Abstract:
A power starting dock for gyroscope is comprised of an outer housing that has a bottom and a concave head. The head is slanted at an angle relative to the housing, and engages a gyroscope rotor, an electric power source on the housing, a spring-mounted motor on the housing connected to the power source for producing a rotational power in response to a switching force, and a power rotor fastened to the motor and protruding into the concave head of the housing. The power rotor serves to resiliently transmit rotational motor power to the gyroscope rotor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A. Field of the Invention 
   Technology proposed in the following utility patent relates to a new type of gyroscopic accessory. More particularly, the present invention is a portable starter dock that enables an automatic spin start for gyroscopes. 
   B. Description of the Prior Art 
   Gyroscopes have a myriad of diverse purposes, ranging from recreational spinning tops and yoyos to the essential balancing component within motorcycles. The gyroscopic resistance against directional changes of spin axis can be translated into a resistance useful for muscular exercises. As a result, an array of arm and hand exercise equipment has been developed using such scientific principles. 
   A fundamental gyroscopic wrist exerciser originally appeared within U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,146 issued to Archie Mishler, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Silkebakken illustrates subsequent modifications to the original design in U.S. Pat. No. http://patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/-h0http://patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/-h2 24,150,580, and Frederick Mishler follows suit in U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,625; both of which are also incorporated herein by reference. Upon initial usage, those with minimal hand strength have trouble starting the gyroscopic wrist exercisers, and unfortunately, this is the category of people with the greatest potential to benefit from the device. 
   Early gyroscopic wrist exercisers were started by a pull string wound around the gyro rotor. Eventually, an electric hand-starter was incorporated into the apparatus, creating an initial spinning momentum from which the user could take control during workout. The starter is a hand-held electric tool that can rotationally push a gyro rotor within the outer casing of the hand exerciser, which is held in the air by the opposing hand. 
   Even with the assistance of the electric tool, dexterous handling is still necessary to constantly obtain a desired spinning speed of the gyro rotor. In order to effectively use the device, the tool head must be pushed against the gyro rotor surface at the correct angle and with a specific force. All portable automatic gyro starters currently on the market lack a means to start the gyro rotor without special maneuvering. Because gyroscopic exercisers are becoming increasingly popular within the field of medical rehabilitation, the demand for a simple and reliable means for starting the device is ever increasing. Patients need a device that will compensate for their diminished strength, as well as their hand muscles that are incapable of performing the special maneuvering required by current apparatuses. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   With respect to the previously mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable gyros power dock that automatically starts gyroscopes. The current invention also includes a convenient docking station for the gyroscope to casually enter and exit. 
   The gyroscope power starter is comprised of an outer housing which has a bottom and a concave head. The head is slanted at an angle relative to the housing, and engages a gyroscope rotor, an electric power source on the housing, a spring-mounted motor on the housing connected to the power source for producing a rotational power in response to a switching force, and a power rotor fastened to the motor and protruding into the concave head of the housing. The power rotor serves to resiliently transmit rotational motor power to the gyroscope rotor. 
   The power starter also has a pushbutton switch that initiates a circuit among the power source, motor and rotor. This is accomplished by activation of the switching force and breaking the circuit as the switching force is released. 
   The housing of the power starter may be contoured as a desktop pedestal or into a dock-shaped truncated hexagonal pyramid, and the pushbutton switch may be annexed to a rear side of the housing. The housing can also be contoured into a handheld starter, and the entire power starter can be created to be as light as the gyroscope. 
   According to the present invention, the power dock can consist of a light, yet sturdy, plastic material. It can be placed on any surface, including a desktop, or held by a user during operation. The gyroscope is typically an exerciser type with a gyro rotor, although the present invention is easily adaptable to different kinds of portable gyroscope products. 
   The power dock has a top face that is slanted forward into an acute angle, typically thirty-nine degrees relative to the bottom. This particular configuration keeps fifty percent of gyro rotor axle weight on the upper body of the power dock, controlling “cam out” or precession. The present anti-cam out drive is unique because it simultaneously supports and drives the gyroscope automatically, without generating an undesirable precession jolt. The top face is defined as six outer side edges and a central basin area. The basin area has a large annular edge on which the gyroscope rests. The annular edge extends at a downwardly converging angle to a lower surface by an annular wall. The lower surface lies parallel to the top face. 
   The basin is adapted to receive the gyroscope, creating a driving engagement with the power dock. To provide a unique supportive drive force to the gyroscope, a spring-mounted electric powered rotor protrudes at the basin area through an elongated opening in the lower surface. The elongated opening can be superimposed upon the concave center of the lower surface, in correspondence to the general spherical surface wherein the gyroscope is seated. 
   At the rear sidewall, an upright mount protrudes from the bottom and functions to support the start button. The electrical pushbutton switch completes the circuit only upon depression and immediately breaks the circuit as the switch is released. This eliminates the need for the user to generate any additional motions to start the gyroscope while on the power dock. The rear sidewall bears a cutout for the mount to pass through. Two latches located in the frontal area of the bottom protrude upward, and corresponding holes are formed in the upper shell. This allows the bottom to first lock into the shell at the front. The components are additionally fastened at the rear by a screw, which is threaded through the rear sidewall and an upright open slot. For ease of battery replacement, the interior of the power dock can be exposed by simply unscrewing and pulling the shell upward. 
   A leaf spring is cantilevered to the bottom of the apparatus by a post integral and primarily functions to suspend a motor. The motor is clipped at opposite ends by the two side plates of the leaf spring, which are bent at an upward angle. The rotating axis of the motor is fixed to the center bore of the power rotor. The leaf spring works to maintain the motor/rotor assembly at a neutral position in the interior of the upper shell, with a circumferential section of the apparatus always forced towards the upper front of the power dock. Batteries are mounted on the board to power the motor/rotor. Instead of installing start button, simple electrical terminals can be arranged under the leaf-spring inside of the power dock to make or break the power circuit. This particular assembly option capitalizes on the weight or depression of the gyroscope. 
   Embodiments of the invention will now be described by means of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a gyro power dock according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the gyro power dock of  FIG. 1  while in operation, showing an exemplary gyro hand exerciser loaded to start an internal rotor. 
       FIG. 3  is a partially exploded side view of the gyro power dock of  FIG. 1 , which reveals a cantilevered driving rotor in contact with the gyro rotor. 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of the driving mechanism of the gyro power dock of  FIG. 1  with its top shell removed. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the gyro power dock of  FIG. 1  showing the positional level of the driving rotor inside the power dock. 
   

   Similar reference numbers denote corresponding features throughout the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   In reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a power dock  10  resembles a truncated hexagonal pyramid with a flat bottom  11 , an upper shell  12 , and slanted sidewalls  13 . The dock  10  can be placed on any surface, including and not limited to a desktop. A user may also prefer to hold the device; the invention is easily made portable due to its minimal weight, which can be as little as the accompanying gyroscope  14 . The gyroscope  14  shown depicts the exercise type and has a gyro rotor R, although the present invention is easily adaptable to various types of portable gyroscope products. 
   The dock  10  has a top face  15  slanted forward creating the acute angle A, preferably measuring thirty-nine degrees relative to the flat bottom  11 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . This angle is significant in the present invention because it functions to simultaneously support and drive the gyroscope  13  automatically. 
   Six outer side edges  16  and a central basin area  17  define the top face  15 . The basin area  17  has a large annular edge  18  on which the gyroscope  14  rests. The annular edge  18  extends to a lower stepped surface  19  by an annular wall  20  at a downward converging angle. The lower surface  19  lies parallel to the top face  15 . 
   The power dock  10  may take different shapes, including a three-sided pyramid, a truncated circular cone, or an irregular form. The possibilities are virtually limitless, as long as the power dock provides an anti-cam-out drive for the gyroscope  14  as described in detail below. 
   The basin  17  is adapted to receive the gyroscope  14  so that it makes a driving engagement with the power dock  10 . To provide a unique supportive driving force to the gyroscope  14 , an electrically powered rotor  21  is spring-mounted and protrudes at the basin area  17  through an elongated opening  22  formed in the lower surface  19 . The rotor  21  may be rubberized over its circumferential areas to provide a good frictional contact with the gyro rotor R. 
   The lower surface  19  has a concave center area  23 , which may superimpose the elongated opening  22  corresponding to the general spherical surface of the gyroscope  13  to be seated. 
   At the rear sidewall  13 , an upright mount  24  that protrudes from the bottom  11  supports a starting button  25 . The electrical pushbutton switch completes the circuit only upon depression and immediately breaks the circuit as the switch is released. This eliminates the need for the user to generate any additional motions to start the gyroscope  14  while on the power dock  10 . 
   The rear sidewall  12  bears a cutout for the mount  24  to pass through. Two latches  26  located in the frontal area of the bottom  11  protrude upward, and corresponding holes  27  are formed in the upper shell  12 . This allows the bottom  11  to first lock into the shell  12  at the front. The components are additionally fastened at the rear by a screw, which is threaded through the rear sidewall  13  and an upright open slot  28  shown in  FIG. 4 . For ease of battery replacement, the interior of the power dock can be exposed by simply unscrewing and pulling the shell  12  upward from the bottom  11 . 
   A leaf spring  30  is cantilevered by a post  31  integral to the bottom  11  and suspends a motor  32 , which is clipped at its opposite ends by two upwardly bent side plates  33  of the leaf spring  30 . In addition, the rotating axis of the motor  32  is fixed to a center bore of the power rotor  21 . The spring  30  normally keeps the motor/rotor assembly at a neutral position in the interior of the upper shell  12 , with a circumferential section of the power rotor  21  always forced towards the upper front of the power dock  10 . 
   In this embodiment, batteries  34  of three volts are mounted on board to power the motor  32  and the rotor  21 , although different rates of motors and power sources may be used as well. A four-sided open compartment  35  holds the batteries  34  under spring  35  biases. The batteries  34  supply the electric power through two wires. One polarity of wire  36  directly connects to one power terminal of the motor  32 , and the other polarity of wire  37  is connected through the switch  25  to the other power terminal of the motor  32  in series. It would be possible to operate using a rechargeable battery, which can be connected to a household outlet through an appropriate adaptor. 
   The installation of the starting button  25  is arbitrary. If desired, the starting button  25  may be replaced by simple electrical terminals arranged under the leaf spring  30  to make or break the power circuit. This particular assembly option capitalizes on the weight or depression of the gyroscope  14 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates the positional relation of the power rotor  21  to the surrounding components from a frontal perspective. During operation, power dock  10  is laid on a considerably level surface, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The power dock  10  receives the gyroscope  14  in the angled basin area  17  with the gyro rotor R oriented in the same rotational direction as the power rotor  21 . This configuration ensures that the spring mounted motor  32  keeps the gyro rotor R from bouncing, thus causing a “cam out” as the start button  25  is pushed. The angled surface  19  of the basin area  17  keeps exactly half of the axle weight of the gyro rotor R on the annular wall  20  of the basin area  17  to control “cam out”. 
   Therefore, the angled basin area  17 , leaf spring  26 , motor  32  and rotor  21  collectively form a docking base to consistently start the gyroscope  14 . 
   When creating the initial momentum for gyroscope hand/arm exercisers, the power dock  10  may only be used to start the gyro rotor until it reaches a threshold speed. The user must then take over the momentum of the exerciser by applying his/her strength to keep the gyro rotor moving. The upper shell  12  of the invention can be customized to fit a different gyroscope for educational or entertainment purposes. In this case, the power dock  10  may be used repeatedly as needed when the rotator loses inertia. 
   The motor is flexibly mounted to account for the fact that some gyro rotors are not very concentric with the axle. A rigidly mounted motor may cause the gyro to bounce, lose its seating, and then precess while spinning at the starting RPM. Initial speed can range from one to fifteen rotations per minute (RPM). The spring of the mounted drive should be tuned to allow the motor and drive assembly to drive the off-center rotor. The power starter has the ability to function with numerous versions of gyros, both new and old, and each with different measurements for the rotor protrusion beyond the gyro housing. The motor height is adjustable in order to allow each gyro to sit flat in the recess cup. 
   The motor height is user adjustable. An optional setscrew abuts the leaf spring, thus limiting its inherent range of motion. This spring limiting member can be a high adjustable machine screw, or a rigid member that is either mounted or integrally formed with the housing of the product. The spring limiting member is typically formed integrally when the spring has a narrow range or heights. This would occur in the event wherein the device is designed to operate with a specific gyroscope model. A wide variety of calibration and adjustment options are common in art illustrating the limitation of spring member travel. 
   While the presently preferred form of the gyroscope power dock has been shown and described, and several modifications thereof discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims. 
   CALL OUT LIST OF ELEMENTS 
   
       
         10 : Gyro Power Dock 
         11 : Flat Bottom 
         12 : Upper Shell 
         13 : Side Wall 
         14 : Gyroscope 
         15 : Top Face 
         16 : Outer Side Edges 
         17 : Basin Area 
         18 : Annular Edge 
         19 : Lower Stepped Surface 
         20 : Annular Wall 
         21 : Power Rotor 
         22 : Elongated Opening 
         23 : Concave Area 
         24 : Mount 
         25 : Starting Button 
         26 : Latch 
         27 : Hole 
         28 : Open Slot 
         30 : Leaf Spring 
         31 : Post 
         32 : Motor 
         33 : Side Plate 
         34 : Battery 
         35 : Spring 
         36 , 37 : Wire 
       A: Angle of Top Face 
       R: Gyro Rotor