Tethered top

Abstract

A tethered top is provided with a construction by which it can be accelerated, controlled and/or manipulated using a tether that remains attached to one end of the top, top body, or spindle. The tether can optionally be used as a pull string to be wrapped around top or spindle to impart acceleration to the top. The tether remains attached to at least one end of the top via at least one low friction housing connector but does not substantially retard the top's rotation, either when spinning on a surface or as supported in the air by the attached tether, low friction housing connector, and/or spindle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tethered top, comprising: 
 at least one top body, having along at least one axis,    at least one spindle having at least one spinning tip for surface contact at one or both ends of the said tethered top, said spindle having 
 at least one low friction housing connector, which is connected near one end of said spindle to,  
 at least one tether,  
   wherein said tether can be manipulated to modify the position of the top without substantially inhibiting the spinning of said top on a surface or hanging by said tether.    
     
     
         2 . A tethered top according to  claim 1 , wherein the mass moments of inertia about the rotation axis of the portion of said top body on one side of the rotation plane of said connector is substantially different than the mass moments of inertia about the rotation axis of said top body on the other side of the rotation plane of said connector.  
     
     
         3 . A tethered top according to  claim 1 , wherein said low friction housing connector comprises at least one bearing or low friction connector.  
     
     
         4 . A tethered top according to  claim 1 , wherein said spindle further comprises at least one bearing or low friction connector, said at least one spindle operably connected to said low friction housing connector.  
     
     
         5 . A tethered top according to  claim 1 , wherein said tip is operably connected to said top body.  
     
     
         6 . A tethered top according to  claim 1 , wherein said top body comprises a bore formed axially within the body and defining a spindle cylinder space for the spindle, wherein said top body is geometrically asymmetrical about the plane of rotation of said connector.  
     
     
         7 . A tethered top according to  claim 1 , wherein said tethered top comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a wood, a metal, a resin, a glass, a polymer, and a plant derived material.  
     
     
         8 . A tethered top according to  claim 1 , wherein said low friction housing comprises a fly wing.  
     
     
         9 . A tethered top according to  claim 8 , wherein said low friction housing further comprises at least one bearing or low friction connector.  
     
     
         10 . A tethered top according to  claim 8 , wherein said low friction connector further comprises at least one tether attachment.  
     
     
         11 . A tethered top according to  claim 1 , wherein said tethered top further comprises at least one tether handle at the end of said tether.  
     
     
         12 . A tethered top according to  claim 1 , wherein said top body further comprises at least one slot, groove, indentation, tube or tunnel for winding or housing the tether or for initiating spinning of the top.  
     
     
         13 . A tethered top according to  claim 1 , wherein said spinning tip comprises a round, pointed, flat or tapered shape.  
     
     
         14 . A tethered top comprising 
 a top body having along its longitudinal axis a center bore and defining a spindle cylinder space for a spindle, said center bore ending, respectively, at the center of both an upper surface and a lower surface of the top body, said top body further optionally comprising grooves or indentations for winding a tether to initiate the spinning of said top; wherein the mass moments of inertia about the rotation axis of the portion of said top body on one side of the rotation plane of said connector is substantially different than the mass moments of inertia about the rotation axis of said top body on the other side of the rotation plane of said connector; wherein said top body is geometrically symmetrical about the rotation axis of said body    an upper spindle and a lower spindle inserted into said center bore at said upper surface and said lower surface, respectively, each spindle having a spinning tip for surface contact at the respective ends of said tethered top, said spindle axle further comprising a spindle axle shaft and a spindle axle end opposite said spindle tip;    a low friction housing connector comprising (i) a fly wing having a tether attachment, (ii) a lower bearing, (iii) an upper flanged bearing, and (iv) a crush sleeve, said low friction housing connector operably connected around said upper spindle axle shaft between said upper spindle tip and said upper surface of said top body; wherein the mass moments of inertia of the portion of said top body on one side of the rotation plane of said connector is substantially different than the mass moments of inertia of said top body on the other side of the rotation plane of said connector;    at least one tether attached to said tether attachment of said fly wing; said tether optionally further comprising a tether handle at its end opposite to the tether attachment,    wherein (a) said lower spindle is positioned into said center bore of said lower surface of said top body; (b) said upper spindle is positioned into said center bore of said upper surface of said top body; (c) said lower friction housing connector spins substantially independently of said upper spindle; (d) said upper and lower spindles spin substantially connected to said top body; and (e) said tether is optionally manipulated to modify the position of the top without substantially inhibiting the spinning of said top on a surface or hanging by said tether.    
     
     
         15 . A tethered top according to  claim 14 , wherein said tethered top comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a wood, a metal, a resin, a glass, a polymer, and a plant derived material.  
     
     
         16 . A tethered top according to  claim 14 , wherein said wherein said spinning tip comprises a round, pointed, flat or tapered shape.  
     
     
         17 . Packing material comprising a tethered top according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         18 . Packing material comprising a tethered top according to  claim 14 .  
     
     
         19 . A method for making a tethered top according to  claim 1 , comprising assembling said tethered top comprising the components of said at least one top body, said at least one spindle, said at least one low friction housing and at least one tether.  
     
     
         20 . A method for making a tethered top according to  claim 1 , comprising manufacturing said tethered top comprising the components of said at least one top body, said at least one spindle, said at least one low friction housing and at least one tether.