Improvements in Spring Operated Mechanical Toys and Analogous Devices.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Operated Mechanical Toys and Analogous
Devices.
We, FRANKLIN JOHNS GUSTINE, No. 1566, Webster Street, New Orleans,
Louisiana, United States of America, Physician, a Citizen of the United States, and
BLAYNEY TOWNLEY WALSHE, No. 1808, Peters Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana,
United States of America, State Tax Collector, Citizen of the United States, 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; -
-
Our invention relates to improvements in spring operated mechanical toys and
analogous devices and our invention is primarily intended for application to
spinning tops.
Our invention consists in the combination of two elements herein described and
illustrated, as spinning tops, both impelled by means of a spring contained
within one of said elements; the said elements being so constructed that when
fitted together and rotated they create a tension upon the said spring and may be
locked under tension in such relation that when disconnected, as hereinafter
described, in any manner, such as in the case of the spinning top being let fall,
the two elements are so disconnected that the tension upon the spring is released
and the bodies are caused to rapidly rotate in opposite directions, each having,
after separation, a momentum independent of the other.
Our invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing,
wherein the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several
views.
Fig. 1 represents a view in elevation of the two tops locked together.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the upper or passive" top; and
"
<<
Fig. 3 is a similar view of the lower or active" top.
The upper top consists of a hollow body or shell 1, or may be solid if preferred,
being hollow for the sake of cheapness and lightness, through which extends
axially a rigid straight cylindrical stem 3, the lower end of which stem projects
beyond the bottom surface of the shell 1, and has a rounded point upon which the
said body may spin after the manner of such tops. The lower projecting end of
the stem 3 is provided with a laterally projecting lug or stud 4, as seen most
clearly in Fig. 2. The upper end of the stem 3 may or may not project above
the body of the top.
The lower top has a body or a hollow or shell-like form, 2, similar in exterior
appearance to the upper top. This lower top has, however, an axial stem 5,
which is mounted loosely therein, having both a rotary movement and an
axial movement with respect to the shell 2. Within the shell 2 is formed a hollow
casing 9 containing a coiled spring 11, one end of which spring-the inner end-
is secured at 12 to the stem 5, and the other or outer end of which spring is secured
at 13, to the casing 9, as seen in Fig. 3. The spring has sufficient lateral stiffness
to support the body of the top upon the stem in its spinning position, but allows
of an axial movement limited by the upper and lower walls of the casing 9.

page_text: The stem 5 is preferably hollow, or at least is so at its upper end, at which end
it is cut to form a cam-clutch member 6 arranged to cooperate with an oppositely
formed cam-clutch member 7 formed upon an enclosing cylindrical extension 8
upon the surrounding portion of the upper part of the shell 2.
"
The lower end of the stem 3 of the upper top fits loosely within the upper end
of the hollow stem 5 of the lower top, and the projecting stud 4 of the stem 3 is
arranged to engage between the vertical faces of the clutch members
lock the two tops against backward rotation with respect to each other after having
been wound in opposite directions to the extent of the spring 11.
66
"
and 7 to
The operation in winding and locking together the two tops, is as follows:-
The one top being held in one hand, and the other top being held in another
hand, the lower end of the stem 3 of the upper or passive" top is inserted into
the hollow upper end of the stem 5 of the lower or "active" top; and the two
tops are turned in opposite directions about their common axis. As the winding
proceeds, the stud 4 on the stem 3 will slide upward over the cam faces of the
clutch 7 on the lower top body, but will cause the rotation of the stem 5 by reason
of its engagement with the vertical clutch face on said stem. When wound to the
limit of the spring 11, the stud 4 is caused to engage behind the vertical clutch
face of the clutch 7, thus locking the upper top, its stem, and the stem of the
lower top against backward rotation under the influence of the spring 11 until
disengaged.
The tops are spun by being dropped so that the bottom end or tip, which is
rounded, of the stem 5 of the lower top, strikes sharply upon the surface upon
which the tops are to be spun, and this causes an axial movement of the
body 2 of the lower top with respect to the stem 5 thereof, said movement being
downward, and this disengages the cam 7 on the extension 8 of the top body 2
from the stud 4 on the stem of the upper top. The tension upon the spring 11
thus being removed, the latter reacts upon both the body 2 of the lower top and
its stem 5, causing a rapid rotation of both in opposite directions.
rotation, of the stem 5 of the lower top gives a sudden impetus to the stem of the
upper top through the stud 4 on its stem, causing the upper top to be thrown off
bodily with a spinning motion, which causes it to float in the air for an instant and
then settle down upon a convenient surface where it will spin until the force thus
imparted to it is expended. The bodies of both tops may have air holes or
openings 10 through them.
The
The action of the spring upon the stem of the lower top is exhausted in impart-
ing this impetus to the upper top, so that, when the upper top has been thrown
off, the lower top will continue to spin by reason of the impetus given the body
thereof by the rebound of the spring; the two tops spinning in opposite directions.
We do not wish to limit ourselves to the precise details of construction herein
shown and described, as these may very well be varied within reasonable limits
without departing from the spirit of our invention, nor do we wish to limit
ourselves to the precise embodiment thereof herein described and shown, as sub-
stantially the same construction and combination may be applied to other
purposes.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we hereby declare
that what we claim is:—
1. In a mechanical toy, or analogous device, the combination with an element
provided with a body and a stem; and a coiled spring connecting said body and
stem; of a second element having its body and stem rigid; and means for locking
said elements together in opposition to the action of said spring, substantially
as described and shown in the drawing hereto annexed.
2. In a mechanical toy or analogous device, the combination with an element
having a body and stem connected loosely together; and a coiled spring connected
at opposite ends to said body and said stem; of a second element adapted to be

page_text: locked with, and to be given an impetus by said stem, substantially as described,
and shown in the drawing hereto annexed.
3. In a mechanical toy or analogous device, two elements; the one comprising
a body and stem, and a coil spring connecting said body and stem; oppositely
disposed clutch members on said body and stem; and the other comprising a
rigid body and stem, with a projection on its stem arranged to lock the said
clutch members, when the two elements are fitted together, substantially as
described.
4. In a mechanical toy or analogous device, the combination with a top having
a hollow stem; a body; a coil spring connecting said body and stem; a clutch
member on the upper end of said stem; and an oppositely disposed concentric
clutch member upon the corresponding portion of the body; of a body having a
rigid stem adapted to fit within the end of said hollow stem, and a projection
thereon arranged to engage both of said clutch members, substantially as described.
5: In a mechanical toy or analogous device, and in combination, two spinning
tops, the one containing the impelling mechanism for both, and the other provided
with means for locking such impelling mechanism under tension, and for receiving
an impetus therefrom when suddenly released from such tension, substantially as
described, and shown in the drawing. hereto annexed.
6. In a mechanical device of the character described, the combination with a
body comprising two concentric rotary elements; a spring loosely connecting said
rotary elements; and means whereby said elements may be locked against rotation
with respect to each other; of a body provided with means for locking said
elements under tension, arranged to become disengaged and to unlock said
elements upon the axial movement of one of such elements, substantially as
described, and shown in the drawing hereto annexed.
7. The construction, and combination, herein described and shown, operating
substantially as hereinbefore described, and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this th
J
1
1000
1000
EDWARDS AND Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London.
Agents for the Applicants.