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TOY TOP
BA K.GROUN D OF THE INVENTION
1.. :Field of the Invention
.100013 The present invention : ref ates; to a toy r p and more
particularly,. to a toy top with a function of.. continuing to
spi.ri at =a x:duced rotational speed.
2. Desc;rpt.ion. of the Related At
11).0O21: c o n a toy, top capable o:# readily
changing an :Qper:at.ion .mode- :by rearranging component me ttbers
was proposed by the assignee of the present application (refer
to, for example, Japanese Utl ,ity Model Registration Nc
3149383;) and has been in practical q e. 'his: toy top is:
configured by layering an upper layer member with a.. function
of attaGkIrig an opponent toy top', a Mi dlo laye mnember that.
determinea the height of the toy top, and: a lower layer member
that determines-a_ movement: mode of. the toy tap on a playing
boa:rd. A number of lower layer members having an Inverted:
truncated- cone shape are prepared with shaft portions having:
different shapes armed to protrude downward By the
replacement of one of the lower layer members- with another one
wit i a shaft portion having a shape different from that of the.
farmer One, the operation node :an the, playing: board can. be
changed,:.
OE 031 In this conv.entitina.l toy tcip although the operation..
node on the playing board Can lC3e changed :by r ?lac x3g he:
lower layer member, the toy top beg ns to wobble with a
recuction in rotational speed and the upper layer member comes
into contact with: a playing surface of the playing board,
leading to a problem that its spi fining may stop earlier than
that of an apparent. toy top Wile playing a atch: there th.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
fa0041' Th;e present invention. has bEen made in view of the
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abovementioned problem. Accordingly., -It is an object of the
present Envent-ion o provide a nove:i toy trap capable. o
cor tinu rig to spin witlzoi.t. spinning being abruptly stropped by
co 1tact ng of an upper layer section. with: a paying sr face
whin the toy top wobb .es with r.ediict on i:. rotaional, speed~
to- thereby spin longer than an opponent toy top, even hough
it may spin only a little longer.
(OO051In order to solve the abovementioned problem-,
according to the present invention, there Is prdvided, a t~oy
top which is spun on a playing board to play therewith The
toy top ncludes: a shaft portion hawing 'a circular shape in
crags-s;ectlon: am adapted. to code into cozs.tact with a; playing
surface of the playixig board for serve ng as a center of
rotation when the toy top spins, a rotating pate having an
insertion hole of an inner 'diameter c,reater than -an outer
diameter of the shaft portion, the rotating plate being
attaCheo' to the. shaft por:t.ion so as to f'np ly rotate ar .'a
.the shaft portion while the shaft portion is inserted, through
the 2T3sertion hole;. and an, eng-ageT nt mans for Permitting tbe
rotating plate to freely rotate. and preventing the rotating
plate from detaching from the shaft portion when the rotating
plate is attached to the shaft portion.
1000) Its a. preferred e laodi:ment. of the, pr writ rtventioi?;f
the insert ion. hole is disposed in the center o f the rotating
plate, and the tdtating plate is formed in an 14 erte;4
trunc:ated-donica.l. shape having the ri ert on ha.l,e located at
the center thereof..
L0007] Ina preferred MTbodiment :of the present invention,
the engagement means: comprises an engaging proje t on provided
on a outer peripheral surface of the: shaft: portion and ab
engaging edge portion fo:rieed around; the insertion :hole: on a:
lower side of the rotating plate.
[00081;, It 'a. preferred embodirn:ent. of the present nv:ent an,
the ro:tat,ing pla:t:e irne:ludes:_ a c.ylind,ri .al. wall Which it fo!r ad
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around an edge: of. the insertion hole on an upper surface
thereeso as to. protrude upward, and the: wall has an inner
dia aeter greater than the outer diameter of the shaf :port:i.on
and 'has a height smaller than a length of tr:e shaft portion to
perch the rotating plate to tilt caitY+ respect to the shaft
?ortion1 the rotating plate and the shaft portion being in a-
point contact with each other When the rotating plate. tilts.
[0091 tX a preferred elbod Pent of the present invention,
the.: wall has cutouts formed therein so as to flex outward When
the shaft potion is inserted through the 'insertion hole. of the;
rotating plate:
001-0-1 In a preferred embodiment. of the presen.t invention,
the toy, ttop further includes an. upper layer section having a
function of attacking an. opponent toy top, a. middle layer
section. deterinin ng a height of the toy topõ a lower layer
Se t.ion havil log the shaft pout ion and fitted on the middle.
layer section, and a coupling member coupling together the
upp:e:r layer section and the middle layer section:
tr111] According to the present invenion, when, the
rotational speed of the to top decreases, the rotating Pl..-ate
first comes into contact with a play n.g: surface of the playing:
boa-rd and stippo.rts a ma n body of the toy top ina short time
to delay contacting of the main body of the toy top with the:
playing surface. Therefore, a toy t=op can be: realized' which
does not: stop spinning at once wheys; the. rotationa=l. -speed
decreases arid. Which thus has an. advantage in: a Coriipet t,i- n_
with an. opponent troy top;:
BRISf D SCRIPTI3I t3F THS DRAWINGS
,100 12.]; Fig. :3A and 1B ar.e a: perspective dew and afront
vi=ew: illustrating an embodiment of a toy top accarda;ng to the
.pres=ent invention
.t00131 Rig. 2 is an e rp tided:perspective view of the toy
top :shcurn in Figs. 1A and IS
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[00141 rigs. 32 to 3D are: a persf?ecta:ve view, a plan view,
a front view and. a bottom view showing a first attacking
member' of an upper layer section constituting; the toy topp,
respect veil y
[t aR51; Figs. 4:A to 4D are a perspective - view, a: plain view,
a. _front view And a bottom view showing a :second attack rig
metier of the upper layer section constituting the toy top;
respectively
100.161 Figs. SA and 5B are a perspective view as vie:wed
front above and a front view, showing a middle layer Section
constituting the toy top.:respectivelyy
10017] Figs. 6A and 6E are an exploded pe_.r.spective view and
a perspective view each as viewed from: below; zllust. at'3ri:cr :.a
lower Ieyer section constituting the toy top, res;pectiv.e yR
[0018] Figs... 7A and 7B a.re: a. perspective view 5 uie ed
from above and as viewed from below respectively: showing a
rotating plate. incorporated in the lower layer se.c ion
(0019] Figs. Ski to. 8C are front views it 1;1strating the
relation between :a: shaft portion o. the, lower layer section
and the rotating . p -ate the rotating plate being depict.-ed ;n-
sect.ion, and Figs. $:D and $.E are erxlaxged: views o;f encir-led.
parts 8D and $E in Fig. BC.;
[00201 Figs, 9A to 90 are front views illustrating the
process: of assembling the toy top; -and
(:.OOg ] Fz: 10A .s a diagreni. depictan operating state
Ofthe 'toy to p of the present iriverit.iai cis a playing hoard.. -nd
Fig, 1Q is an enlarged view of do :encircled part 10,8 :i..n F:ig.
IOA, and Fig. l0C is a d.i,agram dept:.cti. tg an apera..ting state: of
a conventional tali top on''. a playing' board;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PR'FF:RREO EMBODIMENT
[00221. Figs. lA and::l:B show an embodiment. of :a toy top.
according to the present i nvent.ion. The -troy top . in:cludes? an
upper layer section I which has a function of attacking an
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opponent toy top and which is constituted by a first. attacking
member 10 and a second attacking member .20:, a middle layer
section 2 determining the height of the toy top, a lower layer
section 3 having a shaft portion 41 . adapted to come ,itata
contact with a Playing surface of a playing board,, and a
coupling memb:e:r 4 in a screw shape coupling tagether t" upper
layer section 1 and middle layer section 2 (see Fig, 2)
NMI The: fir,,-,t atta .JIIng member 10 as sha;az2 in
igs
3A. to 3D:, a disk-like aettme:r made of synthetic resin and
ha:v:ng a fitting hole portion 11 formed: iiri the: center thereof,
in which a fitting p... tion 22 of the second attackjng mtth err
20 described, latex: at:e.r it :fitted ... an diame.tri.call apposite sides
of the fitting hole portion 11 is formed a pair of engagement
recesses 11a fear engaging ..a bridge 22a to perform positioning
when the fitting hole portion 11 is fitted on the.:fitting
pc?rt'i on 22 :of the secprtd attacking member 20.:. Further, the
first. attacking tiember i0 is formed to have an outer diameter
smaller: thart that of the second attacking: member :20, and
around a peripheral edge of an. upper surface. of the first
attacking member 10 are formed a.ttac:king portions 12
constituted by rugged; parts protruding upward with a vertical
ttacka.ng function of attackingg. froth below .in contact with a
lower, surface of the opponent toy t..p. The first 3ttadk n
member 10. it also provided on a lower surface thereof with a
pair of semi.=circular engagement walls 1:4. which are
sytrimetr:ical:ly formed at the: outside of the fitting hole
portion 11 so as to fit. in, an inner. peripheral surface of the
second attacking :membe,r 2.0, to thereby stably Q::1:d thb fiirst
ttacki:rig member 10 or' the 'second at t eck:i.ng member 20..
[0-0241 The second :attacking r ember 20 is, as shown are : 'ig:s .
4 tc,}4:D Cftetail'zc disk-like merriber Diving: a hexagonal
fitting holy: portion 21 oithe . in "the center thereof in t"ef.ch.
are upper portion of the middle layer sectors 2 i$ fitted, the
offing Portion 22 being formed`: above the: fitt:_irig .kale port :.on_
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2:1.:. The fitting: gaxtion: 22 includes the bridges 22a formed in:
a diametrical direction and a swelling portion 2:2b formed. in a
circular shape in the center of the bridge 22a to bulge out,
and. an opening 24 Into wh ey a screw po,rti on 4a, of the
coupling. member 4 is insezted i,s formed in the center o.Ã the
swelling portion 22b. Further,,: attacking portions 25
constituted by :rugged parts protruding outward With a lateral
attacking function of ,attaz;king in contact with, a side surface
of.. the opponent toy top awe farmed in an caut:ward-projeetifl
manner on an. outer peripheral surface of thy; second attacking
member 2 Q.
[0:0251 ; The middle la or section an 2 is,: as $:o n ;a n Figs . Iiaid 5B,
formed in a cy: ndr.ical shape and has ar inne:r wall:
32
surface farmed with a thread 31 to con figure a screw hole
into which the screw portion 4a of the coupling member 4
descr'bed later is screwed, 1urthe.r;, a:rz upper outer perimeter
surface. of the middle layer section.2 swells outward to form a
swelling portion 33 of an approximately hexagonal shape, which
is fitt:ed in the fitting hole p ton 21 of the ae.cond
attacking member 20, to.preve.nt a deviation in a.
circumf:erent al direction from occurring at the time of
Q:i._ri n,g:_
[0261 The.. middle layer section 2 is ,also. provided- on .a
lower end outside. surface of a cylindrical Portion 34 the.reof
with a :pair of engaging Protrusions 36 that are formed so: a.s:
to .re petitively engage with a pair of eng:agei'iiernt receiving:
portions 43 formed on tsne lower layer section 3 described
Iater:
[1027] The .lower layer :section 3` is, as sh:awf 1n Fig. 6A,
formed in on inverted truncated.-cone shape and has a shaft
portion. 41 o a circular shape in a :horizontal cross-;sectiO.r.r
that: -$ formed on a lower side thereof so as to serve as a.
center of rotation at the, tire of splnnir g the toy top A:, `"he
3 haf t par tton: 41 :h a:.rOta:tint pTat:e 5 mannn:t d theroan which
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is atta-shed so as to freely rotate. around the shaft portion 4:1
as shown in Fig. 6B.
10028] A. pair of arcuate openings 42 i.s formed point-
symmetrical,Iy with respect to, an axis of the shaft portion 4.1
outs de the shaft portion 41, and part. of an inner wall of
each opening 42 is protruded toward he :shaft portion 41. ta:
form the: engagement receiving portion 43. Thus, when the
lower layer :s-ectioi 3 is ftted fro t below onto the rzile-
layer section 2 and i.s: then turned in a Circumferential
direction, the engaging protrusions 36 of the middle layer
section 2 engage the xespect ive,, engagement receiving poxtlons
49 of the lower layer. section. 3, so that the lower layer
section 3 e:ar be fixed on the rmiddle layer section
1.00291 Further: the. shat pc rtia t: Al of tie lower layer
seet.lon :3 has a pair of engaging projections 44 which are
formed on a distal end: thereof so as to protrude d ametricaily.
outwarr as a: filr;st element of engagtrnent mean's desor-ibed later.
These engaging projections .44 are arranged so as to en:gage
with an engaging edge portion 53 of- a circular insertion hole
51 formed in the center of the rotating plate 5 so that the:
rotating plate 5 may :not detach from: the shaft portion 41. when
the. shaft portion: 41 1ss inserted throegh the insertio hole .i'
of the rotating plate. Thus, the engaginc; edge portion 53
of the rotating .plate 5 1serves as a second element of th;e
engageMent Means. described later.
IC0:303 The rotating p1 at ; 5 fabled: in -such an
approximately truncated-conical shape that a conical portion
thereof is. inclined upward from the center towa,:rd an outer
periphery thereof as shown in E`igs. 7A and 79. The rotating
plate 5 has the insertiio.n hole 51. fo..rmed in the -center which
has a diamnete.r slightly greater: than an outer diamete of the
shaft portion 41 of the lower layer :sect esr2 3 and inc...
cylindrical wall 52 which is for ed .round the edge .at tYae
insert.4:On hole 51 on an 7zpp r surfaca thh.t aof so as to
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protrude upward. The cylindrical wa11. i52 has . a pair of
cutouts 54 formed therein so as to flex -outwar.d when the. .shaft
.potion 41 of the lower layer section 3 is inserted through
the. insertion hole 51, to thereby facilitate insertion of the.
shaft portion 41.
[00311 The insertion hole:. 51 is, as shover. in F-4,
7'
fornied to have, on a lower side, a diameter greater than :that.
thereof on an upper side so as to -form the engagrf- q edge
portion, 53 which constitutes the second: element of the:
engagement means for preventing the rotating plate 5 from
detaching from: the shaft portion 41 after the rotating pate 5
iIa attached to the shaft portion 41. once.
fl03J The 'wa: l ' of the rotating plate has an: inner:
diamete, w1. slightly greater than the outer dia.meter W2 0.:f the
shaft portion 41and has a 'M?ight 1,1 smaller than :a length i2
of the shaft portion, 41 as shown in Fig: 8At so that: the
rotating plate :5 attached to the shaft portion 4.1 can freely
rotate while the engaging edge portion 53 thereof is engaged.
with the engaging projections 44 of the shaft portion 41 as
shown in. Fig. 8B, and so that the rotating plate 5 can tilt-
with respect to the shaft portion 41. Such construction
:ezab].es the rotating plate 5, when the rotating plate tilts:,
to come into a point contact with the shaft portio:n .41 as
shown .in F.igs.. C. to 8E rather: than to. come into a: surface
contact., $0 that f rict.ional resistance between the ro.tatin:g
plate .5 and the shaft portion 41 can be minimized
0331 When the toy top A having the above-described
configuration is assembled, the first and second attacking
members 10 and 20 for the upper layer section 1, the middle.
layer section 2 and the 'lower layer; section are firstly
selected as shown in Fig. :9A. 'he'reafter:: the f-rst attacking
member 10. is fitted onto thy: se :ond attacking r-tember 20 t.Ct iri
above, and then the middle lay-'r' section 2 is fitted into the
second attacking :member- 20 from-, below as shown in F"ig.: ?98.
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L0034] Next., the screw portion 4a of the, coupling member 4
is a.nserted through the Opeliih.4 24 . of the second attacking
rnember 2:0 and is screwed .into the screw :hole 32 of the middle
layer section 2, so that the upper layer section. I with the
first attacking member t0 stacked on the< second attacking
member .20 is fixed on the: middle layer section 2 as shown in
Fig:. 9G_ in this state, the first attacking member 10 is.
brought into pressure contact with the second attacking meziiber
20 and the second attacking member 20: is brought into pressure
contact with. the middle layer section 2 by the coupling member
4, so that the upper layer section: I and the middle layer
section 2 are fixed to each other without causing backlas:h...
00351 Then, the engaging protrusions 3,6 :formed' on the
cylindrical portion 34: of the ;middle layer section 2 are
'opposed to and inserted into the openings 42 of the. lower
layer section. 3,, and.the: sower layer section 3 is. turned:il a
circumferential direction relative to the middle layer section.
2 to engage tl'e engaging protrusions 36 with. the bottom sides
of the :engagement receiving portions 43 whereby the toy top A
constituted by the upper layer section 1:,: the middle layer
section 2 and the lower layer section 3 can be assembled, as
,shown In Fig. 9D-
106361 When the toy top 4, this assembled is launched by =a
starter (,not .shown). so as to r sta e: or spin at high speed, oltc
a playing surface b of a .playing board, i3 (.see 'ig i A ., the.
toy top .A rotating at high speed spins upright about the shaft
portion 41 due to a gyroscopic effect and moves: (rev.olves)
around on the playing surface b while sp nning $o as to
compete against an opponent. troy to_<p (not shown) on the play ng
boa=rd B. As the rotatio'al. speed of the oy top A decreases,
the toy =top A: c;a.n no longer m,aix ta~ira the upright attitude and
spin while: wobbl ng :
100371, Ix the; ease of a cC riventwnal toy top when the
conventional toy trop A' is launched. ty a. starter (:riot. shawh)
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so: as to spin at high speed onto a -playing surface b of a
playing board B and spins at high speed::, he toy top A' moves
around while spinning upright on the playing surface b,
whereas when the rotational speed of the toy top A' de,crea:s.es,
the toy top A car: not maintain it's upright attitude and spins
while Wobbling, as. shown in, Fig 10C.: When: the wobbling
starts to occur; the toy top A'' is brought into a sate where
an. upper layer section I ` of which the diameter is the,
greates iri the to. top times into contact with the playing
surface b, resulting in the zotatienal speed of the toy trop A'
bob ng abruptly reduced a: d:.the spinning of the to:y top A'
sto.ps
(0038] In contrast, in the toy top-- of the illu'StrIat6d.
embodiment of the present .invention, as shown in Figs. 20A and!
'10B, the rotating plate 5 comes into contact with the playing
surface b and the shaft .port ion 41 of the toy top A is
supported by the wall 52 of the rotating plate 5, to thereby
restrict the thing of the shaft por..i n 41, so that the toy
top A can continue to spin without the upper layer section I
of which the :diameter is the greatest in the toy top A coming .into contact
with the playing surface b., However, the
rotatiaal speed of the toy top A further decreases such that
the rotating plate 5 can no longer support the toy top A._
resulting in the upper layer section 1 coming into contact
with: the playing surface . b and thus: the spinning cif the toy
top A finally stops
EOO391 As described above, when the toy top A: is rotated Or.
spun at high speed and launched onto arz inclined portion. of
the.:play` ng surface. b of the playing board the toy top .A
maintains its upri:gh:t at,ti.tude during spinning- at :high speed:
and then begins to wobble with the reduction in rotational
speed. At teas time, the rotating pate 5 ?rat comes into
contact with the praying s irface b before- the `upper layer
section I dos, so that the: rotating plate 5 supports the toy
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top A and this contacting of the upper layer section I with
the- playing sur.f:ac:e b can be retarded. Therefore; the toy top
.A can continue to spin much long wr than the opponent toy top
1.100401 In addition, in the stat.e :where the, rotating plate 5
supports the- toy top A_, the wall 52. of tide -rotatinq plate
and. the :shaft portion 4l. of the lover layer sedt.i.on .3. are I t a
point contact with each other rather than i:n_ a surface 'con act`
so, that the frictional resistance eari be ml .flp ed T us,
accord-ing to the. present .invention;: a toy top. rapat4a of
lengthening the ,period. of time for. spinning can be realized
even though it has a simple st:ruct.urs it :which a r.otat,ir q,
plate of a truncated-Cone: shape is merely attached to a Shaft
portion of the toy to:p:.
