US2666276A - Gyroscopic aerial top - Google Patents

Description

J. H. HUFF GYROSCOPIC AERIAL TOP 2 SheetS Sheet 1 Filed July 16, 1952 INVENTOR. JAMES H. HuFF ATTORNEY- Jan. 19, 1954 J. H. HUFF GYROSCOPIC AERIAL TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1952 INVENTOR. I .[4/755 ft HuFF ogw a m Patented Jan. 19, 1954 GYROSCOPIC AERIAL TOP James H. Hue, West Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 16, 1952, Serial No. 299,137

3 Claims.

1 This application is in part a continuation of my application Serial No. 152,096, filed March '27, 1950, for Gyrosco-pic Toy (now abandoned).

My invention relates to gyroscopic toys of the type popularly known as the yo-yo, wherein a rotating member in the form of a pair of symmetrical gyroscopic flywheels are mounted in closely spaced relation on a common shaft around which an operating cable (such as wrapping string) is wound, and wherein the rotating member is alternately wound upon and unwound from the cable, the opposite endof which is held in the hand of the operator who manipulates the .toy by periodically exerting a pull against the cable.

The general object of the present invention is to provide such a toy which, during manipulation, can be bounced against a wall, floor, or other obstacle without in any way interfering with the rotation of the rotatable member. To this end,

the invention contemplates, in general, a rotatable member of the type indicated, which is mounted for rotation within a light, hollow shell in which it is completely enclosed, the cable emerging from the shell through a slot which is in alignment with the space between the flywheel elements. The shell, which is preferably spherical, functions as a shield for the rotating member and may be bounced against a wall or 'the' like without in any way interrupting or slowing down the rotation of the rotatable member.

Among the difiiculties experienced in operating the conventional yo-yo are the knotting of the cable and the rubbing of the cable against the edges of the rotating flywheels at the periphery of the annular space defined between them. Another object is to provide a toy which may be operated without experiencing these difficulties.

A further object is to provide a toy of the general character indicated above, which is'of relatively simple and yet sturdy construction. A more particular object is to provide such a toy having a shell fabricated from several sections and supporting a novel and simple bearing structure.

In' a device of this type it may frequently become necessary to adjust or repair the cable in the event it becomes broken, and such operation may necessitate gaining access to. the interior of the shell. Accordingly, a further object is to provide such a toy having a shell which'is in several sections. that can be readily separated for gaining access to the rotating member. A still further object is to provide such a toy in which the shell sectionsmay be separated without disturbing the mounting of the rotating Fig. 2 is a central sectional view through the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the union ring;

Fig. 4 is a side view with portions broken away and shown in section to illustrate the means for joining the shell sections of the toy;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the shell sections;

Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the rotor sections;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the toy;

Fig. 8 is a central sectional view of the union ring;

Fig. 9 is a side view of one of theshell sections;

Fig. 10 is a side view of the other shell section;

Fig. 11 is aplan View of the same; and

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the toy.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my improvedtoy comprisesgenerally a two part shell A and a rotor B. Shell A is preferably of spher ical shape, although-it may have other shapes generally approaching the spherical, but with flattened, recessed or embossed facets or designs on the external surface thereof,- as may be desired.

Shell construction Shell A is composed of two semi-spherical sections I2 and l2, which are attached together-by a union ring I3. Considering the median-great circle of the union ring i3 as being the equator of the shell, section i 2 has therein an opening defined by an inserted grommet M, through which an operating cable 35 extends to rotor B.

The shell sections l2, l2 are generally of semispherical form, including spherical wall'portions- At the respective rims are formed integral,

circumferentially elongated lugs l1, H, the opposed faces of which are'adapted to make abutting contact at the central, equatorial plane of the shell. Cylindrical wall portion [6 projects somewhat beyond the lugs l1 and cylindrical wall portion [6 is terminated somewhat short of lugs l1. Accordingly, the projecting portion of wall section [6 is receivable in the space encircled by lugs I1 and is adapted to be snugly embraced by lugs ll, to establish a piloting of the twoshell sections with their respective poles in alignment on a common axis.

Shell section 12' has. diametrically opposed, axially projecting ears I8 which are adapted to mate in correspondingly shaped notches 19 in shell section l2 when the two shell sections are brought together. This interengagement of 'ears' i8 and notches [9 establishes and maintains a registering relation of lugs I! and I1" andprevents any rotation of the shell sections-, one rela-- tive to the other, about their common pole axis,

such as would displace the lugs ll, H" from registration.

Lugs ll,- 11" project radially outwardly: from the'outer surface. of wallsections I6; I61. Successive lugs ll, l1 arespaced apart circumferentially'to define spaces 20 'approximately the same in circumferential length as the lugs. l1, [1; Union ring [3 (Figs. 3 an-d58) is provided with two axially spaced series of retainerlugs 2:1, 21, the axial spacing of these lugs providing, at the equatorial plane of the ring l3, a space 22 the axial-width of' which is slightly greater than the combined axial thickness of lugs H, 11.

Ports 23; 23 are definedv circumferentiall'y between lugs 21, 2| respectively. Ports 23. are axially opposite lugs'2l and :ports'23 are axially opposite lugs 2|.

It may be noted that; in securing the shell sections together, the two; sections may first. be brought into an abutting engagement in which matinglugs IT 'abut. each other; as shownin Fig. 4; and the union ring-13 may then'bezslipped over one of the sections, adjustedxto a position of concentricity to the pole axis thereof, rotated until a set'of-ports23 'orz23' is brought :into'registry with .lugs 11 or H, as the' case maybe; and.

then moved further in' the axialdirection; to

cause-lugs I! or H toenter 13116111013178.2330! 23" until the lugs IT or. IT come-intoxengagement: with lugs 2l1or'2l, as the'case may. be; For: example, assuming that ring -.13: istfirst slipped" over shell section l2, until lugs 2 I, at theinouter axial extremities, make engagement with lugs I1, rotation of ring l3 will eventually bring lugs I linto; registrywith ports 23: of ringiiS. Ring i3 may then be moved furtherin the axial.direc-- tion until lugs 2| 'engagejlugs IT. This relative positionof'the parts is shown' in.Fig.. 4: Ring: I3rmay be rotated; with lugs. ll, ll "moving in: equatorial space 22, causinglugs ll, [1 to estab lish. simultaneous engagement with the" inner axial faces of both lugs 2| and 2!. This'is. the locked position of the parts as indicated'in' dotted lines in Fig. 4;

By constructing the parts-:ormolded: plastic material. having some slight degreeof compressibility, it becomes possible to provide a fairly" snug fitbetween the interlocking lug members;

thus to maintain the parts in assembly"by-"fric'--- tional engagementof the parts.

Ears l8 are of considerable'length andextend to a-substantial depth below the equatorial plane The rotor B Rotor B comprises a pair of identical sections each having a staff or trunnion portion 26 and a disc portion 21 provided with a rim 28 in the form of an axially opening channel. Rim 28 may be filled or partially filled with a ring 29 of relatively heavy material such as lead, to weight the rotor to any desired extent. Each section has a hub portion 30 projecting axially a slight distance beyond the inner face offdis'c. portion 21, which is flat. Hub portions 30 come together,

leaving disc portions 21 separated to define an annular space 3! of flat ring form. Thus the hub sections 30 and disc members 21 cooperate to. define a .reelin which the cable 35 is wound. Grommet M'lies in the plane of the reel space 31, to guide the cable 35 into and out of the same.

Thetwo rotor sections are locked together by means of integral pins 32, each projecting from the face of the hub portion of one rotor section and seated in an opening '33 in the'hub portion of the other section; The ends of staff sections 26-are of rounded conical form and'are seated in conical bearing recesses 35' in the respective ears Hi It may now be noted that, in assembling the toy prior to securing the shell sections together, the ears IB may be sprung'apart suffi ciently to allow the ends of the staifsecticlnsQG After the shell sections'are assembled and locked together by to be slipped into recesses 34.

ring [3, the constricting 'tension of the latter'securely restrains ears i8 against yielding outward- 1y, thus preventing any possibility'of the rotor becoming dislodged from the bearing recesses 34% Operation In using thetoy, it is manipulated in the man ner of a conventional yo-yo, cable 35' being pulled periodically so as to deliver awindingim pulse to the rotor B such as to continue the 'alter nate winding'and unwinding of the cable in reel space 31. Coincidentally with this characteristic yo-yo movement, the toy may 'be -moved in various orbits, as in the operation of the eon ventional yo-yo.

Additionally, it may when-desired be bounced In this con-- (e. g:, a-vinyl resin such'aspolyvinyl chlorideor acetate monomerroria copolymer ofthe two) and the disc sections 21 of'the rotor B maybe'ornamented with appropriate I designs toprovide an attractive appearance.

l'claim't 1. In a gyroscopic toy, a generally spherical shell comprising matingshell sections each including a polar zone of spherical conformation andiaf lateral wall of cylindrical shape, cooperating with that of the other shell section to define an: equatorial zone'lying below the extended spherical contour of the shell; lugs-extending cir-- cumferentially'alongthe rims of said cylindrical portions in-circumfejrentially spaced relationand projecting radially outwardly; said "shell "having diametrically opposedbearing recesses; a rotor havingea 'stafi'lth'e ends of which are journalled in: said' recesses, and comprising axially spaced disem'embers and -a hub joining said='disc=mem'-- bers; a cable adapted to be wound around said hub for rotating the rotor; and a union ring having a cylindrical internal wall rotatably fitted to the lateral walls of the shell sections for rotation thereon, and including retainer lugs axially opposed and spaced to define an annular equatorial space to receive the lugs of said shell sections, said retainer lugs being circumferentially spaced to provide ports through which the lugs of said shell sections may be inserted in order to reach said equatorial space, with the subsequent rotation of said union ring serving to lock said shell section lugs between said axially opposed retainer lugs.

2. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said shell sections has diametrically opposed ears in which said bearing recesses are formed, said ears being circumferentially separated from adjoining portions of the cylindrical wall of said one shell section, so as to be flexible sufiiciently tospread said bearing recesses for the insertion and removal of said rotor staff, said union ring, in the assembled toy, restraining said ears against outward flexing movement, and thereby locking said ears upon the ends of said staff.

3. In a gyroscopic toy, a generally spherical shell comprising mating shell sections eachincluding a polar zone of spherical conformation and a lateral wall of cylindrical shape, cooperating with that of the other shell section to define an equatorial zone lying below the extended spherical contour of the shell; a union ring surroundin said equatorial zone, having a cylindrical inner wall fitted upon the cylindrical 6 walls of said shell sections for rotation thereon, and having an outer surface forming substantially a continuation of the spherical surfaces of said shell sections, releasable interlocking means on the respective shell sections and on said union ring, for locking the shell sections together through said union ring; one of said shell sections having a pair of diametrically opposed ears provided with bearing recesses; a rotor having a staff the ends of which are journalled in said recesses, and comprising axially spaced disc members and a hub joining said disc members; a cable adapted to be wound around said hub for rotating the rotor; said ears being circumferentially separated from adjoining portions of the cylindrical part of said one shell section sufiiciently to provide for outward flexing such, as to allow the insertion and removal of said stafi, and being secured against such outward flexing movement by the engagement of said union ring thereagainst in the assembled toy.

JAMES H. HUFF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 59,745 Haven et al. Nov. 20, 1866 617,665 Waterhouse Jan. 10, 1899 999,247 OByrne Aug. 1, 1911 1,762,620 Fixen June 10, 1930 2,533,904 Urban Dec. 12, 1950 2,605,584 Perker et a1 Aug. 5, 1952

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