Back to results
US 6,599,165 B1Granted
Yo-yo having an active starburst tether engagement system
OwnerHans W. Van Dan Elzeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is a yo-yo that employs an active starburst tether engagement system located in one or both of the yo-yo's side members. The system makes use of a starburst-shaped array of movable engagement ribs that face the tether and are located near the yo-yo's axle structure. Each rib is independently movable and is located at the end of a flexible finger that enables the rib to be moved by the tether in a direction substantially parallel to the yo-yo's axis of rotation.
Claims21
A yo-yo comprising:
- first and second side members secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;
- a tether secured to a portion of said axle structure;
- wherein each of said side members has a tether-facing surface in which at least a portion of said surface faces toward the opposite one of said side members;
- and
- a plurality of movable engagement ribs movably secured to said first side member wherein said ribs protrude outwardly toward said tether from said first side member's tether-facing surface, and wherein when said tether is taut and contacts said ribs, said ribs will move in a direction away from said tether.
2 more elements
A yo-yo comprising:
- first and second side members secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;
- a tether secured to a portion of said axle structure;
- wherein each of said side members has a tether-facing surface in which at least a portion of said surface faces toward the opposite one of said side members;
- and
- wherein at least one of said side members has a plurality of movable engagement ribs located in its tether-facing surface and capable of contacting said tether when at least a portion of said tether is moved toward said ribs, wherein said movable engagement ribs are flexibly secured to their associated side member in a manner whereby each of said ribs is independently movable and is capable of being moved in a direction away from said tether during a first predetermined type of engagement between said tether and said ribs, and wherein when said yo-yo is sleeping at the end of the tether, a second predetermined type of engagement between said tether and said ribs will cause the yo-yo to return to a user's hand.
2 more elements
A yo-yo comprising:
- first and second side members secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;
- a tether secured to a portion of said axle structure;
- wherein each of said side members has a tether-facing surface in which at least a portion of said surface faces toward the opposite one of said side members;
- and
- wherein said first side member has a plurality of movable engagement ribs located in its tether-facing surface and capable of contacting said tether when at least a portion of said tether is moved toward said ribs, wherein said ribs are secured to a common support member that is secured to said first side member, wherein a spring member is operatively connected to at least one of said engagement ribs to thereby enable said at least one of said engagement ribs to be capable of being moved in a direction away from said tether during a first predetermined type of engagement between said tether and said ribs, and wherein when said yo-yo is sleeping at the end of the tether, a second predetermined type of engagement between said tether and said at least one of said engagement ribs will be capable of causing the yo-yo to return to a user's hand.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.