Spinner for toy top

Abstract

A spinner capable of imparting clockwise and counterclockwise rotation to a toy top by pulling a string. The spinner includes a spinner body, a first gear with string wound therearound, a second gear meshing with the first gear, and first and second toy top holders that rotate interlockingly with the second gear. The string has one end attached to the first gear and the other end can be pulled from the outside. The holders each include a portion for holding the toy top. The holding portions protrude from upper and lower surfaces of the spinner body, respectively. The holders are adapted to rotate the toy top clockwise and counterclockwise according to rotation of the second gear by pulling the string.

1 . A spinner for a toy top that imparts rotation to the toy top and launches the toy top, comprising:
 a spinner body, wherein   the spinner body includes a first gear formed so as to have a string wound therearound, a second gear meshing with the first gear, and a first toy top holder and a second toy top holder that rotate interlockingly with the second gear,   the string has one end thereof attached to the first gear and the other end thereof extending to the outside of the spinner body so that the other end thereof can be subjected to a pulling operation from the outside,   the first and second toy top holders each include a holding portion for holding the toy top,   the holding portion of the first toy top holder and the holding portion of the second toy top holder protrude outside from opposite surfaces of the spinner body, respectively, and   the first toy top holder is adapted to rotate the toy top in a clockwise direction according to rotation of the second gear by a pulling operation of the string and the second toy top holder is adapted to rotate the toy top in a counterclockwise direction according to rotation of the second gear by a pulling operation of the string.   
     
     
         2 . The spinner according to  claim 1 , wherein the spinner body is formed such that an appearance thereof on a side on which the first toy top holder is disposed and an appearance thereof on a side on which the second toy top holder is disposed are substantially identical in design. 
     
     
         3 . The spinner according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cap member for selectively covering the holding portion of one of the first and second toy top holders, wherein
 the opposite surfaces of the spinner body are an upper surface and a lower surface of the spinner body, each provided with a mounting portion for mounting the cap member thereto, and   the spinner body has a ratchet disposed therein for preventing rotation of the second gear, wherein when the cap member is mounted to the mounting portion of either of the upper surface and the lower surface of the spinner body, prevention of the rotation of the second gear by the ratchet is released.   
     
     
         4 . The spinner according to  claim 2 , further comprising a cap member for selectively covering the holding portion of one of the first and second toy top holders, wherein
 the opposite surfaces of the spinner body are an upper surface and a lower surface of the spinner body, each provided with a mounting portion for mounting the cap member thereto, and   the spinner body has a ratchet disposed therein for preventing rotation of the second gear, wherein when the cap member is mounted to the mounting portion of either of the upper surface and the lower surface of the spinner body, prevention of the rotation of the second gear by the ratchet is released.   
     
     
         5 . The spinner according to  claim 1 , wherein the spinner body has an urging member disposed therein for urging the first gear in a direction of taking up the string. 
     
     
         6 . The spinner according to  claim 2 , wherein the spinner body has an urging member disposed therein for urging the first gear in a direction of taking up the string. 
     
     
         7 . The spinner according to  claim 3 , wherein the spinner body has an urging member disposed therein for urging the first gear in a direction of taking up the string. 
     
     
         8 . The spinner according to  claim 1 , wherein the spinner body has clutches disposed between the second gear and the first toy top holder and between the second gear and the second toy top holder, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . The spinner according to  claim 2 , wherein the spinner body has clutches disposed between the second gear and the first toy top holder and between the second gear and the second toy top holder, respectively. 
     
     
         10 . The spinner according to  claim 3 , wherein the spinner body has clutches disposed between the second gear and the first toy top holder and between the second gear and the second toy top holder, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The spinner according to  claim 5 , wherein the spinner body has clutches disposed between the second gear and the first toy top holder and between the second gear and the second toy top holder, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The spinner according to  claim 3 , wherein the spinner body includes an upper casing and a lower casing,
 the ratchet is pivotally arranged in the vicinity of the second gear and includes an arm and a pawl disengageably engaging with the second gear,   the cap member is formed in a cup shape and has at a lower end thereof engaging plates protruding downward, and   the mounting portions include arcuate openings formed respectively in the upper casing and lower casing, into which openings the engaging plates of the cap member are inserted, one of the openings of each of the upper and lower casings being disposed at a position corresponding to the arm of the ratchet, wherein when the engaging plates of the cap member are inserted in the openings and the cap member is turned, one of the engaging plates of the cap member engages with the arm of the ratchet and pushes away the arm, so that the pawl of the ratchet is disengaged from the second gear, resulting in the prevention of rotation of the second gear being released.   
     
     
         13 . The spinner according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the engaging plates of the cap member has a thick portion at a distal end thereof,
 the arcuate openings are each provided at a part thereof with an engaging portion having a narrow opening width, and   the cap member is fixed to the spinner body by engagement of the thick portions of the engaging plates with the engaging portions of the openings.   
     
     
         14 . A spinner for a toy top, comprising:
 a spinner body including a first gear, a second gear meshing with the first gear, and a first toy top holder and a second toy top holder that rotate with the second gear,   a string having one end thereof attached to the first gear and another end thereof to be pulled from the outside,   the first and second toy top holders each protruding outside from opposite surfaces of the spinner body, respectively, and   the first toy top holder rotates the toy top in a clockwise direction, when the second gear is rotated by pulling the string, and the second toy top holder rotates the toy top in a counterclockwise direction when the second gear is rotated by pulling the string.   
     
     
         15 . The spinner according to  claim 14 , wherein an appearance of the spinner body on the surface from which the first toy top holder protrudes and an appearance of the spinner body from the surface on which the second toy top holder protrudes are substantially identical. 
     
     
         16 . The spinner according to  claim 14 , further comprising a cap member for covering one of the first and second toy top holders, wherein
 each of the opposite surfaces of the spinner body includes a mounting portion for mounting the cap member thereto, and   the spinner body includes a ratchet for preventing rotation of the second gear, wherein, when the cap member is mounted to either mounting portion, prevention of the rotation of the second gear by the ratchet is released.   
     
     
         17 . The spinner according to  claim 14 , wherein the spinner body has a member for urging the first gear to take up the string. 
     
     
         18 . The spinner according to  claim 14 , wherein the spinner body has a clutch disposed between the second gear and the first toy top holder, and a clutch between the second gear and the second toy top holder, respectively. 
     
     
         19 . The spinner according to  claim 16 , wherein the ratchet includes an arm and a pawl disengageably engaging with the second gear,
 the cap member has protruding engaging plates, and   the mounting portions include arcuate openings into which the engaging plates are inserted, one of the openings being disposed at a position corresponding to the arm of the ratchet, wherein when the engaging plates of the cap member are inserted in the openings and the cap member is turned, one of the engaging plates of the cap member pushes the arm of the ratchet, so that the pawl of the ratchet is disengaged from the second gear, resulting in the prevention of rotation of the second gear being released.   
     
     
         20 . The spinner according to  claim 19 , wherein each of the engaging plates has a thick portion at a distal end thereof,
 the arcuate openings are each provided with an engaging portion having a narrow opening width, and   the cap member is fixed to the spinner body by engagement of the thick portions of the engaging plates with the engaging portions of the openings.   
     
     
         21 . A spinner for a toy top, comprising:
 a spinner body, including a first gear, a second gear meshing with the first gear, and a first toy top holder and a second toy top holder that rotate with the second gear,   a string having one end thereof attached to the first gear and another end thereof to be pulled from the outside,   the first and second toy top holders each protruding outside from opposite surfaces of the spinner body, respectively, and   the first toy top holder rotates the toy top in a clockwise direction, when the second gear is rotated by pulling the string, and the second toy top holder rotates the toy top in a counterclockwise direction when the second gear is rotated by pulling the string, wherein an appearance of the spinner body on the surface from which the first toy top holder protrudes and an appearance of the spinner body on the surface from which the second toy top holder protrudes are substantially identical; and   a cap member for covering one of the first and second toy top holders.   
     
     
         22 . The spinner according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 each of the opposite surfaces of the spinner body includes a mounting portion for mounting the cap member thereto, and   the spinner body includes a ratchet for preventing rotation of the second gear, wherein, when the cap member is mounted to either mounting portion, prevention of the rotation of the second gear by the ratchet is released.   
     
     
         23 . The spinner according to  claim 21 , wherein the spinner body has a member for urging the first gear to take up the string. 
     
     
         24 . The spinner according to  claim 21 , wherein the spinner body has a clutch disposed between the second gear and the first toy top holder, and a clutch between the second gear and the second toy top holder, respectively. 
     
     
         25 . The spinner according to  claim 22 , wherein the ratchet includes an arm and a pawl disengageably engaging with the second gear,
 the cap member protruding engaging plates, and the mounting portions include arcuate openings into which the engaging plates are inserted, one of the openings being disposed at a position corresponding to the arm of the ratchet, wherein when the engaging plates of the cap member are inserted in the openings and the cap member is turned, one of the engaging plates of the cap member pushes the arm of the ratchet, so that the pawl of the ratchet is disengaged from the second gear, resulting in the prevention of rotation of the second gear being released.   
     
     
         26 . The spinner according to  claim 25 , wherein each of the engaging plates has a thick portion at a distal end thereof,
 the arcuate openings are each provided with an engaging portion having a narrow opening width, and   the cap member is fixed to the spinner body by engagement of the thick portions of the engaging plates with the engaging portions of the openings.   
     
     
         27 . The spinner according to  claim 21 , wherein the string cannot be pulled out, unless the cap member is mounted on one of the first and second toy top holders.