Toy

Abstract

A toy in the form of a flying top. The toy has a flat body with at least an area nearby the center of gravity and at least one planar extension having a free end. The toy has a maximum distance r between a peripheral rim and the center of gravity, the mass m and/or the mass of inertia θ of the flat body being defined in such manner that the flat body can be laid with its area near the center of gravity onto a convex arched surface, especially onto a finger knuckle, where it can be given a fast rotatory motion ω (ω≧300 rpm) by flipping or jerking with a finger in a horizontal and tangential direction against the free end of an extension, while it receives only a slow translatory motion V T (V T <ω*r), so that its horizontal orientation is spin-stabilized and results in an air cushion carrying the flat body during its flight.

1 . A toy in the form of a flying top comprising a flat body with at least an area nearby the center of gravity and at least one planar extension having a free end, the toy having a maximum distance r between a peripheral rim and the center of gravity, the mass m and/or the mass of inertia ω of the flat body being defined in such manner that the flat body can be laid with its area near the center of gravity onto a convex arched surface, especially onto a finger knuckle, where it can be given a fast rotatory motion ω (ω≧300 rpm) by flipping or jerking with a finger in a horizontal and tangential direction against the free end of an extension, while it receives only a slow translatory motion V T  (V T <ω*r), so that its horizontal orientation is spin-stabilized and results in an air cushion carrying the flat body during its flight.  
     
     
         2 . A toy as described in    claim 1   , wherein the rim of the flat body including all extensions is limited by a smooth curve.  
     
     
         3 . A toy as described in claims  1  or  2 , wherein the flat body has a diameter of between 3 cm and 10 cm, preferably between 4 cm and 8 cm, ideally between 5 cm and 7 cm.  
     
     
         4 . A toy as described in    claim 1   , wherein the flat body has a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, preferably between 0.2 mm and 1 mm, ideally between 0.3 mm and 0.7  
     
     
         5 . Toy as described in    claim 1   , made from a light, stable material, particularly a plastic material.  
     
     
         6 . A toy as described in    claim 5   , wherein the flat body including extensions is made, particularly punched out, from a rigid film.  
     
     
         7 . A toy as described in    claim 1   , having a total weight of not more than 1 g.  
     
     
         8 . A toy as described in    claim 1   , wherein at least one extension diverges about radially from the center of gravity of the flat body.  
     
     
         9 . A toy as described in    claim 1   , wherein at least one extension has a base with a convex perimeter.  
     
     
         10 . A toy as described in    claim 1   , wherein the surface of at least one extension is similar to a propeller and is inclined against the base of the flat body.  
     
     
         11 . A toy as described in    claim 10   , characterized in that the angle of inclination is between 2° and 20°, preferably between 5° and 15°.  
     
     
         12 . A toy as described in    claim 10   , wherein the flat body including extensions is made, particularly punched out, from a rigid film, and wherein the inclination of the extensions is achieved by a thermal deformation of the plastic film.  
     
     
         13 . A toy as described in    claim 1   , further comprising a second flat extension offset by about 10° to 120°, preferably by 30° to 90°, behind the first extension in the preferred rotation direction.  
     
     
         14 . A toy according to    claim 1   , the toy having several extensions positioned in a rotationally symmetrical structure around the center of gravity of the flat body.  
     
     
         15 . A toy as described in    claim 14   , wherein the extensions diverge from the center of gravity of the flat body and are offset from each other at identical angles.  
     
     
         16 . A toy as described in    claim 15   , further comprising a central recess surrounding the center of gravity located inside the flat body, the recess being surrounded by a closed ring of the flat body.  
     
     
         17 . A toy as described in    claim 16   , wherein the area of the closed ring of the flat body has an undulated shape along a tangential direction.  
     
     
         18 . A toy as described in    claim 17   , wherein the number of undulations of the closed ring is equivalent to the number of wing-like extensions.  
     
     
         19 . A toy according to    claim 1   , wherein the center of gravity of the flat body lies within that body (centroidal area) or in a distance of not more than 2 cm, preferably not more than 1.5 cm, ideally not more than 1.2 cm from it.  
     
     
         20 . A method for starting a flying top comprising a flat body with at least an area nearby the center of gravity and at least one planar extension having a free end, the toy having a maximum distance r between a peripheral rim and the center of gravity, the mass m and/or the mass of inertia ω of the flat body being defined in such manner that the flat body can be laid with its area near the center of gravity onto a convex arched surface, especially onto a finger knuckle, where it can be given a fast rotatory motion ω (ω≧300 rpm) by flipping or jerking with a finger in a horizontal and tangential direction against the free end of an extension, while it receives only a slow translatory motion V T  (V T <ω*r), so that its horizontal orientation is spin-stabilized and results in an air cushion carrying the flat body during its flight, the method comprising: 
 a) laying the flat body with its area near the center of gravity onto a convex arched surface;  
 b) imparting a fast rotory motion ω (ω≧300 rpm) to the flat body by flipping or jerking with a finger in a horizontal and tangential direction against the free end of an extension, while imparting only a slow translatory motion V T  (V T <ω*r) to the flat body,  
 wherein the horizontal orientation of the flat body is spin-stabilized and results in an air cushion carrying the flat body during its flight.