US3730521A

US3730521A - Amusement spinning device

Info

Publication number: US3730521A
Application number: US00112592A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Sellman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-02-04
Filing date: 1971-02-04
Publication date: 1973-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 1990-05-01

Abstract

An Amusement Spinning Device that consists of a base plate having an outer edge which has on the bottom side three or more anti-slip supporting lugs and a cup shaped shoulder near the outer edge and on the top side of said base plate that supports an annular type axial thrust ball bearing assembly at the outer boundary of the device. Also there is an inverted cup shaped top plate that is tightly fitted over the ball bearing assembly annular band and covers the top side of the ball bearing assembly and forms a support for an anti-slip top cap. This device is very small in size and for one foot operation.

Description

[111 SBQS [451 May1,1973

lned Sates Patent Sellman PATENTEUNY H975 3,730,521

lN-VENTOR. DONALD L. SELLMAN CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application in part discloses and claims subject matter disclosed in my earlier filed copending application, Ser. No. 743,091, filed July 8, 1968 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention lt consists of Amusement, exercising devices, and skill developing devices on which a person can ride standing on one foot.

2. Description of the Prior Art La Londes Pirouette Exerciser, U.S. Pat. No. 2,835,492 has a function somewhat similar to my invention but the structure is in direct contrast, for his structure has a centrally located bearing assembly with an upright center pin bearing support.

Waldens Merry-Go-Around, U.S. Pat. No. 3,155,388 is a self propelled device revolving around two centrally located bearings at the opposite ends ofa vertical shaft.

Both ofthese structures have an upright center pin or center shaft to provide a lateral bearing support to prevent tipping over. These bearing structures are in direct contrast to my bearing structure, which has a single ball bearing assembly at the outer boundary of my spinning device, that controls both axial and down thrust actions and provides a device that can be made less than one inch in height which is one third the height that La Londe specifies as his preferred height for his structure. This low height, not only makes my device compact but also easy and safe to operate. Also my bearing structure, which provides many bearing balls to hold up the weight, has low friction therefore my spinner will sustain a spin for a long time with little exertion of the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION can be performed on my spinner, such as the pirouette,

a sustained spin, changing speed at will, changing from one foot to the other and changing posture from standing upright to Crouching while spinning.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a spinning device that would develop a persons sense of balance, which would be a life long asset.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is a cross section view of the complete assembled amusement spinning device, which assembly is represented by the letter A. FIG. 2 is a partially cut away perspective view of'the axial thrust ball bearing assembly, represented by the letter B. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the base plate assembly, represented by the letter C. FIG. 4 is a view of the spinning device A, on which a girl is making a one foot spin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring in detail to the drawings, like characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In FIG. 3 the complete base assembly is designated by the letter C, the outer substantially flat rim is 8, the inner inverted cup shaped shoulder forming the top side of the base plate is-9, and the inverted cup shaped anti-slip lugs 10, are on the bottom side of the base plate rim 8, these lugs are held in place by a centrally located rivet 1 l.

The complete radial thrust bearing assembly in FIG. 2 is represented by the letter B, No. l is the inner collar and cupped inner bearing race, No. 2 is the outer cupped bearing race, No. 3 is the ball bearings that are journaled between the inner and outer cupped bearing races, No. 4 is the annular band that holds the inner and outer races and the ball bearings together and also provides a dust shield by inward projecting bottom rim.

In FIG. l the letter A is used to represent the complete assembled one foot spinning device, top plate 5 is an inverted cup shaped top plate that fits tightly over the outer side of the annular band 4 to form a base on which an elastic anti-slip top cap 6 is secured.

In FIG. 4 a girl is making a one foot spin on this amusement spinning device A, with her balance leg and arms extended.

The illustrations in the drawings are exaggerated in size'to make the details of the assembly easier tocomprehend. This spinning device should not be over l inch in height and not over 3 la inch in width, the ball bearings could be 1A inch size or as small as l/s inch in diameter. The larger size ball bearings make a faster spinner. Also the degree of slope from top to bottom of the inverted cup shaped shoulder 9, is'exaggerated for clarity; but inpractice the shoulder 9 would be very slightly larger in diameter at the bottom than at the top.

The axial thrust ball bearing assembly illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, is not ground and polished; yet makes a very satisfactory ball bearing assembly for this spinning device. Also this non-ground ball bearing assembly costs about l/ 10 as much as a ground precision made ball bearing assembly of the same type; thereby providing a spinning device that would be low priced and which many could afford.

In FIG. 4 the girl is shown spinning on the toe ofthe right foot; most people would prefer to stand on the ball of the foot instead of the toe. She has her balancing leg and arms extended. By the proper manipulation of her balance leg and arms, she can increase or slow down her speed of rotation. From a bended knee croutch, the spinner can jump into the air above while spinning and light on the spinner with either foot and continue the spin. Many of the beautiful pirouettes, spins, and jumps of ice skating can be accomplished on this spinning device. Many people would soon be able to make a forward pirouette on the right or left foot but there would still be so much more to accomplish. Besides the enjoyment of making accomplishments on this spinner, the development of a persons sense of balance, would be a lifelong asset.

Iclaim:

3 4 l. A one-foot spinning device comprising in comrace and havingan inwardly extending curved porbination: tion, a maximal array of ball bearings joumaled a. a base assembly having a substantially flat outer between said bearing races, an annular band havrim, an inverted cup shaped shoulder extending ing inwardly directed rim portions overlying Said upwardly, obtusely angled from said rim and form- 5 outer bearing race and partially encompassing said ing a substantially flat top base plate; outwardly extending curved portion of said inner b. an annular axial thrust ball bearing assembly surbearing face; and

rounding said shoulder and constituting the d an Inverted CUP Shaped top Plate Ughtly fitted over periphery of said device; Said annular band Q Said ball bearing assembly Comprising a cupped l 2. The device of claim 1 wheren said outer rim has at inner bearing race secured to said upwardly exleast three ground engeging ami'slip Supportiflglflgg at tending shoulder and having an outwardly extend tached thereto and said top plate has an antl-sllp top ing curved portion, a cupped outer bearing race in 'cap secured theretoan inverted position relative to said inner bearing

Claims

1. A one-foot spinning device comprising in combination: a. a base assembly having a substantially flat outer rim, an inverted cup shaped shoulder extending upwardly, obtusely angled from said rim and forming a substantially flat top base plate; b. an annular axial thrust ball bearing assemBly surrounding said shoulder and constituting the periphery of said device; c. said ball bearing assembly comprising a cupped inner bearing race secured to said upwardly extending shoulder and having an outwardly extending curved portion, a cupped outer bearing race in an inverted position relative to said inner bearing race and having an inwardly extending curved portion, a maximal array of ball bearings journaled between said bearing races, an annular band having inwardly directed rim portions overlying said outer bearing race and partially encompassing said outwardly extending curved portion of said inner bearing race; and d. an inverted cup shaped top plate tightly fitted over said annular band.

2. The device of claim 1 wheren said outer rim has at least three ground engaging anti-slip supporting lugs attached thereto and said top plate has an anti-slip top cap secured thereto.