Improved Spinning Top.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1899-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1899
Improved Spinning Top.
I, JAMES WALLACE, of No. 1015, 8th Street, Sacramento, County of Sacramento,
State of California, U.S.A., Merchant, 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 means for rotating a top upon its supporting point
by means of a screw having a rapid spiral thread which screw is caused to slide
into the hollow stem of the top by being pressed downwardly. The screw-threads
engage with pins or lugs which project from the inside of the stem or spindle,
so that the pushing down of the screw will cause the stem and the attached top
to be rapidly turned.
A loose head is attached to the top of the screw with means by which it is
engaged to prevent the screw turning when it is being pushed down, and dis-
engaged when the screw is forced upward by means of a spring in the bottom of
the chamber of the stem or spindle in which the screw is movable.
On the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through
the top, which consists of a heavy disc having a hollow stem or spindle, and
showing the screw interior to the stem. Figure 2 is a horizontal section on
line of Fig. 1. Figure 3 is a plan view.
The top consists of a disc A of any suitable or desired diameter fixed to a
central shaft or spindle B, the lower end of which has a suitable point Cupon
which the top may turn when spinning.
Through the centre of the upper part of the shaft is an opening having
pins projecting towards the centre, and E is a screw of rapid pitch which is
slidable in the shaft and in the hollow stem, which engages the pins, so that
when the screw is pushed rapidly downward, its engagement with these pins
will cause the stem and the attached top to be revolved with sufficient speed to
cause the top to spin for a considerable time.
When the pressure upon the screw is relieved, a spring K in the bottom of
the opening in the stem, forces the screw upward.
A disc G is connected with the upper end of the screw having an extension H
of smaller diameter which passes through a pressure head I and is loosely secured
thereto by a nut J as shown so that when pressure is applied upon the head I,
a frictional contact between the surfaces holds the screw so that when pushed
down, it acts upon the pins in the stem to turn the top, but when pressure upon
the head I is relieved the friction is so reduced that the screw can turn freely
independently of the pressure head.
A pin a projects from the lower end of the screw and prevents the screw from
being withdrawn entirely from the stem by striking against the pins F or some
equivalent stop at the upper end of the stem. The top is made to spin by holding
it in an upright position, pressing forcibly upon the head I so that the action of
the screw will cause the top to turn.
As soon as pressure upon the head I is relieved, the spring in the bottom of
the tube will force the screw to the upper end, and the pressure upon the head

page_text: may be again repeated, thus giving the top a high speed which will cause it to
rotate for a long time, and whenever its speed decreases, it can be again increased
by further pressure upon the head I.
The top is made attractive by means of thin flat coloured sections L fitting
loosely about the shaft so that they may turn and change their positions, and
a great variety of combinations of colours may be thus produced.
Holes or openings may be made in the side of the hollow stem, or in the
step K¹ in which the point of the screw rests to allow the free passage of air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
(1). A spinning top consisting of a disc fixed to a central hollow shaft which
extends exteriorly above and below the disc and which is provided with interior
lugs, a Screw of rapid pitch slidable within the shaft and engaging
the lugs when so moved, a pressure head adapted to engage the upper
end of the screw when it is forced down so that the top is caused to
revolve, a spring by which the screw is returned to the upper part of the stem
when pressure upon the head is released, and a slidable step interposed between
the point of the screw and the spring, with air-passages therethrough.
(2). A spinning top consisting of a disc fixed to a hollow stem which extends
above and below the disc and has a point at the bottom upon which it turns,
a screw slidable in the stem and engaging lugs which project from the inside
of the stem, a head by which the screw is held stationary when pressed down
so that it acts to turn the top in one direction, a spring by which the screw
is returned when pressure upon the screw is relieved, and coloured sections resting
upon the disc, and loosely turnable about the stem.
Tall Tal
of T... 1900
day of Jul
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
Chartered Patent Agents, 60, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.
GEDGE & FEENY,
Chartered Patent Agents, 60, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.