Abstract:
The present invention is a spinner device adapted for use as a toy or amusement device and in relieving stress. The spinner device preferably includes a plurality of radially extending arms, each arm having a magnetic mass therein and being magnetically mass adjustable. The spinner device preferably includes a magnetically attachable and detachable base device that allows the spinner device to function as a top. The spinner device further preferably includes a magnetically attachable and detachable display stand device that allows the spinner device to be rotated or spun while being displayed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to spinning toys, and in particular, to so-called fidget spinners (see Appendix A) for use in amusement and in relieving stress. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Various spinning type toys and devices are well known and have been used for many years. Recently, fidget spinners have become highly popular (see Appendix B). Examples of various spinning devices are disclosed in Appendix A and U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,062 to Hettinger, all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is a spinner device adapted for use as a toy or amusement device and in relieving stress. The spinner device preferably includes a plurality of radially extending arms, each arm having a magnetic mass therein and being magnetically mass adjustable. The spinner device preferably includes a magnetically attachable and detachable base device that allows the spinner device to function as a top (see Appendix C). The spinner device further preferably includes a magnetically attachable and detachable display stand device that allows the spinner device to be rotated or spun while being displayed. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front trimetric view of the spinner apparatus in a static displayed configuration; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front trimetric view of the spinner device; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front exploded trimetric view of the spinner device with “explosion lines” shown in phantom lines; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a front trimetric view of the spinner device being held by a human hand while spinning; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an inverted front trimetric view of the spinner device with additional mass magnetically adhered thereto; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a font trimetric view of the spinner top in a spinning configuration; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a front exploded trimetric view of the display stand device with “explosion lines” shown in phantom lines; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a front trimetric view of the display stand device; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a rear trimetric view of the display stand device, and; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is an exploded trimetric view of the display stand device with “explosion lines” shown in phantom lines. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0016]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are included to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0017]    In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention in reviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature table is provided below. It is noted that like features are like numbered throughout all of the figures. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 FEATURE TABLE 
               
             
          
           
               
                 # 
                 Feature 
                 # 
                 Feature 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 12 
                 Spinner apparatus 
                  20a 
                 Spinner device 
               
               
                  20b 
                 Spinner device 
                 21 
                 Spinner body 
               
               
                 22 
                 Bearing cavity 
                 23 
                 Arm 
               
               
                 24 
                 Magnet cavity 
                 25 
                 Threaded hole 
               
               
                 28 
                 Magnet cap 
                 29 
                 Bearing 
               
               
                 30 
                 Retainer ring 
                 31 
                 Flange 
               
               
                 32 
                 Threaded hole 
                 33 
                 Central opening 
               
               
                 35 
                 Upper bearing cover 
                 37 
                 Lower bearing cover 
               
               
                 38 
                 Nut retention pocket 
                 40 
                 Magnet 
               
               
                 41 
                 Magnet central recess 
                 43 
                 Nut 
               
               
                 44 
                 Screw cover 
                 45 
                 Screw 
               
               
                 46 
                 Screw 
                 47 
                 O-ring 
               
               
                 48 
                 O-ring 
                 49 
                 Ball 
               
               
                 50 
                 Spinner top 
                 60 
                 Base device 
               
               
                 62 
                 Base body 
                 63 
                 Base barrel 
               
               
                 64 
                 Base cone 
                 65 
                 Base central opening 
               
               
                 66 
                 Base tip 
                 68 
                 Upper ring groove 
               
               
                 69 
                 Lower ring groove 
                 70 
                 Magnet 
               
               
                 74 
                 O-ring 
                 78 
                 Ball 
               
               
                 80 
                 Display stand device 
                 82 
                 Base 
               
               
                 83 
                 Lower disc 
                 84 
                 Hub 
               
               
                 86 
                 Drum 
                 87 
                 Drum opening 
               
               
                 89 
                 Grommet 
                 90 
                 Upper disc 
               
               
                 92 
                 Front housing 
                 93 
                 Foot 
               
               
                 95 
                 Rear housing 
                 96 
                 Foot 
               
               
                 97 
                 Shelf 
                 98 
                 Screw 
               
               
                 99 
                 Screw 
                 100  
                 Arm device 
               
               
                 101  
                 Strut 
                 102  
                 Foot 
               
               
                 103  
                 First arm 
                 104  
                 Second arm 
               
               
                 105  
                 Mounting flange 
                 108  
                 Spindle 
               
               
                 109  
                 Magnet pocket 
                 110  
                 Magnet 
               
               
                 112  
                 Screw 
                 114  
                 Collar 
               
               
                 116  
                 O-ring 
                 118  
                 Screw 
               
               
                 120  
                 O-ring 
                 122  
                 O-ring 
               
               
                 125  
                 Table 
                 126  
                 Magnet recess 
               
               
                 128  
                 Magnet 
                 129  
                 Screw 
               
               
                 132  
                 Human hand 
                 133  
                 Explosion line 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0018]    Referring now to the drawings, the invention is a spinner apparatus  12  for use as a toy or amusement device in manually spinning a spinner, spinning a spinner as a top, and displaying a spinning spinner on a display stand comprising spinner device  20   a , optional balls  49 , base device  60 , and stand  80 . 
         [0019]    Spinner device  20   a  defines a so-called “fidget spinner” type spinner device comprising body  21 , a plurality of magnet caps  28 , a plurality of bearings  29 , retainer ring  30 , upper bearing cover  35 , lower bearing cover  37 , a plurality of magnets  40 , nut  43 , screw cover  44 , a plurality of screws  45 , a plurality of screws  46 , a plurality of O-rings  47 , and a plurality of O-rings  48 . 
         [0020]    Spinner device body  21  defines a preferably plastic body preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process having a bearing cavity  22 , a plurality of arms  23 , a plurality of magnet cavities  24 , and a plurality of threaded holes  25 . Magnet cap  28  defines a generally arcuate shaped and preferably plastic cap preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process. Bearing  29  preferably defines a standard commercially available metal bearing adapted to have an inner race rotatable relative to an outer race. Retainer ring  30  defines a generally ring shaped and preferably plastic ring preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process having a plurality of flanges  31 , a plurality of threaded holes  32 , and a central opening  33 . Upper bearing cover  35  defines a generally disk shaped and preferably plastic cover preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process. Lower bearing cover  37  defines a generally disk shaped and preferably plastic cover preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process having a nut retention pocket  38 . Magnet  40  preferably defines a standard commercially available metal magnet having a central recess. Nut  43  preferably defines a standard commercially available metal threaded nut. Screw cover cover  44  defines a generally disk shaped and preferably plastic cover preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process. Screw  45  preferably defines a standard commercially available metal threaded screw. Screw  46  preferably defines a standard commercially available metal threaded screw. O-ring  47  preferably defines a standard commercially available elastomeric O-ring. O-ring  48  preferably defines a standard commercially available elastomeric O-ring. 
         [0021]    Ball  49  preferably defines a standard commercially available spherical ferromagnetic metal ball. 
         [0022]    Spinner device  20   a  is assembled such that bearing  29  is pressed into cavity  22 , a magnet  40  is pressed into each of magnet cavities  24 , caps  28  are positioned onto each of magnets  40  and holding communication with each of arms  23 , two O-rings  47  each are elastically positioned in place on each of arms  23  and caps  28 , retainer ring  30  is threadingly attached to body  21  by means of screws  46  and threaded holes  25 , upper bearing cover  35  positioned in opening  33 , O-ring  48  is pressed into cover  35 , nut  43  is pressed into retention pocket  38  and lower bearing cover  37  positioned in contact with cavity  22 , O-ring  48  is pressed into cover  37 , one each of screws  45  is threaded through covers  35  and  37  and retentively threaded into nut  43 , and covers  44  are pressed into contact with screws  45 . 
         [0023]    With spinner device  20   a  thus assembled, spinner device  20   a  may be spun between a user&#39;s fingers, spun when assembled to a base to form a top, and spun on a display stand. It shall be noted that O-rings  47  not only function to retain caps  28  to arms  23 , O-rings  47  function to provide for strain relief and shock resistance or energy attenuation if spinner device  20   a  is dropped or struck, so as to prevent breaking spinner device  20   a . O-rings  47  also provide for enhanced grip of spinner device  20   a  for a user. It shall also be noted that covers  35  and  37  are centrally dished (concaved shaped) so as to provide for self-centering of spinner device  20   a  in a user&#39;s fingers. If a user decides to increase the mass of spinner device  20   a  (i.e. so as to increase spin dwell time), the user may merely place a ball  49  in each of recesses  41 , whereby balls  49  are magnetically retained to magnets  40  and thereby form spinner device  20   b.    
         [0024]    Base device  60  comprises base body  62 , magnet  70 , a plurality of O-rings  74 , and a ball  78 . 
         [0025]    Base body  62  defines a preferably plastic body preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process having a barrel  63 , a cone  64 , a central opening  65 , a tip  66 , upper ring groove  68 , and lower ring groove  69 . Magnet  70  preferably defines a generally cylindrical standard commercially available metal magnet. O-ring  74  preferably defines a standard commercially available elastomeric O-ring. Ball  78  preferably defines a standard commercially available spherical ferromagnetic metal ball. 
         [0026]    Base device  60  is assembled such that a first O-ring  74  is elastically positioned in upper ring groove  68 , a second O-ring  74  is elastically positioned in lower ring groove  69 , magnet  70  is pressed into central opening  65 , and ball  78  is pressed into tip  66 . 
         [0027]    Spinner top  50  comprises spinner device  20   a  and a base device  60 . Spinner top  50  is assembled such that spinner device  20   a  is magnetically and rotatable attached to base device  60  by means of magnet  70 . 
         [0028]    With spinner top  50  thus assembled, spinner device  20   a  may be spun while magnetically attached to base device  60  and then spinner top  50  may be placed on a substantially hard flat surface and spinner top  50  will spin for a period of time while balancing on ball  78 . 
         [0029]    Display stand device  80  comprises a base  82 , an arm device  100 , screws  99 , and optionally balls  49 . 
         [0030]    Base  82  comprises a lower disc  83 , a drum  86 , a grommet  89 , an upper disc  90 , a front housing  92 , a rear housing  95 , a screw  98 , a plurality of O-rings  120 , a plurality of O-rings  122 , a table  125 , a plurality of magnets  128 , and a plurality of screws  129 . 
         [0031]    Lower disc  83  defines a preferably substantially flat plastic disc preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process having a hub  84 . Drum  86  defines a preferably hollow plastic drum preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process having an opening  87 . Grommet  89  preferably defines a standard commercially available elastomeric grommet. Upper disc  90  defines a preferably substantially flat plastic disc preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process. Front housing  92  defines a preferably substantially arcuate shaped plastic housing preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process having at least one foot  93 . Rear housing  95  defines a preferably substantially arcuate shaped plastic housing preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process having at least one foot  96  and a shelf  97 . Screw  98  preferably defines a standard commercially available metal threaded screw. O-ring  120  preferably defines a standard commercially available elastomeric O-ring. O-ring  122  preferably defines a standard commercially available elastomeric O-ring. Table  125  defines a preferably substantially flat plastic table preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process having a plurality of magnet recesses  126 . Magnet  128  preferably defines a generally disc shaped standard commercially available metal magnet. Screw  129  preferably defines a standard commercially available metal threaded screw. 
         [0032]    Base  82  is assembled such that grommet  89  is pressed into opening  87 , upper disc  90  is positioned on and pressed into grommet  89 , hub  84  of lower disc  83  is pressed into a lower surface of drum  86 , screw  98  is threaded through grommet  89  and into hub  84 , front housing  92  is positioned on a front side of drum  86 , rear housing  95  is positioned on a back side of drum  86 , O-rings  120  are elastically positioned around front housing  92  and rear housing  95  so as to secure front housing  92  and rear housing  95 , O-rings  122  are elastically secured to feet  93  and feet  96 , one each of magnets  128  are press-fit into each of magnet recesses  126 , and table  125  is secured to rear housing  95  by means of screws  129 . 
         [0033]    Arm device  100  comprises a strut  101 , a spindle  108 , a magnet  110 , a plurality of screws  112 , a collar  114 , an O-ring  116 , and a screw  118 . 
         [0034]    Strut  101  defines a preferably substantially elongated plastic strut preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process having a foot  102 , a first arm  103 , a second arm  104 , and a mounting flange  105 . Spindle  108  defines a preferably cylindrical plastic spindle preferably compatible with an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process having a magnet pocket  109 . Magnet  110  preferably defines a generally cylindrical shaped standard commercially available metal magnet. Screws  112  preferably define standard commercially available metal threaded screws. O-ring  116  preferably defines a standard commercially available elastomeric O-ring. Screw  118  preferably defines a standard commercially available metal threaded screw. 
         [0035]    Arm device  100  is assembled such that magnet  110  is pressed into magnet pocket  109 , spindle  108  is fastened to mounting flange  105  by means of screws  112 , O-ring  116  is pressed into collar  114 , and collar  114  is fastened to mounting flange  105  by means of screw  118 . 
         [0036]    Display stand device  80  is assembled such that foot  102  of strut  101  of arm device  100  is fastened to shelf  97  of rear housing  95  of base  82  by means of screws  99 . Balls  49  may optionally be magnetically retained in magnet recesses  126  when balls  49  are not in use. 
         [0037]    Spinner apparatus  12  is assembled such that base device  60  is magnetically adhered to display stand  80  by placing magnet  70  into magnetic contact with screw  118 , and such that spinner device  20   a  is rotatably positioned on display stand  80  by placing bearing  29  into magnetic retention positioning with magnet  110 . 
         [0038]    With spinner apparatus  12  thus assembled, spinner device  20   a  as wells as base device  60  and balls  49  may be statically displayed. Further, with spinner apparatus  12  thus assembled, spinner device  20   a  may be spun while being retained on display stand  80 . Moreover, a user may spin spinner device  20   a  between his fingers, and then while still spinning, spinner device  20   a  may be magnetically adhered to and displayed on stand  80 . It shall be noted that in one embodiment, spinner apparatus  12  is provided as an assembled completed product and in another embodiment spinner apparatus  12  is provided as a kit preferably comprising entirely of COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) parts and either 3D printed (or like additive manufactured) parts or the 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) models (e.g. STL files) that can be printed to create such parts. 
         [0039]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.