Patent Publication Number: US-8968049-B2

Title: Spacer for an adjustable width rotatable performance device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/470,153 filed Mar. 31, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT CONCERNING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to rotatable performance devices, particularly yo-yos having components that are selectively detachable to vary “play” characteristics of the device. 
     Rotatable performance devices, such as diabolos, yo-yos, and the like, are well-known entertainment devices for performing maneuvers or tricks. Yo-yos include a string that engages an axle of the device, and the string is initially wound around the axle and connected to a user&#39;s finger. The yo-yo is “thrown down” to cause two halves or lobes of the yo-yo to spin relative to the string. After the lobes begin spinning or “sleeping” at the end of the string, the user may perform maneuvers such as “walking the dog”, swinging the yo-yo “around the world”, and the like. 
     Depending generally on the distance between the lobes and their size and shape, yo-yos have different types of motion or “play” characteristics. For example, a yo-yo is typically classified as a “string trick” yo-yo if weight is concentrated at the rims of the lobes. Such a configuration provides stability and facilitates tricks involving string manipulation. Conversely, a yo-yo is typically classified as a “looping” yo-yo if the weight of the lobes is concentrated near the center of the yo-yo. This configuration facilitates tricks in which the yo-yo is kept in motion without simply sleeping at the end of the string. 
     String trick yo-yos cannot typically be modified to act as looping yo-yos and vice versa. As such, many yo-yo users typically purchase and, in the case of yo-yo competitions, carry at least one string trick yo-yo and at least one looping yo-yo to perform the different types of tricks described above. Considering these drawbacks of previous yo-yos, a yo-yo design is needed that permits easy modification of play characteristics. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a rotatable performance device, such as a yo-yo, with modifiable play characteristics such that the device can act as both a relatively narrow looping yo-yo and a relatively wide string trick yo-yo. The present invention also provides spacers that facilitate these modifications and a method for attaching the spacers to the rotatable performance device to changes its play characteristics. 
     In one aspect of the invention, an inner lobe spacer comprises a first face including a recess having a first cross-sectional size, and the recess is configured to receive a bearing member. The inner lobe spacer further comprises a second face opposite the first face and including a projection having a second cross-sectional size. The second cross-sectional size is equal to the first cross-sectional size within a clearance fitting range, and the projection is configured to be received in an outer lobe recess of an outer lobe. The inner lobe spacer further comprises an angled surface disposed between the first face and the second face. The angled surface faces a direction that forms an acute angle with a width direction between the first face and the second face. The angled surface is thereby configured to direct a tether connected to the bearing member away from the second face. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a rotatable performance device comprises an axle and a bearing member supported by the axle. An inner lobe spacer is detachably supported by the axle and has an inner lobe spacer recess sized to clearance-fittingly receive the bearing member. A first outer lobe is supported by the axle proximate the inner lobe spacer and opposite the bearing member. The first outer lobe has a first outer lobe recess sized to clearance-fittingly receive the bearing member if the inner lobe spacer is detached from the axle. The device further comprises a second outer lobe supported by the axle opposite the first outer lobe. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of modifying a rotatable performance device comprises the steps of A) detaching a first outer lobe and a second outer lobe from a first axle having a first longitudinal length; B) connecting an inner lobe spacer to a second axle having a second longitudinal length, the second longitudinal length being greater than the first longitudinal length; and C) connecting the first outer lobe and the second outer lobe to the second axle such that the inner lobe spacer is disposed between the first outer lobe and the second outer lobe and the first outer lobe is supported by the second axle at a second distance from the second outer lobe, the second distance being greater than the first distance. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, a kit for modifying a rotatable performance device comprises an inner lobe spacer configured to be disposed between a first outer lobe and a second outer lobe of a rotatable performance device. The spacer includes a first face, a second face opposite the first face, an inner passageway connecting the first face and the second face, and an angled surface disposed between the first face and the second face. The angled surface faces a direction that forms an acute angle with a width direction between the first face and the second face. The angled surface is thereby configured to direct a tether connected to the rotatable performance device away from the second face. The kit further comprises an axle configured to extend through the inner passageway and replace another axle of the rotatable performance by engaging the first outer lobe and the second outer lobe. 
     The foregoing and advantages of the invention will appear in the detailed description which follows. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and: 
         FIG. 1 . is a perspective view of a rotatable performance device before inner lobe spacers of the present invention are connected to the device; 
         FIG. 2  is a section view of the rotatable performance device along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the rotatable performance device including inner lobe spacers of the present invention connected to the device; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the rotatable performance device of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of the rotatable performance device along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a section view of a tether bearing of the rotatable performance device along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of a bearing spacer of the rotatable performance device along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a section view of the inner lobe spacer of the rotatable performance device along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a section view of an outer lobe of the rotatable performance device along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an inner lobe spacer of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a section view of the inner lobe spacer along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The particulars shown herein are by way of example and only for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the invention. The particulars shown herein are presented to provide what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the invention. The description taken with the drawings should make apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-5 , the invention provides both a rotatable performance device, such as a yo-yo  10 , with modifiable play characteristics and inner lobe spacers  12  ( FIGS. 3-5 ) that facilitate such modifications. In particular, the inner lobe spacers  12  are attachable and detachable from between a bearing assembly  14  and rotatable outer lobes  16  to vary the width of the yo-yo  10 . As such, the yo-yo  10  can act as both a relatively narrow looping yo-yo and a relatively wide string trick yo-yo. These aspects, in addition to details of the above components, are further described below. 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the yo-yo  10  includes an axle  18  that supports the above components and provides an axis about which some components of the yo-yo  10  rotate relative to a support string or tether  20 . In the embodiments shown in the figures, the axle  18  includes a nut  22  and two threaded bolts  24   a  and  24   b  having different lengths. When the inner lobe spacers  12  are detached from the device ( FIG. 2 ), the shorter bolt  24   a  connects to the nut  22 . Conversely, when the inner lobe spacers  12  are connected to the device ( FIG. 4 ), the longer bolt  24   b  connects to the nut  22 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 , the axle  18  supports the bearing assembly or member  14  along the shaft of the bolt  24   a ,  24   b . In general, the bearing member  14  permits relative rotation between some components of the yo-yo  10  and the tether  20 . To this end, the bearing member  14  includes a support bearing  26  which may be any appropriate type of bearing, such as a ball bearing. Such a bearing  26  includes a generally annular outer race  28  ( FIG. 6 ) that connects to the tether  20 . Rolling elements  30 , such as ball elements, separate the outer race  28  from a generally annular inner race  32 . As a result, during use the outer race  28  remains stationary relative to the tether  20  while the inner race  32  rotates, together with the remaining components of the yo-yo  10 , relative to the tether  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  7 , the bearing member  14  further includes bearing spacers  34  supported by the axle  18  on opposite axial sides of the bearing  26 . The two bearing spacers  34  are generally identical, and the yo-yo  10  is generally symmetrical over a vertical plane bisecting the support bearing  26 . As such, only one axial side of the yo-yo  10  will be described in the remainder of the description for simplicity. 
     The bearing spacer  34  may be a component formed using well-known materials and methods (e.g., molded metals, thermoplastics, or the like). The bearing spacer  34  is also generally cylinder-shaped, symmetrical about the axle  18 , and mounts the support bearing  26  at an appropriate location apart from the inner lobe spacer  12  and the outer lobe  16 . To this end, the bearing spacer  34  includes a relatively small diameter annular projection  36  ( FIG. 7 ) disposed within the support bearing  26  and engaging the inner race  32 . Adjacent the annular projection  36 , the bearing spacer  34  includes a larger diameter shoulder surface  38  that engages the side of the support bearing inner race  32 . As such, the two bearing spacers  34  sandwich and axially restrain the bearing  26  therebetween. Adjacent the shoulder surface  38 , the bearing spacer  34  includes a relatively large annular portion  40 . The annular portion  40  has a diameter that is similar to diameters of recesses of the inner lobe spacer  12  and the outer lobe  16  that may receive the bearing spacer  34  as described in further detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  9 , the axle  18  and, in some situations, the bearing spacer  34 , engages the outer lobe  16 . The outer lobe  16  may be a component formed using well-known materials and methods (e.g., machined aluminum, a molded thermoplastic, or the like). In any case, the outer lobe  16  is preferably symmetrical about the axle  18 . In addition, the outer lobe  16  includes a wall having a curved surface  42  that provides the outer lobe  16  with a general bowl shape. The curved surface  42  ensures the tether  20  remains disposed between the outer lobes  16  in use and inhibits the tether from engaging and winding around the outer lobe  16 . 
     Adjacent the curved surface  42 , the outer lobe  16  includes an outer lobe recess  44  ( FIG. 9 ) that is configured to receive the bearing spacer  34  when the inner lobe spacer  12  is removed from the device  10 . The outer lobe recess  44  has a cylindrical shape with a diameter sized to clearance-fittingly receive the bearing spacer  34 . As used herein, the term “clearance fit” and variations thereof means that a first component can be axially inserted into and removed from a recess of a second component, but the first component cannot generally be moved in a transverse direction perpendicular to the axial direction when disposed in the recess. Stated another way, the outer lobe recess  44  and bearing spacer  34  cross-sectional sizes (i.e., diameters) are equal to each other within a clearance fitting range. The phrase “equal within a clearance fitting range” and variations thereof means that dimensions of two components are sufficiently similar to permit one of the components to be clearance-fittingly received in the other component. In the present case, the clearance fit connection between the bearing spacer  34  and the outer lobe  16  firmly connects the two components and inhibits the outer lobe  16  from wobbling as it rotates relative to the tether  20 . 
     Opposite the curved surface  42  and the outer lobe recess  44 , the wall of the outer lobe  16  defines a rear recess  46  that faces away from the tether  20 . A generally cylindrical projection  48  extends into the rear recess  46  and receives the head of the bolt  24   a ,  24   b  in a bolt recess  50  (e.g., a hexagonal-shaped recess). The other outer lobe  16  receives the nut  22  in a nut recess  50  (e.g., a hexagonal-shaped recess). An axle passageway  52  connects the bolt recess  50  and the outer lobe recess  44 . As the name implies, the axle passageway  52  is sized to receive the shaft of the bolt  24   a ,  24   b.    
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3-5  and particularly  FIG. 8 , inner lobe spacer  12  may be a component formed using well-known materials and methods (e.g., machined aluminum, a molded thermoplastic, or the like). As briefly described above, the inner lobe spacer  12  may be added to and removed from the yo-yo  10  to vary the width of the yo-yo  10  and thereby alter its play characteristics. Moreover, the inner lobe spacer  12  includes a wall having a general axisymmetrical flying disk shape that, together with the spacer&#39;s  12  other features and sizes described below, permit the spacer  12  to act as an extension of the outer lobe  16 . 
     In particular, the inner lobe spacer  12  includes a first face  54  ( FIG. 8 ) having an inner lobe spacer recess  56  that is configured to receive the bearing spacer  34  when the inner lobe spacer  12  is connected from the device  10 . Moreover, the inner lobe spacer recess  56  has a cylindrical shape with a diameter sized to clearance-fittingly receive the bearing spacer  34 . Such a construction between the inner lobe spacer  12  and the bearing spacer  34  firmly connects the two components and inhibits the inner lobe spacer  12  and outer lobe  16  from wobbling as they rotate relative to the tether  20 . As shown in the figures, the bearing spacer  34  partially extends out of the inner lobe spacer recess  56 ; in other embodiments, the height of the bearing spacer  34  and the inner lobe spacer recess  56  may be different so that the bearing spacer  34  is completely disposed within the spacer recess  56 . 
     The first face  54  of the inner lobe spacer  12  further includes an annular recess  58  that houses a response or braking mechanism, such as a high-friction annular pad  60 . Regardless of the specific type that is used, the response mechanism is engageable with the tether  20  to cause the tether  20  to wind around the bearing member  14  (e.g., to return the yo-yo  10  from a sleeper). 
     Adjacent the first face  54 , the inner lobe spacer  12  further includes an angled surface  62  that faces a direction that forms an acute angle with the axle  18 . As viewed from the side (or a section view as shown in  FIG. 8 ), the outer angled surface  62  may have a flat diagonal shape or a curved shape. In either case, the angled surface  62 , like the curved surface  42  of the outer lobe  16 , ensures the tether  20  remains disposed between the inner lobe spacers  12  in use and inhibits the tether from engaging and winding around the inner lobe spacers  12 . 
     In order to act as an extension of the outer lobe  16 , the angled surface  62  preferably has a maximum diameter (and, as such, the inner lobe spacer  12  preferably has a maximum diameter) that is at least one half of the maximum diameter of the outer lobe  16 . Such a diameter provides the inner lobe spacer  12  with a relatively high moment of inertia. As such, the moment of inertia of the entire yo-yo  10  changes significantly when the inner lobe spacers  12  are removed from the yo-yo  10 , which thereby alters the “feel” of the yo-yo  10  in use. 
     Adjacent the angled surface  62  and opposite the first face  54 , the inner lobe spacer  12  includes a second face  64  ( FIG. 8 ) proximate the outer lobe  16 . The second face  64  includes a rear recess  66  that partially receives the outer lobe  16  (see  FIG. 5 ). This construction permits the angled surface  62  to intersect the curved surface  42  of the outer lobe  16 , which in turn provides the appearance that the inner lobe spacer  12  and the outer lobe  16  form a single continuous component. 
     The second face  64  also includes a cylindrical projection  68  that extends through the rear recess  66 . The projection  68  has a diameter sized such that it is clearance-fittingly received in the recess  44  of the outer lobe  16 . Stated another way, the cylindrical projection  68  and the inner lobe spacer recess  56  have diameters that are equal within a clearance fitting range. This construction permits the outer lobe  16  to firmly connect to the inner lobe spacer  12  when the spacer  12  is connected to the device  10 . Conversely, the outer lobe  16  is also capable of firmly connecting to the bearing spacer  34  when the inner lobe spacer  12  is removed from the device  10 . 
     To permit the axle  18  to extend therethrough, the inner lobe spacer  12  includes an inner passageway  70  extending from the inner lobe spacer recess  56  through the projection  68 . 
     The overall width of the inner lobe spacer  12  between the first face  54  and the second face  64  is preferably sufficiently large to significantly change the width of the yo-yo  10  when connected. In particular, the overall width of the inner lobe spacer  12  is preferably at least one third of the overall width of the outer lobe  16 . Such a construction significantly affects the play characteristics of the yo-yo  10  when the inner lobe spacers  12  are connected to the yo-yo  10 . As such, the yo-yo  10  noticeably acts as a string trick yo-yo when the inner lobe spacers  12  are used. 
     Steps for connecting the inner lobe spacers  12  to the yo-yo  10  and thereby widening the yo-yo  10  are generally as follows. Beginning with the yo-yo  10  in the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one of the outer lobes  16  is held and the other outer lobe  16  is rotated to detach the outer lobes  16  and disconnect the nut  22  from the bolt  24   a . Next, the bolt  24   a  is separated from the other components. The longer bolt  24   b  is then connected to one of the outer lobes  16 , and the inner lobe spacers  12 , the bearing spacers  34  and the bearing  26  are then positioned appropriately along the bolt  24   b . Finally, the other outer lobe  16  and the nut  22  are rotated to attach the outer lobes  16  and connect the nut  22  to the bolt  24   b . The above steps may be carried out in the opposite order to remove the inner lobe spacers  12  and decrease the width of the yo-yo  10 . 
     The components of the yo-yo  10  may alternatively take other forms not explicitly described above. For example and referring now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a second embodiment of the inner lobe spacer  112  is generally as described above. However, the response mechanism, instead of including a relatively high friction material, includes a plurality of blind holes  160  spaced around the inner lobe spacer recess  56 . In use, the tether is engageable against the edges of the blind holes  160  to cause the tether to wind around the bearing member (e.g., to return the yo-yo from a sleeper). As another example, the inner lobe spacer recesses  56 , the projections  68 , and the features they engage may have shapes other than cylindrical or round shapes. 
     From the above disclosure, it should be apparent that the present invention advantageously provides a rotatable performance device with modifiable play characteristics. As such, the device can act as both a relatively narrow looping device and a relatively wide string trick device. The invention also provides inner lobe spacers that facilitate these modifications and a method for modifying the rotatable performance device to change its play characteristics. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail. Many modifications and variations to the preferred embodiment described will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to the embodiment described.