WO2000047301A1

WO2000047301A1 - A spinning top

Info

Publication number: WO2000047301A1
Application number: PCT/AU2000/000096
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dennis Grant Callaghan
Original assignee: Tree Toys Pty. Limited
Priority date: 1999-02-12
Filing date: 2000-02-11
Publication date: 2000-08-17
Also published as: TW498779U

Abstract

A spinning top (10) comprises a body (12, 25) and a gripping element (24) rotatably mounted to the body such that in use the element can be restrained against movement whilst the body is caused to rotate, by pulling a pull cord which wraps around a spool (16) attached to the body. A further aspect is a game using a game board (34) defining an area in which spinning tops joust.

Description

A SPINNING TOP

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a spinning top and also to a game employing two or more spinning tops. Background Art

Spinning tops have been known for many years, and have been used as a toy primarily by children. Existing spinning tops comprise a body having a point extending downwardly therefrom upon which the top can spin. To spin a top, some type of cord, rope or string is wound around the top, is pulled and then the top is released. Alternatively, a push-rod type spinning top has also been employed wherein an up and down movement of the rod is used to spin the top. However, there is a limitation to the spinning speed that can be generated with the existing tops .

German patent specification 2532082 (W Feneberg) contains the disclosure of another known form of spinning top toy characterised by the body having a central sleeve rotatably mounted relative to a top cap and a base portion. While holding the toy between the top cap and base portion, the central sleeve is rolled over a level surface to spin the sleeve. Upon release of the toy, the sleeve falls down onto the tip portion thereby setting it spinning together with a shaft with a flywheel mounted on the tip.

However new and useful alternatives to known toy spinning tops would be desirable to provide different forms of enjoyment and challenge to users, prior art spinning tops being very restricted in their applications and adaptability to various games. Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect the present invention provides a spinning top for use in a game and including: a) a body having a tip on which the top can spin with the body acting as a flywheel, b) a spool extending axially from the body, c) a pull cord attached to the spool and adapted to wrap around the spool, and d) a gripping element adapted to be held by the user and to support the body and spool while they rotate relative to the gripping element whereby pulling on the pull cord rotates the spool and the body and when the pull cord is released, the entire spinning top can be released to spin on the tip.

The present invention and in particular the preferred embodiments described below, permit high rotation speeds to be achieved thereby providing long spinning times and this adapts the top for use in various games and skills, yet the top can be economically and attractively manufactured in various eye-catching forms . For example with selected artwork and embellishment, a range of tops can be provided to attract users to purchase and collect a set.

A preferred embodiment is one in which a decorative headpiece is rigidly mounted at a top end of the spool and rotates with the spool . This form of the invention lends itself to the production of tops providing the appearance of characters of pseudo-human form.

In a preferred embodiment the gripping element is in the form of a ring having diametrically opposed external surfaces at each side for gripping between the forefinger and thumb of a user. For this purpose preferably the ring has a flattened and textured surface to facilitate gripping on each side.

Most preferably the body portion is a rigid body balanced around the axis and having substantially a greater diameter than the gripping element .

The cord can be of relatively fine diameter having one end attached to the spool and the cord being adapted to wrap around the spool and to be retracted or partially retracted when the body is released for spinning.

Embodiments of the invention are such that a first pull of the cord unwraps the cord from around the spool thereby accelerating the spool and body in one rotary direction. When the cord is fully pulled out, continued rotation of the spool wraps the cord around the spool in the opposite direction thereby retracting the cord. The user retains a grip on the end of the cord, motion of the spool and body is then arrested and further pulling on the cord spins back the body in the opposite direction. It has been found that by a series of pulls the user can select the time of release of the top for high speed rotation.

The term "cord" has been used to define a flexible elongate element for pulling the spool. The term "cord" is to be construed as covering any suitable elongate flexible element even though it might otherwise be described as a string, rope, tape or filament.

One application of embodiments of the invention is to a game in which the spinning top is used in conjunction with a paddle or bat-like device having a plate-like central region with a rim and a radially outwardly extending handle. Using this paddle various tricks can be developed by the user including flipping the spinning top into the air and catching it again on the disc, balancing the spinning top on the rim of the disc, catching the flipped top on the back of the disc and various other tricks .

Two or more tops in accordance with the first aspect can be used on a gameboard without guideways . For example, a plate-like arena in which the tops "battle or "fight" can be employed.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a game comprising two or more spinning tops and a game board, wherein the game board includes a central region and two or more entry guideways extending out from the central region, the guideways each being adapted for directing a respective spinning top placed thereon into the central region. With such a game, two or more tops can be introduced into the central region and can "fight" each other, with the winner being the last top standing.

Preferably each guideway is in the form of a ramp and slopes downwardly towards the central region, thereby facilitating directing a top into the central region. Typically each guideway has opposing side walls and an open end at the central region.

Preferably the central region is walled for generally retaining spinning tops therein, and enhancing the "fighting" aspect of the game.

Preferably each of the tops has a form in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

In one mode of the game, users can attempt to leave a loose trail of the cord in an attempt to ensnare another user's top with this trailing cord.

A further and advantageous form of the second aspect of the invention is where the gameboard has the central region in the form of a generally circular disc having a flat circular central region functioning as a fighting arena and surrounded by an annular shoulder providing an upwardly extending ramp and which terminates in a peripheral collar structure with which the respective entry guideways are adapted to engage at selected positions, each of the entry guideways providing a ramp which is adapted to receive a released spinning top and guide the top down the ramp and onto the annular ramp-like shoulder .

In this version preferably the guideway is provided by a release unit having a detent adapted to receive the tip of a spinning top with an ejection element manually operable to eject the top from the detent so it migrates down the ramp to commence the fighting game. Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a preferred top in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view of a preferred game board with spinning tops schematically depicted thereon, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a side sectional view of the game board of Figure 2 taken on a line 3-3 of Figure 2 ; Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a further embodiment of fighting game for spinning tops;

Figure 5 is a schematic cross sectional view through the plate unit of Figure 4 without the entry devices in place; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing one of the entry devices for use with the unit of Figures 4 and 5 ;

Figure 7 is a view on an enlarged scale showing the upper end of an ejection device of the unit in Figure 6 ; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the bottom portion of the ejection device. Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring to Figure 1 a spinning top 10 includes a base portion 12 having a lower point 14 projecting downwardly therefrom in use, and upon which the top stands and spins. Projecting upwardly in use from base 12 is a spool 16 having an optional head 18 mounted to the upper end thereof . The head can provide a surface for decoration (eg for a face) and may also serve as a handle for the top.

A hole 20 is formed in the spool, and receives the knotted end of string 22 for fastening the string to the spool. The free end E of the string can be grasped by a user's hand in use (as described below) .

Rotatably mounted to the spool is a ring element 24, and free rotation can be facilitated by providing appropriate bearing surfaces (eg roller bearings) at mounting points 25,26. The ring element is typically sized so that it can be grasped between the thumb and forefinger (which engage serrated gripping surfaces 21 and 22) whereby the ring element is restrained against movement, and the spool member and body can freely rotate with respect to the ring element.

In use, a user partially or fully winds string 22 in one direction around spool member 16, and then grasps the free end thereof with one of their hands. With the other hand the user grasps ring element 24 in a manner that does not restrict the rotation of the spool element nor the remainder of the top with respect to the ring element . The user then commences pulling the string outwardly and away from the top, and can increase the rotational speed progressively with such an outward pulling motion. With continued pulling of the string, eventually the full extent of its length is unwound from spool member 16, and the user can either (1) release the top and string entirely or (2) maintain the grasp on both the string and ring element 24.

In either case, the string will then continue to wind back around the spool in an opposite direction to the previous winding (ie because of the spools momentum) . In case (1) only a certain rotational speed might be reached, although this might be satisfactory to users in some situations. In case (2), however, the user can allow the string to wind back up around the spool element almost fully, and then can commence to pull the string outwardly again from the top. With the continued winding and unwinding of the string, the user can progressively build up the rotational speed of the top so that at a predetermined time it can be released and may stay upright and spinning for increased periods, especially when compared to prior art tops .

The configuration shown in Fig. 1 is one preferred configuration for the top, but the top may simply comprise something akin to the base portion in its entirety (eg without the upstanding spool) . The ring element could then be an annular ring rotatable on the external surface of the base portion, with the string simply being wound around the top above or below the ring element as required.

However, with the configuration as shown in Figure 1 the ring element provides a member that is relatively easy to grasp, and also guides the string during unwinding and winding movements around the spool .

Components of the top can be formed from plastics, timber, metal materials etc, and typically hardwearing surfaces are formed from a metal such as a steel alloy or aluminium etc - eg. the spool, the ring element, the bearing points 25, 26 and the point 14.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 , a plurality of tops 10 are shown in use on a game board 30. The game board includes a central circular arena 32 surrounded by and recessed into an upstanding peripheral region 34.

Spaced evenly around the game board (which is shown as square-shaped, but which can be any suitable shape - eg round, hexagonal, triangular, rectangular etc) are a plurality of guide ramps 36 (in Figure 2 four such ramps are shown) . As can be seen in Figure 3, the ramps are each recessed into the peripheral region and slope downwardly from the outer edge of the game board towards the central arena 32.

The ramps also taper inwardly to be wider at the outer edge of the game board and narrower closer to the arena 32 (as shown in Figure 2) . Because the guide ramps are recessed they are flanked by ramp side walls 38 which guide the tops 10 when placed on the ramp and help direct the top downwardly and into the arena 32. Also, because the arena 32 is recessed into the peripheral region, an arena side wall 40 is defined. This also maintains the tops within the arena in use of the game .

As shown in Figure 2, the four tops generally move down a respective ramp and into the central arena, and each top's spinning speed is regulated by a respective user.

Users may also attempt to release their top to have a trailing length of string 22 as shown, so that when the tops engage each other the trailing string may be caused to engage (wrap around) another top thereby dragging it downwardly to the arena surface.

More specifically, the point at which a user releases their top can determine whether and to what extent a trail of string extends outwardly from the top. It has been observed that achieving such string configurations requires skill on the part of the user, which is acquired through frequent use and experimentation with the top. This also enhances user interest in the game.

In one mode of use of the game, the four users all wind their respective tops up together and then, at a predetermined time, release their tops at their respective guide ramps and adjacent to the outer opening thereof. The ramps guide the tops down into the arena, and there the tops will commence to "fight" with one another. In this game the last top left standing is considered to be the winner, and users can pit their skills, attempting to have their tops spinning most quickly at the released time and/or to have a length of string trailing therefrom to enhance their chances in knocking over or dragging down other tops .

The arena and guide ramps as well as the board surface can be any desired shape, and the slopes of the guide ways may be made variable (as controlled by the users) . The game board as described may be used with existing tops, or alternatively with preferred tops in accordance with the present invention. The game board may also be formed of any suitable material such as injection moulded plastic, timber, reinforced cardboard etc .

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, this version of the gameboard is circular and comprises a disc 40 having a flat circular central zone or arena 41 surrounded by an annular shoulder 42 which forms an upstanding ramp leading to a peripheral collar 43. The collar comprises an annular trough 44; any spinning top ending in this zone is deemed to have lost. The trough is bounded by an inner wall 45 and an outer wall 46 adjacent to an inner rim 47 and an outer rim 48 each of which provides a groove 49.

An upstanding peg 50 is provided at each location where an entry unit might be positioned. Figures 4 and 5 show in dotted lines the main body 51 of an entry unit. Each entry unit as shown in Figures 6 to 8 comprises the main body 51 having a base 52 with an aperture 53 for engaging a peg 50. A ramp surface 54 extends across the upper face from an upper region having a detent provided by a shallow recess 55 defined by a hole in the upper face and the top face of a pin 56 located in the hole. The pin 56 at its lower end is pivotally connected through a shaft 57 to a actuating lever 58 having an exposed tab 59 outside the entry unit body for manual actuation. Depression of the tab 59 causes the pin 56 to be pushed upwardly against a helical compression spring 60 which on release returns the lever and pin.

In use a spinning top is set in motion and deposited with the tip located in the detent 55. At the start of the game each user presses his or her respective tab 59 to eject the top which moves down the ramp to commence the jousting game.

Claims

1. A spinning top for use in a game and including: a) a body having a tip on which the top can spin with the body acting as a flywheel, b) a spool extending axially from the body, c) a pull cord attached to the spool and adapted to wrap around the spool, and d) a gripping element adapted to be held by the user and to support the body and spool while they rotate relative to the gripping element whereby pulling on the pull cord rotates the spool and the body and when the pull cord is released, the entire spinning top can be released to spin on the tip.

2. A top as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cord is a thin elongate element fastened at one end to the spool, with the opposing end being free to be grasped by a user, and wherein the spool is elongate and of small diameter relative to the diameter of the body and can have a large number of turns of the cord wrapped around it.

3. A top as claimed in claim 2 and wherein a decorative headpiece is rigidly mounted at a top end of the spool and rotates with the spool.

4. A top as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein the gripping element is in the form of a ring having diametrically opposed external surfaces at each side for gripping between a user's thumb and forefinger.

5. A top as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ring has a flattened and textured surface to facilitate gripping on each side.

6. A top as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion is a rigid body balanced around the axis and having substantially a greater diameter than the gripping element .

7. A game comprising a spinning top as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a bat having a central blade and a handle, the blade having a rim and shaped and dimensioned so that the user may perform tricks with the spinning top deposited on the blade.

8. A game comprising two or more tops each as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, and a game board defining a fighting arena in which the tops, introduced while spinning, can impact one another, , the winner being the last to topple.

9. A game comprising two or more spinning tops each as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 and a game board, wherein the game board includes a central region and two or more entry guideways extending out from the central region, the guideways each being adapted for directing a respective spinning top placed thereon into the central region.

10. A game as claimed in claim 9 wherein each guideway is in the form of a ramp and slopes downwardly towards the central region, thereby facilitating directing a top into the central region.

11. A game as claimed in claim 10 wherein each guideway has opposing side walls and an open end directed towards the central region which has a wall for retaining the tops in this central region.

12. A game as claimed in claim 9 wherein the gameboard has the central region in the form of a generally circular disc having a flat circular central region functioning as a fighting arena and surrounded by an annular shoulder providing an upwardly extending ramp and which terminates in a peripheral collar structure with which the respective entry guideways are adapted to engage at selected positions, each of the entry guideways providing a ramp which is adapted to receive a released spinning top and guide the top down the ramp and onto the annular ramp-like shoulder

13. A game as claimed in claim 10 wherein the guideway is provided by a release unit having a detent adapted to receive the tip of a spinning top with an ejection element manually operable to eject the top from the detent so it migrates down the ramp to commence the fighting game.

14. A game comprising two or more spinning tops and a game board, wherein the game board includes a central region and two or more corresponding guide ways extending out from the central region, the guide ways each being adapted for directing a respective spinning top placed thereon into the central region.