Rotatable Toy

Abstract

A thin, rigid sheet member shaped as a disk has a volute inscribed thereon. An aperture sized to accommodate a human finger therethrough is located at the origin of the volute. In an alternate embodiment, the sheet member is shaped as a volute.

Description

This invention relates to toys.

More particularly, the invention relates to rotatable toys which create optical illusions.

In a further aspect, the invention concerns a toy which is rotatable about a human finger for amusement and development of manual dexterity.

Toys which spin and have designs thereon to create optical illusions during rotation are well known. A typical toy of this type has a wheel which is fixed at the center thereof to a shaft. The shaft is rotated by a gear mechanism receiving power input from either a hand crank or a gear rack. Colorful designs upon the wheel create a profusion of color or optical illusions as the wheel spins to enhance the amusement quality of the toy. In a more sophisticated version, the toy is provided with a flint for producing sparks which appear to radiate from the spinning wheel.

Such toys, being mechanically driven, are exceedingly simple to manipulate and the user can develop maximum proficiency almost immediately. However, since neither the imagination nor the manipulative skill of the user is challenged, the toy generally does not sustain the interest of the user.

It would be highly desirable, therefore, to provide a rotatable toy which would sustain the interest of the user.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a rotatable toy which would require continued development of manual dexterity for increased proficiency of operation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a rotatable toy which will afford increased amusement by challenging the imagination and creativity of the user.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a toy which is rotatable about the finger of the user and is caused to rotate by the finger.

Yet still another object of the invention is the provision of a rotatable toy having an unbalanced axis of rotation.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a toy of the above type which creates an optical illusion during rotation and will create an alternate optical illusion when the direction of rotation is reversed.

Yet a further object of the invention is the provision of a toy of the above type which is durably constructed, yet is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Briefly, to achieve the desired objectives of the present invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, first provided is a substantially thin, rigid disk. Means defining an aperture within the disk are spaced from the center thereof and sized to accommodate a human finger. Indicia upon the face of the disk defines a volute having the origin concurrent with the aperture. In an alternate embodiment thereof, a substantially thin, rigid sheet member is shaped as a volute and has means defining an aperture at the origin of the volute. The volute may be modified to have a corrugated cross-section.

The toy is caused to rotate by an undulatory movement of the finger that the user has inserted through the aperture. With the development of dexterity, the user can control the speed and direction of rotation. As the toy spins, the volute gives the illusion of expanding or contracting, depending on the direction of rotation, while the rate of expansion or contraction is in relation to the speed of rotation. By employing ambidextrous skills, the user can rotate one toy with each hand, either in the same or different directions to create interesting displays.

When the finger is held in the vertical direction, the toy has a tendency to rise in response to increasing speed. This phenomena suggests games that may be played by one or more players. For example, a single player may impart sufficient speed to the toy to cause it to rise from his finger and subsequently catch the toy upon his finger as the speed decreases, while maintaining the rotation of the toy. In a similar manner, the toy may be passed from one player to another.

The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotatable toy constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the toy of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another alternate embodiment of the toy of the present invention.

Turning now to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to FIG. 1, which shows a rotatable toy of the present invention constructed from a substantially thin, rigid sheet member 10. A volute 11 is embossed upon the sheet member 10, leaving a flat inner portion 12 between the coils of the volute. An aperture 13 at the origin of the volute is sized to accommodate a human finger therethrough.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the volute 11 is corrugated in cross-section to enhance the rigidity of the toy and the aesthetics thereof. An integral bead 16 forms a rim around the toy for further rigidity and also to protect the user against the edge of the relatively thin sheet material. A similar bead 17, having the same function as the bead 16, encircles the aperture 13.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the toy in which the sheet member 30 is shaped as a volute. An aperture 33, sized to accommodate a human finger therethrough, is located at the origin of the volute. Although not specifically herein shown, the volute may have a bead extending around the perimeter thereof, while another bead circumscribes the aperture 33.

In another embodiment of the toy, as specifically seen in FIG. 4, the sheet member 40 is a flat circular disk having indicia such as dye or paint, which defines a volute 41 thereon. An aperture 43 is located at the origin of the volute 41.

Due to the geometric configuration, a volute is not symmetrical or balanced about the origin. Therefore, as is apparent in the drawings, the aperture is spaced from the center of gravity of the sheet member. Although the toy could be constructed with the aperture in the center thereof, the preferred unbalanced axis of rotation about the finger permits increased speed in response to proper undulatory movements of the finger. It is within the scope of the present invention that the toy may be rotated about objects other than the human finger. The user may challenge his imagination and dexterity by employing any shaft member to which he can impart the proper motion.

While no exact method or material of fabrication is specifically described in connection with the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various materials and methods consistent with the manufacture of toys are available. A preferred material is a plastic, such as polyethylene, which has been injection molded. To create an attractive visual display, the sheet member is preferably a neutral color, such as white or yellow, while the volute is contrasted in one of the so-called "hot" colors, such as green, pink or orange.

Various other modifications and variations of the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The outer shape or perimeter of the toy may be altered to resemble other planed geometric figures, including ovals, triangles and squares. The use of two or more concurrently wound volutes will provide a faster spiral for increased speed of expansion or contraction as the toy rotates. Similarly, the aperture may be provided with a separate hub rotatable with the toy or, alternately, about which the toy rotates.

Claims

Having fully described and disclosed the invention and the preferred embodiments thereof in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is:

1. A rotatable toy having an unbalanced axis of rotation adapted to be manipulated by movement of the finger for developing manual dexterity and creating optical illusions, said toy comprising:

a. a substantially thin rigid sheet member;

b. means defining an aperture within said sheet member, said aperture being sized to accommodate a human finger therethrough to provide an axis of rotation for said sheet member; and

c. indicia defining a volute upon the face of said sheet member,

said aperture being concurrent with the origin of said volute, and

said sheet member having an outer edge defined by said volute.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein said volute portion of said sheet member has a corrugated cross-section.

3. A rotatable toy having an unbalanced axis of rotation adapted to be manipulated by movement of the finger for developing manual dexterity and creating optical illusions, said toy comprising:

a. a substantially thin rigid planar volute; and

b. means defining an aperture within said sheet member at the origin of said volute, and sized to accommodate a human finger therethrough to provide an axis of rotation for said volute.

4. The toy of claim 3, wherein said volute has a corrugated cross-section.