Did You Know...
...that when IBM conducted a market study of Chester Carlson's invention in 1959, the company concluded that it would take only 5000 units of his new product to saturate the market? IBM therefore declined to be part of the new product introduction. Too bad for IBM. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, and his new product was the beginning of the Xerox Corporation. It is estimated that every day, worldwide, 3,000,000,000 copies are made!!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8083566 | Spinning toy top controlled by repelling magnetic controller A toy top which encases a plurality of repelled magnets and a magnetic controller which encases a controlling magnet. The repelled magnets in the top direct a magnetic field away from their embodiment with an opposing polarity to the magnetic field directed by the m... | 12/27/2011 |
| 7427225 | Remote control toy top A toy actuation device is disclosed which has a device body comprising a holding unit that holds a toy such as a stuffed toy. The holding unit including first detecting unit for detecting that the toy is held in the holding unit; and movable engagement members that ... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7265370 | Sensing light A method and apparatus senses light reflected off of a surface of an object at angles with respect to incident light. ... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7063589 | Remote control toy top A remote control toy top, which is capable of remotely controlling performance characteristics of a toy top spinning on a stadium and freely changing performance characteristics, is provided. The remote control toy top is composed of the toy top and a remote control... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7037169 | Rotating toy with rotation measurement means A rotating toy is provided, the rotating toy having a rotation data measuring means. Data, such as rate of rotation, concerning the rotation of the toy is used to implement amusing games. Various embodiments of the toy of the present invention include a top provided... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7018263 | Electric toy top device with finger supported charging system A system comprising a rotating device, a finger supported charging assembly for powering the rotating device, and a hand pad assembly for holding the rotating device as it spins. The rotating device has a housing with a base upon which the housing spins. An electric... | 03/28/2006 |
| 6969296 | Top with a lighting device A top includes a hollow body, a lighting received disposed in the hollow body, a conductor moved received in the hollow body and a cover mounted to a top of the hollow body for closing the hollow body. The conductor is moved to operate the lighting device due to a c... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6905389 | Toy top game unit A toy top game unit is provided, the unit comprising a toy top, driving means for rotating said toy top, a game board for receiving said toy top thereon, means for interacting the toy top and the game with each other, and for imparting a change to an operational mod... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6743070 | Whipping top based bubble toy A whipping top based bubble toy includes at least a whipping top, a fluid tube, a bracket board and a pull rod in which the whipping top, a conic block, has a central post to be mounted with sleeve and a ground tip. The bracket board has a vertical opening to receiv... | 06/01/2004 |
| 6739939 | Toy top game unit A toy top game unit is provided, the unit comprising a toy top, driving means for rotating said toy top, a game board for receiving said toy top thereon, means for interacting the toy top and the game with each other, and for imparting a change to an operational mod... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6530817 | Toy top system and related methods A toy top comprises a body having an external surface with at least one external cavity and at least one extendable protrusion; in a static position, the protrusion is situated within the cavity and in a spinning motion, the protrusion is in an extended p... | 03/11/2003 |
| 6458008 | Remote control device with gyroscopic stabilization and directional control A remote control device that utilizes a variable velocity gyroscope for stabilization as well as directional control. The gyroscope is mounted within a device shell and aligned vertically. When the device is stationary or traveling in a straight line, the... | 10/01/2002 |
| 6322419 | Combination spinning top and yo-yo A combination spinning top and yo-yo for providing a new type of spinning top and yo-yo. The combination spinning top and yo-yo includes a conoidal-shaped member having a top end, a tapered lower portion, and a tip disposed at a bottom end thereof; and al... | 11/27/2001 |
| 6312306 | Gyroscope and method and apparatus for spinning same A gyroscope 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 an engagement structure coaxia... | 11/06/2001 |
| 6146233 | Spinning top Disclosed herein are spinning tops having an improved pull-string attachment system. The pull-string has a toothed catch at one end that engages with a cylindrical hub of the top. The hub is at the center of a deep radial groove transverse to the top's ax... | 11/14/2000 |
| 6089946 | Top launcher with positive top engagement A spinning top includes a driving device and a series of tops. The driving device includes a motor driving a clutch, and each top has a seat for temporary engagement with the clutch which drives the top to spin. The driving device comprises a control swit... | 07/18/2000 |
| 5971830 | Constructable spinning top maze A constructable spinning top maze kit having a base upon which rail pieces may be removably mounted to form a maze through which the spinning top may travel when launched from a launcher. Multiple bases may be joined together in a single plane to create a... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5827107 | Spinning dancing top A spinning figurine toy has a weighted skirt or disc to provide angular momentum, a lower spindle, a spring attached to the lower spindle, a foot inserted into the lower end of the spring, and a rod fixed in the foot and able to move vertically within the... | 10/27/1998 |
| 5593338 | Spinner and adapter for toy tops and combination of spinner and toy top Toy top spinner which uses a toy top body as a spinning wheel to accelerate the spinning speed of the spinning wheel easily, and an adapter used with the spinner to spin toy tops having slightly different diameters. The spinner has its body equipped with ... | 01/14/1997 |
| 5518437 | Toy top and drive unit for spinning the top A toy top which can also be used as a badge, and a drive unit which can mechanically spin the toy top with ease in a simple manner. The toy top has first engaging portions on the upper surface of the main body thereof, a first hook portion on the outer pe... | 05/21/1996 |
| 5122089 | Spin top A spin-top which includes a body of substantially rotational symmetry around a longitudinal axis, the body having a curved outer surface for converting force having a vertical component applied thereto into a rotational force, the top being provided with ... | 06/16/1992 |
| 5026057 | Top and launcher boxing simulation game and method Toy tops are provided having the appearance of human boxers and simulated boxing gloves. A motorized launch is used for spinning the tops and causing the boxing gloves of one top to strike another top. A simulated boxing ring is used to conduct a simulate... | 06/25/1991 |
| 5024625 | Top and propelling element A spinning member, such as a top, and an impeller are employed together. The spinning member has a gripping section on an upper portion thereof, while the impeller imparts rotational movement to the spinning member when the spinning member is at rest and ... | 06/18/1991 |
| 5017172 | Convertible yo-yo and top A yo-yo is provided with a construction by which it may be converted easily and quickly to a high performance surface spinning top. After detaching Zone of the yo-yo halves from the axle of the yo-yo, one of the yo-yo halves from the axle of the yo-yo, a ... | 05/21/1991 |
| 5007877 | Novelty magnetic top A permanent magnetic top is arranged to rotate on one or more surfaces, of a toy induction turret, which are in close proximity to a coil. An electric circuit is arranged to switch the coil in such a manner so as to accelerate the top. A handle is connect... | 04/16/1991 |
| 4982961 | Game with spinning tops A game for spinning tops includes a stage having an upper surface, and a pair of launching devices, each of which includes a pivotally mounted guide which receives a spinning top from above and discharges the spinning top from the side onto the upper surf... | 01/08/1991 |
| 4891031 | Spinning top and driving device for actuating the same A driving device for initiating and maintaining a spinning top in a continuous movement of rotation and precession. The driving device is made of a shaft adapted to axially rotate in a tube on which is concentrically fixed a rim. A top is hingely connecte... | 01/02/1990 |
| 4867728 | Toy top launcher A toy top launcher simulating a space shuttle is disclosed for launching a rotating top having a circular enlarged end and a gear adjacent the opposite end onto a flat surface. The top launcher has a chamber for supporting the enlarged ends of a plurality... | 09/19/1989 |
| 4834372 | Chance determining device A top device is designed for determining chance by spinning it. Primarily, it consists of a body with a lower pointed end and a polygonal shaped upper end that receives a hexagonal pencil that is retained in a tapered hexagonal and vertical opening by fri... | 05/30/1989 |
| 4795396 | Spin toy launcher A lever having an inner impeller arm and outer actuating arm is pivoted to a portable platform. An adjustably fixed post is secured to the platform radially outward from the impeller arm. The post includes a concave surface which faces a convex surface at... | 01/03/1989 |
| 4643692 | Domed spinning top A domed spinning top is disclosed in which a vertically movable housing member having a transparent dome is mounted above a stationary base. A rotatable turntable is mounted on the housing member under the dome. An actuating mechanism acts upon a drive me... | 02/17/1987 |
| 4575346 | Magnetic top running toy Disclosed is a magnetic top running toy wherein a spinning top is run along a running path. The magnetic top running toy includes a top having a magnetic shaft and a running path having a magnetic attraction wall adapted to contact with the magnetic shaft... | 03/11/1986 |
| 4538999 | Spinning toy A spinning toy having a hollow housing, a detachable cover, a cargo carrier in the housing, means responsive to attachment of the cover to engage first detent means, means for rotating the toy, means for retaining the cover on the housing as the toy is ro... | 09/03/1985 |
| 4408413 | Dynamic toy apparatus A track system includes an accelerator track section having a ferrous metal accelerator rod which attracts a magnetized spinning top and imparts a linear acceleration to the top. Additional coaster and turn track sections provide a selected glide path for... | 10/11/1983 |
| 4277912 | Gyroscope-monocycle A flying saucer-shape gyroscope monocycle that stands by its own gyroscope action. The device is composed of a transparent plastic-made upper dish-rotor and a lower dish body. A small D.C. motor is installed in a central hole of the lower dish body and is... | 07/14/1981 |
| 4256306 | Spinning top hockey-type game A game having a playing surface for receiving a spinning top propelled onto the surface by a top spinning mechanism at the general midpoint of the playing surface. First and second oppositely disposed siderails are provided with the edges thereof a predet... | 03/17/1981 |
| 4248426 | Spinning top pinball-type game A pinball-type game utilizing a spinning top actuated by a high speed spinning mechanism, release of the top onto a playing surface having a number of obstacles propelling the top against a scoring mechanism having a rocker arm which, upon impact, through... | 02/03/1981 |
| 4200283 | Magnetic spinning top game A spinning top game includes a spinner mounting a permanent magnet, a housing having a dished top base for supporting the spinner above an induction coil in the housing connected in an electric circuit including a source of electric potential and an elect... | 04/29/1980 |
| 4090715 | Solar powered spinning apparatus A toy top device adapted for a variety of uses is provided which utilizes a solar energy conversion means for powering the top. The device includes a base structure having an electric motor mounted to it so that a motor shaft and rotor assembly of the mot... | 05/23/1978 |
| 3945146 | Gyroscopic top A gyrotype toy top embodying a casing housing a rotor on a shaft having a spinning tip thereon, and a biased combined starter element and clutch member for effecting the engagement of the clutch member with the rotor upon the application of a pulling forc... | 03/23/1976 |
