GAME, FITNESS, STRENGTHENING AND REHABILITATION, COORDINATION IMPROVEMENT DEVICE, SHUTTLECOCK, AND CUSTOMIZABLE COLLECTIBLE
The present invention provides a multi-use product. Products in accordance with the present invention may be used in entertainment and physical conditioning. Devices in accordance with the present invention may also be collected and traded.
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The present invention is directed to devices for use in entertainment, and physical conditioning. Devices in accordance with the present invention may also be collected and traded.
Reference materials of Interest to the Reader
U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,705
U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,886
PPA No. 61456995 (Nov. 16, 2010 filing—same inventor)
Products referred to as “Jianzi” or “Da Cau”
http://www.kikbo.com, website and marketing material for one embodiment of the device described above. Owned by the inventor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCoordination, athleticism, and fitness are generally desirable. Devices which improve these traits in an individual at minimum cost, be it financial or otherwise, are therefore valuable, those which can infuse the improvement of said traits with fun, even more so.
Improving one's fitness and/or losing weight are held to be desirable but may require considerable effort, often in the form of strenuous exercise. Many people spend time strengthening, toning, and training their muscles. Devices which accomplish this task, in a way thought to be fun, making the task less onerous are valuable. For example, there is a reason why health clubs accept the cost of installing televisions on their treadmills.
People, and in particular, children enjoy trading for and collecting things of perceived value. Further, perceived scarcity, variety, and customizability of a device or set of devices tend to be positively correlated with the desire to trade for and collect said devices. A device, which not only facilitates and lessens the burden of exercise, but also is durable, portable, and customizable with tradable components, and even further is associated with activities held to be fun surely would be an interesting proposition, especially to children.
Of course, in order for a product to achieve the aforementioned goals, it must be widely available and sufficiently sellable. The distribution growth of many tradable low-cost objects of perceived value and scarcity are often powered by self-replicating purchases. The Consumer Product Safety Act of 2008 (CPSIA), its forefathers, similar laws in other countries, and perhaps their descendants limit the breadth of products available to children—the very audience to whom exercise devices and trading low-cost objects of perceived value and scarcity often appeals the most. Compliance with the aforementioned laws would therefore greatly increase the distribution of such a device.
This patent application describes a device which endeavors to address the aforementioned observations. Further, it endeavors to describe a device which addresses the, in many respects, inadequacy, with regard to the aforementioned aims, of U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,705, as well as the products known as “jianzi” or “da cau” available on today's market. It is founded on a provisional patent application No. 61/456,995, filed on Nov. 16, 2010. Many aspects of the device can be seen in Kikbo Kick Shuttlecocks™ (http://(www.kikbocom)—a product designed and manufactured by the inventor, which, at the time of writing is experience commercial success, no doubt in part owing to the increased distribution afforded by innovation implicit in the forthcoming device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONHere follows, an apparatus which is a game device, sporting good, fitness device, coordination improvement device, strengthening and rehabilitation device, and customizable collectible comprising of a means for creating drag, annuli, and a base including a shaft. In one embodiment of the invention, one means for creating drag is in the form of feathers. The product is not limited to the use of natural feathers—any material, or collection of materials, synthetic or natural, which create drag and therefore slow the product during its airborne trajectory is a perfectly acceptable substitute. Further, when the author of this patent application uses the term “feather” or “feathers”, he is, where it is reasonable, referring not only to natural feathers, but the reasonable substitutes for natural feathers defined by the characteristics in the foregoing sentence. Each part may be interchanged for another like part of a different style, shape, material or color, with the purpose of creating a customizable collectible, altering the user's experience with the product in a sporting capacity, or simply replacing a broken component. The product may be hit with various parts of the body to keep it afloat. It may be used to perform tricks and other feats of skill and talent. It also may be used exclusively as a customizable collectible, or even a paper-weight or fashion accessory that expresses the interests and preferences of the user. Using the product can be a form of extremely vigorous aerobic exercise and thus a fitness tool. Further, depending on which limbs are used to make contact with the product and the product's customizable weight, it can be used to target, strengthen and rehabilitate particular muscles. Again, depending on which limbs are used to make contact with the product, it can be used to improve coordination (This use may be of extra significance to soccer players who wish to improve their juggling or general footwork and play). The product may be used as the game ball for a sport that is very similar to volleyball, perhaps with the prohibition of the use of hands. The product can be used as the focus of games like “horse” and “monkey in the middle”. Similarly, it can be used in competitions of repeated juggling or greatest height attained.
Annuli sit on the base and the base houses the feathers. The feathers create drag, slowing the product's descent, thereby allowing the user more time to intercept it and perform tricks, vs. similar devices (for example: soccer ball or footbag). The number and type of annuli can be altered to allow the user to customize the appearance of the product, its speed of descent, the noise generated by collision between annuli when the product is struck, or the strength required to keep it afloat; fewer/lighter annuli to increase ease of use, more/heavier annuli to increase speed of play and muscular resistance. Should a feather (or any other component part) break, the user may replace it with another. The product is easily assembled and disassembled (but does not fall apart during use), allowing what might otherwise be a bulky, clumsy, and fragile device to become portable and durable. The product may be manufactured so as to comply with toy regulations such as the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and its future descendants with the intention of selling the product to children, to whom many of the product's characteristics appeal.
The product may be packaged with spare feathers, annuli, or even bases, all of which may come in different styles, colors, shapes, materials, weights, and adorned with various graphics and expressions. The types and quantities of each component may be concealed from the purchaser and/or inserted randomly (or with consideration) into the package to increase the entertainment derived from the pursuit of collecting or assembling one's preferred customization. Further, each type of component may occur in the package with a different frequency, suggesting different scarcities and thus perceived values.
Still further advantages will become apparent from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings.
The product is a device comprised of a plurality of feathers or any other potentially interchangeable object or material which creates drag, annuli, and a base, into which the feathers or drag-creating members may be inserted and about which the annuli may be placed. The product may be struck (by any part of the body) by one player or passed between more than one player for entertainment. Further, this use of the product may improve the personal fitness of the players and may improve their coordination.
The product may be used for decorative purposes or as a collectible. Some embodiments of the product allow for interchangeable feathers (or other drag-creating members), annuli, and bases. Users of the product may collect and trade these interchangeable parts to create a product that suits them best. The interchangeable parts which comprise the product may be switched in and out should the user wish to change the characteristics of his product or should one of the parts become broken.
As mentioned in the description of
- 10 Product
- 11 Feathers
- 12 Annuli
- 13 Base
- 14 System
- 21 Rachis
- 22 Calamus
- 23 Barb
- 24 Stamp
- 25 Opening into which another feather may be inserted
- 26 Calamus of the smaller feather
- 27 Smaller feather
- 28 Crease made to shape and size feather for insertion into the base
- 29 Terminus
- 30 Expanded terminus
- 31 Receptacles of the base
- 32 Divider
- 33 Shaft
- 34 Top of base bottom
- 35 Base bottom
- 36 Receptacle Nubs
- 37 Receptacle Filaments
- 38 Where the shaft meets the base bottom
- 41 The inside of the annulus
- 42 Top and bottom of the annulus
- 43 Side of the annulus
- 81 High Capacity Barcode
- 91 View from the top of one package
- 92 View from the side of one package
- 93 View from the side of two packages stacked
- 94 View from the top of two packages stacked, dashed lines to indicate the location of relevant components that would otherwise not be visible.
The user of the product 10 first determines his or her desired use for the product 10 and then accordingly chooses annuli 12, a base 13, and feathers 11 that suit.
For vigorous aerobic exercise, the user of the product 10 may choose medium-weighted annuli 12 that are not too numerous. By keeping the product 10 afloat without a partner, the user will burn more calories in the same amount of time.
For muscle strengthening, the user may choose heavy annuli 12 that are numerous.
To increase the ease of use (by slowing the speed of descent), the user may choose light annuli 12 that are not too numerous, as weight counteracts the drag and slowing-effect of the feathers 11.
Claims
1. A device comprising:
- a base;
- at least one annulus; and
- a means for creating drag.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for creating drag comprises feathers.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the feathers have been shaped to minimize variation in their size, sealed or glued to prevent expansion in humidity, or coated to increase their coefficient of friction.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for creating drag comprises fins.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the transition between the top of the base bottom and the shaft is smooth and gradual to resist physical trauma.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the base includes a hollow shaft.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the top of the shaft prevents the annuli from elevating above the top of the shaft after assembly, but does not prevent assembly.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein one annulus includes a small inner hole and prevents the other annuli from elevating above the shaft after assembly.
9. The device of claim 6 wherein the shaft further comprises a divider, creating separate receptacles for the means for creating drag.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the receptacles created narrow near the top of the base bottom to create a snugger fit for the means of drag and strengthen the joint where the shaft meets the base by thickening the material.
11. The device of claim 9, wherein the joint where the shaft meets the base is shaped for resilience to physical trauma and easier mold removal. In some embodiments of the device, the latter entails a smooth transition between the shaft and the top of the base bottom or a widening of the shaft near the top of the base bottom.
12. The device of claim 9, wherein the interior of the receptacles are comprised of nubs, filaments, or other such textures and uneven surfaces to maximize the coefficient of friction between the means of creating drag and the receptacles, at all times or just after assembly.
13. The device of claim 1, further comprising an electronic device.
14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a means for emitting light.
15. The device of claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a counter.
16. The device of claim 1, wherein materials are selected so as to allow for compliance with the CPSIA 2008, its forefathers, descendants, and similar laws of other countries.
17. Packaging for the device in claim 1, wherein the packaging includes a high-capacity barcode and, by inverting every other package, allows for more compact packing.
18. The device of claim 1, wherein materials and components are selected to as to allow the device to function as a customizable collectible.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 14, 2011
Publication Date: May 17, 2012
Applicant: (Greenwich, CT)
Inventor: Molson Laurent Hart (Greenwich, CT)
Application Number: 13/296,230
International Classification: A63B 67/18 (20060101); A63B 65/00 (20060101); B65D 79/00 (20060101); A63B 43/06 (20060101);