US20100203801A1

US20100203801A1 - Spin message toy

Info

Publication number: US20100203801A1
Application number: US12/378,148
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmund Chan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-10
Filing date: 2009-02-10
Publication date: 2010-08-12

Abstract

Spin message toy with a rigid rectangular block member, a right side string loop and a left side string loop. The block member has a broad front surface and broad rear surface. The string loops are attached to the left and right sides of the block so that it is capable of spinning on a horizontal plane when a user pulls in opposing directions on the string loops that have been twisted by the user just before operation. The front surface has a first partial message printed upon it. The rear surface has a second partial message printed upon it. The first and second partial messages form the illusion of a complete message when the rectangular block member is spun by the user.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of children's spin toys and more specifically to a spin message toy.
A classic children's spin toy in which a disk is spun by pulling on an opposing set of strings is well known. The user winds up the toy by twisting the strings so that when the user pulls on the strings in opposing directions, they unwind, causing the attached disk to spin. The weight and momentum of the disk causes the string to wind up in the opposite direction so that the continuing pulling and releasing of the strings causes the disk to spin for as long as the user would like.
The classic spin toy has a pair of apertures located near the center of the disk. The string is strung through the apertures forming a loop. When the user pulls on the loop in opposing directions, the disk spins in a vertical orientation while the strings are in a horizontal orientation.
Although this configuration is ideal for a spinning disk, it is not ideal for spinning a rectangular block shape in a horizontal orientation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a spin message toy that uses a spinning, horizontally oriented rectangular block shape whose front and rear surfaces each have partial printed messages on them which create the illusion of a complete message when the toy is spun by the user.
Another object of the invention is to provide a spin message toy that uses a horizontally oriented rectangular block shape whose front and rear surfaces have partial visual images printed on them that create the illusion of a complete visual image when the toy is spun by the user.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a spin message toy comprising: a rigid rectangular block member, a right side string loop, a left side string loop, said block member having a broad front surface and broad rear surface, said block member having a top thin surface, a bottom thin surface and left and right side thin surfaces, said block member having first and second apertures that each extend from said front surface to said rear surface, said first aperture located near the left edge of said broad surface and positioned half way between the said top surface and said bottom surface, said second aperture located near the right edge of said broad surface and positioned half way between the said top surface and said bottom surface, said right side string loop attached through said right side aperture, said left side string loop attached through said left side aperture, said block capable of spinning on a horizontal plane when a user pulls in opposing directions on said left and right string loops that have been twisted by said user just before operation, said front surface having a first partial message printed upon it, said rear surface having a second partial message printed upon it, and said first and second partial messages forming a complete message when said rectangular block member is spun by said user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a classic spin toy.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the spin toy of the present invention with a first partial message showing on the front surface.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention with a second partial message showing on the rear surface.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention with a complete message that can be seen when the toy is spinning.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention with a first partial visual image showing on the front surface.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention with a second partial visual image showing on the rear surface.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the invention with a complete visual image that can be seen when the toy is spinning.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a classic version of a child's spin toy. This type of toy is simple to make and has been popular with children for more than fifty years. The toy works when a person's hands 8, 10 pull on twisted strings 2, 4 causing a disk 6 to spin. The momentum of the disk carries it past the neutral point of the strings 2, 4 causing them to become twisted in the opposite direction as the user relaxes his or her pulling tension. The rhythmic pulling and releasing of the strings by the user causes the disk 6 to spin alternately in a clockwise rotation and then a counter clockwise rotation. As the user pulls his or her hands 8, 10 in opposing directions, the disk 6 spins in a vertical orientation with respect to the ground plane.
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention 100. Rather than a spinning disk, the present invention 100 employs a spinning rectangular block 18. Rather than the block 18 spinning in a vertical orientation as with the classic toy shown in FIG. 1, The block 18 spins in a horizontal orientation when the user pulls on strings 12, 16. The first string loop 12 is fed though aperture 23 located on the left side of the block 18. The second string loop 16 is fed through an aperture 26 located on the right side of the block 18. The apertures 24, 26 extend from the front surface 20 of the block 18 to the rear surface 32 of the block shown in FIG. 3. Cylindrical finger grips 28, 30 help the user hold onto strings 12, 16 and also help in the string winding process that is performed by the user just before the start of the spin activity. However, the finger grips 28, 30 may also be spherical in shape. My experiments have shown that an ideal size for the rectangular block member 18 is approximately four inches wide by two and one quarter inches tall by three eighths of an inch thick. It should be noted that the rectangular block 18 can have rounded edges and corners to eliminate the possibility of injury from sharp edges and corners. The cylindrical grip members are approximately one and one quarter inches tall and approximately five sixteenths of an inch in diameter. The cylinders can be made of rigid material, or can be made of semi-rigid material such as rubber.
The front surface 20 of the block 18 has letters printed on it that create a first partial message 22. The rear surface 32 of the block 18 contains a second partial message 34. When the user spins the block 18, the rapid motion of the spinning block 18 causes the viewers eyes to see both images at once and to blend the two partial messages together forming a complete message 22, 34 as shown in FIG. 4. This blending effect is the same as that used in motion pictures where a series of still pictures is flashed before the users eyes so quickly that the illusion of motion is perceived by the viewer. The letters on the front and rear surfaces of the block 18 may be printed on, or can be molded into plastic by an injection molding process. The molding process can allow the printed letters to be either raised, or sunk into the front and rear surfaces of the block 18. Of course, the block can be made of other materials such as metal or rigid paper, or ceramic.
The novel blending of messages can be used for play value, but can also be used for advertising purposes. One version of the invention is envisioned where the surfaces of the block 18 a covered with a coating that allows the user to write his or her own message on the block, and then to wipe it off when finished so that one can write a new message. The block 18 may be solid or hollow, but is generally rigid.
FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of the invention 200 that shows a first visual image 222 on front surface 220 and a second visual image 234 on rear surface 232 as shown in FIG. 6. By spinning the block 218 in the manner prescribed above, the images become super imposed on each other as shown in FIG. 7. The images shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 would be ideal for displaying on Valentines day. Indeed, the rectangular block 218 can be envisioned as made out of paperboard forming a rectangular box package that could contain Valentines candy.
Still another embodiment of the invention includes using a sleeve that can be slid over the rectangular block 218 where writing or images are printed on the sleeve. Since the sleeve is replaceable and removable, a variety of messages or images can be attached to the rectangular block.
Another effect that can be obtained by the present invention 200 is that two images can be superimposed on top of each other by printing an image on the front surface 220 and then by printing a second image in the same location on the rear surface 232. For example, the image of a heart can be printed on the front surface, and the word love could be printed on the rear surface in the same location, so that when the block is spun, the word love is superimposed onto the heart.
FIG. 8 shows a top view of the invention 100 where strings 12, 16 are clearly shown penetrating the block 18 as indicated by dotted lines 42, 44.
FIG. 9 shows a side view of the invention 100 that clearly shows the spinning motion of block 18 as indicated by dotted lines 18A and directional arrow 40.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. spin message toy comprising:

a rigid rectangular block member;

a right side string loop;

a left side string loop;

said block member having a broad front surface and broad rear surface;

said block member having a top thin surface, a bottom thin surface and left and right side thin surfaces;

said block member having first and second apertures that each extend from said front surface to said rear surface;

said first aperture located near the left edge of said broad surface and positioned half way between the said top surface and said bottom surface;

said second aperture located near the right edge of said broad surface and positioned half way between the said top surface and said bottom surface;

said right side string loop attached through said right side aperture;

said left side string loop attached through said left side aperture;

said block capable of spinning on a horizontal plane when a user pulls on said string loops in opposing directions while said string loops are in a twisted condition;

said front surface having a first partial message printed upon it;

said rear surface having a second partial message printed upon it; and

said first and second partial messages forming the illusion of a complete message when said rectangular block member is spun by said user.

2. An alternate embodiment of said spin message toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said front surface includes a first partial visual image printed upon it and said rear surface includes a second partial visual image printed upon it and said first and second partial visual images form the illusion of a complete visual image when said rectangular block member is spun by said user.

3. Spin message toy as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a rigid right side cylindrical string loop retaining member and a rigid left side cylindrical string loop retaining member;

said cylindrical members aiding in the user's finger's ability to hold said string loops in their ideal orientation for ease of operation of said spin message toy.

4. Spin message toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rectangular block member is hollow.

5. Spin message toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rectangular block member is molded from plastic and where said messages or said visual elements are molded into the said front and rear surfaces of said block member.

6. Spin message toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rectangular block member is constructed of paperboard and forms a hollow package that holds candy.