High performance yo-yo with on/off switchable auto-return

Abstract

A high performance yo-yo for performing tricks has a manual-return capability, an auto-return capability, and an on/off switch built into the yo-yo for turning auto-return capability on or off. The yo-yo further includes yo-yo halves, an axle, a spool surrounding the axle between the yo-yo halves for attachment of a string, and a spring-loaded centrifugal clutch. The clutch grips and releases the spool such that when the yo-yo is thrown and its rotational rate exceeds a pre-determined rate, the clutch releases to allow the yo-yo to spin about the spool at the end of the string, and when the yo-yo rotational rate slows to less than the pre-determined rate, the clutch grips to initiate auto-return. The clutch includes four radially arrayed clutch arms, each having a weighted free end. The clutch further includes two tension springs, each spring providing spring-load to two adjacent clutch arms. The four clutch arms are linked in pairs by expansion joints at the free ends of the arms. The switch is a rotary switch linked to operate the clutch via a cam and cam follower. The yo-yo halves each include a starburst.

1 . A high performance yo-yo, comprising: 
 first and second spaced-apart yo-yo halves;    an axle defined by a cylindrical shaft having connecting means for securely connecting the axle to each of the halves at their centers;    a spool situated around the axle between the yo-yo halves;    a string attached to the spool;    a centrifugal-actuated spring-loaded clutch mounted within one of the yo-yo halves and situated around the spool; and    a switch coupled to the clutch.    
   
   
       2 . A yo-yo according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the clutch includes means for gripping and releasing the spool such that when the yo-yo is thrown and its rotational rate exceeds a pre-determined rate, the clutch means releases the spool to allow the yo-yo to spin about the spool at the end of the string, and such that when the yo-yo rotational rate slows to less than the pre-determined rate, the clutch means grips the spool to initiate auto-return; and    wherein the switch is coupled to the clutch such as to switch auto-return on and off.    
   
   
       3 . A yo-yo according to  claim 1 , wherein the clutch includes four radially arrayed clutch arms, each clutch arm having a pivot end pivotally mounted to one of four radially arrayed pivot posts, and a weighted free end.  
   
   
       4 . A yo-yo according to  claim 3 , wherein the clutch includes at least two tension springs, each spring coupling two adjacent clutch arms.  
   
   
       5 . A yo-yo according to  claim 4 , wherein the two adjacent clutch arms are positioned as crossed clutch arms, such that they are spring-loaded by the tension spring to which they are coupled.  
   
   
       6 . A yo-yo according to  claim 3 , wherein the four radially arrayed clutch arms are disposed as first and second jointed pairs of clutch arms, each pair having jointed free ends.  
   
   
       7 . A yo-yo according to  claim 6 , wherein the jointed free ends define an expansion joint.  
   
   
       8 . A yo-yo according to  claim 7 , wherein one clutch arm includes a pin, an adjacent clutch arm defines an elongated slot, and the expansion joint includes the pin of the one clutch arm and the elongated slot of the adjacent clutch arm, the pin disposed to slide within the elongated slot.  
   
   
       9 . A yo-yo according to  claim 1 , wherein the switch is a rotary switch.  
   
   
       10 . A yo-yo according to  claim 9 , wherein the rotary switch includes a disk and at least one knob, the at least one knob attached to the disk.  
   
   
       11 . A yo-yo according to  claim 10 , wherein the disk defines at least one shaped aperture having a cam surface.  
   
   
       12 . A yo-yo according to  claim 11 , 
 wherein the clutch includes at least one clutch arm, and the at least one clutch arm includes a pin; and    wherein the pin extends into the at least one shaped aperture;    such that the shaped aperture and the pin function as cam and cam follower.    
   
   
       13 . A yo-yo according to  claim 1 , wherein the yo-yo halves have facing surfaces, each of which is provided with an array of raised radially extending ribs about the axis of rotation of the yo-yo.  
   
   
       14 . A high performance yo-yo, comprising: 
 first and second spaced-apart yo-yo halves;    an axle defined by a cylindrical shaft having connecting means for securely connecting the axle to each of the halves at their centers;    a spool situated around the axle between the yo-yo halves;    a string attached to the spool; and    a centrifugal-actuated spring-loaded clutch mounted within one of the yo-yo halves and situated around the spool;    wherein the clutch includes a plurality of pivotally-mounted, radially-arrayed clutch arms, each clutch arm spring-loaded by at least one tension spring.    
   
   
       15 . A yo-yo according to  claim 14 , wherein the clutch includes means for gripping and releasing the spool such that when the yo-yo is thrown and its rotational rate exceeds a pre-determined rate, the clutch means releases the spool to allow the yo-yo to spin about the spool at the end of the string, and such that when the yo-yo rotational rate slows to less than the pre-determined rate, the clutch means grips the spool to initiate auto-return.  
   
   
       16 . A high performance yo-yo, comprising: 
 first and second spaced-apart yo-yo halves;    an axle defined by a cylindrical shaft having connecting means for securely connecting the axle to each of the halves at their centers;    a spool situated around the axle between the yo-yo halves;    a string attached to the spool; and    a centrifugal-actuated spring-loaded clutch mounted within one of the yo-yo halves and situated around the spool;    wherein the clutch includes a plurality of pivotally-mounted, radially-arrayed clutch arms, each clutch arm coupled to an adjacent clutch arm by an expansion joint.    
   
   
       17 . A yo-yo according to  claim 16 , wherein the clutch includes means for gripping and releasing the spool such that when the yo-yo is thrown and its rotational rate exceeds a pre-determined rate, the clutch means releases the spool to allow the yo-yo to spin about the spool at the end of the string, and such that when the yo-yo rotational rate slows to less than the pre-determined rate, the clutch means grips the spool to initiate auto-return.