Improved Device for Spinning Tops and other Revoluble Toys.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Device for Spinning Tops and other Revoluble Toys.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by Elias Bernard Koopman, of
267 Broadway, New York, U.S.A., Merchant), and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The present invention relates to a device for spinning tops or other revoluble
toys, as also for discharging aerial fliers which may serve as moveable shooting
marks etc. by means of a positive motion derived from a fixed spindle or rod having
a spiral worm or thread of appropriate pitch, the motive force being given by a
sliding sleeve or handpiece acting as propelling agent for the top or toy along the
threaded rod or spindle.
In order to make this description more easily intelligible, I refer to the accom-
panying drawings, in which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the
several views.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the device for spinning a top.
Figs. 2 and 3 show the top in section and plan.
Fig. 4 shows the device as used for discharging aerial fliers.
Fig. 5 is a detail view of an aerial flier.
The device consists mainly of a spindle a having appropriate thread, or the
spindle may consist of spirally wound wires or of one single wire having an angular
section and twisted round its longitudinal axle. One end of the spindle a is open
and the thread advantageously made to end a short distance from the end of the
said spindle, leaving the latter smooth. One end of the spindle a can be bent
round to form an appropriate handle.
A sleeve b of wood or other suitable material is made to slide loosely on the
spindle a, said sleeve being so constructed as to be easily and conveniently grasped
by the hand, and moved up and down the spindle. The top or disc c to be set in
rotation is provided with a boss c¹ bored out centrally, said boring being smooth
inside, one part of said boring being square or of other suitable section to fit the
thread or on the winding of the spindle.
It is
The top or disc, which is preferably provided with a beading round the rim,
something in the style of a fly wheel, is spun in the following manner.
placed onto the spindle and allowed to run down the same until it rests on the
sleeve, the latter is then pushed sharply along the spindle and the top discharged
at the end of the same. In driving the disc or top along the spindle in this manner
the same will be rapidly revolved and on leaving the spindle will spin on the end
of its boss on any suitable flat surface, or the upper surface of the sleeve and lower
surface of the top or other toy can be so formed that the top or other toy will
spin or revolve on the upper surface of said sleeve after having passed the threads
of the spindle.
Instead of causing a top to spin on the ground or any appropriate flat surface,
the aerial fliers as shown in Fig. 5 may be discharged upwards, the wings of such
fliers being bent after the manner of propeller blades and the flier being rapidly
revolved, the same will take its course through the air similar to the flight of
a bird. Such aerial fliers serve excellently as moveable marks for shooting
purposes.
I wish it to be clearly understood, that I am well aware that rotary motion has
been imparted to objects by means of a rotary spirally threaded spindle operated
by means of a non-rotary sleeve which fits over the threads of the spindle and is

page_text: passed up and down such spindle in order to rotate the same as in the case of the
so called Archimedian drills.
I would however point out that with such device it is impossible to achieve the
same results as with my invention, and that 'I do not in any way intend covering
such devices in this Specification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what I
.claim is:
1. A device for throwing aerial fliers or spinning tops or other revoluble toys
consisting of a fixed spindle a provided with appropriate spiral thread, in combina-
tion with a loose sleeve b and a top or flier or other device bored in the manner
specified, all parts co-operating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
described and shown.
2. The combination of a stationary threaded spindle with a loose sleeve for
propelling suitably bored toys substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The toy substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
בד
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.