Richard Knerr 1925-2008

Richard Knerr, right, and Arthur 'Spud' Melin, founders of the company that created the Hula Hoop, Frisbee and dozens of other toys Photograph: Wham-O Inc./AP

Richard Knerr, co-founder of Wham-O Inc. Photograph: Wham-O Inc./AP

Arthur Melin and Richard Knerr trying out their toy company's Hula Hoop, a plastic version of a rattan hoop, which was popular in Australia Photograph: Ben Martin//Time Life Pictures/Getty

At the height of the Hula Hoop craze, various techniques are demonstrated in Los Angeles, 1958. Groups including the Girl Scouts, Brownies, Blue Birds and Campfire Girls were represented Photograph: AP

A boy with a Hula Hoop in the 1960s Photograph: Wisc Hist/Everett/Rex Features

Actress Julie Christie poses with a Hula Hoop Photograph: Rex Features

A girl twirls eight Hula Hoops simultaneously in 1965 Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty

A multiple exposure of a woman playing with a Hula Hoop in 1958 Photograph: J R Eyerman/Time Life Pictures/Getty

A woman plays with a Frisbee Photograph: Tim Bieber/Getty

Dave Morris and Tita Ugalde show their winning form after the inter-collegiate Frisbee championship at Northwestern university in Evanston in 1978 Photograph: AP

Alesya Goulevich sets a world record in 2004 by spinning 100 Hula Hoops simultaneously and shattering the record of 83 Photograph: Boston Herald/Rex Features

Lara Goldberg watches her dog, Leapin' Louie, catch a Frisbee in Jacksonville, USA during practice for the 10th annual Florida State Canine Frisbee Disc Dog Championship in 2005 Photograph: John Pemberton/The Florida Times-Union/AP

Members of the Ultimate Frisbee team practice at the University of California, Santa Barbara Photograph: Todd Bigelow/Aurora/Getty