Toy top

• US 6,746,300 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2003
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TOMY Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd. (TOMY Company Limited)
• Inventors: Matsukawa, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMILA O
• Application Number:
  US10/428,715
• Time in Patent Office: 402 Days
• Field of Search: 446/256, 446/259, 446/260, 446/262, 446/263, 446/264, 446/266, 446/257, 273/147, 473/588, 473/589
• US Class Current: 446/256
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 1/06 with integral winding devices

Abstract

A toy top includes a toy body having a main spring power device therein, the main spring power device being rotatively linked with a revolving shaft provided on a center of a bottom surface of the toy body. The main spring power device includes latch means for maintaining a winding-up position when a main spring is wound up and a button for releasing the latch means so as to release a revolving force of the main spring. The toy body is provided with a press mechanism for pressing the button according to a rise or a reduction in a centrifugal force during the revolution of the toy body.

Claims

1. A toy top comprising:

a toy body;

a revolving shaft provided on a center of a bottom surface of said toy body so as to be rotatable; and

a main spring power device arranged inside said toy body, said main spring power device being linked with said revolving shaft,

wherein said main spring power device includes a latch unit for maintaining a winding-up position when a main spring is wound up and a button for releasing said latch unit so as to release a revolving force of said main spring; and

said toy body includes a press mechanism for pressing said button according to a change of a centrifugal force during revolution of said toy body.

2. The toy top according to claim 1, wherein said button protrudes to an outside of said main spring power device;

and

said press mechanism includes a press member for pressing said button by utilizing the centrifugal force generated due to the revolution of said toy body, said press member being arranged in a position which surrounds said main spring power device.

3. The toy top according to claim 2, wherein said press member is arranged so as to be movable in a direction where said press member presses or separates from said button, and is urged by a spring in a direction where said press member separates from said button, to thereby press said button against a force of said spring due to a rise of the centrifugal force during the revolution of said toy body.

4. The toy top according to claim 2, wherein said press member is arranged so as to be movable in a direction where said press member presses or separates from said button, and is urged by a first spring in the direction where said press member presses said button;

and

said press mechanism further includes a holding member which is arranged so as to be movable between a position where said holding member is engaged with said press member and a position where said holding member is disengaged from said press member, and which is urged by a second spring so as to be engaged with said press member in a state that said press member separates from said button, and which is moved to the position where said holding member is disengaged from said press member against the force of said second spring due to the centrifugal force during the revolution of said toy body, whereby said press member disengages from said holding member and presses said button with the force of said first spring due to a reduction in the centrifugal force during the revolution of said toy body.

5. The toy top according to claim 1, wherein said revolving shaft includes a ring portion formed to have a larger size than said toy body.