Gyroscopic top toy

• US 5,683,284 A
• Filed: 02/12/1996
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hara Enterprises Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hara Enterprises Ltd.
• Inventors: Christen, Richard Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US08/600,484
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 446/233, 446/234, 446/235, 446/236, 446/242, 446/256, 446/264, 446/265, 446/484, 446/437, 446/488, 482/110
• 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 self contained battery operated electric toy spinning top contains a DC electric motor, flywheel, batteries and electric switch in stacked relationship that allows for efficient assembly of a gyroscopic toy. A spinning cardboard carton is produced by installing the energized top within the carton.

Claims

1. A spinning top apparatus comprising:

A hollow housing formed of plastic material, said housing having a central axis and having outer walls defining a curved figure that is symmetrical about said central axis and reduces to a narrow tip at one end;

said housing comprising a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion, said upper housing portion and said lower housing portion being mechanically interlocked in meshing engagement to define a smooth curved surface that tapers from a wide diameter to a narrow bulbous tip portion at a bottom end to resemble a toy top in appearance;

an electric motor, containing a front end and a back end and a shaft, said shaft extending outwardly from said front end;

said electric motor being oriented coaxial with said central axis, and said motor front end facing away from said bulbous tip portion, with said shaft being oriented coaxial with said central axis and extending in a direction vertically upwardly away from said bulbous tip portion;

a first disk defining a barrier to said motor and containing a central passage, said first disk being disposed within said lower housing portion at a position therewith overlying said front end of said motor and at a first predetermined elevation from said bulbous tip portion and being oriented perpendicular to said central axis;

a flywheel, said flywheel having a principal axis that is oriented coaxial with said central axis and a passage through said central axis for coupling said flywheel to said motor shaft, whereby said flywheel is oriented for rotation about said central axis;

a second disk, said second disk being disposed at an upper end of said lower housing member oriented perpendicular to said central axis;

battery holder means carried upon on an upper surface of said second disk;

electric switch means carried upon said battery holder means, said electric switch means including a switch operating arm;

said battery holder means and said electric switch means extending within said upper housing portion;

electrical conductor means for connecting said battery holder means, said switch means and said DC motor means in electrical series circuit;

said upper housing portion having an upper surface, said upper surface containing a passage for said switch operating arm; and

said switch operating arm extending through said passage in said upper housing portion.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said motor shaft extends through said central passage in said first disk;

and wherein said first disk supports said motor in an elevated position above said bulbous tip portion of said lower housing portion, whereby said back end of said motor is elevated from said bulbous tip portion.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said flywheel is positioned between said first and second disks.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said flywheel is positioned between said first and second disks.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said battery holder means further includes battery means;

and wherein said recited elements define a center of gravity to said spinning top apparatus, said center of gravity being located at a position on said top apparatus above said flywheel.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said flywheel comprises a mechanically unbalanced load.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said flywheel includes at least one small passage extending therethrough, said one small passage being located along a circumferential edge of said flywheel, whereby said flywheel is mechanically unbalanced.

8. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said flywheel includes at least one small passage extending therethrough, said one small passage being located along a circumferential edge of said flywheel, whereby said flywheel is mechanically unbalanced.

9. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said flywheel includes a plurality of axially extending passages through a circumferential edge portion, said passages being clustered along a narrow arc portion of said flywheel'"'"'s circumference for mechanically unbalancing said flywheel.

10. A spinning top apparatus comprising:

A hollow housing formed of plastic material, said housing having a central axis, a flat upper surface, outer walls defining a curved figure that is symmetrical about said central axis and reduces to a narrow tip at a bottom end and inner walls defining a hollow cavity;

said housing comprising a lower housing member and an upper housing member, said upper housing member and said lower housing member being mechanically interlocked in meshing engagement to define a smooth curved outer surface that curves from said flat upper surface outwardly from said central axis and around and then curves inwardly toward said central axis tapering to a narrow bulbous tip portion at a bottom end to resemble a toy top in appearance;

a DC motor, containing a front end and a back end and a shaft, said shaft extending outwardly from said front end;

said DC motor being oriented coaxial with said central axis, and said motor front end facing away from said bulbous tip portion, said shaft being oriented coaxial with said central axis and extending from said front end in a direction vertically upwardly away from said bulbous tip portion;

a first disk, said first disk being formed of plastic material and comprising a generally circular geometry, said first disk including a plurality of perforations therethrough and being of a first diameter, said first disk being disposed within said lower housing portion at a position therewith over said front end of said motor and at a first predetermined elevation from said bulbous tip portion and being oriented perpendicular to said central axis, and said first disk containing a plurality of spaced slots extending inwardly from a peripheral edge and a central passage, said motor shaft extending through said central passage, whereby a portion of said shaft extends to a vertical position above said first disk;

means for connecting said front end of said motor to an under side surface of said first disk to suspend said motor from said first disk, wherein said first disk supports said motor with said back end of said motor positioned above said tip portion of said housing;

a flywheel, said flywheel comprising a metal material and being of a second diameter, said second diameter being less than said first diameter, said flywheel having a principal axis that is oriented coaxial with said central axis and a passage through said central axis for coupling said flywheel to said motor shaft, whereby said flywheel is oriented for rotation by said motor about said central axis;

said flywheel including a plurality of axially extending passages through a circumferential edge portion, said passages being clustered along a narrow arc portion of said flywheels circumference for mechanically unbalancing said flywheel;

a second disk formed of plastic material, said second disk being of a third diameter, said second disk being positioned at an upper end of said lower housing member oriented perpendicular to said central axis, said second disk including a plurality of perforations therethrough and containing a plurality of spaced slots extending inwardly from a peripheral edge, said spaced slots being spaced from one another by various distances;

said inner wall of said lower housing member including a first set of protrusions extending radially inwardly, comprising at least three in number, for seating said second disk within said lower housing portion in a position above said flywheel and at a predetermined distance above said tip and preventing said second disk from movement further downward in said lower housing portion;

said first set of protrusions being positioned at a predetermined distance from said bulbous tip portion and being circumferentially spaced from one another and radially inwardly projecting from said inner wall, the ends of said protrusions defining a circle having a diameter smaller than said diameter of said second disk and greater than said diameter of said first disk and said flywheel;

said inner wall of said lower housing member further including a second plurality of protrusions, each said protrusion in said second plurality of protrusions extending radially inwardly and extending vertically downwardly from a position at an upper end of said lower housing member to a position above said first disk to define keys for the peripheral slots in said second disk, said protrusions in said second plurality of protrusions being spaced from one another by the same predetermined spacing distances that space said slots in said peripheral edge of second disk for engaging respective ones of said peripheral slots, whereby said second disk may be seated on said first set of protrusions only when said slots receive said keys;

battery holder means carried upon on an upper surface of said second disk;

electric switch means carried upon said battery holder means in a position overlying said battery holder means, said electric switch means including a switch operating arm;

said battery holder means and said electric switch means extending within said upper housing portion;

electrical conductor means for connecting said battery holder means, said switch means and said DC motor means in electrical series circuit;

said flat upper surface containing a passage for said switch operating arm; and

said switch operating arm extending through said passage in said upper housing portion.

11. The spinning top apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said battery holder means includes battery means for supplying electrical current;

and wherein said aforecited elements define a center of gravity to said spinning top apparatus located at a position above said flywheel.