U.S. patent number 3,712,619 [Application Number 05/081,129] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-23 for top game and apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Adolf E. Goldfarb. Invention is credited to A. Eddy Goldfarb, Rene Soriano.
United States Patent |
3,712,619 |
Goldfarb , et al. |
January 23, 1973 |
TOP GAME AND APPARATUS
Abstract
A top game comprising (a) a plurality of spinner units, each of
which is the combination of a spindle-type top, a holding means
detachably connected to the top so as to support the top but be
readily releasable from it, and a string attached to the holding
means for winding around the top; and (b) a stadium having a
plurality of wall receivers or receiving means for each receiving
and supporting a spinner unit so that the holding means may be
pulled simultaneously or in rapid succession to spin the tops and
introduce them into the stadium for engagement with one
another.
Inventors: |
Goldfarb; A. Eddy (Los Angeles,
CA), Soriano; Rene (Los Angeles, CA) |
Assignee: |
Goldfarb; Adolf E. (Tarzana,
CA)
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Family
ID: |
22162275 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/081,129 |
Filed: |
October 15, 1970 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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807299 |
Mar 14, 1969 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
9/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
9/16 (20060101); A63b 067/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/108,128,119
;46/70,71,72 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Assistant Examiner: Brown; Theatrice
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of Application Ser. No. 807299, filed Mar.
14, 1969 (since Abandoned).
Claims
We claim:
1. A top game comprising:
a. at least one spinner unit comprising a top, a holding means
adapted to be detachably connected to said top, and a string
attached to said holding means, said top being adapted to have said
string wound thereon; and
b. a stadium having a circumferential wall and a concave central
area, said wall having at least one receptacle means adapted to
releasably receive one of said spinner units and react against said
top of said unit for injection of said top onto said central
area.
2. A top game as defined in claim 1 wherein said top includes a
spindle having an annular flange and a channel means below said
flange for receiving said holding means, said receiving means
having slot means for receiving and reacting against said top
spindle, said slot means being positioned to engage the upper
surface of said annular flange to limit upward movement of said top
incident to spin being imparted said top by said holding means
being pulled.
3. A play apparatus comprising a top and means for supporting and
imparting spinning motion to said top, said means including:
a. receiving means providing lateral resistance to movement of said
top in a generally rearward direction but offering no obstruction
to said top in the opposite generally forward direction;
b. a separate holding means detachably connected to said top for
rapid disconnection by movement of said holding means in said
rearward direction, said holding means being capable of supporting
said top in all lateral directions and moving it against slight
resistance; and
c. a string attached to said holding means and wound around said
top for causing the top to spin when the holding means is
pulled.
4. A play apparatus as stated in claim 3 wherein said receiving
means includes an upright wall portion having an aperture
therethrough for passage of said holding means and said string.
5. A play apparatus as stated in claim 3 wherein said holding means
is elongated and has at one end a pull handle at the other end
resilient prongs forming a snap ring which is detachably connected
to the top.
6. A top game comprising:
a plurality of spinner units each comprising a top body, including
a spindle, a string wound about said spindle for imparting spinning
motion to said top body and a manually operable holder operatively
connected to said string and releasably connected to said top body,
said holder connected to said top body serving to retain said
string on said spindle, said holder when released from said top
body and pulled relative thereto serving to unwind said string and
to impart said spinning motion to said top body; and
a stadium having a central area and a plurality of receiving means
situated around said central area for each receiving one of said
spinner units, with said holder extending outwardly therefrom to be
manually grasped and pulled, each of said receiver means being
arranged to react against the associated top body when the string
is pulled and unwound, whereby a plurality of spinning top bodies
may be introduced into said central area for contact and reaction
between the spinning top bodies.
7. A top game as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said receiving
means includes a pair of vertically spaced wall portions defining
slots for engaging said top body and an aperture between said slots
through which said holder extends.
Description
Spindle-type tops, which generally comprise an elongated spindle
and an annular disk or block portion intermediate the ends of the
spindle, have been a favorite toy of children for a long period of
time. For the most part, they are spun by placing the top on a
surface such as the floor or a table top and either manually
twisting the spindle portion or quickly pulling the free end of a
string which has been wound around the spindle portion. However,
even when using the preferred means of a wound string for spinning
a top, with the child supporting the top upright with one hand and
then pulling the string with the other hand, a common problem,
particularly for young children, has been that the child generally
lacks sufficient skill to precisely time the release of the top by
his hand in relation to pulling the string. For example, if the
string is pulled substantially before the top is released by the
hand, a major portion of the spin imparted thereto is absorbed by
the frictional engagement of the top with the hand so that the top
will spin weakly and for only a short time. On the other hand, if
the top is released by the child's hand before the string is
pulled, the top may tip over and not be spun at all when the string
is then pulled, or a vigorous pull of the string may itself upset
the unsupported top and send it flying across the room. This would
prove frustrating and irritating to the child and would limit his
enjoyment of and desire to play with the top.
A number of games have been devised wherein the top is only part of
the game and is utilized in various fashions such as to knock down
other objects or another top. Typically in such a game, a receiver
means was provided to give lateral support to the top while the
string was being pulled. The receiver means might include an
upright wall portion with an aperture therethrough for the string.
The top would be positioned on one side of the wall with the free
end of the string extending through the aperture to the other side
of the wall where it could be grasped and pulled by the child. If
the top would stay in upright position against the side of the wall
until the string was pulled, the pulled string would tend to hold
the top upright and against the wall until the string was unwound
and released from the top. The problem was to maintain the top in
upright position until the child pulled the string. The prior games
provided some limited and partial lateral support to the top by
virtue of open notches at the receiver means. These were generally
ineffective and inadequate to keep the tops from falling
frequently, to the great irritation and frustration of the child.
Applicant is not aware of any such prior game which attempted to
give full lateral support to the tops. It is even questionable if
such full lateral support by the receiver means is desirable since
it would impair the release and desired lateral movement of the
spinning top, as well as amount of spin. For example, while the
receiver means might include a simple snap ring which would engage
the top and maintain it upright, even if the snap ring could be
configured to release the pinning top, a great deal of the
rotational energy of the spinning top would be absorbed in gaining
its release. While complicated and costly release mechanisms might
be developed for this purpose, it is of course preferred to
maintain relatively low cost and simplicity for this type of
product. Thus, the prior games still required the use of the
child's hand to help maintain the top upright until the string
could be pulled, and therefore did not really solve the problem,
particularly for younger children, of timing the release of the top
to the pulling of the string.
In addition to the problems discussed above, the child frequently
had trouble keeping the end of the string in place when he started
winding the string around the top; he also experienced problems in
winding the string in the desired or preferred manner.
Consequently, the present invention contemplates and it is an
object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved
combination of a top of the type designed to have a string wound
around it and pulled to spin the top, and spinning means operative
to support the top in upright position position both before and
while the string is being pulled, to facilitate the rapid pull of
the string, and to release the top so as to minimize interference
with and reduction of the spin imparted to the top.
The present invention further contemplates and it is a further
object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved top
game wherein a plurality of tops may be spun and introduced into a
common area simultaneously or in rapid succession.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be
readily apparent from the following description and drawings which
illustrate a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention,
reference will now be made to the appended drawings of a preferred
specific embodiment of the present invention. Such drawings should
not be construed as limiting the invention which is properly set
forth in the appended claims.
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a top which is a preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the top shown in FIG. 1 taken
along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the line
3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line
4--4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the holding means of the present
invention;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the stadium of the present invention
showing one spinner unit in place ready for operation;
FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the stadium shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 taken along the
line 8--8 of FIG. 6.
In general, a preferred form of the present invention involves a
spindle-type top 10 adapted to have a string or cord 37 wound
around its spindle and then pulled to spin the top. Spinning means
include an elongated holding means 30 to which the free end of the
wound string is secured. At one end the holding means is provided
with a pulling handle 33 while at its other or inner end it is
provided with connecting means such as a resilient snap ring 35 for
releasably grasping the top. The spinning means also include a
receiver means 48 which has an upright wall portion 46 for
resisting lateral movement of the top in at least the rearward
direction while leaving it free for lateral movement in the forward
direction. The wall portion 46 has an aperture 51 through which the
holding means 30 and the string 37 pass. The child simply and with
one hand grasps the handle 33 of the holding means 30 and pulls
rapidly, generally away or rearwardly from the top. The top 10 is
held in desired upright position against the wall portion 46 by the
holding means 30 until the holding means virtually simultaneously
disengages from the top and begins to pull on the string. Further
pull of the string holds the top against the wall portion 46 of the
receiver means 48 as well as imparting spinning to the top, until
the end of the string is reached and the top spins outwardly from
the receiver means. A plurality of tops, holding means and receiver
means may be provided. This permits a single child to introduce a
number of spinning tops in rapid succession into a common area to
engage each other or other objects. It also permits play by several
children who may simultaneously or in some rapid sequence introduce
a number of the spinning tops into an area.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 the top 10 comprises a generally
circular block 11 which in the preferred embodiment is specifically
a disk having a plurality of flat sides or edges 12 which form a
corresponding number of corners to facilitate sharp contact when
the spinning top engages a similar spinning top. Extending
coaxially of the disk 11 in both directions is a spindle 13 having
a rounded top 14 and a rounded bottom 15; however, the disk 11 is
positioned closer to the top 14. The disk 11 has an annular groove
22 formed therein to increase the rotational momentum of the top
while decreasing the total weight of the top.
The spindle 13 has a circular flange 16 with a notch 17 therein
with two circumferential channel means 18 adjacent thereto: one for
winding the string around and one for receiving the holding means
30. The channel means 18 for winding the string around is an
annular recess 19 adjacent to and below the flange 16. The recess
19 has a plurality of axially extending ribs 20 therein which
increase the frictional engagement between the top and the string.
Spaced from the upper side of the flange 16 is a guide flange 21
which forms between it and flange 16 the second channel means 18
for receiving the holding means 30.
As shown in FIG. 5, the holding means 30 has a shaft 32, the ring
pulling handle 33 at one end and a pair of flexible prongs 34 at
the opposite end which are curved to form the recess or resilient
snap ring 35 adapted to detachably connect to the spindle 13 of the
top 10. The shaft 32 has a hole 36 through which is threaded a
string 37 having knots 38 at opposite ends. Hole 36 is tapered to
facilitate threading the string 37 therethrough, and to lock one of
the knots within the hole.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, the stadium 40 consists of a base 41
having a rail 42 around the edge with a plurality of small numbered
sockets 43 to facilitate the score keeping of the game by inserting
pegs (not shown) in the sockets 43 and advancing each peg each time
a particular player is successful. In addition, mounted on the base
41 are diagonal ribs 44 which also contain large sockets 45 for
holding tops which are not in use. Tangential to and within the
rail 42 is the circular wall 46 of the stadium 40 which encloses
the concave central area 47. Receiving means 48 is formed
integrally with wall 46 by means of vertically extending side posts
49 and a cross bar 50 therebetween. The posts 49 and cross bar 50
form an aperture 51 which permits access to the stadium through the
receiving means 48. Formed on the inner side of the cross bar 50
and the wall 46 are axially aligned semicircular slots 52 and 53
respectively, with the lower slot 53 having a floor 54.
To operate the spinner unit formed by the combination of the top 10
and the string 37 and the holding means 30 of the present
invention, the knot 38 in the free end of the string 37 is engaged
in the notch 17 of the flange 16 and the string 37 is wound in the
recess 19 until the snap ring 35 is adjacent to the top 10. Next
the prongs 34 are snapped over the spindle 13 between the flange 16
and the guide flange 21 so that the holding means 30 holds the top
10 and is maintained adjacent to the wound string 37. The ring 33
on holding means 30 is then passed through the aperture 51 in the
stadium 40 from the inside to the outside, and the bottom 15 of the
spindle is received in the slot 53 resting on the floor 54 while
the portion of the spindle 13 between the flange 21 and the disk 11
is received in the slot 52. When in such position, by virtue of the
connection between the holding means 30 and the top, and due to the
weight of the ring 33 of the holding means, the top 10 is
maintained in that position for injection onto the central area 47
of the stadium 40. The extension of the ring 33 to the exterior of
the stadium permits the holding means 30 to be manipulated
externally of the stadium. Consequently, to spin the top one merely
jerks suddenly on the holding means 30 which causes the top to
rotate rapidly; the top is kept from lifting up and out of slot 53
by flange 21 engaging the bottom edge of slot 52. When the string
is fully unwound the top is released into the central area 47 of
the stadium 40 to spin there around in a weaving pattern. If one or
more additional tops are simultaneously injected into the stadium,
the tops engage in a multitude and variety of collisions which can
result in the tops either being simply knocked over or completely
knocked out of the stadium. While the game played therewith can
have a variety of rules, commonly points are scored for knocking
over the opponent's top or knocking the opponent's top out of the
stadium.
It will be appreciated that many other specific embodiments of the
present invention will be obvious to one skilled in the art in view
of the disclosure of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention. For example, the circular block instead of being a disk
may be a conoid or a cylinder. Likewise, the arrangement of the
notch flange and the channel means may be varied as to the location
and sequence as long as the aforementioned functions are performed.
Also, the stadium may have various configurations and locations of
receiving means.
The illustrated spinner unit provides the combination of a top, a
holding means adapted to be detachably connected to the top, a
string attached to such holding means which can be wound around the
top, and a receiver or reaction means against which the top is
pulled and permitted to rotate in the upright position until the
string is unwound. This combination permits the top to be held by a
single holding means with the string wound thereon and insures that
the holding means is detached generally simultaneously with the
jerking of the string to spin the top, with the top being
maintained in the upright position up to and during the unwinding
of the string. Consequently, spin is imparted to the top with
maximum efficiency and reliability.
It will be understood that the foregoing descriptions and examples
are only illustrative of the present invention and it is not
intended that the invention be limited thereto. All substitutions,
alternations and modifications of the present invention which come
within the scope of following claims or to which the present
invention is readily susceptible without departing from the spirit
and scope of this disclosure are considered part of the present
invention.
* * * * *