WO2016109934A1

WO2016109934A1 - Spin top spiraling game

Info

Publication number: WO2016109934A1
Application number: PCT/CN2015/070176
Authority: WO
Inventors: Taketoshi MAEDA; Michitoshi Sugimoto
Original assignee: Play Future Limited
Priority date: 2015-01-06
Filing date: 2015-01-06
Publication date: 2016-07-14

Abstract

A game for spinning tops (1) played on a stage (2) of largely flat surface with several open holes (3), with the aim to have the tops (1) settling into the holes (3) with high scores. The tops (1)have geometrically defined bottom shapes that when span and launched onto the stage (2), the tops (1) can spiral in and out of the holes (3) indefinitely, making random trajectories (18) before settling into one of the holes (3).

Description

Spin top spiraling game

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1.Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to amusement devices and, more specifically, to top spinning toys and games played therewith.

2.Description of the Related Art

Spinning tops has been generally known and played as toys. A common game played with spinning toys on a stage is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication (Jik-kai) SHO No. 47-25679. The stage is a largely flat or slightly curved surface. The aim of the game is to keep the spin tops spinning the longest time with or without repeated collision with other tops. Various designs of the tops are proposed so that its rotating characteristics can be changed (for example, US Patent 6746300B B1) , or controlled by launching methods (for example, US Patent 4982961, US Patent 7427225 B2) . There is no game that plays with the aim of having the tops stopping in a particular position on the stage, or dropping into a particular hole on the stage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made with the object to provide a game method for spinning tops, with the aim of having the tops coming to a stop in designated location, which can be a hole or a depression on a largely flat or slightly curved surface. The aim of the game will not be the duration of spinning, which in existing spinning tops game has made the launch with the biggest force a definitely advantage, making the game sometimes one-sided.

Another object of this invention is to produce complex and unpredictable movement of the tops throughout the duration of the game. In the process of arriving at the designated locations, the spin tops with different geometrically defined bottom shapes described hereafter will exhibit random spiraling trajectories around holes or depressions, with possibility of spiraling into, or out of the holes or depressions. Together with collisions with other tops, the movement of the tops is vigorous and unpredictable, making it more appealing to players and viewers of the game throughout the process.

Another object of this invention is to provide a game in which the player must strategically balance the factors such as choosing the right tops with desired shape, controlling the force and the direction of the launching, together with consideration of the positions of holes and depressions on the stage, etc. in order to win the game by having the tops stopping in holes or depressions with desired scores. The launched forces should be precisely controlled instead of just maximization.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game is comprised of a stage, one or more spin tops, and launchers by which the spin tops are spun and launched onto the stage. The stage is flat or slightly curved towards the center like a crater. There are holes or depressions arranged on the stage. Each of these holes and depressions is assigned a score. When the player has the spin tops stopped in a hole or depression, he get the score as marked there. When several tops are launched together, the crater shape of the stage allows the tops to collide with each other, therefore increase the amusement value of the game. The spin toys have special bottom shapes as described hereafter. The launchers can be spring loaded with lock hooks, which allows the spin tops to be spun and launched with desired spin speed and location.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game is comprised of a stage, one or more spin tops, and launchers with geared belt instead of springs.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, several stages can be stacked together to form a multi-layer stage. Holes are opened on the stages so that the spin tops can drop into the holes, fall to lower stage and continue the game in lower stages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the game set according to the present invention.

FIG. 1b is a cross-sectional view of the stage of the game set shown in FIG. 1a.

FIG. 1c is a perspective view of an alternative launcher for the game set shown in FIG. 1a.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the game set with multi-layer stages.

FIG. 3a is a top view of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention which illustrates an example of a desired trajectory for a spin top.

FIG. 3b is a top view of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention which illustrates an alternative example of desired trajectories of a spin tops.

FIG. 3c is a cross-sectional view of the stage for the game set according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, along the dotted line in FIG. 3a.

FIG. 3d is a cross-sectional view of another stage for the game set according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, along the dotted line in FIG. 3a.

FIG. 3e is a cross-sectional view of yet another stage for the game set according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, along the dotted line in FIG. 3a.

FIG. 3f is a perspective view of a spin top spiraling around a hole of the stage of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3g is a cross-sectional view of the spin top and the hole shown in FIG. 3f.

FIG. 4a illustrates a cross-sectional view of a spin top of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4b illustrates a cross-sectional view of another spin top of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4c illustrates a cross-sectional view of yet another spin top of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4d illustrates a top perspective view of a spin top of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4e illustrates a cross-sectional view of a spin top and a depression of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5a illustrates a perspective view of a spin top of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the spin top shown in FIG. 5a.

FIG. 5c illustrates a cross-sectional view a spin top and a depression of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 6a illustrates a cross-sectional view of a depression of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 6b illustrates a cross-sectional view of a hole of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7a illustrates a top perspective view of a spin top of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7b illustrates a cross-sectional view of another spin top of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7c illustrates a cross-sectional view of yet another spin top of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7d illustrates a cross-sectional view of yet another spin top of the game set according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGs. 1a-1c illustrate one embodiment of the present invention. The spin top 1 is launched by means of a launcher onto the stage 2 which has one or more through holes 3 opened onto it, as illustrated by the cross-sectional view 8 of the stage 2. One or several circular depressions 4 can also be opened onto stage 2, which is a hole with bottom, as illustrated in cross-sectional view 8. The launcher can be geared type 5 driven by a pullback gear belt 6, or one with built-in springs 7 as shown in FIG. 1c.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. A stage 2 can be stacked by means of supporting pillars 11 onto another stage 9, building a 2-layer stage. The spin tops can be played on this 2-layer stage. Another stage 10 can be stacked to make 3-layer stage. There is no limit to the number of layers in the stage. Spin tops are launched from the top layer 2. If the spin tops goes to hole 3 it descends into the below layer 9. Again in this stage the spin tops can descend through hole 3 again into layer 10 as the game continues.

The spin top is launched to the stage as illustrated in FIG. 3a. It is preferably launched from designated position 12, although it is not necessary. The shape of the stage can be flat as showed in cross section 14 in FIG. 3c, or slightly concave like a crater, as illustrated in cross section 15 in FIG. 3d which makes it more likely for tops to run to the center of the stage, making collision or settling into holes near the stage center. The stage can also have irregular cross section as illustrated in cross section 16 in FIG. 3e. The holes or depressions with high score can be placed strategically relative to the cross sections to make high scores holes or depressions difficult to be reached.

By a combination of the spinning movement of the top 1, the shape of the designated launch position 12, and the launching force and position as decided by the player, the top travels across the stage in various trajectories. One example is trajectory 18. The spin top 1 approaches hole 3. By means of the friction between the top and the hole edge around location 17 (see FIGs. 3f and 3g) , the spin top spirals around the hole edge as illustrated in trajectory 18. It can spiral around the hole edge for one round as illustrated in FIG. 3a, but it can also spiral around hole 3 several rounds. If the spinning of the tops is weak, it slows down and stops in this hole. But if spinning force is sufficient, the top 1 leaves the edge again onto another path on the stage. It can reach another depression 4 and if the centrifugal force is weaken sufficiently, it stops and settles into depression 4. In some cases the spin tops can spiral around several holes and depressions before settling into one hole or depression.

In another scenario multiple spin top 1 and top 13 are launched onto stage 2, as illustrated in FIG. 3b. In this scenario, Top 1 and Top 13 may rotate in anti-clockwise and clockwise direction respectively.

Top

1 and 13 may have

trajectories

19 and 20 respectively. After hitting each other, the tops bounce to opposition direction. In the scenario illustrated, spin top 13 may also hit the wall and then spiral into depression 4. Again the spiraling around holes and depressions make the trajectories unique and different from hitherto spin top game.

The examples described above are only 2 possible trajectories but there is no limitation to the trajectories of the tops. And by means of the spiraling action around holes and collisions, the trajectories changes swiftly and unpredictably. This generates enthusiasm of the players as well as the viewers during the game. Furthermore this spiraling action makes the result of the game difficult to predict.

2 features of the tops spiral movement around the edge of the holes are important. It should spiral around the edge many times if the tops are spun sufficiently. And after the spiral action around the edge, it could either settle and stop into the holes, or leave the holes and go back to the stage.

FIGs. 4a-4e illustrate one design of the spin top 1 that can achieve this spiraling action. The bottom of the top 21 is a circular cone. This cone is defined by parameter 24, which is the tip angle of the cone. It should be in the range of 90 degrees to 166 degrees. Within this range the spin top enters holes or depressions with a spiraling action, with both the possibility of spiraling out or in. The optimal angle is 132 degree. Another parameter is the length of cone surface 25, which should be at least 3 times of the R at curvature at hole edge 17. Another parameter is height of the top tip 26. It should be less than the depth D of the hole 4. The diameter of the top tip 26 does not affect the spiral action if it is smaller than half of hole 4 radius.

FIGs. 5a-5c illustrates another design of the spin top 1 that can achieve the spiraling action. The bottom of top 27 is part of a regular sphere. The cross-sectional view 28 is circular. The radius of this sphere should be in the range of 12mm to 100mm. Within this range the spin top enters holes or depressions with a spiraling action, with both the possibility of spiraling out or in. The optimal radius is 23mm. The length of the sphere surface 31 should be at least several times of the R at the hole edge 29. The top tip 30 should have a height less than the depth D of the hole 4.

The geometric shape of the spin top as defined above is valid when the hole or the depression has size as illustrated in FIGs. 6a and 6b. The diameter of the hole 33 or depression 32 should be between 20 to 90mm.

The radius of spherical top 27 in FIGs. 5a-5c, and the hole 32 or depression 33 in FIG. 6a or 6b, can be scaled up or down by the same ratio. For example, if the spherical top has radius 24-200mm (i. e. scale by 2 times) , the hole 32 or depression 33 should have diameter between 40 to 180mm (scaled up the 20-90mm diameter by a factor or 2) .

The spin top can be designed by combining both the spherical and the conical bottom as illustrated in FIGs. 7b-7d. Top 34 has upper spherical part combined with lower conical part. Top 35 has upper conical part combined with lower spherical part. Top tip and decorative shapes can also be incorporated into the design as illustrated in the cross section 36, provided that the conical part and spherical part is designed within the range defined above.

While the illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in details herein, it is to be understood that the numerous modifications and adaptations of the present inventions will be apparent to those so skilled in the art and thus the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

Claims

A game set for spinning tops comprising:

a stage with at least one hole and/or at least one depression formed thereon, at least one spin top,

at least one launcher for launching the spin top onto the stage such that the spin top spins on the stage before settling into one of the holes or depressions to receive scores,

wherein the spin top has a geometrical defined bottom shape that enables it to follow a trajectory that includes spiraling around the holes and/or depressions.
The game set according to claim 1, wherein the stage has a surface that is concave in shape to make the collision of tops imminent, thus creating even more abrupt change of tops trajectories.
The game set according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the stage is irregular in shape to make collision between tops, or between tops and holes, imminent, thus demanding player to strategically choosing the shooting position and necessary force to get high score in the game.
The game set according to claim 1, wherein the launcher is a geared belt launcher.
The game set according to claim 1, wherein the launcher is spring loaded to launch the spin top, thus making the direction of shooting and the degree of spinning more precisely controlled.
The game set according to claim 1, wherein the spin top bottom shape is conical section with cone angle within a defined range to produce the spiral action around holes and depressions, with the possibility of either stopping in the hole or depression, or leaving the hole or depression after one or several spiraling.
The game set according to claim 1, wherein the spin top bottom shape is spherical with spherical radius within a defined range to produce the spiral action around holes and depressions, with the possibility of either stopping in the hole or depression, or leaving the hole or depression after one or several spiraling.
The game set according to claim 1, with holes and depressions having diameter in defined range relative to top size, so as to produce the spiral action around holes and depressions, with the possibility of the spin top either stopping in the hole or depression, or leaving the hole or depression after one or several spiraling.