US3826497A - Magnetic spinner - Google Patents

Abstract

An amusement device comprising a track and a spinner to be moved along said track, said track consisting of two parallel steel wires which are formed into a loop at one end and which are provided with a handle at the other end, said spinner consisting of a plastic disc and a magnetized steel rod inserted and glued at a predrilled hole at the center of said disc; the rod is placed on the track such that its length extends across the track and the disc being positioned at one side of the track; the handle is then manipulated to cause the disc to rotate whereby the magnetized rod will rollingly cling to the track; movement of the disc too rapidly will cause the rod and disc to fall away from the track.

Description

O United States Patent 1191 3,826,497

Thomason July 30, 1974 MAGNETIC SPINNER I [76] Inventor: Thomas Thomason, 12522 Magoun M Pmkham St Cedar Lake Ind 46303 Assistant E.\un11nerTheatr1ce Brown [22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 330,734 [57] ABSTRACT An amusement device comprising a track and a spin- 5" 2 g3 ner to be moved along said track, said track consisting [58] d 96 126 R of two parallel steel wires which are formed into a 0 earc loop at one end and which are provided with a handle at the other end, said spinner consisting of a plastic [56] References cued disc and a magnetized steel rod inserted and glued at UNITED STATES PATENTS a predrilled hole at the center of said disc; the rod is 1,001853 l0/19l 1 Lewis 273/1 M placed on the track such that its length extends across l,l54,(l94 9/1915 CflSSill'd 2.73/109 UX the track and the disc being positioned at one ide of l Jr the track; the handle is then manipulated to cause the i disc to rotate whereby the magnetized rod will rolllrwm 273/l09 X ingly cling to the track; movement of the disc too rapg 10/1963 idly will cause the rod and disc to fall away from the 3.593999 7/!969 Kirk 273/109 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6 Claims 2 Drawing Figures 468.757 10/1950 Canada 273/109 MAGNETIC SPINNER BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relates in general to amusement devices and in particular to a spinner consisting of a plastic disc which is made to travel on a track consisting of two parallel wires.

2. Description of Prior Art There have been many amusement devices described in various patents but none of these is similar to or nearly approximate the present device. Furthermore, the known amusement devices are expensive to make and are complicated in construction.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a device,

which gives amusement and entertainment to children and adults alike. It is a further object of this invention to provide an amusement device which offers a challenge to the player, because if one goes too slow,'the disc will get stuck or, if one goes too fast, the disc will fall off.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, plastic disc 2 is made of an acrylic plastic that can be injection molded into the appropriate design form. The track consists of two parallel No. 9 steel wires 1. Handle 3 can be made of wood or suitable plastics which include low density polyethylene for a softer material or high density polystyrene for a rigid and durable handle.

The track or frame consists of two parallel wires which are formed into a loop at one end as shown and which are provided with a handle at the other end. The curved frame is welded at the point of juncture 4. Juneture 4 is located about 13 inches from the end of handle 3. Between the end of handle 3 and the main track at a point about 6 inches from the end of handle 3, the two parallel wires are curved as shown to conform to the dimensions .of the magnetized piece of steel rod, which serves as the axle for the spinner. Said spinner consists of a plastic disc 2 which is about 3% inches in diameter, and three-eighth inches thick with a magnetized piece of steel rod 5 inserted and glued at center point in a predrilled hole centered in said plastic disc. Said steel rod 5 is magnetized to the point that it will track" the parallel wire frame completely around and over on all surfaces so long as the operator keeps it moving at a regular rate of speed. The magnetic charge is imparted to said steel rod 5 by placing said steel rod 5 in contact with an industrial electromagnet.

The parallel wires 1 are about three-fourth inches apart at the handle and are curved as hereinbefore stated. After the curve 6 the two wires are again made parallel with the distance between them decreased to five-sixteenth inches to allow controlled rotation of the spinner in the track so formed. At about 18 inches from the end of handle 3, the two parallel wires 1 bend outward at about angle from the horizontal and are curved to form a loop as shown. The loop is formed in such a way as to allow the spinner axle 5 to move freely around to the opposite surface, while maintaining magnetic hold to prevent the spinner from falling off. The apex of said loop is about 4% inches from the base of the track.

The overall length of the track is about 18 inches. Handle 3 is about 6 inches long and is made by an insert of wood between the parallel wires and is bound into place by tape. Handle 3 can be made alternatively by injection molding and heat-sealing a suitable plastic as hereinbefore described around the two parallel wires. The ends of the angular frame are capped with plastic to protect the users furniture, clothings, etc.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 wherein the two parallel wires instead of being formed into a loop are bent at about 90 angle from the horizontal as shown and the two ends of the parallel wires are curved away from each other also as shown.

The device is operated as follows: The player places the circular disc with the steel rod which serves as the axle for the disc on the two parallel wire track. The player holds the handle and moves the disc along the surfaces of the track in different directions and at varying speeds by applying subtle hand and wrist movements to the handle of the track. Depending on the movements applied to the handle, the disc travels completely around and over all surfaces or said disc travels back and forth along the surfaces of the said wire frame or track.

A variety of designs and colors for the disc are within the scope of the present invention. The disc can be decorated by paint spots in pinwheel spiral fashion or by random spots of paints. The disc can be multicolored in red, white, blue and gold or it can come in single colors of red, white, blue or gold.

The wire frame or track can be chrome plated and the handle can be made of wood as an alternative embodiment of the present device.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A spinner amusement device comprising a pair of spaced apart parallelly extending members forming a track, an elongated handle member associated with one end of the track and fixedly connected thereto, the track projecting axially outwardly of one end of the handle member, the end of the track opposite the handle member being bent in a direction normal to the plane of the track to form a loop defining a plane normal to the plane of the track, the loop defined by the track end being doubled back onto itself with the terminal end of the track end being affixed to a medial region of the track, a spinner device comprising a substantially flat disc shaped body portion, an elongated magnetized steel rod having one end connected to a face surface of the disc with the opposite end extending axially outwardly therefrom normal to the plane of the disc, the length of the rod being greater than the outside width of the track, the rod adapted to be magnetically supported upon the track for rolling movement therealong in accordance with manual manipulations of the amusement device with the disc disposed outwardly of the track for rotation along the track in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the track along all points therealong whereby the magnetized rod will rollingly cling to the track and spin therealong upon manipulation of the amusement device such that the disc will roll along the complete length of the track when the amusement device is operated in a manner to move the disc at a regular rate of speed, movement of the disc too rapidly effecting the overcoming of the magnetic attraction between the rod and the track with the disc thus falling away from the track.

2. The amusement device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the members each comprise an elongated cylindrical steel wire, and wherein each wire is doubled back onto itself when forming the loop with the terminal end of each wire being affixed to a medial region of a 4 said wire.

3. The amusement device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the apex of the loop is spaced apart a distance of 4 /2 inches from the medial portion of the track.

4. The amusement device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the handle member is made of wood.

5. The amusement device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the handle member is made of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene and high density polystyrene.

6. The amusement device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the spinning disc member is multicolored in red, white, blue and gold by paint spots.

Claims (6)

1. A spinner amusement device comprising a pair of spaced apart parallelly extending members forming a track, an elongated handle member associated with one end of the track and fixedly connected thereto, the track projecting axially outwardly of one end of the handle member, the end of the track opposite the handle member being bent in a direction normal to the plane of the track to form a loop defining a plane normal to the plane of the track, the loop defined by the track end being doubled back onto itself with the terminal end of the track end being affixed to a medial region of the track, a spinner device comprising a substantially flat disc shaped body portion, an elongated magnetized steel rod having one end connected to a face surface of the disc with the opposite end extending axially outwardly therefrom normal to the plane of the disc, the length of the rod being greater than the outside width of the track, the rod adapted to be magnetically supported upon the track for rolling movement therealong in accordance with manual manipulations of the amusement device with the disc disposed outwardly of the track for rotation along the track in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the track along all points therealong whereby the magnetized rod will rollingly cling to the track and spin therealong upon manipulation of the amusement device such that the disc will roll along thE complete length of the track when the amusement device is operated in a manner to move the disc at a regular rate of speed, movement of the disc too rapidly effecting the overcoming of the magnetic attraction between the rod and the track with the disc thus falling away from the track.

2. The amusement device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the members each comprise an elongated cylindrical steel wire, and wherein each wire is doubled back onto itself when forming the loop with the terminal end of each wire being affixed to a medial region of said wire.

3. The amusement device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the apex of the loop is spaced apart a distance of 4 1/2 inches from the medial portion of the track.

4. The amusement device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the handle member is made of wood.

5. The amusement device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the handle member is made of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene and high density polystyrene.

6. The amusement device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the spinning disc member is multicolored in red, white, blue and gold by paint spots.

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