole sections 41 and 42 have been described but it should be understood that a string of any number of pole sections, consisting of a lowermost pole section 41 and one or more upper pole sections 42, connected in series may be provided. Also the pole sections may have different lengths so that a suitable overall length of the pole can be achieved.
To assemble a pole in a room, a suitable string of pole sections, including a lowermost pole section 41 with a lower cylindrical section 2 attached by a connector 3, is mounted on a base and a ceiling plate assembly is provided on the uppermost pole section. Initially, the lowermost pole section is screwed fairly well down on the connector such that the ceiling plate is spaced below the ceiling. The pole string is then rotated on the connector to extend the height of the pole and bring about suitable engagement between the ceiling plate and the ceiling. During this adjustment, the lower cylindrical section is locked against rotation by the screws 17 and the sleeve 30 is detached and lowered from the pole section 41 so that the flats formed on the upper portion 22 of the connector are visible. When a tight fit of the ceiling assembly against the ceiling has been achieved, the pole string is locked to the connector 3 and the lower cylindrical section 2 by means of the grub screws 27 in the bores 26. If it is wished for the pole string to be rotatable relative to the base about the lower axle 12 during use of the pole, the grub screws 17 are released.
