Improvements in Pneumatic Tops.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1896-Accepted, 11th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tops.
1, EUGENE GREGORY, of No. 27 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan,
United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 certain new and useful improvements in pneumatic tops;
of which the following is a specifiation, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a top, showing my improvements applied thereto, my
wings, hereinafter described, being shown in dotted lines, and also illustrating one
method of spinning or rotating said top by pneumatic pressure ;
Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. 1.
The object of my invention is to provide a top whose general shape and appearance
shall conform to the conventional standards in such articles, which shall be strong and
simple in construction, economically produced, and adapted to be propelled or rotated,
not only in the usual well-known ways by means of winding, but especially also, shall
be adapted to be spun successfully and indefinitely by pneumatic impulses.
I attain these objects as follows, viz. ;
I provide with radially projecting wings or flanges a, a top A of any approved
shape, and containing the usual parts found in a top, to wit, a body A, a spinning
pivot or point d, an upper projecting stem e, adapted to the usual winding with string
or to support devices or ornaments to be displayed or operated in rotation by the
movement of the top. My wings or flanges a a are preferably applied at or about the
medial or major periphery of the top body; they are constructed of metal or any other
material possessing the required rigidity and strength; they may be fixed positively
to the top body; they may be so bent that their surfaces shall be somewhat inclined
from the vertical and shall trend slightly backwards from the direction of rotation.
They are preferably supported by an annular, horizontally-projecting flange o, to
which they may be permanently affixed or secured instead of to the surface of the top
body, or they may be fastened to both. I prefer also to provide the wing carrying
projecting flange o, around its entire periphery, with a raised upright wall or
bulwark b, the top of which is preferably somewhat higher than the tops of the
wings.
The operation of my invention is as follows;
The top may be set in motion in the usual way; if preferred, by winding a string
around the stem e, and pulling the latter off in the usual well-known way in order to
spin the top. After the top has been set in motion in this way, the spinning or rotary
movement thereof may be continued indefinitely by directing through a tube C, or any
other convenient way, a current of air against the rear surfaces of the wings, as shown
for instance at Fig. 1. It is not, however, necessary to inaugurate the spinning or
rotation of the top in the old well-known way by winding, as aforesaid, but the top
may be held in an upright position by applying the fingers or any other convenient
support to the stem e, in such a way as to permit of the rotation of the top while thus
supported; the pneumatic impulse may then be conveyed to the wings or projections.
The top will commence to rotate and will soon attain sufficient speed; it may then be
left without the support of the fingers and the pneumatic impulse applied from time
to time as may be required; thus an ordinary top, of the usual conventional form and
adapted to be spun upon any convenient surface, may be actuated with no more

page_text: complicated accessories than a tube or other instrument near by to direct the
pneumatic pressure against the wings a. An ordinary bellows also might be applied
to actuate the top. The wings a may be provided with delicate plates adapted in the
well-known way to produce musical notes when subjected to air pressure. The top
stem e may also be used as a support for various devices adapted to add to the beauty
of the top or its interest by producing various phenomena in color and movement
caused by the rapid rotation thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. A pneumatic top provided with radially projecting external wings a a,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. A pneumatic top provided with annular, horizonally projecting flange o, and
attached thereto radially projecting wings a a, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
3. A pneumatic top provided with radially projecting wings a a circumferential,
horizontally projecting flange o, and a confining wall or bulwark b substantially as and
for the purposes described.
4. A pneumatic top provided with radially projecting and backwardly inclined
wings a a, substantially as and for the purposes described.
5. The combination of a top provided with radially projecting wings
flanges a a,
with a pneumatic tube or mouth-piece to direct the air under pressure against said
wings, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 11th day of June 1896.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.