Improvements in and connected with Spinning Tops.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 11th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Spinning Tops.
I. JAMES LANE, Joiner, Oreton, Cleobury Mortimer in the County of Salop,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
The object of this invention is to increase the speed of spinning tops, and the
duration of the spinning thereoff: also to facilitate the same likewise the
application of the cord or thread by which the tops are spun; and further-more
to cause the same to produce a humming sound similar to that produced by the
original wood humming tops.
This invention relates firstly; to improvements in spinning tops with the object
refereed to and, which preferably consist of a balance wheel, one and a half inches
in circunference more or less: and one eighth of an inch thick or so, which is
stamped out of brass or other sheet metal: the wheel preferably consists of a' rim
connected by three spokes to a centre part; or, it may be made solid as a coin ;
the centre-part may be countersunk or cupped by stamping to facilitate the
soldering of the wheel to the spindle, or it may other-wise be fixed there-to.
I may sometimes employ a wheel consisting of very thin sheet brass or tin, which
may be spun upon a wire ring or the like, or it may be edged at its outer
circumference.
That part of the wheel situated between the spindle and the rim may be
sloted or perforated if desirable. I may substitute the balance wheel aforesaid
with a wood body in the shape of a ball; or of other suitable form, otherwise :
the wheel may be cast with a spindle, having collars or the equivalent adapted in
connection with the spindleholder; which I shall herein after describe: and, by
which the chief purpose of my invention is affected; the bottom end of the
spindle is essentially sharp pointed capable of slightly penetrating a wood or other
penetrable surface when spinning, whilst the opposite end may be blunt; and on
The top
which the top may sometimes be spun upon a floor or other like surface.
or blunt end of the spindle above the balance wheel is provided with a collar
projecting one eighth of an inch or so and situated one quarter of an inch from the
balance wheel and one eighth of an inch from the top end of the spindle.
The space between the balance wheel and the cellar is adapted to contain the
cord which is prevented by the collar from becoming entangled with the spindle-
holder, whilst in the act of spinning the top. may sometimes substitute the
collar with a second balance wheel of the type referred to or I may have a groove
formed in the spindle, or I may employ two collars or a head may be formed
on the top of the spindle as that of a nail which may rest on the top side of
the spindle holder when applied. In all cases the cord is situated between the
top and bottom parts of the spindle-holder previous to the spinning operation,
in which the top should be kept a few inches above the surface upon which it is
intended to be spun.
It
This invention secondly relates to spindle-holders to be employed in connection
with spinning tops and applies chiefly to those herein before referred to.
also applies to other tops such as originally humming tops or the like which
may be adapted with collars or the equivalent aforesaid. The spindle-holder
preferably consists of a wood handle three inches long, three quarters of an inch
deep, and half an inch wide the edges of which are slightly rounded; a square

page_text: notch is cut in one end of the handle in a longitudinal direction and half an inch
transversely, or capable of admitting the balance wheel and collar, notches are also
provided similar to those of a wire guage, in the centre of the handle above and
below the notch first referred to for admitting the balance wheel and collar
which are adapted to take upon the spindle above and below the same or on the
outsides of the collars when two are employed as in the case of adapting the
spindle-holders to be used with other tops having deep bodies.
I may sometimes employ a metal arrangement in connection with a handle or in
substitution thereoff capable of being grasped by the hand or by the thumb and
finger, which may be cast or formed similar to the wood spindle holders before
described or wire may be adapted for that purpose; but I prefer wood spindle-
holders which serve the purpose effectually at little cost.
This invention relates thirdly to spinning boards or trays to be employed in
connection with spinning tops of the type first referred to, that is to say those
having a balance wheel and collar connected to a spindle or a wood body in
the form of a ball or the like and having a sharp pointed spindle, capable of slightly
penetrating a wood or other-like surface; the said spinning board or its equivalent
will be found necessary in case a suitable tabe is not available for the purpose
referred to, the object of the spinning board or its equivalent is to prevent tops of
the type referred to from exbausting their power of rotation, by causing the same
to attain a stationary position whilst spinning; and further-more to produce a
humming sound equal to that produced by original humming tops, for which purpose
I prefer spinning boards made of elm or other hard wood of a porous nature, whilst
soft wood such as pine or spruce is preferable for the purpose of prolonging
the spinning of the top as it will more readily attain a stationary position thereon.
The spinning boards may be made in various sizes from nine inches square and
upwards, larger ones will be necessary when two or more tops are spun in
competition, the spinning board consists of a frame half an inch wide and an inch
deep or so, the inside of which is grooved as a drawer to admit the ends and edges
of a top; one eighth of an inch or so in thickness the spiuning boarbs may
sometimes be made round by turning or otherwise. The sound produced by the
top will be increased by placing the spinning board upon a tin or other hollow
vessel whilst in operation. The spinning board may be substituted with a tray
consisting of cardboard or other material suitable for the purpose. Other parts of
this invention may be modified in detail if desirable.
Dated this 9th day of March 1895.
Improvements in and connected with spinnin
I, JAMES LANE, Oreton, Cleobury Mortimer, Salop, Joiner, 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,
reference to be had to the accompanying drawings as part of the Specification
Fig. 1 is a section of the improved top.
Figs. 2 and 3 are modified plans of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a section of the spindle holder as applied to an ordinary top, showing
the position of the collars in connection with the spindle and spindle-holder.
Fig. 5 is a cross section of the end of the spindle holder adjacent to the spindle
as shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a cross section of the spindle holder adjacent to the spindle as shown

page_text: Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
Fig. 10 is a part section of the spinning board.
Fig. 11 is a modification in section of Fig. 10.
All the figs. are full size.
The object of this invention is to increase the speed of spinning tops and the
duration of the spinning thereof; also to facilitate the same, and likewise the
application of the cord or thread by which the tops are spun; and furthermore
to cause the same to produce a humming sound, similar to that produced by wood
humming tops.
This invention relates firstly to the improved construction of spinning tops of
the type herein after referred to, and as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the-
accompanying drawings.
The balance wheel, 1, may be a solid plate, as shown in Fig. 2; or it may
consist of a rim, two spokes and a centre part, as shown in Fig. 3; or it may be
made of tin or other thin sheet metal spun upon a wire ring or the like at the outer:
edge thereof, in which case it will be necessary to solder the spindle thereto, but
I prefer the constructive arrangement as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or in Figs. 1
and 3.
Other
The spindle 2, is arranged to fit tight in the central hole in the balance wheel,
and when driven through the same, it will be firmly fixed thereto.
equivalent means of fixing the spindle to the wheel may, however, be employed.
A groove, or notch 3 is formed in the spindle, or is substituted with a collar,.
similar to collar 6 in Fig. 4, to prevent the cord from becoming entangled with
the spindle holder, hereinafter referred to; or I may employ spindles without
a groove, notch or collar if desirable.
The bottom end of the spindle 2, is essentially sharp-pointed, or nearly so,.
capable of slightly penetrating a wood-card-board, or other penetrable surface,
upon which, the tops referred to, may be spun, and by which they will more readily
attain a stationary position whilst spinning, which is essential in prolonging the
same, and also in producing the humming sound herein referred to.
The tops may, however, be spun upon the blunt end of the spindle on any
impenetrable surface, if desirable.
This invention relates, secondly, to spindle holders, 4, to be employed in
connection with spinning tops, and applies chiefly to those herein before referred.
to in the manner illustrated in Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawing.
It is clear that loose handles of the original type, secured upon the top ends
of the spindle, have a tendency to diminish the speed and of the spinning of
tops to which they are applied.
The spindle holder, 4, as shown in section in Figs. 4 and 9 is made preferably of
wood, a central part 11 of which is cut away as shown, to admit the balance wheel,
or to admit the collars 6-6, as the case may be, and to allow sufficient space for
the winding of the cord upon the spindle, situated between the collars 6-6 as in
Fig. 4 and between the notch 3 and the wheel 1 as shown in Fig. 9.
The spindle holder shown in section with the top in Fig. 9 is provided with a
notch 8, to admit the bottom end of the spindle; whilst the groove 7 is adapted to
receive the top end thereof when a groove or notch 3 is employed as shown.
Otherwise when the groove 3 is substituted with a collar, the end of the spindle
will enter through the top of the spindle holder 4 in the same manner as the
spindle 5 shown in Fig. 4.
The object of the groove 7 is to prevent the top from shooting upwards when
pulling the cord; by inexperienced children when spinning the top.
The cord must be pulled in the-direction of the handle.
In applying the cord, the one end should be pressed by the left thumb upon
the edge of the balance wheel whilst winding the same upon the spindle com-.
mencing at the groove or notch 3.
The said spindle holder also applies to humming musical tops and the like, in
I

page_text: the manner shown in section in Fig. 4, in which case I employ collars 6-6 in
connection therewith, to guide and support the spindle and top in the notches 8 of
the spindle holder.
I may sometimes substitute the collars 6–6 by a head formed on the top of the
spindle.
In all cases the cord is situated between the top and bottom parts of the spindle
holder, that is to say; between the collar 6-6 in Fig. 4 and between the groove 3
and balance wheel 1 as in Fig. 9.
Although I prefer wood spindle holders, I may employ iron or steel in
substitution thereof.
This invention, thirdly, relates to spinning-boards, to be employed in connection
with spinning tops of the type shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9, and as herein before
described; and which are intended to be spun in competition two or more at the
same time; when desirable, in which case, spinning boards will be preferable to
tables or other uneven surface, and furthermore tables and the like are not all wais
available for the purpose.
The spinning board may consist of a board 9, having a border 10, secured
thereto, and may be grooved as shown in Fig. 10, or the groove may be dispensed
with. The border projects, as shown, to confine the top within its limits, and
whilst adapted for that purpose, it is arranged at such a depth as not to come in
contact with the wheel by which to check the speed of the top.
I-may, sometimes, substitute the border 10 with fine cord: or wire, 13, which is
secured at the four corners of the board; and at a central point between the
same with nails 14, which may be employed on both sides of the board if desirable.
The same applies to the aforesaid arrangement.
I may substitute the nails by notches cut in the edges of the board, or employ
any equivalent means.
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 :-
Claim 1. In spinning tops as shown in section in Figs. 1 and 9 and in plan in
Figs. 2 and 3, or the substitute thereof, as described; the use of a balance
wheel 1, and a pointed spindle 2, with or without notch or groove 3 or the
substitute referred to, to be constructed and employed substantially in the manner
and for the purpose set forth.
Claim 2. As a means to be employed in the spinning operation in connection
with tops of the type referred to in Claim 1; the use of a handle, which I term
the spindle holder 4, as shown in section in Fig. 9, and plan in Fig. 8, to be
adapted and employed substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Claim 3. In humming, musical and other such like tops represented in section in
Fig. 4 the use in confirmation of a spindle 5, collars 6-6 or the substitute
thereof as herein described, together with the spindle holder as shown in connection
therewith, and furthermore in plan 7 and cross section 5, to be arranged and
employed as and for the purpose set forth.
Claim 4. The use of a spinning board 9, as shown in Fig. 10 baving a band, 10,
projecting as shown, or in lieu thereof, a fine cord or wire 13, secured by nails 14
as shown in Fig. 11, to be arranged and employed as and for the purpose set
forth.
Dated this 11th day of March 1905