US808918A - Top. - Google Patents

Description

6 0 9 1 9% N A J D B T N E T A P .N. A T H P R0 Gm W APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1905.

In van for.

John LU. Gra Han,

witnesses.

W QWPiM Afforney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

Application filed April 1 1905. Serial No. 253,272.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. GRATTAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tops designed for the amusement or diversion of children and adults; and the invention relates particularly to that class of tops in which the spinning thereof is induced by. means of blows from a whip-lash wielded by the player.

The object ofthe invention is to provide a toy in the nature of a spinning-top which differs from former lash-tops, so called, in that the body of the top is provided with horizontal rings or grooves which permit of the lash taking hold of the top when wrapped around; and a further object of the invention is to provide a series of vertical grooves or corrugations extending across the body of the top, the latter grooves being intended to engage a small knot on the end of the whiplash. By the employment of the vertical grooves referred to a better purchase is provided for, and a top constructed in this manner may be made to spin much faster and longer than the former makes of tops.

Other features and parts of the invention will be more readily understood by reference to the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in Which Figure 1 is an elevation of the top embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the vertical grooves. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the top in operating position, also showing the whip-lash applied to the top.

In the drawings, 2 represents t e body of the top, which is preferably made of hardwood.

3 3 represent the horizontal grooves or rings formed in the surface of the body 2. 4 4 represent the vertical grooves or slots, also formed in the body of the top.

5 represents the point or pivot upon which the top spins. This point or pivot may be formed, as shown in the drawings, on the body by turning at the same time the toy is made; but the preferred manner of constructing the said point is to provide a roundheaded tack or nail, which is driven into the center of the cone-shaped portion 6.

7 represents awhiphandle, 8 the lash, and 9 the small knot formed on the end of the lash.

In practice the player starts the top by twirling it with his hands, and then while it is in motion he strikes it repeated blows with the whip-lash. Each successive blow will cause the top to spin at a higher rate of speed, and after a few strokes of the lash it will continue to spin for several minutes without further attention. By the use of the form of top herein shown and described a single player may manipulate several tops at the same time.

It will be obvious that changes and modifications may be made in my invention without departing from it, and I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the precise form of construction described herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A top of the class described, comprising a wooden body portion, a series of horizontal grooves or corrugations formed in the surface of said body, vertical grooves formed across the horizontal grooves and adapted to engage a knot on the end of a whip-lash, sub stantially as described.

'2. A top of the class described, comprising a wooden body having one fiat end and one cone-shaped end, a plurality of annular corrugations or grooves formed in the surface of said body, a plurality of grooves formed lengthwise of said body adapted to engage a knot or like part formed on the end of a whiplash, substantially as described.

3. A top of the class described, comprising a cylindrical body having one fiat, and one cone-shaped end, annular rings or corrugations formed around said body, and grooves formed lengthwise of said body adapted to provide a purchase or hold for a knot formed on the end of a whip-lash.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. GRATTAN.

Witnesses:

EDGAR V. BLOODOUGH, HARRY DE WALLACE.

Images