Yo-yo

Details Yo-yo Yo-yo

2000-02-24

2001-03-27

Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 3712)

Amusement devices: toys

Rotating or having visible rotating portion

Having attached cord for imparting rotation

Reexamination Certificate

active

06206749

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Scope of Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of yo-yos, and more particularly to a yo-yo which includes a miniature ball bearing in combination with a unique hub structure and peripheral weighting of the yo-yo for enhanced performance.
2. Prior Art
Yo-yos have remained popular as an amusement toy for well over a century. A very early patent invented by Weber in U.S. Pat. No. 179,377 discloses one of the earliest of these entertainment devices. Another early yo-yo patent which also serves as a spinning top is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,579,022 invented by Spencer et al.
Yo-yos under the trademark DUNCAN have also been popular for almost a half century. One such patent is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,805,443 teaching a yo-yo with a maximum weight distribution at the outer periphery of the yo-yo body. A more recent Duncan invention having an improved axle and insert retainer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,686.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,547, Amaral has invented a high performance yo-yo with extended “sleep” features for extended trick performing time as therein disclosed. This is accomplished by a uniquely configured central spool which is mounted for free rotation on an axle active in a fashion similar to a ball bearing due to its low friction polymeric material. Kuhn, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,361, teaches very complex hub/bearing/thread adjusters for enhanced spinning operation and infinite gap adjustment.
The present invention provides a unique ball bearing hub structure and uniquely peripherally weighted yo-yo halves for an improved yo-yo which performs the “sleep” operation, quickly responds in retrieval movement and is generally smoother and having longer rotational inertia features than other designs known to applicant.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a yo-yo including a pair of yo-yo body halves each formed as a composite having an inner hub, a central dish-shaped main body portion defining an inward facing surface and an annular-shaped peripheral body portion. An axle is threadably engaged at each end thereof into a hub thread formed into each hub along an axis of rotation of the yo-yo. Each hub also includes a shoulder positioned radially adjacent the hub thread which, when the axle is fully tightened in frictional engagement into each hub thread by tightening rotation between the body halves, bear against one another to define a minimum gap between the inward facing surfaces of the body halves. A miniature bearing is also provided having an inner ring tightly frictionally engaged over each shoulder, each end of the bearing extending into an annular recess formed into each inward facing surface adjacent to the hub to maintain a tether in wrapped engagement around an outer ring of the bearing. The outer ring is freely rotatable with respect to the body halves and the axle, the axle rotating with the body halves when the yo-yo is spinning. The axle, when the body halves are forcibly rotated in an axle disengaging direction one to another, causes a corresponding increase in the width of the gap. Each inner facing surface is preferably arcuately shaped whereby the gap very gradually increases in width in a direction radially outwardly from the outer ring.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved yo-yo with enhanced smoothness and extended rotational inertia characteristics.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved yo-yo utilizing a miniature ball bearing in association with a unique hub structure to provide adjustability of gap between the yo-yo halves without sacrificing full features and enhanced functionality.
It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved yo-yo with substantially superior rotational inertia benefits associated with enhanced peripheral density characteristics without substantial additional overall yo-yo weight.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved yo-yo with unique arcuately configured inner faces of each yo-yo half which enhance overall yo-yo performance in association with a miniature precision ball bearing hub arrangement.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved yo-yo which lends itself to the ability to achieve greater precision in balancing each of the yo-yo halves before assembly so that, when assembled, the yo-yo will reflect this same degree of precision balance about the rotational axis of the yo-yo.
In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 179377 (1876-06-01), Weber
patent: 2579022 (1951-12-01), Spencer
patent: 2891351 (1959-06-01), Madaras
patent: 3175326 (1965-03-01), Isaacson
patent: 3805443 (1974-04-01), Duncan
patent: 3834069 (1974-09-01), Brown
patent: 3953936 (1976-05-01), Ennis
patent: 4130962 (1978-12-01), Ennis
patent: 4332102 (1982-06-01), Caffrey
patent: 4442625 (1984-04-01), MacCarthy
patent: 4895547 (1990-01-01), Amaral
patent: 5100361 (1992-03-01), Kuhn et al.
patent: 5769686 (1998-06-01), Duncan et al.
patent: 5813898 (1998-09-01), Van Dan Elzen et al.
patent: 5984759 (1999-11-01), O'Sullivan
patent: 6080035 (2000-06-01), Pekarsky et al.
patent: 6113456 (2000-09-01), Hadzicki et al.
patent: 6142850 (2000-11-01), Levy

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Yo-yo does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Yo-yo, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Yo-yo will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2502997