Spinning Toy That Contains Dissimilar Fluids

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to the structure of spinning toy tops that balance on a point when spinning. More particularly, the present invention relates to toy tops that contain fluids, wherein the fluids are affected by centripetal forces as the toy top spins.

2. Prior Art Description

Toy tops have been in existence for years. In the many years that tops have been made, they have been built in countless styles, shapes, and sizes.

Regardless of the form of a top, all tops share certain common functional features. Tops have a central axis around which they spin. The center of gravity associated with the top passes through the central axis and the mass of the top is evenly distributed around the central axis. As the top is put into motion, the top spins about its central axis. Since the mass of the top is evenly distributed around the central axis, the top spins in a uniform manner, thereby enabling the top to be balanced at a point in line with the central axis. Due to gyroscopic forces, the top will spin in a stable manner until the rotational speed of the top falls below a certain threshold level. As the speed of the top decreases, its angular momentum decreases. Eventually, the presence of angular momentum is insufficient to overcome the forces of gravity and the top tips over.

All tops have a rotational inertia. Rotational inertia is a function of the mass of the top and the square of the distance of the mass from the central axis of rotation. As such, if two tops of the same mass are provided and one top is wider than the other, the wider top will have a larger rotational inertia than the narrower top. As rotational energy is applied to a top, the speed at which the top spins is a function of its rotational inertia.

In the prior art, toy tops have been produced that contain liquid. Such toy tops are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,394,093 to Nalle and U.S. Pat. No. 10,857,473 to Liss. In such toys, an internal chamber is provided that is only partially filled with a single type of fluid, such as water. When the toy top spins, the water is forced away from the center of the top. This increases the rotational inertia of the top. However, when the top slows, the water flows back toward the center of the top, therein reducing the rate at which the top slows. Prior art toy tops that are partially filled with fluid have some significant disadvantages that have affected the commercial success of the products. Before the toy top is spinning and generating centripetal forces, the liquid in the toy top flows to the lowest point of the fluid chamber in the top. This means that unless the top is completely vertical as it is spun up to speed, the top is initially off balance. Furthermore, the free flowing liquid sloshes as the top begins to spin, therein dampening the rotational energy being applied to the toy top. As a result, a surplus of rotational energy must be provided, such as that provided by a long pull string. This prevents the toy top from being spun by finger manipulation, therein limiting its play value and raising the required skill level of the user.

The present invention is an improved top structure that contains liquid and can change its rotational inertia as a function of speed. The present invention also takes advantage of the fluids contained in the toy top to provide play value to the top when not spinning and to increase the play value of the toy top when it is spinning at speed. Such an improved top structure is provided below as defined by the following specification and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a spinning device, such as a top, that can selectively spin about a central axis of rotation, said spinning device has a body that contains a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber is visible through at least part of the body when viewing the spinning device. A plurality of liquids are held within the fluid chamber. Some solid objects can also be mixed within the liquids. At least some of the plurality of liquids have different densities. Accordingly, when the spinning device spins about a central axis of rotation, centripetal forces are generated that cause at least some of said plurality of liquids to migrate to different distances from the central axis of rotation. At least some of the liquids are different colors and are insoluble with one another. Accordingly, the liquids produce a pattern of separate bands that can be seen through the body of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a spinning device embodied as a top and shown while spinning;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 shown when not spinning;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 shown while spinning;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a variation of the exemplary embodiment that contains three liquids, shown while spinning;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a variation of the exemplary embodiment that contains three liquids and solids, shown while not spinning; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of the variation of FIG. 6, shown while spinning.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the present invention toy top can be embodied in many ways, only a few variations of an exemplary embodiment are illustrated and described. The variations being shown for the purposes of explanation and description. The variations of the exemplary embodiment are selected in order to set forth some of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated variations, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered as limitations when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a toy top 10 is shown. The toy top 10 has a body 12 that is made from transparent or highly translucent plastic. The body 12 includes an enlarged disc 13. The disc 13 has a top surface 14 and a bottom surface 16 that share a common peripheral edge 18. The disc 13 has a diameter D1 at its peripheral edge 18. The diameter D1 is preferably between 50 mm and 100 mm. The disc 13 has an oblong shape where the height of the disc 13 diminishes from its center as it approaches its peripheral edge 18. The maximum height H1 of the disc 13 is preferably no greater than one-third of the diameter D1 in order to provide stability at low rotational speeds.

The body 12 is symmetrically formed about a central axis of rotation 20. A balancing projection 22 extends from the bottom surface 16 of the toy top 10. A longer grip projection 24 extends from the top surface 14 of the toy top 10. The balancing projection 22 and the grip projection 24 are both symmetrically formed on the central axis of rotation 20. In this manner, when the grip projection 24 is grasped and spun, the toy top 10 can spin on the balancing projection 22 in a stable manner.

A fluid chamber 26 is provided within the toy top 10. The fluid chamber 26 is symmetrically formed about the central axis of rotation 20. The fluid chamber 26 occupies most of the disc 13 and preferably also extends into the balancing projection 22 and the grip projection 24. Since the disc 13, balance projection 22 and grip projection 24 are made from clear plastic, the fluid chamber 26 and its contents can be seen within the toy top 10.

A fluid mixture 30 is provided that is used to fill the fluid chamber 26. The fluid chamber 26 is at least 90 percent full, and is preferably 100 percent full. The fluid mixture 30 adds significant mass to the toy top 10, wherein the fluid mixture 30 can produce between 30% and 80% of the overall weight of the toy top 10. Preferably, the weight of the fluid mixture 30 is at least half of the overall weight of the toy top 10. The fluid mixture 30 contains at least two dissimilar liquids 31, 32, such as mineral oil and water, that cannot dissolve into each other. Additionally, each liquid 31, 32 in the fluid mixture 30 is preferably dyed with a color that is readily distinguishable from the colors of the other liquids 31, 32 in the fluid mixture 30. Each of the liquids 31, 32 must also be nontoxic, stable, and inert. In this manner, the fluid mixture 30 will present no danger to any child or animal should the toy top 10 become damaged and leak.

Referring to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 2, it will be understood that the fluid mixture 30 in the toy top 10 can be seen through the structure of toy top 10. Since the fluid mixture 30 contains mutually insoluble liquids 31, 32 of different colors, the mixed areas of different colors can be seen. If the toy top 10 is shaken, inverted, or otherwise manipulated, various pockets of color 34 can be seen flowing around the fluid chamber 26. This makes the toy top 10 an interesting fidget toy that can be held in the hand and manipulated. Thus, the toy top 10 is provided with play value even when not spinning. The toy top 10 can therefore hold the interest of a child in a car or another location where the toy top 10 cannot be spun. Likewise, the toy top 10 provides interest and play value to a child who is too young to spin the toy top.

The toy top 10 can be spun by momentarily applying a rotational force to the grip projection 24 of the toy top 10. This can be achieved manually by grasping and spinning the grip projection 24 or by using a secondary launching device. Although designed to spin at the low rotation speeds that are provided by a finger launch, the toy top 10 can also be adapted for use on most any spring loaded top launching device or by the traditional method of winding and pulling a string.

Due to the fluid chamber 26 being full or nearly full, the toy top 10 is weight-balanced about the central axis of rotation 20. Once the toy top 10 is caused to spin, the toy top 10 becomes gyroscopically stable and can spin on its balancing projection 22 in the manner of a traditional top. Furthermore, as the toy top 10 spins, the fluid mixture 30 within the fluid chamber 26 is subjected to centripetal forces. Since the liquids 31, 32 contained in the fluid chamber 26 are dissimilar and separate, the centripetal forces will cause the liquids 31, 32 to separate in a manner that is dependent upon the specific gravity of the liquids 31, 32 in use. This is demonstrated in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the when the toy top 10 is spinning, the liquids 31, 32 in the fluid mixture 30 separate into distinct bands 35, 36. The bands 35, 36 can be viewed through the clear plastic of the toy top 10. As an example, suppose the fluid mixture 30 contains water as the first liquid 31 and mineral oil as the second liquid 32. The water and oil are separately dyed in contrasting colors. The water is heavier than the mineral oil. As a consequence, when the toy top 10 spins, the heavier water will migrate the furthest distance from the central axis of rotation 20. The heavier water will therefore form the outer band 35 while the toy top 10 is spinning. Furthermore, since the heavier first liquid 31 is migrating a further distance from the central axis of rotation 20, the rotational inertia of the toy top 10 is increased. This enables the toy top 10 to spin longer than would otherwise be possible if the fluid mixture 30 were homogenous.

Referring to FIG. 5, a variation of a toy top 40 is shown that contains three liquids 41, 42, 43 of different densities. The three liquids 41, 42, 43 are insoluble to each other and remain separated in the toy top 40. The first liquid 41 has a specific gravity which is greater than the second liquid 42. Furthermore, the second liquid 42 has a specific gravity that is heavier than the third liquid 43. When spun, the centripetal forces cause the liquids 41, 42, 43 to separate and create bands 44, 46, 48. The heaviest first liquid 41 forms the outer most band 44, while the lightest third liquid 44 forms the innermost band 48. It will be understood that the use of three liquids is exemplary, and that any plurality of dissimilar liquids can be used.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, another variation of the toy top 50 is shown. In this embodiment, a plurality of dissimilar liquids 52, 54 are used in conjunction with solid objects 56, 58. The solid objects 56, 58 shown are glitter and molded plastic novelties. However, many other solid objects, such as glass beads and plastic beads can be used. The solid objects 56, 58 can be denser and/or less dense than the liquids 52, 54 contained in the toy top 50. When the toy top 50 is at rest, such as in FIG. 6, the solid objects 56, 58 float and sink through the various liquids 52, 54 as the toy top 50 is shaken, inverted, or otherwise manipulated. This provides the toy top 50 with further play value as a fidget toy.

When the toy top 50 spins, the liquids 52, 54 separate, as do the solid objects 56, 58. The densest material, be it a liquid or solid, forms the outermost band 60 within the spinning toy top 50. In the shown embodiment, the densest material is the first solid object 56. The subsequent bands 62, 64, 66 are formed by the liquids and solids in descending order of density. In the shown embodiment, the first liquid 52 is denser than the second solid objects 58, which are molded plastic novelties. The second solid objects 58 forms the second band 62 in the spinning toy top 50. The second solid objects 58 form a third band 64 followed by a fourth band 66 of the lightest second liquid 54.

It will be understood that the variations of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many changes to those embodiments. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.