Lighted and sounding toy

A lighted and sounding yo-yo is provided with a single heavy duty battery in a first hollow shell section, and a lamp in both hollow shell sections. Flexible electrical conductors connect the lamps to the battery. A centrifugal switch is joined with the conductors in the second shell section so as to actuate the lamps only during rotation of the yo-yo. An audible electrical signal device is also located in the lighting circuit of the second shell. A second modification of the centrifugal switch is also shown. The heavy weight of the battery shell as compared with the light weight of the other shell causes the battery shell to dominate the yo-yo in the manner of a gyroscopic action to obtain rotational stability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to lighted toys, and particularly to toys such as 
yo-yos and the like that move, vibrate or revolve in use such that a 
centrifugal switch will energize the lights only when the toy is in 
motion. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Lighted yo-yos with centrifugal switches are known in the prior art. There 
is an expired Testino U.S. Pat. No. 2,623,327. It has a single battery 
which is supported in the hollow axle of the yo-yo. There is a single lamp 
on each side of the yo-yo. There is a single-pole, double-throw, 
centrifugal switch which closes in a first position when the yo-yo turns 
in one direction to light the lamps. The switch closes in a second 
position when the yo-yo turns in the opposite direction to light the 
lamps. The switch mechanism and circuit conductors take up a large amount 
of the space within the yo-yo. 
The Garoogian U.S. Pat. No. 3,162,979 shows a lighted yo-yo having a 
battery and a lamp on each side of the yo-yo. There is also a centrifugal 
switch with a U-shaped fixed contact member. This patent has three 
modifications of the centrifugal switch. This yo-yo has a solid axle. 
The Yagjian U.S. Pat. No. 3,191,344 also shows a lighted yo-yo with a 
battery and a lamp on each side of the yo-yo. Each lamp is supported on 
the free end of a cantilever spring that serves as a centrifugal switch 
member. Each shell of the yo-yo has a plurality of pins for supporting the 
electrical conductors with respect to the battery and to the lamp. 
Another lighted yo-yo design of minimum parts is shown in the Sanchez U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,924,114 which also has a battery and lamp on each side of the 
yo-yo. One conductive strip from the battery cooperates with the base of 
the lamp to serve as a centrifugal switch. 
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a lighted yo-yo 
with an audible electrical signal and a heavy duty power source. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a yo-yo with a 
combined lighting system and audible electrical signal which are actuated 
only during rapid rotation of the yo-yo. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a yo-yo of the 
class described wherein the yo-yo has an unsymmetrical weight distribution 
wherein the heavy side overpowers the light side and thus controls the 
rotational stability of the device. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a second 
modification of the centrifugal switch for a lighted toy where the switch 
has, in addition to centrifugal action, a high frequency vibration action 
to provide a blinking effect. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a lighted and 
sounding yo-yo with improved electrical connections to increase the 
expected operating life of the device. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a lighted yo-yo with an audible electrical 
signal device and a single heavy duty battery power source. The battery is 
centered within a first hollow shell section, and there is a lamp in both 
hollow shell sections. A centrifugal switch and an audible electrical 
signal device is located within the second shell section. The weight 
distribution of the yo-yo is purposely not symmetrical so the heavy side 
of the yo-yo is capable of overpowering the light side of the yo-yo and 
thus control the rotational stability of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Turning now to a consideration of the drawings and, in particular, to the 
overall perspective view of FIG. 1, there is shown a yo-yo 10 that has two 
hollow shell sections 12 and 14 respectively that are separated by a 
narrow groove 16 in which a string or cord 18 operates, as is well 
understood in this art 
The nature of the yo-yo 10 is better understood with relation to the 
cross-sectional view of FIG. 2. Each hollow shell section 12 and 14 is 
formed of two identical parts; namely a base plate 22 and a bowl-shaped 
removable cover 24. The lighting and sounding components are shown mounted 
to the base plate, but those who are skilled in this art will readily 
appreciate that this order could be reversed without departing from the 
present invention. In other words, the base plate could be of bowl-shape, 
and the cover could be a flat plate at the side of the yo-yo. 
This yo-yo 10 has a hollow axle portion 26 that joins the two shells 12 and 
14 together. The outer side of each base plate 22 has a pair of diagonally 
opposite quarter circle hub portions 28 which interlock with those of the 
other base to form a hollow cylindrical hub or axle portion 26. A hollow 
rivet 30 is adapted to slip through the axle portion and to be riveted in 
place for holding the two base plates assembled together, but separated by 
the groove 16. 
The yo-yo string 18 is to be looped around the axle portion 26 and the ends 
are to be twisted together and then tied together at their ends so a 
persons finger may be engaged therein. 
The inner side of each base plate 22 has a threaded peripheral portion 32 
for engagement with internal threads 34 near the free edge of the cover 
24. Hence each cover 24 is held to its base plate 22 by turning the cover 
to screw the cover onto the base plate. A reverse turning action will 
remove the cover from the base plate. 
Now turning to a consideration of FIG. 3, there is shown a heavy duty 
battery 36 which is a 9 volt transistor radio battery having a rectangular 
shaped body 38 with a pair of battery terminals 40, 42 at the top portion. 
A series of eight posts 44 are molded onto the base 22 to receive the 
battery 36 therebetween with a slip fit for confining the battery in place 
against any sidewise motion. When the removable cover 24 is fastened to 
the base plate 22, as is shown in FIG. 2, the battery 36 cannot slip away 
from the posts 44. Notice the battery 36 is shown centered over the 
central axle portion 26. As an alternative, this 9 volt battery 36 could 
be replaced by two side-by-side pen light batteries (not shown). 
Arranged at the side of the battery 36 is a miniature lamp 48 having a 
glass bulb 50 and metal base 52. Three posts 54, which are similar to 
posts 44, are molded to the base 22 to receive the base end of the lamp 48 
therebetween. The lamp 48 has a first tip contact 56, and the metal base 
52 serves as the second lamp contact. One of the three posts 54 cooperates 
with the tip contact 56, and the two remaining posts 54 are positioned in 
parallel to engage the opposite side of the lamp base 52. The glass bulb 
of the lamp is sandwiched between a post 44 and the threaded portion 32 of 
the base 22. 
Before discussing the electrical connections, a description will be given 
of the left hand shell 12 that is shown in FIG. 4. As stated earlier, both 
shell sections 12 and 14 are formed of identical parts, base 22 and cover 
24. Thus, the posts 54 are available for receiving a second miniature lamp 
58 having a glass bulb 60, metal base 62 and tip contact 66, in a manner 
the same as lamp 48. 
An audible electrical signal device 68 in the form of a "beeper", as is 
widely used in current smoke alarm devices, is fastened to the base 22 in 
an off-center position. The beeper 68 has a cylindrical body 70 and a pair 
of mounting ears 72. A pair of spaced plastic pins 74 fit into mating 
holes in the mounting ears 72. The pins are touched with a hot iron (not 
shown) to soften and flatten the head of the pins and lock the beeper in 
place. The beeper 68 is shown slightly off-center of the axle portion 26, 
and it is of light weight as compared with the weight of the 9 volt 
transistor radio battery 36. Thus, in operation, the rotation of the heavy 
weight battery shell 14 dominates the rotation of the light weight beeper 
shell 12 in the manner of a gyroscopic action. The weights of the two 
lamps 48 and 58 can be ignored in the calculation of the rotational forces 
in the two shells because they are equal and opposite, and thus cancel 
each other out. 
A normally open centrifugal switch 78 is also shown in FIG. 4. It has a 
movable cantilever spring contact blade 80 and a fixed contact 82. The 
fixed end of the cantilever spring blade has an integral spring clip 84 
which slips down, with a tight fit, over the post 54 which is nearest the 
lamp tip contact 66. The fixed contact 82 is represented by a metal clip 
86 which slips down, with a tight fit, over a post 44, which is adjacent 
the opposite edge of the base 22. The free end of the blade 80 may be 
folded back on itself, as at 88, to add some extra weight to improve the 
centrifugal action of the blade 80 during rotation of the yo-yo. 
Insulated stranded wire conductors are used as circuit conductors to join 
all of the electrical components together in a series circuit that is 
controlled by the centrifugal switch 78. One wire 92 joins one terminal of 
the battery to the post 54 adjacent the lamp base 52. The ends of the wire 
would be stripped of insulation and draped over the posts 44 and 54, A 
metal clip 86 would be forced down over the post and wire to make a good 
electrical connection and to serve as a fixed contact member. Another wire 
94 extends from the post 54 adjacent the lamp tip contact 56, under the 
battery 36, through the hollow axle portion 26, and then joined to the 
post 54 adjacent the lamp base 62. The beeper 68 has two leads 96 and 98 
for connecting the beeper in parallel with the lamp 58. A wire 100 
connects the fixed contact 82 of the centrifugal switch with the other 
battery terminal by first passing out of the second shell, through the 
hollow axle. 
FIG. 6 and 7 show a second modification of the axle portion 26. FIG. 6 has 
a solid axle portion 26' with two axially split hub portions 104. A pair 
of small rivets 102 extend through the axle portion for joining the two 
base plates 22, 22 together. Wires 94 and 100 are each provided with a tab 
terminal 104 for fastening the wires to the rivets. 
FIG. 8 shows a second modification 108 of a centrifugal switch to replace 
the switch 78. This switch has a movable contact 110 in the form of a 
light helical spring having a mounting tab 112 at its fixed end and an 
added weight 114 at its free end to improve its vibrating action. A fixed 
switch contact 116 is in the form of an oversized ring 118 through which 
the spring extends in a spaced relation during an at-rest condition. The 
ring has a mounting sleeve 120 for engagement on a post member (not 
shown). The helical spring 110 is a current-carrying member and it is 
capable of flexing in all transverse directions measured from the 
longitudinal axis of the spring to create a high frequency blinking or 
alternating light and sound effect. 
Modification of this invention will occur to those skilled in this art. 
Therefore, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to 
the particular embodiments disclosed, but that it is intended to cover all 
modifications which are within the true spirit and scope of this invention 
as claimed.