Electrically blinking hula-hoop

Abstract

An electrically blinking ‘Hula-Hoop’ is comprised of; 1) eight pieces of flexible tubes of transparent material, 2) eight pieces of the tube connectors, 3) a blinking lightning circuit comprised of one or two electric wires, plurality of LEDs connected to the electric wire, and one blinking connector that is activated by a liquid metal/metal ball positioned therein, 4) a power switch on a circuit board, 5) two ‘AAA’ size 1.5 Volt batteries. Any motion including a rotational motion of the ‘Hula-Hoop’ connects and disconnects the blinking connectors and enables the LEDs blinking constantly as the ‘Hula-Hoop’ rotates. The blinking connector is endurable to long and repeated rotational motion of the ‘Hula-Hoop’.

Description

This invention relates to an electrically blinking ‘Hula-Hoop’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people think about an electrically blinking jump rope for fun. But it is difficult to supply an electric power to the light sources in a desired blinking pattern. Especially, there has been difficulty in providing electric power to light sources according to the motions of rotation of the Hoop. Therefore, most of the prior arts decorate the appearance of the Hoop itself or change the structure collapsible.

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an electrically blinking ‘Hula-Hoop’, especially responds to the rotational motion of the Hoop by utilizing two electrical blinking connectors.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,047 to Huang illustrates an exercising device for simulating hula-hoop rotations includes: a housing having at least a track annularly formed in the housing, at least a ball rolling or rotatably moving in the track upon a hula-hoop rotation by a user who wears the housing of the exercising device, and an audio and visual device provided on the housing to indicate or display the whirling movements audio visually.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,449 to Lee illustrates a hula-hoop includes a body having a hollow portion at an inner side thereof, and a plurality of rollers equidistantly spaced apart and pivotally mounted in the hollow portion of the hula-hoop body. U.S. D 450,097, U.S. D 445,463, U.S. D 445,146, U.S. D 443,002, U.S. D 442,234, U.S. D 442,233 to Seo illustrate hula-hoop having a plurality of hemi-sphere balls anchored to the inner side of the hula-hoop to press the waist of a user. U.S. D 442,094 to Seo illustrates a hula-hoop equipped with an electronic counter.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,309 to Spector illustrates a hula-hoop including an inflatable annular core formed of plastic film or other flexible material enclosed within an annular fabric casing to provide a hoop of high strength which when not in use can be collapsed and folded to assume a compact state for storage and shipment. U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,134 to Nordanger introduces a collapsible hula-hoop formed of a plurality of extruded plastic tube sections which can be bent from a straight shape into an actuate shape. None of the prior art introduces a blinking hula-hoop according to the motion of the player's waist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a hula-hoop electrically blinking along with the rotating motion of a user's waist. The radius of the hula-hoop is in the range of 30 to 60 cm. The diameter of the tubes is in the range of 2 to 3 cm. The electrically blinking jump rope is comprised of; 1) eight pieces of flexible tube of transparent material, 2) a blinking lightning circuit comprised of one or two electric wire, plurality of LEDs connected to the electric wires, and a blinking connector, 3) a power switch on the circuit board, 4) two ‘AAA’ size 1.5 Volt batteries. Power supply is activated by turn on the switch on one of the circuit. The blinking connector is a liquid metal/metal ball connected light bulb having two sets of (+), (−) leads at the end of the bulb. The liquid metal/metal ball oscillates in the bulb as along with a motion of the user, such as turning the hoop. The bulb blinking connector endures for the long and repeated rotational motion of the hula-hoop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the hula-hoop of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an electrical circuit for blinking hula-hoop, wherein the batteries and LEDs are connected in series via electric wire.

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the blinking connector of the current application.

FIG. 4 is an electrical circuit for blinking hula-hoop, wherein the batteries and LEDs are connected in parallel via two electric wires.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the hula-hoop (1) of this invention. The radius of the hula-hoop is in the range of 30 to 60 cm. The diameter of the tubes is in the range of 2 to 3 cm. The electrically blinking hula-hoop (1) is comprised of eight pieces of flexible tubes (2) of transparent material, eight pieces of tube connectors (2-1), a lightning circuit (3) comprised of electric wires (4), plurality of LEDs (5) connected to the electric wire, a blinking connector (6), circuit board (7), batteries (8) for electric power source, and a power switch (9) projected out on one of the flexible tube (2) and connected to the circuit board (7), for electric connections.

FIG. 2 is an electrical circuit (3) for blinking hula-hoop. The circuit is comprised of; 1) one wire (4), 2) plurality of LEDs (5) connected to the wire (4), a blinking connector (6), circuit board (7) for electric connections, and two batteries (8) connected in series. One end of the electric line (4) is connected to a (−) electrode (10) of on/off switch (9) and the other end of the electric line (4) is connected to a (+) electrode (11) the other side of the circuit board (7). This (+) electrode (11) is connected to the blinking connector (6). When the on/off switch (9) is connected, i.e., “ON”, an electrical circuit is established, i.e., electron comes out from the batteries (8) pass through the on/off switch (10), flows through the electric wire (4), pass through the LEDs (5) and reach to the (+) electrode (11) on the circuit board (7).

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the blinking connector (6) of the current application. The electrons pass through the blinking connector (6), if the liquid metal/metal ball (12) in the connector (6) connects one set of the two metal wire leads (13) and (14), which are connected to another two metal tape leads of (15) and (16), respectively. The two metal tape leads (15) and (16) are located on opposite side of the blinking connector (6) on the circuit board. The electrons go into the (+) electrode of the battery (8). Then the LEDs (5) are turned on. If the liquid metal/metal ball is not in position of connecting the two metal wire leads, (13) and (14) or (13′) and (14′), facing each other on opposite direction, the LEDs (5) will be turned off.

FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the current application. It shows another electrical circuit (3-1) for blinking hula-hoop (1), wherein the batteries (8′) and LEDs (5) are connected in parallel via two electric wires (4′) and (4″). One of the metal tape lead (15′) is connected to the other (−) electrode (18) of the batteries (8′). If the on/off switch (10′) is connected “On”, the electrons come out the battery (8′), pass through the on/off switch (10′), flow through the electric wire (4′), reach the conjunction point (17). The electron can go on flow to the LEDs (5) and to the other electric wire (4″) as far as the blinking connector (6) is in connection mode. In this connection mode, the liquid metal/metal ball (12) connects the metal wire leads of (13) and (14) or (13′) and (14′). If the liquid meta/metal ball (12) does not connect the metal wire leads, the circuit (3-1) is disconnected and the LEDs are off.

The oscillation movement of a player will make the liquid metal move between the wire leads of (13), (14) and (13′), (14′). This movement of the liquid metal/metal ball (12) makes the LED's (5) blinks along with the movement of the player's waist movement.

Claims

1. An electrically blinking hula-hoop that blinks due to any motion, including a rotational motion enduced by a user, is comprised of:

1) eight pieces of flexible tubes of light transmitting material, 2) eight pieces of the tube connectors, 3) a blinking lightening circuit comprised of one electric wire, plurality of LEDs connected in series to the electric wire, and one blinking connector that is comprised of a liquid metal/metal ball containing glass bulb having two sets of (+), (−) leads, each set locates at each end of the bulb, 4) a power switch on a circuit board, 5) two 1.5 Volt ‘AAA’ size batteries connected in series.

2. An electrically blinking hula-hoop that blinks due to any motion, including a rotational motion enduced by a user, is comprised of:

1) eight pieces of flexible tubes of light transmitting material, 2) eight pieces of the tube connectors, 3) a blinking lightning circuit comprised of two electric wires, plurality of LEDs connected in parallel to the electric wires, and one blinking connector that is comprised of a liquid metal/metal ball containing glass bulb having two sets of (+), (−) leads, each set locates at each end of the bulb, 4) a power switch on the circuit board, 5) two 1.5 Volt ‘AAA’ size batteries connected in parallel.