Jumping device with convertible stabilizing base

• US 6,964,634 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Grober, David E., Waples, David G., Wojtkiewicz, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mathew, Fenn C.
• Application Number:
  US09/976,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20030073547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 482/77, 482/87, 482/89, 482 75- 76, 482121-123, D21/415
• US Class Current: 482/77
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 25/08 Hopping-sticks, e.g. pogo sticks ; Hopping apparatus with a single resilient support devices for balloon jumping A63B5/166

Abstract

A base releasably coupleable to a pogo stick tip for added stability and prolonged enjoyment of the pogo stick.

Claims

1. A pogo stick comprising:

a first tubular member;

a second tubular member disposed parallel to said first tubular member and configured for relative axial movement to said first tubular member;

a handle disposed on said first tubular member;

a foot rest disposed on one of said first tubular member and said second tubular member;

a tip disposed on a lower end of said second tubular member, said tip having a lower surface adapted for contacting a ground surface;

a stabilizer releasably coupleable to said tip, said stabilizer including a body portion, a portion of said body portion enclosing said tip when said stabilizer is coupled to said tip, said body portion adapted for engaging the ground surface at a plurality of ground surface engagement points laterally spaced from a longitudinal axis of said tip, said stabilizer including an opening formed therein, said tip being disposable within said opening when said tip and said stabilizer are coupled together; and

a coupler disposable within said opening of said stabilizer and removably coupleable to said stabilizer, said coupler including a body portion and a lip formed on one end of said body portion, said lip adapted to mechanically engage said tip when said tip is disposed within said opening.

2. The pogo stick of claim 1, wherein said body portion includes a plurality of leg members.

3. The pogo stick of claim 1, wherein said stabilizer has a circular and flat body portion.

4. The pogo stick of claim 1, wherein said stabilizer has a frustum-conical shape with a circular ground engaging rim at a lower end of said body portion.

5. The pogo stick of claim 1, wherein said stabilizer has a circular body portion and a recess formed in an upper surface of said stabilizer to receive said tip.

6. The pogo stick of claim 1, wherein said coupler includes a first portion and a second portion removably coupleable to the first portion of the coupler.

7. A pogo stick, comprising:

an elongate member;

a foot rest disposed on said elongate member;

a first ground engaging member having an upper and a lower surface, said first ground engaging member disposed at a lower end of said elongate member;

a second ground engaging member releasably coupleable to said first ground engaging member, said second ground engaging member having a recess formed in an upper surface thereof to receive said first ground engaging member, said second ground engaging member having a contact portion, said contact portion disposed at or below the lower surface of said first ground engaging member when said second ground engaging member is coupled to said first ground engaging member, said contact portion including a plurality of ground engaging contact points spaced laterally from an axis of said first ground engaging member; and

a coupler including a first portion and a second portion removably coupleable to the first portion of the coupler, said coupler disposable on said second ground engaging member.

8. The pogo stick of claim 7 wherein, said coupler includes a body portion and a rim formed on one end of said body portion, said rim is adapted to engage said first ground engaging member.

9. The pogo stick of claim 8, wherein said first around engaging member includes a contoured outer surface.

10. The pogo stick of claim 9, wherein said coupler includes a contoured inner surface, said contoured inner surface of said coupler configured to engage substantially all of said contoured outer surface of said first ground engaging member to frictionally engage said coupler to said first ground engaging member.

11. The pogo stick of claim 7, further comprising:

an annular ring disposed on said first ground engaging member,

said coupler having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface including an annular groove formed therein and configured to receive a portion of said annular ring.

12. The pogo stick of claim 7, wherein said second ground engaging member includes a plurality of leg members each having a ground engaging portion.

13. The pogo stick of claim 12, wherein said ground engaging portions are disposed symmetrically about said axis.

14. The pogo stick of claim 7, wherein said contact portion is circular and flat.

15. The pogo stick of claim 7, wherein said second ground engaging member has a frustum-conical shape and said contact portion has a circular ground engaging rim at a lower end thereof.

16. The pogo stick of claim 7, wherein said second ground engaging member has a circular contact portion.

17. A pogo stick for use on a ground surface, comprising:

an elongate pole;

a foot rest disposed on said elongate pole;

a tip disposed at a lower end of said elongate pole, said tip having a lower surface for contacting the ground surface, said lower surface of said tip having a first contact surface area;

a base releasably coupleable to said lower end of said elongate pole, said base having a recess in an upper surface of said base to receive said tip, said base including a lower surface for contacting the ground surface and an upper surface for releasably coupling said base to said pole, said lower surface of said base having a second contact surface area, said second contact surface area being larger than said first contact surface area; and

a coupler including a first portion and a second portion removably coupleable to said first portion of the coupler, the coupler being coupleable to said base.

18. The pogo stick of claim 17, wherein said coupler is adapted to releasably engage said tip.

19. The pogo stick of claim 18, wherein said coupler includes a protrusion having an inclined surface, said coupler adapted to mechanically engage said tip.

20. The pogo stick of claim 17, further comprising:

a coupler including a sleeve portion and a rim formed about an end of said sleeve portion, said coupler coupleable to said base such that said rim of said coupler engages said tip to releasably couple said base to said tip.

21. The pogo stick of claim 17, wherein said lower surface is circular and flat.

22. The pogo stick of claim 17, wherein said base has a frustum-conical shape with a circular ground engaging rim formed on said lower surface.

23. The pogo stick of claim 17, wherein said base has a circular lower surface.

24. A pogo stick, comprising:

an elongate member;

a foot rest disposed on said elongate member;

a first ground engaging member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an annular ring, said first ground engaging member disposed at a lower end of said elongate member;

a second ground engaging member releasably coupleable to said first ground engaging member, said second ground engaging member having a contact portion, said contact portion disposed at or below the lower surface of said first ground engaging member when said second ground engaging member is coupled to said first ground engaging member, said contact portion including a plurality of ground engaging contact points spaced laterally from an axis of said first ground engaging member; and

a coupler removably coupleable to said second ground engaging member, said coupler having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface including an annular groove formed therein and configured to receive a portion of said annular ring.

25. The pogo stick of claim 24, wherein said second ground engaging member includes a plurality of leg members each having a ground engaging portion.

26. The pogo stick of claim 24, wherein said grounding engaging portions are disposed symmetrically about said axis.

27. The pogo stick of claim 24, wherein said contact portion is circular and flat.