Training play wheel

The training play wheel is a relatively large and specially designed inflatable wheel generally made of a plastic material and where the width of the wheel and the inner diameter has such a format that the user or the users can crawl into an adjacent tubular space. The wheel will function as a play wheel and training wheel intended mainly for children of all ages or adults and experienced athletes via determined movements or by being pushed by others and thus force the wheel to make circular movements on land as well as in water. Thereby the person or the persons inside the wheel will be challenged to follow the movements of the wheel and simultaneously try to have full control over his/hers/their body/bodies.

Particularly children can benefit from the wheel, as this specially designed tool in particular has been developed for the stimulation of the child as a whole and in order to develop physical strength, the motoric abilities of the child, the balance abilities and the creative abilities as well as the child's world of ideas. The result will be the development of physical courage for the child and thus gaining more self confidence, and the whole point is getting the child to acquire knowledge while playing and having fun. And it should not be forgotten that especially children with underdeveloped motoric abilities or physically injured children - no matter if they have been in accidents or they have special physical disabilities - can obtain therapeutic benefit of the wheel in rehabilitation when receiving targeted professional expert assistance.

In patent literature there are several examples of similar inventions.

US 3575443, US 2667349, US 3934291 , US 2838022 and furthermore a product exists which is quite similar to the present

invention in its basic structure, viz. "Wheel of Fortune" which has been advertised in a product sheet from a Danish company.

The company is called Presenco Sport, Kolding and it calls itself

"the Jumping Specialist in the product sheet.

However, the present invention distinguishes itself essentially from all the above products.

The invention can be technically described, as follows: The training play wheel is a relatively large and specially designed inflatable wheel generally made of a plastic material, the width being relatively oblong, and where the inner diameter is sufficiently large for children and adults generally more or less in bent position to fit into it. The wheel will function as a play wheel and training wheel intended for mainly children of all ages or adults and possibly for experienced athletes, essentially inside the wheel via determined movements or by being pushed by others and thus forcing the wheel to make circular movements on land as well as in water.

At one or both openings mainly 4 strings/ropes or similar are attached to one each of essentially 4 diagonally placed fittings and where the same strings/ropes or similar meet mainly in the centre of the opening, they are connected possibly by a swivel fitting to which one or more strings/cords or similar can be mounted. These new and rather simple steps give some amazing and surprising new possibilities. Instead of being pushed, the wheel now can be manoeuvred and pulled. The strings/ropes or similar are of a strength which easily can match the weight of the wheel and possible "heavy contents" inside the wheel so that no great strength is required for pulling, moving and turning the wheel. Because of the laws of physics it will give more power and strength to pull the wheel when using a rather long and strong rope rather than pushing directly onto the wheel.

The wheel can be mounted to the sides of a swimming pool so that it remains in the middle of the pool and thus provides good security in play, competitions, instruction, etc. The string/rope or similar can also be mounted to fittings in grass so that in play the wheel will turn in circles. Similarly, the wheel can be held in a string/rope or similar on the beach so that play can take place going back and forth in shallow water. On land one or more persons can steer the movements and speed of the wheel.

These are just a few examples of how string/rope or similar arrangements can give many new possible applications. Further, the wheel is fitted with a protection edge in both openings with varying widths, mainly transparent and mainly of a plastic material and said protection edge can be fitted with a possible opening, perhaps a zipper, facilitating the access to the inner part of the wheel. The protection edge is an obstacle barrier which considerably minimizes the risk of falling out. The protection edge mainly is made of a transparent plastic material. The transparency i.a. is preventing the area inside the wheel where people stay of being dark.

Figures

Fig. 1 Training playing wheel in perspective, transparent

Numbering

1. fittings onto which snap hooks or similar are mounted

2. strings/ropes or similar attached to 1

3. swivel fittings onto which securing strings/ropes or similar (pivot joints) are mounted

4. securing string/ropes - steering rope or similar

5. protection edge to prevent people from falling out of the tube/wheel

6. gluing edge

Examples of embodiment

On Fig. 1 the wheel is illustrated as being transparent where one of the openings is facing the observer. In this opening mainly 4 strings/ropes or similar (2) are attached individually mainly by snap hooks to one each of essentially 4 diagonally placed fittings (1) and where the same strings/ropes or similar (2) meet mainly in the centre of the opening, they are connected and in this meeting point a swivel fitting of sufficient strength or similar (3) is mounted, to which one or more strings/cords or similar can be mounted. In the same way the opposite opening can be arranged.

To both openings a protection edge (5) is fitted with varying widths, mainly transparent and mainly made of a plastic material and which can be attached to a so-called gluing edge (6).

The protection edge (5) can be equipped with possible openings, perhaps with a zipper (not illustrated).