Roll and stand-up toy and a game using the same

A rolling toy to be rolled on a horizontal support surface, for instance, on a floor, having a primary roller and a secondary roller. The primary roller having a tubular-like member extending along a longitudinal axis and at least one annular flange fixedly attached to the tubular-like member and extending outwardly therefrom. The secondary roller is adapted a for rolling motion upon an interior surface of the tubular-like member when the primary roller rotates about the longitudinal axis due to the rolling motion of the rolling toy on the horizontal support surface. At least one of the following includes a helical guiding means: (i) the tubular-like member and (ii) the secondary roller. Thereby, when the secondary roller is disposed on the interior surface of the tubular-like member and the primary roller is set in a rolling motion on the horizontal support surface in a predetermined direction, the rolling motion of the primary roller results in a tilting of the latter. The tilting of the primary roller may result in its standing vertically on the horizontal support surface.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to toys and game apparatuses and, more particularly, to toys and game apparatuses that a user may roll.

One of popular in-door activity games is bowling. In bowling, a user rolls a ball toward a number of pins, and the ball rolls a considerable distance along the bowling alley. Complicated and expensive equipment is required for a bowling game, as well as a specialized facility where users can play the game. Those factors prevent bowling from being played at home.

A variety of rolling toys for children are known. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,349 to Snyder and others discloses a rolling toy having a tubular assembly with a ball moving within a tubular assembly positioned inside the tubular assembly. When a user makes the toy rolling, audio and video signals are generated due to a motion sensor incorporated into body of the toy. U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,793 to Yamakawa provides a self-propelling rolling toy which is able to change the route of rolling movement if an obstacle is encountered by the toy. Both of the cited patents have a relatively complicated structure. Moreover, there is a need of rolling-type games, similar to bowling, that can be played at home.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a new rolling toy which, when being thrown or rolled by a user, will roll on a horizontal support surface, for a certain distance and then stands up by itself. The rolling distance depends on a preliminarily adjustment to the rolling toy made by the user. The toy may be utilized for a completely new game.

One aspect of the invention provides a rolling toy having a primary roller and a secondary roller. The primary roller has a tubular-like member extending along a longitudinal axis thereof between left end and right end. The primary roller has at least one annular flange fixedly attached to the tubular-like member. The at least one annular flange is configured such that the primary roller is rollable on the at least one annular flange on a horizontal support surface. The tubular-like member has a substantially cylindrical interior surface. The secondary roller is sized to fit within the tubular-like member and is adapted for a rolling motion on the cylindrical interior surface when the longitudinal axis is orientated horizontally and the primary roller is in a rotational motion about the longitudinal axis.

As to another aspect of the invention, at least one of the following includes a helical guiding means: the tubular-like member and the secondary roller. The helical guiding means is/are configured for urging the secondary roller to move longitudinally toward the left end or the right end when the secondary roller is in the rolling motion on the substantially cylindrical interior surface of the tubular-like member.

As to a further aspect of the invention, configurations of the primary and secondary rollers and weights of the rollers are such that, as the primary roller is positioned having the longitudinal axis oriented horizontally, at least one of the following is satisfied: (a) a center of gravity of the rolling toy is located to the left of a leftmost annular flange of the at least one annular flange when the secondary roller is disposed on the substantially cylindrical interior surface in close proximity to the left end, (b) the center of gravity of the rolling toy is located to the right of a rightmost annular flange of the at least one annular flange when the secondary roller is disposed on the substantially cylindrical interior surface in close proximity to the right end, (c) a center of gravity of the primary roller is located to the left of a leftmost annular flange of the at least one annular flange, and (d) the center of gravity of the primary roller is located to the right of a rightmost annular flange of the at least one annular flange.

As to a further aspect of the invention, the tubular-like member includes a support area located on the leftmost or the rightmost portion thereof and configured such that the primary roller is positionable on the support area on the horizontal support surface, thereby, the tilting of the primary roller may result in the standing thereof on the horizontal support surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIGS. 1 and 2, a rolling toy102according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a primary roller104and a secondary roller106. The primary roller104comprises: a tubular-like member108made of a light-weight material and extending along a longitudinal axis A-A between left end110and a right end112; a left annular flange116fixedly attached to the tubular-like member108, extending radially outwardly thereof and positioned in the vicinity of the left end110; a right annular flange118fixedly attached to the tubular-like member108, extending radially outwardly thereof and positioned in the vicinity of the right end112and a counterweight which is implemented as a metal disk114fixedly attached to the tubular-like member108on the right end112thereof.

The tubular-like member108has an opening113in the left end110. InFIG. 1the left end110is on the left side and the right end112is on the right side; we will be using that convention throughout the present description. The left annular flange116and the right annular flange118have equal outer diameters and their axes coincide with the axis A-A. The primary roller104can roll on the annular flanges116and118upon a horizontal support surface134, which can be, for instance, a floor.

The size, relative location and weight of the parts of the primary roller104are such that the center of gravity (COG) thereof is located in the position indicated by the cross130: on the longitudinal axis A-A, close to an imaginary vertical plane132associated with the right annular flange118. A light weight of the tubular-like member108and a heavy weight of the metal disk114define such location of the primary roller's COG.

A helical ridge120extends inwardly from a substantially cylindrical interior surface of the tubular-like member108. The helical ridge120runs between the left end110and the right end112. The helical ridge120forms a helical groove122. As a way of example, the helical ridge120has a right hand helix; a pitch of the helix is marked inFIG. 1as PP.

The secondary roller106, preferably, has a shape of a dumbbell. A user initially holds the primary roller104so that axis A-A is oriented horizontally, then he/she places the secondary roller106inside the tubular-like member108through the opening113so that the secondary roller lays freely on the helical groove122.

When the primary roller104is positioned on the horizontal support surface134and the secondary roller106lays on the helical groove122in the vicinity of the left end110, COG of the rolling toy102(defined by a relative position, configuration and weights of the primary and secondary rollers) is located at the position indicated by the cross136, between annular flanges116and118. With that, projection of the rolling toy's COG on the support surface134lies between points of contact of the annular flanges with the support surface. Thereby, the rolling toy is in an equilibrium state. (When the secondary roller is positioned in the middle section of the tubular-like member, COG of the rolling toy is still located between the annular flanges). On the other hand, when secondary roller106lays on the helical groove122in the vicinity of right end112, COG of the rolling toy lies to the right of the plane132which forces the rolling toy to tilt (this will be described in detail further). For simplicity, we'll be using the wording “the secondary roller inside the primary roller” instead of “the secondary roller inside the tubular-like member of the primary roller”. It should be understood that shape of the secondary roller106can have a different than dumbbell; for instance, it can be shaped as a ball.

FIG. 3illustrates how a user160plays with the rolling toy102. Initially, while holding the rolling toy horizontally, he/she positions the secondary roller (not shown inFIG. 3) inside the primary roller104on the helical groove122near the left end110. Then he/she rolls the rolling toy on the horizontal support surface. In the illustrated example, the left end110is on the left side relative to the user160and the primary roller104rolls in a direction indicated by arrow126. Looking at the primary roller along its longitudinal axis from the left side, its rotation direction is counterclockwise as indicated by the curved arrow128. When the primary roller is rolling, the secondary roller, which lies freely on the helical groove122, remains in its lowest position (as illustrated inFIG. 1). Due to frictional engagement between their surfaces, the secondary roller is rolling upon the helical groove. As specified, the helical ridge120has a right hand helix, thereby, while the primary roller is rolling as illustrated inFIG. 3, the secondary roller moves longitudinally in the direction indicated by arrow124, toward right end112.

Four positions of the rolling toy102on the horizontal support surface are shown schematically in snapshots inFIGS. 4-A,4-B,4-C and4-D. The notations used in these figures are the same as inFIG. 1. The snapshotFIG. 4-A illustrates a moment when the user initiates the primary roller's rolling. A location of the rolling toy's COG is indicated by the cross136. With the primary roller rolling on the support surface and the secondary roller moving inside it in the rightward direction, COG of the rolling toy shifts rightward as well. Eventually, the COG reaches the location indicated by the cross138, as illustrated in the snapshotFIG. 4-B. The location138of the COG lies to the right of the plane132, which causes the rolling toy to lose its equilibrium state and to tilt in the direction indicated by the arrow142.

Consequently, the rightmost circular edge of the metal disk114touches the horizontal support surface134; the point of contact is marked as144in the snapshotFIG. 4-C. At this moment, the secondary roller is in the rightmost position inside the primary roller and COG of the rolling toy is located as indicated by the cross140. Projection of the COG on the horizontal support surface lies to the right of the point of contact144, so the rolling toy is still not in an equilibrium state and continues to tilt. That tilting ultimately cause the rolling toy to stand up vertically on the flat surface of the metal disk114, as illustrated in the snapshotFIG. 4-D. The sadden termination of the rolling toy's rolling movement and changing of its orientation to vertical provides an amusement effect.

Positions of the rolling toy102, as they are seen from above, are illustrated inFIG. 5, where snapshots5-A,5-B,5-C and5-D correspond to the snapshots inFIGS. 4-A,4-B,4-C and4-D, respectively. From the start of its rolling (snapshot5-A), the rolling toy102rolls on two annular flanges along a straight line150until it starts tilting (snapshot5-B). When the rolling toy starts tilting, the left annular flange116no longer touches the horizontal support surface. So the rolling toy rolls only on the right annular flange118, along a curved line152, until the rightmost circular edge of the metal disk114(seeFIG. 4-C) touches the horizontal support surface as shown on the snapshot5-C. Then the rolling toy rolls along the curved line154until it stands vertically, as illustrated in the snapshot5-D.

A distance that the rolling toy rolls upon the support surface prior to standing up is, roughly:
Dist_Roll=3.14*Diam_flange*Num_Rvl  (1),

where Diam_flange is the outer diameter of the left and right annular flanges and Num_Rvl is the number of revolutions of the primary roller. In order to achieve the longest distance of the rolling toy rolling, the user initially disposes the secondary roller106inside the primary roller104in a position closest to left end110(seeFIG. 1). Let us assume that the primary roller stops rolling when the secondary roller reaches the rightmost position on the helical groove122. Correspondingly, a maximum number of the primary roller revolutions is approximately equal to number of coils of the helix, Num_Coils and the maximal distance which the rolling toy can rolls is:
Dist_Roll_Max=3.14*Diam_flange*Num_Coils  (2).

If the user places the secondary roller initially inside the primary roller104in a position closer to the right end, the distance of the rolling toy rolling is proportionally shorter than Dist_Roll_Max. For instance, if the initial position of the secondary roller is in the middle section of the primary roller then the rolling distance is twice shorter than Dist_Roll_Max.

Here is an example of the rolling toy design and dimensions. The helical ridge has ten coils. The pitch PP of the helix is 16 mm; a longitudinal length of the helix is 10*16 mm=160 mm. Outer diameter of the annular flanges is 130 mm. According to formula (2), distance Dist_Roll_Max is 4.1 m (about 13′). An inner diameter of the tubular-like member108is 50 mm. In general, according to our estimation, outer diameter of the annular flanges must be at least 25% larger than inner diameter of the tubular-like member.

FIG. 6illustrates a second embodiment of the rolling toy. Similar to the first embodiment, a rolling toy202comprises a primary roller204and a secondary roller206. Primary roller204has a tubular-like member208extending along a longitudinal axis A2-A2, a left and a right annular flanges216and218, correspondingly, and a counterweight which is implemented as a metal disk214. A helical ridge220extends inwardly from the interior surface of the tubular-like member208. The secondary roller206is formed as an elongated cylindrical roller with several circular ridges207extending outwardly. The secondary roller206is disposed inside the tubular-like member208. Heights HRS of the circular ridges207are slightly smaller than heights HRP of the helical ridge220so the secondary roller lays on the helical ridge220when the primary roller204is oriented horizontally. Due to the frictional engagement between the exterior of the secondary roller206and the helical ridge220, the secondary roller rolls upon the helical ridge when the primary roller rolls upon a support surface234. It should be understood that configuration of secondary roller206, primary roller204and its helical ridge220can be different from those shown inFIG. 6. For instance, the secondary roller may have only one circular ridge.

FIG. 7illustrates a third embodiment of the rolling toy. Similar to the first embodiment, a rolling toy302comprises a primary roller304and a secondary roller306. Primary roller304has a tubular-like member308extending along a longitudinal axis A3-A3between a left end310and a right end312. A plurality of equidistantly spaced apart circular interior ridges320are extending inwardly from the interior surface of the tubular-like member308. The interior ridges320are coaxial with the axis A3-A3, their internal diameters are equal. The secondary roller306is formed as an elongated cylindrical roller with a helical ridge307extending outwardly from the cylindrical surface thereof. The helical ridge307has a left-hand helix. The pitch of the helix is marked inFIG. 7as PS3. The distance between two adjacent interior ridges320is equal to the pitch of the helical ridge helix. The primary roller304has a left annular flange316, a right annular flange318and a counterweight which is implemented as a metal disk314.

When a user holds the primary roller304horizontally, he/she positions the secondary roller306on the interior ridges320, close to the left end310. When the primary roller rolls upon a support surface334, the secondary roller306remains in the lowest position. Due to frictional engagement between the secondary roller and the interior ridges320, the secondary roller rolls upon the interior ridges. Similar to the first embodiment, when the primary roller304rotates in the direction illustrated inFIG. 3by arrow128, the secondary roller306moves longitudinally in the direction indicated by arrow124because of engagement between helical ridge307and interior ridges320. The longitudinal movement of the secondary roller306from left to right results in a shift of the rolling toy's COG and a corresponding tilt thereof when the secondary roller reaches the right end312.

It should be understood that configuration of the primary and secondary rollers can be different than the configuration shown inFIG. 7. For instance, the distance between two adjacent interior ridges320can be twice longer than the pitch of the helical ridge helix. Also, the tubular-like member308can have multiple holes in its wall in order to make it lighter. The secondary roller can be formed as a helical spring.

Here is an assessment of the rolling toy's dimensions according to the third embodiment. A maximal distance DL3of the longitudinal movement of the secondary roller306inside the primary roller304during the rolling toy's rolling is roughly:
DL3=NR3*PS3*DP3/DS3,

where NR3is a maximal number of revolutions of the primary roller304; DP3is the inner diameter of interior ridges320and DS3is a diameter of the secondary roller's306cylindrical body. As an example: NR3is equal to ten; the pitch PS3is 10 mm; diameter DP3is 50 mm and diameter DS3is 30 mm. With that, the distance DL3is 167 mm. Correspondingly, a full length of the primary304roller along the axis A3-A3is about 220 mm.

FIG. 8illustrates a fourth embodiment of the rolling toy. This is essentially a “two helixes” schema, a combination of the second and third embodiments. A rolling toy402comprises a primary roller404and a secondary roller406. The primary roller404has a generally cylindrical tubular-like member408extending along a longitudinal axis A4-A4. A helical ridge420extends inwardly from an interior surface of the tubular-like member408. The secondary roller406is formed as a cylindrical roller with a helical ridge407extending outwardly from the cylindrical surface therefrom. The helical ridge420and the helical ridge407both have right hand helixes.

When the primary roller404rotates in the direction illustrated inFIG. 3by arrow128, the secondary roller406moves longitudinally inside the primary roller in rightward direction a distance of DL4, which can be calculated roughly as:
DL4=NR4*(PP4−PS4*ID4/DS4),

here: NR4is the number of revolutions of primary roller404, PP4is a pitch of the primary roller's helical ridge420, PS4is a pitch of the secondary roller's helical ridge407, ID4is an inner diameter of the primary roller's helical ridge420, DS4is a diameter of the secondary roller's cylindrical body.

With the specified configuration of the helixes and direction of the primary roller's rotation, the helical ridge420causes the longitudinal movement of the secondary roller406rightward, while the helical ridge407causes the longitudinal movement of the secondary roller406leftward. Thereby, a configuration of both rollers in which the “rightward-moving” component PP4is slightly greater than the “leftward-moving” component PS4*ID4/DS4, provides a slow longitudinal movement of the secondary roller in the rightward direction. This provides for a longer distance of the rolling toy's rolling (more rotations) with a smaller number of coils of the helical ridge420and, correspondingly, smaller longitudinal size of the primary roller.

Configuration of the primary roller of the rolling toy can be different from those described in the previous embodiments. For instance,FIGS. 9 and 10illustrate a fifth embodiment, which is a variation of the second embodiment. Here, a rolling toy502comprises a primary roller504and a secondary roller506. The primary roller504has a tubular-like member, which is implemented as a helical spring562extending along a longitudinal axis A5-A5. (The helical spring562has a configuration of a stretched Slinky toy). Three bars564,566and568are attached to the exterior portions of the helical spring's coils. The bars are parallel to the longitudinal axis A5-A5. A left and a right washer-shaped flanges516and518are attached to the bars; the flanges516and518have equal outer diameters and their axes coincide with the axis A5-A5. A metal disc514is attached to the bars in their rightmost portions. The secondary roller506has a configuration similar the one of the secondary roller206(seeFIG. 6). The secondary roller506is positioned in the interior of the helical spring562so that it lays freely on the coils thereof.

It is should be understood that the rolling toy can be used when the secondary roller moves longitudinally in the direction from right to left, which is opposite to the direction in the embodiments described hereinabove. Such a mode of operation is illustrated inFIGS. 11-A and11-B. A rolling toy1102, essentially identical to the one illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, comprises of a primary roller1104(having a tubular-like member1108, a left annular flange1116, a right annular flange1118and a counterweight which is implemented as a metal disk1114), and a secondary roller1106. An imaginary plane1132is associated with the right annular flange1118. A helical ridge1120having a right hand helix extends inwardly from the interior surface of the tubular-like member1108. In the primary roller's left end1110there is an opening1113. As illustrated inFIG. 11-B, a primary roller's COG, marked as a cross1138, is located slightly to the right of the plane1132. Initially, a user places the secondary roller1106inside the tubular-like member1108in the middle portion thereof as shown inFIG. 11-A. With that, the rolling toy1102is in an equilibrium state when it stands on a support surface1134. A COG of the rolling toy (as a combination of the primary and secondary rollers) is marked inFIG. 11-A as a cross1136. The rolling toy's COG lies between the annular flanges1116and1118; a projection of the COG on the support surface lies between the points of contact of the annular flanges with the support surface.

The user rolls the rolling toy on the support surface1134such that the primary roller1104rotates clockwise, looking at it along its longitudinal axis from the left side (the rotation is opposite from the one shown inFIG. 3by the arrow128). With that rotation, the secondary roller1132moves longitudinally in the leftward direction. Eventually, the secondary roller reaches the left end1110and falls on the support surface1134from the primary roller through the opening1113. As the result, the primary roller loses its equilibrium state (due to location of its COG) and starts tilting as illustrated inFIG. 11-B. Then, in the same way as described hereinabove for the first embodiment, the primary roller stands up vertically on the flat surface of the metal disk1114.

FIGS. 12, 13-A and13-B illustrate a sixth embodiment of the rolling toy: a “single annular flange” schema. As illustrated in the cross sectional viewFIG. 12, the rolling toy602comprises a primary roller604and a secondary roller606. Primary roller604has a tubular-like member608. A single annular flange616directly joints the tubular-like member608in the middle section thereof. The annular flange616has a rim617. Similar to the third embodiment described hereinabove, a plurality of equidistantly spaced apart circular interior ridges620are extending inwardly from the interior surface of the tubular-like member608. The secondary roller606is formed as a cylindrical roller with a helical ridge extending outwardly from the cylindrical surface thereof. The helical ridge has a left-hand helix.

When the primary roller604rolls upon a horizontal support surface as illustrated in theFIG. 13-A (direction of the primary roller rotation is marked by arrow628), the secondary roller606moves in the rightward direction. When the rotation speed slows down and the secondary roller approaches the right end of the tubular-like member608, the primary roller604tilts to the right and then falls on the support surface as it illustrated in theFIG. 13-B. A secondary roller with a right-hand helix can be utilized in this embodiment as well. With the right-hand helix, the secondary roller will move in the leftward direction when the primary roller rotates as illustrated in theFIG. 13-A and, correspondingly, the primary roller will tilt to the left when the secondary roller approaches the left end of the tubular-like member608.

It should be understood that in the “single annular flange” schema, a different configuration of the tubular-like member and the secondary roller can be utilized Similar to the second embodiment, the interior surface of the tubular-like member may have a helical ridge (rather than the spaced apart circular interior ridges), and the secondary roller may have circular ridges extending outwardly its body. Another option might be the “two helixes” schema as in the fourth embodiment of the invention.

It should be understood also that directions of the helixes in the all of embodiments described hereinabove were selected by way of example. For instance, in the first embodiment, the helical ridge has a right hand helix. Therefore, under the conditions illustrated inFIG. 3, the secondary roller moves inside the primary roller longitudinally in the rightward direction. However, if the helical ridge of the primary roller had a left-hand helix, then the user would need to roll it in the opposite direction in order to make the secondary roller to move longitudinally in the rightward direction. Similarly, in the third embodiment the secondary roller can have a helical ridge with a right-hand helix; in the fourth embodiment (“two helixes” schema), both helixes can have the same (either both left or both right) or opposite directions. Also, multiple helixes can be utilized instead of a single helix in the primary rollers and/or in secondary rollers in the described embodiments.

It is also should be understood that shape, material and relative location of the parts of the rolling toy can be different from those described and illustrated hereinabove. For example, in the first embodiment, the secondary roller can have a spherical or semi-spherical shape. The tubular-like member can have, for instance, a shape of a barrel or slightly concave cylinder rather than a straight cylinder. Further, the annular flanges not necessarily have to be flat. For instance, instead of right annular flange described hereinabove, a rolling body of a semi-spherical shape, coaxial with the tubular-like member and fixedly attached thereto may be utilized. Further, the counterweight can be implemented, for instance, as a ring attached to outer surface of the right end section of the tubular-like member; the counterweight can be made of a non-metal material. The tubular-like member may have no openings on either of its ends so that the secondary roller could not be removed from the tubular-like member. Also, the primary roller in the embodiments described hereinabove can be implemented without the counterweight. In such implementation, the secondary roller must be heavy enough to cause the primary roller tilting to the left or to the right when the secondary roller is in the left end or in the right end of the primary roller, correspondingly.

A game that may be played on a substantially flat horizontal surface, for instance, on a floor, utilizing the rolling toy described hereinabove is contemplated. The game players, or one player, initially mark designated areas on the floor using a chalk or an adhesive tape: LAUNCH and TARGET, as shown inFIG. 5. By way of example: a line156defines the LAUNCH area and a circle158defines the TARGET area; the diameter of the TARGET area is 3 feet (0.9 m) and the distance between the LAUNCH and TARGET areas (between the line156and the circle158) is 10 feet (3 m). The players are allowed to roll their rolling toys from the LAUNCH area. The goal of the game is to roll the rolling toy so that it ends up standing vertically inside the TARGET area. The challenge for the players in the game is to aim the rolling toy correctly and to choose a proper initial position of the secondary roller inside the primary roller (because the rolling toy's rolling distance depends on the initial position). Also, the players may have to consider previously launched rolling toys which may already occupy the TARGET area and those rolling toys which may stand between the LAUNCH and the TARGET areas. The players may be allowed to roll more than one rolling toy. It is to be understood that different rules of the game can be contemplated, for instance multiple LAUNCH and TARGET areas can be utilized.