Improvements in Toy Tops.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toy Tops.
I, HARVEY R. T. COFFIN, of Glens Falls, in the County of Warren, and State
of New York, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Fig. 1 is a section of my improved top and the pedestal and casing for the same.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the base piece and casing and the top, showing the
top in position to be spun on the spindle.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the base piece and casing and top, the latter
appearing in position spinning on the bottom of the casing.
The object of my invention is to provide a top which will spin the greatest time
and with the least expense of physical and mechanical force.
Another object of my invention is to provide a top which may be spun by a
child or any one not skilled in the art of spinning a top in so efficient a manner
that the top will have to spin from twelve to twenty minutes.
Another object of my invention is to provide a cheap and attractive top and
to furnish it at the same time with a base piece which shall form a surface upon
which to spin the top and confine it within certain predetermined limits, and the
base piece is also formed cup-shape to make a casing for the top.
In the accompanying drawings, A designates the top which may be conical in
outline and which is provided with a series of serrations B, B, and a projecting
shoulder C, and a conical enlarged head D. The larger end of the top is provided
with a projecting flange or rim E which is adapted to support it in the casing and
which is provided with a shoulder F which extends a certain distance above and
below the plane of the sides of the flange E.
G designates a spindle which is adapted to be inserted into a recess H in the
base piece. The base piece is also provided with a recess or groove I, having
inclined sides J, J. This recess or groove forms a spinning surface when the top
is spun with the head D down. The spindle G when put in position as shown in
Fig. 2 forms an admirable pivotal point upon which the top may spin and it may
be spun in such a position with a thumb and finger very successfully.
The spindle may also be inserted in the inside of the conical end of the top
at a, with the point extending up slightly above the line of the mouth of the
opening of the top in this position. The top may be spun either by raising the
end of the spindle on the table and spinning it from the head D, or the spindle
may be grasped as shown in Fig. by the thumb and finger and the top spun
with the head D for the bearing surface, but generally I propose to use a cord
for spinning a top but this is not absolutely necessary.
From the foregoing it will be readily understood that my invention provides
a top and a surface upon which to spin it and a cord and spindle all in one
compact base piece or casing ready for shipment and always handy for use.
I may make my top of any desired material, either of metal, hard rubber,
papier maché, porcelain or glass the glass being particularly mentioned as by the
use of such material I can prepare a great variety of colors and make all sorts of
ornamental designs for the top and the top may be engraved and ornamented
ad libitum in a short time and for a trifling expense.
The hole in the casing which is adapted to receive the spindle G is slightly
larger than the spindle although the base of the opening H may be sufficiently
small compared with the size of the spindle to cause the pencil to stay in position
when put in this opening. The top will not spio on a solid vertical spindle. It

page_text: is therefore necessary to give the spindle a certain amount of play. The spindle
may be provided with a lead, platinum, iron, zinc, or steel point or it may be made
of any other suitable material such as glass or other vitreous material.
If desired, the top may be used as a medicine glass for which purpose the
recesses or serrations B may be supplied for the entire height of the top and serve
as indices for measuring purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A top of the character described consisting of a conical body made hollow
and provided with a series of grooves and an enlarged head, substantially as
.described.
2. A glass top of the character described consisting of a conical body made
hollow and provided with a series of grooves and an enlarged head, substantially
as described.
3. A top of the character described consisting of a hollow conical top provided
with a series of grooves and a head D and a shoulder C and a rim E and a
projecting rib F extending each side of said rim, substantially as described.
4. In a toy top, the combination of a base piece and casing provided with a
recess adapted to receive a spindle and a bearing surface consisting of a groove to
serve the purpose of a spinning surface with a spindle and a conical top,
substantially as described.
5. In a toy top, a base piece and casing provided with a projecting spindle
inserted in a casing, in combination with a top adapted to spin on said spindle
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination of a base piece having an opening for the reception of the
spindle, with a spindle slightly smaller than the opening in the base to give it a
certain amount of play, and a conical top, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of May 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.