Improvements in Spinning Tops.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1898-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1898
Improvements in Spinning Tops.
I, EDWARD WALLACE RISBROUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at
No. 2122, Columbia Avenue, in the City of Philadelphia, in the County of
Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, Mechanic, 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:-
My invention relates to a top adapted to be spun by means of a cord wound around
the body of the top; and in such connection it relates to the particular construction
and arrangement of the same.
The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, readily
assembled and easily manipulated spinning top, in which rivalry can be created in
the spinning of the same through the employment of numerals in connection with
the top and the employment of a pointer or index finger actuated by air currents
in the act of the spinning of the same.
My invention stated in general terins, consists of a spinning top, when constructed
and arranged substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.
The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be more fully
understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings forming part hereof, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spinning top, embodying main features of my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same; and
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a broken section of the top, showing
in the upper portion characteristic features in detail of my said invention.
The upper
Referring to the drawings A, represents an ordinary tapering surfaced top,
provided at the base with a threaded plug a, fitted into the body of the top and
having a tapering spinning point a¹. The tapering or beveled surface of the top
is ribbed or ridged at a², for permitting of the winding of a cord around the
surface of the top so that it may be readily spun by manipulations of the cord
in connection with the top A. Around the upper curved or beveled off surface
of the top preferably provided a series of numerals b, for example, from 0
to 9 inclusive, as illustrated, impressed into or onto the same.
portion of the top A, is hollowed out or countersunk so as to form a circular
channel or way c, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, and in the centre of which is
mounted and held to place by a headed and partially threaded bolt or pin e,
preferably a truncated cone-shape device d, and mounted thereon is a reversely
bent wing or blade pointer or index finger f, which is free to revolve in connection
with the bolt or pin e, inserted through the detachable device d, into the countersunk
head c, of the top A. In the spinning of the top the reversely bent blade pointer or
finger f, influenced by air currents created by the act of spinning, owing to the shape
and position of the finger or pointer, will resist tendency to rotation induced by the
spinning of said top and thus remain apparently stationary, but in fact changing
position in the spinning so that thereby is created a rivalry on the part of those
participating in the sport or game of top spinning, and enabling the game to be

page_text: played so that gains and losses may be recorded by the pointer or finger showing up
opposite to a certain numeral of the series of the top, each time the same comes to
rest.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and, objects of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. A spinning top having a pointed base, said top adapted to be spun by a cord
wound around the ribbed or ridged body of the same and provided with numerals
and having a countersunk head forming a channel or way, within which is provided
a device carrying a rotatable blade pointer or finger held to place by a bolt or pin
extending through the same into the top body and said finger or pointer actuated
by air currents in the act of spinning said top to shift the position of the same
within said channel or way, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. A spinning top having a pointed base, said top adapted to be spun by a cord
wound around the ribbed or ridged tapering body of the same, numerals impressed
into or onto the beveled upper portion of the top adjacent to a countersunk head
forming a circular channel or way, within which is provided a truncated cone-
shape device carrying a rotatable reversely bent wing or blade pointer or finger held
to place by a bolt or pin extending through the same and said device into the top
body and said finger or pointer actuated by air currents in the act of spinning
said top to shift the position of the same within said channel or way, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
Dated at Philadelubia Donnsutuanie
1021
r
CT
EDWARD WALLACE RISBROUGH,
Per J. G. Lorrain, M.I.E.E., M.I.Mech.E.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.