An Improved Top.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1893
RAD DI MUITICATION.
An Improved Top.
I, JOHN FEATHERSTONEHAUGH PARSONS, of Siddington House, Kingstown
Parade, Bristol, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists in an improved top having a spindle carrying a flanged
dise the face of which is variously coloured. Grouped around the central spindle,
or a boss thereon, and lying on the face of the disc are vanes, also variously
coloured. These vanes are normally drawn towards the spindle by india-rubber or
other springs. Through radial slots, cut or otherwise provided in the disc, are
passed hooks, or the equivalents thereof, coupling the vanes aforesaid to a second
set of vanes situated on the lower face of the disc and having variously coloured
rims normally resting in slots in the flange of the disc.
When the top is spun, which effected by a piece of string and a suitable
removable handle such as is commonly employed to spin humming tops, the two
sets of vanes move outwards under the influence of centrifugal force. The effect
produced by the coloured rins of the lower set of vanes is that of a circular band
of different colours extending beyond the disc of the top and concentric therewith.
The upper set of vanes in moving outwards permit display of that part of the
coloured disc which is normally concealed by then. As the centrifugal force
diminishes, the vanes are, by the springs, drawn gradually back towards the spindle,
the rims of the lower vanes being finally received in the slots in the flange of the
disc and concealed, and the upper vanes producing a variation in the colours
displayed in connection with the upper face of the disc.
The top disc may be fitted either with the upper set of vanes only, or with the
under set only, or with both sets as above described.
Dated this 21st day of October 1892.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Agent.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Top.
I, JOHN FEATHERSTONEHAUGH PARSONS, of Siddington House, Kingstown
Parade, Bristol, Artist, 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 :-
This invention consists in a top constructed and arranged as follows. Centred
on a central spindle and arranged to rotate therewith is a disc the face of which is
variously coloured. Grouped around the central spindle and lying on the face of
the disc are vanes also variously coloured. These vanes are normally drawn
towards the spindle by india-rubber or other springs. Through radial slots cut or
otherwise provided in the disc are passed hooks, or the equivalents thereof,
coupling the vanes aforesaid to a second set of vanes situated under the disc and
having variously coloured rims normally hidden below the disc.
When the top is spun, which may be effected by a piece of string and a suitable
removable handle, or by any other suitable means, the two sets of vanes move
outwards under the influence of centrifugal force.
-
The rims of the lower set of vanes are in this manner extended beyond the disc
and the effect produced is that a coloured band is seen beyond the disc of the top
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page_text: and apparently concentric therewith and also apparently separate therefrom. The
upper set of vanes in moving outwards expose to view that part of the disc which
is normally concealed by them. In order to produce the effect of separation from
the disc of the band of colour aforesaid, the lower vanes are preferably made of
transparent material such as celluloid, horu, or the like, and to enhance the effect
the said vanes are so cut or shaped that narrow arms only are made to project
beyond the disc when the top is being spun.
It is not, however, necessary that transparent material be employed.
As the centrifugal force diminishes, the two sets of movable vanes are returned
by the springs to their normal positions.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings
Fig. 1 represents a plan of my improved top as it appears when at rest.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section.
Loosely centred on the spindle a is a disc b which is secured by screws c to the
cup d firmly fixed upon the spindle. Lying on the face of the disc band grouped
about the spindle a are vanese which are normally drawn towards the spindle by
springs f, as seen more particularly in the reverse plan of the disc b shown at Fig. 3.
In the example illustrated in the drawing the springs are bands of india-rubber,
but other kinds of springs may be adopted. The vanese are connected by hooks g,
or the equivalents thereof, to vanes situated below the disc which is provided
with radial slots through which the hooks g extend. It is to be understood that
the upper face of the disc, the upper faces of the vanese and upper faces of the
rims of the vanes are variously coloured, preferably in rings.
When the top is spun, the vanes e acting under the influence of centrifugal force
move outwards carrying with them the vanes the rims of which are thus made to
project beyond the circumference of the disc b, as seen at Fig. 4 which represents a
plan of the top when first spun. The vanes are preferably of transparent
material, such as celluloid, tale, horn or the like, and are preferably shaped as seen
at Figs. 3 and 4 so that besides the rims narrow arins only are extended beyond the
circumference of the disc b. The effect produced is that a band of colour is scen
outside the disc b and apparently not connected therewith. Also by the movement
of the vanes e that part of the disc & which is normally covered by them is exposed
to view.
As the centrifugal force diminishes the vanes e recede, by the action of
the springs f, towards the spindle a and variation and change in the combination of
colours seen are produced. The vanes are drawn below the disc b and concealed
from view.
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
A top having a disc such as b carrying on its upper face vanes such as e normally
tending by the action of springs such as f, or the like, to close towards the spindle
with which the aforesaid disc rotates, the said vanes e being connected by hooks or
links such as g having play in radial slots in the disc (or the equivalents of such
hooks or links) to vanes such as h situated below the disc; the arrangement
being such that by the centrifugal force set up when the top is spun the vanes
move outwards from the spindle and are returned by the springs to their normal
positions as the centrifugal force diminishes, substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.
Dated this 21st day of July 1893
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent.