Yo-yo having a changeable shape

Abstract

The invention is a yo-yo that has structure that enables a user to configure the yo-yo in either a looper configuration or a butterfly configuration without needing to disassemble the yo-yo. The mechanism that enables the change in shape of the yo-yo's sides can be set to an automatic mode in which the yo-yo can automatically change from a looper configuration to a butterfly configuration when the yo-yo's rotational rate reaches a predetermined level.

1 . A yo-yo comprising:
 first and second side portions secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;   a tether secured to a portion of said axle structure; and   wherein said first side portion comprises a hub portion and a rim portion, wherein said hub portion is operatively secured to said axle structure, wherein said rim portion is slidably connected to said hub portion in a manner whereby said rim portion can be operatively secured at a first location relative to said hub portion and also at a second location relative to said hub portion, and wherein when said tether is positioned so that it extends straight out from said axle structure, said rim portion when at said second location will be spaced further from said tether than when said rim portion is at said first location.   
     
     
         2 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein said second side portion is substantially identical to said first side portion, wherein when the first side portion has its rim portion located at said first location and the second side portion has a rim portion similarly located relative to a hub portion of the second side portion, said yo-yo will have a looper configuration, and wherein when the first side portion has its rim portion located at said second location and the second side portion has its rim portion similarly located relative to the hub portion of the second side portion, said yo-yo will have a butterfly configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein the rim portion is spring-biased by at least one spring member to be located at a predetermined location on said hub portion. 
     
     
         4 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein said first side portion also comprises a locking mechanism that can be set in either a locked condition or an unlocked condition, wherein when said mechanism is in a locked condition, it can positionally fix the rim portion relative to the hub portion whereby said rim portion can be lockably secured to said hub portion when said rim portion is at either of said locations, and wherein when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked condition, the rim portion can move relative to the hub portion. 
     
     
         5 . The yo-yo of  claim 4  wherein said first side portion also comprises at least one movable weight member operatively engaged to the rim portion in a manner whereby when said locking mechanism is in an unlocked condition, the first side portion can be caused to rotate at a rate whereby said at least one weight member will move in a direction away from an axis of rotation of said first side portion and thereby cause the rim portion to move from one of said locations to the other of said locations. 
     
     
         6 . The yo-yo of  claim 1  wherein said first side portion also comprises at least one movable weight member operatively engaged to the rim portion in a manner whereby said first side portion can be caused to rotate at a rate whereby said at least one weight member will move in a direction away from an axis of rotation of said first side portion and thereby cause the rim portion to move from one of said locations to the other of said locations. 
     
     
         7 . The yo-yo of  claim 6  wherein said first side portion also comprises at least one spring member operatively connected to the rim portion and that functions to bias said rim portion to one of said locations, wherein when the yo-yo is rotating at a rate at which said rim portion has moved from one of said locations to the other of said locations, the yo-yo's rate of rotation can then slow to a rate whereby said at least one spring member will cause the rim portion to move from one of said locations to the other of said locations. 
     
     
         8 . The yo-yo of  claim 6  wherein said at least one weight member can engage an angled surface of a ramp member operatively connected to said rim portion. 
     
     
         9 . The yo-yo of  claim 6  wherein said at least one weight member is in the form of a ball. 
     
     
         10 . A yo-yo comprising:
 first and second side portions secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure and in a manner whereby a gap is located between said first and second side portions;   a tether that extends into said gap and is secured to a portion of said axle structure; and   wherein said first side portion comprises a hub portion and a rim portion, wherein said hub portion is operatively connected to said axle structure, wherein said rim portion has a surface that defines a side edge of a portion of said gap, wherein said rim portion is movably secured to said hub portion and can be located at a first operative position relative to its adjacent hub portion, wherein said rim portion can also be located at a second operative position relative to its adjacent hub portion, wherein when said rim portion is located at said first operative position, a width of a part of said gap adjacent said surface of said rim portion is less than a width of that same part of said gap when said rim portion is located at said second operative position.   
     
     
         11 . The yo-yo of  claim 10  wherein said first side portion also comprises a locking mechanism that can be set in either a locked condition or an unlocked condition, wherein when said mechanism is in a locked condition, it can positionally fix the rim portion relative to the hub portion whereby said rim portion can be lockably secured to said hub portion when said rim portion is at either of said operative positions, and wherein when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked condition, the rim portion can move relative to the hub portion. 
     
     
         12 . The yo-yo of  claim 11  wherein said first and second side portions are substantially identical to each other and each also includes at least one movable weight member that is operatively engaged to the associated side portion's rim portion in a manner whereby when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked condition, the yo-yo can be caused to rotate at a rate whereby said at least one weight member will move in a manner that causes the associated side portion's rim portion to move from one of said operative positions to the other of said operative positions. 
     
     
         13 . The yo-yo of  claim 10  wherein said first and second side portions are substantially identical to each other and each also includes at least one movable weight member that is operatively engaged to the associated side portion's rim portion in a manner whereby said yo-yo can be caused to rotate at a rate whereby said at least one weight member will move and thereby cause the associated side portion's rim portion to move from one of said operative positions to the other of said operative positions. 
     
     
         14 . A yo-yo comprising:
 first and second side portions secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure, and wherein each of said side portions is an assemblage of parts;   a tether secured to a portion of said axle structure; and   wherein each of said side portions comprises a hub, a rim and a locking mechanism, wherein each of said hubs is operatively connected to said axle structure, wherein each of said rims can be lockably secured to its associated hub via said locking mechanism in a first operative position relative to its associated hub whereby when both of the yo-yo's side portions have their rims in said first operative position, said yo-yo will have a first configuration, wherein each of said rims can also be lockably secured to its associated hub via said locking mechanism in a second operative position relative to its associated hub whereby when both of the yo-yo's side portions have their rims in said second operative position, said yo-yo will have a second configuration in which a distance between the yo-yo's rims is greater than the distance between the yo-yo's rims when said rims are both in said first operative position, and wherein each of said rims is movably secured to its associated hub and when its associated locking mechanism is in an unlocked condition, can be moved from said first operative position to said second operative position while maintaining its securement to its associated hub.   
     
     
         15 . The yo-yo of  claim 14  wherein each of said side portions also includes at least one movable weight member that is operatively engaged to the associated side portion's rim in a manner whereby when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked condition, said yo-yo can be caused to rotate at a rate whereby said at least one movable weight member will move and thereby cause the associated side portion's rim to move from one of said operative positions to the other of said operative positions. 
     
     
         16 . A yo-yo comprising:
 first and second side portions secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure and in a manner whereby a gap is located between said first and second side portions;   a tether that extends into said gap and is secured to a portion of said axle structure; and   wherein said first side portion comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is operatively connected to said axle structure, wherein said second portion includes a surface that defines a side edge of a portion of said gap, wherein said second portion is movably secured to said first portion in a manner whereby said second portion can be located at a first operative position relative to said first portion and also at a second operative position relative to said first portion, wherein when said second portion is located at said first operative position, a width of a part of said gap adjacent said surface of said second portion is less than a width of that same part of said gap when said second portion is located at said second operative position.   
     
     
         17 . The yo-yo of  claim 16  wherein said first side portion also includes a user-actuated locking mechanism that when in a locked condition, can lockably secure said second portion relative to said first portion when said second portion is at either of said operative positions, and wherein said locking mechanism can be unlocked whereby said second portion can move relative to said first portion from one of said operative positions to the other of said operative positions. 
     
     
         18 . The yo-yo of  claim 17  wherein said first side portion includes a plurality of movable weight members wherein when said first side portion is at rest, has its locking mechanism in an unlocked condition, has its second portion in one of said operative positions and is then caused to rotate at a predetermined speed, said weight members can move against ramp members operatively connected to said second portion and thereby cause said second portion to move to the other of said operative positions. 
     
     
         19 . The yo-yo of  claim 16  wherein said first side portion includes a plurality of movable weight members wherein when said first side portion is at rest and has its second portion in one of said operative positions and is then caused to rotate at a predetermined speed, said weight members can move against ramp members operatively connected to said second portion and thereby cause said second portion to move to the other of said operative positions. 
     
     
         20 . The yo-yo of  claim 16  wherein said second side portion is substantially identical to said first side portion and has first and second portions analogous to those of the first side portion, wherein the second portion of both side portions can be located in a manner whereby the yo-yo will have a looper configuration, and wherein the second portion of both side portions can also be located in a manner whereby the yo-yo will have a butterfly configuration. 
     
     
         21 . A yo-yo comprising:
 first and second side portions secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;   a tether secured to a portion of said axle structure; and   wherein said first side portion comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is operatively secured to said axle structure, wherein said second portion is slidably connected to said first portion and can be positioned relative to said first portion at a first operative location, wherein said second portion can also be positioned relative to said first portion at a second operative location, and wherein when said tether is positioned so that it extends straight out from said axle structure and said second portion is at said second operative location, said second portion will be spaced further from said tether than when said tether is similarly positioned and said second portion is at said first operative location.   
     
     
         22 . The yo-yo of  claim 21  wherein said first side portion also includes a user-actuated locking mechanism that when in a locked condition, can lockably secure said second portion relative to said first portion when said second portion is at either of said operative locations, and wherein said locking mechanism can be unlocked by a user whereby said second portion can move relative to said first portion from one of said operative locations to the other of said operative locations. 
     
     
         23 . The yo-yo of  claim 22  wherein said first side portion also includes at least one movable weight member that is operatively engaged to the first side portion's second portion in a manner whereby when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked condition, said yo-yo can be rotated at a rate that causes said at least one movable weight member to move and thereby cause the second portion to move from one of said operative locations to the other of said operative locations. 
     
     
         24 . The yo-yo of  claim 21  wherein said first side portion also includes at least one movable weight member that is operatively engaged to the first side portion's second portion in a manner whereby said yo-yo can be rotated at a rate that causes said at least one movable weight member to move and thereby cause the second portion to move from one of said operative locations to the other of said operative locations. 
     
     
         25 . A yo-yo comprising:
 first and second side portions secured together in a spaced-apart relation by an axle structure;   a tether secured to a portion of said axle structure;   wherein said first side portion comprises a hub portion and a rim portion, wherein said hub portion is operatively secured to said axle structure, wherein said rim portion is slidably connected to said hub portion and can be positioned relative to said hub portion at a first location, wherein said rim portion can also be positioned relative to said hub portion at a second location, and wherein when said tether is positioned so that it extends straight out from said axle structure and said rim portion is at said second location, said rim portion will be spaced further from said tether than when said tether is similarly positioned and said rim portion is at said first location; and   wherein said first side portion also includes an automatic position changing mechanism operatively connected to both the rim portion and the hub portion, wherein said mechanism includes at least one movable member operatively engaged to said rim portion, wherein when said first side portion is at rest and is then caused to rotate at a predetermined rate of rotation, the rotation of the side portion will cause said at least one movable member to move and thereby cause force to be applied to said rim portion that causes said rim portion to move from one of said locations relative to the hub portion to the other of said locations relative to the hub portion.   
     
     
         26 . The yo-yo of  claim 25  wherein when said yo-yo is rotating at a speed greater than said predetermined speed and said rim portion is at one of said locations relative to the hub portion and the yo-yo's speed of rotation then slows below said predetermined speed, said at least one movable member can move in a manner whereby said rim portion can move to the other of said locations relative to the hub portion.