Magnetic Top Toy

Abstract

A wheel-shaped top with magnetic spindles projecting from the body. A circular disk with a beaded rim is mounted on each end of a shaft; the rims of the disks forming a two-rail track encircling the shaft. A handle has two legs attached to opposite ends of the shaft. The spindles are magnetically attached to the two-rail track. The top orbits around the track in response to hand manipulation of the handle; the top is launched from the track when the orbital speed is sufficient to centrifugally separate the spindles from the track to spin on a surface, and the top can be magnetically retrieved, while spinning, by engagement of the spindles with the shaft or with one or both of the disks. In an alternate embodiment, the top includes a simulating feature, such as a continuous or blinking light, a sound, or the like configured to activate when the top is rotated.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from and the benefit of co-pending application Ser. No. 29/206,018, filed May 24, 2004, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein, and co-pending application Ser. No. 11/086,499, filed Mar. 22, 2005, entitled MAGNETIC TOP TOY, as a continuation-in-part thereof, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to toys of the type that include the combination of a top having a wheel-shaped body with magnetic spindles projecting in opposite directions along the axis of rotation of the body, and an apparatus that can be manipulated to cause the top to spin with the help of gravity, to travel in a particular path dictated by rails, or the like. In some cases, the spinning top may be made to separate from the apparatus to spin on a floor or other flat surface.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art discloses top toys that includes combinations of tops having wheel-shaped bodies with wire rails, a spiral track, and the like. Included among the known prior art patents are tops having a wheel-shaped body with a pair of magnetic spindles projecting from opposite sides of the body at its axis of rotation for securing the top to a pair of rails by magnetic attraction. See, for example, Chen (U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,660, issued Jun. 28, 1977) and Chesler (U.S. Pat. D436,383, issued Jan. 16, 2001), which also disclose a top with a wheel-shaped body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The toy of the present invention includes a top having a wheel-shaped body, an axle mounted in the center of the body with a magnetic spindle at each end projecting from opposite sides of the body, a track component with a pair of spaced disks mounted on a shaft so that the rims of the disks function as an endless, circular, two-rail track enclosing the shaft, and a handle having a pair of legs that straddle the disks and are attached to a respective end of the shaft. The top is attached to the two-rail track by magnetic attraction of the spindles with the rims of the disks. The top orbits the shaft in response to manipulation of the handle. If the speed of the top is sufficient to develop a centrifugal force on the top sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction of the top to the disks, it separates from the track to spin on a floor or other flat surface. The operator can then retrieve the spinning top by magnetic attraction of a spindle with an end of the shaft, one of the disks, or the two-rail track. In an alternate embodiment, the top includes a simulating feature, such as a continuous or blinking light, a sound, or the like configured to activate when the top is rotating.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the magnetic top toy of this invention, including a track component, a handle component, and a top with a wheel-shaped body attached to the track component by magnetic attraction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the handle and track components as shown in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a is a perspective view of the magnetic top toy as shown in FIG. 1 within the magnetic top toy according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the magnetic top toy of FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the magnetic top toy shown in FIG. 1 as held by the hand of a user orbiting the shaft on the spaced track members according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the magnetic top toy shown in FIG. 1 being centrifugally launched from the track according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates the retrieval of the spinning top of the magnetic top toy by magnetic attraction when attached to one end of the shaft of the track component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates the retrieval of the spinning top of the magnetic top toy by magnetic attraction when attached to one of the disks of the track component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a partly tilted elevation view of the top of the magnetic top toy according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a view a control board within the magnetic top toy shown in FIG. 9 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a view along line 11-11 as shown in FIG. 9 of the magnetic top toy according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a view along line 12-12 as shown in FIG. 9 of the magnetic top toy according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a electrical schematic diagram of the electrical circuit and the open loop electrical circuit of the magnetic top toy shown in FIG. 1 equipped with a top of FIG. 9 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is not limited to the particular details of the device depicted and other modifications and applications may be contemplated. Further changes may be made in the above-described device without departing from the true spirit of the scope of the disclosure herein involved. It is intended, therefore, that the subject matter of the above depictions should be interpreted as illustrative, not in a limiting sense.

FIGS. 1-3 show the assembled toy 10, which includes a top 16, a track component 14, and a handle 12. FIGS. 1 and 3 show the top 16 with a wheel-shaped body 19 and a pair of magnetic spindles 17 projecting from opposite sides of the body 19 at a rotary axis common to the body 19 and the spindles 17 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4.

The track component 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a shaft 32 with reduced-diameter ends 34 and two disks 26 each mounted on each of the reduced ends 34 where each disk 26 includes a concave body with an opening 30 at its center for receiving one of the reduced ends 34 of shaft 32. A beaded rim 28 is formed at the periphery of each of the disks 26. The disks 26 are mounted on the opposite ends of shaft 32 in mirror-image relationship such that the opposed pair of rims 28 form a two-rail track enclosing shaft 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the rims 28 are circular and concentric with the axis of shaft 32; hence, when the spindles 17 are magnetically connected to the disks 26, the top 16 travels in an endless, circular orbit around the axis of shaft 32 as it travels around the two-rail track defined by the spaced rims 28.

The handle 12 is comprised of a wire member bent at the center to form a curved, U-shaped bight 22 defining the free end of the handle 12. A pair of legs 18 project from the bight 22 and terminate at spaced free ends 13 as shown in FIG. 2. The end caps 36 include a first hole (not shown) at the internal end of each end cap 36 to interlock with the reduced-diameter end portion 34 of shaft 32 inserted through the opening 30 and a second hole (not shown) that extends diametrically through the cylindrical wall of each end cap 36 to receive one of the two free ends 13 of the handle 13.

A circular clamp 20 is mounted on both legs 18 of the wire handle 12 at a location near the bight 22. The clamp 20 is formed by a pair of circular, rimmed disks 21 and 23 having cylindrical rims 25 and 27 that project from the peripheries of disks 23 and 21, respectively. The rims 25 and 27 have matched sets of notches aligned to receive legs 18. Rims 25 and 27 are sized to allow one to fit into the other with a force fit. Each notch of rim 25 is matched with a notch of rim 27 so as to receive a respective one of the pair of legs 18 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The clamp 20 is used as a gripping member for hand manipulation of the toy as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In one preferred embodiment of the top 16 shown as FIGS. 3 and 4, the top 16 has a wheel-shaped body 19 and a pair of magnetic spindles 17 projecting from opposite ends of the axle formed by the axle halves 42 as shown in the exploded view of FIG. 4. The spindles 17 are magnetized by contact with a permanent magnet 40 shown in a cylindrical shape, located between the flat ends of spindles 17. While the use of a single magnet 40 placed between spindles 17 to impart upon the spindles 17 magnetic attraction, what is also contemplated is the use of magnetized spindles without the need of a permanent magnet 40. When the parts of the top 16 shown as FIG. 4 are assembled, the flat ends of the spindles 17 are seated against a respective flat end of magnet 40. When assembled, the pointed ends of spindles 17 project from a respective axle half 42.

FIGS. 5-8 shown how the assembled top toy 10 can be operated with the hand of a user. The top 16 of the magnetic top toy 10 is secured as shown in FIG. 5 to the upper external radius of the rims 25, 27. By angling the handle 12, the center of gravity of the top 16 is then moved away from the shaft 32, creating a momentum force on the top 16 attached to the rim 25, 27. The top 16 then rotates as it moves along the rim 25, 27 around the track component 14 shown in the shape of disks 26. What is shown is the use of hand motions, coupled with handle movements, to increase or decrease the rotation speed of the top 16 along the track component 14. As the top 16 rotates around the track component 14, it is held in position by the magnetic forces created by the magnet 40 on the spindle 17 when in contact with disks 26 made capable of magnetization.

FIG. 6 shows how the top 16 can be made to separate from the track component 14 by either a movement of the handle 12, a centrifugal force induced by the rotating top 16 along the disks 26, or any combination thereof. FIG. 7 illustrates the case where the end caps 36 are also made of material capable of magnetization. In the contemplated embodiment, the top 16 can be held at the position on the end caps 36 while it maintains its rotation. FIG. 8 shows how the top 16 can be made to rotate on a single disk 26. While FIGS. 5-8 illustrate how the top 16 can be used on the magnetic top toy 10 by users, what is disclosed and contemplated is the capacity of users to operate the magnetic top toy 10 in other fashions not described or in conjunction with magnetized, metallic, or other surfaces or elements to enhance the entertainment value of the magnetic top toy 10. By way of nonlimiting example, users with great dexterity can place two tops 16 on a single toy 10 and create new operating modes contemplated but not shown.

FIG. 9 is a partly tilted elevation view of the top 16 of the magnetic top toy 10 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this alternate embodiment, the top toy 10 includes a wheel-shaped top 16 having a body with a pair of magnetic spindles 17 and a track component 12 made of a material capable of magnetic engagement for supporting the magnetic spindles 17 of the wheel-shaped top 16. The track component 12 includes a shaft 32 with a first and a second end 34, and a pair of disks 36 mounted on opposite ends 34 of the shaft 32. The body as shown in the alternate embodiment includes a peripheral edge 51 for holding an upper body 44 and a lower body 46. In one preferred embodiment, the upper and lower bodies 44, 46 are made of transparent or semitransparent material, such as glass, plastic, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 11-12, the body also includes at least an electrically activated first stimulating feature, which is shown in FIG. 12 as a colored LED. The LED is connected to an electrical circuit placed on a circuit board 52 as shown in FIG. 10. The board 52 also holds a centrifugally activated contact 55 as shown in FIG. 12. As the top 16 rotates, a small metallic contact 59 made of a biasing element 58 such as a spring 58 or a bent and flexible piece of conductive metal moves to the external radius of the top 16 under the action of the centrifugal force. When enabled by rotation of the top 16, the contact 55 connects the first stimulating feature, such as the LED 54 or any other colored light. FIG. 11 shows how small, flat batteries can be used as an energy source connected to the electrical circuit. In an alternate embodiment, the first stimulating feature is a sound created by a small speaker or noise-producing device. While noise- and light-based systems are described, what is contemplated is the use of any stimulating feature that may be used for entertainment purposes and associated with a toy. By way of nonlimiting example, it may be useful to add sprays and small volumes of water inside the top 16 in an effort to randomly wet users of the toy 10.

In another embodiment, the body further includes a control board 52 with a microprocessor (not shown) for controlling a degree of simulation of the first simulating feature, such as creating music or variable noises associated with the top 16. Lights can be made to flash, blink, either randomly, semirandomly, or when used in tandem with a game where each top 16 is given specific tasks. FIG. 13 shows how one or a plurality of batteries 60 can be used with the LED 54 or other simulating feature shown by a rectangle either directly with the centrifugally activated contact 55 in a closed loop shown in the right of the figure. Once centrifugal force is placed upon the contact 55 by a spinning top 16, the contact 55 closes and electricity flows on the right circuit enabling the simulating feature 54.

What is also contemplated is the use of a body further including an open-loop electrical circuit shown in the left circuit of FIG. 13 formed by the magnetic spindles 17 illustrated by black rectangle connectors. In the open loop, the different elements of the toy 10 can be used in conjunction with calibrated resistances R₁ to R₄ to reduce current and enable either a second stimulating feature located within the open loop or the first simulating feature at a different degree of stimuli. The top 16 includes two spindles 17 each shown with a resistance R₁ and alternatively a magnet 40 with a resistance R₂. The current can be made to pass within these elements and return to the negative charge of the battery 60 if the top 16 is placed on the handle 12 consisting of a first conductive element such as the handle 12 with a resistance R₃ and disks 26 with a resistance R₄.

In one embodiment, the light used for the first and second simulating features is a single light having two different intensities. In another embodiment, the second stimulating feature is a sound.

While specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, the invention is not limited to the exact construction shown and described. Variations in the construction and arrangement of parts and components are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A top toy comprising:

a wheel-shaped top having a body with a pair of magnetic spindles; and

a track component made of a material capable of magnetic engagement for supporting the magnetic spindles of the wheel-shaped top, said track component comprising a shaft with a first end and a second end, and a pair of disks mounted on opposite ends of the shaft, and

wherein the body includes at least an electrically activated first stimulating feature, an electrical circuit with a centrifugally activated contact connected to the first stimulating feature, and an energy source connected to the electrical circuit.

2. The top toy of claim 1, wherein the body is made of transparent material and the first stimulating feature is a light.

3. The top toy of claim 2, wherein the light is a colored LED.

4. The top toy of claim 1, wherein the first stimulating feature is a sound.

5. The top toy of claim 1, wherein the body further includes a control board with a microprocessor for controlling a degree of simulation of the first simulating feature.

6. The top toy of claim 1, wherein the body further includes an open loop electrical circuit formed by the magnetic spindles, a magnet electrically connected to the magnetic spindles, the pair of disks made of an electrically conductive material each connected to a different magnetic spindle, and the track made of an electrically conductive material connected to the pair of disks, the open loop electrical circuit connected to the energy source for activating a second stimulating feature.

7. The top toy of claim 6, wherein the body is made of transparent material and the second stimulating feature is a light.

8. The top toy of claim 7, wherein the light used for the first simulating feature and the second simulating feature is a single light at two different intensities.

9. The top toy of claim 6, wherein the second stimulating feature is a sound.

10. The top toy of claim 6, wherein the body further includes a control board with a microprocessor for controlling a degree of simulation of the first simulating feature and the second simulating feature.

11. A top toy comprising:

a track component made of a material with magnetic properties having a handle and two opposite ends;

a pair of spaced disks each mounted on the opposite ends of the track;

a top having a body with at least an electrically activated first stimulating feature, an electrical circuit with a centrifugally activated contact connected to the first stimulating feature, and an energy source connected to the electrical circuit, and an axle mounted in the center of said wheel-shaped body, said axle having a pair of magnetic spindles projecting from the opposite ends thereof to magnetically engage the pair of spaced disks.

12. The top toy of claim 11, wherein the body is made of transparent material and the first stimulating feature is a light.

13. The top toy of claim 12, wherein the light is a colored LED.

14. The top toy of claim 11, wherein the first stimulating feature is a sound.

15. The top toy of claim 11, wherein the body further includes a control board with a microprocessor for controlling a degree of simulation of the first simulating feature.

16. The top toy of claim 11, wherein the body further includes an open loop electrical circuit formed by the magnetic spindles, a magnet electrically connected to the magnetic spindles, the pair of disks made of an electrically conductive material each connected to a different magnetic spindle, and the track made of an electrically conductive material connected to the pair of disks, the open loop electrical circuit connected to the energy source for activating a second stimulating feature.

17. The top toy of claim 16, wherein the body is made of transparent material and the second stimulating feature is a light.

18. The top toy of claim 17, wherein the light used for the first simulating feature and the second simulating feature is a single LED at two different intensities.

19. The top toy of claim 16, wherein the second stimulating feature is a sound.

20. The top toy of claim 16, wherein the body further includes a control board with a microprocessor for controlling a degree of simulation of the first simulating feature and the second simulating feature.