GB2564376A

GB2564376A - Plaything

Info

Publication number: GB2564376A
Application number: GB1708366.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Parker Simon
Original assignee: Punk Couplings Ltd
Current assignee: Punk Couplings Ltd
Priority date: 2017-05-25
Filing date: 2017-05-25
Publication date: 2019-01-16
Also published as: GB201708366D0

Abstract

A plaything comprises a central axis X-X, an inner annular member 110 with a central bore 111, an intermediate annular member 120 and an outer annular member 130. The central bore 111 has ball race 140 co-axial with the central axis with a central ball race bore. The plaything is rotatable about the ball race 140. The annual members are constrained in the direction of rotation with respect to one another. The inner member 110 has an outer convex spherical periphery 114, the intermediate member 120 has an inner concave spherical periphery 122 and an outer convex spherical periphery 124, and the outer member 130 has an inner concave spherical periphery 132. In use the spinner plaything is gripped between the finger and thumb and rotated about the ball race. The members 120 and 130 may also be turned about their axes of rotation with respect to each other (see figure 4).

Description

PLAYTHING

[0001] This invention relates to a plaything or toy particularly. It is directed at executives to relieve tension and to enable to relax but not exclusively so as its application is very wide from children to elderly people.

[0002] Existing playthings for use in the hands are marketed as a concentration aid for people with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but are relatively limited in the operations they can undertake, this invention seeks of provide a plaything with a wider range of manipulation opportunities.

[0003] According to the present invention a plaything comprises a central axis, an inner annular member having a central bore and an axis coincident with the central axis, an intermediate member and an outer annular member in which the members comprise pairs of members one of the pair being contained within the second of the pair, with the inner member of a pair having an outer convex spherical periphery and the outer of the pair having an inner spherical concave periphery into which the outer convex periphery of the inner member of the pair is received in which the rotation of the outer one of a pair of second members is constrained to be about an axis perpendicular to central axis and in which the members comprise spherical segments including a common centre, the central bore having a ball race co-axial with the central axis with a central ball race bore; the plaything being rotatable about the ball race.

[0001] Ideally the heads of each of the bolt arrangement have concave indentations to enable to plaything to be gripped between finger and thumb.

[0002] Other features of the invention can be derived from the accompanying examples and/or are set out in the claims.

[0003] Examples of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0004] Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a first example of the invention with the annular members aligned; [0005] Figure 2 shows a section on the line Y-Y of figure 1; [0006] Figure 3 show a section passing though the device of figure 1 on a plane perpendicular to the central axis of figure 1; [0007] Figure 4 shows an isometric view of a first example of the invention with the annular members misaligned; [0008] Figure 5 shows an exploded diagram of the first example of the invention; [0009] Figure 6 shows an isometric view of a second example of the invention with the annular members aligned; [0010] Figure 7 cross section on the line A-A’ in figure 6; [0011] Figure 8 shows a cross section on a plane orthogonal to the line A-A’ in figure 6; [0012] Figure 9 shows of the second example of the invention with the annular members misaligned; [0013] Figure 10 is an explodes diagram of the second example of the invention; [0014] Figure 11 is a cross section of a third example of the invention the section being on a plane equivalent to that used for the section shown in figure 8; [0015] Figure 12 shows an exploded diagram of the third example of the invention; [0016] Figure 13 is a cross section of a fourth example of the invention the section being on a plane equivalent to that used for the section shown in figure 8; and [0017] Figure 14 shows an Isometric view of the fourth example of the invention with the annular members misaligned.

[0018] In figures 1 to 5 a plaything 100 comprises an inner annular member 110 having a central bore 111 with a central axis X-X’, an intermediate member 120, and an outer annular member 130. The inner member 110 is contained within the intermediate member 120, and the intermediate member is contained within the outer member 130. The plaything has a centre C on a central axis X-X’.

[0019] The inner member 110 has an internal stepped cylindrical surface 112, with a step 113 part way through the bore 111. The inner member 110 has an outer convex spherical periphery 114. The intermediate member 120 has an inner concave spherical periphery 122, against which the outer convex surface of inner periphery 110 engages. A pair of diametrically opposite elongate projections 116 from the outer convex spherical periphery 114 engage in diametrically opposed slots 128 in the inner concave surface 122 surface of intermediate member 120.

[0020] The concave inner surface 122 of intermediate member 120 is also provided with a pair of diametrically opposite loading slots 127 off-set around the inner diameter of the intermediate member by 90° from the slots 128. The loading slots pass from one edge of the intermediate member to half-way across the width of the intermediate member where the inner concave surface 122 has its greatest diameter.

[0021] The inner member 110 is introduced sideways into the loading slots 127 with projections 116 aligned with the slots 128 and then rotated so the projections 116 enter the slots 128.

[0022] With the inner member 110 loaded as described in the previous paragraph, the intermediate member 120 is constrained to rotate about centre C on an axis orthogonal to axis X-X’.

[0023] The intermediate member 120 has an outer convex spherical periphery 124. The outer member 130 has an inner concave spherical periphery 132, against which the outer convex spherical periphery 124 of intermediate member 120 engages. A pair of diametrically opposite elongate projections 126 from the outer convex spherical periphery 124 engage in diametrically opposed slots 138 in the inner concave surface 132 surface of outer member 130. These elongate projections s 126 are off-set around the outer diameter of the intermediate member 120 by 90° from the slots 128 so the projections 126 extend outwards from the outer convex surface 124 opposite the position of the loading slots 127 in the inner concave periphery of intermediate member 120.

[0024] The concave inner surface 132 of outer member 130 is also provided with a pair of diametrically opposite loading slots 137 off-set around the inner diameter of the outer member 130 member by 90° from the slots 138. The loading slots pass from one edge of the outer member to half-way across the width of the outer member 130 where the inner concave surface 132 has its greatest diameter.

[0025] The intermediate member 120 is introduced sideways into the loading slots 137 with projections 126 aligned with the slots 138 and then rotated so the projections 126 enter the slots 138.

[0026] With the intermediate member 120 loaded as described in the previous paragraph, the outer member 130 is constrained to rotate about centre C on an axis orthogonal to both the axis X-X’ and the axis of rotation of intermediate member 120 about inner member 110.

[0027] The outer surface 134 of outer member 130 is provided with a machined surface for easy gripping by fingers, as shown it has gear teeth 135 to allow two playthings according to the invention to co-operate with one another; other surfaces which might be used include involute and helical gear teeth for similar co-operation, or just plain.

[0028] A ball race 140 is mounted within 1 nner bore 111 of inner member 110, supported by the inner surface 112 of inner member 110 with one edge of the ball race butting the step 113. The ball race 140 is conventional having outer 142 and inner annular members 142 and 146 respectively, the outer member has an inward facing track 144 and the inner member an outward facing track 148, the tracks 144 and 148 retaining the plurality of balls 149 of the ball race between them. The ball race 140 has a central bore 147 through which the inner threaded shank 154 of a bolt 152 passes, the inner threaded shank 154 engaged around the external threaded shaft 156 of a bolt 150. The heads 153 and 155 of bolts 152 and 150 have concave surfaces to enable easy holding of the plaything between finger and thumb. The inner threaded shank 154 in combination with the externally threaded shaft 156 comprise axle means around which the ball race 140 is disposed.

[0029] In use the plaything is gripped between a finger and thumb of one hand and rotated using the other hand about shank 154 using the machined surface 134 of outer member 130. The members 120 and 130 may also be turned about their axes of rotation with respect to each other and with respect to the inner member 110. By rotating the intermediate member at member 90° to outer member the intermediate member may be disengaged from the outer member through the loading slots 137, and similarly by rotating the inner member at member 90° to intermediate member the inner member may be disengaged from the intermediate member through the loading slots 127. The plaything can subsequently be reassembled by following the assembly steps described earlier.

[0030] Figures 6 to 10 illustrate a second exemplary embodiment 200 of the invention.

[0031] In figures 6 to 10 the plaything 200 comprises an inner annular member 210 having a central bore 211 having a central axis X-X’, an intermediate member 220, and an outer annular member 230. The inner member 210 is contained within the intermediate member 220, and the intermediate member is contained within the outer member 230. The plaything has a centre C on a central axis X-X’.

[0032] The inner member 210 has an internal stepped cylindrical surface 212, with a step 213 part way through the bore 211. The inner member 210 has an outer convex spherical periphery 214. The intermediate member 220 has an inner concave spherical periphery 222, against which the outer convex periphery 214 of inner periphery 210 engages. A pair of diametrically opposite axles 216 are mounted in axle holes 228 in intermediate member 220, the axes of the axles is perpendicular to the central axis X-X’. The axles extend inwards into holes 219 in the inner member 210.

[0033] The concave inner surface 222 of intermediate member 220 is also provided with a pair of diametrically opposite loading slots 227. The loading slots 227 are usually off-set by 45° from axes of axles 216, but the off-set can be up to 90°. The loading slots pass from one edge of the intermediate member to half-way across the width of the intermediate member where the inner concave surface 222 has its greatest diameter.

[0034] The inner member 210 is introduced sideways into the loading slots 227 and axles 216 pressed into place in axle holes 228 with their inner ends engaging in holes 219 in inner member 210 (i.e. the axles 216 are an interference fit in holes 228 but a sliding/transition fir in holes 219).

[0035] With the inner member 210 loaded as described in the previous paragraph, the intermediate member 220 is constrained to rotate about centre C on an axis orthogonal to axis X-X’.

[0036] The intermediate member 220 has an outer convex spherical periphery 224. The outer member 230 has an inner concave spherical periphery 232, against which the outer convex spherical periphery 224 of intermediate member 220 engages. A pair of diametrically opposite axles 226 are mounted in axle holes 238 in outer member 230, the axes of the axles is perpendicular to the central axis X-X’ and also to the axes of axles 216. The axles extend inwards into holes 229 in the intermediate member 220.

[0037] The concave inner surface 232 of outer member 230 is also provided with a pair of diametrically opposite loading slots 237 off-set around the inner diameter of the outer member 230. The loading slots 237 are usually offset by 45° from axes of axles 226, but the off-set can be up to 90° The loading slots pass from one edge of the outer member to half-way across the width of the outer member 130 where the inner concave surface 232 has its greatest diameter.

[0038] The outer member 230 is introduced sideways into the loading slots 237 and axles 226 pressed into place in axle holes 238 with their inner ends engaging in holes 229 in intermediate member 220.(i.e. the axles 226 are an interference fit in holes 238 but a sliding/transition fir in holes 229).

[0039] With the intermediate member 220 loaded as described in the previous paragraph, the outer member 230 is constrained to rotate about centre C on an axis orthogonal to both the axis X-X’ and the axis of rotation of intermediate member 220 about inner member 210 .

[0040] The outer surface 234 of outer member 230 is provided with a machined surface for easy gripping by fingers, as shown it has gear teeth 235 to allow two playthings according to the invention to co-operate with one another; other surfaces which might be used include involute and helical gear teeth for similar co-operation, or just plain.

[0041] A ball race 140 is mounted within inner bore 211 of inner member 210, supported by the inner surface 212 of inner member 210 with one edge of the ball race butting the step 213. The ball race 140 is conventional having outer 142 and inner annular members 142 and 146 respectively, the outer member has an inward facing track 144 and the inner member an outward facing track 148, the tracks 144 and 148 retaining the plurality of balls 149 of the ball race between them. The ball race 140 has a central bore 147 through which the inner threaded shank 154 of a bolt 152 passes, the inner threaded shank 154 engaged around the external threaded shaft 156 of a bolt 150. The heads 153 and 155 of bolts 152 and 150 have concave surfaces to enable easy holding of the plaything between finger and thumb.

[0042] In use the plaything 200 is gripped between a finger and thumb of one hand and rotated using the other hand about shank 154 using the machined surface 234 of outer member 230. The members 220 and 130 may also be turned about their axes of rotation with respect to each other and with respect to the inner member 210. Unlike the first embodiment, the axle arrangements prevent the members from being disassembled.

[0043] Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a variation on the embodiment illustrated in figures 6 to10, which enables the members to be disassembled. In figures 11 and 12 the majority of components are identical to those in figures 6 to 10 however the axles 216 and 226 are replaced by two part magnetic axles 215A and 215B and 225A and 225B respectively, with parts 215A and 225A located in the holes 219 and 229 respectively, and the other parts 215B and 225B located in stub holes 223 and 233 in the convex inner peripheral surfaces 222 and 232 of intermediate member 220 and outer member 230 respectively .The stub holes 223 are off-set around intermediate member 220 by 90°. The parts of magnets 215A and 215B, and 225A and 225B are mounted in such a way as opposite poles face one another.

[0044] Assembly of the device is similar to that previously described but with the magnetic parts 215A, 215B, 25A and 225B fixed in place by gluing before the inner member 210 is inserted into slot 227 and turned and intermediate member 220 into slot 237 and turned. The intermediate member 220is constrained to rotate about the inner member on an axis perpendicular to the axis X-X’, and the outer member constrained to rotate abut the intermediate member of an axis perpendicular both to axis X-X’ and to the axis of rotation of the intermediate member about the inner member.

[0045] Figures 13 and 14 show a development of the plaything shown in figures 6 to 10. In figures 13 and 14 the outer surface 234 of outer member 230 has three circular “ears” 260 disposed equidistantly around the perimeter of outer member 230. The “ears” 260 each have a central aperture 261 into which a ball race 262 is fitted. As an additional feature, therefore, the ball races 262 can be gripped between finger and thumb and the plaything turned about the gripped ball race. This also increases the mass of the rotating components ad rotational inertia increasing spin time.

[0046] Although the additional features of figures 13 and 14 has been described with respect to the embodiment of figures 6 to 10, the modification of figures 13 and 14 can be applied equally well to the embodiment of figures 1 to 5 or that of figures 11 and 12.

[0047] The ball races 140 in all the examples and ball races 162 in the example of figures 13 and 14, can be inserted in apertures 147 and 161 respectively so that they can slide in and out of the apertures as part of the manipulation of the playthings, or may be an interference fit or glues or otherwise fixed in place. The specific arrangements can be adapted to the target market.

Claims

1. A plaything comprising a central axis, an inner annular member having a central bore and an axis coincident with the central axis, an intermediate member and an outer annular member in which the members comprise pairs of members one of the pair being contained within the second of the pair, with the inner member of a pair having an outer convex spherical periphery and the outer of the pair having an inner spherical concave periphery into which the outer convex periphery of the inner member of the pair is received in which the rotation of the outer one of a pair of second members is constrained to be about an axis perpendicular to central axis and in which the members comprise spherical segments including a common centre, the central bore having a ball race co-axial with the central axis with a central ball race bore; .the plaything being rotatable about the ball race

2. A plaything according to claim 1 in which rotation of the intermediate member about the inner member and/ or the outer member about the intermediate member is constrained by diametrically opposed projections in one member engaging in corresponding slots in the other member.

3. A plaything according to claim 1 in which rotation of the intermediate member about the inner member and/ or the outer member about the intermediate member is constrained by diametrically opposed axles in one member engaging in corresponding axle holes in the other member.

4. A plaything according to claim 1 in which rotation of the intermediate member about the inner member and/ or the outer member about the intermediate member is constrained by diametrically opposed magnetic stubs in one member cooperating with diametrically opposed magnetic stubs in the other member and wherein opposite poles of the stubs face one another.

5. A plaything according to any preceding claim in which the intermediate member and the outer member each have diametrically opposed loading slots into which the inner member and intermediate member respectively may be inserted and rotated into position.

6. A plaything according to any preceding claim in which the ball race is engaged against a step in the central bore.

7. A plaything according to any preceding claim in which an axle means passes through the centre of the balls race on the central axis, said axles means having grips to enable it to be hand held.

8. A plaything according to claim 7 in which the axle means comprises an inner threaded sleeve engaged on an outer threaded shaft, the sleeve and shaft each extending into the central bore the sleeve and shaft each having a bolt head.

9. A plaything according to claim 8 in which the bolt heads each have concave surfaces.

10. A plaything according to any preceding claim in which the outer periphery of the outer member is provided with dear teeth to engage with the outer surface of a similar plaything.

11. A plaything according to anyone of claims 1 to 9 having one or more circular ears disposed on the outside of the outer member, each ear having a central bore containing a ball race.