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US 8,556,676 B2Granted
Magnetic top system and method
AssigneeMEGA Brands International
InventorsVic Bertrand, Stephen Donahue, Patrick Latour
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnetic top system for energizing, launching, and controlling movement of a spinning top. In one embodiment, a magnetic top launcher may magnetically couple to a top and induce a spinning motion in the top. A top controlling device may magnetically control a traversing movement of the top on a play surface without directly contacting the top.
Claims20
A magnetic top assembled from a plurality of parts, the top comprising:
- a magnetic core part;
- a tip part;
- and
- a tip holder,
- wherein the tip part is held between the magnetic core part and the tip holder,
- wherein the tip part extends through an opening in the tip holder, and
- wherein the tip holder engages the magnetic core part to hold the parts together in an assembly,
- wherein the assembled top has a tip portion and a head portion opposite to the tip portion,
- wherein the assembled top spins around a rotational axis extending from the head portion to the tip portion,
- wherein the core magnetic part provides at least one magnet disposed in the head portion of the assembled top,
- wherein the magnetic to further comprises an extendable and retractable tip that is activated by a switch disposed on the head portion and centered at the rotational axis, and
- wherein the extendable and retractable tip extends out of, and retracts within, an opening in the tip part that is aligned with the rotational axis.
9 more elements
A magnetic top assembled from a plurality of parts, the to comprising:
- a magnetic core part;
- a tip part;
- and
- a tip holder,
- wherein the tip part is held between the magnetic core part and the tip holder,
- wherein the tip part extends through an opening in the tip holder, and
- wherein the tip holder engages the magnetic core part to hold the parts together in an assembly,
- wherein the assembled top has a tip portion and a head portion opposite to the tip portion,
- wherein the assembled top spins around a rotational axis extending from the head portion to the tip portion,
- wherein the core magnetic part provides at least one magnet disposed in the head portion of the assembled top,
- wherein the magnetic top further comprises an extendable and retractable striking member that is activated by a switch disposed on the head portion and centered at the rotational axis, and
- wherein the striking member extends in the radial direction perpendicular to the rotational axis.
9 more elements
A magnetic top assembled from a plurality of parts, the to comprising:
- a magnetic core part;
- a tip part;
- and
- a tip holder,
- wherein the tip part is held between the magnetic core part and the tip holder,
- wherein the tip part extends through an opening in the tip holder, and
- wherein the tip holder engages the magnetic core part to hold the parts together in an assembly,
- wherein the assembled top has a tip portion and a head portion opposite to the tip portion,
- wherein the assembled top spins around a rotational axis extending from the head portion to the tip portion,
- wherein the core magnetic part provides at least one magnet disposed in the head portion of the assembled top,
- wherein the magnetic to further comprises an extendable and retractable shield member that is activated by a switch disposed on the head portion and centered at the rotational axis, and
- wherein the shield member moves away from the tip portion and away from the rotational axis.
9 more elements
A magnetic top assembled from a plurality of parts, the to comprising:
- a magnetic core part;
- a tip part;
- and
- a tip holder,
- wherein the tip part is held between the magnetic core part and the tip holder,
- wherein the tip part extends through an opening in the tip holder, and
- wherein the tip holder engages the magnetic core part to hold the parts together in an assembly,
- wherein the assembled top has a tip portion and a head portion opposite to the tip portion,
- wherein the assembled top spins around a rotational axis extending from the head portion to the tip portion,
- wherein the core magnetic part provides at least one magnet disposed in the head portion of the assembled top, and
- wherein the magnetic to further comprises a rotating shield member that rotates around the assembled top and is activated by a switch disposed on the head portion and centered at the rotational axis.
8 more elements
A magnetic top assembled from a plurality of parts, the top comprising:
- a locking magnetic part;
- a core tip part;
- and
- a bumper part,
- wherein the locking magnetic part engages the core tip part to hold the bumper part between the locking magnetic part and the core tip part,
- wherein the locking magnetic part has a first face facing the bumper part and a second face opposite to the first face,
- wherein the locking magnetic part has at least one magnet disposed at the second face,
- wherein the locking magnetic part has a switch disposed at the second face,
- wherein the magnetic top spins around a rotational axis,
- wherein the switch is centered at the rotational axis of the magnetic top,
- wherein the switch activates a feature of the core tip part,
- wherein the core tip part comprises an extendable and retractable tip that is activated by the switch, and
- wherein the extendable and retractable tip extends out of, and retracts within, an opening in the core tip part that is aligned with the rotational axis.
10 more elements
A magnetic top assembled from a plurality of parts, the top comprising:
- a locking magnetic part;
- a core tip part;
- and
- a bumper part,
- wherein the locking magnetic part engages the core tip part to hold the bumper part between the locking magnetic part and the core tip part,
- wherein the locking magnetic part has a first face facing the bumper part and a second face opposite to the first face,
- wherein the locking magnetic part has at least one magnet disposed at the second face,
- wherein the locking magnetic part has a switch disposed at the second face,
- wherein the magnetic to spins around a rotational axis,
- wherein the switch is centered at the rotational axis of the magnetic top,
- wherein the switch activates a feature of the core tip part,
- wherein the core tip part comprises an extendable and retractable striking member that is activated by the switch, and
- wherein the striking member extends in a radial direction perpendicular to the rotational axis.
10 more elements
A magnetic top assembled from a plurality of parts, the to comprising:
- a locking magnetic part;
- a core tip part;
- and
- a bumper part,
- wherein the locking magnetic part engages the core tip part to hold the bumper part between the locking magnetic part and the core tip part,
- wherein the locking magnetic part has a first face facing the bumper part and a second face opposite to the first face,
- wherein the locking magnetic part has at least one magnet disposed at the second face,
- wherein the locking magnetic part has a switch disposed at the second face,
- wherein the magnetic top spins around a rotational axis,
- wherein the switch is centered at the rotational axis of the magnetic top,
- wherein the switch activates a feature of the core tip part,
- wherein the core tip part comprises an extendable and retractable shield member that is activated by the switch, and
- wherein the shield member moves toward the locking magnetic part and away from the rotational axis.
10 more elements
A magnetic top assembled from a plurality of parts, the to comprising:
- a locking magnetic part;
- a core tip part;
- and
- a bumper part,
- wherein the locking magnetic part engages the core tip part to hold the bumper part between the locking magnetic part and the core tip part,
- wherein the locking magnetic part has a first face facing the bumper part and a second face opposite to the first face,
- wherein the locking magnetic part has at least one magnet disposed at the second face,
- wherein the locking magnetic part has a switch disposed at the second face,
- wherein the magnetic to spins around a rotational axis,
- wherein the switch is centered at the rotational axis of the magnetic top,
- wherein the switch activates a feature of the core tip part, and
- wherein the core tip part comprises a rotating shield member that rotates around the top and is activated by the switch.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.