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Roller Rope

 combines skates, rollers and a jump rope for fastastic fun
  (+2)
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This latest form of personal transport is sweeping the globe, providing excitement and exercise for young and old alike. Based on the ancients’ use of rollers to move heavy objects, one zips along, jumping rope without jumping.

How do you use the Roller Rope? First buckle yourself into the boots affixed to the platform. The platform rolls on the 5-6 rubber cylinders, while guiding their progress towards its rear edge. Hook the rope ends to the first cylinder axle and pull backwards.

This will start you rolling forward, and the rope will release the first cylinder, automatically proceed along the guide rails and engage the last cylinder. This roller is whipped backward and over your head, to then enter under the front of the platform.

Since the rollers are tapered at the ends, you turn by leaning to one side. Braking is accomplished by pulling forward on the rope when it's under the boots. Imagine your sense of pride and accomplishment as your strong arms and whirling rope propel you downtown past bikes and cars.

—FarmerJohn, Feb 11 2003

diagram http://www.geocitie...nie/rollerrope.html
[FarmerJohn, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

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       Fun. Let's see if I can overanalyze a fanciful idea...   

       Seems to me that the mechanics wouldn't be nearly as simple as presented though. I'd say impractical to build and/or operate.   

       I don't see where continued forward motion would come from. If the rope releases immediately upon the roller returning to the rack then you only generate force for a very brief time and then can't generate any force by pulling the ropes backward until they connect to the backmost roller. You'll have a really tough time generating any forward-propelling force with your arms in that position.   

       Willing and wanting to stand corrected though. (+) for the sheer silliness.
—half, Feb 11 2003
   

       You’re fully right, [half]. The rope probably needs a delay at the front before releasing the first cylinder, thus giving some distance to exert force and making this almost a little practical.
—FarmerJohn, Feb 11 2003
   


 

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