Untitled record

Application filed July 22,1895. Serial Ko. 556,743. (Ko model.) suitable material, and forming a chamber 4. From this chamber radiates a plurality of hollow arms 5, separated from each other by equal 5 5 intervals, and having a slight upward inclination from the top-body. I have shown in the drawings four of these hollow arms; but this number may be varied, if desired. I prefer to form each hollow arm 5 in a single piece 60 6, as shown in the drawings, as it is an economy of material and diminishes the weight; but I do not strictly limit my invention to such construction. In the sides of each arm 5 are formed sight-openings or slots 7, which com- 65 municate with sight-openings or slots 8 of like width in the outer wall of the central topbody or housing 3.

Within the chamber 4 of the hollow topbody are placed balls or spheres 9, their num- 70 ber being equal to the number of radial arms, and their size such that they will roll freely in said chamber and in the radial arms. The balls or spheres will be readily seen through the sight-openings or slots 7 and 8, in what- 75 ever position they may be. Normally, when the top is placed horizontally, with its spindle 1 in a vertical line, the balls will roll into the circular chamber and lie grouped around the spindle, where they are visible through the 80 sight-openings 8. If the top spins with sufficient force they will simultaneously seek a position more or less remote from the center, and will pass into the hollow arms 5, rolling to the outer ends thereof, which are closed to 85 prevent their escape therefrom.

The puzzle is to spin the top as to cause all the radial arms to be occupied, a single ball lying in each. Practice and the exercise of proper care to keep the top level and to spin 90 it with suitable force will soon accomplish this, although at the outset it is extremely difficult.

I may construct the radial arms ana the floor of the circular chamber 4 in a single 95 piece by using such material and processes of manufacture as will suggest themselves to all persons who are familiar with mechanical construction, and which need not therefore be described in this specification. _ 10

The top may be ornamented by coloring or painting it, or if formed of metal it may be polished or burnished, plated, or otherwise finished in any manner preferred.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, John S. Boyum, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mayville, in the county of Traill and State of North Da5 kota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spinning-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a new and improved spinning-top, which inio volves a puzzle and can only be operated successfully by certain dexterity in manipulation, which is simple when once discovered or explained.

To this end my invention consists of a top 15 formed of a spindle having a spinning-point and provided with a central hollow body having side sight-openings and a plurality of radiating hollow arms having sight-openings along their length and communicating with 20 the central hollow top, through the center of which the spindle passes, and from which the bottom walls have an upward inclination, a number of spheres or balls equal to the number of hollow arms being placed in the cen2 5 tral top-body, from which they can only escape by passing into the hollow arms, and this can only be accomplished by the action of centrifugal force, so called, which is set up when the top spins, the puzzle being to cause a 30 single ball to pass into each of the radial hollow arms.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which—

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spinning35 top constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken in the central line or axis of the spindle. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in a plane passing through the central hollow top-body.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein—

The numeral 1 indicates the spindle of the 45 top, which, like the other parts, may be of wood, metal, rubber, celluloid, or any other suitable material or composition. The lower end of the spindle is formed into or provided with a spinning-point 2. Upon the spindle 1, 50 at a suitable distance above the spinningpoint, is mounted a substantially - circular hollow top-body or housing 3, formed of any

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