US3234684A

US3234684A - Disc amusement device with cord-receiving openings and removable rim

Info

Publication number: US3234684A
Application number: US257412A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ford E Bridges
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-02-11
Filing date: 1963-02-11
Publication date: 1966-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-15

Description

Feb. 15, 1966 F. E. B DGES 3,234,684

DISC AMUSEMENT DEVIC ITH CORD-RECEIVING OPENINGS AND REMOVABLE RIM Filed Feb. 11, 1963 INVENTOR. Ford 5 Bridges Robe/1 J Pa/c/J ATT).

United States Patent O 3,234,684 DISC AMUSEMENT DEVICE WITH CORD-RECEIV- ING OPENINGS AND REMOVABLE RIM Ford E. Bridges, Rte. 5, Box 156, Tulsa, Okla. Filed Feb. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 257,412 6 Claims. (Cl. 4663) The present invention relates to amusement devices, more particularly of the type embodied in a rotatable disc. Such rotatable-disc amusement devices have utility in a number of environments, and will be illustrated by way of example in connection with two such environ ments, namely, spinning disc toys and rolling hoop toys.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an amusement devices the parts of which are locked against movement relative to each other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spinning toy including a filament that can be readily changed when worn or broken.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a hoop toy having a novel mode of operation.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an amusement device which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, easy and amusing to operate and repair, and rugged and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an amusement device according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the inner sheet of the amusement device;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURES 1 and 2 but showing the rim of the amusement device;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the amusement device of this invention incorporated in the environment of a spinning toy;

FIGURE 5 is the amusement device in the hoop; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a peripheral portion of the amusement device of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, there is shown an amusement device embodying the present invention, in the form of a circular disc 1 in the central portion of which is comprised of a circular flat sheet 3 of uniform thickness. Sheet 3 has a plurality of notches 5 and 7 in spaced relationship about its periphery. Notches 5 are relatively large notches, while notches 7 are relatively small notches. Notches 5 are disposed in diametrically opposed pairs on opposite sides of sheet 3, as are also notches 7.

Disc 1 also includes a circular rim 9 which in the illustrated embodiment is a ring of circular cross-sectional configuration. On its radially inner side, rim 9 is provided with a recess 11 extending entirely thereabout. Projections or keys 13 are disposed at spaced locations within recess 11, however, so that recess 11 is not continuous entirely about the inner periphery of rim 9.

Sheet 3 is preferably of relatively rigid material and may be hard fiberboard, wood, metal, rigid plastic, or the like. Rim 9, on the other hand, is preferably an elastic deformable material such as rubber or polyvinyl chloride or the like. To assemble rim *9 on sheet 3, therefore, it is necessary only to insert one portion of the edge of sheet 3 into recess 11 of rim 9 with a notch 5 or 7 in registry with a projection or key 13 so that the key 13 will be disposed in the notch. The remainder a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing environment of a rollable 3,234,684 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 of rim 9 can then be stretched and snapped over the rest of the periphery of sheet 3 and the projections or keys 13, which are disposed at the same peripheral spacing as notches 5 and 7, will each fall in an associated notch 5 or 7.

In assembled relationship, therefore, disc 1 is characterized by the marginal edges of sheet 3 being encompassed on both sides by the material of rim 9. Recess 11, however, is not as deep as any notch 5 or 7, so that the closing of the outer ends of notches 5 and 7 by rim 9 and more particularly projections or keys 13 thereon will leave openings through disc 1 which are comprised by the inner ends of notches 5 and 7. The openings provided by the inner ends of notches 5 are of course substantially larger than the openings provided by the inner ends of notches 7. Similarly, rim 9 may be unsnapped from sheet 3 and removed by an action which is the reverse of the assembly procedure.

Disc 1 as shown in FIGURE 1 has considerable amusement value by itself. It may be rolled or it may be spun or it may be thrown, and at sufiiciently high speed of rotation will make a noise by virtue of the presence of the holes provided by the inner ends of notches 5 and 7. These same holes provide finger grips and the like for spinning or rotating disc 1. At the same time, however, it should be borne in mind that by virtue of projections or keys 13 in the outer ends of notches 5 and 7, sheet 3 and rim 9 will not have rotation relative to each other, and this phenomenon is a further source of amusement when playing with disc 1.

Although disc 1 has amusement value by itself, it is preferred that it be used in connection with other simple equipment or accessories. One such further use for disc 1 is shown in FIGURE 4, in which disc 1 is embodied in the form of a spinner toy. A filament 15 passes through each of a pair of diametrically opposed notches 5 or 7, preferably notches 7, and is in the form of a continuous closed loop. Filament 15 may for example be string or a rubber band or the like. When disc 1 is rotated and winds up filament 15 in opposite directions on opposite sides of disc 1, then a pull in opposite directions, as shown in FIGURE 4, will spin disc 1 quite rapidly, and the momentum of the spinning disc will cause filament 15 not only to straighten out but also to wind up in the opposite direction, so that periodic pulls on filament 15 in opposite directions will cause disc 1 to spin rapidly and alternately in opposite directions. Should filament 15 become broken or worn, then rim 9 can be unsnapped from sheet 3, a new filament 15 inserted in a diametrically opposed pair of notches 7, and rim 9 replaced, after which the toy is ready for use again.

Another environment in which disc 1 may be used is a hoop toy which is rollable along the ground for amusement purposes. As is shown in FIGURE 5, an elongated handle 17 is a portion of this embodiment of the amusement device, handle 17 having at its lower end at least one laterally extending portion 19, and preferably a pair of laterally extending portions 19 extending in opposite directions from each other. Portion 19 is of a size that can be readily fitted into the inner ends of notches 5 when rim 9 is in place, thereby to propel disc 1 in a manner of a hoop.

In operation, the hoop embodiment of FIGURE 5 of the drawing is characterized in that the initial momentum is imparted to the hoop by inserting laterally extending portion 19 on handle 17 into one of the relatively large openings provided by large notches 5 and giving the hoop a shove with the handle. When the hoop has been started rolling in that manner, then handle 17 and its laterally extending portion 19 may be removed from the openings provided by notches 5 and thereafter used in the manner 3 of FIGURE 5, that is, as a pusher for keeping the hoop in motion.

The versatility of die 1 will therefore be seen, in that different size notches 5 and 7 are provided so as to facilitate the playing of a variety of games. At the same time, however, the speed and ease of assembly and disassembly of the amusement device of the present invention make it quite easy't-o assemble and disassemble the device and to keep the device clean. The formation of sheet 3 as a fiat sheet makes it easy to imprint sheet 3 with designs or with advertising, and the cheap and simple construction and assembly of the device makes it ideal as an advertising give-away item. The elastic deformable nature of rim 9 makes the device quite safe for even the young- 3 above any fiat supporting surface, advertising material on the fiat sides rub off.

From'a consideration of the foregoing disclosure, therefore, it will:be evident that all of the initially recited objects of the present invention have been achived.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection'with preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, as those skilled in this tion as defined by the appended claims.

What'is claimed is:

1. An amusement device comprising a flat sheet having a plurality of slots opening throughits periphery, and a removable rim encompassing the periphery of the sheet and closing the outer but not the inner ends of the slots. 2. An amusement device as claimed in claim 1, the rim being of an elastic deformable material and being 5 resiliently detachably mounted on the sheet.

3. An amusement device as claimed in claim 1, the sheet and the rim being circular.

4. An amusement device as claimed in claim 3, the rim having projections thereon that extend into the outer 10 ends of the slots to prevent rotationof the sheet and the rim relative to each other.

5. A spinning toy comprising an amusement device as claimed in claim through each of a diametrically opposed pair of slots.

6. A spinning toy being in the form of References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 540,815 6/1895 Le Clear. -46-62X 662,034 11/1900 Smith -46-220 879,152 2/1908 Diack 46 62 1,613,331 1/1927 Schreinen 46 62 1,760,622 5/1930 Aronson 4662X 1,901,547 3/1933 Brady 46 63 1,965,240 7/1934 Hill 46220 3,131,506 5/1964 Fox 46 63 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,156 1911 Great Britain.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner.

Claims

1. AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE COMPRISING A FLAT SHEET HAVING A PLURALITY OF SLOTS OPENING THROUGH ITS PERIPHERY, AND A REMOVABLE RIM ENCOMPASSING THE PERIPHERY OF THE SHEET AND CLOSING THE OUTER BUT NOT THE INNER ENDS OF THE SLOTS.