US2839869A - Spinning tops - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1958 J. 5. LOPEZ SPINNING TOPS Filed July 15, 1955 INVENTOR .JOJi

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,839,869 SPINNING TOPS Jose Sanchez Lopez, Laredo, Tex. Application July 15 1955, Serial No. 522,250 Claims. CI. 46-65) This invention relates to spinning tops and more particularly to multiple spinning tops.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved top construction whereby a plurality of tops may be spun simultaneously. 7 Another object of the invention is to provide a spinning top adapted forthe amusement of youths and adults, which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and most eificient in operation.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the top;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through, the assembled tops, showing their relation, one to the other;

Figure 3 is a view of the whole assembly of tops, with the tops separated and in perspective;

Figure 4 is a partial vertical sectional view of two tops showing in detail the inner and outer rabbets;

Figure 5 shows the top in completely assembled form and the manner of making it spin by hand; and

Figure 6 shows the manner of pitching the top'with a cord and spinning the separated tops.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a spinner or principal top and 11, 12, 13, 14, and 16 are nonspinner tops. This distinction is necessary since top 10 is spun by a cord 17 while tops 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 have no means for attaching to or winding-therearound a cord. All tops, however, do spin. Each top is substantially conical in form or more specifically, conic curvilinear. This description applies also to top 16 except for the portion 18 which serves as a lid, being shaped as shown. Each top, excepting top 16 is hollow so that one can be nested in the other; top 11 being nested in top 10; top 12 being nested in top 11; top 13 being nested in top 12; top 14 being nested in top 13; top 15 being nested in top 14; and top 16 which is not hollow, being nested in top 15.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that the lid portion 18 is integral with the body of the top 16 and is provided with a boss 19, the lid being shaped as shown and being of a diameter conforming with the outside diameter at the rim, of top 10.

Each top is provided with a pivot point or peg, upon which it spins; one such pivot point being shown at 20 on top 10. r

A most important feature of this invention is the fact that the nesting tops are so constructed that, whennested, the uppermost edge surface portions all lie inthe same horizontal plane and are flush with each other, as best seen at 25, in Figure 2, thereby providing, substantial, broad surface upon which the lid top 16 may rest when it is nested within top 15. When nested, the tops are loosely fitted, but in a precise and perfect fitting manner, leaving between each nested top a slight space for play, which prevents the adhesion of the tops among them- Patented June 24, 1 958 with rabbet 26 and rabbet 27 mates with the outer rabbet on top 12 (which rabbet is not identified by a reference character). As shown in Figure 2, each of tops 11, 12,

- 13, 14 and 15 are provided with outer and inner rabbets,

and top 16 is provided with an'outer rabbet, only. 'It is to be noted particularly that the provision of the inner and outer rabbets on the marginal edge portions of the tops is believed to be the cause of the seven or more tops to-adapt themselves better to the positions shown in Figure 2 and to facilitate their immediate and precise separation from the principal top 10 when spinning.

The rabbets, when engaged as shown in Figure 2, cause the tops to adapt themselves betterto their positions, and likewise cause all of the tops to rotate simultaneously, due to the driving connections set up by the rabbets. The inner rabbet serves somewhat like the female eye of a hook-and-eye arrangement, and the outer rabbet serves somewhat as the male hook. The outer top 10 drives top 11 through the rabbets, and top 11 drives top 12 through the rabbets, and so on for all of the nested tops. It is to be noted also, that all of the rabbets referred to lie in the same horizontal plane. I

In operation, the tops are in their nested positions as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The cord 17 is wrapped about top 10 in the customary fashion and the top assembly is pitched by the player shown in Figure 6, or it may be spun by hand without a cord, as shown in Figure 5. This causes the tops to start spinning and they are thrown out of the stack, as shown in Figure 6, each to spin on its individual pivot point or peg. By spinning the top assembly by hand or by cord, motion is imparted to each individual top; and by centrifugal motion, the tops are thrown one from the other and from the principal top 10, falling'upon the floor or spinning surface and spinning upon their pivot points or pegs.

The provision of the inner and outer rabbets, in the manner described, not only permits the tops to nest with their uppermost edge surface portions in a horizontal plane, but the rabbets materially and greatly assist in the tops being separated precisely at the instant when spinning is to occur.

The number of tops which can be nested and spun is a matter of skill and a very interesting game may be developed among several spinners. By coloring and decorating the tops a very pleasing and attractive effect is obtained.

What I claim is:

1. A spinning top comprising in combination, a plurality of substantially conical interfitting tops, varying in depth and diameter, each adapted to spin independently of the others, the top having the smallest depth and smallest diameter including an integral lid adapted to engage all peripheral edges of all of said interfitting tops except said lip top, the uppermost edge surface portions of each of said tops excepting that of said lip top lyingin the same horizontal plane and being flush with each other thereby providing a substantial, broad surface upon which the lid top may rest when nested, one of said tops being manually rotatable and serving as a principal top' to support and enclose the other interfittingtops and to impart rapid rotary movement thereto simultaneously to cause the same to spin. j

2. A spinning top comprising in combination, a plurality of substantially conical interfitting tops, varying in depth and diameter, each adapted to spin independently t v 3 of the others, the top having the smallest depth and smallest diameter including anintegral lid adapted to engage and rest upon all uppermost edge surface portions of all of said interfitting tops except said lid top, the

uppermost edge surface portions of'each'of said tops 4. The spinning top of claim 3 in which all of said rabbets lie in a common horizontal plane, said planes being parallel.

5. The spinning top of claim 1 in which said principal top is provided only with an inner rabbet, said lip top is provided only with an outer rabbet, and the remaining interfitting tops are provided with both'inner and outer rabbets.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Spencer July 22, 1873 OBrien May 14, 1912 Gallaher Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oEETcE CERTIFICATE OF CURRECTION Patent No. 2,839,869 June 22;; 1958 Jose Sanchez Lopez It is hereby certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 67, after "providing" strike out the comma and insert instead a column 2, lines 61 and 62, and column 4,. line 5,. 01" "lip top", each occurrence, read lid top Signed and sealed this 9th day of September 19580 KARI. H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Ofliccr Commissioner of Patents

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