US1368039A - Spinning-top - Google Patents

Description

F. L. LINDSTROM.

SPINNING TOP. APPLICATlDN FlLEDlUNE2$.1920.

1,368,039. Patented Feb. 8,1921,

gjnmento'c Ewnk 1, Linlklfinm,

UNITED STATES FRANK L. LINDSTROM, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

SPIN N ING-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921,

Application filed June 25, 1920. Serial No. 391,733.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. LINDSTROM, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spinning-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in spinning-tops, designed to be operated by a detachable twisting head including a spring which is wound byturning the head portion against and in relation to the body.

The invention further relates to that particular type of spinning-top which includes both a hollow head and body portion, with suitable means for engaging one with the 7 other, and having side ducts leading out to the atmosphere from the hollow body por- I tion, forming sound producing means, as shown in prior Patent #823,809 of June 9, 1906.

The object of the invention is to generally improve upon the construction of this class of tops by designing the same so it can be made from metal by automatic machincry, and readily assembled with little or no waste, to form a light, durable and practical toy.

A further feature of the invention is to provide in the top-body, a spring actuated holding means to engage sockets in the head and to provide in the underside of the head, in alinement with the holding means, a series of inclined notches for engagement by the holding means when winding the body and head in relation to eachv other, for the purpose of twisting the spring carried in the head.

Another object of the device is to support the central stem in the upper portion of the top body, and to secure thesame and the spring actuated holding means within an inclosed extension formed upon the top member of the body, leaving the main chamber of the body free and unobstructed except for the air ducts through its lower side portion. Y

With these and other objects in view the invention resides and consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claimsmay be resorted to without departure from the spirit or sacrigoing any of the advantages of the inven- Similar characters of reference denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and upon which:

Figure 1 shows a central vertical sectional view through my improved spinningtop including the operating head having a winding spring for operating the body.

Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of the winding head as seen from above.

Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the winding head, as seen from below, and

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of the body portion and stem of the top as seen from above. 7

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawings, 5 represents the lower curved sheet metal bottom section of the body and (i the top section, theannular edge portion 7 of the said top member being turned in under and against the annular edge portion of the bottom section to secure the two together and to form an integral hollow body. The upper portion of the top section 6 of the body is set in to form a recess 8 and annular shoulder 9 to receive the lower edge portion of the cap 10, said cap being secured in this position by reason of its having a series of points 11 which are passed through holes in the top section and turned against the under side of the same. The central portion of this top section is further shaped to include a centrahpocket 12 to receive and support the lower end of the stem 13. The lower portion of the stem is positioned in the pocket formed in the cap and is provided with an annular shoulder 14 which is seated against the underside of the cap surrounding the hole through which the stem extends, in a way to form a rigid connection of the parts, without the use of solder, brazing or the like. The spindle 15 is secured in the center of the lower section 5 of the top-body and in alinement with the stem and serves as the operating point upon which the top spins. In addition to the several holes 16 in the top of the cap 10, for engagement of the end of the winding spring, I provide a hole 17 in-whichthe upper end portion of the slidable spring actuated engaging pin' 7 18 is operatively mounted, the lower end ofsaid pin beingsimilarly guided in a like hole 19in the upper section 6. This pin includes a collar 20 against one end ofwhich the spring 21 is positioned to normally hold the "upper'end of the pin extended and "its the inclosed portion of the top section 6.;

' The twisting head includes a shell 22 hav ing a central hole 23 in its top portion to accommodate the upper end of the stem 13 and 1s provlded with an annular rib 24, for the better engagement of the hand of the operator. The lower end 'portionof this twisting head is in the form of a plate 25 which is supported against an annular shoulder 26 formed in the lower edge portion of the side Wall of the shell and is held in position by the edge portion 27 of said shell being turned in under and against the said closure plate. A series of notches 28 spaced at equal distances apart are formed in this plate to aline with and engage the frictional holding pin. These notches as will be seen are formed by stamping the metal, in a way to form an inclined surface upon one side and a shoulder upon the other, which readily permits the head to be turned upon the stein in one direction so that the end of the pin will drop into and hold against the shoulders of the notches and to readily ride up the inclines and out the opposite side of the notches by the continued turning of the head in relation to the body.

The upper end 29 of the winding spring 30 is attached to the loop 31 formed upon the under side of the shell while the lower end extends out of the head and is provided with a hook 32 to engage the holes 16 of the top-body. A tubular sheet metal part 33 is contained within the head to further inclose the winding spring as will readily be apparent from Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In order to spin the top it is simply necessary to slip the head upon the stem and turn the same thereon against the body so that the hook end 32 of the spring will engage one'of the holes 16in the cap, the further turning of the head with relation to the body will twist the spring, while the holding pin will drop into the respective notch and hold the parts'together against the tension of the spring. After the spring has been twisted, the spinning of the top is effected by suspending the head and top in one hand and then by means of the'thumb, of that hand, pressing upon the top endoii the stem to separate the two'members and-disengage the end 01: the spring, whereupon the body dro 3S spinning from the head to the floor.

I aving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat series of notches formed in its underside to aline and register with vthe pin inthe cap, 'and a spring secured within the head and having one end projected for engagement withtheholes of the cap. j 7 v 2. The combination with I a top body formed of upper and lower sections and in "eluding a series of holes in its top side, a central stem'supported on the top section and extending upward therefrom and a spring actuated holding pin projected from the top section of the body, of a "twisting head formed of sheet metal having a series of notches formed in its underside toaline and register with the holding pin, and a spring one end secured thereto and the other end "projected for engagement with the holes in the body. j

3. A sheet metal spinning top including a top-body and twisting -head, said body including a hollow'chamber and a cap attached upon its top side having a series of holes therein, a stem secured wholly within the cap, a yieldable holding pin mounted in and projecting from a twisting head having a series'of notches formed in its underside to aline and IGgIS' ter with the holding pin, and a spring contained within the head havlng one end secontained within the head having the top of the cap, and

cured thereto and the other end projected for engagement with'the holes in the cap. 7

4. A sheet metal spinning top formed of "sections and including a top b'ody and head,

said body-being formed of an upper and lower concave section seamed together to form a hollow body portion, a cap secured upon the top section and having a series of holes in its top side, a stem securedwholly within the top section and cap, a spring actuated holding means mounted in and projecting from the top of-the cap, and atwisting head formed of sheet metal, a series of notches formed in its underside to aline and register with the holding means, I and a spring contained within the head having one end secured thereto and the other end projected for engagement with the holes in the top.

5. A sheet metal spinning top formed of sections and including a top-body and head, said body being formed in part of an upper section having a pocket in its top side, a cap secured in the pocket and having a series of holes in its to side, a stem secured wholly within the poo et and cap, a spring actuated pin mounted in and projecting from the top of the cap, and a twistmg head formed of sheet metal having a series of notches formed in its underside to aline and register with the holding pin, and a spring contained within the head having one end secured thereto and the other end projected for engagement with the holes in the cap.

Si ed at Bridgeport in the county of 15 Fair eld and State of Connecticut this 22nd day of June, A. D. 1920.

FRANK L. LINDSTROM.

Witnesses:

C. M. NEWMAN, v LILLIAN M. Amzsnr.

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