Child entertainment device

• US 5,364,313 A
• Filed: 09/13/1993
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nickelson, David
• Original Assignee: Nickelson, David
• Inventors: Nickelson, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEPHAN, BETH A
• Application Number:
  US08/120,047
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 472/135, 472/106, 472/137
• US Class Current: 472/135
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/02 with moving substructures

Abstract

A child'"'"'s amusement device having a torsible beam with the torsible beam having a child-support surface for a child to sit or stand on with pivotal supports spaced about and supporting the periphery of the torsible beam, with the torsible beam having sufficient rigidity to remain in a fixed position when no external force is applied to the child-support surface, and the torsible beam having sufficient resiliency so that when an external force deflects the torsible beam, the torsible beam flexes and twists in response thereto, causing the torsible beam to oscillate about the pivotal supports and thereby provide an amusement ride for a child thereon.

Claims

1. A child'"'"'s amusement device comprising:

a torsible beam having sufficient rigidity to remain in a rigid condition when no external force is applied, said torsible beam having sufficient resiliency so that the entire torsible beam can flex and twit in response to an external force on said torsible beam, said torsible beam having a child-support surface;

a plurality of pivotal supports carrying said torsible beam, said plurality of pivotal supports spaced about said torsible beam, said pivotal supports coacting to restrain said torsible beam from pivoting motion about the pivotal supports unless an external force is applied to said child-support surface which is sufficient to both flex and twist the torisble beam, said torsible beam having sufficient flexibility and resiliency so that when an external force deflects a portion of said torsible beam, other portions of said torsible beam flex and twist in response thereto causing the other portions of the torsible beam to flex and twist as the torsible beam oscillates about the pivotal supports to thereby provide a ride for a child located thereon.

2. The child'"'"'s amusement device of claim 1 including at least four pivotal supports.

3. The child'"'"'s amusement device of claim 1 wherein said pivotal supports are equally spaced around said torsible beam.

4. The child'"'"'s amusement device of claim 1 wherein said torsible beam comprises four segments joined to each other to form a closed ring.

5. The child'"'"'s amusement device of claim 1 wherein said torsible beam is covered with a polymer plastic.

6. The child'"'"'s amusement device of claim 1 wherein said torsible beam has a generally U-shaped cross section.

7. The child'"'"'s amusement device of claim 1 wherein said torsible beam has a general square shape with rounded comers.

8. The child'"'"'s amusement device of claim 1 the pivotal supports includes four posts having pivot bars therein for pivotally engaging said torsible beam.

9. The child'"'"'s amusement device of claim 1 wherein said torsible beam is made of steel.

10. The child'"'"'s amusement device of claim 1 wherein said torsible beam comprises a continuous loop.

11. The child'"'"'s amusement device of claim 1 including uprights suspending the torsible beam in a horizontal plane about a foot above the ground.

12. A device for entertainment of children comprising:

a first upright;

a first pivot member extending outward from said first upright member;

a second upright member;

a second pivot member extending outward from said second upright member;

a third upright member;

a third pivot member extending outward from said third upright member;

a fourth upright member;

a fourth pivot member extending outward from said fourth upright member;

a continuous torsible beam, said torsible beam having a top surface sufficiently wide for a child to stand or sit on, said torsible beam having a first pivotal support for engaging said first pivot member;

said torsible beam having a second pivotal support for engaging said second pivot member, said torsible beam having a third pivotal support for engaging said third pivot member, said torsible beam having a fourth pivotal support for engaging said fourth pivot member,said torsible beam forming a closed ring like loop with said pivotal supports coacting to restrain said torsible beam from an up and down motion, said torsible beam having sufficient torsibility so that a downward deflection of a portion of said torsible beam beam creates an upward deflection in a further portion of the torsible ring located diagonally opposite of said first portion of said torsible beam, with said torsible beam characterized by having sufficient spring action and inertia so that when the first portion of torsible beam is deflected about the pivotal supports the other portions of the torsible beam located between said pivotal supports twist and bend to allow the torsible beam to oscillate in response thereto to carry a person person sitting or standing on the torsible beam in an up and down motion.