Gyroscope-monocycle

• US 4,277,912 A
• Filed: 09/25/1979
• Issued: 07/14/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shou-Chung Hsien
• Original Assignee: Shou-Chung Hsien
• Inventors: Hsien, Shou-Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US06/078,678
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 46/269, 46/50, 46/248, 46/66, 46/73, 46/251
• US Class Current: 446/233
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 1/00 Tops diabolos or similar thrown and caught spinning tops or throwing and catching devices therefor A63B67/16; flying tops A63H27/12

Abstract

A flying saucer-shape gyroscope monocycle that stands by its own gyroscope action. The device is composed of a transparent plastic-made upper dish-rotor and a lower dish body. A small D.C. motor is installed in a central hole of the lower dish body and is powered by two small batteries. The shaft of the motor is fitted tightly with the upper rotor so as to drive the rotor. High speed rotation of the upper rotor causes slits on the surface to buzz continuously. The unbalanced force of the high speed rotating upper rotor causes the whole gyroscope to vibrate and thus a vibrating switch disposed in the lower dish body contacts intermittently to cause a bulb connected thereto to flash intermittently. The flashing is visible through the transparent upper rotor and a side window in the lower dish body. Satellite bodies disposed along a circular flange on the lower body rotate counterclockwise by the reaction to the motor driving torque.

Claims

1. A flying saucer-shaped gyroscope toy comprising:

a circular dish-shaped rotor having a circular lower edge surrounding a first axis of rotation at its center and slits therein symmetrically disposed with respect to said first axis of rotation;

said slits causing a buzzing sound when said rotor rotates;

a lower circular dish-shaped body having a second axis of rotation aligned with said first axis of rotation, a circular upper edge having the same diameter as the diameter as said circular lower edge of said rotor and a point edge at its bottom surface along said second axis of rotation;

a d.c. motor mounted in said lower body along said second axis of rotation and having a drive shaft extending along said second axis of rotation and engageable with said rotor along said first axis of rotation for driving said rotor to rotate, said gyroscope being supported on its point edge by gyroscopic action;

means for vertically supporting said rotor and body for rotation about said first axis of rotation when said means is in a first orientation or a second orientation with respect to said body, said means being rotatable with said body in said first orientation, said body rotating in relation to said means in said second orientation;

electric light means, including a light source mounted in said body, for providing light when said rotor is rotating in response to said motor;

said electric light means including a vibrating switch for turning said light source on and off when said rotor is caused to rotate by said motor; and

a plurality of satellite bodies fixedly mounted to said lower body adjacent said upper circular edge symmetrically disposed in relation to said second axis of rotation.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said rotor includes a knurled cone shaped upper portion symmetrically disposed with respect to said first axis of rotation, and means for engaging said drive shaft such that said rotor may be removed from engagement with said drive shaft by lifting upward at said knurled cone-shaped upper portion.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said lower body includes a cone-shaped stud at said point edge for supporting at its lip said lower body during gyroscopic action, said supporting means consisting of a T-shaped support having a horizontal crossing portion and a vertical portion, said cone-shaped stud being insertable into said crossing portion of said T-shaped support when said T-shaped support is in said first orientation and being mountable on said vertical portion of said T-shaped support when said T-shaped support is in said second orientation.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said lower body includes a circumferential flange disposed at said upper circular edge.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said lower body includes a plurality of transparent hemispherical shields for transmitting light from said bulb to outside said lower body.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said lower body includes two semicircular half sleeves surrounding said second axis of rotation for spring mounting said motor therein.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 or claim 6 wherein said drive shaft includes key means for engaging and driving said rotor without slippage.

8. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said vibrating switch includes a terminal holder having a cave in the underside thereof clamped between said two semicircular leaves, a wire terminal mounted in said cave;

a stiff wire disposed parallel said second axis of rotation with a lower end mounted to said lower body and an upper end extending into said cave in spaced relation to said terminal such that said stiff wire can vibrate freely in said cave into and out of control with said terminal when said motor rotates said rotor; and

circuit means connecting a stiff wire and said terminal to said d.c. power source so that said light source flashes when said wire vibrates into contact with said terminal.

9. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said satellite bodies are removable from said flanges and propulsion leaves are insertable in said slits so that said body and rotor may rotate as a monocycle in a circle on said flange.