Yoyo tether assembly

Abstract

The disclosure is direct to a tether assembly for use with a yoyo to limit the twisting of the tether when the yoyo is being used. The tether assembly includes a fixed member that is adapted to be releasably coupled to at least one finger of a user and a bearing member configured to be secured to the fixed member. The tether assembly also includes a flexible tether segment that is secured to the yoyo at a first end and to the bearing member at a second end. The connection of the flexible tether with the yoyo forms a first axis of rotation and the connection of the flexible tether with the bearing member forms a second axis of rotation to allow a user to use the yoyo without the tether twisting and binding.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tether assembly for use with a yoyo, the tether assembly comprising:
 a fixed member that is adapted to be releasably coupled to at least one finger of a user;   a bearing member configured to be secured to the fixed member;   a flexible tether segment having a first end that is configured to be rotatably coupled to the yoyo at a first end and removably coupled to the bearing member at a second end, wherein the connection of the flexible tether with the yoyo forms a first axis of rotation and the connection of the flexible tether with the bearing member forms a second axis of rotation;   wherein the second axis of rotation is generally perpendicular to the first axis of rotation when the yoyo is in use, the tether assembly being configured to allow the flexible tether segment to rotate about the second axis of rotation without requiring the fixed member to also rotate with the flexible tether segment, and   wherein the tether assembly allows the yoyo to rotate about the first axis of rotation independently of the rotation of the tether segment about the second axis of rotation and wherein the flexible tether segment can also rotate about second axis of rotation while the yoyo is rotating about the first axis of rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The tether assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed member includes a first finger rest and a second finger rest, wherein the bearing member is positioned between the first finger rest and the second finger rest. 
     
     
         3 . The tether assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed member is flexible and contains an opening that can be slipped onto a user's finger. 
     
     
         4 . The tether assembly of  claim 2 , further including pin positioned within the bearing member, the pin being rotatable with respect to the fixed member, and wherein the flexible tether segment is removably coupled to the pin. 
     
     
         5 . The tether assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the finger rests each include an upper finger retainer and a spaced apart lower finger retainer wherein the upper and lower finger retainers are shaped to form a finger receiving area that allows a user's finger to be located between the upper and lower finger retainers. 
     
     
         6 . The tether assembly of  claim 4  wherein the pin includes a first pin half and a second pin half that are secured together by use of end cap that is removably coupled to a lower end of the pin. 
     
     
         7 . The tether assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the pin includes a through bore that allows for the passage of the flexible tether segment. 
     
     
         8 . The tether assembly of  claim 5  wherein the lower finger retainers each include a flexible strap that are adapted to be releasably secured to the upper finger retainers. 
     
     
         9 . The tether assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the straps each include a series of adjustment openings. 
     
     
         10 . The tether assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the adjustment openings are configured to engage with a retainer located on each of the upper finger retainers to secure the straps in a closed position. 
     
     
         11 . A tether assembly for use with a yoyo, the tether assembly comprising:
 a grip member having a first finger rest and a second finger rest;   a bearing member configured to be secured to the grip member;   a flexible tether segment that is configured to be releaseably secured to the yoyo at a first end and to the bearing member at a second end, wherein the connection of the flexible tether with the yoyo forms a first axis of rotation and the connection of the flexible tether with the bearing member forms a second axis of rotation wherein the second axis of rotation is generally perpendicular to the first axis of rotation when the yoyo is in use, the tether assembly being configured to allow the flexible tether segment to rotate about the second axis of rotation without requiring the fixed member to also rotate with the flexible tether segment, and   wherein the tether assembly is configured to allow the yoyo to rotate about the first axis of rotation independently of the rotation of the tether segment about the second axis of rotation.   
     
     
         12 . The tether assembly of  claim 11 , further including a pin positioned within the bearing and being rotatable with respect to the grip member, wherein the flexible tether segment is coupled to the pin. 
     
     
         13 . The tether assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the finger rests each include an upper finger retainer and a spaced apart lower finger retainer wherein the upper and lower finger retainers are shaped to form a finger receiving area that allows a user's finger to be located between the upper and lower finger retainers. 
     
     
         14 . The tether assembly of  claim 12  wherein the pin includes a first pin half and a second pin half that are secured together by use of an end cap that is removably coupled to a lower end of the pin. 
     
     
         15 . The tether assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the pin includes a through bore that allows for the passage of the flexible tether segment. 
     
     
         16 . The tether assembly of  claim 13  wherein the lower finger retainers each include a flexible strap that are adapted to be releasably secured to the upper finger retainers. 
     
     
         17 . The tether assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the straps each include a series of adjustment openings. 
     
     
         18 . The tether assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the adjustment openings are configured to engage with a retainer located on each of the upper finger retainers to secure the straps in a closed position. 
     
     
         19 . A grip member for use with a yoyo comprising:
 a housing including a pair of opposing finger rests each finger rest including an upper finger retainer and a lower finger retainer arranged to form a finger receiving space;   a bearing positioned within the housing between the finger rests;   a center pin positioned within the bearing and configured to rotate with respect to the housing.   
     
     
         20 . The grip member of  claim 19 , further a first flexible strap coupled to the first finger rest and a second flexible strap coupled to the second finger rest.