U.S. patent application number 14/822463 was filed with the patent office on 2016-06-30 for yoyo with propeller blades.
The applicant listed for this patent is YOYOdrone, LLC. Invention is credited to John Taylor Christiansen.
Application Number | 20160184720 14/822463 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56163101 |
Filed Date | 2016-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160184720 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Christiansen; John Taylor |
June 30, 2016 |
YOYO WITH PROPELLER BLADES
Abstract
In an example embodiment, a yoyo includes an axle, a first body
and a second body coupled to the axle, and a string windable about
the axle within a gap between the first body and the second body.
The first body may include an outer rim and multiple propeller
blades that extend inward from the outer rim toward the axle.
Inventors: |
Christiansen; John Taylor;
(Bentonville, AR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
YOYOdrone, LLC |
Bentonville |
AR |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56163101 |
Appl. No.: |
14/822463 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62097074 |
Dec 28, 2014 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/250 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 27/12 20130101;
A63H 1/24 20130101; A63H 1/30 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 1/30 20060101
A63H001/30 |
Claims
1. A yoyo, comprising: an axle; a first body and a second body
coupled to the axle; and a string windable about the axle within a
gap between the first body and the second body; wherein the first
body comprises: an outer rim; and multiple propeller blades that
extend inward from the outer rim toward the axle.
2. The yoyo of claim 1, wherein the multiple propeller blades
impart a thrust on the yoyo in a direction parallel to an axis of
rotation defined by the axle when the first and second bodies
rotate about an axis defined by the axle.
3. The yoyo of claim 1, wherein the second body comprises: a second
outer rim; and multiple second propeller blades that extend inward
from the second outer rim toward the axle.
4. The yoyo of claim 3, wherein a pitch direction of the multiple
second propeller blades of the second body is the same as a pitch
direction of the multiple propeller blades of the first body.
5. The yoyo of claim 3, wherein a pitch direction of the multiple
second propeller blades of the second body is opposite from a pitch
direction of the multiple propeller blades of the first body.
6. The yoyo of claim 1, wherein the axle and the first and second
bodies have an aggregate mass, each of the first and second bodies
has a diameter, and a ratio of the aggregate mass in grams to the
diameter in millimeters is less than 0.6.
7. The yoyo of claim 1, further comprising a string seat that
surrounds the axle within the gap with a diameter greater than a
diameter of the axle and about which the string is windable,
wherein: the string seat comprises: a first drum included in the
first body and at which inward ends of the multiple propeller
blades of the first body terminate; and a second drum included in
the second body and at which inward ends of multiple second
propeller blades of the second body terminate; the first drum
includes a portion that extends axially from the first body to the
second drum; and the second drum includes a portion that extends
axially from the second body to the first drum.
8. The yoyo of claim 7, wherein a diameter of the drum is at least
25% of a diameter of the first and second bodies.
9. The yoyo of claim 1, wherein a length of the string is at least
four feet.
10. The yoyo of claim 9, wherein a length of the string is at least
ten feet.
11. The yoyo of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the outer rim is at
least fourteen centimeters.
12. The yoyo of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or
second bodies comprises a core of a first relatively hard material
with a coating of a second material that is softer than the first
relatively hard material.
13. The yoyo of claim 1, further comprising a removable mass
removable from and couplable to at least one of the first or second
bodies to adjust a mass of the yoyo.
14. The yoyo of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or
second bodies includes a light emitter element.
15. A yoyo, comprising: a first body rotatable about an axis of
rotation and that includes: a first outer rim; and multiple first
propeller blades that extend radially inward from the first outer
rim; a second body coupled to the first body, rotatable about the
axis of rotation, and that includes: a second outer rim; and
multiple second propeller blades that extend radially inward from
the second outer rim; and a string seat that axially separates the
first body from the second body and about which a string is
windable and unwindable to cause rotation of the yoyo about the
axis of rotation.
16. The yoyo of claim 15, wherein: a ratio of an aggregate mass in
grams of the yoyo to a diameter in millimeters of the first and
second rims of the first and second bodies is less than 0.6; and a
diameter of the string seat is at least 25% of a diameter of the
first and second rims of the first and second bodies.
17. The yoyo of claim 15, further comprising an axle that defines
the axis of rotation and to which each of the first and second
bodies is coupled, wherein the string seat comprises a portion of
the axle positioned within a gap between the first and second
bodies.
18. The yoyo of claim 15, wherein: the first body further includes
a first drum at which inward ends of the multiple first propeller
blades of the first body terminate; the second body further
includes a second drum at which inward ends of the multiple second
propeller blades of the second body terminate; the first drum
includes a portion that extends axially from the first body to the
second drum; the second drum includes a portion that extends
axially from the second body to the first drum; and the string seat
comprises a portion of the first drum and a portion of the second
drum positioned within a gap between the first and second
bodies.
19. The yoyo of claim 15, wherein: at least one of the first or
second bodies comprises a core of a first relatively hard material
with a coating of a second material that is softer than the first
relatively hard material; the yoyo further includes a removable
mass removable from and couplable to at least one of the first or
second bodies to adjust a mass of the yoyo; at least one of the
first or second bodies includes a light emitter element; and a
length of the string is at least ten feet.
20. A yoyo, comprising: a first body rotatable about an axis of
rotation and that includes: a first hub; and multiple first
propeller blades that extend radially outward from the first hub; a
second body coupled to the first body, rotatable about the axis of
rotation, and that includes: a second hub; and multiple second
propeller blades that extend radially outward from the second hub;
and a string seat that axially separates the first body from the
second body and about which a string is windable and unwindable to
cause rotation of the yoyo about the axis of rotation.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.
Provisional Application No. 62/097,074, filed Dec. 28, 2014, which
is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] Example embodiments described herein relate to a yoyo with
propeller blades.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Unless otherwise indicated, the materials described in the
background section are not prior art to the claims in the present
application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in
this section.
[0004] The yoyo is a toy which originated with the ancient Greek
and is more than 2400 years in use. In its simplest form, the yoyo
consists of an axle connected to two disks, and a length of string
looped around the axle, similar to a slender spool. It is played by
holding the free end of the string known as the handle (usually by
inserting one finger in a slip knot) allowing gravity or the force
of a throw to spin the yo-yo and unwind the string, then allowing
the yo-yo to wind itself back to one's hand, exploiting its spin
and the associated rotational energy.
[0005] Many inventions exist which minimize the friction between
the axle and the string. Lower friction results in the ability for
the yoyo to spin freely while the string is completely unwound.
Softly touching the yoyo to the ground while it is thus spinning
creates a forward or reverse motion for the yoyo and is a common
trick with the yoyo.
[0006] The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to
embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in
environments such as those described above. Rather, this background
is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where
some embodiments described herein may be practiced.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0007] Example embodiments described herein relate to a yoyo with
propeller blades.
[0008] In an example embodiment, a yoyo includes an axle, a first
body and a second body coupled to the axle, and a string windable
about the axle within a gap between the first body and the second
body. The first body may include an outer rim and multiple
propeller blades that extend inward from the outer rim toward the
axle.
[0009] In another example embodiment, a yoyo includes a first body
rotatable about an axis of rotation, a second body coupled to the
first body and rotatable about the axis of rotation, and a string
seat. The second body may be directly coupled to the first body, or
indirectly coupled to the first body through an intervening
component, such as an axle. The first body includes a first outer
rim and multiple first propeller blades that extend radially inward
from the first outer rim. The second body includes a second outer
rim and multiple second propeller blades that extend radially
inward from the second outer rim. The string seat axially separates
the first body from the second body. A string is windable and
unwindable about the string seat to cause rotation of the yoyo
about the axis of rotation.
[0010] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of
the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be
realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations
particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other
features of the present invention will become more fully apparent
from the following description and appended claims, or may be
learned by the practice of the invention as set forth
hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] To further clarify the above and other advantages and
features of the present invention, a more particular description of
the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments
thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is
appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of
the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of
its scope. The invention will be described and explained with
additional specificity and detail through the use of the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates an example operating environment;
[0013] FIGS. 2A and 2B include a perspective view and an exploded
perspective of an example yoyo;
[0014] FIG. 3 includes a perspective view of another example yoyo;
and
[0015] FIGS. 4A-4D include side views of more example yoyos, all
arranged in accordance with at least one embodiment described
herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe
various aspects of some example embodiments of the invention. The
drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of such
example embodiments, and are not limiting of the present invention,
nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an example operating environment 100,
arranged in accordance with at least one embodiment described
herein. In the operating environment 100, a user 102 plays a yoyo
104 using a string 106 of the yoyo 104. The yoyo 104 includes first
and second bodies 108 and 110 that rotate about an axis of rotation
112. One or both of the first and second bodies 108 and 110 may
include propeller blades that impart a thrust 114 on the yoyo 104
in a direction that is parallel to the axis of rotation 112. As
used herein, terms such as "first," "second," and other ordinal
terms may be used to distinguish between multiple otherwise
similarly-named components without denoting an order or preference
unless context dictates otherwise.
[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 1, when the yoyo 104 is thrown in a
generally horizontal direction with the axis of rotation 112
generally arranged vertically, the thrust 114 may generally be
directed in a vertical upward direction to counteract, or at least
partially counteract, the effects of gravity. As a result, the yoyo
104 may return to the user 102 generally horizontally without
dropping, or without dropping as much as yoyos that lack propeller
blades.
[0019] The thrust 114 imparted by rotation of the propeller blades
may allow the string 106 of the yoyo 104 to be longer than strings
used in other yoyos. In particular, other yoyos that lack propeller
blades may lack thrust to counteract the effects of gravity. As
such, other yoyos may be limited to use with strings that are
generally shorter than a maximum distance between ground (or any
other surface on which a user is standing) and the user's hand that
is holding a handle of the string. Strings in these other yoyos may
be around four feet or less to avoid a situation where the user
throws or drops the yoyo and the yoyo hits ground before reaching
an end of the string.
[0020] In comparison, the string 106 may have a length greater than
a maximum distance between ground and the hand of the user 102. For
instance, the string 106 may have a length greater than four feet,
such as a length of four feet or more, ten feet, twenty feet,
thirty feet, or even forty feet or longer. Without the thrust 114
imparted by rotation of the propeller blades, the yoyo 104 may fall
to ground before returning to the user 102 with such a long string
106. However, the thrust 114 imparted by the propeller blades
counteracts or at least partially counteracts the effects of
gravity so that the yoyo 104 may return to the user 102 without
hitting ground even when the string 106 is relatively long.
[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a first end of the string 106 may
be attached to or held by the user 102 while an opposite second end
of the string 106 may be attached to the yoyo 104. In some other
embodiments, the first end of the string may be attached to an
object which the user 102 may hold without the first end of the
string 106 necessarily being attached to or held directly by the
user 102.
[0022] The second end of the string 106 has been described as being
attached to the yoyo 104. Play with the yoyo 104 when the string
106 is attached to the yoyo 104 may be referred to as on-string
play. In on-string play, the second end of the string 106 is always
attached to the yoyo 104, e.g., to a corresponding string seat
(described below) of the yoyo 104, which allows the string 106 to
be wound and unwound about the string seat without the yoyo 104
being completely free of the string.
[0023] In other embodiments, the second end of the string 106 may
not be attached to the yoyo 104. Play with the yoyo 104 when the
string 106 is not attached to the yoyo 104 may be referred to as
off-string play. In off-string play, the string is not secured to
the yoyo 104, which may be completely free of the string 106. As an
example of an off-string trick that may be performed in off-string
play, the string 106 may be wound about the string seat of the yoyo
104 without otherwise being secured to the yoyo 104; the yoyo 104
may then be catapulted into the air and then caught on a taut
portion of the string, e.g., held between the user's hands.
[0024] FIGS. 2A and 2B include a perspective view and an exploded
perspective of an example yoyo 200, arranged in accordance with at
least one embodiment described herein. The yoyo 200 may include or
correspond to the yoyo 104 of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIGS. 2A
and 2B, the yoyo 200 includes an axle 202, first and second bodies
204 and 206, and a string 208 (FIG. 2A). The first and second
bodies 204 and 206 and the string 208 may include or correspond to
the first and second bodies 108 and 110 and the string 106 of FIG.
1.
[0025] The first body 204 and the second body 206 are both coupled
to the axle 202 that defines an axis of rotation 210 of the yoyo
200. In the illustrated embodiment, the axle 202 includes a
double-ended bolt, e.g., a bolt with two opposing threaded ends.
The first and second bodies 204 and 206 may be coupled to the axle
202 by inserting the axle 202 through holes defined in each of the
first and second bodies 204 and 206 and attaching nuts 212 to the
two opposing threaded ends of the axle 202 to prevent the first and
second bodies 204 and 206 from being removed from the axle 202.
[0026] In other embodiments, the axle 202 may include a bolt that
is inserted through the holes defined in the first and second
bodies 204 and 206 where one nut is attached to one threaded end of
the bolt to couple the first and second bodies 204 and 206 to the
axle 202. In other embodiments, the axle 202 may have other
configurations. In still other embodiments, the axle 202 may be
omitted altogether, in which case the first and second bodies 204
may be coupled directly to each other.
[0027] The string 208 may be wound around a string seat of the yoyo
200, described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 4A-4D.
With the string 208 wound around the string seat of the yoyo 200,
the yoyo 200 may be played by throwing the yoyo 200, with the
string 208 unwinding and causing the yoyo 200 to rotate.
[0028] The axle 202 and the first and second bodies 204 and 206, as
well as all other components of the yoyo 200 excluding the string
208, may have an aggregate mass, referred to as the aggregate mass
of the yoyo 200. The first and second bodies 204 and 206 each have
a diameter that is the same in some embodiments. A ratio of the
aggregate mass of the yoyo 204 and 206 to the diameter of the first
and second bodies 204 and 206 may be less than a threshold ratio.
The threshold ratio may be 0.6 (grams per millimeter) in some
embodiments. The threshold ratio of aggregate mass to diameter may
be relatively lower than in other yoyos to ensure the thrust
provided by propeller blades of the first body 204 and/or the
second body 206 is sufficient to counteract or at least partially
counteract effects of gravity on the yoyo 200.
[0029] Alternatively or additionally, the diameter of each of the
first and second bodies 204 and 206 may be relatively larger than
the diameter of some other yoyos. For example, the diameter of each
of the first and second bodies 204 and 206 may be at least fourteen
centimeters in some embodiments. In these and other embodiments,
the yoyo 200 may be thrown in the same or a similar manner as
flying discs, examples of which are commonly marketed under the
mark FRISBEE.
[0030] The first body 204 includes a first outer rim 214 and first
propeller blades 216, only some of which are labeled for
simplicity. The first propeller blades 216 extend inward from the
first outer rim 214, e.g., toward the axle 202 in FIG. 2A. More
generally, the first propeller blades 216 may extend inward from
the first outer rim 214 towards a center of the first outer rim
214. The first body 204 additionally includes a first drum 218 or
hub. The first propeller blades 216 may extend between the first
outer rim 214 and the first drum 218.
[0031] The second body 204 includes a second outer rim 220 and
second propeller blades 222, only some of which are labeled for
simplicity. The second propeller blades 222 extend inward from the
second outer rim 220, e.g., toward the axle 202 in FIG. 2A. More
generally, the second propeller blades 222 may extend inward from
the second outer rim 220 towards a center of the second outer rim
220. The second body 204 additionally includes a second drum 224 or
hub. The second propeller blades 222 may extend between the second
outer rim 220 and the second drum 224.
[0032] In some embodiments, the first and second drums 218 and 224
may be collectively referred to as a drum of the yoyo 200. The drum
of the yoyo 200, including the first and second drums 218 and 224,
may surround the axle 202 at least within a gap between the first
and second bodies 204 and 206 and may have a diameter greater than
a diameter of the axle 202. Alternatively or additionally, a
diameter of the drum may be at least 25% of the diameter of the
first and second bodies 204 and 206.
[0033] In FIGS. 2A and 2B, each of the first and second bodies 204
and 206 is illustrated as including multiple propeller blades 216
or 222. In other embodiments, only one, but not both, of the first
and second bodies 204 and 206 includes multiple propeller blades
216 or 222. Alternatively or additionally, each of the first and
second bodies 204 and 206 may have more or fewer propeller blades
216 or 222 than are illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0034] Each of the propeller blades 216 and 222 has a radially
variable pitch or steepness. In particular, the pitch of each of
the propeller blades 216 and 222 is relatively steep at the first
or second drum 218 or 224 and decreases to the first or second
outer rim 214 or 220 to a pitch at the first or second outer rim
214 or 220 that is less than the pitch at the first or second drum
218 or 224. In addition, each of the propeller blades 216 and 222
has the same general variable pitch. In other embodiments, the
pitch of each of the propeller blades 216 and 222 may radially
increase from the first or second drum 218 or 224 to the first or
second outer rim 214 or 220. Alternatively or additionally, each of
the propeller blades 216 or 222 may have a constant pitch from the
first or second drum 218 or 224 to the first or second outer rim
214 or 220. Alternatively or additionally, each of the propeller
blades 216 or 222 within a given one of the first or second bodies
204 or 206 may have different variable or constant pitches.
Alternatively or additionally, the propeller blades 216 of the
first body 204 may have a different pitch than the propeller blades
222 of the second body 206.
[0035] Each of the propeller blades 216 and 222 has a pitch
direction that may be clockwise or counterclockwise. Clockwise and
counterclockwise pitch directions are considered herein to be
opposite pitch directions. As used herein, pitch direction may
refer to a direction of rotation of the first or second body 204 or
206 when oriented so the axis of rotation 210 is generally vertical
that results in a generally upward thrust. In the example of FIGS.
2A and 2B, the propeller blades 216 and 222 may have a
counterclockwise pitch direction. In particular, when the first and
second bodies 204 and 206 are oriented with the axis of rotation
210 generally vertical, rotation of the first and second bodies 204
and 206 counterclockwise about the axis of rotation 210 may result
in a generally upward thrust.
[0036] In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the propeller blades 216 of the first
body 204 and the propeller blades 222 of the second body 206 have
the same counterclockwise pitch direction. In other embodiments,
the propeller blades 216 of the first body 204 may have an opposite
pitch direction from the propeller blades 222 of the second body
206.
[0037] In addition, in FIGS. 2A and 2B, each of the first and
second outer rims 214 and 220 may have a cylindrical shape. In
other embodiments, one or both of the first or second outer rims
214 or 220 may have a frustoconical shape or other suitable
shape.
[0038] Each of the first and second bodies 204 and 206 may be
injection molded or formed in any other suitable manner from the
same material, such as ABS plastic, aluminum, or other suitable
material or materials. In other embodiments, each of the first and
second bodies 204 and 206 may have a core made from one material,
e.g., hard plastic, and an outer layer made from a softer material,
e.g., rubber.
[0039] Alternatively or additionally, the yoyo 200 may include
removable mass to adjust a mass of the yoyo 200. For example, the
yoyo 200 may include silicone rubber bands or other removable
components that may be attached to or removed from one or both of
the first or second bodies 204 or 206 to adjust the mass of the
yoyo 200.
[0040] Alternatively or additionally, the yoyo 200 may include one
or more light emitter elements. The light emitter elements may be
integrated or snapped into or otherwise attached to or included in
one or both of the first or second outer rims 214 or 220 or one or
both of the first or second drums 218 or 224. Each of the light
emitter elements may include a battery-operated light emitting
diode (LED), a piezoelectrically-operated LED, glow-in-the dark
paint or decals or other glow-in-the dark element, or other
suitable light emitter element.
[0041] FIG. 3 includes a perspective view of another example yoyo
300, arranged in accordance with at least one embodiment described
herein. The yoyo 300 may include or correspond to the yoyo 104 of
FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the yoyo 300 includes an axle
302, first and second bodies 304 and 306, a string 308, and nuts
312 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 3). The axle 302 may
define an axis of rotation 310 of the yoyo 300. The first and
second bodies 304 and 306 and the string 308 may include or
correspond to the first and second bodies 108 and 110 and the
string 106 of FIG. 1. The first body 304 includes a first outer rim
314, first propeller blades 316 (only some of which are labeled for
simplicity), and a first drum 318. The second body 306 includes a
second outer rim 320, second propeller blades 322 (only some of
which are labeled for simplicity), and a second drum 324. Except as
otherwise noted, the axle 302, the first and second bodies 304 and
306, the string 308, the axis of rotation 310, the nuts 312, the
first outer rim 314, the first propeller blades 316, the first drum
318, the second outer rim 320, the second propeller blades 322, and
the second drum 324 of FIG. 3 may have the same or similar form
and/or function as the axle 202, the first and second bodies 204
and 206, the string 208, the axis of rotation 210, the nuts 212,
the first outer rim 214, the first propeller blades 216, the first
drum 218, the second outer rim 220, the second propeller blades
222, and the second drum 224 of FIGS. 2A and 2B and the description
of the foregoing components of FIGS. 2A and 2B may similarly apply
to the description of the foregoing components of FIG. 3.
[0042] In comparison to FIGS. 2A and 2B, in FIG. 3, the propeller
blades 316 and 322 may have a clockwise pitch direction instead of
the counterclockwise pitch direction of the propeller blades 216
and 222 of the FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0043] FIGS. 4A-4D include side views of more example yoyos
400A-400D (collectively "yoyos 400"), each arranged in accordance
with at least one embodiment described herein. Each of the yoyos
400 may include or correspond to the yoyo 104 of FIG. 1, the yoyo
200 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, or the yoyo 300 of FIG. 3.
[0044] Each of the yoyos 400 includes a first body 402A-402D
(collectively "first bodies 402"), a second body 404A-404D
(collectively "second bodies 404"), an axis of rotation 406A-406D
(collectively "axes of rotation 406"), and a string seat 408A-408D
(collectively "string seats 408"). Regarding the first bodies 402,
the second bodies 404, and the axes of rotation 406, they may
generally be similar in form and/or function to the first bodies
108, 204, 304, the second bodies 110, 206, 306, and the axes of
rotation 112, 210, 310 described above, unless otherwise noted.
[0045] Each of the string seats 408 axially separates a respective
one of the first bodies 402 from a respective one of the second
bodies 404. A string, such as the strings 106, 208, 308, may be
windable and unwindable about each of the string seats 408 to cause
rotation of each of the yoyos 400 about the respective one of the
axes of rotation 406.
[0046] The first and second bodies 402 and 404 may be separated by
gaps 409A-409D (collectively "gaps 409"). The gaps 409 may be as
narrow as a diameter of the string up to any desired width.
Alternatively, the gaps 409 may be tapered, e.g., the gaps 409 may
be relatively narrower at or near the string seats 408 and may
taper out to be relatively wider at or near first outer rims of the
first bodies 402 and/or second outer rims of the second bodies
404.
[0047] Each of the yoyos 400A-400C of FIGS. 4A-4C additionally
includes an axle 410A-410C (collectively "axles 410"). The axles
410 may generally be similar in form and/or function to the axles
202, 302 described above, unless otherwise noted. In FIGS. 4A and
4C, the string seat 408A or 408C includes a portion of the axle
410A or 410C positioned within the gap 409A or 409C.
[0048] Each of the first bodies 402B, 402D of FIGS. 4B and 4D
respectively includes a first drum 412B, 412D (collectively "first
drums 412"). Each of the second bodies 404B, 404D of FIGS. 4B and
4D respectively includes a second drum 414B, 414D (collectively
"second drums 414"). The first drums 412 and the second drums 414
may generally be similar in form and/or function to the first drums
218, 318 and the second drums 224, 324 described above, unless
otherwise noted.
[0049] The first drums 412 and the second drums 414 each include a
portion that extends axially into the gap 409B or 409D. In FIGS. 4B
and 4D, the string seat 408B or 408D includes the portion of the
respective one of the first drums 412 and the portion of the
respective one of the second drums 414 that extends into the gap
409B or 409D. In these and other embodiments, a diameter of the
string seat 408B or 408D may be at least 25% of a diameter of the
first and second bodies 402 and 404.
[0050] In other embodiments, only one of the first or second drums
412 or 414 may include a portion that extends across the entire gap
409B or 409D such that the string seat 408B or 408D includes only
the portion of a respective one of the first or second drums 412 or
414. Alternatively or additionally, each of the first bodies 402A,
402C of FIGS. 4A and 4C may additionally include a first drum and
each of the second bodies 404A, 404C of FIGS. 4A and 4C may
additionally include a second drum but without portions that extend
axially within the gap 408A or 408C.
[0051] As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a first outer rim (not
separately labeled) of the first body 402A or 402B and a second
outer rim (not separately labeled) of the second body 404A or 404B
each includes a cylindrical shape. As illustrated in FIG. 4C, a
first outer rim (not separately labeled) of the first body 402C and
a second outer rim (not separately labeled) of the second body 404C
each includes a frustoconical shape, the first and second bodies
402C and 404C being arranged in what is sometimes referred to as a
butterfly configuration where a diameter of each of the first and
second bodies 402C and 404C linearly increases beginning at the gap
409C with increasing axial distance from the gap 409C. FIG. 4D
illustrates another butterfly configuration in which a diameter of
each of the first and second bodies 402D and 404D non-linearly
increases beginning at the gap 409D with increasing axial distance
from the gap 409D.
[0052] FIG. 4D additionally illustrates an embodiment in which a
discrete axle that is separate from the first and second bodies
402D and 404D is omitted. In the absence of a discrete axle, the
first and second bodies 402D and 404D may be coupled directly to
each other.
[0053] Although not illustrated, one or more of the yoyos 104, 200,
300, 400 described herein may include a bearing. For example, the
bearing may include a ring bearing that surrounds at least a
portion of a corresponding one of the axles 202, 302, 410. In these
and other embodiments, a string of the yoyo may be windable around
and unwindable from the bearing.
[0054] The yoyos 200, 300, 400 illustrated in FIGS. 2A-4D all
include first and second bodies with outer rims and propeller
blades. In other embodiments, the outer rims may be omitted, in
which case the propeller blades may be more exposed than in FIGS.
2A-4D. To reduce a risk of injury to the user in these and other
embodiments, the propeller blades may be made of a relatively soft
or compliant material, such as rubber. Alternatively or
additionally, the gap between first and second bodies in these and
other embodiments may be relatively large to reduce a likelihood of
a string getting tangled in the propeller blades during play.
[0055] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in
all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of
the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims
rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be
embraced within their scope.
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