Space hopper –a ball for everybody’s entertainment
In the novel named Flatter land space hopper is the main character, which is otherwise a ball and it is also the vehicle of space in the Danger mouse series of British television.
A space hopper is denoted by different names like bouncer (a ball which bounces), hop ball, skippyball, and hop pity hop and also kangaroo ball. Basically it is a ball of rubber (like the ball of exercise) having handles on which one can sit without falling. The main aim is hopping and the elasticity of the ball allows it. The people hop on it and that is why it is also called as hop pity or hop ball. It helps the person to move forward, but does not let him fall down. Due its elastic nature it maintains the balance of the person.
In U.K. this ball is very common and is denoted by the word space hopper whereas it is not that much common in the United States and it is denoted by some other name or also by hop pity hop. A type similar to this ball called pogo ball was common in U.S. in about 1980s which was having a plastic ring covering the ball instead of a handle.
The space hopper is a balloon made up of rubber whose diameter is 60-70 cm having protruding two handles of rubber on top and it is quite heavy. There is a valve present at the top to allow inflation through the pump of car tyre or through the pump of bicycle.
Any person can sit on it from children to adult as it does not allow anybody to fall from it. Anybody can sit on it by holding its handles and can also tilt it any direction and can make it bounce, In fact this is not the effective way of movement, but still it is an attraction for children for its colorful and cheerful looks, easy to handle and use and moreover it is simple and low in cost and children just enjoy playing with it.
The invention of space hopper was done by the company of Italy named Aquilino Cosani of Ledragomma which produces toys of rubber including this ball. This idea was patented in 1971 in US and in 1968 in Italy by him. It was denoted by the word PON by Cosani. The actual invention was made by the inventors of British named John Edward Orme and also by Reginald Thomas Bennett. They called it a Ridable Bouncing Ball. the previously invented space hopper served no purpose as the person was not able to bounce high could not move faster and neither could run to a great distance, but due to its invention it was a craze for most of the people especially children. Today the design, which is available in U.K., is orange kangaroo design. Today it is ranging from 16”to 24” and its various versions are available in the market usually of Chinese origin having different fluorescent colors attractive to children.
Many people try to make a record of hopping it number of times in one minute. It is mostly used by the children to have fun and by adults for the purpose of exercise. So you also purchase one to enjoy its fun.