Roller board device

April 8, 1958

2,829,892

F. G. LUDWIG

ROLLER BOARD DEVICE ·

Filed Nov. 7, 1955

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2829892A_D0001.tif" />

<img file="US2829892A_D0002.tif" />

April 8, 1958

2,829,892

F. G. LUDWIG

ROLLER BOARD DEVICE

Filed Nov. 7, 1955

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2829892A_D0003.tif" />

2,829,892

Patented Apr. 8, 1958

United States Patent Office

2,829,892

ROLLER BOARD DEVICE

Frederic G. Ludwig, Woodbridge, Conu.

Application November 7,1955, Serial No. 545,349

Claims. (CI. 272—1)

This invention relates to gymnastic and play apparatus and devices, and more particularly to a play or amusement device related to the so-called “Bongo Board.”

The main object of my invention is to provide a play or amusement device of the “Bongo Board” type which is safe to use and facilitates balancing thereon during play involving the device.

Another object of the invention is to have such a play or amusement device which generally embodies the main features and principles of a typical “Bongo Board,” but is so modified and equipped as to tend to balance itself when a child stands upon the device intermediate the ends thereof, even when the child is a novice in its use.

An ancillary object of this invention is to have a play or amusement device made along the lines of a conventional “Bongo Board” having a cylinder intermediately grooved or recessed to receive a turn or two of an elastic cord which has the ends thereof attached adjacent to the ends of the board involved.

A practical and economical object in connection with the invention is to have a play and amusement device of the character indicated which is simple to make to be sold at a reasonable figure in order to encourage wide distribution on the market.

It is likewise a practical object to have such a play and amusement device which is thus virtually self-balancing and so simple to use that a young child can readily and safely play and balance himself upon it at will.

It is, of course, a definite object also to make such a play and amusement device so durable and sturdy that it will withstand rough and hard usage for an extended period of time so that it will both render long service and also avoid forming a source of danger from collapse or breakage.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in greater detail as the specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention for a proper appreciation of the salient features thereof, the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a self-balancing “Bongo Board” play or amusement device made according to my invention and embodying the same in a practical form;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the same play or amusement device as seen from below in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same device as taken on line 3—3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation similar to that shown in Figure 1, but illustrating a modification;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the modification of Figure 4, resembling the view shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a transverse section of the device of Figures 4 and 5, as specifically taken on line 6—6 in Figure 4.

In these figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts and features.

A typical “Bongo Board” consists chiefly of a board about three feet long placed on a cylinder about six to eight inches in diameter and a bit longer than the width of the board overlying it. The purpose of the device is to test one’s skill in balancing by attempting to balance the board on the cylinder, obviously a problem in gymnastics for a person skilled upon the device, but a positive menace for the novice. In fact for a beginner, the device is very dangerous, because it may quickly, even suddenly run out from under the unskilled user and thus cause a serious fall to occur. One of the important objects of the invention is therefore to eliminate such dangers by means of the invention which will now be described in detail in the following.

Hence, in the practice of my invention, and referring also again to the drawing, the play or amusement device primarily includes a board portion 4 and a cylinder portion 5. The board element 4 is preferably made of wood of any suitable length and width, a convenient length being about three feet, but may be made of any other material, if desired, and is from a few inches to a foot in width, more or less. Upon this board, each end 6 may be rounded as shown to avoid sharp corners, while beneath the board is fixed a center guide rail 7 longitudinally of the board as a whole, serving a purpose to be immediately explained. The rail may be glued, cemented, nailed or screwed to the board or attached in any manner known in the art, and is of uniform width from one end to the other.

The cylinder element 5 may be made of wood, metal or plastic, and is preferably from six to eight inches in diameter and axially a little longer than the width of the board 4. Intermediate the ends of this cylinder is formed a groove or circular recess 8 in which the rail 7 is adapted to ride, this guide groove being of sufficient depth to form a clearance between the bottom 9 of the groove and the rail 7.

It is obvious that the board may roll upon the cylinder 5 in guided manner to prevent the board from veering off to either side when the cylinder rolls along a floor or side walk, and the rail thus retains the board in true transverse relation to the axis of the cylinder at all times.

Furthermore, the guide rail serves to offset, as it were, the torque created by the elastic cord. The latter tends to spin the cylinder about the groove as an axis, and would readily do so if it were not for the mutual engagement of the rail with said guide groove. The guide groove 8 virtually divides the cylinder into two substantially equal heads 3, 3 which together act as a single cylinder for the purposes of the invention, while the rail co-operates with the groove as already stated.

In order to fully obtain the advantages of my invention, an elastic cord 10 is wound a turn or two 11 about the cylinder within its recess or groove 8, the intermediate portion in the groove being frictionally held in the groove due to tension of the elastic cord wound about the cylgQ inder in said groove. Of course, if desired, a pin or staple may be used to fasten an. intermediate, portion of the wound elastic cord in the groove, but normally, the frictional hold of the cord itself will suffice to retain the latter sufficiently to allow the cord to return the 65 cylinder to original position when rolled in either direction and then permitted to act.

The two ends of the elastic cord are secured to the opposite ends of rail 7 by suitable means, as for example, by broad topped staples located beneath board 4. W Inasmuch as cord 10 grips the groove portion of the cylin10 der as already noted, it can not slip or become loose and idle about the cylinder. Also as the ends of the cord are anchored to the rail ends, the effects to be had by rolling of the board upon the cylinder and vice versa, will mainly be due to the elasticity of cord 10, while staples 12, 13 securely hold the ends.

In other words, as thus far described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, the present play device is adapted for use by a novice who has yet to become expert in balancing upon and handling it, and, hence, the cord envelopes the cylinder in an external manner, so as to place certain limitations- Upon the movements of this cord and the cylinder and render the device safe for play.

To recapitulate, when the player causes the cylinder to roll a distance in a given direction, the elastic cord then tends to return the cylinder to its neutral position beneath the center of the board; and meanwhile, a person standing upon the board can balance upon the latter with considerable success because the cylinder is under special control of the cord and the guide rail. It returns, as stated to center neutral position as soon as released by a person or player stepping off the board, but tends to do so in any event even when a person is balancing upon tlie board, for the action of the elastic cord is constant and ever present to return the cylinder and board to starting position, as it were.

It is evident that the play or amusement device embodying tlie invention is proof against the cylinder suddenly darting out from beneath the board and is instead, virtually permanently associated with the board and tends always to perform in more or less well balanced manner for any person stepping upon the board arid then going through the motions of balancing upon it. The device can therefore be termed virtually self-balancing, and is free from any element of danger.

On tlie other hand, when a player becomes skilled in balancing and maneuvering the device, the latter may be differently arranged with respect to the elastic cord and the cylinder, as best seen in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive. In this modified arrangement, noting Figures 4, 5 arid 6, the cylinder 15 supports board 14 with the ends 16,16 of the latter overhanging the erids of rail 17 which fits in groove 18 of the cylinder and divides it into the two aligned cylindrical members 23, 23, while the bottom 19 of groove 18 is also cylindrical, but on a smaller diameter than the groove of members 23. About the bottom 19 iri groove 18 are wound preferably several turns of an elastic cord or band 20 at 21, while the ends of the cord are secured to the ends of rail 17 by means of two wide topped staples 32, 33 beneath board ends 16, 16. The two ends of the elastic cord 20 are not brought out to the cylinder 15 at an angle to board 14, as in the case of cord 10 to board 4 from cylinder 5, but instead lie substantially in line close to the underside of board 14 and upon the upper side of cylinder enter the groove 18 and in the latter form the windings 21 which grip the cylinder about the bottom 19 of this groove. The cylinder in this case is substantially free wheeling inasmuch as the cord ends are disposed at 180° with respect to each other.

According to this arrangement, the rail 17 in co-operation with groove 18 definitely serve the important function of preventing twist or deviation of the cylinder from true transverse relation to the board 14 and its rail 17 during rotation of the cylinder. The latter is more likely to roll beneath the board in this case than when the cord is outside wound or connected as in Figures 1 to 3, so that this form of my invention is suitable for use by experts who must be nimble and sure-footed to play safely upon the device as shown in Figures 4 to 6.

In either form of my invention, the structural features are all the same and only the relative position of the elastic cord varies, being outside the cylinder in the first form

3,829,892 arid inside or above the cylinder in the later form, arid both forms being capable of use by balancing players standing and balancing upon the board 4 or 14.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.