SPINNER TOYS AND METHODS

Abstract

A spinner toy includes a large circular hoop upon which there are a plurality of smaller circular hoops. The toy is used by turning the large hoop and causing the smaller hoops to spin around the large hoop while turning the large hoop. The toy provides amusement and entertainment to the user.

Claims

1. A spinner toy comprising: a hollow primary hoop having an open configuration and a closed configuration wherein the closed configuration defines a primary hoop central aperture having a first diameter; and one or more motion devices each of the one or more motion devices having a motion device central aperture and a second diameter less than the first diameter and operable to allow the motion device to travel along the primary hoop.

2. The spinner toy of claim 1 further comprising a friction fit roll closure operable to fit within the hollow primary tube at a first end and a second end operable to secure the hollow primary hoop in a closed configuration.

3. The spinner toy of claim 1 further comprising a flexible rod sized to fit within an interior of the hollow primary hoop.

4. The spinner toy of claim 1 further comprising an outer shrink tubing.

5. The spinner toy of claim 1 further comprising an outer grip layer.

6. A method of using a spinner toy comprising: grasping a spinner toy having a hollow primary hoop having an open configuration and a closed configuration wherein the closed configuration defines a primary hoop central aperture having a first diameter, and one or more motion devices each of the one or more motion devices having a motion device central aperture and a second diameter less than the first diameter and operable to allow the motion device to travel along the primary hoop; rotating the primary hoop in a downward direction relative to an x axis; activating the motion devices by at least one of jittering, palm starting gyro starting, and side starting.

7. The method of using a spinner toy of claim 6 further comprising: throwing the spinner toy into space to achieve one or more of pitch, roll and yaw.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a hoop and ring configuration;

[0018] FIGS. 2A-F illustrate hoop configurations and motion devices;

[0019] FIGS. 3A-F illustrate hoop configurations;

[0020] FIGS. 4A-C illustrate motion device configurations;

[0021] FIGS. 5A-G are additional illustrations of hoops and motion device; and

[0022] FIG. 6 is a table of device component dimensions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

I. Devices

[0023] FIGS. 2A-F illustrates a device or toy comprising a primary hoop 110 having a primary hoop central aperture with one or more motion devices 150, such as rings or beads, where a single motion device can be used as a training device. The primary hoop 110 has a primary hoop diameter defining the primary hoop central aperture and a periphery length of the external boundary surface. As shown in FIG. 2A, the primary hoop 110 can have two motion devices 150. Each motion device 150 has a motion device diameter that is less than the primary hoop diameter. In another configuration, shown in FIG. 2B, the primary hoop 110 configuration can have four motion devices 150. As will be appreciated in FIG. 2C the inner diameter of the motion device aperture 152 through which the motion device 150 passes around the hoop 110 is larger than the diameter of the primary hoop 110. The motion device aperture 152 can be centered or off center. FIG. 2D illustrates a primary hoop 110 having more than one color. FIG. 2E shows a high strength, low friction engineering plastic rod, such as an polyoxymethylene (acetal) positionable inside a steel tube and a soft, flexible, lightweight plastic material closure piece, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE). The plastic rod can be a fill rod that also serves as a closure device. The steel tube is hot rolled. FIG. 2F illustrates a vinyl tube that is positionable within the steel tube and a shrink tube that has been shrunk around the steel tube. An aluminum closure piece can be provided to facilitate closing. The length the rod positionable within the hoop is less than the periphery of the rod. Potential sizes of the hoops and motion devices are shown in Table 1 in FIG. 6.

[0024] FIGS. 3A-F illustrate hoop configurations. FIG. 3A is a side perspective view of the primary hoop 110; FIG. 3B is a planar view of the primary hoop 110; FIG. 3C is a side view of the primary hoop 110 showing the closure mechanism 120; FIG. 3D is a side view of the primary hoop 110; FIG. 3E (1)-3E (2) are a cross-sectional view of the primary hoop 110 taken along the lines E-E in FIG. 3D with an exploded view of the connector section; and FIG. 3F is another perspective view of the primary hoop 110.

[0025] The circular hoop 110 can be a thin walled steel tube which provides a solid surface. The thin walled steel tube can further include a fill material, such as an acetal rod, a vinyl tube, a vinyl rod, a steel cable, a steel cable wrapped in vinyl, aluminum rod. The selection of fill changes the overall weight of the device and can impact sound and the overall feel of the device when played. The primary circular hoop 110 has a closure mechanism 120 that links the two ends of the tube 112 forming the primary hoop 110. Suitable closures include a roll pin closure configuration used to secure the closure piece within the primary circular hoop, a friction fit closure, and a spring button closure. The closure mechanism 120 allows the user to change the number of motion devices 150 present at any particular time.

[0026] A secondary circular hoop or outer layer is provided which envelops the primary circular hoop. Additional color can be added to the secondary circular hoop by spraying or brushing. Additionally stickers can be added. An outer layer is then added to the toy which can be a shrink tube which becomes adhered to the secondary circular hoop when heat is applied.

[0027] The secondary circular hoop allows the toy to be quieter during play and eliminates the metal on metal friction and dust creation that would occur.

[0028] The secondary tube is provided over the primary circular hoop. Shrink tubing is provided around the primary circular hoop. The use of a secondary tube further reduces friction and dust. Stickers can also be provided and positioned directly on the primary tube below the secondary tube.

[0029] FIGS. 4A-C illustrate motion device 150 configurations. The size of the motion devices and the diameter provide for increased visibility of the motion of the motion devices 150. The motion devices 150 can be made from aluminum, titanium, steel, wood or plastic. With less friction between the motion devices 150 and the primary hoop 110, less dust is created.

[0030] One or more motion devices 150, such as rings or beads, are provided with an aperture larger than the diameter of the combination of the primary circular hoop and the secondary hoop. Additionally, the weight and shape of the motion devices 150 changes the movement of the motion devices 150 during use. When additional motion devices 150 are added, the feel of the primary hoop changes for the user. For example, the added weight which results from additional motion devices 150 might improve the play experience or make the device less comfortable. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the impact of the change in weight can be different for different players depending on the skill level of the player.

[0031] FIGS. 5A-G are additional illustrations of hoops and motion device. FIG. 5A illustrates a front view with the hoop and motion devices with hands. FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective view of a coiled ring with no shrink layer and two motion devices. FIG. 5C is a front view of the hoop with two motion devices. FIG. 5D is a slightly offset view of the hoop and two moving devices. FIG. 5D illustrates a hoop filled with a cable having a window wherein the cable is visible. FIG. 5G (1)-5G (3) illustrate a hoop with cross-sections of the hoop and a motion device.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a table of device dimensions.

II. Methods of Use

[0033] Tricks are easiest with two motion devices. Increasing the number of motion devices changes how a trick is played because a player is required to apply more force during play to cause the entire device to make the same motion that would be made with fewer motion devices. Motions include rolling, twisting and tossing or flipping in the air.

[0034] In use, the player grasps and moves the hoop 110. When the user rotates the hoop 110, the rotation devices 150 begin to rotate about the hoop 110 and roll in a downward direction. For purposes of illustration, motion is described relative to an x-y-z axis oriented toward a player, where the x-axis corresponds to the horizontal, axial or transverse plane, the y axis corresponds to the coronal or frontal plane and the z-axis corresponds to the median plane. For a user in a standing position, the hoop will, for example, be grasped and held so that it lies within a median plane to the user's torso. Rotating of the hoop, for example, occurs about the x axis (or horizontal plane). The rotation devices rotate about the y-axis or coronal plane. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, as the relative position of the hoop rotates away from, for example, a horizontal plane, operation in the remaining planes will be adjusted based on the absolute position of the hoop relative to the horizon.

[0035] Activating the motion devices 150 on the hoop 110 is the first step to starting a game or use. A variety of methods can be used to begin movement of the motion devices 150 including the jitter start, the palm start, the gyro start, and the side start. Each start movement can be a trick itself. The secondary hoop, or shrink tubing sheath, adds enough grip to help the motion devices 150 move by simply turning the hoop 110.

[0036] Once the motion devices 150 are in motion, the user attempts to maintain a spinning motion of the motion devices 150 around the hoop 110 as the hoop 110 is rotated. The flow and momentum of the motion devices 150 is maintained while the hoops 110 is moved in different ways in space. The device can be thrown to achieve rotations in pitch, roll, and/or yaw directions, causing the hoop and motion devices to flip various ways. The device can be manipulated in space with continuous contact tricks. The tricks include, for example movements that cause the hoop 110 to whirl around an operator's hand or corkscrews up the operator's arm (i.e., with the arm passing through the aperture of the hoop 110) and back down the user's arm again while uninterrupted spinning of the motion devices 150 occurs. The hoop 110 can be held in various ways in the operator's hands. The hoop 110 with one or more motion objects 150 spinning can be oriented to various axis in a plurality of possible directions.

[0037] In addition to different holding positions, orienting the hoop 110 along various axis, and turning the entire apparatus in different orientations. The hoop 110 can also be thrown into the air. Depending on the throwing technique, the hoop 110 can be flipped, twisted, and/or rolled while airborne. The throwing motions can be combined with trajectories-including around the operator. For example, over the operator's shoulder, under the operator's leg, up through the operator's leg or behind the operator's back. The operator can also throw the hoop and spin around 360 degrees to catch the hoop. Lastly the hoop 110 can also be caused to rotate very slowly causing the motion devices 150 to slow down dramatically as well.

III. Methods of Manufacture

A. Hoops

[0038] Hoops can be manufactured using a hot rolling process with steel and stainless steel tubing. Each section of the final rolled tube is manufactured to be circular when analyzed from a cross-sectional point of view. Failure to achieve a circular cross-section will change the operation of the motion devices around the hoop during use.

[0039] Since the walls of the tubular member can be thin, stronger steels like 17-4 stainless may be utilized. Another technique for manufacturing the hoop can be pressure hardening the rolled hoops in a proper vacuum oven. By locking in the crystalline form of the steel through the vacuum oven we will make the final hoop more rigid thus creating a more dependable product.

B. Motion Devices

[0040] Motion devices can be manufacturing using a CNC Lathe. In the future we may produce plastic motion devices made through plastic injection molding. After the shape is formed the motion device can be tumbled and then anodized. A bluing technique can also be used if the motion device is made from steel, or a coat if ceramic paint can be applied (e.g., Cerakote) to create other color finishes. With aluminum anodizing, a bright dip technique can be used to create bright colors and a glossy appearance of the final part.

C. Hoop Closure

[0041] A rolled metal rod stock can be used for the hoop closure. The hoop closure can be, for example, aluminum, titanium or steel. Aluminum is the lightest of the available material options which can create an even and balanced weight across the final hoop. The hoop closure can be given a rolled curve by passing it through a ring roller. Once rolled, the closure piece is cut and chamfered to facilitate easy fitting and safe ends for the final user. When a lighter, less heat resistant closure material is desired, a LDPE (Low density polyethylene) tubing can be used. An LDPE closure is lightweight, flexible, low cost and strong enough for general use. With both of these closure pieces cut, the hoop closure is used to connect the hoop ends. A standard fitting process can be used is to swage the closure piece in place on both sides and then drill apertures straight through the hoop closure and the hoop wall. With apertures passing through both the hoop wall and the hoop closure piece, pins are partially passed through the apertures to maintain both ends of the hoop tightly together so that it is very difficult to pull apart. If needed, the pins can be removed and the hoop can be reopened at a later date allowing maintenance to be performed or motion devices to be added or removed. Other closure techniques can be deployed without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, a spring pin assembly can be drilled and tapped into place on one of the ends of the closure piece. The use of a spring pin allows the producer or the final user to reopen the hoop with greater ease than that of removing the roll pins. The spring pin design allows the user to quickly switch out motion devices for different playing styles or aesthetics.

D. Grip Layer

[0042] A color layer can be added to the hoop. The color layer can be added before adding a grip layer. Coloring can be achieved by use of a spray gun application of paint or by dip coating paint using a circular wiper gasket at the exiting end of the dip tank. Either method can yield a uniform coat of paint on the hoop. Before the paint stage or after, a sticker with the device name and/or company logo may be added at this time as well. Following that artwork step of painting and/or stickering, proper curing time is given to the part before a clear shrink tube is added around the hoop and sealed down with heat. On smaller batches this process can be achieved with the use of heat guns. Larger batches can use a heated oven featuring a conveyor mechanism.

[0043] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that any claims presented define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.