Patents by Inventor Takeaki Maeda

Takeaki Maeda has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240066417
    Abstract: A top launching device for launching a top includes a device body and an operating belt. The device body includes first and second input rotors to rotate, an output rotor configured to hold the top in a state with a central axis of the output rotor aligned with a central axis of the top and configured to rotate and impart the rotational force to the top, and a coupling rotor configured to transmit the rotational force from the input rotor to the output rotor. The operating belt is configured to be inserted in the device body, and to be engaged with either the first or the second input rotor. The output rotor is configured to rotate the top, impart the rotational force to the top, and release the top. The operating belt is configured to be selectively engaged with one of the first and second input rotors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto MURAKI, Kei NISHIZAWA, Takeaki MAEDA
  • Patent number: 11904251
    Abstract: A top toy includes a first shaft side component and a trunk part. The trunk part includes a trunk body, a moving body being rotatably configured with respect to the trunk body, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is configured to lock releasably the moving member at a first position. The first shaft side component is rotatably configured with respect to the trunk part between first and second rotation positions. The trunk part is rotatably configured with respect to the first shaft side component when an external force is applied to the trunk part. The first shaft side component includes is a first projecting part. When the first projecting part is in contact with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism is configured to release the moving member from the first position. The first and second shaft side components are interchangeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Muraki, Yohei Bando, Takeaki Maeda
  • Publication number: 20230211243
    Abstract: A top toy includes a shaft part, a trunk part, and a top tip cover. The trunk part is detachably configured on the shaft part. The top tip cover is detachably configured on the shaft part at a longitudinal end. The shaft part includes a first engagement part being movably configured between a raised position and a lowered position in an axial direction and a second engagement part. The top tip includes a third engagement part being configured to be engaged by rotating in a first direction with the second engagement part to prevent the shaft part from separating from the trunk part in the axial direction. The top tip cover includes a fourth engagement part being configured to be engaged with the first engagement part to prevent the top tip cover from rotating in a second direction with respect to the shaft part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki HAMA, Yohei BANDO, Takeaki MAEDA, Douglas Arthur SCHULTHEIS
  • Publication number: 20220016536
    Abstract: A top toy includes a first shaft side component and a trunk part. The trunk part includes a trunk body, a moving body being rotatably configured with respect to the trunk body, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is configured to lock releasably the moving member at a first position. The first shaft side component is rotatably configured with respect to the trunk part between first and second rotation positions. The trunk part is rotatably configured with respect to the first shaft side component when an external force is applied to the trunk part. The first shaft side component includes is a first projecting part. When the first projecting part is in contact with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism is configured to release the moving member from the first position. The first and second shaft side components are interchangeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto MURAKI, Yohei BANDO, Takeaki MAEDA
  • Patent number: 11110362
    Abstract: A first locking mechanism is configured to block rotating the first and second holders by locking an operation component or by locking the first and second holders when the cap is not mounted on one of the first and second holders, and is configured to unlock rotating the first and second holders by being engaged with the cap when the cap is mounted on one of the first and second holders and when the cap is arranged to face upwardly towards a upper side. A second locking mechanism is configured to block rotating the first and second holders by locking the operation component or by locking the first and second holders when the cap is mounted on one of the first and second holders and when the cap is arranged to face downwardly to a lower side opposite to the upper side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hama, Takeaki Maeda
  • Patent number: 10960317
    Abstract: A spinning top toy for spinning on a surface includes a shaft part and a body. The shaft part includes a shaft part body and a ground contact part being integrally formed with the shaft part body. The shaft part extends in an axial direction. The body is configured on the shaft part. The ground contact part includes a wheel-shaped body being slidably configured on the shaft part body. The wheel-shaped body is configured to be moved to a first position, and is configured to be moved to a second position. The second position is closer to the surface than the second position in the axial direction. The wheel-shaped body is configured to be in contact with the surface when at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hama, Takeaki Maeda
  • Patent number: 10799805
    Abstract: The spinning top launching device includes a rotary drive mechanism being configured to be rotated by the operation member and configured to apply rotary force to the spinning top, a rotation speed detection mechanism including a centrifugal clutch mechanism being configured to be rotated by the operation member, and an operation body being engaged with an output side of the centrifugal clutch mechanism to be moved in a first direction from a predetermined position. The operation body includes an indication part configured to indicate the rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hama, Douglas Arthur Schultheis, Takeaki Maeda
  • Publication number: 20200269145
    Abstract: An upper part includes an upward facing surface and a rod-shaped shaft being vertically movable. A lower part includes a downward facing surface and a tubular shaft in which the rod-shaped shaft is inserted. The upper part is relatively rotatable against the lower part and being detachably attached to the lower part. A lower tip is configured to protrude from a lower end of the tubular shaft when the upper part is attached to the lower part and when the lower tip is in no contact with a floor. The lower tip is accommodated in the tubular shaft when the upper part is attached to the lower part and when the lower tip is in contact with the floor. A second engaging part is configured to restrict a relative rotation between the upper part and the lower part when the lower tip is in no contact with the floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto MURAKI, Takeaki MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20200269146
    Abstract: A top toy includes a body including a first coupling element, and a shaft part being detachably attached to the body and including a second coupling element and a projection. The first and second coupling elements abut each. The body and the shaft part are detachable when the body is rotated relative to the shaft part. The body includes a rotating blade being configured on an outer circumference part thereof to be rotated. The rotating blade includes a shaft extending parallel to the axial direction and is configure to advance and retreat with respect to the arc shaped slit. The rotating blade includes a sliding part at an inner edge which is formed in a bow shape. The rotating blade is configured to be rotated around the shaft by the sliding part being slidably in contact with the projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto MURAKI, Yohei BANDO, Takeaki MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20200269147
    Abstract: A top toy includes a body and a shaft part being detachably attached to the body. The body includes a trunk main body, a first tip, and a second tip. The trunk main body includes an arc shaped hole with first and second ends. First and second insertion pieces of the first and second tips respectively are inserted in the arc shaped hole at the first and second ends respectively. The trunk main body includes a moving part being manually operated between first and second positions. In the second direction, a space, the resistance element, the first coupling member are aligned in order when the first tip is employed. In the first direction, the space, the second coupling member, and the resistance element are aligned in order when the second tip is employed. The body and the shaft part are to be detached at the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto MURAKI, Yohei BANDO, Takeaki MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20200171398
    Abstract: A first locking mechanism is configured to block rotating the first and second holders by locking an operation component or by locking the first and second holders when the cap is not mounted on one of the first and second holders, and is configured to unlock rotating the first and second holders by being engaged with the cap when the cap is mounted on one of the first and second holders and when the cap is arranged to face upwardly towards a upper side. A second locking mechanism is configured to block rotating the first and second holders by locking the operation component or by locking the first and second holders when the cap is mounted on one of the first and second holders and when the cap is arranged to face downwardly to a lower side opposite to the upper side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki HAMA, Takeaki MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20200129873
    Abstract: A spinning top toy for spinning on a surface includes a shaft part and a body. The shaft part includes a shaft part body and a ground contact part being integrally formed with the shaft part body. The shaft part extends in an axial direction. The body is configured on the shaft part. The ground contact part includes a wheel-shaped body being slidably configured on the shaft part body. The wheel-shaped body is configured to be moved to a first position, and is configured to be moved to a second position. The second position is closer to the surface than the second position in the axial direction. The wheel-shaped body is configured to be in contact with the surface when at the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki HAMA, Takeaki MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20200129872
    Abstract: The spinning top launching device includes a rotary drive mechanism being configured to be rotated by the operation member and configured to apply rotary force to the spinning top, a rotation speed detection mechanism including a centrifugal clutch mechanism being configured to be rotated by the operation member, and an operation body being engaged with an output side of the centrifugal clutch mechanism to be moved in a first direction from a predetermined position. The operation body includes an indication part configured to indicate the rotation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki HAMA, Douglas Arthur SCHULTHEIS, Takeaki MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20200114273
    Abstract: A spinning top toy includes a body and a shaft part. The body includes a first flange and a first sliding element. The shaft part is detachably attached to the body. The shaft part includes a second flange, a pressing member, a second sliding element, an urging member urging the pressing member upwardly towards the body, and a grounding part. The urging member urges the pressing member away from the grounding part. The first flange and the second flange overlap in the vertical direction. The shaft part is configured to be detached from the body by relative rotation with respect to the shaft part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto MURAKI, Takeaki MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20200114272
    Abstract: A spinning top toy for spinning on a floor includes a body, an urging member, and a shaft mart. The body includes a first flange, a first sliding element, a main body forming an outer circumference of the body, and a chip being detachable attached to the many body, the first sliding element being configured in the chip. The shaft part is detachably attached to the body. The body includes a second flange and a second sliding element. The shaft extends in a vertical direction. The first flange and the second flange overlap in the vertical direction. The urging member urges the body away from the shaft part. The shaft part is configured to be detached from the body by relative rotation with respect to the shaft part. The first and second sliding elements abut each other in the vertical direction to provide friction against the relative rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto MURAKI, Takeaki MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20200114271
    Abstract: A spinning top toy includes a body, a shaft part. The body is arranged to collide with an opponent's spinning top toy, and the shaft part is arranged under the body to contact a play board surface. The shaft part includes a base component including a recessed part, a rotation component, a shaft body component, and a shaft. The rotation component is inserted into the recessed part of the base component. The shaft body component is configured in the rotation component. The shaft body component is movable in the vertical direction by rotating the rotation component. The shaft is configured in the shaft body component. The shaft includes a terminal end. The terminal end is retractable in the shaft body component by rotating the rotation component. A lower end of the shaft body component is always lower than a lower end of the rotating component in a vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto MURAKI, Takeaki MAEDA
  • Patent number: 10556187
    Abstract: A toy top includes a shaft portion and a body that includes a first body part which is rotatable relative to the shaft portion in response to an impact applied to the main component and a second body part which is rotatable relative to the first body part. First spaced extensions extend radially outward from a circumference of the first body. Second spaced extensions extend radially outward from a circumference of the second body. The second extensions stepwise vary their positions relative to the first extensions when the first body part rotates relative to the shaft portion. The second extensions move into the spaces between the first extensions when the first body part rotates relative to the second body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Horikoshi, Takeaki Maeda
  • Patent number: 10543431
    Abstract: A spinning top toy includes a braking member, a shaft part which is configured to be rotated, and a body which is detachably attached to the shaft part. The body is configured to be detached from the shaft part by being rotated with respect to the shaft part. When an impact is applied to the body, the braking member is configured on one of the shaft part and the body and is movable by a centrifugal force. When urged by the centrifugal force, the braking member is configured to become in contact with the other of the shaft part and the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Muraki, Takeaki Maeda
  • Patent number: 10543432
    Abstract: A toy top includes a shaft portion, a body, and a first attacking member and a second attacking member that are disposed at different circumferential direction positions of the body. The first attacking member is movable between an inner first position and an outer second position in a radial direction. The second attacking member is movable between an inner third position and an outer fourth position in the radial direction. The first attacking member is biased toward the first position and is movable to the second position by centrifugal force. The second attacking member is restrained at the third position when the first attacking member is at the first position and is released from restraint to be moved to the fourth position when the first attacking member is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Hashiba, Makoto Muraki, Takeaki Maeda
  • Publication number: 20200016502
    Abstract: A spinning top toy includes a shaft part, and a body configured on the shaft part at a first longitudinal end thereof. The shaft part includes a shaft main body part in which an axis line corresponding to a rotation center is defined as a shaft center, and a shaft holding part holding the shaft main body part. The shaft main body includes a ground contact member configured at a second longitudinal end of the shaft part opposite to the first longitudinal end. The ground contact member has an annular-shaped ground contact part being arranged to be in contact with a contact surface and being elastically deformable. The ground contact member is rotatable with respect to the shaft holding part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji HORIKOSHI, Takeaki MAEDA