Pogo stick

A pogo stick is device, usually considered a children's toy, used for hopping up and down. It consists of a pole with a T-bar handle at one end, and spring-loaded footpads on the other.

The pole juts down some distance below the footpads and has a rubber cover at the bottom end for traction. The operator places his feet on the footpads while balancing on the pole, then jumps or presses down on the footpads to compress the spring. When the spring has been fully compressed, the operator lifts his weight aided by the recoil of the spring and the pogo-stick; and hops several inches or even feet into the air. This process is repeated to create a hopping action. The pogo stick can be steered, with some difficulty, by shifting one's weight; and becomes an interesting form of locomotion.

A hi-tech variant of the pogo stick, powered by an adjustable rubber-like (i.e., elastomeric) spring system, has recently been marketed under the name Flybar. It enables an adult rider to leap 5 feet into the air.

Patents

• Pogo stick — US2712443 — H. H. Hohberger
• Pogo stick — US2793036 — G. B. Hansburg
• Combustible gas powered pogo stick — US2929459 — G. Spitzmesser