Amusement devices: toys – Gyroscopic
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-17
2001-11-06
Ricci, John A. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Gyroscopic
C446S259000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312306
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(Not Applicable)
STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
(Not Applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to gyroscopes. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved gyroscope and an improved method and apparatus for spinning a gyroscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
The traditional gyroscope includes an axle and a rotary disk mounted for free rotation about the axle. The traditional gyroscope is set into rotational motion by a string, serrated flat gear, or by hand. When sufficient rotational speed is obtained, the gyroscope can perform “tricks” such as walking along a taut string or wire, or balancing on a spindle-like support. Imparting the high rotational speed to the gyroscope which is necessary for such tricks requires a degree of skill on the part of the user, and can be extremely difficult to master.
Itoh et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,338, and Nonaka et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,437, both disclose devices which mechanically spin a top toy. These devices are spring-wound, and require the user to manually wind the top toy prior to spinning the top toy.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a gyroscope which includes structure for engaging a spinning apparatus. The present invention also provides a spinning apparatus utilizing a motor, thereby imparting greater rotational speed to a gyroscope than the spring-wound devices of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved gyroscope and a method and apparatus for spinning the gyroscope.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for imparting sufficient rotational energy to a gyroscope to spin the gyroscope independently of the apparatus.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for spinning a gyroscope which can include surfaces on which the gyroscope can rotate.
To achieve these and other objects, a gyroscope and a method and apparatus for spinning a gyroscope are provided. The gyroscope, according to the invention, includes first and second rings positioned orthogonally concentric to one another, an axle mounted for free rotation extending diametrically through the first ring, a rotary disk fixedly attached to the axle, and engagement structure coaxially aligned with the axle which is fixedly attached to the axle. The engagement structure can be integrally formed with the rotary disk, and adapted to engage with a structure for spinning the axle. Preferably, the engagement structure is one or more gears.
A method of spinning a gyroscope according to the invention can include the steps of providing a gyroscope having a rotatable axle shaft, an engagement structure which is fixedly attached to the axle shaft, and a structure to engage with the engagement structure. The method also includes the step of imparting rotational energy to the structure to spin the gyroscope.
The apparatus, according to the invention, includes a housing, a compartment within the housing for receiving at least a portion of a gyroscope, and a motor within the housing for transmitting rotational energy to the gyroscope. The motor can include a rotating drive shaft and structure adapted to engage with the rotating drive shaft.
The housing can include a lid having an open position and a closed position, and a securing mechanism to secure the lid in the closed position. The compartment can have a receptacle adapted to receive a portion of the gyroscope. The compartment preferably has a configuration which is complementary to the portion of the gyroscope that it receives.
An electrical contact switchable between open and closed conditions is preferably disposed in the receptacle. The insertion of a gyroscope into the receptacle can close the electrical contact, thereby providing electrical power for actuating the motor. The lid can be configured to urge the gyroscope downwardly into the receptacle. Urging the gyroscope downwardly into the receptacle can close the electrical contact when the lid is in the closed position. The gyroscope can also be manually urged downwardly into the receptacle to close the electrical contact and actuate the motor.
The housing can include a leg portion extending outwardly from the receive the rotational tip of a gyroscope after a gyroscope has been set into rotational motion. The housing can also have platforms adapted to provide playing surfaces for a gyroscope after the gyroscope has been set into rotational motion. The platforms can be connected to appendages extending outwardly from the housing. The platforms can be detachably connected to the appendages.
The method of spinning a gyroscope includes the steps of providing a housing, providing a compartment within the housing for receiving at least a portion of the gyroscope, and transmitting rotational energy to the gyroscope with a motor. The method can also include the steps of providing a lid having an open position and a closed position, and providing a securing mechanism to secure the lid in the closed position.
The method according to the invention can further include the steps of providing a compartment which includes a receptacle adapted to receive a portion of a gyroscope which has a complementary configuration to a portion of the gyroscope, providing an electrical contact switchable between open and closed conditions which is disposed in the receptacle, and closing the electrical contact to provide electrical power for actuating the motor by insertion of a gyroscope into the receptacle.
The method can also include the step of configuring the lid to urge the gyroscope downwardly into the receptacle to close the electrical contact when the lid is in the closed position. The method can further include the step of manually urging the gyroscope downwardly into the receptacle to close the electrical contact.
The method can also include the steps of providing a leg portion extending outwardly from the housing, and providing a groove on the upper surface of the leg portion adapted to receive the rotational tip of the gyroscope after the gyroscope has been set into rotational motion. Platforms can be appended to the housing. The platforms can be adapted to provide playing surfaces for a gyroscope after the gyroscope has been set into rotational motion.
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patent: 5026057 (1991-06-01), Watford
patent: 5518437 (1996-05-01), Nonaka et al.
patent: 5593338 (1997-01-01), Itoh et al.
patent: 5683284 (1997-11-01), Christen
Akerman & Senterfitt
Ricci John A.
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