GB656540A - Improvements in or relating to spinning tops - Google Patents

Abstract

656,540. Spinning tops. OSTBERG, W. Oct. 6, 1950, No. 24495. Convention dates, July 4, and July 22, 1950. [Class 132 (iii)] A spinning top of the type intended to be set in rotation by hand spins first on that portion of the body opposite to a radial stem 5 and then after the stages shown in Figs. 3-6 spins on its stem (Fig. 7). In one form the top has a body whose outer surface shape is that of a sphere with a stem projecting therefrom and in which the centre of gravity of the top is located at a point which lies upon a continuation of the axis of the stem and which is slightly displaced from the geometrical centre of the spherical outer surface in the direction opposite to that of the stem. In another form the body 1 has an outer surface whose shape is that of a sphere from which a segment has been removed and has a stem projecting perpendicularly from the centre of the circular plane defined by the removed segmental portion and in which the centre of gravity is located as above. The embodiment in Fig. 1 has a cavity 3 which may be covered by a plate 7. The bodies may be solid or made of two shells glued together, the centre of gravity being correctly positioned by suitable proportioning of the stem and removed segment or by inserting a weight or thickening the shell diametrically opposite to the stem 5. Bands of colour may be provided on the body surface to produce colour variation effects as the top is spun and the stem may taper off into a knob at the upper part or can have the form of a cone or truncated cone.