Magnetic Top Toy

Abstract

A wheel-shaped top with magnetic spindles projecting from the body. A circular disk with a beaded rim is mounted on each end of a shaft; the rims of the disks forming a two-rail track encircling the shaft. A handle has two legs attached to opposite ends of the shaft. The spindles are magnetically attached to the two-rail track. The top orbits around the track in response to hand manipulation of the handle; the top is launched from the track when the orbital speed is sufficient to centrifugally separate the spindles from the track to spin on a surface, and the top can be magnetically retrieved, while spinning, by engagement of the spindles with the shaft or with one or both of the disks. In an alternate embodiment, the top includes a simulating feature, such as a continuous or blinking light, a sound, or the like configured to activate when the top is rotated.

1 . A top toy comprising: 
 a wheel-shaped top having a body with a pair of magnetic spindles; and    a track component made of a material capable of magnetic engagement for supporting the magnetic spindles of the wheel-shaped top, said track component comprising a shaft with a first end and a second end, and a pair of disks mounted on opposite ends of the shaft, and    wherein the body includes at least an electrically activated first stimulating feature, an electrical circuit with a centrifugally activated contact connected to the first stimulating feature, and an energy source connected to the electrical circuit.    
   
   
       2 . The top toy of  claim 1 , wherein the body is made of transparent material and the first stimulating feature is a light.  
   
   
       3 . The top toy of  claim 2 , wherein the light is a colored LED.  
   
   
       4 . The top toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first stimulating feature is a sound.  
   
   
       5 . The top toy of  claim 1 , wherein the body further includes a control board with a microprocessor for controlling a degree of simulation of the first simulating feature.  
   
   
       6 . The top toy of  claim 1 , wherein the body further includes an open loop electrical circuit formed by the magnetic spindles, a magnet electrically connected to the magnetic spindles, the pair of disks made of an electrically conductive material each connected to a different magnetic spindle, and the track made of an electrically conductive material connected to the pair of disks, the open loop electrical circuit connected to the energy source for activating a second stimulating feature.  
   
   
       7 . The top toy of  claim 6 , wherein the body is made of transparent material and the second stimulating feature is a light.  
   
   
       8 . The top toy of  claim 7 , wherein the light used for the first simulating feature and the second simulating feature is a single light at two different intensities.  
   
   
       9 . The top toy of  claim 6 , wherein the second stimulating feature is a sound.  
   
   
       10 . The top toy of  claim 6 , wherein the body further includes a control board with a microprocessor for controlling a degree of simulation of the first simulating feature and the second simulating feature.  
   
   
       11 . A top toy comprising: 
 a track component made of a material with magnetic properties having a handle and two opposite ends;    a pair of spaced disks each mounted on the opposite ends of the track;    a top having a body with at least an electrically activated first stimulating feature, an electrical circuit with a centrifugally activated contact connected to the first stimulating feature, and an energy source connected to the electrical circuit, and an axle mounted in the center of said wheel-shaped body, said axle having a pair of magnetic spindles projecting from the opposite ends thereof to magnetically engage the pair of spaced disks.    
   
   
       12 . The top toy of  claim 11 , wherein the body is made of transparent material and the first stimulating feature is a light.  
   
   
       13 . The top toy of  claim 12 , wherein the light is a colored LED.  
   
   
       14 . The top toy of  claim 11 , wherein the first stimulating feature is a sound.  
   
   
       15 . The top toy of  claim 11 , wherein the body further includes a control board with a microprocessor for controlling a degree of simulation of the first simulating feature.  
   
   
       16 . The top toy of  claim 11 , wherein the body further includes an open loop electrical circuit formed by the magnetic spindles, a magnet electrically connected to the magnetic spindles, the pair of disks made of an electrically conductive material each connected to a different magnetic spindle, and the track made of an electrically conductive material connected to the pair of disks, the open loop electrical circuit connected to the energy source for activating a second stimulating feature.  
   
   
       17 . The top toy of  claim 16 , wherein the body is made of transparent material and the second stimulating feature is a light.  
   
   
       18 . The top toy of  claim 17 , wherein the light used for the first simulating feature and the second simulating feature is a single LED at two different intensities.  
   
   
       19 . The top toy of  claim 16 , wherein the second stimulating feature is a sound.  
   
   
       20 . The top toy of  claim 16 , wherein the body further includes a control board with a microprocessor for controlling a degree of simulation of the first simulating feature and the second simulating feature.