Mechanical spinning toy

Abstract

A mechanical spinning toy provides a rectangular body, with a cylindrical handle protruding perpendicularly from the center of each long side. The handles provide an axis of rotation for a swing, with two arms extending down the long sides of the body and terminating in a plate with a narrow clearance from the end of the body. The swing rotates easily around the axis of the handles in a 360 arc. An aperture extends longitudinally through the centerline of the body, containing a cylindrical stopper head. A simple mechanism causes the stopper head to protrude a short distance from one end of the body or the other, and may be retracted with a quick twist of the user's wrists or a quick press of the user's thumb. This enables the swing to continue rotating around the body.

Claims

1. A mechanical spinning toy, comprising: a. a rectangular body with two long sides; b. a cylindrical handle protruding perpendicularly from the center of each long side; c. a swing, which employs the handles as an axis of rotation; and d. said swing having two arms extending down the long sides of the body, terminating in a plate with a narrow clearance from the end of the body; e. wherein an aperture extends longitudinally through the centerline of the body, containing a retractable cylindrical stopperhead.

2. The mechanical spinning toy of claim 1, wherein the swing rotates easily around the axis of the handles in a 360 arc.

3. The mechanical spinning toy of claim 1, wherein the stopperhead protrudes a short distance from one end of the body, such that the swing is restricted from rotating when protruded and the swing freely rotates when the stopperhead is retracted.

4. The mechanical spinning toy of claim 3, wherein when the stopperhead is protruded from one end of the body, the stopperhead is retracted from the opposite end of the body.

5. The mechanical spinning toy of claim 4, wherein the user grasps the handles and slowly spins the swing around the body of the toy, retracting the stopperhead as the swing approaches it at each end of the body.

6. The mechanical spinning toy of claim 5, wherein the stopperhead is retracted by one of twisting or pressing on the stopperhead.

7. The mechanical spinning toy of claim 5, wherein the stopperhead is retracted from one end and projected from the opposite end by twisting the handles.

8. The mechanical spinning toy of claim 1, wherein the body, the handles, and the swing are constructed of a material taken from a group that includes hardwood, fiberglass, and aluminum alloy.

9. The mechanical spinning toy of claim 1, wherein the stopperhead is manufactured from a semi-rigid, durable material.

10. The mechanical spinning toy of claim 1, wherein when the stopperhead is protruded from one end of the body, the stopperhead is retracted from the opposite end of the body.

11. The mechanical spinning toy of claim 1, wherein the stopperhead is retracted by one of twisting or pressing on the stopperhead.

12. The mechanical spinning toy of claim 1, wherein the stopperhead is retracted from one end and projected from the opposite end by twisting the handles.

13. The mechanical spinning toy of claim 12, wherein the body, the handles, and the swing are constructed of one of hardwood, fiberglass, or aluminum alloy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment with the stopper head retracted, displaying the toy 10, the body 11, the handles 12, the swing 13, the arms 14, the plate 15, the aperture 16, and the stopper head 17.

(3) FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment with the stopper head extended, displaying the toy 10, the body 11, the handles 12, the swing 13, the arms 14, the plate 15, the aperture 16, and the stopper head 17.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment with the stopper head extended, displaying the toy 10, the body 11, the handles 12, the swing 13, and the stopper head 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a mechanical spinning toy 10.

(6) The first exemplary embodiment is comprised of a toy 10 which provides a rectangular body 11, with a cylindrical handle 12 protruding perpendicularly from the center of each long side. The handles 12 provide an axis of rotation for a swing 13, with two arms 14 extending down the long sides of the body 11, terminating in a plate 15 with a narrow clearance from the end of the body 11. The swing 13 rotates easily around the axis of the handles 12 in a 360 arc.

(7) An aperture 16 extends longitudinally through the centerline of the body 11, containing a cylindrical stopperhead 17. A simple mechanism, well known to the art, causes the stopperhead 17 to protrude a short distance from one end of the body 11 or the other, and may be retracted with a quick twist of the user's wrists or a quick press of the user's thumb. This enables the swing 13 to continue rotating around the body 11.

(8) To use the first exemplary embodiment, the user grasps the handles 12 and slowly spins the swing 13 around the body 11 of the toy 10, retracting the stopper head 17 as the swing 13 approaches it at each end of the body, by pressing the tip of the stopper head 17 with the thumb. The goal is to cause the swing 13 to spin as many times around the body 10 as possible without being stopped by the stopper head 17. The user must twist the body 11 of the toy at the same time the swing 13 is spinning to achieve this effect. This twisting enables the user to press the tips of the stopper head 17 in rapid succession with the thumbs. Alternately, the user may elect to twist the wrists to turn the body 11 of the toy 10. The toy 10 tests the user's reflexes and coordination, and may be useful in certain types of physical therapy.

(9) The body 11, the handles 12, and the swing 13 are preferably manufactured from rigid, durable materials such as hardwood, fiberglass, and aluminum alloy. The stopper head 17 is preferably manufactured from a semi-rigid, durable material such as plastic.

(10) Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

(11) While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.