US2639546A - Spinning top with bead chain swivel - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1953 G. D. SHOCKEY SPINNING TOP WITH BEAD CHAIN SWIVEL Filed May 17, 1949 INVENTOR. GLEN DEE SHocKEY A T TOR/Vi ya Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPINNING TOP WITH BEAD CHAIN SWIVEL Glen Dee Shockey, Santa Fe County, N. Mex. Application May 17, 1949, Serial No. 93,725

8 Claims. (01. 46-456) This invention relates to spinning tops, and more particularly to tops set in motion by a cord that encircles the body of the top.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a top that can be spun at higher speeds than prior tops and without wear on the cord used in spinning it.

Another object resides in the provision of improved low-cost means for permitting a top to be spun by different spinning methods. Still another object is to provide an improved top of the type which is thrown in order to start its spinning motion. Other objects and advantages will appear as this description proceeds.

One form of my top employs a bead chain which is arranged so that it can extend above the top and along the axis thereof. The lower end of the bead chain connects to the body of the top and the upper end is detachably connected to one end of the driving cord. The bead chain acts as a swivel and enables the top to rotate after it has been spun, without rotation of the cord. Said bead chain passes through a vertical cylindrical opening at the upper end of the top, a portion of the chain extending above the top when the chain i in use. The arrangement is such that the chain may be retracted from its position where part thereof extends above the body of the top. That arrangement in one form includes a hollow tube with music-producing holes therein, the tube extending inside the hollow top body and along the axis of the top. The inside diameter of the tube is sufiiciently small that when the bead chain is retracted into the music tube, the chain remains aligned in a vertical position so that if the top is inverted the upper end of the bead-chain will again emerge from the upper end of the body of the top.

Therefore in said oneform of the invention, when it is desired to spin the top without using the bead chain the top is merely held in an upright position and the bead chain drops into the music tube. On the other hand, in event it is desired to spin the top by throwing it, the top is inverted and part of the bead chain emerges from the opening in the top and the cord may be attached to the chain. The complete description which follows sets forth further details on this and the other forms of this invention.

Furthermore the following description explains in detail how my combination of parts, including a bead chain with '7 or 8 beads, enables the top to be spun at very high speeds compared with prior art tops, and with practically no wear on the driving cord.

In the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a front view of one form of the invention, the top being arranged to be spun by throwing it.

Figure 2 is a front view of the same top shown in Figure 1 but when it is arranged to be spun while the pivot of the top is on a flat surface. Figure 2a is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2 taken along line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view showing the pivot element about which the top spins.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of another form of the invention, with the lower pivot removed.

Figure 5 is a side view of the top shown in Figure 4, the top being arranged to be spun by throwing it.

Figure 6 is a side view of the top shown in Figure 5, the top being arranged to be spun while the pivot of the top is on a fiat surface.

Figure '1 is a crosssectional exploded view of still another form of the invention, the top being arranged to be spun by throwing it.

Figure 8 is a side view of the top of Figure '7 in which the top is arranged to be spun while its pivot is located on a flat surface.

Figure 9 is a side view of a plug that may be inserted in the openings at the upper ends of the tops to prevent dirt from entering.

Figure 10 is a detailed cross-section view of a bead-chain and clip suitable for use in connection with the invention.

Reference is made to my prior abandoned application Serial No. 537,687, filed May 27, 1944, entitled Spinning Top which shows a device involving some of the principles disclosed and claimed herein.

Referring in detail to Figures 1 to 3, the top comprises a solid Wood body [2, having a metal pivot l3 at the base thereof. A vertical cylindrical hole l4 extends into the body of the top for approximately one-fourth inch and finally opens through the side wall of the top at l5. A bead chain mo, hereinafter fully described, may he slipped into and removed from hole l4 through opening l5, the bead-chain Hi0 having large ball I6 at one end thereof to hold the bead chain in position. Ball 86 is smaller than opening 55 but larger in diameter than hole Hi.

When the bead chain Hill is in the position of Figure 1, the cord 0 may be attached thereto through the medium of resilient clip Iii! which is permanently fastened to the cord C, and which may be detachably connected to the bead-chain I00 in the Well known manner.

When it is desired to start the spinning motion of the top while the latter is on a flat surface such as floor F, the clip I0! is removed from bead-chain I00 and cord C wound around the base of the top as shown in Figure 2. The bead chain Hill is removed from the top through opening I5.

When it is desired to spin the top of Figure 1 by throwing it, bead chain I00 is fed through opening 15 and hole Hi and then connected to cord C by clip 10!. The cord is then wound around the base of the top as shown in Figure 1.

With the top wound as shown, the operator may throw the top while the outer end of the cord C is held in fixed position by the button or finger piece P. The top will thereupon spin rapidly in the air. If desired, the operator while holding the top in the air as it is spinning, may allow pivot l3 to engage the floor in which event the top will spin in the ordinary manner.

The bead-chain is fully illustrated in Figure l0 and employs a plurality of hollowsphenieal balls I64 connected together by short rods [03. The rods enter holes in the balls I 02 and the portions I of the rods in the balls are somewhat enlarged. Hence, the bead chain It!) is quite flexible and has a plurality of swivels along the length thereof.

I am familiar with certain tops of the prior art employing swivels at the upper end of the top in order to permit the top to spin without twisting the .cord. However, these prior art devicesdo notemploy bead-chains, and as will soon appear a top with a bead chain is a vast imp ov me ove on sing m r l an or ina y swivel.

With the bead-chain 100, several beads extend above the upper .end of the top and since such a chain is quite flexible the outer bead takes up an axis in whatever direction the cord C leaves the outer bead. During spinning of the top, after it has been placed on the floor, the cord C is not always held in a perfectly vertical position, but due to the bead chain the upper few beads of the bead chain will align themselves with the cord C whatever its alignment may be. As a result the top will still spin without any twisting of the cordC even if a large amount of slack is allowed to exist in the eordC. Even more important, during the actof throwing the top in order to start its spinning motion, the cord C does not take a position in alignment with the axis of the top for a Substantial time after .the top is rapidly rota-ting. The flexible bead chain enables the top to be thrown and thereby spun, without any twisting of the cord C, and with much greater emciency than can prior art tops. These results are due to the fact that bead chain Hill is not only flexible but has a plurality of swivels along the length thereof.

When a bead chain is employed and the top spun by throwing it, the .top after it starts rotating can be placed on the floor in a shorter time than can prior art tops and with less loss of the kinetic energy available to keep the top in motion.

When the number of effective beads of the chain i seven or eight (over-all length l to l.25 inches) the top will spin much longer than if th number of beads used is only two or three. The great advantage of the invention is therefore apparent when it is realized that the prior art swivels are no more than the equal of a single swivel of my bead chain. A long bead chain also reduces the wear on cord C.

The top shown in Figures 4 to 6 includes the bead chain Hill connected by .clip [0| to cord C. The ball 16 at the lower end of the chain engages the lower end of helical spring 48, the upper end of which spring is restrained from upward.- motion by shoulder 4 I. Otherwise the top-ofFigure 4 is similar to that of Figure 1. The top of Figure 4 when arranged as in Figure 5 may be used the same as described in connection with Fi ur Land the top of Fi ure 4 he ar an d asin Figure 6 may be used thesameasdescribed in connectionwithil li f re After the top of Figure 5 has been spun, the cord may be jerked vertically while the top is spinning in the air. The coil spring 4|, under these circumstances, will give the top an .unusual bouncing motion.

When the top is used as contemplated in Figure 6, the coil spring 4! will partially retract the head-chain .1110 into the body of the top and from that position the chain ID!) will fall due to gravity GQmpletel-y into the body of the top where it will in no wise interfere with the operation of the top. *If and when it is desired to restore the top to the condition of Figure 5 it is merely necessary to invert the top and gravity will pull a short portion of the bead chain I00 from the body of the top. Clip ml may then be attached to the bead chain I09 and the top is then ready for the usecontemplated in connection with Figure 5.

In Figure 7a musical top hasa two piece plastic outer shell T0.-ll having an inner cork insert l2 rigidly fixed to the inner wall of shell 10. An inner perforated music tube 73 surrounds the vertical axis of the top. The upper shell '52 also has perforations of which '14 is an example. When the top of Figure 7 is assembled the upper end of tube 13 approaches the lower surface 18 of the shell II. The bead chain Hi3 extends through hole l] and is prevented from being pulled out of the hole due to the tension in cord C by ball 16. The u per and lower shells may, if desired, be permanently fastened together.

The top of Figure 7 may be used in the mannerdescribed in connection with the top of Figure 1, but in addition music is produced by holes in tube 13 and by holes 14. Air flows to the inside of tube 13 through opening 71 and therefore if the operator after he has the top spinning on the floor should raise or lower the cord 0 which in turn raises or lowers ball I6 he can to some degree control the music produced by tube 13.

When the operator desires to use the top as in Figure 8 he merely removes clip [0| and allows beadechain [0,0 to fall by gravity into the music tube 13. The bead-chain I00 is then inert and does not interfere with the spinning of the top in the conventional fashion.

Should the operator desire to restore the top to the form of Figure 7 he merely inverts it, thus allowing bead chain to emerge from hole 11. The clip i0] is then attached.

In all forms of the invention the vertical hole through which the bead chain N10 extends is smallenough so that the chain will not kink in the hole. The importance of this can best be seen in Figure 7. When the chain I08 is not in use so it is residing inert in the music tube 13 it is desirable that the beads of the chain rest verticallyabove each other so that upon inverting the top the chain I09 will smartly emerge from hole 11. Therefore it is necessary that the vertical opening 11 in the upper shell and the vertical opening in tube 13 be so small in diameter that the bead chain will stand substantially along the vertical axis of the top when the top is upright and chain J00 disconnected from clip lOl.

Dueto the fact that the vertical holes iILall forms of the invention are so small that the chain will notfkink therein, the bead-chain will not kink in the hole in the event that during operation of the top there is substantial slack l we n cord C b t p rat .In Figur here i sh wn a plus H I, wh ch may cover the vertical hole at the upper end of th several o tons when the a e n in use the plug J not in us and wh n the tops are spun according to the showings of Figures 2, 6 and 8, a rod or other similar device may be inserted vertically in the hole to act as an upper pivot.

It is obvious from the foregoing that my improved tophas many advantages over tops employing simple swivels at the upper ends thereof.

I claim to have invented:

1. A musical top comprising a hollow body portion symmetrical about the axis thereof, said body portion having openings in the wall thereof, a pivot extending outwardly from a first end of the body portion and coaxial therewith, a cylindrical music tube located within said body portion and coaxial therewith, said music tube extending from said first end of said body portion to a position close to the inner wall of the body portion which is opposite said first end, said tube having a plurality of openings in the side wall thereof, said body portion defining an axial opening in the Wall opposite said first end, said axial opening being of smaller cross-section than the inside diameter of said tube, a bead-chain of shorter length than said tube and including a ball located in said tube, the said ball being of larger dimension in a plane perpendicular to said axis than is said axial opening, said bead chain including a series of links extending through said axial opening, said series also including a plurality of links located outside or" said body portion, each link of the series including a flexible swivel connection to the next link, the outer bead of the chain being attachable to the end of driving cord, said tube and said axial opening being of such small dimensions in a plane perpendicular to said axis that the bead chain can not kink therein, and of dimensions larger than the dimensions of the beads of the chain so that when the body portion is in upright position and with the driving cord unattached the bead chain will fall into the music tube standing upright and when the body portion is inverted that the outer end of the bead chain will emerge from the axial opening.

2. A top comprising a body portion symmetrical about the axis thereof, a pivot extending away from said portion along said axis, said body portion defining an elongated axial opening extending a limited distance into said body portion from that end thereof opposite said pivot, a bead chain comprising a plurality of beads each connected to the next one by a flexible swivel connection, said chain extending through said axial opening and out the open end thereof, means for limiting the outward motion of the bead chain to prevent the chain from completely leaving said opening, said opening having a larger diameter than said beads to thereby per- Im't the bead chain to move along the axis of the opening in response to the pull of gravity, said opening having a sufiiciently small diameter that said beads will not kink therein, and a driving cord detachably connected to the outermost bead of the chain.

3. The top defined in claim 2 in which said head chain has shorter length than said axial opening whereby when the cord is disconnected the bead chain may be completely retracted into said opening.

4. A top comprising a body portion symmetrical about an axis thereof; a pivot at one end of the top and in alignment with said axis; a bead chain comprising a series of at least three beads; the body portion defining a hole of larger diameter than the beads of said chain the upper end of which hole is coaxial with said body portion; said bead chain extending into said hole and having one end of the bead chain movable to a position outside the upper end of the hole; means to limit the outward motion of the bead chain comprising a part larger than the hole and connected to the other end of the chain; said bead chain being composed of holloi beads each head having two holes therein, and rigid rods connecting adjacent beads together, each rod extending into holes in the beads it connects together and each rod having each end thereof within a bead enlarged to thus prevent the rod from leaving the bead; and a cord dctachably connected to the bead at the upper end of the chain, the bead chain being short as compared to the length of the cord.

5. A top which may be spun either with or without the driving cord attached to it while it is spinning comprising a body portion symmetrical about the axis thereof and including a pivot extending away from one end of the body portion, said body portion including an elongated cylindrical opening extending coaxial with the body portion, an elongated bead chain having beads of smaller diameter than said opening, said bead chain being of shorter length than said opening so that the bead chain may be retained wholly within said opening While the top is operated without the use of said bead chain, said bead chain including means for retaining at least a part of the bead chain in said opening when the top is inverted, said bead chain being or" such length that a portion thereof will emerge from the opening when the top is inverted, and a driving cord including means at one end thereof to connect and disconnect that end to the portion of the bead chain that emerges from said opening.

8. The top of claim 5 in which the opening is of sufiiciently small diameter that the bead chain will not kink therein.

'7. A top as defined in claim 4 in which said hole extends axially downward from the upper end of the body portion and then curves and extends through the side wall of said body portion, the bead chain being longer than said hole.

8. A top as defined in claim 4 in which said hole extends along the axis of said body portion, the cross-section of said hole abruptly increasing at a predetermined distance below the upper end of the body portion thus forming a shoulder, the first-named means including a helical spring of a diameter larger than the upper part of the hole and smaller than the portion of the hole below the shoulder, said part being larger than the inside diameter of the helical spring and located below the same, the bead chain extending along the axis of the body portion from said part to a position outside the entrance to the hole at the upper end of the body portion.

GLEN DEE SHOCKEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 55,666 Jones et a1 June 19, 1866 226,958 Barry Apr. 27, 1880 310,574 Fry Jan. 13, 1885 425,368 Cole Apr. 8, 1890 455,104 Jimeneze June 80, 1891 541,802 Barus June 25, 1895 1,278,208 Pruitt Sept. 10, 1918 1,966,895 Kuhns July 17, 1934 2,535,157 Radovan Dec. 26, 1950

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