Year: 1898

page_text: I, JOHN BALLANTINE, of 18, Hillside Street, Edinburgh, in the County of
Midlothian, Scotland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
to be as follows:
My invention relates to a new or improved toy, and for the purposes of this
specification I shall describe one contemplated form thereof.
The toy is of the form for example, of a disc or spinning top, which differs
however from the usual forms of top in this respect that instead of rotating upon
a fixed basis the top is suspended from an elastic cord.
The top consists of a central portion or body which is hollow, so as to allow
of a swivel joint to which is attached the supporting cord, thus allowing of free
rotation about a vertical axis. From the central body radiate arms or vanes
formed of sheet tin or other suitable substance. These vanes are of L section,
the upward arm of the L being reversed to the downward position in the alternate
vanes or arms. The outward extremities are fixed to a wire periphery which
binds the whole together and prevents the kinking of the suspensory string or
cord.
The action of my toy is as follows. The upward end of the elastic cord is held
in the hand, and an up-and-down motion is then given to it, with the result that
the suspended top is caused to fly rapidly up-and-down, while at the same time
the pressure of the air upon the arms or vanes causes the top to rotate about its
vertical axis.
I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular form
herein before described. It is obvious that both as regards the body of the top
and the radiating vanes considerable deviations and alterations may be made
without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention.

page_text: 1, JOHN BALLANTINE late of 18, Hillside Street, now of 39, Marchmont Road,
Edinburgh, in the County of Midlothian, Scotland, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is a new or improved toy by which certain advan-
tages are obtained.
Referring to the drawings which form a part of this Specification Figures 1
and 2 are sectional elevations of two forms of my invention. Figures 3 and 4
are plans. Figures 5 and 6 are sections of the vanes.
The toy is of the form of a disc or spinning top, which differs however from
the usual forms of top in this respect that instead of rotating upon a fixed basis
the top is suspended from an elastic cord.
The top consists of a central portion or body A which is hollow so as to allow
of a swivel joint to which is attached the supporting cord C thus allowing the
free rotation about a vertical axis. From the central body A radiate arms or
vanes a formed of sheet metal or other suitable substance. These vanes are of
L section. In the form shown in Figure 1 the outward extremities are fixed
to a periphery E of wire or other suitable material which binds the whole together
and prevents catching of the suspensory string or cord.
shaped
In Figure 1 the central portion A is of a truncated conical form and the
vanesa have the upright arms of the L reversed to the downward position in
the alternate vanes or arms.
In Figure 2 the central portion A is only slightly convex upward and all the
vanes have the upstanding or bent edge pointing downwards. The vanes are
moreover bent downwards from the centre to the periphery which occupies the
lowest position.
With respect to the swivel joint two forms are shown. That in Figure 2
consists of a short length of fine metal tubing B to which the elastic cord is
attached. The lower extremity is splayed out so as to support the toy. By this
construction it will be noticed that the elastic cord is saved from abrasion against
the orifice 0. In Figure 1 the elastic is passed through a button or bead D and
a knot tied on its lower extremity so that the whole may again act as a swivel.
It will be noted that in the form of my invention shown in Figure 2 the
periphery E is dispensed with thereby effecting a cheaper form of construction.
The action of my toy is as follows. The upward end of the elastic cord is held
in the hand and an up-and-down motion is then given to it, with the result that
the suspended top is caused to fly rapidly up and down while at the same time
the pressure of the air upon the arms or vanes causes the top to rotate about its
vertical axis.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is―
(1) The new or improved toy in which there is a central portion from which
radiate arnis or vanes the said central portion being suspended by an elastic cord
substantially as described and illustrated.
(2) In a toy of the kind claimed above the employment of radial arms with
bent edges, the edges of the vanes being alternately bent up and down substan-
tially as set forth with reference to Figure 1.

page_text: (3) In a toy of the kind claimed in the first claim the employment of radial
arms with bent edges the edges of the vanes being all bent downwards substan-
tially as set forth with reference to Figure 2.
(4) In combination with parts mentioned in Claim 1 a tube swivel attachment
substantially as described and as illustrated in Figure 2.
(5) In combination with the parts mentioned in Claim 1 a perforated button
or bead to act as a swivel attachment substantially as described and as illustrated
in Figure 1.