US2360593A

US2360593A - Toy

Info

Publication number: US2360593A
Application number: US439830A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stivers Norman Jarand
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-04-21
Filing date: 1942-04-21
Publication date: 1944-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1961-10-17

Description

Oct. 17, 1944. N STWERS 2,360,593

TOY

Filed April 21'. 1942 11 v INVENTOR. NORMAN JARAND STIVERS Patented "Oct. 17, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to toys, and more particularly contemplates a top operated by means of a doubled cord or' the like by which a device may be made to spin, and, while spinning, perform numerous maneuvers involving a degree of intricacy commensurate with the proficiency of the user.

Ihe principal object of the present invention is toprovide atop incorporating means for releasable engagement of a pair of cords adapted to be twisted by turning the top when so engaged, whereupon the latter may be made to spin by subsequently tensioning the cords; and from which cords the top may be released by utilizing the centrifugal force imparted to the cords by the rotation thereof.

Another object is to provide a method of spinning a top' in either direction, or in both directions alternately, by the use of a cord involving the controlled release of the top from the.cord

when desired, to enable the transposition and manipulation of the spinning top free of the cord.

Another object is to provide means for manually engaging the ends of the doubled cord by which the top is adapted to be spun to facilitate alternate tensioning and slackening of the cord,

including a board having a handle by which'the board may be manipulated to catch the spinning top when released from the cord.

Another object is the provision of a symmetrical top composed of light weight material comprising a pair of identical cones projecting from opposite sides of an annular rim of greater diameter than the diameter of the bases of the respective cones, and having apair of diametrically opposed radial slots extending from lines adjacent and parallel to the axis of the top connecting the points of the cones and opening through the sides of the cones and rim, the outer extremities of the slots in the rim' being flared to facilitate insertion and-release of opposite reaches of the cord adapted to be inserted within the'respective slots for actuating and controlling the top,

Another object is to provide a dowel point for either end of the top composed of hardmaterial to furnish a bearing when the top is spun on a suitable surface after release from the cord, to permit the composition of theb'ody of ,the top of 'a light weight material to facilitate manipulation ofthe same.

Numerous other objects and corresponding advantages, such for example as economy of construction, ease of operation in the performance,

of the simplest form of the method, but having a capacity for a multiplicity of, manipulations requiring a varying degree of skill calculated to sustain the interest of the user, will be apparent from an examination of the following description, read in the light of the accompanying drawing,- in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the top and apparatus by which it is actuated, illustrating the same in operative relationship;

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, of the top and associated elements comprising the toy,

which depicts the use of the board as a' support for the top while the latter is spinning to enable further manipulation of the top;

Fig. 3 is is an enlarged plan view of the device showing in detail the disposition of the slots for accommodating the means by which the top is actuated;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on lines l4 of Fig; 3. V

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numerals of which indicate similar parts throughout the several views, 5 designates the body of a topcomposed of a light weight material, such as certain soft woods or the like. Top 5 consists more specifically of a circular disk B'having integral cones I projecting from opposite sides thereof, and concentric therewith. The bases of the cones are of less diameter than the diameter of the disk whereby top 5 is provided with an annular flange 8- intermediate'its ends (see particularly Figs. 3 and 4 The top is radially slotted at diametrically opposite sides in a plane passing through the ends of the toy, the slots 9 opening through the sides of both cone portions 1 and disk 6, and extending inwardly to lines adjacent and substantially parallel to the axis of the top passing through the ends thereof. The outer extremities of the slots are flared outwardly as at ID for a purpose hereinafter described. A bearing point is provided by a dowel ll of hard wood or the like, which is inserted into one end of the top. The outer end ofdowel II which protrudes from the top is tapered to a point for obvious reasons.

Top 5 is rotated by means of a doubled cord l2, the'adjacent ends of opposite reaches i3l3 of which are connected to a ball l4 and to a flat board l5, respectively. The board is preferably in the form of a paddle having a handle It to assist in its manipulation. The two reaches |3--|3 of the cord are connected to the shank of handle I?) at points thereon preferably spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the inner ends of slots 9 in the top. The opposite ends of reaches 13-! 3 of cord l2 connected to ball I4 are similarly held in spaced relation whereby the strands of the cord extending between the ball and board l5 when held.

taut are substantially parallel.

One embodiment of the method of my invention involving the use of apparatus hereinabove disclosed is briefly described as follows: The ball I4 and board l5 are held apart so as to maintain reaches I3-I 3 of the cord in spaced parallel relation. Top is then placed between the opposed reaches of the cord and is arranged to permit the strands to enter the respective slots 9 with the dowel-fitted end of the top pointing in the direction of board I5. While holding ball I4 and board I5 against movement, the top is manually rotated so as to twist reaches I3-I3 of the cord at opposite sides of the top in the same direction. The reaches of the cord need be manually twisted to a degree only suflicient to securely retain the top therebetween. The top is then shifted between the reaches of the cord until it is approximately equi-spaced between the ball and board, and is placed down to prevent its being prematurely rotated in response to the tendency of the cord to unwind. Ball I4 and handle I6 of the board are then grasped in the hands of the user and the cord is suddenly drawn taut so as to lift the top retained between twisted strands of the cord I2 from it support, into the air. By tensioning cord I2, the top will be spun as the cord unwinds in order to increase the distance between the ball and the board in compliance with the tension exerted. It will be appreciated that the greater the tension brought upon cord I 2, the greater will be the speed with which the cord will unwind, and, correspondingly, the greater will be the speed of rotation imparted to the top. When the cord is fully unwound the top will continue to turn as a result of its momentum and will cause the opposed reache I3I3 of the cord to wind together in the opposite direction. By slightly relieving the tension as the cord is rewoun'd by the top, the latter will be permitted to spend its force in rewinding the 'cord with a minimum of resistance. As the top gradually comes to a stop, tension is again imparted to cord I2 to turn the top in the opposite direction. This process may be repeated as often as desired. It will be seen that the spin of the top can be quickly accelerated to the maximum speed permitted by the length of the cord and weight of the top employed.

The top may be released from cord I2 by re lieving tension just as the cord reaches an unwound condition and before it begins to Wind up in the opposite direction in response to the momentum of the top. It will be understood that with the cord taut, the opposite reaches I3I3 thereof will for an instant assume a substantially parallel relationship between the winding and unwinding operations during the rotation of the top in either direction. By relieving tension on the cord at this instant, the centrifugal force imparted thereto will cause the intermediate portions of cord I2 to be thrown outwardly through slots 9 and free of the top. It will be observed that by reason of the form of the top that only slight radial movement of the cords I3-I3 with respect to the top will be required to cause the cords to leave slots 9 in the cone portions 7 of the top, and that the flared outer ends II] of the slots in the annular flange 8 will facilitate disengagement of the cords from the top. If immediately prior to the relief of tension on cord I2, as just described, the ball I4 and board I5 are suddenly moved slightly to one side so as to cause top 5 to move laterally as the opposite strands of the cord are thrown from engagement in slots 9 of the top, its lateral momentum will carry the top,

free of the cord and enable it to be caught on board I5 as shown in Fig. 2. The top may thus be controlled while spinning and be caused to persign, shape and number of the various elements may be made; that the material of which cord I2 is composed and its length may be varied as will be obvious to those of skill in the art, to effect a corresponding variance in the incidents and the manner of performance of its function; that the shape of the member to which the upper end of the cord is attached as shown in the drawing is merely illustrative of any device which will enable the adjacent ends of the cord to be held in a predetermined position; that the depth of slots 9, the contour of top 5, and the spacing of the points of connection of the opposite reaches I3I3 of the cord to ball I4 and board I5 may all be changed to meet specific requirements; and that the outline of board I5 as well as its surface contour may be altered, all without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a toy of the character described, a top comprising a d sk having conical portions integral with opposite sides of the disk, said disk having a pair of oppositely disposed radial slots therein opening through the sides thereof, and means engageable in sa d slots for spinning the top.

2. In a toy of the character described, a top comprising a disk, a pair of conical portions having bases of lesser diameter than the disk, and integral with opposite sides of the latter, respectively, said disk and conical portions having registering radial slots in each of two opposite sides thereof, and means engageable in said slots for spinning the top.

3. In a toy of the character described, a top comprising a disk, a pair of conical portions having bases of lesser diameter than the disk and integral with opposite sides of the latter, respectively, said top having registering radial slots in opposite sides thereof, and means adapted for releasable engagement in said slots for spinning said top, said slots being flared at their outer ends to facilitate disengagement of said lastnamed means.

4. In a toy of the character described, a top comprising a circular body tapered to a point at opposite ends, said body having a pair of radial slots coinciding with a common diameter of the body and extending from lines adjacent to and parallel with the axis of the top and opening through the sides of the body, and a pair of cords engageable in respective slots for spinning the top.

5. In a toy of the character described, a top comprising a body having oppositely disposed radial slots therein, a pair of twisted cords releasably engageable in said slots for spinning the top, means connected to the ends of said cords to tension the latter, and a member to catch said top while spinning after release from said cords.

NORMAN JARAND STIVERS.