Jumping device having a flexible tether and method of using the jumping device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6346065
  • Patent Number
    6,346,065
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, June 6, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 12, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A jumping device having a high rebound platform, a flexible tether operatively connected at a first end thereof to the high rebound platform, and a handle located on the tether. A method of jumping, including providing a jumping device having a high rebound platform, a flexible tether operatively connected at a first end thereof to the high rebound platform, and a handle on the tether, mounting the jumping device by placing a user's foot on the high rebound platform, grabbing the handle, pulling the handle away from the high rebound platform, and jumping so that the high rebound platform alternates between compressed and uncompressed states.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of The Invention




This invention is in the field of jumping devices for the purposes of amusement and exercise. More specifically, this invention relates to a jumping device of the type including interaction with a user's hands and feet and having a high rebound platform and a flexible tether that can be grasped by a user. By such a device, a user can bounce indefinitely on the high rebound platform while maintaining the platform against the user's feet by way of the flexible tether.




2. Description of the Related Art




Jumping devices for amusement and exercise are well known. Perhaps the most common jumping device is the pogo stick. Conventional pogo sticks typically have a telescoping design that includes a tubular frame from which a spring-actuated plunger member extends downward and terminates in a tip that contacts the ground during use of the pogo stick. Transverse footrests are formed near the lower end of the frame to allow a user of the pogo stick to mount the pogo stick and compress a spring of the plunger by applying a downward force. A typical pogo stick is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,712,443, issued to H. H. Hohberger.




Conventional pogo sticks have several limitations. Conventional pogo sticks require several moving parts that increase manufacturing costs and reduce durability. Also, the use of a spring that is compressed by the telescoping action of the frame and the plunger member requires that the frame and the plunger member be rigid enough to transmit compressive force to the spring. The use of typical rigid materials (e.g., a rigid metal such as steel) increases the risk of injury to the user of the pogo stick if the user should fall and be struck with the pogo stick. In addition, the rigid materials cause conventional pogo sticks to generate significant noise during operation which makes conventional pogo sticks less amenable to quiet indoor use.




Moreover, conventional pogo sticks are typically designed with plunger member tips and footrests that have small surface areas relative to the surface area of the user's feet. This makes conventional pogo sticks unstable during mounting and operation of the pogo stick and requires that users have a fairly high degree of balancing skills in order to operate the pogo stick. Furthermore, the unstable nature of conventional pogo sticks limits the range of maneuvers that can be performed on conventional pogo sticks and makes conventional pogo sticks difficult to abandon during a fall.




Other less complicated devices have been developed having other spring means instead of such noisy mechanical springs. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,314, issued to Brown, a pogo stick is described utilizing an inflatable ball having a platform surface and mounted to a stick handle. Although such a device eliminates some disadvantages, it is still relatively unstable, requires a fairly high degree of balance to operate, and has limited maneuverability.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides an improved jumping device that has minimal moving and rigid parts and a wide, stable jumping platform that provides more balancing time before jumping and allows a user to safely and quietly perform a range of jumping maneuvers. Also, folding the flexible tether facilitates convenient storage of the jumping device.




In one aspect, the present invention relates to a jumping device having a high rebound platform, a flexible tether attached to the platform, and a handle located on the tether.




In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of jumping, including the step of providing a jumping device having a high rebound platform, a flexible tether attached at a first end to the platform, and a handle on the tether, the step of mounting the jumping device by placing a user's foot (or both feet) on the platform, grabbing the handle, then pulling the handle away from the platform, and jumping so that the platform alternates between compressed and uncompressed states.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a jumping device according to the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a front view of a platform and a lower portion of a tether of the jumping device shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is a rear view of the platform and a lower portion of the tether of the jumping device shown in

FIG. 1







FIG. 4

is a fragmentary view of the platform and a lower portion of the tether of the jumping device shown in

FIG. 1

with a portion of the platform removed so as to show a rod for fastening the tether to the platform.





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of a handle and an upper portion of the tether of the jumping device shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 6

is a side view of an alternative high rebound platform formed as a bladder structure.





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of a jumping device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS





FIGS. 1-5

show a jumping device


10


in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Device


10


includes a high rebound platform


12


, a tether


14


attached to the platform


12


, and a handle


16


provided at an end of the tether


14


.




High rebound platform


12


is formed so that platform


12


can be made to alternate between a compressed state and an uncompressed state. Generally, when a body elastically compresses due to the application of compressive forces, potential energy is stored in the deformed body. The transition of the body from a compressed state to an uncompressed state results in the conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy. A high rebound platform


12


in accordance with the present invention is a structure that can be made to elastically compress between a user's feet (which contact a foot support surface


18


located on the top of platform


12


) and the ground or other rigid surface (which contacts an impact surface


20


located on the bottom of platform


12


) by having at least a portion of the foot support surface


18


and at least a portion of impact surface


20


move closer to one another so that kinetic energy provided during the transition of the structure from a compressed state to an uncompressed state is sufficient to create a rebound force that assists the user in jumping. A high rebound platform


12


can be characterized by the basic ability to support a user to permit jumping without bottoming out and to provide some amount of energy to assist the user in jumping. It is envisioned that jumping device


10


can be designed to operate for a particular range of user weights. Therefore, high rebound platform


12


may be adapted to elastically compress and provide rebound force for the particular range of user weights for which the device


10


is designed. It is also envisioned that a product feature, shape of a component, color code, or other labeling scheme could be used to convey easily the range of user weights appropriate for a particular jumping device


10


.




High rebound platform


12


is preferably formed from any one of a number of conventional solid, closed cell, or open cell materials that are commonly used to absorb impact or provide rebound. More specifically, platform


12


can be formed from rubbers including but not limited to natural foam rubber, natural butyl rubber (NBR), natural rubber (NR), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), and plastics including but not limited to polyethylene (PE), polyurethane (PU), and ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA). Generally, for a given high rebound material having a given contact surface area, the thicker (measured from foot support surface


18


to impact surface


20


of platform


12


) platform


12


is, the greater the range of user weights over which the platform


12


will elastically compress and provide a rebound force. It is also understood that with different high rebound materials and different contact surface areas various weight ranges can accommodated.





FIGS. 1-4

show platform


12


formed from a plurality of layers


30


, wherein the layers are attached to one another using conventional adhesives. Other conventional lamination techniques can be used instead. Preferred high rebound materials includes but are not limited to Zoatfoam EV-50 EVA foam from Zoatfoam Inc. of Hacketstown, N. J.; foam model MC3800S with EVA from Sentinal Co.; foam model 5A with EVA from Voltek; and foam product commercially available under the tradename Metalocene from E. I. Dupont de Nemours and Co., Wilmington, Del. As shown, each layer is preferably shaped so that when stacked, the layers


30


form a complete, shaped platform


12


. The layers


30


can be shaped by use of conventional die-cut techniques, for example. The layers


30


may be shaped for functional or aesthetic reasons, and each layer may be the same or different as the others. The top and bottom layers, in particular, may also be shaped in the thickness direction so as to provide any desired surface features. For example, the foot support surface


18


or the impact surface


20


may be rounded, or may be patterned to enhance gripping of the surface(s) with a user's foot (or feet) or the floor. Such a pattern may be for anti-slip properties, or to permit use on wet surfaces or other materials (e.g., grass lawns, concrete, etc.) that my otherwise affect the material (e.g., by abrasion or puncture). Moreover, each of the layers


30


may be made of the same or different material. For example, the bottom layer may be of a tougher material to enhance its durability for particular surfaces like concrete. For use in homes, a softer (non-scratch) material may be desirable. Along these same lines, coatings or other surface treatments are also contemplated. Surface treatments include the provision of sheet material to cover all or a portion of the impact surface


20


, for example. A non-slip material may be desirable for rendering the device more suitable for use on certain surface such as finished wood.




Alternatively, platform


12


can be formed as a single piece of rebound material. Like the laminated platform described above, a single block platform


12


can be shaped, coated or treated to have certain properties or for aesthetic reasons depending on an intended usage of the device


10


. Moreover, even with a single layer construction, more than one distinct material portions thereof can be made by conventional techniques used in the making of the material, e.g., using coextrusion techniques. It is believed that for conventional rubbers and plastics, high rebound platform


12


, whether formed from single or multiple layers, should have a thickness in the range of about 1 inch to about 12 inches and preferably has a thickness of about 4.5 inches for an average user.




Alternatively, as shown in

FIG. 6

, a high rebound platform


12


′ may be constructed from materials without relying on a rebound characteristic of the material itself, as is the case with a foam layer or foam layers. A resilient material may be shaped to form a bladder


30


′ (that may be similar to or different from the layered platform


12


of

FIG. 1

) and filled with a fluid


31


′. Then, bladder


30


′ can be compressed between a user's feet (which contact a foot support surface


18


′ located on the top of platform


12


′) and the ground or other rigid surface (which contacts an impact surface


20


′ located on the bottom of platform


12


′) so that the fluid


31


′ (such as air) is compressed or bladder


30


′ is caused to expand, or both, to store potential energy and so that kinetic energy provided during the transition of the structure from a compressed state to an uncompressed state is sufficient to create a rebound force that assists the user in jumping.




Again referring to

FIGS. 1-5

, foot support surface


18


and impact surface


20


of platform


12


are advantageously shaped to allow a user of the device


10


more easily to maintain balance while operating the device


10


. It is believed that platform


12


should have a depth (measured from a front face


22


to a back face


24


of platform


12


) of at least about 2 inches and preferably has a depth in the range of about 4 inches to about 8 inches for an average user. It is also believed that platform


12


should have a width (measured from a first lateral side


26


to a second lateral side


28


) of at least about 6 inches and preferably has a width of about 12 inches for an average user. In

FIGS. 1-4

, foot support surface


18


and impact surface


20


have the same shape, though, as above, foot support surface


18


and impact surface


20


could have shapes that differ from one another.





FIGS. 1-5

show a tether


14


formed preferably as a loop of flexible (i.e., non-rigid) cord having two straigtenable portions


32


and


34


that are attached to the platform


12


. As shown in

FIG. 4

, ends


36


and


38


of portions


32


and


34


, respectively, can be connected to a rigid rod


40


(preferably formed from bamboo because it is rigid and lightweight) that is located within the layers


30


of platform


12


. The ends


36


and


38


may be formed as loops that surround and connect to rod


40


. An opening


42


can be formed in one or more of the layers of platform


12


so as to allow portions


32


and


34


of tether


14


to pass through foot support surface


18


of platform


12


and attach to rod


40


. Other ways of connecting the tether portions


32


and


34


to the platform


12


are also contemplated. For example, the portions


32


and


34


can be passed through opening(s) of platform


12


all the way though and be tied to together at the impact surface


20


in which recesses can be formed to accommodate the tied portions


32


and


34


so as to provide a substantially flat, stable impact surface


20


. Likewise, the rod


40


may be provided at any location within the thickness of the platform


12


(e.g., between any two layers


30


) and may be of any effective shape (e.g., a plate-like element to which ends


36


and


38


are attached). Also, recesses may be formed in the layers


30


so as to accommodate the rod


40


and provide substantially flat foot support and impact surfaces


18


and


20


.




Tether


14


is preferably significantly extendible and formed from an elastic material such as a textile-covered elastic cord or an extruded elastic tubing without a cover. Suitable tubing includes natural latex rubber tubing, commonly known as surgical tubing, because it is highly extendible. Alternatively, tether


14


can be formed from conventional non-elastic ropes, although an elastic tether


14


is preferred because an elastic tether


14


accommodates a wider range of user heights (by stretching to fit each user) and more securely holds the platform


12


against the user's feet during use due to the additional tension created by stretching the elastic tether


14


. An extendible tether


14


may alternatively comprise one or portions of non-extendible materials combined with an extendible portion which may comprise stretchable cord as above or an extension spring.




Handle


16


is formed on the tether


14


so as to provide the user of device


10


with a convenient place to grab and pull tether


14


away from platform


12


. In the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 1-5

, handle


16


is a T-shaped assembly attached to a loop end


44


of tether


14


. Handle


16


, perhaps shown best in

FIG. 5

, has a transverse rod


46


around which tether


14


is looped generally in a center portion


48


of rod


46


so as to define two gripping portions


50


and


52


of rod


46


on either side of center portion


48


. A foam sheath


54


surrounds a portion of tether


14


near the loop end


44


. Sheath


54


has opposing lateral openings


56


and


58


to allow rod


46


to pass through sheath


54


. Sheath


54


also has opposing longitudinal openings


60


and


62


that allow the ends


36


and


38


of the tether


14


to be threaded around rod


46


during assembly so that the loop end


44


of tether


14


can be looped around rod


46


. Gripping portions


50


and


52


are preferably covered with shaped foam tubing so as to form foam grips


64


and


66


, respectively, which provide the user of device


10


with padded gripping surfaces and prevent the loop end


44


of tether


14


and sheath


54


from sliding along the rod


46


during use of the device


10


. Preferably, lateral ends


68


and


70


of rod


46


have cross sectional areas that are greater than the cross sectional area of the interior portions of the rod


46


so as to prevent grips


64


and


66


from sliding off the rod


46


. As shown in

FIG. 5

, lateral ends


68


and


70


are formed integrally with rod


46


, although lateral ends


68


and


70


can be formed as separate pieces (e.g., as rimmed end caps) that are attached to rod


46


. Alternatively, the tether portions


32


and


34


may be directly tied on to the rod


46


, or otherwise connected by way of a mechanical faster or adhesive, or the like.




In operation, a user mounts the device


10


by placing the user's feet on the foot support surface


18


of platform


12


on either side of opening


42


, grabs the handle


16


with both of the user's hands, pulls the handle


16


away from platform


12


so as to tension tether


14


, and jumps upward. As the user's legs extend during jumping, tether


14


keeps the device


10


under the user's feet, which preferably is further facilitated by the use of an elastic tether


14


which is stretched to provide additional tension. Upon impact, the user's knees bend to help absorb impact and prepare for another extension. Also, upon impact a generally downward, compressive force is applied to foot support surface


18


of platform


12


causing platform


12


to be compressed between the user's feet and the ground (or other rigid surface) as foot support surface


18


moves closer to impact surface


20


so that potential energy is stored in platform


12


. The user extends the user's legs so as to propel the user and the device


10


upward which causes platform


12


to transition from a compressed state to an uncompressed state so as to release the stored potential energy as kinetic energy that creates a rebound force to assist the user in jumping. This motion can be done repeatedly for an indefinite length of time, as each subsequent jump utilizes the same compression of platform


12


to provide a rebound-assisted jump. The user can execute a wide range of maneuvers on device


10


, for example, by maneuvering the user's body as is done to perform maneuvers on conventional skateboards, snow boards, or downhill skis.





FIG. 7

shows a second embodiment of a jumping device


100


according to the present invention having a handle


116


formed integrally with a tether


114


. Device


100


has a high rebound platform


112


that is preferably similar to platform


12


and is fabricated from similar materials in a similar manner. Tether


114


is similar to tether


14


, is fabricated from similar materials in a similar manner, and is attached to platform


112


in the same way that tether


14


is attached to platform


12


except that tether


114


has only one end


136


that is tied to a rod


140


(similar to rod


40


) located within the plurality of layers


130


of platform


112


. A handle


116


is formed as a loop


172


by tying or otherwise attaching an end


174


of tether


114


to an intermediate portion


176


of tether


114


. Preferably, end


174


is slidably attached to portion


176


so that the user of device


100


can alter the size of loop


172


by sliding end


174


along portion


176


. This can be done by a sliding knot (as shown) or by way of a conventional sliding/clamping device to which an end of tether


114


can be tied. Device


100


can be used in the same manner as device


10


.




As with any of the above specifically disclosed or suggested embodiments, the tether


14


(or


114


) may comprise a single cord or may include any number of cords, so long as there is a connection to a high rebound platform


12


(or


112


), and some means is provided to facilitate grasping by a user. A jumping device that interacts with a user's feet and hands is thus provided. Other handle constructions are also contemplated and may be secured in any matter to the tether


14


(or


114


).




As yet another specifically contemplated embodiment, plural high rebound platforms can be used in combination with independent tethers. That is, two separate platforms may be provided, each having its own tether or tethers. Then, each tether may be combined together to form a handle or be connected to a separately provided handle. Each platform would preferably be connected to a tether or tethers in a way to permit independent leg movement. This may be facilitated by other fastening structures attached between the tether and the tether's platform, or by running plural tethers (or a loop from one tether) through the platform to extend on both sides of a user's foot to keep the platform oriented properly during use.




As still yet another specifically contemplated embodiment of a jumping device according to the present invention, a high rebound platform can comprise a foot support surface that is suspended from a rigid, trampoline-like frame. The foot support surface can be suspended from the frame by coil springs, stretchable cords, or other conventional tension springs devices. In this case, an impact surface created by is a portion of the frame that comes into contact with the ground or other rigid surface during use of the device. A flexible tether is attached to the high rebound platform, preferably in a position to be in between a user's feet, and a handle is formed on the tether to facilitate gripping by a user so as to provide the interaction between at least a hand and a foot of the user. The high rebound platform of this embodiment achieves a compressed state when the platform is compressed by the user's feet such that the foot support surface and/or the springs that attach the foot support surface to the frame, if any, are stretched and store potential energy in the deformed foot support surface and/or springs. When the high rebound platform transitions to the uncompressed state, the foot support surface and/or springs, if any, convert the potential energy to kinetic energy to provide a rebound force to assist the user in jumping. This embodiment is less advantageous for many uses, however, in that it requires more rigid parts and the platform is substantially compressible from only one surface (i.e., from the foot support surface).




Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A jumping device by which a user can jump on the ground repeatedly by interaction between at least a hand and a foot of the user, the jumping device comprising:a high rebound platform comprising a foam material, the high rebound platform formed to provide a generally flat foot support on a compliant foot support surface on which a user can directly place a portion of a foot and an impact surface for engaging and moving away from the ground during jumping, said high rebound platform being able to assume a compressed state from an uncompressed state when a compressive force is applied to said compliant foot support surface of the high rebound platform, in said compressed state a portion of said compliant foot support surface is positioned closer to said impact surface without significant plastic deformation of the high rebound platform, so that when the compressive force is applied to said compliant foot support surface of said high rebound platform said high rebound platform is changed from its uncompressed state to its compressed state with energy absorbed thereby and which energy is utilized to assist a user in jumping as the high rebound platform changes from its compressed state toward its uncompressed state; a flexible tether operatively connected at a first end thereof to the high rebound platform so that the tether is movable with the high rebound platform during jumping; and a handle located on the tether.
  • 2. The jumping device of claim 1, wherein the high rebound platform is formed from a single layer of high rebound material.
  • 3. The jumping device of claim 1, wherein the high rebound platform includes a plurality of layers of high rebound material.
  • 4. The jumping device of claim 1, wherein the high rebound material comprises an open-cell foam material.
  • 5. The jumping device of claim 1, wherein the high rebound material comprises a closed cell foam material.
  • 6. The jumping device of claim 1, wherein the tether is substantially inelastic.
  • 7. The jumping device of claim 1, wherein the handle is formed separately from tether.
  • 8. The jumping device of claim 7, wherein the handle is a T-shaped handle attached to a second end of the tether.
  • 9. The jumping device of claim 1, wherein the handle is formed integrally with the tether.
  • 10. The jumping device of claim 9, where in the handle is a loop formed at a second end of the tether.
  • 11. A method of jumping on a jumping device by a user by interaction between at least a hand and a foot of the user, said method comprising the steps of:providing a jumping device having a high rebound platform comprising a foam material, the high rebound platform formed to provide a generally flat foot support on a compliant foot support surface on which a user can directly place a portion of a foot and an impact surface for engaging the ground during jumping, said high rebound platform being able to assume a compressed state from an uncompressed state when a compressive force is applied to said compliant foot support surface of said high rebound platform, in said compressed state a portion of said compliant foot support surface is positioned closer to said impact surface without significant plastic deformation of the high rebound platform, so that when the compressive force is applied to said compliant foot support surface of said high rebound platform said high rebound platform is changed from its uncompressed state to its compressed state with energy absorbed thereby and which energy is utilized to assist a user in jumping as the high rebound platform changes from its compressed state toward its uncompressed state, a flexible tether operatively connected at a first end thereof to the high rebound platform, and a handle on the tether; mounting the jumping device by placing a portion of a user's foot on the compliant foot support surface of the high rebound platform; grabbing the handle; pulling the handle away from the high rebound platform after the grabbing step; and jumping so that the high rebound platform alternates between its compressed and uncompressed states while holding onto the handle.
  • 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the mounting step comprises placing a portion of both of a user's feet on the compliant foot support surface of the high rebound platform with the flexible tether between the user's feet.
  • 13. A jumping device by which a user can jump on the ground repeatedly by interaction between at least a hand and a foot of the user, the jumping device comprising:a high rebound platform comprising a foam material, the high rebound platform formed to provide a generally flat foot support on each of plural compliant foot support surface portions on each of which a user can directly place a portion of a foot and an impact surface for engaging and moving away from the ground during jumping, said high rebound platform being able to assume a compressed state from an uncompressed state when a compressive force is applied to said compliant foot support surface portions of the high rebound platform, in said compressed state a portion of said compliant foot support surface portion is positioned closer to said impact surface without significant plastic deformation of the high rebound platform, so that when the compressive force is applied to said compliant foot support surface portions of said high rebound platform said high rebound platform is changed from its uncompressed state to its compressed state with energy absorbed thereby and which energy is utilized to assist a user in jumping as the high rebound platform changes form its compressed state toward its uncompressed state; a flexible tether operatively connected at a first end thereof to the high rebound platform so that the tether is movable with the high rebound platform during jumping; and a handle located on the tether.
  • 14. A jumping device by which a user can jump on the ground repeatedly by interaction between at least a hand and a foot of the user, the jumping device comprising:a high rebound platform comprising a foam material, the high rebound platform formed to provide a generally flat foot support on a foot support surface on which a user can directly place a portion of a foot and an impact surface for engaging and moving away from the ground during jumping, said high rebound platform being able to assume a compressed state from an uncompressed state when a compressive force is applied to said foot support surface of said high rebound platform, in said compressed state a portion of said foot support surface beneath the compressive force is positioned closer to said impact surface without significant plastic deformation of the high rebound platform, so that when the compressive force is applied to said foot support surface said high rebound platform is changed from its uncompressed state to its compressed state with more energy absorbed by the portion of the high rebound platform beneath the compressive force than by the remainder of the high rebound platform and which energy is utilized to assist a user in jumping as the high rebound platform changes form its compressed state toward its uncompressed state; a flexible tether operatively connected at a first end thereof to the high rebound platform so that the tether is movable with the high rebound platform during jumping; and a handle located on the tether.
  • 15. The jumping device of claim 14, wherein the foot support surface is compliant.
  • 16. The jumping device of claim 1, wherein the portion of said compliant foot support surface positioned closer to said impact surface is beneath the compressive force so that more energy is absorbed by a portion of the high rebound platform beneath the compressive force than by the remainder of the high rebound platform.
  • 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the portion of said compliant foot support surface positioned closer to said impact surface is beneath the compressive force so that more energy is absorbed by a portion of the high rebound platform beneath the compressive force than by the remainder of the high rebound platform.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of allowed U.S. application Ser. No. 09/002,550 to Lapointe, filed Jan. 2, 1998, for which the issue fee has been paid, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,578 entitled JUMPING DEVICE HAVING A FLEXIBLE TETHER AND METHOD OF USING THE JUMPING DEVICE, the entire disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

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Number Name Date Kind
3427019 Brown Feb 1969 A
5230947 Ou Jul 1993 A
D361604 Stroppiana Aug 1995 S
D370958 Rash Jun 1996 S
5569131 Giulianelli Oct 1996 A
5656000 Russell Aug 1997 A
5795277 Bruntmyer Aug 1998 A
5853339 Scerbo Dec 1998 A
6126578 Lapointe Oct 2000 A
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Number Date Country
659280 Oct 1951 GB
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/002550 Jan 1998 US
Child 09/587767 US