Core with finger indentation and formed to expel an object concealed therein

• US 9,120,025 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2011
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Inventors: Hudson, Jon, Laurienzo, Dominic, Wolfson, Jared, Padawer, Jeremy, McCafferty, Jim, Leong, Greg, DeLacy, Steven Douglas, Lee Chi Wai, Dennis, Tsui Ka Tim, Timmy
• Primary Examiner(s): Dennis, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cegielnik, Urszula M
• Application Number:
  US13/179,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20120058706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/577, 446/487, 446/4, 446/308, 446/311, 446/312, 446/236, 446/241, 273/317, 124/16, 124/26
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/003 Convertible toys, e.g. robots convertible into rockets or vehicles convertible into planes

Abstract

A rotatable core is described. The core includes a cylindrically-shaped housing having an indentation area. The indentation area is formed to guide a user where to place their finger for launching, such that by pressing down on the indentation area, the core is forced against a ground surface, which causes it to spin away from the user. Additionally, the core includes a housing with a cavity therein for receiving the object. A release mechanism is attached with the housing. The release mechanism includes a connector for connecting with a corresponding connector on the object and an expelling mechanism for expelling the object. Upon activation of the release mechanism, the connector releases the object and the expelling mechanism forces the object from the housing.

Claims

1. A rotatable core, comprising:

a housing having a length and a width, the length being longer than the width, the housing having an external portion and a cavity with an opening for receiving an object through the opening and into the cavity;

an indentation area formed in the external portion, and wherein the indentation area is formed off-center on the external portion of the housing and is formed to receive a user'"'"'s finger and guide the user where to place their finger for launching, such that by pressing down on the indentation area, the core is forced against a ground surface, thereby causing the core itself to rotate on the ground surface around a vertical axis that passes through the width of the housing;

a release mechanism attached with the housing, the release mechanism including a connector for securely attaching with a corresponding connector on the object and an expelling mechanism for expelling the object entirely from the cavity, whereby upon activation of the release mechanism, the connector releases the object and the expelling mechanism forces the object entirely from the cavity such that the object is completely detached from the housing;

wherein the indentation area is formed with concavity and the housing is cylindrically-shaped;

wherein the connector of the release mechanism is a release trigger and the expelling mechanism is a spring-compressed platform, with the connector on the object being a clasp; and

wherein the release mechanism further comprises a weighted pendulum that is operably connected with the release trigger, such that upon motion of the pendulum, the release trigger releases the clasp and, thereby, releases the object.

2. The rotatable core as set forth in claim 1, further comprising two raised rings running around a circumference of the core, wherein the core has two ends and the raised rings are circumferentially extending protrusions that extend around the circumference proximate both ends of the core.

3. The rotatable core as set forth in claim 2, further comprising an expandable object with a clasp for positioning within the cavity of the housing.

4. A rotatable core, comprising:

a housing having a length and a width, the length being longer than the width, the housing having an external portion and a cavity with an opening for receiving an object through the opening and into the cavity;

an indentation area formed in the external portion, and wherein the indentation area is formed off-center on the external portion of the housing and is formed to receive a user'"'"'s finger and guide the user where to place their finger for launching, such that by pressing down on the indentation area, the core is forced against a ground surface, thereby causing the core itself to rotate on the ground surface around a vertical axis that passes through the width of the housing;

a release mechanism attached with the housing, the release mechanism including a connector for securely attaching with a corresponding connector on the object and an expelling mechanism for expelling the object entirely from the cavity, whereby upon activation of the release mechanism, the connector releases the object and the expelling mechanism forces the object entirely from the cavity such that the object is completely detached from the housing; and

wherein the release mechanism includes a pendulum with a magnet for magnetically connecting with an object positioned within the cavity, such that upon impact of the core with a surface, the pendulum is swung away from the object to break the magnetic connection with the object and release the object from the housing.

5. The rotatable core as set forth in claim 4, further comprising an expandable object for positioning within the cavity of the housing, the expandable object being magnetically attracted to the pendulum with the magnet.

6. A rotatable core, comprising:

a housing, the housing having a cavity therein for receiving an object;

a release mechanism attached with the housing, the release mechanism including a connector for connecting with an object, whereby upon activation of the release mechanism, the connector releases the object from the housing; and

wherein the release mechanism includes a pendulum, with the connector being a magnet attached with the pendulum for magnetically connecting with an object positioned within the cavity, such that upon impact of the core with a surface, the pendulum is swung away from the object to break the magnetic connection with the object and release the object from the housing.

7. The rotatable core as set forth in claim 6, further comprising an expandable object for positioning within the cavity of the housing, the expandable object being magnetically attracted to the pendulum with the magnet.