Top with actuator rod

A toy comprising a hollow member and a rod for operating the hollow member. The hollow member has an opening at one of two ends thereof, a smooth circular boundary edge at said one end at the inside of the opening, a spherical rotationally symmetrical surface on its outside at its other end, the axis of symmetry of said surface being coaxial relative to the upper smooth circular boundary edge. Furthermore the toy has a circular annular guide surface disposed within the hollow member adjacent said other end thereof, said guide surface being coaxial with respect to said axis. The toy might have a flange-like edge portion and vanes which extend radially and which are inclined relative to a plane extending normal to an axis of rotation of the member.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to toys. 
According to the invention, a toy comprises a hollow member and a rod for 
operating the hollow member, wherein the hollow member has an opening at 
one of two ends thereof, a smooth circular boundary edge at said one end 
at the inside of the opening, a spherical rotationally symmetrical surface 
on its outside at its other end, the axis of symmetry of said surface 
being coaxial relative to the upper smooth circular boundary edge, and a 
circular annular guide surface disposed within the hollow member adjacent 
said other end thereof, said guide surface being coaxial with respect to 
said axis. 
According to a preferred method of using the toy described in more detail 
below, the hollow member is caused by operation of the rod to move on a 
support surface with said one end uppermost. In many cases, it may be 
desirable for the spherical surface to be substantially in the form of a 
spherical cup member, and possibly to carry a central tip. This makes it 
possible for the hollow member to roll laterally along the support 
surface, when in an inclined position. It may be advantageous for the 
hollow member to be of resiliently flexible material in a region adjacent 
said one end thereof. This feature provides that, when the toy is used in 
a room, furniture is protected from damage, if the hollow member strikes 
furniture. In addition, this causes the hollow member to spring back, so 
that, on a limited surface area, similarly to a game of billiards, the 
hollow member can be played against a cushion. 
It may also be advantageous for the spherical surface of the hollow member 
to be smooth in the centre, and rough in the off-centre spherical region. 
This measure facilitates starting up the toy, with the hollow member in an 
inclined position, on a relatively smooth surface, while on the other 
hand, when the hollow member is running in its preferred operating 
position, it will run for a long time. 
If in an alternative embodiment the hollow member has inwardly projecting 
raised portions in its interior in a central region intermediate said two 
ends, then there will be a rattling sound, when the hollow member is 
rotating, as soon as the rod is pressed sensitively against the raised 
portions. 
In another alternative embodiment, the hollow member may have a rough 
annular region on its outside in its central region, which provides the 
advantage that it can be operated or steered or braked with the guide rod 
against the rough region. 
Particular advantages can be achieved with regard to packaging and also 
manufacturing of the hollow member, if the hollow member is in two parts, 
namely an annular flange-like part which can be force fitted on to another 
part. This is particularly advantageous if the annular part is color 
painted, as interesting colour effects can then be achieved when playing 
with the toy having differently coloured portions. 
In many cases it has been found advantageous for the rod to be at least 30 
cm in length, to have a slightly rounded tip at one end thereof intended 
to be inserted into the hollow member, and to have a smooth surface in a 
region which is spaced from its said end by approximately the same 
distance as the opening of the hollow member is spaced from its said other 
end. This feature reduces friction at the guide surface of the hollow 
member. 
If the rod carries a pointed cap, preferably of metal or plastics material, 
at its said end, then selecting a cap of the most suitable material one 
makes it possible to provide the antifriction properties or degree of 
friction which is the best suited to an intended purpose. 
In a preferred embodiment, at its said end the rod carries a preferably 
spherical rotary member, while on its inside in a region adjacent its said 
other end, the hollow member has a guide groove whose cross-section is 
adapted to the rotary member. The rotary member may be comprised of 
plastic material. 
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the hollow member 
is provided with openings which serve to produce sounds when the hollow 
member rotates. This acoustic effects can additionally be produced while 
the toy is being used, by varying the speed of rotation thereof. 
In order to make it easier for, in particular small children to guide the 
hollow member, it has been found advantageous for the rod to carry on one 
side a lateral side arm which projects substantially downwardly in a 
position of use, and for the position at which the side arm is mounted on 
the rod to be spaced from an end of the rod intended to be mounted into 
the hollow member at least as far as the distance by which the edge of the 
hollow member at its said one end is spaced from the inner surface of the 
hollow member at its other end.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 shows a toy that comprises a hollow member 1 and an associated rod 2 
for operating the hollow member 1. The rod 2 has a lower pointed end 2', 
preferably in the form of a slightly rounded point. The hollow member 1 
has an opening 3 at its upper end and at the inside of the opening 3 has a 
smooth circular boundary edge 4 which acts as a guide surface during use. 
At its bottom the hollow member 1 has an outer spherical rotationally 
symmetrical surface 5 whose axis 6 is coaxial with respect to the upper 
smooth boundary edge 4. Provided on the inside of the hollow member 1 is a 
concave annular guide surface 7 which is coaxial relative to the axis 6 
and which is preferably spaced by not more than 10% of the height of the 
hollow member for the outer lower end of the hollow member, that is to 
say, from the imaginary point at which the axis 6 passes through the 
spherical surface 5. 
The interior of the hollow member is formed substantially as conical 
surface in the upper region thereof. The included angle of the conical 
surface is at least 30.degree. and at most 60.degree., more preferably 
35.degree. to 40.degree.. 
The hollow member 1 may be of plastic material or metal, and preferably 
formed as a metal cup. 
In order to play a game of skill, the hollow member 1 and the rod 2 are 
disposed in the position shown in FIG. 1, so that the rod 2 lies against 
the hollow member at the top circular guide surface 4, as denoted at 9, 
and the lower pointed end 2' of the rod 2 is pressed on to the inner 
concave annular guide surface 7 of the hollow member 1. The hollow member 
1 is now pushed along a support surface sensitively by means of the rod 2, 
first slowly and then more rapidly. At the same time, pressure is applied 
to the rod 2 in the direction indicated by an arrow 10, and the rod is 
rotated slightly in the direction of an arrow 11. As a result, depending 
on the respective inclination and pushing force applied, the hollow member 
1 is rotated about its own axis 13, which is coaxial with axis 6, at a 
greater or lesser speed. The respective inclined position determines the 
respective path of movement of the cup portion on the support surface. The 
more the inclined position is spaced away from the centering point, the 
greater is the distance covered by the hollow member 1 across the surface. 
The hollow member 1 rolls along on its outer spherical rotationally 
symmetrical surface 5. When there is sufficient momentum, the rod 2 is 
removed. Due to the forces which occur upon rotation of the hollow member 
1, or the resulting momentum, the hollow member 1 continues to rotate 
about its axis 13 and, depending on its inclination, describes smaller or 
larger circular and spiral configurations on the surface. In order to 
increase the speed of the rotary movements which become slower after a 
certain time, the rod 2 may be used again in the manner described above, 
while the hollow member 1 is rotating, so that the speed of rotation of 
the hollow member can be increased. 
The rotary movements of the hollow member become very rapid if the rotating 
hollow member 1 is guided by means of the guide rod 2 at the smallest 
possible angle of inclination, with a slightly increased pushing force, as 
in this case, in contrast to the hollow member being at a larger angle of 
inclination, the spherical rotational surface 5 is in contact with the 
support surface, at a rotational distance which becomes smaller towards 
the central axis 13 of the hollow member 1. Therefore, for the same 
pushing distance, the hollow member 1 must perform more revolutions when 
at a small angle of inclination that when at a larger angle of 
inclination. By skilled application or insertion of the guide rod 2, the 
rotating hollow member 1 can be disposed as desired at the most widely 
varying angles of inclination so that the hollow member 1 can consequently 
describe different patterns on the surface. The hollow member may also be 
so directed by means of the guide rod 2 that it can remain rotating on one 
spot. 
By skilful guiding of the hollow member 1 by means of the rod 2, full 
account can be taken of the specific properties or physical laws of a 
rotating body, that is to say, the rod serving to guide the hollow member 
can be applied with skill or sensitivity to the respective correct 
position. In doing this, the hollow member 1 should be guided in such a 
way that it is never moved into an excessive angle of inclination, so that 
it always remains possible for the hollow member 1 to be raised and 
stabilised when the guide rod 2 is removed. It is obvious that the angle 
of inclination the hollow member will assume also depends on the speed of 
rotation. 
Once the hollow member 1 has been set going, it can be steered in any 
direction on the support surface, by skilled guidance by means of the 
guide rod 2, the hollow member always is guided at a slight angle of 
inclination relative to the support surface so as to be able to roll along 
on a path on the lower outer spherical cup portion. 
By practising, it is also possible to acquire the skill of raising the 
hollow member as rapidly as possible to high speeds of rotation. 
The rod 2 for operating the hollow member 1 may be of resiliently flexible 
material, for example wood, plastic material or metal, while its diameter 
and its length are adapted to the size of the hollow member. The length of 
the rod 2 also depends on whether the game is intended to be played on a 
table of a limited size, or, in the open air where the supporting surface 
(i.e. ground) is of unlimited size. 
FIG. 1 also shows, in broken lines, two further positions of the rod 2. In 
these further positions, the lower end 2' lies against different positions 
in the internal space of the hollow member 1 or on the inner lower annular 
guide surface 7. The guide surface 7 is in the form of a concave annular 
surface and permits a stepless transition from a "smaller" to a "larger" 
circular guiding action and vice-versa, that is, it permits the lower end 
2' of the rod 2 to be disposed selectively at a greater or smaller 
distance from the axis of the annular guide surface 7. 
FIG. 2 shows another embodiment in which the inner surface of the hollow 
member 1 is of a convexly curved configuration. In this case the rod 2 
lies against a circular guide line 4. A player can play with this hollow 
member in the same manner as with the hollow member described above with 
reference to FIG. 1. A marginal region 14 which projects further outwardly 
has a similar effect to a flywheel disc and increases the inertia of the 
rotating hollow member 1. 
The hollow member in the form shown in FIG. 3 provides a toy which is of 
interest from many points of view. In this case the hollow member 
comprises a lower bulged portion 1A whose largest inside diameter is 
greater than the diameter of the upper rim or boundary edge 4, and a 
collar-like outwardly projecting marginal region 14. The lower end 2' of 
the rod 2 carries a cap 15, which may be a pointed cap, comprising a 
material with a high degree of wear resistance, preferably metal or 
plastics material. It may be advantageous for the rod 2 to carry an 
annular region, preferably in the form of a sleeve 16, made of material 
having higher wear resistance, in the region in which the rod 2 is in 
contact with the upper boundary edge 4. 
In some cases it is desirable to provide the lower spherical surface of the 
hollow member with stud-like projections 17. Depending on the 
configuration and arrangement of the projections 17, and depending on the 
respective inclined position, noise is produced when the hollow member 
rotates, and/or the hollow member is caused to move with skipping or 
dancing motions. 
FIG. 4 shows an alternative form of the hollow member shown in FIG. 1, 
wherein the hollow member 1 carries a removable flange 19 which is 
force-fitted to the remaining part of the member 1 and which serves as a 
flywheel ring. The flange 19 is preferably of resilient material, for 
instance smooth plastic material. 
FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal section of another embodiment of the toy. 
The hollow member in this case comprising an upper portion which is flared 
upwardly forming a funnel-like configuration, a central cylindrical 
portion, and a lower portion of which are preferably in the form of a 
hollow ball. 
In another toy shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the hollow member 1 has a stepped 
collar-like flange at its mouth or opening, the flange comprising an inner 
flange ring 19A, an adjoining hollow-cylindrical part 19B and an outer 
flange ring 19C. The hollow member 1 is also provided with vanes 20 which 
are set at an angle. These vanes provide that when the toy is pushed over 
the support surface, if it is rotating sufficiently rapidly and the rod 2 
is suddenly removed, the toy will lift from the support surface. 
If, as shown in FIG. 8, the hollow member 1 is placed on the rod 2, the 
hollow member 1 can then be used as a flying member, in a similar manner 
to a "Chinese disc". It can also be used as a throwing device. In this 
case, the hollow member 1 is started up by rotary movement of the rod 2, 
with the rod bearing against the inner surface of the hollow-cylindrical 
part 19B. When the hollow member 1 has acquired sufficient impetus, the 
rod 2 is moved abruptly to the centre, so that the toy rotates on the rod 
which is kept substantially still. 
The embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the 
accompanying drawings may be modified in a variety of ways within the 
scope of the invention. For instance, they may incorporate any one or more 
of the optional features mentioned in the preamble hereto, for instance 
the central tip of the spherical surface and so forth. Further, the lower 
region of the inside of the hollow member may be formed substantially as a 
rotationally symmetrical smooth hollow surface, preferably as the inside 
surface of a core. The upper end of the rod may be in the form of a sleeve 
suitable for insertion of an extension rod. The rod may have one or more 
annular rough regions. The hollow member may carry a colour design on its 
inside and/or outside. The spherical surface of the hollow member may have 
a small flattened portion in a central region thereof. 
A toy embodying the invention is attractive particularly because it does 
not set any limits on the imagination of a player of a game employing the 
toy, offers the player more and more possibilities, depending on his 
particular ability, and affords the attraction that the player can again 
and again venture to go to the limits of what is possible for him at the 
time. 
Many possible modifications will become apparent from the foregoing without 
departing from the spirit of the present invention. However, the foregoing 
disclosure is presented in an illustrative sense rather than a limiting 
sense and the appended claims are relied upon to define the scope of the 
present invention.