# US 9,435,820 B1 · Rotation-rate detector for spinning top

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- Number: US 9,435,820 B1
- Document ID: US9435820B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/758,769
- Filed: 2015-04-17
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-31
- Assignees: Tomy Company, Ltd.
- Applicants: Tomy Company, Ltd.
- Inventors: Makoto Muraki; Takeaki Maeda
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435820B1

## CPC

- A63H 1/02: with detachable winding devices
- G01P 3/486: delivered by photo-electric detectors
- A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G})

## Abstract

A rotation-rate detector detects a rotation rate of a spinning top and is fixed to or detachably attached to a launcher. The launcher applies a rotational force to the spinning top to launch the spinning top. The rotation-rate detector includes a detachment detector that detects detachment and attachment of the spinning top. The rotation rate of the spinning top is detected after the detachment detector detects attachment of the spinning top.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rotation-rate detector that detects a rotation rate of a spinning top and is fixed to or detachably attached to a launcher, the launcher applying a rotational force to the spinning top attached to the launcher to launch the spinning top, the rotation-rate detector comprising:
a detachment detector that detects detachment and attachment of the spinning top,
wherein the rotation rate of the spinning top is detected after the detachment detector detects attachment of the spinning top.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rotation-rate detector of a spinning top according to claim 1, further comprising:
a counter that counts a number of rotations of the spinning top from beginning of rotation of the spinning top to detection of detachment of the spinning top by the detachment detector;
a clock that measures a time from the beginning of rotation of the spinning top to the detection of detachment of the spinning top by the detachment detector; and
a rate calculator that calculates the rotation rate of the spinning top based on the number of rotations counted by the counter and the time measured by the clock.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The rotation-rate detector of a spinning top according to claim 1,
wherein the launcher comprises a rod aligned with a rotational center of the spinning top attached to the launcher and movable in a direction along an axis and urges the rod with a predetermined urging force in one direction along the axis,
wherein the detachment detector comprises a detection switch that detects movement of the rod in an other direction along the axis against the urging force, and
wherein one end of the rod is urged by the upper surface of the spinning top attached to the launcher such that the rod moves in the other direction and turns on the detection switch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The rotation-rate detector of a spinning top according to claim 1,
wherein the launcher comprises:
a rod aligned with a rotational center of the spinning top attached to the launcher and movable along an axis; and
a spring that urges the rod with a predetermined urging force in one direction along the axis,
wherein the detachment detector comprises a detection switch that detects movement of the rod in an other direction along the axis against the urging force, and
wherein one end of the rod is urged by the upper surface of the spinning top attached to the launcher such that the rod moves in the other direction and turns on the detection switch.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The rotation-rate detector of a spinning top according to claim 1,
wherein the launcher and the rotation-rate detector are separate pieces, and
wherein the rotation-rate detector is detachable from the launcher and comprises the detachment detector.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The rotation-rate detector of a spinning top according to claim 5, being configured as an information logger.