US2795898A - Illuminated aerial top - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1957 L c. FRENCH- ILLUIIINATED AERIAL TOP 2 s he'ets-she at -1 Filed June 10, 1955 'INVENTOR. Mums c. FRENCH A ORN Y 1. c. FRENCH 2,795,898

ILLUHINATED AERIAL 'TOP June 18, 1957 2 smite-sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1955 mmvrox. [All/REM! 6'. F/at'AfC/I BY United States Patent'Oi 2,795,898 ILLUMINATED Tor I Lawrence (i Frencm Coronadm Calif.

Application June 10, 1955, Serial No. 514,442

1 Claim. (Cl. 46228) This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to the well-known string operated aerial top.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an aerial top equipped with illuminating means whereby the toy is fully illuminated in a manner which is highly pleasing to the eye when the device is operated in the dark.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated aerial top in which the parts can be easily disassembled for the purpose of repairs or replacements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated aerial top in which the parts are simply constructed and capable of being manufactured at a low monetary figure.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the fol- I lowing description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diametrical sectional view through the improved top with the battery case in elevation.

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view through the central portion of the structure.

Figure 5 is an exploded side elevational view of the structure, with one of the shells and a portion of the battery case in section.

Figure 6 is a section taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numerals 10, 11 generally refer to a pair of bowl-shaped shells, the bowl having a central opening, the edge portion of the bowl at this opening being formed with threads to accommodate the threaded enclosed end portion 12 of a cylindrical battery case 13, the other end of which is opened and formed with threads for cooperation with internal threads of a collar 14 that projects inwardly from the outer wall of the shell 11, as is clearly shown in Figure 4. Interposed between this end of the case 13 and said wall of the shell 11 is a contact spring 15 of curved form and which is intended to engage the zinc part of a dry cell battery 16, placed within the case 13.

This type of battery 16 has a jacket a of insulation and has the usual carbon electrode contact 17, which engages the portion 18 of a contact bar, which has a short leg 19 extending laterally from one end and along one side of the jacket a and against which the contact 20 of a lamp 21 can engage and which also has a longer leg 22 extending along the diametrically opposite side of the insulation jacket a and against which the contact 23 of a second lamp 24 can engage.

Suitably secured in openings in the case 13 are internally threaded sockets 25, 26 with which the threaded contact sleeves of the bulbs 21, 24 engage. A conductor Paterite'dJun'e 18, 1957 ice wire 27 extendsfromthe socket 25," through'an opening 'irrthe case '13 airdto the socket 26. Of'course this is a conductor with acovering of insulation.

' 15;ex'tnds outwardly'through an opening inthe case'13 and has a short arm 32 from which a hair spring 33 extends. This spring is preferably provided with a coil so as to stabilize its form and has an outstanding leg 34 with a weight 35 at its end.

The shell 10 has an inner wall 36 and the shell 11 has an inner wall 37. These walls are fixed to the case 13, this being shown in Figure 5.

The shells 10, 11 are of transparent or translucent material, preferably a plastic material. These shells may be of any color and of course the lamps 21, 24 may also be of the same or varied colors.

As is apparent in Figure 4, either one of the shells can be easily unscrewed from the battery case 13 so that the lamps 21, 24 can be replaced or repairs made.

In the use and operation of this amusement device, the parts are assembled as shown in Figure 4, the shells 10, 11 assuming the position with respect to each other as shown. There is a cord 38 which extends through an opening 39 in the wall 36 and is knotted as at 40 to pre vent retraction through said opening.

The cord 38 is wound around the case 13 in order to start the amusement device.

As is usual in the operation of the conventional aerial top, the outer end of the cord 38 is held while the top is thrown outwardly or dropped. The structure rotates rapidly in one direction and by yielding the cord when the structure reaches the lower end, the top will begin to wind itself onto the cord and move upwardly on the cord, rewinding the cord in the opposite direction. This operation can be repeated time and time again so long as the operator affords the yielding motion above referred to at the lower end of the travel of the spinning structure.

It will be observed, that current from the battery, when the top is in operation, will pass from the carbon post contact 17 of the dry cell battery 16 to the contact bar 18. Current will pass from the leg 19 through the lamp 21 and socket 25, by way of the conductor 27 to the socket 26 and through the lamp 24 and socket 26 to the yoke 28 and hair spring contact 33 and from there to the contact strip 31 and spring 15 which is in engagement with the opposite side of the battery 16.

When the top is spinning in one direction, centrifugal force promoted by the presence of the weight 35 will cause the contact 33, by centrifugal force to be positioned in one direction against the arm 29, thus completing the electrical circuit, and when the top reverses itself, centrifugal force takes effect swinging the hair spring contact 33 in the opposite direction to engage the other arm 30 of the yoke 28 completing the circuit including the battery and lamps 21, 24.

However, when the top is idle, the lights are extinguished because the contact leg 34 will assume a spaced position between the arms 29, 30 of the yoke 28, as shown in Figure 6.

The ends of the bar 18 are formed with grooves at the ends thereof to receive the base portions of the lamps 21, 24, the purpose for this being to prevent the bar from moving away from the lamps during rotation of the assembly.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention when is claimed as new 15: a

A device of the character described comprising a pair of hollow bowl-shaped shells having their inner edges in opposed spaced relation, one of said shells having a centrally disposed threaded opening, an internally threaded collar centrally disposed on the inner face of the other shell, a cylindrical battery case threaded at each of its ends respectively in said opening and said collar, an inner wall for each of said shells connected to its inner edges and each of said walls encompassing said case, a

lamp socket in each end portion of said case, a lamp in each socket, a cord connected to one wall and adapted to be wound upon said case between said walls, a battery in said case, and means electrically interconnecting said bat- 5 tery and said lamps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Testino Dec. 30, 1952 2,629,202 Stivers Feb. 24, 1953

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