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US 2011/0212665 A1Published application
Motorized yo-yo having improved efficiency
OwnerHans W. Van Dan Elzen, Thomas J. Van Dan Elzeninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is a yo-yo that that has at least one side that incorporates components that create a powered rotation system. The system is connected to either a circuit board or a weighted board that is similarly rotatable and is located in the yo-yo's other side and/or employs a circuit board that is non-symmetric about its rotational axis and/or uses the powered rotation system to only push on a side portion's body member.
Claims21
A yo-yo comprising:
- first and second body members;
- first and second board assemblies;
- wherein a first side portion of said yo-yo comprises said first body member, said first board assembly and a plurality of permanent magnets fixedly secured to said first body member in a manner wherein said permanent magnets are spaced apart from each other;
- wherein a second side portion of said yo-yo comprises said second body member and said second board assembly;
- wherein said first and second side portions are secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;
- a tether operatively connected to said axle structure;
- wherein said first board assembly is rotatably secured to said yo-yo in a manner whereby said first board assembly is freely rotatable relative to said first body member, wherein a sensor, an electromagnet, a controller and an electrical power source are secured to said first board assembly and are operatively connected to each other;
- wherein said sensor is capable of detecting a magnetic field and wherein said permanent magnets and said sensor are located in a manner whereby when said first body member is rotating relative to said first board assembly, said permanent magnets are capable of passing said sensor in a manner that causes a change in said sensor;
- wherein said electromagnet is located in a manner whereby when said first body member is rotating relative to said first board assembly and said electromagnet receives power, said electromagnet can apply a force to one of said permanent magnets located adjacent said electromagnet;
- wherein when power is being supplied to said sensor and said permanent magnets are passing by said sensor and causing a change in said sensor that is transmitted to said controller, said controller can cause said electromagnet to become temporarily energized at an appropriate time to cause said electromagnet to apply a force to one of said permanent magnets in a manner whereby said force acts to at least maintain a rotational momentum of said body member;
- wherein said second board assembly is rotatably secured to said yo-yo in a manner whereby said second board assembly is freely rotatable relative to said second body member;
- and
- wherein a rod connects together said first and second board assemblies whereby said board assemblies move in unison.
10 more elements
An improved yo-yo of the type having first and second side portions connected together by a central axle structure, wherein said first side portion has a body member and a board member, wherein said board member has mass and is freely rotatable relative to said body member, wherein an electrically-powered apparatus is at least partially located on said board member, wherein when said body member is rotating relative to said board member, said apparatus can apply force to said body member that acts to at least maintain the rotation of said body member, said improvement comprising:
- a rod structure that connects said board member to a member located in said second side portion, wherein said member located in said second side portion has mass and is freely rotatable relative to said body member, and wherein said rod structure enables the mass of said member located in said second side portion to be added to the mass of said board member.
A yo-yo comprising:
- first and second side portions secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;
- a tether operatively connected to said axle structure;
- wherein said first side portion comprises a body member and a freely rotatable board assembly;
- wherein located on said board assembly are a sensor, an electromagnet, a controller operatively connected to said sensor and said electromagnet, and an electrical power source operatively connected to said sensor, electromagnet, and controller;
- wherein at least one permanent magnet is fixedly secured to said body member and is positioned to pass adjacent said sensor when said body member is rotating relative to said board member and wherein said sensor is of a type whereby said sensor will be affected when said permanent magnet passes adjacent said sensor;
- and
- wherein when said body member is rotating relative to said board member and said sensor is being affected by the passage of said at least one permanent magnet, whenever said electromagnet is actuated, one of said at least one permanent magnets will be located adjacent said electromagnet and a pole of said electromagnet will have the same polarity as a pole of the permanent magnet adjacent said electromagnet whereby said electromagnet will only apply a repulsive force on said adjacent permanent magnet in a manner that helps to maintain a rotational momentum of said body member.
4 more elements
A yo-yo comprising:
- first and second side portions secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;
- a tether operatively connected to said axle structure;
- wherein said first side portion comprises a body member and a freely rotatable board assembly;
- wherein located on said board assembly are a sensor, an electromagnet and a controller operatively connected to said sensor and said electromagnet;
- wherein an electrical power source is operatively connected to said sensor, electromagnet and controller and wherein said electrical power source is located on an exterior portion of said yo-yo;
- wherein at least one permanent magnet is fixedly secured to said body member and is positioned to pass adjacent said sensor when said body member is rotating relative to said board member and wherein said sensor is of a type whereby said sensor will be affected when said magnet passes adjacent said sensor;
- and
- wherein when said body member is rotating relative to said board member and said sensor is affected by the passage of said at least one permanent magnet, said electromagnet will be actuated at a time when one of said at least one permanent magnets is adjacent said electromagnet whereby said electromagnet will apply a force on said adjacent permanent magnet in a manner that helps to maintain a rotational momentum of said body member.
5 more elements
A yo-yo comprising:
- first and second side portions secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;
- a tether operatively connected to said axle structure;
- wherein said first side portion comprises a body member and a freely rotatable board assembly;
- wherein said board assembly comprises a board member, a sensor, an electromagnet and a controller, wherein said sensor, electromagnet and controller are operatively interconnected and are secured to said board member;
- wherein an electrical power source is operatively connected to said sensor, electromagnet, and controller;
- wherein said body member can rotate relative to said board assembly, wherein at least one permanent magnet is fixedly secured to said body member and is positioned to pass adjacent said sensor when said body member is rotating relative to said board member and wherein said sensor is of a type whereby said sensor will be affected when said magnet passes adjacent said sensor;
- wherein when said body member is rotating relative to said board member and said sensor is affected by the passage of said at least one permanent magnet, said electromagnet will be actuated at a time when one of said at least one permanent magnets is substantially adjacent said electromagnet whereby said electromagnet will apply a force on said substantially adjacent permanent magnet in a manner that helps to maintain a rotational momentum of said body member;
- and
- wherein said board assembly has a center of mass and wherein when said yo-yo is sleeping and has a horizontally-oriented axis of rotation, said center of mass will be located offset from said center of rotation and wherein said board member has a shape that enables said sensor and electromagnet to be located in a manner that maximizes a distance between said center of mass and said center of rotation.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.