US3876205A

US3876205A - Spinning top including nestable caps

Info

Publication number: US3876205A
Application number: US400936A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter Drohomirecky
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-09-26
Filing date: 1973-09-26
Publication date: 1975-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 1992-04-08
Also published as: CA977147A

Abstract

A top-like toy having a crown and a base upon one of which the toy can be spun on a surface. There is a finned stabilizer on the toy near its waist portion which also spaces the toy from the surface to enable caps placed on either the crown or the base to be thrown from the toy as it loses momentum during spinning. Caps may be placed, dropped, or thrown on the top of the toy when it is spinning.

Description

United States Patent Drohomirecky 1 Apr. 8, 1975 1 SPINNING TOP INCLUDING NESTABLE 2.799.120 7/1957 Pitton 46/85 CAPS 2.839.869 6/1958 Lopez 46/65 2.879.066 3/1959 Suther1and.... 46/65 [76] Inventor: Walter Drohomirecky, 164 5th 3.323.491 6/1967 Grzmick 46/64 Rankin. Pa. 15104 3.700.240 10/1972 San Emeteri0.... 273/95 R [22] Ffled: Sept 1973 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham [21] Appl. No.: 400,936 Assistant E.\'aminerMarvin Siskind Artur/rev. Agent, or Firm-Webb. Burden, Robinson & 52 11.5. C1 273/95 R; 273/105.2; 461/615; Webb 124/4 51 Int. Cl A63b 71/02 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field 61 Search 273/95 R. 102 R, 105.2; A PP' y havmg a r wn and a base upon one Of 46/64, 65 85 which the toy can be spun on a surface. There is a finned stablhzer on the toy near Its warst portlon [56] References Cited which also spaces ttilie toy from the surface to enable UNITED STATES PATENTS caps p1aced on em er the crown or the base to be thrown from the toy as It loses momentum durmg 1.167.507 1/1916 L1oy d 46/85 Spinning Caps may be placed, dropped' or thrown on 1.264.733 4/1918 W11l1ams 46/85 the to of the to when it is S innin 2.142.299 1/1939 Begood 46 64 p y p 2.700.246 I/1955 Ostberg 46/64 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SPINNING TOP INCLUDING NESTABLE CAPS This invention relates to an amusement device and more particularly to a toywhich is useful in playing a number of games. The device comprises a toplike element having a crown and a base by which theeleinent may be spun by a persons fingers so that it rotates on a surface. There are also a plurality of cup-like caps as sociated with the device which correspond in shape to either or both of the crown or the base of the top-like element. All of the parts of the game can be made of plastic, such as polyethylene or polystyrene. The parts may be made of different colors and different shapes as more particularly set forthhereinafter. I

Top-like toys, sometimes called spinners or merely tops," usually comprise a solid or hollow element having at least .one rounded end on which the toy is adapted to-pbe rotated or spun on a flat surface. Some tops are spun using only the fingers; others employ strings andthe like to impart the rotating motion to the tops. A top sometimes has a shaft which is used by a person to spin it.

Our toy has a top-like element having two ends, the crown and the base, upon which the toy can be spun on a surface. It also has means, such as fins, located in the waist portion of the element formed by the crown and the base to stabilize the top to prolong the time of a spin. It may be used in connection with a plurality of cup-like caps which fit over one or both ends of the toy and which may be placed, dropped or thrown onto one end of the element while it is spinning. A variety of games, based on skill and chance, can be played with our toy.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the appended drawings forming a part hereof in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a toy according to a preferred embodiment of the invention showing a cap about to be placed on the top-like element;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the top-like element of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, our toy comprises a generally hollow top-like element 1 having a crown 2 and a base 3. The crown includes, preferably, a flat circular portion 4 on its end. Approximately midway between the ends of the element, along the waist portion 5 thereof, is a means for stabilizing the element while it is spinning. The preferred stabilizing means comprise the fins 6 which, as shown, are outwardly extending projections spaced from one another around the waist portion 5 of the element. The stabilizing means also serves to space the element from a surface 7 when the spinning period is over and the element loses its momentum and falls onto the surface.

any ballast used is not essential so long as it does notinterfere with spinning the element. We have found that it is possible to make a satisfactory element merely by using a heavier plastic material for the base from that used to make the crown without adding any ballast. 4'

As may be appreciated from the drawings, there are.

element ,in playing various games. A preferred cap,

shown, in FIG. 1, comprises a cup-like element having an open end 9, sidewall 10 and a closed bottom 11. The shape ofthe cap may correspond generally to either the crown or the base of the element. Preferably fit is adapted to nest with either the crown orjthe basejand itself be nested with other caps of the sameshape. At the least, the cap should fiton both the crownand the base so that it may be placed there while theelement is in motion, i.e., spinning.

The function of the caps is best understood from a description of one game which may be played by two players using our toy. To play the game, it is necessary to have a top-like element and four caps, which may be of different colors, such as two red and two blue. The players decide which end of the element to spin on the surface, for example, the base. The object of the game is to score as many points as possible. Points are scored by a player whose caps end up after a spin with their open sides 9 against the surface, or stated otherwise with their bottoms 11 up. In turn, a player spins the element 1, and then while the element is spinning on the base, each attempts to place or throw as many of his or her caps as he or she can onto the crown. It will usually be difficult to place all four of the caps on the crown before the element stops rotating. As the element loses momentum, it will, as usual, tend to fall toward the surface while still spinning and will tend to circle a point near the end of the base. Due to the centrifugal force applied to any caps which were placed on the crown, the caps will tend to be thrown off. The separation of the caps from the crown is facilitated by the stabilizing means or fins 6 which space the waist 5 of the element from the surface permitting the caps to be jettisoned from the crown. When the base is'properly weighted, after a good spin the caps will be thrown a considerable distance. Some of the caps will end up on their sides; few of them, if any, will stop moving on their open ends. Since points are scored only by players whose cups finish on their open ends, it will usually take a considerable number of spins to score sufficient points to win a game.

The foregoing is but one example of a game played with our toy. As many others as occur to the players may be played or improvised. More than two players can compete and spin for fun.

The caps may be made in many colors; they may be thrown onto either the crown or the base. In the embodiment described, the caps are shaped like the crown so they nest better on it. However, for additional difficulty, the caps may be thrown on the base upon which they can be held during rotation of the element. Of course, when rotation stops, they will be thrown or fall to the surface.

The shape of the element is not limited to the particular shape shown and described herein, nor is the stabilizing means to be limited to fins. The toy is equally satisfactory as an amusement device where the stabilizing means comprise merely an extending continuous projection or collar located near the waist portion of the element, or where there is more than one such collar spaced near the waist. The important point is that the stabilizing means serve as a form of fulcrum for the element enabling one end of the element to be spaced from a surface as the spinning ceases to permit caps or the like to be separated from the crown or base.

Having disclosed preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an amusement device comprising:

A. a top like toy comprising a hollow element having a crown and a base forming a waist portion near the junction of the crown and the base, said element adapted for upright rotation on the crown and the base;

B. means outwardly projecting from the waist portion for stabilizing the element during rotation and for spacing the waist portion of the element from a surface after upright rotation of the element upon the surface has ceased; and

C. a plurality of caps, each of which is nestable with the crown and the base and with each other.

2. A toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stabilizing and spacing means comprise a plurality of fins spaced from one another around the waist portion of the element.

3. A toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein the crown comprises a cup-like member having a flat portion on its end upon which to spin the toy on a flat surface.

4. A toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein the element includes ballast of a particulate material, loosely carried in the hollow portion for determining the center 'of gravity of the element.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the caps are of different colors.

Claims

1. In combination, an amusement device comprising: A. a top like toy comprising a hollow element having a crown and a base forming a waist portion near the junction of the crown and the base, said element adapted for upright rotation on the crown and the base; B. means outwardly projecting from the waist portion for stabilizing the element during rotation and for spacing the waist portion of the element from a surface after upright rotation of the element upon the surface has ceased; and C. a plurality of caps, each of which is nestable with the crown and the base and with each other.

4. A toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein the element includes ballast of a particulate material, loosely carried in the hollow portion for determining the center of gravity of the element.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the caps are of different colors.