Yo-yo having modifiable side members

Abstract

The invention is an improved yo-yo that features unique multi-piece sides that have removable shape disks secured by a novel fastening system. The fastening system enables lockable securement of the shape disks via a sliding ratchet-type detent apparatus that can be operated without tools. By replacing one set of shape disks with another, a user can change the shape of the yo-yo and/or change the material of the rim of each of the yo-yo's sides. This enables a user to adapt the yo-yo's performance characteristics to suit the user's needs.

1 . A yo-yo comprising: 
 first and second side members secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;    a tether secured to a portion of said axle structure;    first and second hubs, wherein said first hub forms a portion of said first side member and said second hub forms a portion of said second side member, and wherein each of said hubs has a tether-facing surface;    first and second shape disks, wherein said first shape disk forms a portion of said first side member and said second shape disk forms a portion of said second side member, wherein said first shape disk is releasably engaged to said first hub by an interlocking engagement whereby said first shape disk cannot rotate relative to said first hub, and wherein said second shape disk is releasably engaged to said second hub whereby said second shape disk cannot rotate relative to said second hub;    first and second fastener members, wherein said first fastener member is releasably engaged to said first hub and functions to releasably secure said first shape disk to said first hub, and wherein said second fastener member is releasably engaged to said second hub and functions to releasably secure said second shape disk to said second hub; and    wherein each side member's shape disk includes a portion that at least partially forms the exterior surface of the side member's rim, and wherein a user can change the shape of the yo-yo by removing each side member's shape disk and installing in its place a replacement shape disk that has a different shape than the shape disk that was removed.    
   
   
       2 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein said first hub includes a plurality of outwardly-extending studs that are aligned with, and extend through, a plurality of apertures located in the first shape disk to thereby releasably engage the first shape disk to the first hub.  
   
   
       3 . The yo-yo of  claim 2  wherein said apertures have a size and shape complementary to said studs.  
   
   
       4 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein said first shape disk includes a plurality of studs that extend toward the second side member and that are aligned with, and extend into, a plurality of bores that extend at least partially through the first hub to thereby releasably engage the first shape disk to said first hub.  
   
   
       5 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein said first hub includes a center-located nipple portion that extends through a complementary center-located thru-hole in the first shape disk.  
   
   
       6 . The yo-yo of  claim 5  wherein an end portion of said nipple portion includes exterior threads engageable with interior threads located in a bore of the first fastener member.  
   
   
       7 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein the first side member further comprises a lock disk located in between the first fastener member and the first shape disk.  
   
   
       8 . The yo-yo of  claim 7  wherein the first hub includes a plurality of studs that extend through apertures in the first shape disk and are received within bores in the first lock disk.  
   
   
       9 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein said fastener members are adapted to enable them to be easily grasped and rotated by hand.  
   
   
       10 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein the first fastener member interacts with an adjacent portion of the first side member to create a locking engagement of said fastener member.  
   
   
       11 . The yo-yo of  claim 10  wherein when said first fastener member is rotated, an audible click will occur to signal a point in said rotation at which a locking engagement of the first fastener member is occurring.  
   
   
       12 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein said first fastener member is located adjacent a portion of the first side member that has an outwardly-facing surface that includes at least one indentation and wherein an inwardly-facing surface of the first fastener member includes at least one protuberance and wherein rotation of said fastener member can cause said at least one protuberance to be received in said at least one indentation to thereby create a locking engagement of said first fastener member with said adjacent portion of the first side member.  
   
   
       13 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein both of the first and second shape disks include a rim portion made of a non-rigid rubber material.  
   
   
       14 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein both of said first and second shape disks have a substantially planar configuration.  
   
   
       15 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein both of said first and second shape disks have a rim portion that is angled away from the tether to thereby provide the yo-yo with a butterfly shape.  
   
   
       16 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second hubs includes a cavity that contains a bushing made of a deformable material, wherein each bushing contacts, and is deformed by, a threaded portion of an axle pin of the axle structure, wherein a width dimension of a space located between the first and second side members can be adjusted by rotating one of said side members relative to the other of said side members, and wherein deformation of said bushings acts to bias said side members against rotation relative to said axle pin.  
   
   
       17 . A yo-yo comprising: 
 first and second side members secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;    first and second hubs, wherein said first hub forms a portion of said first side member and has a tether-facing surface;    first and second shape disks, wherein said first shape disk forms a portion of said first side member and said second shape disk forms a portion of said second side member, and wherein each of said shape disks has a rim portion;    wherein said first hub includes a plurality of outwardly extending studs and said first shape disk includes a plurality of apertures complementary to said studs, and wherein said studs extend through said apertures to thereby non-rotatably engage said first shape disk to said first hub;    first and second fastener members, wherein said first fastener member forms a portion of said first side member and is releasably secured to a portion of said first hub that extends through a center-located aperture in the first shape disk, and wherein said first fastener member functions to secure said first shape disk to said first hub; and    wherein when said first shape disk is secured to said first hub, said first shape disk's rim portion will form at least a portion of an exterior rim surface of the first side member and thereby at least partially define the shape of the first side member whereby a user can change the shape of said first side member by removing the first shape disk and in its place installing a third shape disk wherein said third shape disk has a rim portion shaped differently than that of the first shape disk.    
   
   
       18 . A yo-yo comprising: 
 first and second side members secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;    a tether secured to a portion of said axle structure;    first and second hubs, wherein an inwardly-facing surface of said first hub includes a cavity into which is secured a nut that is threadedly engaged to exterior threads located on a first end portion of an axle pin of the axle structure, wherein said second hub has an inwardly-facing surface that includes a cavity into which is secured a nut that is threadedly engaged to exterior threads located on a second end portion of said axle pin, wherein said second hub forms a portion of said second side member, and wherein each of said hubs has a tether-facing surface;    first and second shape disks, wherein said first shape disk forms a portion of said first side member and said second shape disk forms a portion of said second side member, wherein said first shape disk is releasably engaged to said first hub by an engagement apparatus that does not allow said first shape disk to rotate relative to said first hub, wherein said second shape disk is releasably engaged to said second hub by an engagement apparatus that does not allow said second shape disk to rotate relative to said second hub, and wherein each shape disk has a rim portion;    first and second fastener members, wherein said first fastener member is releasably engaged to said first hub and functions to releasably secure said first shape disk to said first hub, wherein said second fastener member is releasably engaged to said second hub and functions to releasably secure said second shape disk to said second hub; and    wherein each side member's shape disk includes a portion that at least partially forms the exterior surface of the side member's rim, and wherein a user can change the material of the rim portion of the yo-yo's side members by removing each side member's shape disk and installing in its place a replacement shape disk that has a rim portion made of a different material than the rim portion of the shape disk that was removed.    
   
   
       19 . A yo-yo comprising: 
 first and second side members secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure, and wherein each of said side members is an assemblage of parts;    a tether secured to a portion of said axle structure;    first and second hubs, wherein said first hub forms a portion of said first side member and has a tether-facing surface;    first and second shape disks, wherein said first shape disk forms a portion of said first side member and said second shape disk forms a portion of said second side member;    first and second fastener members, wherein said first fastener member forms a portion of said first side member and is releasably secured to said first hub and located to capture the first shape disk between itself and said first hub, and wherein said first fastener member functions to secure said first shape disk to said first hub;    wherein an outwardly-facing surface of each of said fastener members is adapted to enable the fastener members to be easily grasped and rotated by hand; and    wherein a locking engagement employing at least one detent is used to releasably lock the first fastener member to an adjacent portion of the first side member.    
   
   
       20 . The yo-yo of  claim 19  wherein when the first fastener member is rotated, the occurrence of the locking engagement will be signaled by an audible click.  
   
   
       21 . The yo-yo of  claim 19  wherein an inwardly-facing surface of said first fastener member has a protuberance, a portion of said first side member located adjacent said first fastener member has at least one indentation complementary in shape and size to said protuberance, and wherein when said fastener member is applying an inwardly-directed pressure on said first shape disk and said first fastener member is rotated, said protuberance can slide into said indentation to cause an audible click.