Magnetic Top System And Method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A magnetic top system comprising:
- a top comprisinga top body having a tip portion and a head portion opposite to the tip portion, wherein the top has a rotational axis extending from the head portion to the tip portion, andat least one magnet disposed in the head portion of the top body; and
a top launcher magnetically coupled to the top, the top launcher comprisinga top launcher body, anda top launcher spinning member that is connected to the top launcher body, wherein the top launcher spinning member spins relative to the top launcher body around a spinning axis, and wherein the top launcher spinning member contains at least one magnetic portion that is magnetically coupled to the at least one magnet of the top,wherein the rotational axis of the top and the spinning axis of the top launcher spinning member are aligned, andwherein the top launcher spinning member spins and thereby rotates the top by virtue of the magnetic coupling between the at least one magnet of the top and the at least one magnetic portion of the top launcher spinning member.
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Abstract
A magnetic top system for energizing, launching, and controlling movement of a spinning top. In one embodiment, a magnetic top launcher may magnetically couple to a top and induce a spinning motion in the top. A top controlling device may magnetically control a traversing movement of the top on a play surface without directly contacting the top.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A magnetic top system comprising:
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a top comprising a top body having a tip portion and a head portion opposite to the tip portion, wherein the top has a rotational axis extending from the head portion to the tip portion, and at least one magnet disposed in the head portion of the top body; and a top launcher magnetically coupled to the top, the top launcher comprising a top launcher body, and a top launcher spinning member that is connected to the top launcher body, wherein the top launcher spinning member spins relative to the top launcher body around a spinning axis, and wherein the top launcher spinning member contains at least one magnetic portion that is magnetically coupled to the at least one magnet of the top, wherein the rotational axis of the top and the spinning axis of the top launcher spinning member are aligned, and wherein the top launcher spinning member spins and thereby rotates the top by virtue of the magnetic coupling between the at least one magnet of the top and the at least one magnetic portion of the top launcher spinning member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A magnetic top assembled from a plurality of parts, the top comprising:
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a magnetic core part; a tip part; and a tip holder, wherein the tip part is held between the magnetic core part and the tip holder, wherein the tip part extends through an opening in the tip holder, and wherein the tip holder engages the magnetic core part to hold the parts together in an assembly, wherein the assembled top has a tip portion and a head portion opposite to the tip portion, wherein the assembled top spins around a rotational axis extending from the head portion to the tip portion, and wherein the core magnetic part provides at least one magnet disposed in the head portion of the assembled top. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A magnetic top assembled from a plurality of parts, the top comprising:
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a locking magnetic part; a core tip part; and a bumper part, wherein the locking magnetic part engages the core tip part to hold the bumper part between the locking magnetic part and the core tip part, wherein the locking magnetic part has a first face facing the bumper part and a second face opposite to the first face, wherein the locking magnetic part has at least one magnet disposed at the second face, wherein the locking magnetic part has a switch disposed at the second face, wherein the magnetic top spins around a rotational axis, wherein the switch is centered at the rotational axis of the magnetic top, and wherein the switch activates a feature of the core tip part. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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40. A method for launching and controlling a magnetic top, the method comprising:
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assembling a plurality of parts into a magnetic top having a head portion and a tip portion, such that at least one magnet is disposed at the head portion; magnetically attaching the magnetic top to a magnetic spinning member of a top launcher having at least one magnetic portion, by aligning the at least one magnet with the at least one magnetic portion; spinning the magnetic spinning member of the top launcher, thereby rotating the magnetically coupled magnetic top; and applying a force to the top launcher to release the rotating magnetic top from the magnetic spinning member onto a play surface.
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46. A magnetic top toy kit comprising:
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a magnetic top; a top launcher; and a magnetic controller, the magnetic top comprising a top body having a tip portion and a head portion opposite to the tip portion, wherein the top has a rotational axis extending from the head portion to the tip portion, and at least one magnet disposed in the top body; the top launcher including a top launcher body, a top launcher spinning member that is connected to the top launcher body, wherein the top launcher spinning member is rotatable relative to the top launcher body around a spinning axis, a spinning member drive for selectively imparting rotation to the top launcher spinning member so as to cause the top launcher spinning member to spin relative to the top launcher body around the spinning axis, and a releasable coupling for coupling the magnetic top to the top launcher spinning member so that rotation of the top launcher spinning member may be imparted to the magnetic top so that the magnetic top spins about the magnetic top rotational axis, wherein the releasable coupling allows disengagement of the spinning magnetic top from the top launcher spinning member, and the magnetic controller including a magnet, and a magnet holder that is attachable to a user'"'"'s hand. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification