Springpole recreational apparatus

Abstract

A type of backyard or playground recreational equipment usable indoors or outdoors. The present invention provides a bent springpole that functions much like the naturally-occurring feature that has been a recreational favorite of children for centuries, a low-hanging tree limb. The springpole provides the vertical bouncing motion of a tree limb, as well as a 360 degree rotational motion. Children and adolescents are able to bound, bounce, and run in a limited amount of space. The pole can be equipped with padding in whimsical shapes, a seat, and steps.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a tubular mast permanently mounted in the ground;    a mast sleeve assembly comprising a tubular mast sleeve and a tubular pole sleeve fixed at a predetermined angle to said mast sleeve, said mast sleeve assembly being slideably and substantially concentrically mounted at a predetermined location on said mast, and capable of rotation about said mast; and    a pole having a proximate end and a distal end, said proximate end of said pole having a first diameter substantially concentrically inserted into said pole sleeve, said pole being capable of repetitive bending displacement from an unforced configuration under the influence of a force imposed near said distal end of said pole, and said pole being capable of repetitive return to said unforced configuration.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said mast sleeve assembly further comprises a planar collar substantially concentric with and perpendicular to said mast sleeve.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said pole is further comprised of one or more handles near said distal end of said pole.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said pole is further comprised of one or more pads near said distal end of said pole.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said pole is further comprised of one or more pads between said proximate and distal ends of said pole.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising one or more collars slideably and substantially concentrically mounted on said mast at a predetermined location.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said mast is removeably, rotatably, and substantially concentrically inserted into a substantially vertical ground tube, said ground tube being permanently mounted in the ground.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus as in  claim 7  wherein said ground tube is mounted on a portable base.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said mast sleeve assembly further comprises a means of being locked in a predetermined rotational orientation with respect to said mast.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said mast is further comprised of one or more pads.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said pole is further comprised of one or more springs.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said pole is comprised of at least one hinged joint and at least one compression spring.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said pole is comprised of at least one substantially straight section and at least one curved section.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a tubular mast removeably, rotatably, and substantially concentrically inserted into a substantially vertical ground tube, said ground tube being permanently mounted in the ground;    a mast sleeve assembly comprising a tubular mast sleeve, a planar collar substantially concentric with and perpendicular to said mast sleeve, and a tubular pole sleeve fixed at a predetermined angle to said mast sleeve, said mast sleeve assembly being slideably, rotatably, and substantially concentrically mounted at a predetermined location on said mast and having a means of being locked in a predetermined rotational orientation with respect to said mast;    a pole having a proximate end and a distal end, said proximate end of said pole having a first diameter substantially concentrically inserted into said pole sleeve, said pole being capable of repetitive bending displacement from an unforced configuration under the influence of a force imposed near said distal end of said pole, said pole being capable of repetitive return to said unforced configuration, and said pole being further comprised of one or more handles near said distal end of said pole and one or more pads near said distal end of said pole; and    one or more collars slideably and substantially concentrically mounted on said mast at a predetermined location.    
   
   
       15 . An apparatus comprising a curved first pole having a proximate end and a distal end, said proximate end of said pole having a first diameter substantially concentrically inserted into a substantially vertical support tube assembly such that some part of said pole near its said proximate end is substantially vertical when said pole is in an unforced configuration, said pole being capable of rotation inside said support tube assembly while simultaneously being capable of repetitive bending displacement from said unforced configuration under the influence of a force imposed near said distal end of said pole, said pole being capable of repetitive return to said unforced configuration, and part of said support tube assembly being permanently mounted in the ground.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said pole is further comprised of one or more handles substantially perpendicular to said pole near said distal end of said pole.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said pole is further comprised of one or more pads near said distal end of said pole.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said pole is further comprised of one or more pads between said proximate and distal ends of said pole.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said support tube assembly is further comprised of one or more protrusions substantially perpendicular to said support tube assembly.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said pole is further comprised of one or more springs.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said pole is comprised of at least one hinged joint and at least one compression spring.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said pole is comprised of at least one substantially straight section and at least one curved section.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said support tube assembly is supported by a portable base.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  further comprising one or more bushings capable of being received by said support tube assembly and capable of providing for replacement of said first pole with a second pole having a proximate end diameter different from that of said first diameter of said first pole.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein said support tube assembly has a means of temporarily locking said pole in a selected rotational orientation.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a curved first pole having a proximate end and a distal end, said proximate end of said pole having a first diameter substantially concentrically inserted into a substantially vertical support tube assembly such that some part of said pole near its said proximate end is substantially vertical when said pole is in an unforced configuration, said pole being capable of rotation inside said support tube assembly while simultaneously being capable of repetitive bending displacement from said unforced configuration under the influence of a force imposed near said distal end of said pole, said pole being capable of repetitive return to said unforced configuration, and part of said support tube assembly being permanently mounted in the ground;    one or more handles substantially perpendicular to said pole near said distal end of said pole;    one or more pads near said distal end of said pole;    one or more protrusions fixed to and substantially perpendicular to said support tube assembly; and    a means of temporarily locking said pole in a selected rotational orientation.    
   
   
       27 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  further comprising a support tube assembly comprising a substantially fixed ground tube, an intermediate tube that receives said ground tube, and a support tube fixed to said intermediate tube so that the longitudinal axes of said ground, intermediate, and support tubes are substantially collinear, and said support tube rotatably receives said proximate end of said pole.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus as in  claim 27  wherein said support tube assembly is further comprised of one or more protrusions substantially perpendicular to said support tube assembly.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus as in  claim 27  wherein said support tube assembly is further comprised of one or more pads.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  further comprising a support tube assembly comprising a substantially fixed ground tube, an intermediate tube having a first end that slideably receives said ground tube, and a support tube fixed to a second end of said intermediate tube so that the longitudinal axes of said ground, intermediate, and support tubes are substantially collinear, and said support tube rotatably receiving said proximate end of said pole, and said intermediate tube having a means for removeable attachment to said ground tube at various locations.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus as in  claim 30  wherein said first end of said intermediate tube further comprises a collar that partially shields said removeable attachment means from user access.  
   
   
       32 . An apparatus comprising a curved pole having a proximate end and a distal end, said proximate end of said pole being substantially concentrically inserted into a substantially vertical support tube assembly such that some part of said pole near its said proximate end is substantially vertical when said pole is in an unforced configuration, said pole being capable of repetitive bending displacement from said unforced configuration under the influence of a force imposed near said distal end of said pole, said pole being capable of repetitive return to said unforced position, said pole further comprising, near said distal end of said pole, one or more handles substantially perpendicular to said pole and one or more pads, said support tube assembly comprising a substantially fixed ground tube, an intermediate tube having a first end capable of slideably receiving said ground tube, and a support tube fixed to a second end of said intermediate tube so that the longitudinal axes of said ground, intermediate, and support tubes are substantially collinear, said support tube being capable of rotatably receiving said proximate end of said pole, said intermediate tube having a means for removeable attachment to said ground tube at various locations, and said first end of said intermediate tube further comprising a collar capable of partially shielding said removeable attachment means from user access.