Abstract:
A yo yo toy is formed of a pair of substantially disk-shaped body halves joined in a spaced arrangement by a center shaft. A quantity of string is secured to the center shaft and wound within the space. Each body half includes a receptacle and a cover pivotally secured thereto and lachable in a closed position. A plurality of toy items are secured within the receptacle and cover of one body half while the remaining body half defines a play feature background and play surface for the toy figure in the open position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to Yo yo toys and particularly to those having an additional play or amusement feature. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Yo yo toys have proven to be a long standing and well known toy product. The basic components of a Yo yo are simple and generally comprise a body usually formed of a pair of generally disk-like body halves joined by a center shaft. The body halves are spaced apart slightly to form a center space therebetween. A string has one end secured about the center shaft and the remaining end configured to be looped around the user&#39;s fingers with a slip knot or the like. The attachment of the string end to the center shaft of the Yo yo is carried forward in either a fixed attachment or a loop formed to encircle the center shaft. 
     In a typical Yo yo play pattern, the outer end of the string is secured to the user&#39;s finger and the string is wound upon the center shaft until the Yo yo body is received within the user&#39;s hand. Thereafter, the user simply throws the Yo yo body downwardly which unwinds the string as the Yo yo body falls simultaneously spinning the body. At the full extension of the string, the spinning momentum of the Yo yo body rewinds the string and raises the Yo yo upwardly upon the string to be caught in the user&#39;s hand. For those Yo yo&#39;s of the type having a fixed attachment of the string end upon the center shaft this simple up and down pattern is repeated and constitutes the extent of play with some variation of use. 
     A substantially greater flexibility of use and amusement is provided by Yo yo&#39;s in which the string end at the center shaft of the Yo yo is simply looped about the center shaft. This allows the spinning Yo yo body to spin within the string loop at the bottom extension of the string and greatly increase the flexibility of toy play pattern. Thus, as the user throws the Yo yo body downwardly unwinding the string and spinning the Yo yo it continues to spin at the bottom end of the string allowing various tricks to be performed. The user raises the spinning Yo yo body by imparting a sharp tug to the string which wraps and binds the lower end of the spring upon the shaft and raises the Yo yo. 
     Notsurprisingly, the extended popularity of Yo yo toys have prompted practitioner&#39;s in the art to provide a great variety of such toys. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,676,432 issued to Field sets forth a WHIRLING TOY having a Yo yo defining a pair of body halves and a string secured to the center shaft therebetween. Each body half defines a clear outer surface and a cavity within which a toy figure is rotatably supported. 
     U.S. Pat. No. Des. 232,956 issued to Chelman sets forth a YO YO TOY having a Yo yo body formed by a symmetrical mirror image pair of body portions and a center shaft therebetween. Each body portion supports a clear dome enclosure within which a plurality of toy items are captivated and moveable. 
     U.S. Pat. No. Des. 382,919 issued to Calvin sets forth a YO-YO having a pair of disk-like body halves joined by a center shaft and having a string secured thereto. Each body half is transparent and receives a toy figure therein. The toy figure is viewable through the transparent body halves. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,924 issued to Fabricant sets forth a YO YO TOY CARRYING AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER having a Yo yo body formed by a pair of spaced apart disk-shaped body halves and a center shaft therebetween. A string is wound about the center shaft and is tied to a finger loop at its outer end. A bracket is rotatably secured to the body halves and extends above and across the body halves. An aperture in the bracket allows the string to pass therethrough between the center shaft and the finger ring. A toy figure is supported upon the bracket. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,102 issued to Caffrey set forth a SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE YO YO providing increased spinning time for performing tricks. The Yo yo string is attached to a free spinning baring surrounding the center axle. The baring is operable connected to centrifugal actuated spring loaded clutch mechanism. 
     Anther interesting type of toy product enjoying substantial popularity through the years is found through container/play housing toys. In such toys, the toy container also functions as a play environment for the toys removably stored within the container. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,335 issued to Caveza sets forth a TOY FOR MAKING SIMULATED FRENCH FRIES FROM CHEWING GUM STICKS having a pair of container halves joined by a hinge and movable between opened and closed positions. A plurality of simulated food making toy items are supported within the container for storage and attachable to the container halves when open for play. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,348 issued to Wiggs et al. sets forth an OPENING CASE TOY OR AMUSEMENT DEVICE in which a case houses an internal figure. The case is closed to hide the figure and is open to allow a spring mechanism to raise the figure to a play position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,710,679 issued to Pels sets forth a COMBINATION FIGURE TOY AND PAINT BOX having a toy figure generally resembling a human and having a spherical torso. The spherical torso includes a pair of hemispherical portions hingedly joined to allow the toy body to be opened and reveal a paint box supported therein. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,375 issued to Kanauchi sets forth a SMALL DECORATION EQUIPT WITH SPRING OPERATED MOVABLE DECORATIVE ELEMENT having a pair of container portions hingedly coupled to define an interior cavity within which miniature toy figures are received. U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,278 issued Dixon et al. sets forth a DIORAMA TOY KIT while U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,831 issued to Wolff sets forth a COLLECTOR ADDITION DOLL and U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,398 issued to Richardson sets forth a CARRYING CASE FOR PEA CHARACTERS all of which generally shown toy carrying cases which open to provide a play environment. 
     Additional opening play sets are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,710 issued to Montgromery and entitled FOLD OPEN PLAY SET WITH SLOTTED BASE; U.S. Pat. No. 1,136,454 issued to Warren entitled FOLDING BOX; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,413 issued to Lehmann et al. entitled MULTI USE TOY. 
     While the foregoing described prior art devices have generally improved the art and in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore varied, interesting and amusing Yo yo type toy products. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a more amusing and entertaining Yo yo type toy. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved Yo yo type toy which employs additional supplementary play features for obtaining increased amusement. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a Yo yo toy comprising: a pair of body halves each having a receptacle and a cover, the covers each movable between and open configuration and a closed configuration, the covers and the receptacles defining cavities in the closed configuration; a center shaft supporting the body halves to define a space therebetween; a string having one end extending into the space and being wound upon the center shaft; and at least one toy item removably secured within one of the cavities. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which: 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a side elevation view of a Yo yo toy constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 sets forth a side elevation view of the improved Yo yo toy of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 sets forth a perspective view of the present invention Yo yo toy in its open configuration. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a side elevation view of a Yo yo toy constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . Yo yo  10  includes a pair of body halves  11  and  12  (body half  12  shown in FIG.  2 ). As is better seen in FIG. 2, body halves  11  and  12  are joined by a center shaft  15  and are separated thereon to form a space  13  between body halves  11  and  12 . As is also better seen in FIG. 2, a string  14  is received within space  13  and is secured to shaft  15  by conventional attachment (not shown). 
     Returning to FIG. 1, Yo yo  10  includes a receptacle  25  having a support surface  31  together with a transparent cover  20 . Transparent cover  20  is preferably formed of a clear plastic material or the like and is pivotally joined to receptacle  25  by a conventional hinge  21 . Receptacle  25  further supports a snap-clasp  22  having an aperture  23  formed therein. Correspondingly, transparent cover  20  defines a snap-tab  24  receivable within aperture  23  to secure transparent cover  20  in the closed position shown. 
     In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, a toy figure 40 and a figure accessory  41  are received within container cavity  30  formed between support surface  31  and transparent cover  20 . In further accordance with the present invention, toy figure  40  and toy figure accessory  41  are releasably secured to support surface  31 . The support mechanism for toy figure 40 is shown in FIG. 2 in greater detail. The support mechanism for figure accessory  41  includes a rearwardly extending post  26  which is received within an aperture  27  formed in support surface  31 . Thus, post  26  is received within aperture  27  to releasably secure figure accessory  41 . 
     In the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the user is able to utilize Yo yo  10  upon string  14  in accordance with conventional Yo yo play patterns. 
     FIG. 2 sets forth a side elevation view of Yo yo  10  in the closed configuration. FIG. 2 also shows dash-line representations of the cover portions (covers  20  and  53 ) pivoting outwardly about their respective hinges toward the open configuration of the present invention Yo yo. Yo yo  10  includes a pair of body halves  11  and  12  supported in a spaced arrangement upon a center shaft  15 . Thus, a space  13  is formed between body halves  11  and  12 . Correspondingly, a string  14  is received within space  13  and is secured to center shaft  15  by conventional attachment (not shown). Body half  11  includes a receptacle  25  having a support surface  31  and a snap-clasp  22  formed thereon. Body half  11  further includes a transparent cover  20  joined to receptacle  25  by a hinge  21 . Transparent cover  20  further includes a snap-tab  24  which is forced through aperture  23  (seen in FIG. 1) of snap-clasp  22  to secure transparent cover  20  in the closed position shown. 
     Body half  12  includes a receptacle  50  having a snap-clasp  51  which in turn defines an aperture  55  (seen in FIG.  3 ). Body half  12  further includes a cover  53  pivotally secured to receptacle  50  by a hinge  52 . Cover  53  includes a snap-tab  54  which is forced through aperture  55  (seen in FIG. 3) to secure cover  53  in the closed position shown. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a toy figure 40 is secured to support surface  31  within body half  11  and is visible outside Yo yo  10 . Toy figure 40 defines a recess  42  in the rear portion thereof while support surface  31  defines a post  32 . Thus, the attachment of toy figure 40 to support surface  31  is provided by the insertion of post  32  into recess  40 . It will be recalled, and as is seen in FIG. 1, that figure accessory  41  includes a rearwardly extending post  26  received within an aperture  27  formed in support surface  31 . In the preferred fabrication of the present invention, recess  42  of toy figure 40 is shaped and sized in accordance with post  26  of figure accessory  41  allowing toy figure 40 to receive and support toy figure accessory  41  in a-coupled arrangement shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The attachment of snap-tab  24  to clasp  22  as well as the attachment of snap-tab  54  to clasp  51  is releasable snap attachment which allows cover  20  and cover  53  to be pivoted outwardly in the manner indicated by arrows  43  and  55  respectively. This pivotal movement of covers  20  and  53 , corresponds to the opening of Yo yo  10  to provide its alternate play configuration. Yo yo  10  may be returned to the closed position shown in solid line representation in FIG. 2 by simply pivoting covers  20  and  53  in the opposite direction to that indicated by arrows  43  and  55  and thereby forcing snap-tabs  24  and  54  into their respective clasps  22  and  51 . 
     FIG. 3 sets forth a perspective view of Yo yo  10  in its open position corresponding to the play position of the present invention toy. As described above, Yo yo  10  includes a pair of body halves  11  and  12  joined by a shaft  15  (seen in FIG. 2) and forming a string receiving space  13  therebetween. As is also described above, string  14  is received within space  13  and secured to shaft  15  using conventional means of attachment (not shown). Body half  11  includes a receptacle  25  having a snap-clasp  22  which in turn defines an aperture  23 . Body half  11  further includes a transparent cover  20  secured in a pivotal attachment to receptacle  25  and maintained in a closed position by a tab  24  received within aperture  23 . 
     Body half  12  includes a receptacle  50  having a clasp  51  formed therein which in turn defines an aperture  55 . Body half  12  further includes, a cover  53  pivotally coupled to receptacle  50  by a hinge  52  and having a snap-tab  54  formed therein. Snap-tab  54  cooperates with snap-clasp  51  to secure cover  53  in the closed position shown in FIG.  2 . Cover  53  further defines an interior surface having a plurality of play features or topographical features  65 . These features include a pair of foot receiving recesses  63  and  64 . 
     In accordance with the anticipated play pattern of the present invention, toy figure 40 having accessory  41  secured thereto in the manner described above is supported upon play surface  62  by the insertion of the toy figure feet within recesses  64  and  65 . In further accordance with the play pattern of the present invention, back surface  60  of receptacle  50  defines a plurality of play background features  61 . 
     Thus, in the opened configuration shown in FIG. 3, Yo yo  10  functions to provide a secondary play feature in which a play background environment together with a play surfaces provided for toy figure  40 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that while toy figure  40  and accessory  41  as well as play background features  61  and play surface  62  are fabricated in accordance with a common “spaceman” theme, other themes and aesthetics may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Yo yo  10  is returned to the closed configuration shown in FIG. 2 by removing toy figure 40 from play surface  62  and separating accessory  41  from toy figure  40 . Thereafter, cover  20  is opened by forcing tab  24  downwardly and pulling it outwardly from aperture  23  after which toy figure  40  and accessory  41  are replaced upon support surface  31  in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Once figure  40  and accessory  41  have been stored within body half  11 , cover  53  is returned to the closed position shown in FIG. 2 by pivoting cover  53  upwardly about hinge  52  and forcing snap-tab  54  through aperture  55 . Once Yo yo  10  has been returned to its closed position, the user is able to again implement a typical Yo yo play pattern using string  14  as described above. 
     What has been shown is a Yo yo toy having a pair of body halves which include openable covers and interior cavities for providing additional play activities and for receiving and supporting a toy figure and accessories therefore. 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.