Patent Application
20050288110
The present invention relates to a juggling tool and, in particular, to a swinging symmetrical poi configuration.
Currently the poi is used as a juggling tool in many countries around the globe.
A typical poi is made up of a cable, a wire, a chain, a cord, or a string connecting one end to a weight and the other end to a handle. By oscillating the hand holding the handle, the weight can be swung in a simple motion in one plane of rotation or in complex changing motions, causing intriguing effects. Adding lights, fire or colorful strips to the weight can create a more fascinating visual effect.
It is common to use a pair of poi, one in each hand, to perform combinations of maneuvers.
The combination of simple structure, visually pleasing performance and enjoyable athletic activity makes the use of the poi popular among professional and amateur jugglers.
The origin of the poi is presumed to be in New Zealand. Poi is a Maori, (native New Zealand language) word for a ball on a string. Poi is both singular and plural. The first use of the poi, as a simple stone tied to a rope, was as a weapon. Over the time the poi was refined and was also used for fun, ceremonies, dancing, and as a means to develop coordination and athletic abilities.
The evolution of means of warfare to sports, games, toys, and juggling apparatus is a well-known phenomenon, for example, in fencing, nunchaku, javelin throwing, and hammer throwing.
Weapons based on one or more weights connected to a cable, (or wire, chain, cord, string, etc.) which can accumulate energy by revolutions with hand force, were developed in many places in ancient times. Among these weapons are, for example, the Japanese “Ninja Chain”, a long chain, about one meter long, with one weight at each end, the Scottish “Bashing Ball”—a swinging weapon of a heavy ball at one end of a chain, and the South American “Hunting Weapon”, made of four stones at each end of two cords, the cords being tied together at the centers.
The motion of one weight attached to the end of a long flexible connector that is held on the other end and accelerated by rotational movement, for a short time after release from the hand, has a linear ballistic nature. The weight moves forward and the flexible connector drags behind, waving in the air vortex caused by the weight. The trajectory of the moving weight is affected, among other factors, by the gravitational and aerodynamic forces (for movement within the atmosphere of Earth).
If an essentially identical weight is connected to the other end of the flexible connector, and grasped by the rotating hand, then the motion of the two weights attached to the connector's center of gravity is similar to the previous motion, but the two weights have a rotational motion around that center of gravity.
Various forms of two swinging weights connected to a long string are known in the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,868, U.S. Pat. No. RE34,208, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,873, all to Shaw, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, teach a swinging of a weight connected to a long string based on a rigid material structure of the weights, with a third, holed weight that can slide along the string.
In spite of the teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,868 that the weights can be made of an edible material or chewing gum, and in spite of the teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,873 that the weights can be made of material surrounding the weight that is a soft foam and the weight can be made with a material of non-homogeneous density, each of those weights is a single rigid body all of whose components are connected to each other with no free movement among them, excepting plastic or elastic movement.
As used herein the specifications and claims, the term flexible long connector refers to a mechanical device that can easily bent, with the ability to resist to a tension force, absent of elastic ability.
Examples of a flexible long connector are: a cable, a wire, a metal or a plastic chain, a cord, a fiber, a sleeve, a linen strip, or a string.
Of course, short components of the flexible long connector such as chain links can have rigid mechanical abilities.
The purpose of the flexible long connector in the symmetrical poi configuration is to transfer tension forces between the two weights. The weights can be connected to the flexible long connector at a certain stage of the production process of the symmetrical poi, or be created from one piece of material, of any reasonable structure.
As used herein the specifications and claims, the term soft structure refers to a material having qualities that permit yielding to physical human palm force and permit human fingers to sink in easily.
As used herein the specifications and claims, the term poi refers to a weight connected to one end of a flexible long connector that enables swinging it around the body in various ways by grasping the other end of the connector and moving it with proper movements, serving as a juggling tool,
The poi can have a handle at the other end of the connector. Its dimensions and mass configurations are adjusted to the juggler's body size, to assure the ability of performing simple and complex rotational moves around the human body or in proximity to the juggler. These characteristics distinguish the poi from small weights and string hand toys.
The poi weight can contain and carry a variety of means, such as light, fire, strips, or a whistle in order to increase the visual and sound effects of the performance. The visual and sound effects of the performance can be dependent on the symmetrical poi rotational direction, such that when the juggler changes the rotational direction the means change the emitted colored light to another color, a color of another wavelength, or change the emitted sound to another sound, a sound of another wavelength.
A juggler can do moves with one, two, or more poi at the same time.
The absence of a second weight on the poi is a disadvantage. After releasing the poi from the juggler's hand, the poi's nature of motion is the same as any other weight attached to a long flexible connector, and having been accelerated by rotational movement. Because of that nature of motion many movements can not be performed with an asymmetrical poi, such as the throwing of a poi into the air by one juggler and continuation of the rotational movement by a second juggler, or starting a rotation of a poi by one hand of a juggler's hands in a horizontal course above their head, and after the weight achieves high speed, sliding the juggler's hand along the flexible connector to a point close to the connector center, adding their second hand and maintaining the rotational movement in a similar manner to that of a rigid stick.
There is therefore a need for and it would be highly advantageous to have a symmetrical poi for safely performing a wide variety of new juggling moves, and improving the performance of current poi juggling moves.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide safe-swinging symmetrical poi configurations having two weights disposed at both ends of a long flexible connector with a rotational motion characteristic.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
According to the present invention a symmetrical poi is provided for safely performing a wide variety of juggling moves, the symmetrical poi including: (a) a flexible long connector wherein the length of the connector is at least 40 centimeters, for enabling the performing of juggling moves such as moves around a juggler's body or around a part of a juggler's body, or in proximity to a juggler's body, or by throwing into the air, or throwing into the air and catching, by one juggler or by more than one juggler; (b) a first weight disposed at one end of the flexible long connector, the first weight having a reversibly deformable soft structure and having dimensions that fit in a human hand for easy grasping, easy releasing and easy catching: and (c) a second weight having a substantially identical mass to the first weight, having a reversibly deformable soft structure and having dimensions that fit in a human hand for easy grasping, easy releasing and easy catching.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments each of the first weight and the second weight of the symmetrical poi includes (a) a bag, and (b) grains filling the bag.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the length dimension of the symmetrical poi's flexible long connector is at least 90 centimeters.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the flexible long connector of the symmetrical poi is made of one or more means that are selected from a group of a cable, a wire, a chain, a cord, a string, a sleeve, or a strap.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the flexible long connector of the symmetrical poi has a low friction coefficient for easy sliding of the juggler's hand along it.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the grains filling type of the symmetrical poi weights is selected from a group of rice grains, wheat grains, sorghum grains, and cotton grains or a combination of two or more types of grains.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the symmetrical poi further includes means for increasing the visual effect of the performance.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the means for increasing the visual effect are selected from a group of decoration strips, phosphorous glowing paint, light sticks, flashlights, fire torches, powder dispersals, or smoke dispersals.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the light source for increasing the visual effect, emits colored light, in which the light color is dependent on the symmetrical poi's rotational direction.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the symmetrical poi further includes means for increasing the sound effect of the performance.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments each of the first and the second weights of the symmetrical poi have a mass of at least ten times larger than the flexible long connector's mass.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the bag's shape is selected from a group of pear shape, egg shape, apple shape, cube shape, and loop or bagel shape.
According to another embodiment of the present invention a poi is provided for safely performing a wide variety of juggling moves, the poi including: (a) a flexible long connector wherein the length of the connector is at least 40 centimeters, for enabling performance of juggling moves such as moves around a juggler's body or around a part of a juggler's body, or close to a juggler's body, or by throwing into the air, or throwing into the air and catching, by one juggler or by more than one juggler; (b) a first weight disposed at one end of the flexible long connector having a reversibly deformable soft structure and having dimensions that fit in a human hand for easy grasping, easy releasing and easy catching: and (c) a second weight disposed at the second end of the flexible long connector having a mass of at least one third of the first weight mass and having a reversibly deformable soft structure with dimensions that fit in a human hand for easy grasping, easy releasing and easy catching.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments each of the two weights of the poi includes (a) a bag, and (b) grains filling the bag.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the second weight of the poi has a mass of at least two thirds of the first weight mass, having a reversibly deformable soft structure and having dimensions that fit in a human hand for easy grasping, easy releasing and easy catching;
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments each of the two weights of the poi includes (a) a bag, and (b) grains filling the bag.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the bag's shape is selected from a group of: pear shape, egg shape, apple shape, cube shape, and loop or bagel shape.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of safely performing a wide variety of juggling moves with a symmetrical poi, such as throwing and catching, switching hands, swinging around the center, including the steps of: (a) providing the juggler with a symmetrical poi, the symmetrical poi including: (i) a flexible long connector wherein the length of the connector is at least 4 0 centimeters for performing a wide variety of moves by the juggler, (ii) a first weight disposed at one end of said flexible long connector having reversibly deformable soft structure, and having dimensions that fit in a human hand for easy grasping, easy releasing and easy catching, and (iii) a second weight disposed at the second end of the flexible long connector, having a substantially identical mass to the first weight, having a reversibly deformable soft structure and having dimensions that fit in a human hand for easy grasping, easy releasing, and easy catching, and (b) holding the first weight in one of the juggler's hand, rotating the symmetrical poi at a vertical plane by oscillating the juggler's hand that is holding the weight, releasing the symmetrical poi from the juggler's hand, causing the symmetrical poi to rotate around the its center of gravity and its geometrical center which are moving substantially together upward, catching one of the symmetrical poi's weights by one of the juggler's hands, when the symmetrical poi's center of gravity is in downward movement, and maintaining the rotation of the symmetrical poi by oscillating the juggler's hand that is holding the symmetrical poi's weight.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the first weight of the symmetrical poi of the method includes: (a) a bag, and (b) grains filling said bag.
In the drawings:
a is a description of a rotational movement of one weight connected to a flexible connector;
b is a description of one weight connected to a flexible connector, after leaving the other end that was at the center of a rotational movement;
a is a description of a rotational movement of one weight connected to a flexible connector at one end and another weight connected to the second end, at the center of the circular motion;
b is a description of two weights, such as those of
a illustrates a prior art typical poi structure;
b illustrates an example of performing a move by two jugglers, using a prior art poi;
a is an artistic concept of one embodiment of the symmetrical poi according to the present invention;
b illustrates an example of performing a move by two jugglers, using two symmetrical poi;
a is a schematic illustration of one possible way to cut the main part of a symmetrical poi structure according to the present invention;
b is schematic illustration of another possible way to cut the main part of a symmetrical poi structure according to the present invention;
c is schematic illustration of more another possible way to cut the part of the outer surface material of a symmetrical poi structure according to the present invention, and
d is a schematic illustration of one possible way of an advanced stage in the production process of symmetrical poi.
a is a schematic illustration of one possible move, the throwing and catching of a symmetrical poi move.
b is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the palm roll move.
c is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the arm roll move.
d is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the under the leg move.
e is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the like a stick move.
f is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the two jugglers with three poi move.
g is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the butterfly hand switching move.
h is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the butterfly switch throw move.
i is a schematic illustration of another possible move, parallel and throw move.
The present invention relates to a safe swinging symmetrical poi configuration having two weights disposed at both ends of a long flexible connector with a rotational motion characteristic, enabling the performances of simple and complex moves that can not be performed by asymmetrical poi.
As used herein the specifications and claims, the terms symmetrical juggling poi and symmetrical poi refers to a poi with of two essentially identical weights disposed at both ends of a long flexible connector, the weights are soft and enable easy grasping by a rotating hand and enabling easy releasing and easy catching, for performing juggling moves such as moves around the juggler's body or around a part of the juggler's body, or close to a juggler's body, or by throwing into the air, or throwing into the air and catching, by one juggler or by more than one juggler. Note that each one of the weights has two purposes. First, as a mass concentration required for the motions, and second as a handle.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The principles and operation of a symmetrical poi according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.
Referring now to the drawings,
b is a schematic illustration of a prior art of a weight 10 connected to a flexible connector 11, after leaving the other end that was at the center of a rotational movement. As described, the motion in orthogonal coordinate system X-Y has the nature of linear movement.
a is a schematic illustration of a prior art of a rotational movement of a weight 10 connected to a flexible connector 11. In
b is a schematic illustration of a prior art of two weights, weight 10 and weight 15 connected to each end of the flexible connector 11, after being released from hold at the end that was at the center of a rotational movement. The motion in orthogonal coordinate system X-Y has the nature of rotational movement.
a illustrates a typical prior art poi structure, referred to herein below as poi structure 100. Said poi structure 100 includes a connector 20, a weight 21 and a handle 22.
b is a schematic illustration of an example of performing moves by two jugglers, using said prior art poi 100.
A symmetrical poi's bag can have many shapes, including: pear shape, egg shape, apple shape, cube shape, loop or bagel shape, etc.
The length dimension of the long flexible connector 20 is much greater than the width dimension of the long flexible connector 20, or the diameter dimension of the long flexible connector 20, therefore its terminology includes the word long. The length dimension of the long flexible connector 20 and the grains mass inside the bag of weight 21 are chosen, among other requirements, according to the juggler's body dimensions for enabling the performance juggling moves such as moves around the juggler's body or around a part of the juggler's body, or close to the juggler's body, or by throwing into the air, or throwing into the air and catching, by one juggler or by more than one juggler.
Weight 22 is essentially identical to weight 21 in shape, geometrical dimension, and the grains type and mass.
The mechanical and dynamical behavior of the components of the symmetrical poi 200 is so that the long flexible connector 20 can resist a tension force, and cannot resist any meaningful torque and bending moments, the grains can move inside the bags according to the grasping hand forces and the inertial, gravitational, centrifugal and other forces. Any collision of weight 21 and weight 22 would be a plastic collision.
a is an artistic concept of one embodiment of the symmetrical poi according to the present invention. Symmetrical poi 300 is a symmetrical poi with two essentially identical weights, weight 31 and weight 32 at both ends of a long flexible connector 30. A flexible strip 33 is connected to weight 31 and a flexible strip 34 is connected to weight 32. Strip 33 and strip 34 are examples of the possibility to add to symmetrical poi 300 means in order to increase to visual effect of the symmetrical poi 300 juggling moves.
b illustrates an example of performing moves by two jugglers, using two symmetrical poi 300.
a is a schematic illustration of one possible way to cut the main part of a symmetrical poi structure according to the present invention. The first stage of the production process of symmetrical poi 400 (not shown) can be the cutting of a piece of linen, fabric, or any other suitable material at a shape as illustrated by the geometric form 40. The material is folded along the long symmetrical axis 41 at a later stage of the production process.
b is schematic illustration of another possible way to cut the main part of a symmetrical poi structure according to the present invention. The first stage of the production process of symmetrical poi 500 (not shown) can be the cutting of a piece of linen, fabric, or other suitable materials at a shape as illustrated by the geometric form 50. The material is folded along the short symmetrical axis 51 at a later stage of the production process.
c is schematic illustration of yet another possible way to cut the part of the outer surface material of a symmetrical poi structure according to the present invention. Here the material is cut into to three pieces. Piece 60 is designated for the long flexible connector of the symmetrical poi, piece 61 is designated for the first weight of the symmetrical poi, and piece 62 is designated for the second weight of the symmetrical poi.
d is a schematic illustration of one possible advanced stage in the production process of symmetrical poi 600. Here the piece of material, shaped as illustrated by the geometric form 40 at
The main advantage of the symmetrical poi is that new attractive moves can be performed using it, as well as improvement of known poi's juggler moves. Basic moves elements that can be performed with symmetrical poi include:
Throwing and catching.
Easy switching of holding of the symmetrical poi from one hand to the other.
Easy switching of holding of the symmetrical poi from one hand holding to two hands holding.
Passing a spinning symmetrical poi between two jugglers.
Swinging around the symmetrical poi's center, while holding the symmetrical poi.
Swinging around the symmetrical poi's center, after releasing the symmetrical poi from the hand.
Transferring grip from one end to the second end, with a rotational movement around one palm.
Swinging around one foot and transferring grip from one end to the second end.
Throwing into the air for the purpose of untying two symmetrical poi.
Twisting on objects in various ways.
The combination of basic move elements enabling the performance of many moves.
Moves are displayed here in the figures by a series of positions with short intervals between them describing a complete move. In each figure, starting with
All the moves that are described here by verbally and illustrated or not illustrated here in the figures are based on real experience of performing them with a symmetrical poi.
a is a schematic illustration of one possible move, the throwing and catching of a symmetrical poi move.
The move starts with position 701. Juggler 70 holds one of the symmetrical poi's weights 72 by one hand 73 and rotates the symmetrical poi 71 on a vertical plane. The move is continued by throwing the symmetrical poi 71 into the air in position 702. After some time in position 703 catching one of the symmetrical poi's weights 72 by one of the juggler's hands 73. It is possible to maintain the rotational direction after catching, or reversing it by a pendulum movement.
b is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the palm roll move. In this move the holding of the symmetrical poi 71 is reversed from holding one of the symmetrical poi's weights 72 by one of the juggler's palms 74, (illustrated here as cutting through the palm) to holding the other of the symmetrical poi's weights 76.
The move starts with position 704. The juggler's palm 74 holds the symmetrical poi's weight 72 and rotates the symmetrical poi 71. In position 705 the symmetrical poi's weight 72 is released. It can be seen that in position 706 the symmetrical poi's long flexible connector 75, is in contact with the juggler's palm 74 and is banding around it. In position 707 the second symmetrical poi's weight 76 is caught and held by the juggler's palm 74, and the rotation is continued.
c is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the arm roll move.
The move starts with position 708. The juggler's palm 74, (illustrated here as cutting through the palm) holds the symmetrical poi's weights 72 and rotates the symmetrical poi 71. In position 709 the symmetrical poi's long flexible connector 75 is striking the Juggler's arm 76, (illustrated here as cutting through the arm), or any other part of the juggler's body, and starts to band around it. At position 710 the second symmetrical poi's weights 76 is caught and held by the juggler's palm 74, and the rotation is continued.
d is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the under the leg move.
The move starts with position 711. Juggler 70 holds one of the symmetrical poi's weights 72 by one hand 73 and rotates the symmetrical poi 71. As can be seen in position 712, the symmetrical poi 71 is thrown beneath one of the juggler's legs 76. In position 713 the juggler 70 is catching one of the symmetrical poi's weights 72.
e is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the like a stick move. As illustrated in
The like a stick move starts with position 714 as the juggler 70 slides his palm 74 along the symmetrical poi's long flexible connector 75 towards the symmetrical poi's center 77 and continue the symmetrical poi's 71 rotation similarly to rotating a rigid stick.
f is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the two jugglers with three poi move.
The two jugglers with three poi move starts with position 715. Juggler 70, is rotating one symmetrical poi 78, at the same time near by juggler 80, is rotating one symmetrical poi 88 with one of his hands and another symmetrical poi 89, with his other hand. In position 716 juggler 80 releases the symmetrical poi 88 which moves in rotational movement toward juggler 70. In position 717 juggler 70, catches the symmetrical poi 88, by symmetrical poi's weight 72. After that juggler 70 is rotating one symmetrical poi 78 by one of his hands and another symmetrical poi 88, by his other hand and juggler 80, is rotating one symmetrical poi 89.
g is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the butterfly hand switching move.
The butterfly hand switching move starts with position 718 as juggler 80 is rotating a first symmetrical poi 88 held in one hand 90 in one direction and at the same time juggler 80 is rotating a second symmetrical poi 89 in the other hand 91 in the opposite direction. In position 719 juggler 80 switches holding, now symmetrical poi 88 is held and rotated by the second hand 91 and the second symmetrical poi 89 is held and rotated by the first hand 90. If symmetrical poi 89 and symmetrical poi 88 look the same the visual effect of the move is an illusion of rotational directions changes of symmetrical poi 89 and symmetrical poi 88, and looks like the fluttering wings of a butterfly. This move can be done with two poi and is brought here as an example for a move that can be performed better when using two symmetrical poi.
h is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the butterfly switch throw move.
The butterfly switch throw move starts with position 720 as juggler 80 is rotating one symmetrical poi 88 held by one hand 90 at a direction such that when the symmetrical poi's other weight 92 that is not held by the juggler's first hand 90 is drawn away from juggler 80 with upwards motion and at the same time juggler 80 is rotating another symmetrical poi 89 held by his other hand 91 in the opposite direction. In position 721 the juggler 80 releases the first symmetrical poi 88. In position 722 the juggler 80 switches the holding of the second symmetrical poi 89 from the second hand 91 to the first hand 90. In position 723 the first symmetrical poi 88 is caught by the juggler 80 with the other hand 91. This move also looks like the fluttering wing of a butterfly.
i is a schematic illustration of another possible move, the parallel and throw move.
The parallel and throw move starts with position 724, as juggler 80 rotates one symmetrical poi 88 held in one hand 90 in a certain direction and at the same time juggler 80 rotate a second symmetrical poi 89 held by his second hand 91, at the same direction. In position 725 juggler 80 releases the first symmetrical poi 88. In position 726 juggler 80 switches the holding of the second symmetrical poi 89 from the second hand 91 to the first hand 90. In position 727 juggler 80 catches the first symmetrical poi 88 by his second hand 91.
An additional move is the big stick move. This move is similar to the like a stick move but here the juggler rotates two symmetrical poi, instead of one, with one of his hands.
An additional move is the X and throw move. The X move is a basic move in poi performance art. In the X move two poi are rotated by one juggler in vertical planes such that when one poi is at the lowest point of the circle of motion the other poi is at the highest point of the circle of motion. At a certain time the poi that are at a low point is thrown above the other poi and later that poi is caught and the X move is continued. An improvement of the X move includes creating the illusion of moving the poi beneath one of the juggler's legs. Using symmetrical poi enables a real moving of the symmetrical poi beneath one of the juggler's legs a short time before the throwing. This move is referred to as the X and throw move.
An additional move is the butterfly arm roll. In this move the juggler rotates two symmetrical poi in horizontal planes in opposite directions. To prevent a collision of both symmetrical poi, one of the juggler's hands is located at a point that is before and below that of the other hand. With each revolution of the symmetrical poi the juggler switches the holding of the two symmetrical poi. The juggler performs an arm roll move on the arm that is far from his body, and with continuous movement the juggler performs a palm roll move until catching the symmetrical poi.
An additional move is the back to front move. The move starts with throwing of a symmetrical poi upward behind the juggler's back and catching it in front of the juggler's body. Another version of the move is throwing the symmetrical poi from a point in front of the juggler's body and catching it at a point behind the juggler's back.
Additional another advantage of the symmetrical poi is the using of it as a tool for the improvement of coordination and aerobic and other abilities Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
