US20230302377A1

US20230302377A1 - Fidget spinner

Info

Publication number: US20230302377A1
Application number: US17/702,862
Authority: US
Inventors: Nicholas DeStefano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-03-24
Filing date: 2022-03-24
Publication date: 2023-09-28

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improved fidget spinner toy and device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of fidget spinners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fidget spinners are small, hand-held toys comprising a spinner wheel that spins on bearings around an axis. The user can hold the center of the toy firmly between his or her fingers and flick the spinner head in a way to cause it to spin around the center. Spinning and manipulating the spinner provides a challenge and a pleasing sensory experience. Fidget spinners may help people who have trouble focusing or who fidget with their hands and may have therapeutic benefits such as decreasing anxiety and improving concentration. They may be use just for fun.
Fidget spinners typically spin on one plane. There is a need for a fidget spinner comprising a plurality of spinner wheels on different planes from one another. The present invention is directed to an improved fidget spinner that fills this need and provides a plurality of spinner wheels spaced apart axially on a common axle, which provides a greater variety of experiences and challenges and enhances the overall enjoyment of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a fidgets spinner comprising: a first spinner wheel connected to an axle; a second spinner wheel connected to the axle and spaced apart from the first spinner wheel an axial distance.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a fidget spinner wheel comprising: a bearing aligned on an axis and having an outer race; and a spinner wheel casing attached to the outer race.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides a fidget spinner wheel casing comprising: an inward facing surface, a first protrusion protruding inward from the surface, and a second protrusion protruding inward from the surface; said second protrusion spaced an axial distance from the first protrusion; and said first protrusion and second protrusion defining a space between them for releasably receiving a bearing.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a fidget spinner kit comprising: an axle; a first bearing releasably attachable to the axle; a first wheel casing attached to the first bearing; a second bearing releasably attachable to the axle; and a second wheel casing attached to the second bearing.
In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a fidget spinner kit comprising: a first wheel casing releasably attachable to the first bearing; and a second wheel casing releasably attachable to the first bearing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of various embodiments and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the improved fidget spinner of the present invention from a point of view longitudinally outward of a first spinner wheel 10 and axle screw 74;

FIG. 2 is another pictorial view of the fidget spinner of FIG. 1 from a point of view longitudinally outward of a second spinner wheel 20 and axle 70;

FIG. 3 is an exploded assembly view of the fidget spinner of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of a fidget spinner wheel of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded assembly view of the spinner wheel of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the spinner wheel of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the spinner wheel of FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the spinner wheel of FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 9 a section view on section plane 8-8 of the spinner wheel of FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 13 is a section view on plane 12-12 of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 14 is a partial close-up view of a portion of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 13 ;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of a spinner wheel casing of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 15 ;

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 15 ;

FIG. 18 is a section view on plane 18-18 of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 15 ;

FIG. 19 is a partial close-up view of a portion of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 18 ;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of a spinner wheel casing of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a side view of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 20 ;

FIG. 22 is a bottom view of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 20 ;

FIG. 23 is a section view on plane 23-23 of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 20 ;

FIG. 24 is a partial close-up view of a portion of the spinner wheel casing of FIG. 23 ;

FIG. 25 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of a spinner wheel casing of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of another alternate embodiment of a spinner wheel casing of the present invention; and

FIG. 27 is a top plan view of yet another alternate embodiment of a spinner wheel casing of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-3 fidget spinner 100 may comprise first spinner wheel 10 mounted on an axle, and a second spinner wheel 20 mounted on the same axle at a different elevation. The first and second spinner wheels are spaced apart axially, i.e., spaced apart an axial distance, i.e., spaced apart longitudinally, i.e., spaced apart a distance in the direction of a longitudinal axis.
For the purposes of this disclosure, dimensions and directions may be expressed with reference to axial or a longitudinal direction defined by the axis of the axle or an axis of the spinner wheel and spinner wheel casing (FIG. 5 , reference number 50). The radial direction towards the axis may be referred to as an inward direction. Dimensions and directions along or tangential to a circumference may be referred to as circumferential. For example, a cylindrical tube may be said to have a circumferentially continuous thin wall and a member that is non-continuous circumferentially may be said to have finite circumferential dimension.
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 , spinner wheel 10 may comprise bearing 30 and wheel casing 50 snuggly fitted over outer race 32 of the bearing. Bearing 30 may be a ball bearing and may comprise inner race 31, outer race 32, and upper and lower shields 33 for preventing debris from entering the interior of the bearing where the bearing balls and cage are located.
With further reference to FIGS. 1-3 , the fidget spinner is aligned on a longitudinal axis. Axle 70 comprises a head with a hexagonal recess (see recess in FIG. 2 ), a shaft, and a tapped end opposite the head with female threads for receiving axle screw 74. Said hexagonal recess is for receiving an Allen wrench, hexagonal key, or other handheld driver with a hexagonal tip for screwing and tightening the axle together with axle screw 74. The axle screw may have a head with a hexagonal recess for receiving an Allen wrench. In an alternate embodiment, in lieu of a hexagonal recess, the axle head and axle screw head may each have a recess compatible with any other known drives, such as a slotted, Phillips head, or torx head screwdrivers.
Second side plug 73 may be tubular with a cylindrical wall having an inside diameter and outside diameter and may comprise a flange at one end. The second side plug inside diameter exceeds the axle diameter so that second side plug 73 fits slidingly over axle 70 so that it receives the axle in its hollow center. The outside diameter of the axle head exceeds the inside diameter of the second side plug so it cannot pass through the hollow center of the second side plug. Upon full insertion of the axle into the flanged end of the second side plug, the shoulder of the axle head abuts against the flanged end of the second side plug. Said second side plug outside diameter is less than or equal to the inside diameter of inner race 41 of bearing 40. The outside diameter of the flange of the second side plug exceeds the inside diameter of the inner race so that the flange may not pass through the hollow center of the inner race. Bearing 40 may be disposed slidingly over second side plug 73 so that the rim 45 (not shown, other side of race from rim 44) of inner race 41 abuts against the shoulder of the flange of the second side plug. Axle 70 has sufficient length so that a portion of the shaft of axle 70 distal to the axle head protrudes beyond bearing 40 for slidingly receiving around it spacer 72.
Spacer 72 may be tubular with a cylindrical wall having an inside diameter and outside diameter. The space inside diameter exceeds the axle diameter so that spacer 72 fits slidingly over axle 70. An end of spacer 72 abuts against a rim 44 of inner race 41 of bearing 40. Axle 70 has sufficient length so that a portion of the shaft of axle 70 distal to the axle head protrudes beyond spacer 72 for slidingly receiving around it first side plug 71.
Axle 70 may have any length chosen over a range of lengths. For example, said axle length may be ½″ to ⅝″, ⅝″ to ¾″, ¾″ to ⅞″, ⅞″ to 1″, 1″ to 1⅛″, 1⅛″ to 1¼″, 1¼″ to 1⅜″, or 1⅜″ to 1½″, 1½″ to 2″, 2″ to 3″, or 3″ to 4″. Spacer 72 may have any length chosen over a range of lengths compatible with the length chosen for axle 70.
First side plug 71 may be tubular with a cylindrical wall having an inside diameter and outside diameter and may comprise a flange at one end. Said side plug outside diameter is less than or equal to the inside diameter of inner race 31 of bearing 30. The diameter of said flange is greater than the inside diameter of inner race 31 and cannot pass through the hollow center formed by the inner race 31. First side plug 71 may be disposed slidingly within the hollow center defined by inner race 31 so that the shoulder of the first side plug flange abuts against the rim 34 of the inner race 31 of first bearing 30. The first side plug inside diameter exceeds the axle diameter so that first side plug 71 fits slidingly over axle 70. First side plug 71, so disposed inside inner race 31 of first bearing 30, may be slidingly disposed over a distal portion of axle 70.
Axle screw 74 comprises a head and a threaded shaft extending from the head with male threads compatible with the female threads of axle 70. The axle screw may be threaded into the end of axle 70 to tighten the entire assembly axially. When tightened, the axle screw head abuts against the flange of the first side plug. In a preferred embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-3 , the axle and inner races of the plurality of spinner wheels are in fixed relation to one another and the outer races and wheel casings of said plurality of spinner wheels may spin around the axle and inner races.
As discussed above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 , first wheel casing 50 of first spinner wheel 10 may be snuggly fitted over outer race 32 of first bearing 30. Likewise, second wheel casing 60 may be snuggly fitted over outer race 42 of second bearing 40.
With reference to FIGS. 10-14 , first wheel casing 50 may comprise upper surface 51, lower surface 52, peripheral surface 53 and opening 55. Peripheral surface 53 may be contoured or otherwise shaped to provide protruding feature 54 so that first spinner wheel 10 is aesthetically interesting and pleasing. Protruding feature 54 provides structure that makes it easier for the user to spin the wheel by flicking it with his or her finger, which helps the user to spin the wheel faster.
With further reference to FIGS. 10-14 , wheel casing 50 may comprise a body having a cylindrical inside surface 58 and lips 56 and 57 protruding inwardly from surface 58 and forming a space or “pocket” 59 for receiving outer race 32 of bearing 30. Lip 56 may be continuous circumferentially and lip 57 may be continuous circumferentially. Pocket 59 may comprise annular shape having dimensions defined by the diameter of surface 58 and the distance between lips 56 and 57. The pocket dimensions may be chosen to achieve the desired fit over the outer race. The diameter of surface 58 may be chosen over a range so as to provide a range of fits from a clearance fit where said diameter is larger than the outside diameter of the outer race to a snug fit where the diameter of surface 58 is not larger than and may be less than the outside diameter of the outer race. Likewise, the distance between lips 56 and 57 may be chosen to achieve the desired fit over a range of a clearance fit where said distance is larger than the height of the outer race to a snug fit where the distance between lips 56 and 57 is not larger than and may be less than the height of the outer race so that lips 56 and 57 press against rims 36 and 37, respectively, of outer race 32 (FIG. 3 ).
In an embodiment where surface 58 and the outer race have a snug fit in contact with one another, lip 57 may be omitted so that the bearing may be pressed into the cylindrical space defined by surface 58 without having to pass a lip. In this embodiment, the bearing and casing may be releasably attached by the friction forces of the snug fit between surface 58 and outer race 32. On the same principle, in each of the other embodiments of the wheel casing disclosed below comprising tabs, they each may comprise a snug fit between the outer race and surfaces 158 (FIG. 15-19 ) or 258 (FIGS. 20-24 ) and variations of those embodiments may be sans tabs.
In one embodiment of wheel casing 50, one or both of lips 56 and 57 may comprise flexible polymer material, rubber, plastic, silicon, vinyl, epoxy, latex or nylon so that the material may more readily elastically deflect as the bearing may be pressed into opening 55 and pocket 59 and elastically spring (or “snap”) back toward its original shape to reform pocket 59 around the outer race. The wheel casing may be referred to as a “snap-on” wheel casing.
In one embodiment of spinner wheel 10, the first bearing may be pressed into opening 55 and pocket 59. For example, such pressing may comprise the steps of placing the first bearing adjacent to opening 55 and surface 52, pressing the bearing against surface 52 and lip 57 so as to deflect lip 57 to provide passage of the bearing through opening 55 into pocket 59. The bearing may be manipulated as necessary while pressing, such as tilting the bearing.
Lip 56 may be continuous circumferentially and lip 57 may be continuous circumferentially. In one embodiment of wheel casing 50, one or both of lips 56 and 57 may comprise radial cuts forming a plurality of lip segments that may deflect independently to make it easier to press the bearing through opening 55.
The wheel casing of the present invention may be releasably attachable to the bearings by pressing the bearings into opening 55 and pocket 59 as disclosed above to attach the wheel casing to the bearing and then by pressing the bearing out of pocket 59 and out of opening 55 to release the wheel casing from the bearing. For example, the bearing may be pressed in by holding the casing with one's fingers and pressing the bearing with one's thumbs and may be pressed out by holding the casing with one's fingers and pressing the bearing out with one's thumbs. Opening 55 may provide access to the bearing to apply direct force to the bearing with one's thumbs to press the bearing out. Lip 57 that may be beveled to make easier the process of pushing the bearing into and back out of the pocket. The forces required to so install and remove a wheel casing on to a bearing are small enough to be convenient for a user to accomplish the tasks by hand so that the user may readily exchange a wheel casing with another wheel casing. Thus, in this embodiment, no tools are required to releasably attach and detach the bearing and casing.
With reference to FIGS. 15-19 , in one embodiment wheel casing 50 may comprise a lip having finite circumferential dimension (i.e., non-continuous circumferentially) such as tab 157. Tab 157, having finite circumferential dimension, requires less force to deflect than a circumferentially continuous lip, which may reduce the force required to press the bearing into and out of pocket 159. The number of tabs may range from one to any plurality of spaced apart tabs, such as one, two, three, four as shown in FIG. 17 , or more.
With further reference to FIGS. 15-19 , wheel casing 50 may comprise a thin-walled central hub 61 and protrusion 62 protruding radially outward from the hub. Protrusion 62 may be continuous circumferentially around the hub such as in FIG. 17 . Protrusion may have any shape such as the scalloped shape as in FIGS. 17, 25 and 27 . Protrusion 62 may comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart protrusions, each having finite circumferential dimension such as in FIG. 26 . The embodiment of FIGS. 15-19 requires less material and is more aerodynamic than the embodiment of FIGS. 10-14 . Releasable insertion and ejection of the bearing into and out of pocket 159 of the embodiment of FIGS. 15-19 may require less force because the thin wall of the hub may elastically deflect more than the thick body of the embodiment of FIGS. 10-14 under the same force.
With reference to FIGS. 20-24 , in one embodiment, wheel casing 50 may comprise a tab 257 having finite circumferential dimension (i.e., non-continuous circumferentially) and extending longitudinally from central hub 61. The number of tabs may range from one to any plurality of tabs, such as one, two, three, four as shown in FIG. 17 , or more. Releasable insertion and ejection of the bearing into and out of pocket 259 may require less force because the longitudinally extending tab may elastically deflect more than a thick body or tubular wall under the same force. Tab 257 may be beveled so that pushing the bearing into and back out of the pocket may apply outward force on the tab and promote outward deflection of the tab to make easier the process of releasably attaching the wheel casing to the bearing and detaching the casing from the bearing.
With reference to FIGS. 25-27 , wheel casings of the present invention may have any peripheral shape such as the three shapes shown for example in FIGS. 15-17 , each of which may comprise a center opening and pocket for receiving a bearing as disclosed above.
The fidget spinner of the present invention may be provided with a plurality of interchangeable spinner wheels, which may be exchanged by detaching a spinner wheel from the fidget spinner and replacing it with another spinner wheel. The fidget spinner of the present invention may be provided with a plurality of interchangeable spinner wheel casings, which may be exchanged by detaching a spinner wheel casing from a bearing and replacing it with another spinner wheel casing.
In a preferred embodiment of the fidget spinner of the present invention, first spinner wheel 10 may be releasably attachable to the axle by screwing and unscrewing axle screw 74. First spinner wheel 10 may thus be removed and replaced with a spinner wheel of an alternate shape by unscrewing axle screw 74, removing first spinner wheel 10, installing a replacement spinner wheel in place of first spinner wheel 10, and tightening the replacement spinner wheel to the axle with axle screw 74 in the same manner as disclosed above with respect to first spinner wheel 10. A plurality of replacement spinner wheels may be provided. Each replacement spinner wheel may have a unique shape, color, texture, surface ornamentation or other unique characteristic to distinguish it from other spinner wheels. For example, replacement spinner wheels may have a wheel casing of a unique shape, color, texture, surface ornamentation or other unique characteristic, such as, for example, any of the wheel casing shapes shown in FIGS. 15-17 .
The spinner wheels of the present invention may spin independently of the other spinner wheels. The first spinner wheel may spin independently of the second spinner wheel. The first spinner wheel may spin while the second spinner wheel is stationary. The second spinner wheel may spin while the first spinner wheel is stationary. The first and second spinner wheels may spin in the same direction. The first and second spinner wheels may spin in opposite directions. The first and second spinner wheels may spin at the same speed and may spin at different speeds from one another.
The present invention also provides a kit comprising a first spinner wheel, a second spinner wheel, and an axle. The second spinner wheel may have a different shape, color, texture, surface ornamentation different than the first spinner wheel or other unique characteristic to distinguish it from the first spinner wheel, or any combination of the foregoing. The kit may further comprise an axle screw. The kit may further comprise a first side plug, spacer, and second side plug. The kit may further comprise an Allen wrench. The kit may further comprise a replacement spinner wheel. Said replacement spinner wheel of the kit may comprise a unique characteristic such as a unique shape, color, texture, surface ornamentation or other unique characteristic to distinguish it from other spinner wheels. The kit may further comprise a plurality of replacement spinner wheels. Each replacement spinner wheel of the kit may comprise a unique characteristic such as a unique shape, color, texture, surface ornamentation or other unique characteristic to distinguish it from other spinner wheels. The kit may further comprise a plurality of bearings and plurality of spinner wheel casings releasably attachable to the bearings. The spinner wheel casings of the kit may comprise a unique characteristic such as a unique shape, color, texture, surface ornamentation or other unique characteristic to distinguish them from other spinner wheel casings.
The improved fidget spinner of the present invention may be held in one's hand in a variety of ways. For example, the user may grasp one spinner wheel leaving the axle free to spin within the grasped wheel and another spinner wheel free to spin with and around the axle. For another example, the user may grasp one spinner wheel and an axle, leaving another spinner wheel free to spin around the axle. For another example, the user may grasp the axle, leaving a plurality of spinner wheels free to spin around the axle. The user may grasp the axle by grasping the spacer between the wheels or by grasping the axle head and axle screw head, such as by grasping them between his or her thumb and forefinger.
Caps may be provided for grasping the ends of the axle between the thumb and forefinger. A first cap may be attached to the axle screw head and a second cap may be attached to the axle head. Caps are well known in the art of single-wheel fidget spinners.
The user may spin any wheel free to spin such as by flicking a peripheral feature of the wheel with his or her finger. Where a plurality of wheels are free to spin, the user may spin the wheels independently from one another at the same speed or different speeds and in the same direction or different directions.
The combinations provided by the foregoing options not available with other spinner wheels, provides an enhanced visual and sensory experience, such as a variety of combinations of centripetal forces of a plurality of contemporaneously spinning wheels. Another example of heretofore unavailable experience is the ability to present a first wheel of a fidget spinner by grasping the other wheel and seconds later present a second wheel of the same fidget spinner different from the first wheel by simply grasping the first wheel and presenting the second wheel without use of a second fidget spinner and without having to exchange any hardware.
The improved fidget spinner of the present invention having a plurality of axially spaced apart spinner wheels, releasable attachability of spinner wheels, interchangeability of spinner wheels, releasable attachability of spinner wheel casings, interchangeability of spinner wheel casings, or any one of or combination of the foregoing features alone provides an enhanced experience for the user compared to other fidget spinners.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A fidget spinner, comprising:

an axle;

a first spinner wheel connected to an axle;

a second spinner wheel connected to the axle and spaced apart from the first spinner wheel an axial distance.

2. The fidget spinner of claim 1, further comprising:

the first spinner wheel releasably connected to the axle with a first releasable connection.

3. The fidget spinner of claim 2, further comprising:

the first releasable connection comprising an axle, a tapped hole comprising female threads in an end of the axle for receiving an axle screw, and an axle screw releasably threaded into the tapped hole.

4. The fidget spinner of claim 2, further comprising:

the second spinner wheel releasably connected to the axle with a second releasable connection.

5. The fidget spinner of claim 4, further comprising:

the second releasable connection comprising the axle, the tapped hole, a spacer disposed between the first and second spinner wheels, and the axle screw releasably threaded into the tapped hole.

6. The fidget spinner of claim 1, further comprising:

the first spinner wheel comprising a bearing releasably connected to the axle, said bearing having an outer race; and

a spinner wheel casing releasably attached to the outer race.

7. A fidget spinner wheel, comprising:

a bearing aligned on an axis and having an outer race; and

a spinner wheel casing attached to the outer race.

8. A fidget spinner wheel of claim 7, further comprising:

the spinner wheel casing releasably attached to the outer race.

9. The fidget spinner wheel of claim 7, further comprising:

the wheel casing comprising an inward facing surface, a first protrusion protruding inward from the surface, and a second protrusion protruding inward from the surface, said second protrusion spaced an axial distance from the first protrusion; and

the outer race of the bearing disposed between said first protrusion and second protrusion; and

said first protrusion abutting against a rim of the outer race.

10. A fidget spinner wheel of claim 9, wherein the first protrusion comprises a lip.

11. A fidget spinner wheel of claim 9, wherein the first protrusion comprises a tab.

12. A fidget spinner wheel of claim 11, further comprising:

a central hub of the casing;

said tab comprising finite circumferential dimension; and

said tab extending longitudinally from the central hub.

13. A fidget spinner wheel casing, comprising:

an inward facing surface, a first protrusion protruding inward from the surface, and a second protrusion protruding inward from the surface;

said second protrusion spaced an axial distance from the first protrusion; and

said first protrusion and second protrusion defining a space between them for releasably receiving a bearing.

14. The fidget spinner wheel casing of claim 13, wherein the first protrusion comprises a lip.

15. The fidget spinner wheel casing of claim 13, wherein the first protrusion comprises a tab.

16. A fidget spinner wheel casing of claim 15, further comprising:

a central hub;

said tab comprising finite circumferential dimension; and

said tab extending longitudinally from the central hub.

17. A fidget spinner kit, comprising:

an axle;

a first bearing releasably attachable to the axle;

a first wheel casing attached to the first bearing;

a second bearing releasably attachable to the axle; and

a second wheel casing attached to the second bearing.

18. The fidget spinner kit of claim 17, further comprising:

a tool for releasably attaching the bearings to the axle and detaching the bearings from the axle.

19. A fidget spinner kit, comprising:

a first bearing;

a first wheel casing releasably attachable to the first bearing; and

a second wheel casing releasably attachable to the first bearing.