US20220143521A1

US20220143521A1 - Spinning top

Info

Publication number: US20220143521A1
Application number: US17/334,876
Authority: US
Inventors: Vladimir Nikolaevich Efremenko; Dmitry Ivanovich Genne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-11-11
Filing date: 2021-05-31
Publication date: 2022-05-12

Abstract

Spinning top includes a base with an external flat support and bearing a base tubular support in the center, a bearing structure above base with mortises in lower part of bearing structure, bearing structure comprising first tubular support coaxial with base tubular support and external to it, first tubular support rotatable relative to base tubular support at a point resting against base support at a longitudinal axis of base support, and second tubular support with an edge covering first tubular support, edge above edge of first tubular support, handle for rotation of bearing structure, including screw gear with a nut that goes through edge of second tubular support towards resting point of first tubular support against base tubular support, nut is above second tubular support edge and has teeth that engage response teeth of second tubular support, and point support/conical element, inserted into recess of first tubular support.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to RU patent application no. 2020137047, filed on Nov. 11, 2020, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to toys for children, and more particularly, to spinning tops, designed for children playing on a flat surface.

Related Art

The term “spinning top” or “top” in relation to toys for children should be understood as the simplest rotating device that in general maintains stability on one support point during rotation. More complex structures of the spinning top include a mechanism where a screw-shaped axial rod is used for spinning. When pushing this rod down, the screw gear is activated. It is a dynamic toy for children that stimulates cognitive activity. It helps the child to establish causal relationships between actions and events, and develops coordination and motor skills of hands.
A conventional spinning top includes a disk-shaped base with external flat support for placing of the toy on a supporting surface bearing the support in the center for positioning of the stand centrally, with a possibility of its rotation in relation to this support, wherein vertically-aligned mortise for fastening of one end of vertically-aligned screw-shaped rod, the other end of which is spring-driven and fastened in a tubular bushing, with an arm rest installed with a possibility to move in vertical direction in relation to the stand when applying a force to the rest of the top, in the direction of base, is mounted in the lower part of the stand. The stand includes seating elements for placement of playing installations, as well as a musical mechanism for generation of sound during the stand rotation. The stand is designed in the form of a disk with the beading, in the center of which there is the mortise (recess, or opening) in the form of a bushing, in whose cavity the musical mechanism is mounted. There are vertically-aligned conical protrusions around the bushing, which are used for putting playing toys with the opened cavity inside on them by resting them against the tip of the protrusions so as to suspend them above the stand surface that bears the fixed nut in its upper part, where the free end of vertically-aligned screw-shaped rod is inserted. The other end of the screw-shaped rod is fastened in the tubular bushing with an arm rest installed with a possibility to move in vertical direction in the tubular guide of the crown, fastened on the base. The tubular bushing is inserted with its free edge into the cavity of the tubular element (see RU Patent No. 159739 published on Feb. 20, 2016).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a novel spinning top toy that substantially obviates one or more of the disadvantages of the related art.
A feature of the proposed spinning top is that there is a base, on which a non-rotational crown is fastened, whose tip is a support for the handle mounted with a possibility to move vertically up and down in order to move the screw-shaped rod through the nut fastened in the tubular bushing of the stand. When the handle is pressed, the screw-shaped rod moves down, forcing the nut and the tubular bushing and the stand with installation coupled therewith, to rotate. Moreover, the stand with these components has a point support in the base zone, in relation to which this stand rotates. Structurally the interfacing circuit of the stand with the handle support is designed in the form of upper part of the stand, which is installed inside the collar of the handle support, such that the coupling is located higher than the crown height middle.
Having a point support in coupling zone between the stand and the base, the stand can rotate, but with oscillating deviations of its upper part in relation to longitudinal axis of the crown. That is why there are angular deviations of this upper part from the vertical axis in the point of loose coupling of the stand with the handle support (the part that is referred to as the tubular guide) leading to its contact with the collar wall.
When beginning to rotate, the stand always performs oscillating motions until the moment of its speedup, wherein the screw-shaped rod does not touch the musical mechanism activation button. However, a nut rigidly is attached to the upper part of the stand, that is a part of the screw mechanism, provided that the meshing conditions are observed. A slant of the rod or nut would lead to the screw gear jamming. Also it is necessary to take into account that such toys for children are made of plastic soft polymers that do not usually have increased strength and wear-resisting characteristics. As a result, after some time of use, coupling of the stand and the handle support gets loose, the stand with installation acquires an increased opportunity for lateral movement, and the screw-shaped mechanism gets jammed.
The crown and the thin-walled transparent material of which it is made, which basically is not a support for handle supporting assembly due to its extreme flexibility, are also unreliable.
When developing, a child initially perceives the environments through a visual sensation, but this period is short and tightly connected with the necessity to add tactile sensation to visual sensation. Therefore, a child tries to take in his/her hand everything within his field of view, in order to get an idea of shape of the observed object, generating perceptions from touching and squeezing. These two factors of correct child development shall be supported. Conventional installations (toys) start to rotate and deviate on their point supports when spinning. A child observes them, but cannot touch, because they are closed with a crown required for positioning of the handle assembly with the screw-shaped rod. Hence, the spinning top does not allow formation of connection between visual and tactile sensations. As a result, in the most cases a child breaks or crushes the toy. On top of that, a child does not understand why the toy suddenly stopped working. Unfortunately, trying again, a concept peculiar to adults, is not always peculiar to children. So, if the spinning top didn't start to spin, the child may lose interest in the toy.
Any movable toy with even primitive actions shall maintain the function of this action until a child loses interest in this toy due to natural growing-up. The practice of forming the child's normal psychomotor ability and correct sensation of the world using toys as a primary didactic material shows that the process of world perception at an early development period is realized primarily not through real objects, but through imitations and their analogues having functions of playing attraction. Until a child establishes causal relationships between vision and sensation (provided by the toy), this process should not be interrupted artificially, i.e., in case of use of a moving toy, due to breakage thereof. Toy breakage may cause abnormality in formation of such relationships that may permanently influence the child's attitude to more complex processes of internal psychological organization, in case of repetition.
This invention is aimed at achievement of technical result consisting in increase of functional reliability and durability of the toy for children, the spinning top, by means of exclusion of impact of side forces on the screw gear during rotation of the toy.
The specified technical result is achieved due to the fact that the spinning top includes a base with external flat support for placing of the toy on supporting surface bearing a tubular support in the center. A bearing structure for positioning of installations in the mortises provided in the lower part in the form of a platform bearing the first tubular support in the center covering the base support externally and being rotatable in relation to the base support by means of point resting against it at a longitudinal axis of the base support, and a second support in the form of a tubular element with an edge covering the first support of the bearing structure, the edge of which is located above at a distance from the edge of the first support of this structure, a handle for starting of rotation of the bearing structure including a screw-shaped rod of a screw gear with a nut put through the edge of the tubular support of the bearing structure in a direction of the resting point of this support against the tubular base support located at the level of the spinning top height middle, wherein the screw gear nut is located above the tubular support edge of the bearing structure and includes teeth, and is equipped from the side of turning to this support with response teeth, and the point support is designed in the form of a conical element fastened at a longitudinal axis on the edge of the tubular base support at its longitudinal axis, whose end part is inserted into a recess of a response shape on the tubular support of the bearing structure.
Additional features and advantages of the claimed solution are described in the following disclosure, as well as proved by the actual practice of the invention. These advantages and improvements can be achieved by neural networks that have been constructed and trained in accordance with the claimed method, specifically, following the disclosure, along with the accompanying claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional drawing of a spinning top toy, in a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a general view of the bearing structure support;

FIG. 3 is a general view of the base;

FIG. 4 is a general view of the bearing structure with mortises for installations;

FIG. 5 is a general view of installation in the form of a flower;

FIG. 6 shows the mounting ring element for the flower from FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a mounting element for the toy in the form of a teddy bear;

FIG. 8 is a sectional drawing of the spinning top, in a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a general view of the spinning top, in a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The present invention provides a structure of a toy for children, a spinning top, designed for playing on a flat surface.
In general the structure (base structure ensuring rotation of assemblies) of the spinning top is based on the following. The spinning top comprises:

- a base with external flat support for placing the toy on a supporting surface bearing a tubular support in its center;
- a disk-shaped bearing structure for positioning of installation in the mortises provided in the lower part bearing the first tubular support in the center put on the tubular base support and covering the base support externally so as to rotate it in relation to the base support by means of point resting against it at a longitudinal axis of the base support;
- a second support of the structure in the form of tubular element with an edge covering the first support of the bearing structure, the edge of which is located above at a distance from the edge of the first support of this structure;
- the handle for starting rotation of the bearing structure that includes a screw-shaped rod of a screw gear with the nut put through the edge of the second tubular support of the bearing structure in a direction of the resting point of the first support against the tubular base support;
- wherein this point is located at a level of the spinning top middle-height;
- the screw gear nut is located above the second tubular support edge of the bearing structure has teeth and is equipped from the side of turning to this support with response teeth to ensure meshing with this support;
- the point support has a form of a conical element fastened at the longitudinal axis on the edge of the tubular base support at its longitudinal axis, whose end element is inserted into the recess.

Therewith, all elements of the spinning top, except the screw gear elements, are made, for example, of polymer material approved for application on toys for children as per health and safety regulations (for example, polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, less often: low-density polyethylene or polystyrene and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin)).
With reference to the figures, base 1 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 3) is a flat bottom allowing placing of this base on a flat surface. The flat bottom in the example in FIG. 3 within the framework of weight reduction is designed in the form of several concentric rings in one plane radially interconnected by means of crosspieces. Other disk-shaped bases are possible, and these examples are not intended to limit the disclosure. Tubular support 2 in the form of hollow bushing with a cup-shaped edge, where there is a mortise 3 for positioning of a conical element 4 of a resting assembly of bearing structure 5 against the base 1 (FIG. 1) fastened at a longitudinal axis of the base 1 (of the spinning top) is attached at the center (or made integrally with it). This conical element 4 is designed in the form of a cone (with flat external surface or with a surface slightly concave, as shown in FIG. 1) including a leg recessed in the mortise 3 and held therein by means of a bolt 6 or a screw or other fastening means.
Bearing structure 5 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 4) is a flat platform (disk-shaped in the lower part), in the central part (in the center) of which first tubular support 7 representing a hollow bushing with plugged edge having the mortise on the external surface for arrangement of musical mechanism 8 (FIG. 1) is attached (or made integrally with it). A recess on the internal side of the plugged edged has a form reverse to the form of the cone of conical element 4. The end part of the conical element is inserted into this recess on first support 7 forming the rotation point support for the bearing structure around longitudinal axis passing through tubular support 2. The response recess is provided with opening angle exceeding the cone angle in its tip in order to ensure free movement and minimize friction of motion of the conical element 4 end part along the recess wall. Thus, the bearing structure can swing slightly in small angular gaps around the longitudinal axis of the spinning top. Basically, the bearing structure has a pendulum suspension on the conical element 4 allowing self-centering of the bearing structure during rotation in relation to the longitudinal axis of the spinning top, compensating for any imbalance of this structure.
First support 7 is put on tubular support 2 with insertion of end part of the conical element 4 in a response recess. Therewith, a support point is located approximately in the middle of the spinning top, wherein the center of gravity of the bearing structure together with installations therein will be closer to the platform. Such a structural solution excludes side forces on the base, installations also remain suspended on the pendulum suspension and bend of the bearing structure in relation to longitudinal axis of the base is excluded during rotation.
However, it is necessary to increase a spatial rigidity of support 2 for positioning of the conical element 4. For this purpose, the spinning top comprises a second tubular support 9 (FIG. 2) represented by a hollow bushing with plugged edge having edging teeth 10 on the external surface. This bushing is designed with a height exceeding the height of support 7 and is put on support 7; the end part of support 9 is latched by means of elastic clamps 11 in the platform of the bearing structure and attached thereto. At the same time, side wall of support 9 is easily fit to wall surface of support 2 forming a rugged structure with sufficient bending resistance.
Cover 12 that in example of FIG. 1 is designed in the form of carrousel with balls 14 suspended thereto by means of slings 13 is put on the spinning top (as an example). Cover 12 is joined with second support 9 and balls diverge to the sides during rotation.
Handle 15 for starting of rotation of the bearing structure is located above the cover and comprises screw-shaped rod 16 of screw gear with nut 17. Rod 16 is put through the edge of tubular support 9 and fitted in the tubular guide designed integrally with the edge of support 9 and directed with its free end toward the resting point of this support against the tubular base support.
The free end of screw-shaped rod 16 is mounted so that it can rest against the activation button of musical mechanism 8 (FIG. 1). A nut is placed in the cavity formed by the edge of support 9 and cover 12. Furthermore, a nut 17 of the screw gear located above the tubular support edge of the bearing structure designed with edging teeth, with which it is equipped from the side of turning to this support with response teeth.
In order to ensure rotation of the spinning top a child grabs handle 15 and pulls it outside together with screw-shaped rod 16 (in this case, the nut 17 rotates towards the side opposite to meshing of edging teeth). Then pressing the handle puts down the rod 16 inside the bearing structure, wherein the nut turns in reverse and meshes by means of teeth with teeth on the edge of support 9. Rotation of the bearing structure is started. When the free end of rod 16 is in the lower point, the end of rod 16 rests against the activation key on the musical mechanism body and a melody starts to play.
A musical mechanism 8 is designed in the form of separate module and represents a plastic body fitted into the mortise on the edge of support 2. There is a speaker inside the body in the area of its bottom. The board with battery/batteries, activation button and microcircuit with recorded melody is located above it. Activation key is put through the body cover outside Music is turned on by pressing the key on the body cover connected with button on the board. Music is played for about 40 seconds, in one example, thereafter the module is deactivated. The musical module is not shown in the figures, since such musical units are widely produced and used in the toy of various designs.
Handle with the screw-shaped rod 16 in support 9 is loose and immersed by gravity. Such contact of the end part of the rod with key does not trigger the activation button of musical mechanism 8 (for example, due to availability of the spring pushing the key). In order to activate the musical mechanism it is necessary to press the rod with a force exceeding the spring force. In this case music will be played.
One feature of the claimed structure is that there is no side stress on the supports bearing the entire structure. The high point suspension of the bearing structure on the conical element above the center of gravity of the spinning top allows exclusion of vibration transmission of the platform with installations during the spinning top rotation leading to the base unloading. Herewith, self-centering of the bearing structure is ensured during rotation thereof.
One feature of the embodiment of basic structure of the spinning top is availability of the high-strength tubular system having sufficiently high bending resistance due to the fact that two supports in the form of tubular elements contact each other with side walls. Installations in terms of shape and size differences may be distinguished by weight causing an imbalance during the bearing structure rotation. But these oscillating motions are not transferred to tubular supports, because the bearing structure has a point suspension.
The platform of the bearing structure 5 is extensive and has formed mortises 18 (FIG. 4), where the replaceable installations represented in the example of FIG. 1 as toys imitating animals and flowers are mounted. This spinning top is designed for mounting of installations of two types: fixed and movable, i.e. rotating on its axis at placing point during rotation of the spinning top.
For installation of the first type (fixed, in the form of a toy imitating an animal or fairy-tale character), a mounting frame 19 (FIG. 7) represented by a removable mounting (thrust) ring 20 fastened around the perimeter of mortise 18 on the platform (for example, elastic clamp) is used. Toy 21 in the form of a game character in the lower part is designed with a ring recess 22. When the toy is mounted, its lower part is pushed through ring 20 that is inserted in this recess fixing the toy in mounting ring 19 (FIG. 1). The mounting frame may have decorative elements, for example, in the form of protrusions 23 imitating bushes or grass (optional element). When the toy is made of elastic soft polymer material, a child can pull it out from the mounting frame and play with it.
Other options of the toy mounting are available for this type of installation, for example, FIG. 1 shows an example of the toy fastening in the thrust ring, inside of which there is a hemisphere attached to the hemisphere in the platform mortise.
For installation of the second type (movable, in the form of, for example, a toy or flower), the installation itself is designed in the form of, for example, flower 24 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 5). This flower is inserted into the mounting element in the form of thrust ring 25 (FIG. 6). For this flower there is a protrusion 26 in the mortise 18, in which a pointed element 27 is inserted, whose sharp end is a support for the flower 24. The flower 24 together with thrust ring 25 is fitted on the tip of pointed element 27, wherein the thrust ring is a positioning element of vertical orientation of flower in the mortise. The flower rotates around the pointed end of element 27, when the spinning top rotates and under the influence of centrifugal forces.
In order to increase the interest and create the sound effect, thrust ring 25 may be designed with radially-directed protrusions or teeth 28 (FIG. 6), and metal elastic plate 29 (FIG. 8) is fastened on the base. When the flower rotates by itself, thrust ring 25 interferes with plate 29 making a corresponding sound (ratchet) in case of deviation by means of protrusions (teeth).
An LED ball 30 (FIG. 1) is put in the flower cavity (inside the cavity) and then the flower cavity is closed with thin-walled cover 30 that is designed with through holes or may be transparent for guaranteed rotation of the flower based on availability of an imbalance. Availability of such a ball increases the flower imbalance, not only forcing the flower to rotate, but also increasing the time of its rotation due to inertial forces. The LED ball is in the form of two joined hemispheres, inside of which there is a control microprocessor connected with impact sensor on the board, whose function includes connection of LEDs to battery/batteries for a specified time. When the spinning top starts to rotate, the impact sensor is actuated and microprocessor connects LEDs with power supply; LEDs start to glow (the glow may be persistent or may change as per the algorithm provided in the control microprocessor). At the same time, the LED ball starts to move along the flower cavity under the influence of centrifugal forces and due to rotation of the flower itself. The LED light passes through cover 30. The cover is attached in the flower walls by means of elastic clamps making its removal by a child difficult. But the flower may be removed from the mortise and, in this case, it becomes an amusing toy that can be hold in hand glowing at the same time at each movement.
During body rotation the flowers put on the rod ends rotate on their axis, but the animal figures located on leaves do not move. When the body stops rotating, the flowers continue to rotate due to inertial forces.
The spinning top structure itself is high-tech and repairable. Access to the nut may be provided by the cover removal and wear of the edging teeth may be controlled. If the second support 9 is removed (with the cover being removed earlier), then the access to musical module and possibility of replacement thereof (in case of breakage) with the other one or changing of battery/batteries are ensured. If the LED ball light is attenuated, it will be sufficient to disengage the elastic tongues or clamps of the cover allowing pulling out of the ball from the flower cavity and opening of its body in order to change battery/batteries.
Manufacture of the spinning top elements of “soft” polymer makes the toy safe, because such polymer belongs to elastic plastic resins, easily deformed under the load with recovering of initial shape. Thin-walled design of the base and bushing elements allows sufficient reduction of the spinning top weight, making it possible for a child to lift the toy and hold it in his or her hand.
Another embodiment of the spinning top given in FIG. 8 basically repeats the structure of example in FIG. 1. Both examples use the same structure, ensuring technologically correct arrangement of element of the spinning top structure. The second example has a different installation design. Installations in the form of toys imitating fairy-tale heroes or elements are movable and may rotate in their axis. Thus, mounting of installation of his type comprises thrust ring 25 mounted in the mortise having a shape of the bearing structure. The lower part of the toy 21 has an insert 31 with a recess in the center turned with the opened part towards the platform.
Mortise 18, in which the toy 21 can be placed, includes protrusions 26, in which a pointed element 27 is inserted, whose sharp end is a support for the toy 21. This toy 21 together with insert 31 is fitted on the tip of pointed element 27, wherein the thrust ring is a positioning element of vertical orientation of toy in the mortise. The toy 21 rotates around the pointed end of element 27, when the spinning top rotates and under the influence of centrifugal forces.
Thrust ring 25 may be designed with radially-directed protrusions or teeth 28 (FIG. 6), and metal elastic plate 29 (FIG. 8) is fastened on the base. When the toy rotates by itself, thrust ring 25 interferes with plate 29 making a corresponding sound (ratchet) in case of deviation by means of projections (teeth).
Installations 32 represented by fixed toys or toys imitating fairy-tale characters are mounted in the mortise by, for example, loose seating of lower part 33 of installation into the response channel on the platform. Such installations stand still due to friction and gravity. From the top the lower part is closed with cover 34 that may be transparent or may have through holes or bear a decorative element. There is an LED ball 30 moving during rotation along the installation cavity in random motion and glowing (see description of such a ball for example of FIG. 1) inside the closed cavity. If a cover 34 has holes or the cover is transparent, then the glowing is projected in the cover increasing attractiveness of rotation process.
Therewith, all these installations are removable and a child can pull them out and play with them.
The invention is not limited to the described embodiments.
The invention is industrially applicable and allows increasing of functional reliability and durability of the toy for children, the spinning top, by means of exclusion of impact of side forces on the screw gear during rotation of the toy.
Having thus described a preferred embodiment, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the described method and system have been achieved.
It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The invention is further defined by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A spinning top comprising:

a base with an external flat support for placing the spinning top on a supporting surface and bearing a base tubular support in a center,

a bearing structure above the base with mortises provided in a lower part of the bearing structure, the bearing structure having a form of a platform,

the bearing structure comprising

a first tubular support coaxial with the base tubular support and external to the base support,

the first tubular support being rotatable relative to the base tubular support at a point resting against the base tubular support at a longitudinal axis of the base tubular support, and

a second tubular support with an edge covering the first tubular support, the edge being located above an edge of the first tubular support,

a handle for starting rotation of the bearing structure, the handle comprising a screw-shaped rod of a screw gear with a nut that goes through the edge of the second tubular support in a direction of the resting point of the first tubular support against the base tubular support, the nut located at a middle of a height of the spinning top,

wherein the screw gear nut is located above the second tubular support edge and has teeth that engage response teeth of the second tubular support, and

a point support in a form of a conical element fastened at a longitudinal axis on an edge of the tubular base support at its longitudinal axis, whose end is inserted into a corresponding recess of the first tubular support.

2. The spinning top of claim 1, further comprising a cover in a form of carrousel with balls or flower, with a toy suspended on the spinning top.

3. The spinning top of claim 1, wherein a musical mechanism is attached to a mortise on an external surface of the first tubular support and a free end of the screw-shaped rod is mounted so as to rest against the activation button of the musical mechanism.

4. The spinning top of claim 1, further comprising a protrusion in the mortise, the protrusion having a pointed end, which is a support for a mountable toy, wherein the mountable toy is rotatable around the pointed end.

5. The spinning top of claim 4, wherein the mountable toy is inserted into a mounting element in a form of thrust ring with radially-directed protrusions or teeth, such that when the mountable toy rotates, the thrust ring 25 interfaces using teeth with a metal elastic plate mounted on the base, thereby making a sound.

6. A spinning top comprising:

a base with a flat support on its bottom and bearing a base tubular support in its center,

a bearing structure above the base with mortises in its lower part,

the bearing structure shaped as a platform,

the bearing structure comprising

(i) a first tubular support coaxial with the base tubular support and surrounding the base tubular support,

(ii) the first tubular support being rotatable relative to the base tubular support at a point resting against the base tubular support at a longitudinal axis of the base tubular support, and

(iii) a second tubular support with a second edge covering the first tubular support, the second edge being located above a first edge of the first tubular support,

a handle for starting rotation of the bearing structure, the handle comprising a screw-shaped rod of a screw gear with a nut that goes through the second edge in a direction of the resting point, the nut located at a middle of a height of the spinning top,

wherein the nut is located above the second edge and has teeth that engage response teeth of the second tubular support, and

a point support shaped as a conical element fastened at a longitudinal axis on an edge of the tubular base support, an end of the conical element inserted into a corresponding recess of the first tubular support.