GB2191416A - Spinning tops - Google Patents

Abstract

For spinning a top 16 having a cylindrical stem 26, there is provided a stem holding device 18 including a handle 30 and two arms 32.1 and 32.2, each having an aperture 32.3 for receiving the stem 26. String 14 is wound around that portion of the stem 26 between the arms 32.1 and 32.3 and then pulled. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Game apparatus THIS INVENTION relates to a game apparatus, to a toy playing kit, and to a method of spinning a topu.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a game apparatus which includes a top for spinning, having a body with a standing point to support it while spinning and a stem which projects upwardly in use while it is spinning; and a stem holding device having a handle and two arms with stem engaging formations for engaging with the stem at different levels, to permit a length of cord or string to be wound around the stem between the arms when it is desired to spin the top.

The stem may be co-axial with the standing point.

The top body may be of frusto-conical shape with a domed upper surface, the said standing point projecting from the small diameter end of the body, and the stem projecting from the domed upper surface.

The stem engaging formations of the arms of the holding device may be in the form of circular apertures dimensioned to receive the stem rotatably with spinning clearance in them. The clearance may be such that in use when the cord or string is wound around the stem and pulled, the stem is retained in engagement with both arms of the holding device.

The end of the stem may be pointed so as to permit the top to spin upside down on its pointed stem.

The stem may have a transverse opening or slot to accommodate the end of a cord or string, to improve the purchase of the cord or string on the stem while spinning the top. The opening may have a mouth which opens sidewardly out of the stem to permit the cord or string to enter sidewardly into the opening via the said mouth.

The stem may be substantially round cyiindrical, the diameter of which is at most one fifth the maximum diameter of the top body.

The top body may be hollow. It may be made of upper and lower halves of synthetic plastic material mouldings secured together along a circumferential joint. The upper and lower halves may be secured together by welding. Instead, the halves may be secured together by an adhesive.

Holes may be provided through the wall of the body for making a whistling, singing, or humming sound while the top is spinning. The holes ay be equally circumferentially spaced to ensure that the top is balanced when spinning.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a toy playing kit, which includes a game apparatus as described above, and a length of cord or string of about arm's length, for winding up on the stem for spinning the top.

The cord or string may be provided with a handle at one end to facilitate pulling of the cord or string in use.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of spinning a top having a body with a standing point to support it while spinning and a stem which projects upwardly in use while it is spinning, which method includes, releasably engaging the top at axially spaced positions on the stem in a manner which permits the top to be spun; winding a length of cord or string around the stem between said spaced positions; pulling the cord or string to spin the top; and releasing the spinning top to permit it to spin freely.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagramatic drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a three dimensional view of a toy playing kit in accordance with the invention, comprising a top for spinning, a stem holding device, and a length of cord or string; and Figure 2 shows a three dimensional view of another top for spinning in accordance with the invention; and Figure 3 shows a plan of the top shown in Figure 2 but to a larger scale.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a toy playing kit in accordance with the invention. The kit 10 includes a game apparatus generally indi cated by reference numeral 12 and a length of cord or string 14. The game apparatus 12 includes a top 16 for spinning and a stem holding device 18 to facilitate spinning of the top 16.

The top 16 includes a body 20 having an axis of rotation 22 about which the top spins in use. The body 20 includes a standing point 24 and a round cylindrical stem 26, both of which are co-axial with the axis of rotation 22.

The body 20, which is of frusto-conical shape with a domed upper surface, is a hollow moulding of synthetic plastic material and comprises three parts namely an upper part 20. 1, a lower part 20. 2, and a substantially cylindrical metal insert 20. 3. The upper part 20. 1 has a domed upper surface and is substantially hemispherical and the lower part 20.2 is substantially frusto-conical.

The insert 20. 3 is secured in a socket (not shown) in the small diameter end of the lower part 20.2. The depth to which the insert 20.3 is inserted into the socket is determined by a shoulder 20.31 provided on the insert 20.3.

The free end of the insert 20.3 is convex or pointed to form the standing point 24.

The two parts 20. 1 and 20. 2 are welded or adhesively secured together. Further, they are of different colours, the top part 20. 1 being transparent and the bottom part 20. 2 being yellow. Of course any combination of colours which would render the top asthetically pleasing can be used.

An open ended transverse opening 28 is provided at of the stem 26. The opening 28 is dimensioned to accommodate the end of the cord or string 14, thereby to facilitate winding of the string around the stem 26 and to improve the purchase of the cord or string on the stem while spinning the top. The diameter of the stem 26 is approximately one eighth that of the maximum diameter of the body 20.

The stem holding device 18 includes a handle 30 and two arms 32.1 and 32.2. The arms 32. 1 and 32.2 have stem engaging formations in the form of circular apertures 32. 3 arranged and dimensioned for receiving the stem 26 of the top 16 with spinning clearance. The arms 32. 1 and 32. 2 are spaced to permit the cord or string 14 to be wound around that portion of the stem 26 which is between the arms. The winding of the cord or string 14 around the stem 26 effectively increases the diameter of the stem to a diameter greater than that of the aperture 32. 3 in the arm 32. 2 thereby retaining the stem of the top in engagement with the arms 32.1 and 32.2.

A handle 34 is provided at one end of the cord or string 14 to facilitate pulling of the cord or string in use.

The top 16 includes two diametrically opposed holes 36 (only one of which is visible in Figure 1) in the upper part 20. 1 of the body 20. The holes 36 are shaped and dimensioned to produce a whistling, singing or humming sound while the top is spinning.

In use, the top 16 is located in engagement with the arms 32. 1 and 32. 2 of the holding device 18 by placing the stem 26 through the apertures 32. 3 in the arms 32. 1 and 32. 2.

The free end of the cord or string 14 is threaded through the portion of the opening 28 which is between the arms 32. 1 and 32.

2. The top 16 is then rotated to wind the cord or string 14 around the stem 26. To spin the top, the stem holding device 18 is held such that the standing point 24 of the top 16 is directed downwardly towards a surface upon which it is intended to spin the top.

The top is then spun by pulling the cord or string via the handle 34. As a result of the relatively small di ameter of the stem relatively high rotational speeds can be achi eved. Once the cord or string 14 i s free of the stem 26, the top 16 slips out of the stem holding device 18 and drops onto the surface below it.

The top may be spun in either direction merely by winding the cord or string in the appropriate direction.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings where, unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals refer to similar components.

As can best be seen in Figure 2, the free end 26.1 of the stem 26 is pointed to permit the top to sp in upside down. The opening 28 has a mouth 28.1 which opens sidewardly out of the stem 26 to permit the cord or string 14 to enter sidewardly into the opening 28 via the mouth 28.1.

To spin the top up si de down the top 16 is located in engagement with the arms 32. 1 and 32. 2 and the cord or string 14 is wound around the stem 26 as described above. The holding device 18 is then held such that the standing point 24 of the top 16 is directed upwardly away from the surface upon which is intended to spin the top. The top 16 is then spun by pulling the cord or string 14 via the handle 34. Once the top 16 is spinning it is simply flicked out of the stem holding device 18 such that it drops onto the surface below it and spins on the pointed end 26.1 of the stem 26.

The top 16 includes three equally circumferentially spaced holes 38 in the upper part 20.1 of the body 20. The holes 38 are provided with opposed chamfers 38. 1 and 38. 2 on their edges so that a whi stling, singing or humming sound is produced while the top is spinning. The holes 38 and chamfers 38. 1 and 38.2 may be formed in the upper part 20.1 of the body 20 during moulding of the upper part 20.1.

The applicant believes that a game apparatus in accordance with the invention is relatively easy to use, thereby allowing even re latively young children to spin a top satisfactorily.

Claims (15)

1. A game apparatus which includes a top for spinning, having a body with a standing point to support it while spinning and a stem which projects upwardly in use while it is spinning; and a stem holding device having a handle and two arms with stem engaging formations for engaging with the stem at different levels, to permit a length of cord or string to be wound around the stem between the arms when it is desired to spin the top.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the stem is co-axial with the standing point.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the top body is of frusto-coni cal shape with domed upper surface, the said standing point projecting from the small diameter end of the body, and the stem projecting from the domed upper surface.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the stem engaging formations of the arms of the holding device are in the form of circular apertures dimensioned to receive the stem rotatably with spinning clearance in them.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the end of the stem is pointed so as to permit the top to spin upside down on its pointed stem.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the stem has a transverse opening or slot to accommodate the end of a cord or string, to improve the purchase of the cord or string on the stem while spinning the top.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, in which the opening has mouth which opens sidewardly out of the stem to permit the cord or string to enter sidewardly into the opening via the said mouth.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the stem is substantially round cylindri cal, the diameter of whi ch is at most one fifth the maximum diameter of the top body.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the top body is hollow.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, in which the top body is made of upper and lower halves of synthetic plastic material mouldings secured together along a circumferential joint.

11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, in which there are provided holes through the wall of the body, for making a whistling, singing, or humming sound while the top is spinning.

12. A toy playing kit, which includes apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and a length of cord or string of about arm's length, for winding up on the stem for spinning the top.

13. A method of spinning a top having a body with a standing point to support it while spinning and a stem which projects upwardly in use while it is spinning, which method includes, releasably engaging the top at axially spaced positibns on the stem in a manner which permits the top to be spun; winding a length of cord or string around the stem between said spaced positions; pulling the cord or string to spin the top; and releasing the spinning top to permit it to spin freely.

14. A new game apparatus substantially as described and illustrated herein.

15. A new method of spinning a top substantially as described herein.