Helical spring toy and method of use thereof
OwnerVictor A. Grossmaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toy apparatus including a guide having one or more tracks; a helical spring coil having first and second ends and a plurality of turns (T) situated about and defining a center axis between first and second ends of the helical coil spring; and/or a coupler which couples the and second ends of the helical spring coil to each other so as to form center opening configured to receive the one or more tracks, wherein an outer surface of one or more of the plurality of turns is in contact with the one or more tracks so that the helical coil spring rotates in a substantially poloidal direction about the central axis when traveling axially along the guide.
Claims21
A toy comprising:
- a plurality of rods each having a length;
- a helical spring coil having first and second ends and a plurality of turns (T) situated about and defining a center axis between the first and second ends of the helical coil spring;
- and
- a coupler which couples the first and second ends of the helical spring coil to each other so as to form a center opening configured to receive the plurality of rods, wherein an outer surface of one or more of the plurality of turns is in contact with the plurality of rods and rotates in a substantially poloidal direction about the central axis when traveling axially along the plurality of rods,
- wherein the plurality of rods are hingedly adjustable relative to each other to selectively stretch the helical spring coil along the center axis so as to change the shape or size of the center opening from a shape and size of the center opening in a relaxed closed state.
A toy comprising:
- a plurality of rods each having a length:
- a helical spring coil having first and second ends and a plurality of turns (T) situated about and defining a center axis between the first and second ends of the helical coil spring:
- a coupler which couples the first and second ends of the helical spring coil to each other so as to form a center opening configured to receive the plurality of rods, wherein an outer surface of one or more of the plurality of turns is in contact with the plurality of rods and rotates in a substantially poloidal direction about the central axis when traveling axially along the plurality of rods:
- a display;
- and
- a controller which determines one or more of a location, speed, and direction of the helical coil spring, determines a score in accordance with the determination, and renders the score on the display.
A toy comprising:
- a helical spring coil having first and second ends and a plurality of turns turned about and defining a center axis between first and second ends of the helical coil spring, the helical spring coil bent substantially in a closed axial circle by a coupler so as to define a center opening for receiving at least one rod, wherein the helical spring coil is configured to rotate in a modified poloidal direction (θ) about the central axis when traveling axially along the at least one rod, wherein the helical spring coil further comprises one or more light sources coupled to one or more of the plurality of turns.
A toy comprising:
- a guide comprising a plurality of rods movably coupled to each other;
- a helical spring coil having first and second ends and a plurality of turns (T) situated about and defining a center axis between the first and second ends of the helical spring coil;
- and
- a coupler which couples the first and second ends of the helical spring coil to each other so as to form a center opening configured to receive the plurality of links, wherein an outer surface of one or more of the plurality of turns is in contact with the plurality of links rods so that the helical spring coil rotates in a substantially poloidal direction about the central axis when traveling axially along the guide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.