US858415A - Spinning-top. - Google Patents

Description

No. 858,415. PATBNTED JULY 2. 1907.

, H. DB 1.. RAPSON.

SPINNING'TOP. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2'], 1907.

. WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOBART DE LANOEY RAPSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPINNING-TOP.

Application filed To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOBART DE LANCEY RAPSON, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Spinning- Tops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to spinning tops and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction of top which will permit automatic mechanical connecting of two tops, one upon the other, when the one thrown in the act of spinning strikes. the middle of the other top which is spinning upon the ground.

Myinvention consists in a top furnished with. a clutch having movable parts arranged in the upper part of the body and adapted to grip the point of another top should it strike the clutching device.

My invention also consists in the top structure above specified when further provided with a cover plate having a central guiding aperture and arranged on the body of the top immediately above the clutch device.

My invention also comprehends details of construction which, together with the features above specified, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a top embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a plan view of my improved top with the cover plate removed; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cover plate; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the clutch device.

A is the body of the top and may be made of wood in the usual manner.

B is the iron point and is formed with a neck b immediately above the largest portion. The upper part of the body is bored out, as at C, to a considerable depth and the extreme upper part is enlarged by a further boring as at D torminga shouldered portion E. Arranged within the deep apertures G is the clutch F, and above this is the cover plate G, the perimeter of which is forced into contact with the shoulder E of the en larged recessed portion. The central part of this cover plate G is provided with an aperture H, and the boundary of this aperture is somewhat depressed as at I to form a tapering guide entrance. The clutch is shown in Fig. 4 and consists of a U-shaped piece of stamped steel F having the upper ends of its arms bent inward toward each other as at J J and the edges notched to form a slight opening K between them. The width across the jaws .I I is somewhat less than the total width at the bottom so that they may be forced apart without coming in'contact with the cover plate or upper portion of the recess C. The aperture K of the clutch F is located immediately below the center aperture of the cover plate G sothat the point B of a second top entering through the cover plate will center in the aperture Specification of Letters Patent.

March 27,1907. $erial No. 364,877.

Patented July 2, 1907.

K and force the two jaws apart. The cover plate G will limit the entering of the point of the top, and as these jaws .I J snap into the collar b of the point of the second top, they effectually lock the two tops together but not with such force as to prevent them being disconnected when desired.

The cover plate G is preferably crowned, which not only imparts finish, but also adds to the strength and locates the aperture H immediately at the top of the top.

Moreover, the crowning insures the cover plate making a tighter fit upon the body of the top, and also under the action of blows upon it tends to make its perimeter spread and lock more firmly upon the body.

The base of the clutch F is substantially square as indicated in Fig. 2, whereby the corners of this base exactly fit the walls of the recess 0 and in this manner cen ter the clutch beneath the cover plate.

The essential feature of my invention is the providing I of a top with relatively movable clutch jaws which are adapte to unite two tops when one strikes the other and is moving in the direction of the axis of the spinning top; and while I have shown what I deem to be the most satisfactory and economical way of constructing the device, it is evident that the details may be modified without departing from the spirit oi the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a top having a solid body provided at its upper part with a clutch device comprising movable jaws for making locking engagement with the point of a second top which may strike it.

2. As an article of manufacture, a top having a solid body provided at its upper part with a clutch device comprising movable jaws for making locking engagement withthe point of a second top which may strike it, combined with a cover plate fitted to the upper part of the top above the clutch device and having a central guiding aperture.

3. A top having its upper part formed with a deep recess and the upper shouldered portion, combined with a clutch, having" movable spring jaws arranged within the deep recess, and a cover plate fitting the shouldered portion and extending over the clutch and provided with a central aperture.

4. A top having its upper part formed with a deep recess and the upper shouldered portion, combined with a spring clutch having relatively movable jaws arranged within the deep recess, and a cover plate fitting the shouldered portion and extending over the clutch and provided with a central aperturemade with tapering Walls to form a conical entrance over the clutch.

5. A top having its upper part formed with a deep recess and the upper shouldered portion, combined with a spring clutch having relatively movable jaws arranged within the deep recess, and a crowned cover plate fitting the shouldered portion and extending over the clutch and provided with a central aperture.

0. A top having its body part formed with a recess on its upper part, combined with a U-shaped clutch formed of sheet metal fitting the said recess so as to remain central thereof and having its upper edges inwardly directed and forming a clutching aperture between them, and means to retain the spring clutch within the recess of the top body.

7. A top having its body part formed with a recess on its upper part, combined with a U-shaped clutch formed of sheet metal fitting the said recess so as to remain central thereof and having its upper edges inwardly directed and forming a clutching aperture between them, and means to retain the spring clutch within the recess of the top body consisting of a metallic plate having a central aperture and secured to the body of the top over the recess and clutch.

8. An an article of manufacture, a top having a solid body provided at its upper portion with a movable spring jaw for holding the point of a second top which may strike it.

In testimony of which invention, 1 have hereunto set my hand.

I-I. DE LANCEY RAlSON.

Witnesses R. M. KELLY, M. F. Dmsconn.

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