And for that idea kicking around Clancy's head since 1988, the U.S. Patent Office this month awarded the 52-year-old Mansfield, Ohio, man a patent. Its number: 7037243. What makes this invention work is the moving weights inside the handles. They simulate the feel of a rope moving, Clancy said. 　　

    俄亥俄州的發明者克蘭西從1988年起便產生了發明這種無繩跳繩的想法。本月，美國專利局對52歲的Clancy頒發了無繩跳繩專利證書。克蘭西介紹說，無繩跳繩手柄中可以移動的重物會讓使用者覺得是有繩索在移動。 

    But why jump rope without a rope? 

    It's perfect for the clumsy, Clancy said. "If you are still jumping, you're still using your legs as well as your arms, and getting the cardiovascular workout. You just don't have to worry about tripping on the rope." 　　

    但為什么非要去掉跳繩的繩呢？

    克蘭西為此解釋到，這對那些不善于跳繩的人來說是個絕佳的鍛煉工具。他說：“經常跳繩可以讓你的四肢得到充分活動，也有助于心血管的運動，而使用無繩跳繩你就不用擔心被繩索絆著而終止跳躍。”
　　
    It is also good for mental institutions and prisons where rope is a suicide risk, said Clancy, who works as a laundry coordinator in a state prison. And low ceiling fans aren't a hazard any more, he said. 

    克蘭西表示，無繩跳繩還可以避免那些精神病患者和罪犯用繩索自殺，而家中的吊扇安裝得較低的人也不用擔心在家跳繩的不方便了。

    The idea isn't all that crazy, said Mike Ernst, a professor of kinesiology at California State University in Dominguez Hills. 

    The more he thought about it, the more Ernst said he could see the benefit, adding that ,"Do you need to jump with a rope? You don't," Ernst said. "But I wouldn't buy the product, I can tell you that. I'm not an idiot." 

    High-tech handles aren't needed. You could even use toilet paper holders, Ernst said. On second thought, he wondered if he could patent that idea.　　

    然而，對這一發明，加利福尼亞州立大學運動機能學教授恩斯特表示：“這種產品是有可取之處的；但你需要一條繩索才能跳躍嗎？其實你不需要。我不會購買這種產品，因為我不是一個白癡。另外，高技術的手柄其實毫無意義，因為你甚至可以手握衛生紙跳動起來。”