Virtual jump rope device

Abstract

A virtual jump rope device includes a pair of virtual jump rope units, each of the units being elongated and having a first end and a second end, each of the units having a handle portion at its first end, the handle portion having a predetermined length, and being adapted for manual griping, the handle portion having an outer end and an inner end; a middle portion connected to the inner end of the handle portion and extending therefrom, the middle portion having a length greater than the predetermined length of the handle portion; and, a weight portion connected to the middle portion remotely from the handle portion, the weight portion having a weight greater than at least an ounce, and at least two ounces. The virtual jump rope middle portion may be selected from the group consisting of rope, cord, strip, chain and braid. The weight portion may include a dense inner member and an impact cushioning outer member. Preferred embodiments include a rotatable interconnector which includes ball bearings.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A virtual jump rope device, comprising: 
 a pair of virtual jump rope units, each of said units being elongated and having a first end and a second end, each of said units having: 
 a) a handle portion at its first end, said handle portion having a predetermined length, and being adapted for manual griping, said handle portion having an outer end and an inner end;  
 b) a middle portion connected to the inner end of said handle portion and extending therefrom, said middle portion having a length greater than the predetermined length of said handle portion; and,  
 c) a weight portion connected to said middle portion remotely from said handle portion, said weight portion having a weight greater than at least 1 ounce.  
   
     
     
         2 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 1  wherein said middle portion is selected from the group consisting of rope, cord, strip, chain and braid.  
     
     
         3 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 2  wherein said middle portion is of material selected from the group consisting of natural material, synthetic material, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 2  wherein said middle portion is a rope, and is of material selected from the group consisting of natural rope, synthetic rope, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 2  wherein said middle portion is an extruded synthetic material.  
     
     
         6 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 1  wherein said middle portion has a predetermined length of about 8 inches to about 36 inches.  
     
     
         7 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 6  wherein said middle portion has a predetermined length of about 16 inches to about 26 inches.  
     
     
         8 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 1  wherein said middle portion has a predetermined length of about 16 inches to about 26 inches, and wherein said weight portion has a predetermined weight of about 1 ounce to about 6 pounds.  
     
     
         9 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 1  wherein said weight portion includes a dense inner member and an impact cushioning outer member.  
     
     
         10 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 9  wherein said impact cushioning outer member is a compressible foam layer.  
     
     
         11 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 1  wherein said further includes: 
 (d) a rotatable interconnector located between said handle portion and said middle portion, said interconnector permitting 360° rotation about an axis of said middle section relative to said handle section.  
 
     
     
         12 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 11  wherein said rotatable interconnector includes ball bearings.  
     
     
         13 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 1  wherein said weight portion is removably attached to said middle portion.  
     
     
         14 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 13  wherein said there are a plurality of weight portions having different weights and are interchangeable with one another.  
     
     
         15 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 1  wherein said handle portion is hollow and said middle portion is partially slidably mounted therein so as to be adjustable as to the length of middle portion external from said handle.  
     
     
         16 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 15  wherein said handle portion includes a clutch for engagement to prevent movement, and disengagement to allow movement, of said middle portion.  
     
     
         17 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 16  wherein said middle portion includes a weight portion at both ends thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 17  wherein said weight portions are small enough in size to fit within said hollow handle portion.  
     
     
         19 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 17  wherein said weight portions are removeably attached to said middle portion.  
     
     
         20 . The virtual jump rope of  claim 18  wherein said weight portions are removeably attached to said middle portion.