Cordless Jump Rope

Status: Weird, but real
image The U.S. Patent Office recently awarded patent number 7037243 to Lester Clancy, inventor of the cordless jump rope. It's a jump rope without the rope. I guess you could call it an 'air rope'. However, it does have handles. Here's the description from the patent:
An exercise apparatus is provided that simulates the effects of jumping rope, but does not utilize an actual rope. Two handles are provided similar in appearance to jump rope handles. At the end of the handle, where the rope would typically be, a donut-shaped enclosure is provided and mounted to the handle along its symmetrical axis. Inside of each donut-shaped enclosure, a weighted ball that rotates around a circular chamber within the enclosure. When rotated, the weighted balls generate rotational torque to simulate the use of a jump rope.
Clancy's logic for inventing this is that if there's no rope, there's nothing to trip over. Which makes sense. Of course, learning how to avoid tripping on the rope is part of the challenge of jumping rope... what makes it fun. Jumping up and down with weights is great exercise, but for that you're better off using a pair of dumbbells. More info about this at Patently Silly. (submitted by Beverley)

Sports Technology

Posted on Wed May 31, 2006


Comments

OK, it's cordless, but does it play MP3s?
Posted by eriC draveS  on  Wed May 31, 2006  at  04:55 PM
I pity the future generations of children who will have to put up with silly inventions like this - not that I think this one in particular will be a sucess, but I'm sure similiar, just as stupid ideas are sure to follow.
Posted by Nettie  on  Wed May 31, 2006  at  08:48 PM
This kind of goes well with my wheel-free roller skates I've been working on. Strikingly similar, but not to be confused with, tennis shoes... When you get good with the jump rope, try using it with my wheel-free skates. I'm sure you'll think it's a lot like power-walking... :lol:
Posted by Christopher in Joplin, Missouri  on  Wed May 31, 2006  at  10:20 PM
I think an invention like this is a great idea! Once in fifth grade I was jumping rope, and I accidently whipped my leg so hard that it left a huge welt and I collapsed on the gym floor. Oh how it hurt.

(I'm just kidding about the invention being a good idea. Not about my welt though..)
Posted by Sakano  on  Thu Jun 01, 2006  at  05:35 AM
What about a modified bycicle, wherein I removed the wheels? Also, in order to allow the user to climb from any direction, I made the seat round. I'm thinking about selling it to places where they sell alcoholic beverages -- it could be used to sit people just just in front of the counter, facing the bartender!
Posted by Gutza  on  Thu Jun 01, 2006  at  05:55 AM
Surely it's for those who skip - sorry, 'jump rope' - to keep fit rather than to chant 'salt, peeper, vinegar, mustard'... for which purpose it might be a good idea. You can skip in your living room without running the risk of testing the aerodynamic potential of the table lamp, for example.

Not that I'd be interested, but just saying.
Posted by outeast  on  Thu Jun 01, 2006  at  06:28 AM
That give me an idea. I'm going to apply for a patent for a jump rope without the rope OR THE HANDLES!
Posted by Blondin  on  Thu Jun 01, 2006  at  07:11 AM
...It would be useful for very tall people.
Posted by Maegan  on  Thu Jun 01, 2006  at  09:40 AM
Once again, I commend you ALL... sometimes you're all just TOO funny... Seriously...
Posted by Christopher in Joplin, Missouri  on  Thu Jun 01, 2006  at  07:32 PM
The report about this device on NPR this week claimed that the inventor has built a prtotype, but he could only afford to make one of them instead of a pair.
If this is true, he has invented not only the cordless jumprope, but the one-handed jumprope as well.
Posted by Big Gary  on  Sat Jun 03, 2006  at  09:05 AM
Many, many years ago, I worked in a small bookstore. We had a regular customer who used to come in almost every week to buy multiple copies of a book called "Joy of Jumping." She never bought anything else that I can recall. The book was an illustrated guide to physical fitness through jumping rope. This customer was always proselytizing about how daily rope-jumping would make one healthy, wealthy, and wise.
She seemed like a happy enough person, so maybe it worked.
I have no idea where she is now, so I can't ask her opinion of cordless jumpropes.
Posted by Big Gary  on  Sat Jun 03, 2006  at  09:10 AM
"the inventor has built a prtotype,"

Dang, I meant "prototype."
:red:
Posted by Big Gary  on  Sat Jun 03, 2006  at  09:11 AM
Another advantage of the cordless jump rope is that you cannot use it to strangle someone, thereby cutting down on the millions of jumop rope murders every month.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Sat Jun 03, 2006  at  05:39 PM
This was featured on NPR's "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me". As usual, they were able to dig up the best one-liner on the topic. I found it in a story on the Vancouver Sun's website (http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=ff3885b8-9370-481a-9318-b31dd0f1d87e&k=52301)

The idea isn't all that crazy, said Mike Ernst, a professor of kinesiology at California State University in Dominguez Hills.

"I think it's silly but at the same time if somehow, some way it promotes physical activity, gets kids active, then I'm all for it," Ernst said.

The more he thought about it, the more Ernst said he could see the benefit, adding that the act of jumping, not the rope itself, is what provides exercise.

"Do you need to jump with a rope? You don't," Ernst said. "But I wouldn't buy the product, I can tell you that. I'm not an idiot."
Posted by Jay T  on  Mon Jun 05, 2006  at  12:17 PM
"... you cannot use it to strangle someone ..."

It might make an effective bludgeon, though.
Posted by Big Gary  on  Tue Jun 06, 2006  at  06:30 PM
What the hell is with the last eight posts? Does anyone know anything about these stupid things?
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Sat Aug 11, 2007  at  02:10 PM
Sorry, Christopher. These seem to have been occuring on a fairly regular basis nowadays. Moderators do delete them when and as we can, but it's a bit tricky on weekends when we don't have so many mods about.
Posted by Smerk  on  Sun Aug 12, 2007  at  12:49 AM
I recently purchased 4 pairs of the Air Rope for my bootcamps and I (and my bootcampers) like the Air Rope. It may be a little tough and awkward to work for the first few seconds, but once you get it going, it is a great arm, forearm, shoulders, and overall conditioning exercise!!
Posted by Jessie Lipoma  on  Mon Oct 12, 2009  at  07:03 AM
Great tips! thanks.
Posted by jumping exercises  on  Mon Nov 30, 2009  at  09:05 PM
As a fitness trainer, and Natural health consultant, with over 25yrs in the field, I recommend the cordless jump-rope! It works, it keeps you working, and you get results, from doing work!! I am a pretty good jump-roper, but even I get frustrated from tripping, and say, "To hell with it!" This can't happen with the cordless, and you can create many different exercises. Trust me, the average person can't do 30sec without being completely out of breath, and the muscle fatigue is fantastic! Don't listen to those who have absolutely NO knowledge of health/fitness/wellness, this is a product I recommend for all!
Posted by Darius Wright  on  Tue Aug 10, 2010  at  05:25 AM
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