Pogo sticks

Abstract

A pogo stick includes (a) a handle, (b) a bellows extending from the handle, (c) a helical spring disposed within, and coupled to, the bellows to become constrained when the bellows is constrained, (d) an actuator disposed within the helical turns of the spring, (e) a platform disposed on the actuator for supporting a user standing on the platform and (f) a at the bottom of the actuator. When the bellows and the spring are constrained, the release of the constraint causes the pogo stick to hop on a support surface. Training members made from a resilient material and disposed at opposite ends of the platform are coupled to the platform at intermediate positions along their length. The training members are disposed in the direction that the user is facing when he stands on the platform. The training members extend outwardly and downwardly from the platform to a support surface to provide a support on the support surface at four (4) spaced positions. The outward direction of the training members at their opposite ends is enhanced by a flattening of the training members when the pogo stick is actuated to provide a hopping movement of the pogo stick. The training members provide a balance to the pogo stick in the manner of trainer wheels on a bicycle. In this way, a young child can learn to operate a pogo stick properly and safely. The training members can then be removed from the pogo stick.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to pogo sticks and, more particularly, to pogo sticks for young children. Even more particularly, the invention relates to pogo sticks with training members which are applied to the pogo sticks when young children are learning how to operate the pogo sticks and which are removed from the pogo sticks after the young children have learned how to operate the pogo sticks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Pogo sticks have been in existence for decades and provide a distinct pleasure to children, particularly to children of advanced age, when operated properly. To operate a pogo stick, a child steps on a foot rest on a housing on the pogo stick, grasps a handle on the housing and hops through successive iterations until the child loses his or her balance or has reached a particular count of hops. It is a challenge, and provides a series of challenges, to a child to be able to hop on the pogo stick through a number of successive iterations without having to jump from the pogo stick because of a loss of balance.

[0003] Pogo sticks are generally used by children in the age group of approximately seven (7) to twelve (12) years. It would be desirable to provide pogo sticks for children in the age group younger than seven (7) years. However, these children are not able to provide the balance that older children can provide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A pogo stick includes (a) a handle, (b) a bellows extending from the handle, (c) a helical spring disposed within, and coupled to, the bellows to become constrained when the bellows is constrained, (d) an actuator disposed within the helical turns of the spring, (e) a platform disposed on the actuator for supporting a user standing on the platform and (f) a cap at the bottom of the actuator. When the bellows and the spring are constrained, the release of the constraint causes the pogo tick to hop on a support surface. Training members made from a resilient material and disposed at opposite ends of the platform are coupled to the platform at intermediate positions along their length. The training members are disposed in the direction that the user is facing when he stands on the platform. The training members extend outwardly and downwardly from the platform to a support surface to provide a support on the support surface at four (4) spaced positions. The outward direction of the training members at their opposite ends is enhanced by a flattening of the training members when the pogo stick is actuated to provide a hopping movement of the pogo stick. The training members provide a balance to the pogo stick in the manner of trainer wheels on a bicycle. In this way, a young child can learn to operate a pogo stick properly and safely. The training members can then be removed from the pogo stick.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] In the drawings:

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pogo stick, as seen from a position in front of the pogo stick, including a bellows, a spring and removable training members for teaching young children how to maintain their balance when learning how to operate the pogo stick, the pogo stick being shown in an unconstrained relationship;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the pogo stick in the unconstrained relationship of the pogo member;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view, partially in section, showing the internal construction of the pogo stick when the pogo stick is in an unconstrained relationship;

[0009] FIG. 4 a is a fragmentary front elevational view of the pogo stick with the bellows, the spring and the training members in an unconstrained relationship on a support surface; and

[0010] FIG. 4 b is a fragmentary front elevational view similar to that shown in FIG. 4a and shows the pogo stick in a constrained relationship with the bellows, the spring and the training members on the support surface, a portion of the pogo stick being broken away to show other elements in additional detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] FIGS. 1-4 show a pogo stick, generally indicated at 10, constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention. The pogo stick 10 includes a bellows 12 defined by a series of scalloped portions 14. The bellows 12 is constrainable upon the exertion of a force in the vertical direction on the bellows. A handle generally indicated at 16 and having a pair of oppositely extending handle bars 18 is disposed at the upper end of the bellows 12. An ornamental area 19 may be provided between the handle 16 and the bellows 12 to receiver decoration for enhancing the aesthetic effect of the pogo stick 10 to a child. A pedestal or foot rest 20 is disposed at the lower end of the bellows 12.

[0012] A scaffold 22 is disposed within the bellows. The scaffold 22 is coupled to the bellows 12 by rigidifiers 24 at alternate ones of the scallops 14. The scaffold 22 extends to the lower surface of the platform 20 as indicated at 26. A spring 28, preferably helical, is confined between sleeves 30 and 32 which are disposed respectively at the upper and lower ends of the scaffold. An actuator 34 extends through the helical turns of the spring 28 to a position below the platform 20. A cap 36 preferably made from a suitable material such as rubber is disposed on the actuator 34 at the bottom of the actuator.

[0013] Training members generally indicated at 38 and made from a resilient material such as steel are suitably attached to the bottom of the platform 20. The training members 38 may be in the form of resilient rods. The attachment of the training members 38 to the platform is provided 40 by flanges in FIG. 3, and by screws 41 in FIG. 4b, at an intermediate position along the length of the training members. The attachment is such as to provide for the removal of the training members 38 from the platform when the child using the pogo stick has learned how to operate the pogo stick 10 properly.

[0014] The training members 38 are disposed to extend in the same direction as the direction in which the child is facing when the child is standing on the platform 20. The training members 38 are provided with a roll-up configuration 42 at their opposite ends so that the child cannot be injured by sharp projections on the training members and so that the disposition of the training members 42 on a support surface 44 is stabilized. The roll-up configurations 42 also prevent the training members 38 from scratching the support surface 44.

[0015] When a child desires to operate the pogo stick 10, the child disposes the child's feet on the platform 20 and manually grasps the handle bars 18 at the opposite ends of the handles 16. The child then operates the pogo stick 10 to provide progressive hops along the support surface 44. Every time that the actuator 34 impinges on the support surface 44, the spring 28 becomes constrained to provide energy for the next hop on the ground. The constraint of the spring 28 becomes relieved when the actuator 34 leaves the support surface 44 in the next hop.

[0016] The training members 38 constitute rods made from a resilient material. The training members 38 normally have a disposition on the support surface 44 as shown in FIG. 4a. When the training members 38 impinge on the support surface 44 at the end of a hop as shown in FIG. 4b, the opposite ends of each training member 38 become further separated from each other as shown in FIG. 4b. This enhances the stability of the pogo stick 10 on the support surface 44 and facilitates the training of the child to operate the pogo stick properly. When the child has learned how to operate the pogo stick 10 properly, the training members 38 can be easily removed from the platform by removing the screws 42 in FIG. 4b.

[0017] Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible for use in numerous other embodiments which will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. In combination for use in a pogo stick, a collapsible bellows, a spring disposed in the bellows and coupled to the bellows for constraint in accordance with the collapse of the bellows, a handle disposed at the top of the bellows for grasping by the hands of pogo stick user, an actuator disposed at its upper end within the spring in the bellows and extending at its lower end below the bellows and below the spring, and a platform coupled to the spring at the bottom of the spring for movement with the spring between the constrained and the unconstrained relationships.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, training members attached to the platform and extending from the platform to a support surface to provide stability to the pogo stick on the support surface when the user operates the pogo stick.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the training members constitute a pair each attached to the platform on opposite side from the attachment of the other to the platform.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of the training members is attached to the platform at an intermediate position on the training member and wherein the opposite ends of each training member extend to the surface at spaced positions on the support surface.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the spaced disposition of the opposite ends of each of the training members on the support surface is in substantially the direction in which the user is facing and wherein each of the training members is made from a resilient material.

6. In combination for use in a pogo stick, a platform for receiving the feet of a user in a standing relationship, an actuator extending above and below the platform, a bellows normally unconstrained and manually movable by the user into a constrained relationship, a handle extending from the top of the bellows, and a spring enclosed within the bellows and operatively coupled to the bellows at a position above the platform to become constrained in accordance with the constraint of the bellows.

7. In a combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the actuator, the enclosed bellows and the spring are disposed in an aligned relationship.

8. In a combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the bellows is formed from a plurality of scalloped portions each displaced in a vertical direction from the others and wherein the spring is helical and wherein the scalloped portions of the bellows and the spring are coaxial and wherein the bellows and the spring are coupled to each other to provide a constraint of the spring when the bellows is constrained.

9. In a combination as set forth in claim 6, including training members are attached to the platform for providing stability to the pogo stick when the pogo stick is actuated from one position on a support surface to another position on the support surface.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein the bellows is formed from a plurality of scalloped portions each displaced in a vertical direction from the others and wherein the spring is helical and wherein the scalloped portions and the spring are coaxial and wherein the bellows and the spring are coupled to each other to provide a constraint of the spring when the bellows is constrained and wherein training members are attached to the platform for providing stability to the pogo stick when the pogo stick is actuated from one position on a support surface to another position on the support surface.

11. A pogo stick, including a platform for supporting the feet of a user with the user in a standing position on the platform, an actuator extending through the platform from a position below the platform to a position above the platform, constrainable means operatively coupled to the actuator for providing for a movement of the platform and the actuator when the constrainable means are constrained and the constraint is released, handle bars attached to the constrainable means at the upper end of the constrainable means, and training members extending from the platform for enhancing the stability of the pogo stick on a support surface when the pogo stick is actuated.

12. A pogo stick as set forth in claim 11 wherein the training members are removable from the platform when the user has become skilled in operating the pogo stick.

13. A pogo stick as set forth in claim 11 wherein the training members are made from a resilient material and are attached to the platform at an intermediate position along the length of the training members to become flattened on the support surface when the pogo stick is actuated.

14. A pogo stick as set forth in clam 11 wherein the training members have opposite ends disposed on a support surface to enhance the stability of the pogo stick on the support surface and wherein the training members are disposed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a line between the feet of the user on the platform and wherein the training members constitute a pair separated from each other in a direction corresponding to the distance between the feet of the user on the platform.

15. A pogo stick as set forth in claim 14 wherein the opposite ends of each training member become separated from each other by an increased distance when the pogo stick moves from a position above the support surface to the support surface.

16. In combination, a pogo stick actuatable by a user to produce hopping movements of the user and the pogo stick along a support surface, the pogo stick including a platform for supporting the user in a standing position on the platform, and training members coupled to the platform to enhance the stability of the pogo stick on the support surface when the pogo stick is actuated.

17. In a combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein the training members are made from a resilient material.

18. In a combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein the training members have opposite ends disposed on the support surface and wherein the training members are attached at an intermediate position to the platform.

19. In a combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein a pair of training members are provided each coupled to the platform at an opposite side of the platform from the other and wherein the training members are removable from the platform.

20. In a combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein the training members have opposite ends disposed on the support surface and wherein the training members are attached at an intermediate position to the platform and wherein a pair of training members are provided each coupled to the platform at an opposite side of the platform from the other and wherein the training members are removable from the platform.

21. In combination, a pogo stick actuatable by a user to produce hopping movements of the user and the pogo stick along a support surface, the pogo stick including a constrainable bellows and a constrainable spring coupled to the bellows to become constrained in accordance with the constraint of the bellows, the pogo stick also including a platform for supporting the feet of a user, and training members attached to the platform to provide stability to the pogo stick when, upon actuation of the pogo stick from a support surface, the pogo stick returns to the support surface.

22. In a combination as set forth in claim 21, the training members constituting a pair, both extending in the direction in which the user is facing with the user's feet on the platform and one disposed on one side of the platform and the other disposed on the other side of the platform.

23. In a combination as set forth in claim 21 wherein the training members are resilient and have a looped configuration and are attached to the platform at intermediate positions in the looped configuration and are disposed on a support surface at their opposite ends.

24. In a combination as set forth in claim 21 wherein each of the members is disposed at its opposite ends to flex outwardly when the pogo stick is actuated to provide a hopping movement.

25. In a combination as set forth in claim 22 wherein the training members are resilient and have a looped configuration and are attached to the platform at intermediate positions in the looped configuration and are disposed on a support surface at their opposite ends and wherein each of the members is disposed at its opposite ends to flex outwardly when the pogo stick is actuated to provide a hopping movement.

26. In a combination as set forth in claim 25 wherein each of the members extends outwardly at its opposite ends in the distance between the platform and the support surface and wherein the outward direction of each member at its opposite ends is enhanced by a flattening of the support member when the pogo stick is actuated to provide a hopping movement of the pogo stick.

27. In combination, a pogo stick actuatable by a user to produce hopping movements of the user and the pogo stick along a support surface, the pogo stick also including a handle for manual gripping by the user, the pogo stick also including a platform for receiving the feet of the user, the pogo stick also including a spring disposed between the handle and the platform for constraint in a direction corresponding to the direction between the handle and the platform, and training members attached to the platform to provide stability to the pogo stick when, upon actuation of the pogo stick from a support surface, the pogo stick returns to the support surface.

28. In a combination as set forth in claim 27, the training members constituting resilient rods attached to the bottom of the platform at an intermediate position along the length of the rods and extending to the support surface at their opposite ends.

29. In a combination as set forth in claim 28 wherein the training members are resiliently attached to the platform and are disposed in the direction in which the user is facing when the user is disposed on the platform.

30. In a combination as set forth in claim 27 wherein the training members are constructed and disposed relative to the platform to become constrained when the pogo stick, upon actuation, returns to the support surface.

31. In a combination as set forth in claim 29 wherein the training members are constructed and disposed relative to the platform to become constrained when the pogo stick, upon actuation, returns to the support surface.