Recreational rope-type article

Claim 2

A thin, elongated, semiflexible rope-type article comprising a multiplicity of cylindrical sleeves, each at least about 3 inches long, spaced axially along substantially the entire length of said article, a rope passing through and between said sleeves and providing unitary nonrigid connecting segments joining adjacent sleeves axially to one another; and means limiting axial movement of said sleeves and limiting the effective length of each of said connecting segments to less than about 2 inches, said effective length of each of said connecting segments also being less than the combined radial dimension of said adjacent rigid elements joined thereby, at least the extremities of each of said segments being relatively angularly displaceable to permit relative angular movement of said sleeves, and the dimensions of said sleeves and connecting segments causing interference at a given angular relationship between said adjacent sleeves to render said article semiflexible, one end of said rope being adapted to be secured to overhead support means and the other end thereof having a restraining element secured thereto and at least in part providing said limiting means, said article thus being adapted to depend vertically from the support means to provide a climbing rope, knots tied in said rope providing a restraining element on each of said connecting segments between adjacent sleeves and providing at least part of said limiting means.

Claim 3

A thin, elongated, semiflexible rope-type article comprising a multiplicity of cylindrical sleeves, each at least about 2 feet long, spaced axially along substantially the entire length of said article and having a relatively rough exterior surface to facilitate secure gripping thereof; an elongated flexible member passing through and between said sleeves and providing nonrigid connecting segments joining adjacent sleeves axially to one another; and means limiting axial movement of said rigid elements and limiting the effective length of each of said connecting segments to less than about 2 inches, at least the extremities of each of said segments being relatively angularly displaceable to permit relative angular movement of said rigid elements to render said article semiflexible, one end of said flexible member being adapted to be secured to overhead support means and the other end thereof having a restraining element secured thereto and at least in part providing said limiting means, said article thus being adapted to depend vertically from the support means to provide a climbing rope.

Claim 4

A thin, elongated, semiflexible rope-type article comprising a multiplicity of cylindrical sleeves, each at least about 2 feet long, spaced axially along substantially the entire length of said article and having a relatively rough exterior surface to facilitate secure gripping thereof; an elongated flexible member passing through and between said sleeves and providing nonrigid connecting segments joining adjacent sleeves axially to one another; and means limiting axial movement of said rigid elements and limiting the effective length of each of said connecting segments to less than about 2 inches, at least the extremities of each of said segments being relatively angularly displaceable to permit relative angular movement of said rigid elements to render said article semiflexible, one end of said flexible member being adapted to be secured to overhead support means and the other end thereof having a restraining element secured thereto and at least in part providing said limiting means, said article thus being adapted to depend vertically from the support means to provide a climbing rope.

Claim 5

The article of claim 2 wherein said sleeves are secured in fixed positions upon said elongated flexible member, with adjacent sleeves separated by less than about 2 inches, the means securing said sleeves providing said limiting means.

Claim 6

The article of claim 2 wherein a restraining element is fixed on each of said connecting segments between adjacent rigid elements to provide at least part of said limiting means.

Claim 7

The article of claim 4 wherein said elongated flexible member is a rope and wherein said restraining elements are knots tied therein.

Claim 8

The article of claim 2 wherein said elongated flexible member is a wire cable.

Claim 9

The article of claim 2 wherein the adjacent ends of said sleeves are in abutting contact, and wherein at least the adjacent ends of said sleeves are configured cooperatively to substantially prevent telescoping thereof.

Claim 10

The article of claim 7 wherein adjacent ends of said sleeves are of larger cross section than the intermediate portions thereof.

Claim 11

The article of claim 2 wherein said sleeves are secured in fixed positions upon said elongated flexible member, with adjacent sleeves separated by less than about two inches, the means securing said sleeves providing said limiting means.

Claim 12

A thin, elongated, semiflexible rope-type article comprising a multiplicity of cylindrical sleeves, each at least about 3 inches long, spaced axially along substantially the entire length of said article, a rope passing through and between said sleeves and providing unitary nonrigid connecting segments joining adjacent sleeves axially to one another; and means limiting axial movement of said sleeves and limiting the effective length of each of said connecting segments to less than about 2 inches, said effective length of each of said connecting segments also being less than the combined radial dimensions of said adjacent rigid elements joined thereby, at least the extremities of each of said segments being relatively angularly displaceable to permit relative angular movement of said sleeves, and the dimensions of said sleeves and connecting segments causing interference at a given angular relationship between said adjacent sleeves to render said article semiflexible, one end of said rope being adapted to be secured to overhead support means and the other end thereof having a restraining element secured thereto and at least in part providing said limiting means, said article thus being adapted to depend vertically from the support means to provide a climbing rope, the adjacent ends of said sleeves being in abutting contact and being of larger cross section than the intermediate portions of said sleeves to substantially prevent telescoping thereof.

Claim 13

A thin, elongated, semiflexible rope-type article comprising a multiplicity of cylindrical sleeves, each at least about 3 inches long, spaced axially along substantially the entire length of said article, a rope passing through and between said sleeves and providing unitary nonrigid connecting segments joining adjacent sleeves axially to one another; and means limiting axial movement of said sleeves and limiting the effective length of each of said connecting segments to less than about 2 inches, said effective length of each of said connecting segments also being less than the combined radial dimensions of said adjacent rigid elements joined thereby, at least the extremities of each of said segments being relatively angularly displaceable to permit relative angular movement of said sleeves, and the dimensions of said sleeves and connecting segments causing interference at a given angular relationship between said adjacent sleeves to render said article semiflexible, one end of said rope being adapted to be secured to overhead support means and the other end thereof having a restraining element secured thereto and at least in part providing said limiting means, said article thus being adapted to depend vertically from the support means to provide a climbing rope, the adjacent ends of said sleeves being in abutting contact and being of larger cross section than the intermediate portions of said sleeves to substantially prevent telescoping thereof.

Claim 14

The article of claim 10 wherein each of said sleeves is at least about 2 feet long and has a relatively rough exterior surface to facilitate secure gripping thereof.

Claim 15

The article of claim 10 wherein a restraining element is fixed on each of said connecting segments between adjacent sleeves to provide at least part of said limiting means.

Claim 16

The article of claim 12 wherein said elongated flexible member is a rope and wherein said restraining elements are knots tied therein.

Claim 17

A thin, elongated, semiflexible rope-type article comprising a unitary member fabricated of a material that is rigid in relatively large cross section and flexible in relatively small cross section, said unitary member having a multiplicity of relatively large cross section portions providing a multiplicity of rigid elements, each at least about 3 inches long, spaced axially along substantially the entire length of said article; a plurality of relatively small cross section portions of said member providing short, flexible connecting segments extending between adjacent rigid elements and secured thereto to join said adjacent rigid elements axially to one another; and means securing said rigid elements to said flexible elements to limit axial movement of said rigid elements and to limit the effective length of each of said connecting segments to less than about 2 inches, said effective length of each of said connecting segments also being less than the combined radial dimensions of said adjacent rigid elements joined thereby, at least the extremities of each of said segments being relatively angularly displaceable to permit relative angular movement of said rigid elements, and the dimensions of said rigid elEments and connecting segments causing interference at a given angular relationship between said adjacent rigid elements to render said article semiflexible.

Claim 18

A thin, elongated, semiflexible rope-type article comprising a unitary member fabricated of a material that is rigid in relatively large cross section and flexible in relatively small cross section, said unitary member having a multiplicity of relatively large cross section portions providing a multiplicity of rigid elements, each at least about 3 inches long, spaced axially along substantially the entire length of said article; a plurality of relatively small cross section portions of said member providing short, flexible connecting segments extending between adjacent rigid elements and secured thereto to join said adjacent rigid elements axially to one another; and means securing said rigid elements to said flexible elements to limit axial movement of said rigid elements and to limit the effective length of each of said connecting segments to less than about 2 inches, said effective length of each of said connecting segments also being less than the combined radial dimensions of said adjacent rigid elements joined thereby, at least the extremities of each of said segments being relatively angularly displaceable to permit relative angular movement of said rigid elements, and the dimensions of said rigid elEments and connecting segments causing interference at a given angular relationship between said adjacent rigid elements to render said article semiflexible.

Claim 19

The article of claim 14 wherein each of said rigid elements is at least about 4 inches long and wherein said limiting means limits the effective length of each of said connecting segments to less than about 1 inch.

Claim 20

The article of claim 14 wherein said elongated flexible member has a handle secured thereto adjacent each of the opposite ends thereof, said handles providing said limiting means and said article being a jump rope.

Claim 21

The article of claim 14 wherein said material is a synthetic thermoplastic polymer.

Claim 22

The article of claim 17 wherein said article is integrally formed, unitary member.

Claim 23

The article of claim 18 wherein said rigid elements are generally cylindrical and wherein said connecting segments therebetween are each less than about 1 inch in length, a plurality of said rigid segments being formed with axially extending grooves about the circumference thereof and a rigid element adjacent each end of said article having grooves helically formed thereabout to provide handles, said article being a jump rope.