# How the Hula Hoop Works

> A 1963 patent for a lightweight, rigid plastic hoop designed to rotate around a human waist through rhythmic body movements.

- **Patent:** US 3079728
- **Original title:** Hoop toy
- **Owner:** Individual
- **Granted:** 1963
- **Status:** Public domain (expired)
- **Times cited:** 30
- **Field:** consumer_electronics, mechanical

## What it does

The patent describes a circular hoop made of rigid, hollow plastic tubing. It specifies a diameter of 30 to 40 inches and a weight between 6 and 12 ounces. The core mechanism relies on the hoop being stiff enough to maintain its circular shape while the user moves their body. This rigidity ensures that the side of the hoop opposite the user's body stays far enough away to create the necessary momentum for continuous rotation.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover hoops made of non-rigid or flexible materials like rope or fabric.
- Does not cover hoops with diameters significantly outside the 30 to 40-inch range.
- Does not cover weighted hoops designed for exercise that exceed the 12-ounce weight limit.
- Does not cover collapsible or segmented hoop designs.

## The clever bit

The innovation lies in the specific balance of low weight and high rigidity; if the hoop were too heavy, it would be hard to start, and if it were too flexible, it would deform and lose the centrifugal force needed to stay up.

## Real-world examples

1. Classic Wham-O Hula Hoops
2. Standard plastic toy hoops found in school gym classes

## Why it matters

This patent formalized the design of the Hula Hoop, which became one of the most successful toy crazes of the 20th century. By defining the specific ratio of weight to rigidity, it established the physics required for a mass-produced toy to be easily kept in motion by a child or adult.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How the Hula Hoop Works cover?

A 1963 patent for a lightweight, rigid plastic hoop designed to rotate around a human waist through rhythmic body movements.

### Who owns patent US 3079728?

Individual owns this patent, granted in 1963.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.

### What is patent US 3079728 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 30 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This patent formalized the design of the Hula Hoop, which became one of the most successful toy crazes of the 20th century. By defining the specific ratio of weight to rigidity, it established the physics required for a mass-produced toy to be easily kept in motion by a child or adult.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover hoops made of non-rigid or flexible materials like rope or fabric.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3079728/hula-hoop-wham-o

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US3079728

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._


## Related patents

Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus:

- [How the Modern Frisbee Design Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3359678/frisbee-flying-disc) — A 1967 patent describing the specific aerodynamic shape and raised ribs that allow a plastic disc to fly straight and steady.
- [How the Wiffle Ball Design Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2776139/wiffle-ball-mullany) — A 1954 patent for a lightweight, perforated plastic ball designed to curve easily when thrown, famously known as the Wiffle ball.
- [How the Slinky Toy Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2415012/slinky-toy) — The original 1947 patent for the Slinky, a helical spring toy designed to walk down stairs through the transfer of energy.
- [How the Game Twister Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3454279/twister-game) — A 1966 patent for a floor-based game where players use their own bodies as game pieces on a mat with colored circles.
- [How the Modern LEGO Brick Design Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3005282/lego-toy-brick) — The 1958 patent that defined the iconic LEGO brick with hollow tubes inside, allowing bricks to lock together firmly.