US20090017719A1

US20090017719A1 - Structure of hula hoop

Info

Publication number: US20090017719A1
Application number: US11/826,211
Authority: US
Inventors: Kun Yuan Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-13
Filing date: 2007-07-13
Publication date: 2009-01-15

Abstract

A hula hoop comprised of multiple curved bodies which combine with a plurality of curved inner lids, and whereon multiple built-in hollows are installed at the curved inner lids and a plurality of soft protrusions are provide on the surface of the curved inner lids. The soft protrusions correspond to hollows of the curved inner lids such that the protrusions are drawn into the hollows when the protrusions make contact with the user's body, avoiding injury. In addition, the curved body comprises an inserting piece and an inserting aperture at two ends such that each curved body combines with the curved inner lid and can be connected to one another, forming a circular hula hoop.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hula hoop. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hula-hoop that has a plurality of soft protrusions around the inner periphery thereof for safe use.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional hula hoop is shown in FIG. 8, including a main body 30 having a plurality of protrusions 31 installed integrally along the inner peripheral. The protrusions 31 are made of the same material as the main body 30, and as such the main body 30 and the protrusions 31 are equally firm. However, the aforesaid hula hoop contains some improvable defects, such as:
1. Safety shortcomings: The main body 30 and the protrusions 31 of the hula hoop are made of a firm material, and as such the hula hoops contact with the user's body may lead to injury by after extensive use.
2. Dull design: As the main body 30 and the protrusions 31 are made of the same material and configured integrally, the figuration of the hula hoop is a dull and obsolete design.
The present invention is intended to improve upon the above drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a hula hoop comprising: multiple curving lids having multiple soft curving protrusions, and multiple hollow portions provided on each curving lid which correspond to said curving protrusions such that the curving protrusion can recede into the hollow portion when the protrusion makes contact with the user's body, avoiding injury. In addition, the soft curving protrusions of the curving lids are composed of many different colors, presenting diversity in product design.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, in partial section, of the hula hoop of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view, in partial section, of the hula hoop of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, in partial section, of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a segmented view, in partial section, of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, in partial section, of the FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a plan elevation view schematically showing the conventional hula hoop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While this invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms, shown in the drawings and herein described in detail is the preferred embodiment of the invention. The preferred embodiment is disclosed with the understanding that the present description is but one example of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the single embodiment illustrated.
FIGS. 1 to 3 are perspective and cross-sectional views schematically showing a hula hoop in accordance with first embodiment of the present invention.
The hula hoop comprises:
multiple curving bodies 10 having an inserting piece 11 at one end, and an inserting aperture 12 at other end wherein one side of an inserting piece 11 defines a first positioning ridge 110, and the other side defines a second positioning ridge 111. Correspondingly, one side of the inner wall of the inserting aperture 12 also defines a first positioning chute 120 which corresponds to said first positioning ridge 110, and the other side of the inner wall defines a second positioning chute 121 which corresponds to said second positioning ridge 111. In addition, at least one positioning column 13 and one fixing plug 14 are provided at the inner place of the inserting piece 11 and the inserting aperture 12, respectively, wherein a positioning aperture 130 is defined in the positioning column 13;
multiple curving lids 20 having multiple hollow portions 200, and at least one assembling plug 21 and one fixing column 22 provided at the inner side of the curving lid 20, wherein a positioning aperture 220 is defined in the fixing column 22. In addition, every curving lid 20 comprises a soft curving protrusion 23 attached on the outer surface of the curving lid 20 by injection molding, and the curving protrusion 23 corresponds to the hollow portions 200 of the curving lid 20. The assembling plug 21 of the curving lid 20 is plugged and positioned into the positioning aperture 130 of the positioning column 13, and the fixing plug 14 of the curving body 10 is also plugged and positioned into the positioning aperture 220 of the fixing column 22. The soft curving protrusion 23 is made of thermoplastic rubber (TPR), and the curving body 10 as well as the curving lid 20 are made of Polypropylene (PP).
To assemble the hula hoop, a curving body 10 combines with the curving lid 20 and connects together. Explained another way, the inserting piece 11 of one curving body 10 is inserted into the inserting aperture 12 of another curving body 10. Additionally, the first positioning ridge 110 and second positioning ridge 111 of the inserting piece 11 are locked with the first positioning chute 120 and the second positioning chute 121 of the inserting aperture 12, forming a circular hula hoop.
FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectional view schematically showing the hula hoop of the present invention. Because the hollow portions 200 of the curving lid 20 are situated at the curving protrusion 23, the curving protrusion 23 will recede into the hollow portions 200 when the protrusion 23 are in touch with the user's body, reducing the force of impact with the user's body and thus avoiding any injury resulting therefrom, achieving the function of safe use as well as the function of massage.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention. The only difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment, visible in FIGS. 1 to 3, is that in the second embodiment the positioning aperture 130 of the positioning column 13 further comprises a first positioning aperture 131 and a second positioning aperture 132, and a stopper 133 is also provided between the first positioning aperture 131 and second positioning aperture 132. When the assembling plug 21 of the curving lid 20 is plugged into the second positioning aperture 132, a fastener 15 is provided to screw onto the first positioning aperture 131 and the stopper 133, further to affixing them onto the assembling plug 21 of the curving lid 20. In light of the above given structure, the assembly of the hula hoop is more secure and stable.
FIGS. 5 to 7 are segmented and cross-sectional views of a third embodiment of the present invention. The only difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, is that in the third embodiment both ends of the curving body 10 further comprises a first aperture 112 and second aperture 122, and a buckle 16 provided inside of the first aperture 112. Additionally, inside the side of the buckle 16 not passing through the first aperture 112, a spring piece 160 is installed. When the curving body 10 which combines with the curving inner lid 20 have been connected to each other, the buckle 16 of the inserting piece 11 will be squeezed elastically, allowing the inserting piece 10 of the one curving body 10 to be inserted into the inserting aperture 12 of another curving body 10. When the first aperture 112 with the buckle 16 has been moved to the position of the second aperture 122 of another curving body 10, the buckle 16 will be ejected and buckled to the second aperture 122 elastically. In light of the above given structure, the assembly of the hula hoop is more secure and stable.
In light of the structures described above, the advantages of the present invention include:
1. Increased safety: The curving lids are combined with the curving bodies, and multiple hollow portions are situated at the surface of the curving lids. Additionally, a plurality of soft curving protrusions are attached to the outer surface of the curving lids, such that the curving protrusions will be receded into the hollow portions when the curving protrusions are in touch with the user's body, avoiding injury.
2. Diverse variation of the figuration: the soft curving protrusions of the curving lids can be designed with different colors from the curved bodies, so that the figuration of the hula hoop presents a diverse variation.
Although numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, this disclosure is one example only, and changes may be made with regard to specific details, particularly in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the invention to the full extent indicated by the general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A hula hoop, comprising:

multiple curving bodies having an inserting piece at one end, and an inserting aperture at other end; at least one positioning column and a fixing plug are provided at the inner place of the inserting piece and the inserting aperture respectively, wherein a positioning aperture is defined in the positioning column;

a plurality of curving lids having multiple hollow portions, and at least one assembling plug and one fixing column provided at the inner side of the curving lids; wherein a positioning aperture is defined in the fixing column; every curving lid comprises a soft curving protrusion which is attached to the surface of the curving lid, and each soft curving protrusion corresponds to a hollow portion of the curving lid; additionally, the assembling plug of the curving lid is plugged and positioned into the positioning aperture of the positioning column, and the fixing plug of the curved body is also plugged and positioned into the positioning aperture of the fixing column;

all curving bodies which combine with curving lids are connected to one another, i.e., the inserting pieces of one curving body is inserted into the inserting apertures of another curving body, forming a circular hula hoop.

2. The hula hoop of claim 1, wherein one side of the inserting piece further defines a first positioning ridge, and the other side further defines a second positioning ridge; correspondingly, one side of the inner wall of the inserting aperture also defines a first positioning chute which corresponds to said first positioning ridge, and the other side of the inner wall defines a second positioning chute which corresponds to said second positioning ridge; when the inserting piece of one curving body is inserted into the inserting aperture of another curving body, the first positioning ridge is locked with the first positioning chute, and the second positioning ridge is locked with the second positioning chute.

3. The hula hoop of claim 1, wherein the positioning aperture of the positioning column further comprises a first positioning aperture and second positioning aperture, and a stopper provided between the first positioning aperture and second positioning aperture; when the assembling plug of the curving lid is plugged into the second positioning aperture, a fastener is provided to screw onto the first positioning aperture and the stopper, affixing them to the assembling plug of the curving lid.

4. The hula hoop of claim 1, wherein the soft curving protrusion is attached on the outer surface of the curving lid by injection molding.

5. The hula hoop of claim 1, wherein the soft curving protrusions are made of the thermoplastic rubber (TPR).

6. The hula hoop of claim 1, wherein the curving body as well as the curving lid are made of Polypropylene (PP).

7. A hula hoop, comprising:

multiple curving bodies having an inserting piece at one end and an inserting aperture at other end; at least one positioning column and one fixing plug are provided at the inner portion of the inserting piece and the inserting aperture, respectively, wherein a positioning aperture is defined in the positioning column; in addition, both ends of the curving body further comprising a first aperture and second aperture, and a buckle is provided inside of the first aperture, and a spring piece is installed on the side of the buckle which has not passed through the first aperture;

multiple curving lids having multiple hollow portions; and at least one assembling plug and one fixing column are provided at the inner side of the curving lids, wherein a positioning aperture is defined in the fixing column; every curving lid comprises a soft curving protrusion attached to the outer surface of the curving lid, and the curving protrusion corresponds to the hollow portions of the curving lid; additionally, the assembling plug of the curving lid is plugged and positioned into the positioning aperture of the positioning column, and the fixing plug of the curving body is also plugged and positioned into the positioning aperture of the fixing column;

all curving bodies that combines with curving lids are connected to one another, i.e., the inserting piece of one curving body is inserted into the inserting aperture of another curving body; the buckle of the inserting piece is squeezed elastically, allowing the inserting piece of one curving body to be inserted into the inserting aperture of another curving body; when the first aperture with the buckle has moved to the position of the second aperture of another curving body, the buckle is ejected and buckled to the second aperture elastically, forming a circular hula hoop.

8. The hula hoop of claim 7, wherein one side of the inserting piece further defines a first positioning ridge, and the other side further defines a second positioning ridge; correspondingly, the one side of the inner wall of the inserting aperture also defines a first positioning chute which corresponds to said first positioning ridge, and the other side of the inner wall defines a second positioning chute which corresponds to said second positioning ridge; when the inserting piece of one curving body is inserted into the inserting aperture of another curving body, the first positioning ridge is locked with the first positioning chute, and the second positioning ridge is locked with the second positioning chute.

9. The hula hoop of claim 7, wherein the positioning aperture of the positioning column further comprises a first positioning aperture and a second positioning aperture, and a stopper provided between the first positioning aperture and second positioning aperture; when the assembling plug of the curving lid is plugged into the second positioning aperture, a fastener is provided to screw onto the first positioning aperture and the stopper, affixing them to the assembling plug of the curving lid.

10. The hula hoop of claim 7, wherein the soft curving protrusion is attached on the outer surface of the curving lid by injection molding.

11. The hula hoop of claim 7, wherein the curving protrusions are made of the thermoplastic rubber (TPR).

12. The hula hoop of claim 7, wherein the curving body as well as the curving lid are made of Polypropylene (PP).