ILLUMINATED SPINNING TOP HAVING REMOVABLE SUB-ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING BATTERY AND BULB

• US 3,803,757 A
• Filed: 02/20/1973
• Issued: 04/16/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ronald Sanchez
• Original Assignee: Ronald Sanchez
• Inventors: Sanchez, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay, F. Barry
• Application Number:
  US05/334,076
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 46/226,227,228,65,66,229
• US Class Current: 446/242
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 1/24 with illuminating arrangements

Abstract

An illuminated toy spinning top having a self-contained subassembly which is insertable into a hollow, translucent or transparent, conical casing, the casing being enclosed by a removable cap. The sub-assembly is constituted by an opensided frame, contoured to conform to the interior profile of the casing, the interior configuration of the frame being such as to define a socket for vertically supporting a cylindrical battery in axial alignment with the stem of the top, and another socket for supporting a light bulb upside down and in parallel relation to the battery. Connections are effected by a first contact strip which engages the lower terminal of the battery and extends into the space between the base of the bulb and the battery, and a second contact strip which interconnects the upper terminal of the battery and the center terminal of the bulb. The circuit is completed to energize the bulb when the extension of the first strip is deflected by centrifugal force to engage the base of the bulb, this force being produced only when the top is in spinning motion.

Claims

1. An illuminated spinning top comprising:

(A) a translucent, conically-shaped hollow casing having a stem terminating in a tip at the lower end of said casing for supporting said top during spinning and having an opening at its upper end;

(B) a removable cap, means for detachably securing said cap over said opening for enclosing the casing; and

(C) a self-contained sub-assembly adapted to be removably installed into the casing through said opening, said subassembly being constituted by an open-sided frame contoured to conform to the interior profile of the casing, the interior configuration of the frame having means for vertically supporting a cylindrical battery with its long axis in axial alignment with said stem and for supporting a light bulb upside down and with its long axis in parallel relation with the battery and spaced radially from the axis of said stem, whereby the center terminal of the bulb is uppermost and the base forms the other terminal of the bulb, said supporting means including a first socket for said battery and a second socket for said light bulb, a first contact strip having portions overlying one end surface of each said socket for effecting a connection between said center terminal and the upper terminal of the battery, a second contact strip having a portion overlying the other end surface of said first socket and being connected to the lower terminal of the battery and having a flexible extension portion disposed in the space between said sockets adjacent the location of the base of the bulb and normally supported in spaced relation to the latter for flexing in a radial direction, whereby said extension is deflectable as a result of centrifugal force from the spinning of said subassembly with said top, to engage said base to energize said bulb.

2. An illuminated top as set forth in claim 1, wherein said casing and said cap are formed of synthetic plastic material and said securing means includes a pair of latching lugs on said cap which are receivable in apertures in said casing.

3. An illuminated top as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sub-assembly is shield-shaped and is fabricated of synthetic plastic material.

4. An illuminated top, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said interior configuration of said frame includes a vertical wall which cooperates with a lower ledge and an upper tab to define said battery socket.

5. An illuminated top as set forth in claim 1, wherein said contact strips are formed of resilient metal of high conductivity.