US2172000A - Jumper - Google Patents

Description

H. WENKER Sept. 5, 1939,

JUMPER Filed March 1, 1939 INVE 7 M lk 9 Patented Sept. 5, 1 939 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to improvements in jumping devices which are intended to enable a child to jump upwards and forwards for considerable distances, thereby providing a healthful and amusing exercise for the child.

Essentially, my invention consists of a system of two elastic S-shaped springs arranged in the form of a horizontal letter V, and means to attach one of these spring arrangements to each leg of the child.

The objects of the improvements are, first, to reduce the number of operating parts, and thereby the cost, of my jumper as much as possible without impairing its efllciency; and second, to

increase by a novel arrangement of springs the efliciency of the device in about the same proportion as a forward; or running, movement is added to the upward, or jumping movement usually associated with devices of this kind.

One form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a jumper in applied position, the coacting leg being diagrammatically indicated by broken lines, and the device in the en- '35 suing phase of contraction of the springs being indicated by broken dotted lines; Figure 2 is a detailed view in perspective of the device.

In practice, each jumper comprises an elongated'brace or member I, preferably of metal.

so The upper part of this ,member i is widened so as to encircle, in part, the leg of the child, and

is provided with leather straps 2 adapted to be disposed around the leg to hold the upper portion of the member I thereto. The lower part of 85 the member' I is shaped in form of a heel piece so as to encircle, in part, the heel of the foot of the child, and secured to this heel piece are straps 3 to engage over the instep of the foot. I To the lower .end of this heel piece is secured by screws 4 a pedal or foot rest 5 in the form of a plate, preferably of wood, having the general outline of the foot; The forward or toe portion of the pedal I is provided with straps 6 for engagement over the forward or toe portion of the foot. v

Beneath the pedal 5 is an open V-shaped spring, including an upper s-shaped leaf 1 secured with its forward end to the forward or toe end of the pedal 5 byscrews 8, and a lower s-shaped leaf 9 secured with its rear end to the rear end of the upper leaf 1 by rivets I0. The forward portion of the lower leaf 9, in applied position, serves as a base resting onthe ground and is preferably formed with a flexible rubber coating ll 65 which functions to prevent skidding on the ground when the device is in actual .use.

, The-forward end of the upper leaf 1 is connected to the forward end of the lower leaf 9 by strap l2 of a flexible material with its lower end riveted to the forward end of leaf 9, and its upper end screwed to the pedal Sand interposed between the upper leaf I and a metal strap I3. This strap l2 opposes the expensive movement of the V-shaped spring and at a given desired position prevents further expansion of the spring.

It will be understood that during actual operation of the device the point of contact of spring 9 with the ground will shift toward the forward end of spring 9 at approximately the same rate as a forward or running movement is added to the upward or jumping movement of the child, therebyincreasing the operating length of the spring and its efficiency. This will add material- 1y to the enjoyment of the device as it enables the child to cover distances at a relatively high rate of speed with comparatively small eflort.

I am aware that prior to my invention jumping devices have been described comprising a foot rest, a brace and a spring arrangement under the foot rest. I therefore do not claim such a combination broadly.

I claim:

1. A jumping device comprising, in combination, a foot rest, foot engaging means carried by the foot rest, an elongated brace having one end portion secured to the rear end of said foot rest, leg attaching means carried by the brace, a V-shaped spring beneath said foot rest including an upper S-shaped leaf secured to the forward end of said foot .rest and a lower S-shaped leaf secured to the rear end of the upper leaf,

the convex surface of the forward portion of said lower leafoperating to serve as a base on the ground, means to prevent skidding under the forward portion of the lower leaf, and a flexible.

strap connecting the forward ends of the upper and lower leaf and operating to limit the expansion of the spring.

12. A jumping device comprising, in combination, a foot rest, foot engaging means carried by the foot rest, an elongated brace having one end portion secured to the rear end of said foot rest, leg attaching means carried by the brace, a V-shaped spring beneath said foot rest including an upper S-shaped leaf secured to the forward end of said foot rest and a lower S-shaped leaf secured .to the rear end of the upper leaf, the convex surface of the forward portion of said lower leaf operating to serve as a base on the ground, a flexible, skid-preventing coating under the forward portion of the lower leaf, and a .flexible strap connecting the forward ends of the upper and lower leaf and operating to limit the expansion of the spring.

- HENRY WENKER.

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