Toy top launcher
First Claim
1. A toy top launcher for a top, said top having a circular enlarged end, an opposite end, and a gear adjacent the opposite end thereof, said launcher comprising:
- a launch pad having a pair of spaced elongated edges defining an open-ended elongated slot;
a gear rack along one edge of the slot;
support means on the launch pad for supporting the top in a substantially vertical starting launching position with the gear in the slot;
magazine means for holding one or more tops prior to launching;
loading means for rotating a top from said magazine into the launching position; and
launch means on the launch pad for engaging the top and urging the gear thereof along the gear rack for imparting rotation and forward motion to the top and expelling the top from the open-end of the slot.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A toy top launcher simulating a space shuttle is disclosed for launching a rotating top having a circular enlarged end and a gear adjacent the opposite end onto a flat surface. The top launcher has a chamber for supporting the enlarged ends of a plurality of tops is a row. A discharge station is provided for discharging the leading top from the chamber to a starting launching position on a launch pad. The launch pad has a pair of spaced elongated edges defining an open-ended elongated slot having a gear track along one edge thereof. A launch slider is mounted for reciprocal movement on the launch pad, and in one direction of movement engages the top and urges the gear thereof into meshing engagement with the gear rack. Further movement of the slider imparts rotation and forward motion to the top, expelling the top from the open-end of the slot.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A toy top launcher for a top, said top having a circular enlarged end, an opposite end, and a gear adjacent the opposite end thereof, said launcher comprising:
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a launch pad having a pair of spaced elongated edges defining an open-ended elongated slot; a gear rack along one edge of the slot; support means on the launch pad for supporting the top in a substantially vertical starting launching position with the gear in the slot;
magazine means for holding one or more tops prior to launching;loading means for rotating a top from said magazine into the launching position; and launch means on the launch pad for engaging the top and urging the gear thereof along the gear rack for imparting rotation and forward motion to the top and expelling the top from the open-end of the slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for launching a rotating top having a circular enlarged end and a gear adjacent the opposite end thereof from a top launcher onto a flat surface for spinning rotation thereon, the launcher having a launch pad provided with a pair of spaced elongated edges defining an open-ended elongated slot, a gear rack along one edge of the slot, support means on the launch pad for supporting a top in a substantially vertical starting launching position with the opposite end of the top and gear in the slot, magazine means for holding one or more tops prior to launching;
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loading means for rotating a top from said magazine into the launching position and a reciprocally mounted movable slider on the launch pad having a shoulder engagable with the post for moving the ramp portion between its normal top holding and top releasing positions, the method comprising the steps of; rotating the top from the magazine to a starting launching position with the top in a substantially vertical position, and the opposite end of the top and gear in the slot; propelling the top along the slot by means of the slider causing the gear to engage the gear rack and to move therealong for imparting rotation to the top; and expelling the rotating top out of the open-end of the slot onto a flat surface for rotation thereon. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification