Improvements in Spinning Tops.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1898-Accepted, 1st Oct.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spinning Tops.
We, WILHELM THEISS, of 70, Demmeringstrasse, Leipzig-Lindenau, Germany,
Merchant, and ALFRED NAGEL, of 40, Eisenbahnstrasse, Leipzig-Connewitz,
Germany, Tin-smith, 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 relates to spinning tops and its object is, by the aid of suitable
devices, to impart a new impulse or new impulses to a top whilst it is still spinning
so that it may be kept in motion for any desired length of time without stopping.
This object is attained by means of a coarse pitched screw and a nut, one of these
elements being fixed to the body of the top whilst the other is movable along or
within it.
I will describe my improvements with reference to the accompanying three
figures each of which represents a vertical section.
In the construction represented by Figure 1, c¹ is a plate fixed to the body a of
the top and provided with or serving as a nut at c. Through this nut passes a
coarse pitched screw or spiral b, the upper end of which is provided with a head or
button f. The spiral b is further guided at d, where it passes through the cover
plate of the top, so as to secure an exactly axial downward motion. A rubber or
other elastic strap e passes under the bottom end of the spiral band is attached by
its opposite ends to the plate c¹. If the top has been spinning for some time and
is slowing down, it is necessary only to press the button f in a downward direction.
If this be done sharply, the spiral 6 in passing through its nut c towards the peg
of the top, imparts a rapid spinning motion again to the top. The dotted lines
indicate the lowest position of the screw b, from which it is automatically returned
by the strap e to its original position.
In the modification represented by Figure 2, a tubular part is passed through
the body a of the top and fixed to it. A nut e is provided at the upper part of the
tube d for the spiral b which is further guided by the disc or plunger within the
tube d. In this case the spiral or screw. b is automatically returned by the spiral
spring el.
In the further modification represented by Figure 3, the spiral or screw b is
fixed to the inside of the hollow top peg and the nut c is capable of being moved
along it. The tubular casing, d², in the lower end of which the nut is fixed, is
arranged at the upper part of the apparatus, and is provided with 'the button or
head f. When the button is pushed down, it causes the spiral b and consequently
the top also, to receive a rotary impulse, as in the other forms of construction.
The casing with its button f are automatically returned to the original position
by means of the spiral spring e¹ or by equivalent means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:—
1. The combination and arrangement with a spinning top of a screw or spiral
and a nut one of which is fixed to the top and the other capable of being moved

page_text: along or within it, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. The herein before described means for imparting rotary impulses to a top whilst
it is spinning, constructed arranged and operated substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.