U.S. patent application number 10/335565 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-03 for spinning amusement device with tethered object.
Invention is credited to Turner, Patrick J..
Application Number | 20030124950 10/335565 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24643662 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030124950 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Turner, Patrick J. |
July 3, 2003 |
Spinning amusement device with tethered object
Abstract
An amusement device is provided that can be used as an electric
yo-yo and as a mechanism for producing aesthetically pleasing
string oscillations. The amusement device includes a battery
operated spinning mechanism that can be selectively turned on and
off by a person using the device. A flexible tether is provided
having a first end and a second end. The first end of the tether is
coupled to the spinning mechanism and is spun by the spinning
mechanism. A display object is coupled to the second end of the
flexible tether, wherein the flexible tether is the only physical
interconnection between the spinning mechanism and the display
object. The spinning mechanism can be used either to rotate the
tether to create oscillations in the tether, or wind the tether,
thereby creating a yo-yo with the display object.
Inventors: |
Turner, Patrick J.;
(Puyallup, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAMORTE & ASSOCIATES P.C.
P.O. BOX 434
YARDLEY
PA
19067
US
|
Family ID: |
24643662 |
Appl. No.: |
10/335565 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10335565 |
Jan 3, 2003 |
|
|
|
09659009 |
Sep 11, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/236 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 1/30 20130101; A63H
1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/236 |
International
Class: |
A63H 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An amusement device, comprising: a spool having a forward end, a
rear end and a middle section disposed between said forward end and
said rear end, said middle section having a diameter smaller than
that of said forward end and said rear end, wherein the diameter of
said middle section increases as it approaches said forward end; a
housing containing a battery operated spinning mechanism, wherein
said battery operated spinning mechanism is coupled to said spool
for selectively spinning said spool; a flexible tether having a
first end and a second end, wherein said first end is coupled to
said spinning mechanism and is [spun by said spinning mechanism]
connected to said spool; a display object coupled to said second
end of said flexible tether, wherein said flexible tether is the
only physical interconnection between said spinning mechanism and
said display object; wherein said flexible tether winds around said
spool when said housing is held in a first orientation and said
flexible tether is spun by said spool without winding on said spool
when said housing is held in a second orientation.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said spinning mechanism
includes an on/off switch for selectively activating and
deactivating said spinning mechanism.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said display object is
selected from a group consisting of balls, molded cartoon
characters, airplanes and confections.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said display object is
a ball and said ball has a design pattern of colors thereon that
create a new color when said ball is spun.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said tether is
elastic.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said housing is
configured as a handle for holding said housing in one hand.
7. A device for creating oscillations in a length of string,
comprising: a length of string having a first end and a second end,
wherein said length of string has a linear central axis when pulled
straight; a first graspable element coupled to said first end of
said length of string, wherein said first graspable element
contains a motor capable of spinning said length of string around
said central axis; a second graspable element coupled to said
second end of said length of string, wherein said length of string
is the sole physical interconnection between said first graspable
element and said second graspable element.
8. The device according to claim 7, further including an on/off
switch for selectively activating and deactivating said motor.
9. The device according to claim 7, wherein said second graspable
element is a ball.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said ball has a design
pattern of colors thereon that create a new color when said ball is
spun.
11. The device according to claim 7, wherein said length of string
is elastic.
12. The device according to claim 7, wherein said length of string
is brightly colored.
13. A method of creating oscillations in a length of string,
comprising the steps of: providing a length of string having a
first end and a second end, wherein said length pf string has a
linear central axis when said length of string is pulled taut
between said first end and said second end; coupling said first end
to a motor; coupling said second end to a graspable object, wherein
said length of string is the sole physical interconnection between
said motor and said graspable object; spinning said length of
string about its central axis with said motor; and selectively
changing the distance between said motor and said graspable object,
thereby altering the tautness associated with said length of string
as said length of string spins.
14. The method according to claim 13, further including the step of
releasing said graspable element, thereby enabling said graspable
element to hang free and be rotated by said length of string.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/659,009, entitled Spinning Amusement Device
With Tethered Object, filed Sep. 11, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to amusement devices that
contain a tethered object that spins or whirls. More particularly,
the present invention relates to amusement devices that contain a
tethered object that spins under power from an electric motor.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] The prior art of toys and amusement devices is replete with
many examples of tethered objects that are spun using the tether.
Many such prior art devices are spun using manual power. Such prior
are devices are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,307,905 to Ament,
entitled Animal Exerciser, wherein a ball is connected to a stick
with a tether.
[0006] In the prior art, there also exist many devices where a
tethered object is connected to a battery powered motor. As such,
objects can be caused to spin without the need of manual exertion.
Such prior art devices are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,844
to Markowitz, entitled Interactive Vibrating Toy and U.S. Pat. No.
5,146,702 to Belokin, entitled Display Having An Electric Motor For
Simulating A Flying Object.
[0007] In prior art devices that use electric motors, the tether
that connects the motor to the spinning object is typically rigid
or at least semi-rigid. The use of a semi-rigid tether holds the
tethered object away from the spinning motor. In this manner, the
tether does not become entangled around the spinning motor as the
tether rotates around the spinning motor.
[0008] A problem associated with using a rigid or semi-rigid tether
is that the tether itself tends to have a fixed configuration as it
spins. As a result, the tether itself tends to be uninteresting as
it spins. In certain spinning amusement device, flexible tethers
are purposely used so that the tether itself adds to the optical
aesthetics of the device. Such a prior art device is exemplified by
U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,126 to Brown, entitled Vibratory Multi-Wave
Toy. In the Brown patent, a flexible tether is wrapped around a
rigid shaft. As the tether is spun, the tether oscillates at
different frequencies and forms interesting patters to observe. The
tether is prevented from tangling and wrapping around the motor by
the presence of the rigid shaft.
[0009] Although the rigid shaft in the Brown device prevents the
tether from tangling, it also severely limits the degrees of
freedom in movement that can be experienced by the oscillating
tether. Consequently, the shapes into which the spinning tether can
be conformed are very limited.
[0010] A need therefore exists in the art for an amusement device
with a spinning tether that does not have limitations in its
rotational movement, yet has features that prevent the tether from
tangling when spun. This need is met by the present invention as it
is described and claimed below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention is an amusement device that can be
used as an electric yo-yo and as a mechanism for producing
aesthetically pleasing string oscillations. The amusement device
includes a battery operated spinning mechanism that can be
selectively turned on and off by a person using the device. A
flexible tether is provided having a first end and a second end.
The first end of the tether is coupled to the spinning mechanism
and is spun by the spinning mechanism. A display object is coupled
to the second end of the flexible tether, wherein the flexible
tether is the only physical interconnection between the spinning
mechanism and the display object. The spinning mechanism can be
used either to rotate the tether to create oscillations in the
tether, or wind the tether, thereby creating a yo-yo with the
display object.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] For a better understanding of the present invention,
reference is made to the following description of exemplary
embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment
of an amusement device in accordance with the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown in
the up stroke of a yo-yo application;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 shown in
the down stroke of a yo-yo application;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 shown in a
tether oscillation application;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of an
amusement device in a tether oscillation application;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 shown in
a free spinning application.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention amusement device 10 is shown. The amusement device 10 is
comprised of three primary parts, which are a spinning mechanism
12, a display object 14 and a flexible tether 16 that interconnects
the display object 14 to the spinning mechanism 12.
[0020] In the shown embodiment, the spinning mechanism 12 includes
both a housing 18 and a spool 20. The housing acts as a handle and
provides a structure that can easily be grasped in a user's hand.
In the housing 18 are a motor and batteries to power the motor. The
motor is connected to the spool 20. As a result, as the motor
spins, the spool 20 spins. An on/off switch 22 is also located on
the housing 18. The on/off switch 22 controls the operation of the
motor. Consequently, by selectively engaging the on/off switch 22,
the spinning of the spool 20 can be controlled.
[0021] One end of the flexible tether 16 is coupled to the spool
20. As a result, when the spool 20 spins, the spool 20 either
causes the tether 16 to wind on the spool 20 or spin with the spool
20, depending upon the orientation of the spool 20 with respect to
the unwound tether 16. The opposite end of the flexible tether 16
is coupled to the display object 14. In the shown embodiment, the
display object 14 is a rubber ball. However, it will be understood
that the display object 14 can be any object, such as an airplane,
an insect, a cartoon character or the like. The display object 14
can also be a confection such as a hard candy. In the display
object 14 is a located an attachment loop 17 that is attached to a
ball bearing within the display object 14. In this manner flexible
tether 16 is free to spin without tangling even if the display
object 14 is held stationary.
[0022] The flexible tether 16 is a length of flexible string having
no relevant rigidity. The string also may embody elastic properties
for a purpose that will later be explained.
[0023] The amusement device 10 has the ability to perform as an
electric yo-yo. The spool 20 has a rear end 21 that faces the
housing 18 and a forward end 23 that faces away from the housing
18. Between the rear end 21 and the forward end 23 is a middle
section 25. The middle section 25 has a diameter that is smaller
than that of either the rear end 21 or the forward end 23. In the
shown embodiment, the diameter of the middle section 25 increases
as it approaches either the rear end 21 or the forward end 23.
However, such a shape is merely exemplary, and it should be
understood that many shapes can act as a spool. For example, if two
balls were spaced on a shaft, the shaft between the two balls can
act as a spool. It should therefore be understood that the present
invention spool can be any structure where the middle of the
structure is more narrow than the ends of the structure so as to
confine the area in which a string can wind.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the display object
14 is left free hanging at an angle generally perpendicular to the
axis of the spool 20. As the spool 20 is rotates, the tether 14
will wind around the spool 20 and the display object 14 will be
raised toward the spool 20.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that when the spool 20
is stopped from spinning and the spool 20 is tilted away from the
horizontal, the weight of the display object 14 will cause the
tether to unwind from the spool 20. As a result, the display object
14 falls away from the spool 20. By selectively causing the spool
20 to spin and stop spinning, via the on/off button 22, and by
changing the angle of the spool 20 relative the tether 16, a person
can cause the display object 14 to rise and fall like a yo-yo.
[0026] Furthermore, the spool 20 can be caused to be free spinning
when the on/off switch 22 is moved to the "off" position,
Accordingly, a person can wind the tether around the spool 20 by
moving the on/off switch 22 to the "on" position. As soon as the
tether 16 is wound, the tether can be released by moving the on/off
switch 22 to the "off" position. Once the on/off switch 22 is in
the "off" position, the weight of the display object 14 will cause
the tether 16 to unwind from the spool 20. Thus, by moving the
on/off switch 22 between on" and "off", a yo-yo effect can be
created.
[0027] The amusement device can also be used as a mechanism for
producing oscillations in the tether. Referring to FIG. 4, it can
be seen that when a person holds the spinning mechanism 12 and the
display object 14, the tether 16 spins between these two held fixed
points. As the tether 16 spins, the tether 16 will oscillate. The
amplitude and frequency of the oscillations are dependent upon the
length of the tether 16, the mass of the tether 16, the rotational
speed of the spinning tether 16 and the distance between the
spinning mechanism 12 and the display object 14. Given these
variables, it will be understood that the amplitude and frequency
of the tether's oscillations can be selectively varied by changing
the distance between the spinning mechanism 12 and display object
14 as they are being held. As the display object 14 and the
spinning mechanism 12 are moved together, the amplitude of the
oscillations in the tether 16 will increase, while the frequency of
the oscillations will decrease. Conversely, as the display object
14 and the spinning mechanism 12 are pulled farther apart, the
amplitude of the oscillations will decrease and the frequency of
the oscillations will increase. It is preferred that the tether 16
be made of a brightly colored string. As such, the oscillations
caused by the spinning tether 16 will be more easily observed.
[0028] If the amusement device 10 is being used to create tether
oscillations, the spool 20 serves no functional purpose.
Accordingly, it should be understood that the spool 20 can be
removed or the amusement device 10 manufactured without the spool
20. Referring to FIG. 5, an embodiment of the present invention
amusement device 50 is shown where the spinning mechanism 52 does
not have a spool. Rather, the spinning mechanism 52 contains a
motor and a power source to spin a shaft 54. The shaft 54 is
coupled to one end of the tether 56. As the shaft 54 spins, the
tether 56 is caused to spin and oscillations can be created in the
tether 56.
[0029] The amusement device embodies a third method of play that
can be performed with a spinning mechanism either having a spool,
as in FIG. 4, or not having a spool as in FIG. 5. Referring now to
FIG. 6, an embodiment is shown where the spinning mechanism does
not include a spool, however, the same method of operation would be
present if a spool were used. In this method of operation, the
display object 58 is allowed to hang down from the spinning
mechanism 52. The spinning mechanism 52 is then used to spin the
tether 56. Since the display object 58 is free hanging, the display
object 58 spins with the tether 56. However, the spinning tether 56
also has oscillations that are effected by the weight of the
display object 58. The shape of the oscillations can also be
changed by moving the spinning mechanism 52 up and down as the
tether 56 spins. The result is a rotating tether 56 that takes on
complicated and aesthetically pleasing shapes. If the tether 56 has
elastic properties, the shape of the spinning tether 56 will change
as the display object 58 bounces up and down as it spins. This
provides an oscillation shape that appears to periodically pulsate
with the vertical movement of the display object 58.
[0030] The display object 58 shown is a ball having a pattern of
different colors on its exterior surface. As the ball spins, the
colors swirl together and generate the appearance of a new color
that is not present on the ball. For example, if the display object
58 has florescent blue stripes and florescent yellow stripes, the
ball will appear to be fluorescent green as the ball spins and the
appearance of the colors mix. In alternate embodiments, the ball
may have spiral patterns that create aesthetically pleasing designs
when spun.
[0031] It will be understood that the various figures described
above illustrate only preferred embodiments of the present
invention. Features from the different embodiments can be mixed to
produce yet further embodiments. A person skilled in the art can
therefore make numerous alterations and modifications to the shown
embodiments utilizing functionally equivalent components to those
shown and described. For example, the spinning mechanism can be
embodied in many different forms. The spinning mechanism can be
located at the end of an elongated stick, or contained in any other
object, such as another ball. All such modifications are intended
to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined
by the appended claims.
* * * * *