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Technology:
Funny
Patents (III)
Hugging Hula Hoop
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Oliver Weiss
As if we
didn't have enough fun with traditional hula hoops. Now they come with music
while you spin it. This is one of two new inventions which have recently been
filed as U.S. patents. The other invention described here is a hugging
mechanism, probably for somewhat desperate folks. Read extracts from the
original files. |
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he hugging mechanism adaptable for a toy provides a
hugging motion to a pair of arms extending outward from each side of a rear body
member. A front body member is supported by a bottom hinge in V-shaped hinged
relation in front of the rear body member.
Each arm is comprised of an upper arm
and a relatively long forearm supported in hinged relation on the outer end of
the upper arm. For each arm, a wide, elongated, yielding forearm actuator is
hingedly attached on its outer end to the forearm and on its inner end to the
front body member.
A hand is hingedly supported on the outward end of the
forearm. Supported in front of the forearm is an elongated, yielding hand
actuator adapted to move the hand when the forearm actuator is moved toward the
forearm. Squeezing the body portions together causes the forearm actuators to
pivot the forearms forward in a hugging motion.
The hugging mechanism comprises a body and a pair of arms supported outwardly therefrom. The
body comprises a front body portion and a rear body portion each having large,
easily accessible pressure surfaces which are hinged together in V-shaped
relation at a bottom hinge.
Each arm is comprised of an upper arm attached to
the rear body portion and a relatively long forearm hingedly attached to the
outer end of the upper arm by an elbow hinge. A forearm actuator supported by
the front body portion and hingedly attached to the forearm. Optionally, a hand
is hingedly attached to the outward end of the forearm and a yielding hand
actuator extends from the front forearm to the hand.
| When a person holds the mechanism against his chest and hugs
it, the arms pivot horizontally and/or vertically at shoulder. |
When a person holds the mechanism against his chest and hugs it, the rear body
portion moves toward the front body portion. Then the arms pivot horizontally
and/or vertically at shoulder when the upper arm pushes the forearm actuator and
the forearm forward.
Upon contact of the forearm actuator with the person,
further forward movement of the upper arm causes the forearm to rotate forward
at the elbow hinge until the forearm contacts the person. Further forward
movement of the forearm causes the hand actuator to pivot the hand forward.
(Patent No. 6,200,190)
Umpah
tunes while it spins
A musical entertainment device is
provided having a hoop which plays a musical tune as the user spins it around
his/her waist. Inside of the hoop are located a series of pneumatic tone
generators or reeds.
As the user spins the hoop around his/her waist, diaphragms
are compressed by the waist of the user, forcing air through the corresponding
tone generators and emitting the notes that comprise the specific tune to be
played.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved
musical entertainment device which improves upon the device
commonly known as a HULA HOOP by providing a series of passive adjustable
openings similar to a reed instrument, which emits musical notes which play a
designated tune when the HULA HOOP is played with.
Inside of the hoop are located a series of pneumatic tone generators or reeds,
similar in nature to those found in a child's squeeze toy. The tone generators
are driven by a series of air diaphragms located about the interior
circumferential surface of the hoop. The tone generators are tuned to different
notes and arranged in a sequence such that a musical tune results when played in
succession.
As the user spins the hoop around his or her waist, the diaphragms
will be compressed by the waist of the user, forcing air through the
corresponding tone generators and emitting the notes that comprise the specific
tune to be played. As a result, depending upon the configuration, a limitless
number of tunes can be incorporated into the present invention's design.
It is another object of the present invention to combine traditional HULA HOOP activity with enjoyment of musical notes.
(Patent No. 6,165,040)
[2001]
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