Gyroscopic top

A gyroscopic top comprising a hollow casing, a starter element mounted for oscillation within said casing, a coil spring connected to and wound about said starter element and connected to said casing, a male clutch member on said starter element, a starter cord having a portion thereof pre-wound on said starter element and having a finger-grip portion thereof projecting outside of said casing, a vertically arranged shaft mounted for rotation in said casing, said shaft having a spinning tip thereon, a rotor on said shaft, and a female clutch member on said rotor;

• exertion of an outward pulling force on said finger-grip portion of said starter cord effecting the unwinding of pre-wound portion of said cord and the simultaneous movement of said starter element in one direction of oscillation to engage said male clutch member with said female clutch member thereby to effect positive rotation of said rotor and the spinning tip of said shaft, release of said finger-grip portion of said cord effecting movement of said starter element in the opposite direction of oscillation to return the same to its initial position under the influence of said coil spring and the simultaneous re-winding of said portion of said starter cord on said starter element for subsequent activation.