Improvements in Toys.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL DIECIFICATION
Improvements in Toys.
JAMES FREDERICK BENNETT 135 Cemetery Road Sheffield Mathematical Instrument
Manufacturer & Maker of the Bennett Geometric Compass in the County of York
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
This invention relates to improvements in tops whereby the colours may be
changed.
In carrying out my invention the upper portion of the tops is painted in sections
or "Concentric Circles" divided in sections each section being painted different to
its neighbour.
Over the painted disc is placed a thin disc of metal or other material which is also
cut in sections & so placed on the top that at different periods of the tops revolutions
certain colours are covered & uncovered.
The top disc may be bent so that the wind catching the disc as it would a fan
impeding slightly the revolutions of the fan or top disc, this causing the top to
change colours slowly or quickly as the top revolves.
stationary or does not
A printed paper or
The peg of the top may be so arranged that it becomes
revolve at the same speed as top thus giving the same effect.
painted paper may be used instead of painting the disc.
Dated this 29th day of January 1889.
J. F. BENNETT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toys.
I JAMES FREDERICK BENNETT of 135 Cemetery Road Sheffield in the County of
York Mathematical Instrument Maker do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing and on reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings:—
This Invention relates to improvements in tops whereby the colours painted or
marked on the upper portions or surfaces thereof may be changed.
In carrying my invention into effect the upper portion or disc of the top is painted
in sections or in concentric circles divided into sections, each section being painted
differently to its neighbour or next section.
Over this painted portion or disc is placed a thin disc of metal or other material
which is also cut in sections and is so placed on the upper portion or disc of the top that
at different periods of the top's revolution certain colours on the painted upper portion
or disc are alternately covered and uncovered, and novel and pleasing optical effects
are thereby produced.
The upper thin metal or other disc is cut and portions of the cut edges are bent
upwards so that the wind catching the bent up edges of the disc, as it would a fan,
slightly impedes the revolving of this upper disc, and this causes the top on its upper
surface to change colours slowly or quickly as the top revolves.
The peg of the top can be so arranged that it will become stationary; thus the point
of the peg may be made sharp and flat and the top then spun on a piece of wood or
the point may be flattened out and then so filed or shaped as to present two points
which would resist and prevent the revolution of the peg when the top is spun on a
piece of wood or on a soft material. Or a piece of india rubber may be placed on
the base or bottom of the peg which by friction would prevent its revolution.

page_text: Instead of painting or marking the upper surface or disc of the top a printed or
painted paper or card or other suitable material can be affixed on the same, having
the sections or concentric circles thereon.
It should be understood that this invention consists mainly in providing and
applying above the upper portion or main disc of the top, a loose or secondary upper
disc (made of metal or of other suitable material) which is cut out or divided into
sections each section having a part (or parts) of one of its edges turned or bent up so
as to cause it to act as part of a fan would, and catch the wind in revolving. The
fan action regulates the speed which acts, in conjunction with the colours also in
sections on the main disc or upper portion of the top, such coloured sections being of
the same sizes as the cut out parts of the upper disc also of the part not cut out.
When the position of the upper disc changes in revolving it rests, as it were, on
another section of the colours on the main disc and will show another set of
colours.
When the colours change on the revolving of the top there will be not only a
chromatic change but also a distinct colour shown, that is, the red yellow and blue, for
example, will each appear as a separate colour, or separate colours.
My improved tops can be made in any sizes, either as small toy tops, for example,
or as larger tops to be shown or used in shop or other windows, or in other places, and
more than one painted or printed and coloured main disc, and more than one metal
or other upper disc can be applied and used thereon if required.
In order however that my said invention may be fully understood I have shown on
the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings two forms, as examples, of my
improved description of top, the first being a small sized toy top and the second
representing a top of larger size. The sheet of drawings is marked with Figures
and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following description
thereof.
Figure 1, shows the upper surface or main disc of a small toy top B, upon which
is a painted or printed coloured surface E, the same being divided into sections or into
concentric circles each circle being colored in sections (which sections in the drawing
are shown in black) and it should be understood that each section differs from its
neighbour section in colour.
Figure 2, shows the upper metal or other disc A, which is cut out into sections and
is painted black, or of any other desired colour, the parts marked C, show the cut out
edges of this disc as turned or bent up to catch the wind in revolving on the top being
spun. Or instead of cutting out the whole of this disc into sections only a part
thereof can be so cut and turned or bent up.
Figure 2ª is a section of the turned or bent up portion C, of the upper disc A.
Figure 3, shows the painted upper surface or main disc E, of the top B, as it
appears with the upper disc A. placed on it, and showing the turned or bent up
portion C. This upper disc is simply fitted to and placed on, and it surrounds, the
peg of the top, or it can be held in place by means of the ball bearings shown at
Figure 5; but in either case it is arranged free to revolve.
Figure 4, is a vertical view of the same top as fitted all complete and ready for use,
having the upper disc A, as fitted thereon. F, is a cord or string which is wound
round the bottom portion of the top as shown, and on being pulled effects the spinning
of the top. Or the top can be so urranged that it can be spun by hand or in any
other desired way.
Figure 5, is an elevation view of my top as made of a larger size, and in order the
more powerfully to spin or rotate it and to diminish the friction, I attach thereto
certain ball bearings which work in grooves as shown at H, the same being arranged
and fitted round the peg K, of the top.
Figure 5, is a detached view of a small device or point which, when screwed on
the bottom end of the peg K, can be utilized when the top is spun upon a string, cord,
or wire, or upon a knife or other edge.
Figure 5, shows in section a grooved collet or collar as fitted at H, in Figure 5,
also two of the balls, and the groove in the top J, in which the balls work, the bottom

page_text: ball bearings arrangement I, being a fac simile of the arrangement shown at H,
(Figure 5.) The collets or collars are provided to screw up or tighten the balls in
their bearings, when necessary.
Figure 6, represents the upper surface of the top J, without the discs and shows
the groove H, in which the balls work.
Figure 7, is a plan view of the groove H, with the balls therein and surrounding
the peg K, of the top.
Figure 8, shows in elevation another method of introducing and arranging the balls
in the top J. Instead of the collets or collars being grooved as at H, Figure 5b the
top itself is grooved and the collets or collars are made plain, the balls being simply
held in the grooves by the collets or collars, and by the peg K, of the top. The
metal or other upper disc or discs will be made so as to be used on any sizes of tops,
and will be so fitted and arranged as to freely revolve thereon, and instead of being
cut or formed precisely as shown in Figure 2, they can be made in any number of
sections or parts, which sections or parts may or may not be equal or regular in shape.
According to the angle at which the sections or parts of the disc are turned or bent
up so will the speed be at which the disc is impeded in revolving; thus for instance
if the edge of the disc be simply slightly turned or bent up the top in revolving will
simply change colour, because the upper disc revolves nearly at the same speed as the
top, but if the disc is turned up at a more obtuse angle then the disc will revolve at
a much less speed than the top, and consequently the disc will be seen as though it
were stationary or will appear to the eye to revolve the opposite way to the top.
This phenomenon may be varied according as the disc is turned or bent up, thus the
more acute the angle the disc is with the top the less of the disc will be seen. Besides
rotating the top in the manner as shown in Figure 4, the peg G, (or K, in the
succeeding Figures) of the top, in some instances may be made stationary in the
manner previously described, and in order to lessen the friction caused by the top's
revolution round the peg-the ball bearings shown in Figures 5, to 8, are fitted and
applied to the top, the result being that the peg will be the more easily caused to be
stationary because of the friction being naturally less.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The novel and peculiar construction of colour changing top having on its upper
surface one, or more, painted, printed or otherwise marked, coloured discs divided into
or spaced with sections, or concentric circles divided into sections, in combination
with one or more discs of metal or other suitable material also cut in corresponding
or other sections with portions of the cut edges, or a part or parts, of the disc turned
or bent up. the whole constituting my smaller sized top, and acting and being
substantially as herein before described and as illustrated in Figures 1, to 4, inclusive,
on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. The novel and peculiar construction and arrangement of top in combination
with the appliances connected thereto constituting my larger sized top, the same
having similar but larger discs to my smaller sized top and acting and being
substantially as herein before described and as illustrated in Figures 5, to 8, inclusive,
on the accompanying sheet of drawings.