Improvements in Spinning Tops.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
Improvements in Spinning Tops.
A communication by JOHN CYRUS GOODRICH, of 139, Lincoln Avenue, Detroit,
in the County of Wayne and State of Michigan, United States of America,
Real Estate Dealer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, aud 6, Bank Street, Manchester,
both in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick and 322, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what mauner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to tops, and has for its object an improved toy of this class
which is adapted to receive its initial impulse from an air blast, and is so constructed
and arranged that further impulses or continuous impulses can be imparted to it
during the time while it is in motion. The top may be spun on any tabular surface,
or it may have a table prepared especially for it and connected with the blast pipe
used to direct the propelling air into the proper channels.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 shows the top and frame in section;
Figure 2 is a plan of the top;
Figure 3 is a plan of the frame with the top iu position.
The top A is provided with a hollow spindle B and with air ducts c co that lead
from the hollow spindle B, through the body of the top and deliver the escaping
air in a direction tangential to the periphery. A pipe D, used after the fashion of
a blow pipe, is employed to actuate the top, the end of the pipe D is inserted in
the hollow spindle, in which it fits very loosely, and a blast of air blown through it.
The pipe may now be lifted out from the hollow spiudle, and may be replaced when
the spinning motion of the top sluckens.
E indicates a frame or ring provided with a hole e ou one side for the reception
of the end of the pipe D, and with a small table on the opposite side. The top
is held by the end of the pipe D which projects into the hollow spindle, and by
the little table, which preferably has a small cavity f, and the entire device is
held in the hand, or with a little practice the spinning top may be removed from
the table onto another tabular surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manuer the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In combination with a top provided with a hollow spindle, and air passages
leading outward from the spindle through the body of the top and arranged to
deliver air in a direction tangential to the top body, a blast pipe adapted to engage
loosely in the hollow spindle, substantially as described.
2. In combination with a top provided with a hollow spindle and air passages
leading outward from the spindle and arranged to deliver air in a direction
tangential to the top body, a blast pipe adapted to engage loosely in the hollow

page_text: spindle, and a holding frame provided with a table and with an orifice adapted to
engage the end of the blast pipe, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of August 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.