IMPROVEMENTS IN KALEIDOSCOPIC TOPS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augustine Alma King, of Highbury, in the County of
Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KALEIDOSCOPIC TOPS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustine Alma King at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th March 1883.
AUGUSTINE ALMA KING, of Highbury in the County of Middlesex,
MENTS IN KALEIDOSCOPIC TOPS,"
"IMPROVE-
My invention relates to spinning tops in which different colours are combined
and exhibited when the top is rotating, the combinations and positions of the
different colours being varied at intervals.
It has for its object novel methods of constructing and arranging the parts of
the top by which such varying colours and combinations of colours are produced,
in such manner that they are very simple, cheap, durable, and easily set in
operation and changed. Supposing that my invention is to be applied to an
ordinary wooden whipping top consisting of an upper cylinder upon a lower cone
on the point of which the top spins, I make across the upper cylindrical part of
the top a transverse groove or recess of sufficient depth and width.
In this groove
I arrange a transverse cylinder or prism of wood or other suitable material,
circular, triangular, square, or polygonal, in transverse section, and having centres
or axles at its ends upon which it can revolve freely within the groove or recess.
These axles or centres turn in corresponding bearings or pins in the ends of the
recess, the length of which is made rather less than the diameter of the top.
Or, the groove may be made completely across, separate bearings being fixed at
its ends to carry the revolving prism. I colour the sides of the revolving prism or
cylinder with different colours.
For instance, supposing that a prism square in transverse section is used, its
four faces are coloured with four different colours, such as red, white, yellow, and
blue, or any other colours which may be chosen.
And I preferably make a narrow transverse coloured band round the centre of
the length of the prism, the colour on each side being different from the colour on
the remainder of that side of the prism.
The remainder of the upper face of the top I prefer to colour black.

page_text: When the top is set in rapid rotation a shaded coloured disc shows itself upon
its upper face, with a central shaded disc of different colour, the colours varying
according to the side or sides of the prism which may happen to be uppermost.
When the top is spun, or struck, or whipped, for the purpose of keeping up its
rotation, the sudden movement causes the prism to turn round more or less in its
bearings, and the colours to change accordingly.
I prefer to make the prism project slightly above the face of the top, so that
whilst the latter is spinning the prism can be gently touched and so made to change
its colours.
Where a cylinder is used, the different colours are placed upon it in parallel
longitudinal stripes.
Instead of a cylinder or prism I sometimes use a sphere in a recess of corresponding
shape.
Instead of one revolving cylinder or prism as described two or more parallel ones
may be used, or two or more may be arranged at right angles or other position
relatively to each other, or the transverse axle may be fixed and the prism or
cylinder cut into separate short lengths may be arranged upon it so as to revolve
freely, the variety of combinations of colours being in this way increased.
My invention may be applied not only to whipping tops but to any other form
of spinning tops or wheels.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Augustine Alma King in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th September 1883.
'
AUGUSTINE ALMA KING, of Highbury, in the County of Middlesex IMPROVE-
MENTS IN KALEIDOSCOPIC TOPS
"
My invention relates to spinning tops in which different colours are combined
and exhibited when the top is spinning, the combinations and positions of the
different colours being varied at intervals when desired.
It has for its object novel methods of constructing and arranging the parts of
the top by which the exhibition of such varying colours and combinations of
colours is produced, in such manner that they are very simple, cheap, durable, and
effective, and are easily set in operation and changed.
Supposing that my invention is to be applied to an ordinary wooden whipping
top consisting of an upper cylinder having a lower conical end upon the point of
which the top spins, I make in the upper cylindrical part of the top a groove or
recess of sufficient depth and width.
In this recess I arrange a transverse cylinder or prism of wood or other suitable
material, circular, triangular, square or polygonal, in section, and having at its ends
centres or axles upon which it can revolve freely within the recess. These axles
or centres turn in corresponding bearings or pins in the ends of the recess, the
length of which is made rather less than the diameter of the top. Or, separate
bearings may be fixed upon the top to carry the revolving prism.
I colour the sides of the revolving prism or cylinder with different colours. For
instance, supposing that a prism square in transverse section is used, its four faces
are coloured with four different colours, such as red, white, yellow, and blue, or any
other colours which may be chosen. I prefer to make a transverse coloured band
round the centre of the length of the prism, its colour on each side being different
from the colour on the remainder of that side of the prism.
I prefer to colour black the remainder of the upper face of the top.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of my invention, figures 1,
2, and 4 shew the method of construction and arrangement just described.
Figure 1 being a vertical section, figure 2 a plan, and figure 4 a side view of the
top in an inclined position. a is the cylindrical part of the top, b a transverse
recess, and c a square prism fitted into the recess b and turning freely upon centres
at d, d, one or both of which may be made square as shewn and arranged so that
the prism has a tendency to assume a position with its upper face horizontal.
The four sides of the prism c are of different colours, as indicated by their different
shading, and a transverse central coloured band is shewn at e.
When the top is set in rapid rotation, a shaded coloured disc shews itself upon
its upper face, with a central shaded disc of different colour, the colours varying
according to the side or sides of the prism which may happen to be uppermost.
When the top is spun, struck, or whipped, for the purpose of keeping up its
rotation, the sudden movement causes the prism to turn round more or less in its
bearings, and the colours to change accordingly.
I prefer to make the upper face of the prism c project slightly above the face of
the top as shewn in figures 1, 3, 5, and 7 so that whilst the latter is spinning the
prism can be gently touched and so made to rotate and change its colours.
In figures 3, 5, and 6, the prism c is shewn fitted and turning in a circular
recess b formed in the top, instead of in a transverse one.
In figures 7 and 8, my invention is shewn applied to an ordinary peg top a

page_text: instead of to a whipping top. 6 is a circular recess turned in the upper part of the
top, c is a square coloured prism turning in the recess b on pins at d, d.
In figures 9 and 10 is shewn a prism hexagonal instead of square in transverse
section, and in figure 11 it is shewn circular so as to form a cylinder upon which
the different colours are placed in parallel longitudinal stripes. Or, a sphere may
be used in a recess of suitable shape.
Instead of one revolving cylinder or prism only, two or more parallel ones may
be used, or two or more may be arranged at right angles or other position relatively
to each other. Or the transverse axle on which they turn may be fixed and the
prism or cylinder cut into separate short lengths may be arranged upon it so as to
revolve freely, the variety of combinations of colour being in this way increased.
This method of arrangement is illustrated in figure 12, d, d, being transverse axles,
and separate rings c, c, c, c, coloured with different colours at different parts of
their circumference, rotating freely upon them.
My invention may be applied to any form of spinning tops or wheels, and
instead of turning in a recess, the prism or prisms may turn in bearings entirely
above the surface of the top.
Having now described my invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I do not confine myself to any precise form, proportions or materials,
which may be varied to suit different circumstances and the results which it is desired
to obtain, but I claim:-The use in spinning tops or wheels, of one or more freely
revolving cylinders, prisms, or spheres, having various colours at their peripheries,
and operating substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn in the
drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Augustine Alma King have hereunto set
my hand and seal this 10th day of September in the year of our Lord 1883.