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US 6,364,734 B1Granted
Toy top structure and system
OwnerRicky Nginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toy top system that uses uniquely configured tops. The system contains a plurality of toy tops that can be stacked on top of one another while spinning. Each of the tops has a value for rotational inertia associated with it. At least some of the tops are configured to have a value for rotational inertia that varies as a function of the rotational speed of the top. The tops with a variable rotational inertia are capable of storing and providing rotational energy while maintaining a near constant rate of rotation.
Claims10
A toy top, comprising:
- a structure symmetrically disposed around a central axis, wherein said structure terminates at one end with a point that is located on said central axis;
- a plurality of weights symmetrically disposed around said central axis, wherein each of said weights is supported by said structure;
- a plurality of springs for applying a biasing force to each of said plurality of weights that bias the weights toward said central axis, wherein said weights compress said springs and move away from said central axis when the top rotates about said central axis faster than a predetermined minimum rate of rotation.
A toy top, comprising:
- a plurality of weights disposed around a central axis;
- a plurality of springs that bias said weights toward the central axis, wherein said weights compress said springs and move away from said central axis as said top spins, thereby providing said top with a variable value for rotational inertia that varies as a function of rate of rotation for said top.
A system, comprising:
- a plurality of tops, at least some of said tops having a plurality of weights disposed around a central axis, and a plurality of springs that bias said weights toward the central axis, wherein said weights compress said springs and move away from said central axis as said tops spin, thereby providing at least some of said tops with a value for rotational inertia that varies as a function of rotation rate;
- a launcher selectively attachable to each of said plurality of tops, wherein said launcher is capable of spinning each of said tops with a predetermined amount of rotational energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.