Skill Toy with Weight-Adjustable Beads
A weight-adjustable skill toy consists of a string, a first bead, a second bead, at least one first weight, and at least one second weight. The first bead is positioned adjacent to a first end of the string. Likewise, the second bead is positioned adjacent a second end of the string. To change the weight applied at the first bead, the at least one first weight is positioned adjacent the first end and slidably engaged with the first bead. Similarly, to change the weight applied at the second bead, the at least one second weight is positioned adjacent the second end and slidably engaged with the second bead. The first weight, the at least first weight, the second weight, and the at least second weight are utilized to obtain weight configurability.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/521,621 filed on Jun. 19, 2017.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to skill toys. More specifically, the present invention is a swinging bob toy with a configurable weight and shell system. The present invention includes weight and bead components allowing the user to customize the weight, shape and other features of the swinging bob toy. By doing so, the present invention fulfills different user preferences.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSwinging bob toys are popular entertainment devices for people. These devices allow a user to perform skill tricks. Standard swinging bob toys include bob components which are constrained to, yet slidable along a string. The bob components of a standard swinging bob toy may be swung around an axis created by the user. There are many skill tricks a user can perform though the number, and ease of performing the tricks is limited based on the design of standard swinging bob toys. The bob components are restricted to the original weight, weight distribution, and shape thereby limiting the types of tricks that can easily be performed.
The skill toy related with the present invention is a begleri, which consists of one or more beads at either end of a string. The toy is flipped and twirled around the fingers to perform tricks. The design of the begleri toy allows the user to perform tricks with a fixed weight. Thus, the user has the same feel while performing all tricks. The fixed weight of the toy can also be inconvenient to certain users. As an example, a toy with a significant weight can lead to difficulties if a child is using the toy. Other features of the toy, including the size, shape, and weight distribution, can significantly affect the types of tricks which can be performed with a given set of begleri.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a swinging bob toy with a configurable weight and shell system. The invention includes weight and shell components allowing the user to customize the weight, shape and other features of the swinging boy toy that affect play to tailor the experience to the player preference. The customization of weight and position of the weight components allow the user to change and affect the centrifugal force, thereby affecting the overall momentum, and feel of the toy. The customization of the exterior allows the user to change variables such as the size, shape, angles, protrusions, and other external features to their own preference, which results in an overall assembly that can look, feel, and play very different. As an example, having angular gripping sections in a given position where a user wants more grip, and having rounded sections in other places where the user prefers smoothness can greatly enhance the user experience.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is related to skill toys. More specifically, the present invention is related to a begleri, which is a skill toy consisting of a string and beads at either end of the string. The present invention is designed to be weight adjustable so that a wide variety of movements can be performed with a single begleri. Moreover, the weight adjustability allows a wider variety of users to be catered since the weight preference of the begleri can vary from one user to another.
As illustrated in
The string 1, which can be of different lengths and textures, comprises a first end 2, a string body 3, and a second end 4. The string body 3 extends from the first end 2 to the second end 4 and determines the length of the string 1. The length of the string body 3 can vary from one embodiment to another. The thickness, the material, and the texture of the string body 3 can also vary from one embodiment to another resulting in a different feel when performing different movements. The first bead 5 used in the apparatus is positioned adjacent to the first end 2. To correspond with the first bead 5, the second bead 6 is positioned adjacent to the second end 4. The positioning of the first bead 5 and the second bead 6 allows the user to utilize a considerable length of the string body 3. To adjust the weight applied at the first bead 5, the at least one first weight 10 is slidably engaged with the first bead 5 adjacent the first end 2. Similarly, to adjust the weight at the second bead 6, the at least one second weight 11 is slidably engaged with the second bead 6 adjacent the second end 4. The shape of the at least one first weight 10 and the shape of the at least one second weight 11 allows the user to conveniently move the at least one first weight 10 and the at least one second weight 11 along the string body 3. As shown in
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the materialistic properties of the at least one first weight 10 and the at least one second weight 11 are identical to each other. However, the materialistic properties of the at least one first weight 10 and the at least one second weight 11 can vary in other embodiments of the present invention. Regardless of the size, shape, and material, the at least one first weight 10 and the at least one second weight 11 comprises a weighted body 12 and a receiving hole 13 as illustrated in
The first bead 5 and the second bead 6 can vary in size and shape in different embodiments of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first bead 5 and the second bead 6 each comprise a neck portion 7, a hollow structural body 8, and an opening 9 as seen in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
When different movements are performed, there is a tendency for the first bead 5, the at least one first weight 10, the second bead 6, and the at least one second weight 11 to detach from the string 1. To avoid such issues, the present invention further comprises a first stopper 19 and a second stopper 20, as shown in
The first bead 5 and the second bead 6 can be manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminum, stainless steel, brass, copper, bronze, polyoxymethylene plastic, wood, silicone, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic. The at least one first weight 10 and the at least one second weight 11 can also be manufactured from different materials so that the applied weight can be adjusted according to user preference. Additionally, in another embodiment, the at least one first weight 10 and the at least one second weight 11 can be manufactured from different materials. As an example, in another embodiment when the at least one first weight 10 is a primary pair of weights, a first weight from the primary pair of weights can be made of aluminum. A second weight from the primary pair of weights can be made of copper. Likewise, when the at least one second weight 11 is a secondary pair of weights, a first weight of the secondary pair of weights can be made of aluminum and a second weight from the secondary pair of weights can be made of copper. The different combinations offered through the at least one first weight 10 and the at least one second weight 11 increases the number of movements that can be performed by the user. More specifically, the weight configurability allows the user to perform a wide variety of movements. As an example, by interchanging between both the primary pair of weights and the secondary pair of weights, the angular momentum used in performing the movements can be changed. Thus, the overall feel when performing the movements change. In another embodiment of the present invention, to enhance user experience, a light emitting device or a sound emitting device can be integrated into the at least one first weight 10 and the at least one second weight 11.
When the present invention is in use, the following process flow is generally followed. Initially, the first end 2 is positioned through the opening 9 of the first bead 5 and the second end 4 is positioned through the opening 9 of the second bead 6. The at least one first weight 10 is positioned adjacent the first end 2 and slidably engaged with the first bead 5. Similarly, the at least one second weight 11 is positioned adjacent the second end 4 and slidably engaged with the second bead 6. When the first bead 5, the at least one first weight 10, the second bead 6, and the at least one second weight 11 are appropriately positioned, the first stopper 19 and the second stopper 20 are secured at the first end 2 and the second end 4 respectively. Thus, the user can proceed to perform a preferred movement with the present invention. If the weight applied at the first bead 5 and the second bead 6 needs to change, the at least one first weight 10 and the at least one second weight 11 can be moved accordingly so that the overall weight changes accordingly. In particular, in the preferred embodiment, if the weight at the first bead 5 needs to be adjusted, the at least one first weight 10 is positioned within the hollow structural body 8 of the first bead 5 with the holding mechanism 14. Similarly, if the weight at the second bead 6 needs to be adjusted in the preferred embodiment, the at least one second weight 11 is positioned within the hollow structural body 8 of the second bead 6 with the holding mechanism 14.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A skill toy with integrated weights comprises:
- a string;
- a first bead;
- a second bead;
- at least one first weight;
- at least one second weight;
- the string comprises a first end, a string body, and a second end;
- the string body extending from the first end to the second end;
- the first bead being positioned adjacent to the first end;
- the second bead being positioned adjacent to the second end;
- the at least one first weight being slidably engaged with the first bead and positioned adjacent the first end; and
- the at least one second weight being slidably engaged with the second bead and positioned adjacent the second end.
2. The skill toy with integrated weights as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- the at least one first weight and the at least one second weight comprises a weighted body and a receiving hole;
- the receiving hole centrally traversing through the weighted body; and
- the string body being positioned through the receiving hole of the at least one first weight and the at least one second weight.
3. The skill toy with integrated weights as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- the first bead and the second bead each comprise a neck portion, a hollow structural body and an opening;
- the neck portion being perimetrically and terminally connected to the hollow structural body;
- the opening centrally traversing through the hollow structural body and the neck portion;
- the first end being positioned through the opening of the first bead; and
- the second end being positioned through the opening of the second bead.
4. The skill toy with integrated weights as claimed in claim 3, wherein the neck portion of the first bead and the second bead is tapered from the hollow structural body.
5. The skill toy with integrated weights as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- a holding mechanism; and
- the at least one first weight and the at least one second weight being removably positioned within the hollow structural body of the first bead and the second bead with the holding mechanism.
6. The skill toy with integrated weights as claimed in claim 5 further comprises:
- the holding mechanism comprises a pair of primary magnets and at least one pair of secondary magnets;
- each of the pair of primary magnets being integrated into a hollow structural body of the first bead and the second bead;
- each of the at least one pair of secondary magnets being integrated into a corresponding weighted body of the at least one first weight and the at least one second weight; and
- the primary magnet being magnetically coupled with each of the plurality of secondary magnets.
7. The skill toy with integrated weights as claimed in claim 5 further comprises:
- the holding mechanism comprises a first set of threads and a second set of threads;
- the first set threads being internally and laterally distributed along the hollow structural body;
- the second set of threads being externally and laterally distributed along the weighted body of each of the plurality of weights; and
- the first set of threads being engaged with the second set of threads.
8. The skill toy with integrated weights as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- a first stopper;
- a second stopper;
- the first stopper being terminally connected to the string at the first end; and
- the second stopper being terminally connected to the string at the second end.
9. The skill toy with integrated weights as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first bead and the second bead are manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminum, stainless steel, brass, copper, bronze, polyoxymethylene plastic, wood, silicone, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 12, 2018
Publication Date: Dec 20, 2018
Inventors: Haihui Qi (Victoria), Matthew Hiebert (Victoria)
Application Number: 16/006,510