US20060160630A1

US20060160630A1 - Rotatable teeter totter apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20060160630A1
Application number: US11/035,186
Authority: US
Inventors: William McGrath
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-14
Filing date: 2005-01-14
Publication date: 2006-07-20

Abstract

The improved design of the teeter totter apparatus will allow individuals of varying weight to manually make adjustments to the beam by offsetting it upon its tripod support structure in order to balance themselves. By applying vertical force, the users will be able to create an up and down rocking motion. At the same time, the users will be able to exert a horizontal force to move the apparatus in a horizontal rotational plane around the upstanding support structure. This will induce a vertical and horizontal motion. The combination of these parts are the backbone of the overall structure and are the key to the design of the apparatus.

Description

An improved teeter totter apparatus that can be adjusted for different weight individuals who together can use the apparatus. The individuals will be able to manually make adjustments to the beam by offsetting it upon its tripod support structure. Users will then be able to apply vertical force in order create an up and down rocking motion. At the same time they will be able to exert a horizontal force to move the apparatus in a horizontal rotational plane around the upstanding support structure. This will induce a vertical and horizontal motion that will exhilarate and thrill the participants.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This design is classified under 472/4 an occupant propelled seesaw. Below is a list of U.S. patents I have referenced.



Patent Number	Date	Name	Current U.S. Class

4,319,746	Mar. 16, 1982	Chang	472/4
3,390,879	Mar. 23, 1968	L.F. French	472/113; 47/42;
			47/43; 47/70
1,769,199	Jul. 1, 1930	A.R. Baxter	472/4
1,465,662	Aug. 21, 1923	R.C. Fields	472/4
1,396,247	Nov. 8, 1921	E.L. Bowman	472/4
3,595,569	Jul. 27, 1971	J.C. Holtz	472/4; 472/106
4,896,877	Jun. 28, 1989	R.J. Boggs	472/5; 472/106
1,014,249	Jan. 9, 1912	J. Ney	472/5
1,254,174	Jan. 22, 1918	F.T. Thebert	472/5
2,109,897	Aug. 27, 1932	F. Braunschweig	472/5; 24/20TT
2,558,431	Jun. 26, 1951	George Grover	472/5
2,809,036	Oct. 8, 1957	Arthur Meixsell	472/5

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A rotatable teeter totter apparatus that is manually propelled. It includes a stationary tripod base having a plurality of linear feet and a vertical stanchion fixedly coupled to the feet and extending upwardly therefrom. A rocker arm pivoting assembly sits over the top of the vertical stanchion. The rocker arm has an outboard end with a seat at opposite ends. The middle portion of the rocker arm is also designed with a plurity of mounting slots in order to balance the loading of different weights on opposite ends of the teeter totter rocker arm, thus the teeter totter can be offset to accommodate users of different height and weight, particularly when vertical and peripheral force is applied; Vertical and rotating motion can be simultaneously affected. The result is a vertical and horizontal motion around the upstanding support structure. The introduction of a locking ring will restrict horizontal rotational motion when a pin is inserted through the 2″×4″×X′ beam and the locking ring. If only vertical rocking movement is desired, a pin can be inserted through the 2″×4″×X′, the locking ring, and the vertical stanchion of the tripod restricting horizontal rotating movement.

DESCRIPTION OF MAIN COMPONENTS

FIG. 1: Tripod receiver rocker arm acts as the lever arm. A pivoting assembly that sits over top of the vertical stanchion of the tripod base. The rocker arm manually rotates horizontally and manually moves up and down in a vertical motion. The receiver also has a plurity of offsetting mounting slots in order to balance the loading of different weights on opposite ends of the teeter totter. The view in FIG. 1 is from a elevated side view.
FIG. 2: A locking ring in which a pin can be inserted to restrict rotational or vertical movement. The view in FIG. 2 is from an elevated side view.
FIG. 3: Tripod base a vertical stanchion fixedly coupled to the legs and extending upwardly there from. The view in FIG. 3 is from a elevated side view.
FIG. 4: An elevated side view of the three parts inserted together. The view also shows one of three legs inserted into the tripod base thereof.
FIG. 5: An upside down, side cross section plan view of the tripod thereof.
FIG. 6: A bottom plan view of the tripod thereof.
FIG. 7: A 90 degree counter clockwise side plan view of the tripod thereof.
FIG. 8: An upside down view of the receiver rocker arm thereof.
FIG. 9: A plan side view of the receiver rocker arm thereof.
FIG. 10: A side end plan view of the receiver rocker arm thereof.
FIG. 11: A exploded assembly view of the teeter totter thereof.
FIG. 12: A exploded assembly view of the tripod receiver rocking arm thereof.
FIG. 13: A exploded assembly view of the locking ring thereof.
FIG. 14: A exploded assembly view of the tripod base thereof.

Claims

1: A rotatable teeter totter apparatus with a vertical stanchion, locking ring, and five position rocker arm receiver with two, 2×4 containment beams.

2: A rotatable teeter totter apparatus according to claim 1 with vertical, locking ring, and five position rocker arm receiver with two, 2×4 containment beams made in a combination of plastic, wood, metal or rubber.

3: A rotatable teeter totter apparatus with a vertical stanchion, locking ring, and five position rocker arm receiver with two, 2×4 containment beams with restricting pins to limit rotational or vertical movement to prevent injury to users.

4: A rotatable teeter totter apparatus according to claim 3 with a vertical stanchion, locking ring, and five position rocker arm receiver with two, 2×4 containment beams with restricting pins to limit rotational or vertical movement to prevent injury to users made in a combination of plastic, wood, metal, or rubber.

5: A rotatable teeter totter apparatus with a vertical stanchion, locking ring, and five position rocker arm receiver with two, 2×4 containment beams with said vertical stanchion containing bumper stops to limit downward travel to prevent injury to users.

6: A rotatable teeter totter apparatus according to claim 5 with a vertical stanchion, locking ring, and five position rocker arm receiver with two, 2×4 containment beams with said vertical stanchion containing bumper stops to limit downward travel to prevent injury to users made in a combination of plastic, wood, metal, or rubber.