Sliding Impulse Device

Abstract

An apparatus and method for an impulse-driven sliding device primarily for use by young children to simulate desired attributes of ball or puck games while adapting specified attributes to promote safe, effective use for those having reduced training and/or motor-skills. The apparatus includes a structure motivated by an impulse to slide over a surface, including: an impulse-receiving portion for receiving the impulse, the impulse-receiving portion defining a section of a generally semi-hemispherical structure and produced from a foam material patterned to represent at least a portion of a sports ball; and a sliding portion, coupled to the impulse-receiving portion, for sliding contact with the surface on a contact surface of the sliding portion responsive to the impulse the contact surface having a generally planar smooth surface having a periphery surrounded by an extension of the impulse receiving portion, wherein a tumbling of a coupled combination of the impulse-receiving portion and the sliding portion is inhibited by shifting a center of gravity downward by a greater weighting of the sliding portion relative to the impulse-receiving portion. The method includes a) receiving an impulse at a top portion of a device including the top portion coupled to a bottom sliding plate and converting the impulse to a non-tumbling, non-rolling, non-launching translating force; and b) sliding, responsive to the non-tumbling, non-rolling, non-launching translating force, the device over a generally planar surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an impulse-receiving device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective plan view of a sliding portion of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective plan view of a bottom of the impulse-receiving portion of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded detail view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of an impulse-receiving device embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is side view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus motivated by an impulse to slide over a surface, comprising: an impulse-receiving portion for receiving the impulse; anda sliding portion, coupled to said impulse-receiving portion, for sliding contact with the surface responsive to the impulse, wherein a tumbling of a coupled combination of said impulse-receiving portion and said sliding portion is inhibited by a construction selected from at least one of the group consisting of a relative density difference between said portions, an anti-tumbling cross-section of said impulse-receiving portion, a lowered center-of-gravity, a reduced gap between the surface, a low profile relative to a lateral expanse of the sliding portion and said impulse-receiving portion, and combinations thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said impulse-receiving portion is produced from a foam material formed into a section of a generally semi-hemispherical structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said impulse-receiving portion is produced from an inflated bladder formed into a section of a generally semi-hemispherical structure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said impulse-receiving portion is produced from an wireframe formed into a section of a generally semi-hemispherical structure.

5. An apparatus motivated by an impulse to slide over a surface, comprising: an impulse-receiving portion for receiving the impulse, said impulse-receiving portion defining a section of a generally semi-hemispherical structure and produced from a foam material patterned to represent at least a portion of a sports ball; anda sliding portion, coupled to said impulse-receiving portion, for sliding contact with the surface on a contact surface of said sliding portion responsive to the impulse said contact surface having a generally planar smooth surface having a periphery surrounded by an extension of said impulse receiving portion, wherein a tumbling of a coupled combination of said impulse-receiving portion and said sliding portion is inhibited by shifting a center of gravity downward by a greater weighting of said sliding portion relative to said impulse-receiving portion.

6. An apparatus, comprising: means for sliding over a generally planar surface; andmeans, coupled to said sliding means, for receiving an impulse and converting said impulse to a non-tumbling, non-rolling, non-launching translating force to slide an integrated combination of said sliding means and said impulse receiving means over said surface.

7. A method, comprising: a) receiving an impulse at a top portion of a device including said top portion coupled to a bottom sliding plate and converting said impulse to a non-tumbling, non-rolling, non-launching translating force; andb) sliding, responsive to said non-tumbling, non-rolling, non-launching translating force, said device over a generally planar surface.