Rotatable and pivotable amusement apparatus

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6379256
  • Patent Number
    6,379,256
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, November 2, 2000
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, April 30, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
An amusement apparatus includes a base, an arm and a seat biasing device. The base is configured for placement on to a generally horizontal surface. The arm has a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end of the arm is rotatably and pivotally coupled to the base. The distal end of the arm includes a seat. The seat biasing device is coupled to the seat and configured to repeatedly and resiliently contact the surface. An adjustable biasing member is coupled to the base and the proximal end of the arm. The biasing member is configured to upwardly bias the seat of the arm. A resilient ball is coupled to the seat.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to an amusement apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a rotatable and pivotable riding toy.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Children enjoy playing on riding toys and playground, particularly toys that move in a generally cyclical, up and down, or circular motion. The classic teeter totter remains a favorite recreational toy for children. Children enjoy the sensation of jumping off, or being lifted from, the ground. Other toys which enable a child to sit and move in a generally circular manner are also traditional favorites. Children also enjoy bouncing toys including trampolines and large bouncing balls (often referred to as hippity-hop balls). Children particularly enjoy riding toys which enable them to expend energy. All of these toys provide essential proprioceptic input for developing children.




Existing riding toys including teeter totters and large rotating play devices, however, have a number of drawbacks. Traditional teeter totters require two children of generally equivalent weight to operate. Teeter totters typically provide only pivotal up and down motion about a fulcrum. The fixed up and down motion of the teeter totter typically does not attract a child's attention for a long period of time. Additionally, teeter totters are typically not configured to soften the impact to the child from either end of the teeter totter contacting the ground. This often results in a jarring impact between one child and the ground when the second child lifts off the opposite end of the teeter totter. Rotating toys typically also do not include the ability for the child to move up and down. Additionally, rotating toys are often large, heavy, difficult to operate, difficult to stop and difficult to reverse in direction. Moreover, teeter totters and large rotating riding toys often have unsafe, sharp corners and edges. Some toys have attempted to combine a rotating riding toy with a single child teeter totter. Such devices often have a counterweight assembly dangerously suspended on an opposite end of the teeter totter type rod. The large and heavy counterweight assembly of such toys counteracts the movement of the child riding the toy such that the counterweight assembly swings left or right and up and down creating a safety hazard for children observing or playing nearby. Further, existing riding toys such as teeter totters and large rotatable toys are typically not suitable for home use due to their size and weight, and because such toys are not designed to softly impact the surface upon which the toys rest.




Large bouncing balls provide the ability for a child to bounce up and down and to direct the ball in different directions. However, such balls also are easily rotated, such that the handle rotates toward the surface, which often results in the child falling from the ball. The large bouncing balls can also be difficult for a child to control and can result in the child inadvertently bouncing in an undesired direction.




Thus, there is a continuing need for an improved riding toy which enables a single child to safely and easily bounce up and down and, if the child desires, to rotate about a fixed pivot point without inadvertently bouncing in an unintended direction. It would also be advantageous to provide a pivotable and rotatable toy that enables a child to softly impact the ground during bouncing. What is needed is an affordable rotatable and pivotable riding toy that is safe for home or playground use. Also, what is needed is a rotatable and pivotable riding toy that is easily adjustable to children of different sizes and does not include an unsafe outwardly projecting counterweight device. It would be advantageous to provide a bouncing toy that assists a child in lifting off the ground during bouncing.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides a rotatable and pivotable amusement apparatus that safely enables a single child to easily bounce up and down or to easily rotate about a base. The present invention further provides an adjustable biasing device for upwardly biasing the child off a support surface and for assisting the child in bouncing. The adjustable biasing device easily adjusts to children of different sizes. The rotatable and pivotable amusement apparatus provides a resilient seat biasing device, enabling a child to softly and safely impact the ground during bouncing. The apparatus also maintains the seat in an upright position, thereby eliminating the risk of the resilient biasing device tipping over.




According to a principal aspect of the invention, an amusement apparatus includes a base, an arm and a seat biasing device. The base is configured for placement on a generally horizontal surface. The arm has a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end of the arm is rotatably and pivotally coupled to the base. The distal end of the arm includes a seat. The seat biasing device is coupled to the seat and configured to repeatedly and resiliently contact the surface.




According to another aspect of the invention, an amusement apparatus including a base, an arm and an adjustable biasing member. The base is configured for placement on a generally horizontal surface. The arm has a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end of the arm is rotatably and pivotally coupled to the base. The distal end of the arm includes a seat. The adjustable biasing member is coupled to the base and the proximal end of the arm, and the biasing member is configured to upwardly bias the seat of the arm.




According to another aspect of the invention, an amusement apparatus includes a base, an arm and a resilient ball. The base is configured for placement on a generally horizontal surface. The arm has a distal end, and the arm is rotatably and pivotally coupled to the base. The distal end of the arm includes a seat, and the resilient ball is coupled to the seat.




This invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings described herein below, and wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of an amusement apparatus in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of the amusement apparatus of

FIG. 1

; and





FIG. 3

is an alternate perspective view of the amusement apparatus of FIG.


1


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS





FIG. 1

illustrates a rotatable and pivotable amusement apparatus


10


. The amusement apparatus


10


includes a base


12


, an arm


14


, a pivot member


18


, and a seat biasing device, which is preferably a resilient ball


16


.




The base


12


is a support structure. In a preferred embodiment, the base


12


is hollow and is configured to hold a substance, such as, for example: water, sand, stones, weights, dirt or a combination thereof. The base


12


includes a generally flat lower surface


20


and an upper surface


22


. The lower surface


20


of the base


12


is configured for placement on a generally horizontal surface. In a preferred embodiment, the base


12


has a generally hemispherical shape with a plurality of equally spaced apart and outwardly extending footings


24


for providing additional stability to the base


12


. The base


12


is preferably formed with smooth or curved edges and corners. The base


12


further includes an opening (not shown) for the insertion of additional material such as water, sand, etc. The base


12


is coupled to the arm


14


through the pivot


18


. The base


12


provides support for the amusement apparatus


10


and prevents the amusement apparatus


10


from tipping over or falling to one side. The base


12


is made of a generally lightweight, durable material. Preferably, the base


12


is made of molded plastic, but alternatively, the base


12


can be made of other materials such as wood, metal, ceramics. In a preferred embodiment, the base


12


is made out of rotationally molded plastic. In an alternative embodiment, the base


12


can also include at least one stake


26


downwardly extending from the lower side


20


of the base


12


. The stake


26


is configured to secure the base into the ground. In another alternative embodiment, the base


12


can include a plurality of fasteners


28


for securing the base


12


to the ground, to a floor, or to another surface.




The arm


14


is an elongate member having a proximal end


30


and a distal end


32


. The proximal end


30


of the arm


14


is rotatably and pivotally coupled to the base


12


through the pivot


18


. The distal end


32


of the arm


14


includes a seat


34


and a biasing device receptacle


36


. The arm


14


is sized such that the seat


34


generally outwardly extends beyond the outer diameter of the base


12


. The arm


14


extends outwardly and upwardly from the upper surface


22


of the base


12


. The arm


14


is configured to support a user, such as a child, during the operation of the amusement apparatus


10


. The arm


14


is preferably formed with curved or smooth edges and corners. The arm


14


is made of a strong and relatively lightweight material. In a preferred embodiment, the arm


14


is made of rotationally molded plastic. Alternatively, the arm


14


can be made of other materials such as other plastics, wood, metal, or combinations thereof.




The seat


34


is integrally formed into the distal end


32


of the arm


14


. The arm


14


has a curved notch defined into the upper side of the distal end


32


of the arm


14


to define the seat


34


. Alternatively, the seat


34


can be removably attached to the distal end


32


of the arm


14


. The seat


34


includes a handle portion


40


having at least one mandrel


42


for grasping by the user. In a preferred embodiment, the handle portion


40


includes two oppositely extending mandrels


42


. The handle portion


40


upwardly extends from the arm


14


near the distal end


32


and is positioned on the proximal side of the seat


34


. The seat


34


is configured such that the user can straddle the arm


14


while facing the base


12


and can grasp the mandrels


42


of the handle portion


40


with at least one hand. The seat


34


is configured to comfortably and securely support the user during operation of the amusement apparatus


10


. The seat


34


, integrally formed to the arm


14


, is also made of molded plastic. Alternatively, the seat


34


can be made of other materials and can also further include a cushionable member (not shown) on the seat


34


. The mandrels


42


can also include cushionable hand grips.




The seat biasing receptacle


36


is integrally formed to the underside of the arm


14


at the distal end


32


of the arm


14


. The receptacle


36


has a generally downwardly facing bowl shape and is configured to removably and securely connect to the resilient ball


16


. The receptacle


36


is further configured to distribute the forces acting on the seat


34


from the resilient ball


16


. The bowl-like shape of the receptacle


36


facilitates the user's ability to direct the arm


14


in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction about the base


12


by receiving, and reacting to, the non-vertical forces acting in the receptacle


36


. The receptacle


36


also maintains the ball


16


in a fixed upright position relative to the arm


14


and presents the ball


16


from rotating or tipping over.




The seat biasing device is a spring-like component. In a preferred embodiment, the seat biasing device is the relatively large, resilient ball


16


. The ball


16


is removably connected to the distal end


32


of the arm


14


at the receptacle


36


. The ball


16


is configured to repeatedly and resiliently contact the surface. The ball


16


is further configured to enable the user to bounce up and down off of the surface and to provide a soft contact with the surface during bouncing thereby cushioning the impact of the amusement apparatus


10


with the surface. The ball


16


, when connected to the arm


14


is preferably configured to position the child such that the child's feet can contact the ground to enable a child seated in the seat


34


to use his or her feet to move about the base in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Thus, the child may use his or her feet to aid in the operation of the amusement apparatus


10


. In an alternative embodiment, the ball


16


can be configured such that a child's feet do not contact the ground. The ball


16


is made of an elastomeric material. In a preferred embodiment, the ball


16


is made of a rubber. Alternatively, the ball


16


can be made of other materials, such as plastic.




The pivot


18


is a coupling device. The pivot


18


is removably connected to the upper surface


22


of the base


12


and to the proximal end


30


of the arm


14


. The pivot assembly


18


further includes an adjustable biasing member


46


. The biasing member


46


removably connects the proximal end


30


of the arm


14


to the pivot


18


. The pivot


18


is made of a strong and lightweight material. In a preferred embodiment the pivot is made out of molded plastic. Alternatively, the pivot can be made out of other materials such as other plastics, wood, metal, ceramics. The pivot


18


is configured to enable the arm


14


to rotate about a substantially vertical axis


48


and to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis


50


, thereby enabling the user to move up and down or left and right. The pivot


18


is preferably formed of smooth or curved edges and corners.





FIG. 2

illustrates the amusement apparatus


10


in greater detail. The base


12


further includes a bore


52


defined within of the base


12


at the upper surface


22


. The bore


52


is generally vertically defined within the base


12


and is configured to receive a portion of the pivot


18


. The bore


52


of the base


12


is configured to enable the rotational movement of the arm


14


and the pivot


18


about the base


12


.




The pivot


18


includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the pivot


18


includes two upwardly extending and substantially parallel arms


54


and


56


spaced apart by a disk


58


. The arms


54


,


56


and the disk


58


of the pivot


18


define a channel


59


for receiving the proximal end


30


of the arm


14


and the biasing member


46


. Each of the arms


54


,


56


includes an opening


60


,


62


, respectively, for receiving a connection means for connecting the proximal end


30


of the arm


14


to the pivot


18


. The proximal end


30


of the arm


14


can be connected to the pivot


18


at the openings


60


,


62


through fasteners or the snap fit projections extending from the proximal end


30


of the arm


14


. The lower portion of the pivot


18


includes a journal


64


which downwardly extends from a lower surface of the disk


58


of the upper portion of the pivot


18


. The journal


64


is configured to removably fit within the bore


52


of the base


12


and to enable the pivot


18


to rotate three hundred sixty degrees or more within the base


12


in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.




The biasing member


46


is preferably an elastic band. The biasing member


46


is removably connected to an upper surface of the disk


58


of the pivot


18


, wraps around the proximal end


30


of the arm


14


, and removably connects to a projection


68


upwardly extending from the upper surface of the arm


14


at the proximal end


30


of the arm


14


. The proximal end


30


of the arm


14


preferably is formed in a generally cylindrical shape extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the arm


14


. The cylindrical outer surface of the proximal end


30


provides a bearing surface for the biasing member


46


between the pivot


18


and the projection


68


. In an alternative embodiment, the biasing member


46


can be comprised of one or more bands, wherein each individual band is sized to support a specific weight. The biasing member


46


is configured to upwardly bias the distal end


34


of the arm


14


in order to project the arm


14


in an upward angle relative to the surface. The biasing member


46


is further configured to support or lift the user, particularly a child, above the surface when the child is seated in the seat


34


of the arm


14


. The biasing member


46


facilitates or assists the child in bouncing up and down and provides a lifting sensation to the child, enabling even a small child to develop an up and downward movement while on the seat


34


. In a preferred embodiment, the biasing member


46


is a plurality of bands formed in a variety of strengths to enable a user to custom fit a band to the specific needs of the child. The biasing member


46


is configured to be easily, removably and replaceably connected to the pivot


18


and to the arm


14


. In an alternative embodiment, the biasing member


46


can be replaced with a different biasing device such as a spring. In an alternative embodiment, the base


12


can be configured with an upwardly extending journal, and the pivot


18


can include an opening for receiving the upper extended journal of the base


12


. The biasing member


46


is made of an elastomeric material. In a preferred embodiment, the biasing member


46


is made out of a rubber.




Referring to

FIG. 3

, the amusement apparatus


10


is shown in greater detail. The pivot


18


includes a pivot projection


70


upwardly extending from the upper surface of the disk


58


of the pivot


18


. The pivot projection


70


is configured to removably connect to the second end of the band


54


.




In operation, the child can straddle the seat


34


and bounce up and down such that the arm


14


pivots about the axis


50


. Then, by shifting his or her weight to the left or the right during bouncing, or by using his or her feet, the child can cause the seat


34


to rotate about the axis


48


in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction.




While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, numerous departures therefrom can be contemplated by persons skilled in the art, for example, the base


12


can be a pole connected to the ground and the arm can be pivotally and rotatably connected to the pole. Additionally, the seat


34


can be positioned in alternate positions on the arms. For example, the seat


34


could be positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis of the arm


14


such that, in operation, the child does not face the base


12


. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the foregoing description but only by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. An amusement apparatus comprising:a base configured for placement onto a generally horizontal surface; an arm having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the arm rotatably and pivotally coupled to the base, the distal end of the arm including a seat; and a seat biasing device coupled to the seat and configured to repeatedly and resiliently contact the surface.
  • 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pivot member connected to the base and to the proximal end of the arm.
  • 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seat is integrally formed with the distal end of the arm.
  • 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base is hollow and wherein the base is configured to hold a support substance selected from the group consisting of water, sand, dirt, stones, metal, conventional weights and combinations thereof.
  • 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including at least one stake for removably securing the base to the surface.
  • 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of fasteners for securing the base to the surface.
  • 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seat biasing device is a resilient ball.
  • 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the arm comprises an adjustable spring.
  • 9. An amusement apparatus comprising:a base configured for placement onto a generally horizontal surface; an arm having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the arm rotatably and pivotally coupled to the base, the distal end of the arm including a seat; and an adjustable biasing member coupled to the base and the proximal end of the arm, the biasing member configured to upwardly bias the seat of the arm.
  • 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the biasing member is at least one elastic band removably coupled to the base and to the proximal end of the arm, the at least one band configured to suspend a child positioned on the seat above the surface.
  • 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one band is configured to upwardly bias a user within a first weight range seated in the seat.
  • 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein one of another separate band and a combination of at least two bands is used to support a user seated in the seat who has a weight greater than the first weight range.
  • 13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the biasing member is a spring.
  • 14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a pivot member connected to the base and to the proximal end of the arm.
  • 15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the base and the arm are made of molded of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, fiberglass, a polymeric material and a combination thereof.
  • 16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the base is hollow and wherein the base is configured to hold a support substance selected from the group consisting of water, sand, dirt, stones, metal, conventional weights and combinations thereof.
  • 17. The apparatus of claim 9, further including at least one stake for removably securing the base to the surface.
  • 18. An amusement apparatus comprising:a base configured for placement onto a generally horizontal surface; an arm having a distal end, the arm rotatably and pivotally coupled to the base, the distal end of the arm including a seat; a resilient ball coupled to the seat; and an adjustable biasing device coupled to a proximal end of the arm and to the base, the biasing device configured to bias a child positioned on the seat above the surface.
  • 19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a pivot member connected to the base and to the arm.
  • 20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the resilient ball is made of elastomeric material and is configured to enable a child to softly bounce off of the surface.
  • 21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the adjustable biasing device is configured to bias the resilient ball above the surface.
  • 22. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein at least the handle is coupled to the distal end of the arm adjacent to the seat.
  • 23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is configured to permit substantially vertical oscillation and rotational oscillation.
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