Swinging bob toy

Abstract

A swinging bob toy having bobs which are fastened to, or free to slide along a string. The design of the toy provides that: the string will have a lessened tendency to become tangled during operation, the toy will have a smoothness of motion, and be capable of new tricks and maneuvers, the toy will not become tangled during transportation thereof and will be safer to use. The bobs can be made of an edible material or chewing gum. A tubular storage case can be used to store the bob toy.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A toy comprising: (a) a flexible elongated tethering means,   (b) a first mass .[.secured.]. .Iadd.constrained .Iaddend.to said tethering means, .[.and.].   (c) a second, movable mass, having a bore with a height h and a width b, the bore of said movable mass allowing said movable mass to move freely along said tethering means, and said second, movable mass having an outer width w, such that   0.2<h/w       and       (h/w)-(b/w)<0.8,     whereby the operation of said toy is smooth and the tangling of said tethering means is infrequent.Iadd., and     (d) a third mass constrained to said tethering means so as to constrain said second, movable mass between said first and third masses, said first, second and third masses having substantially equal weight, shape and size, thereby permitting the performance of trick midair maneuvers.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. The toy of claim 1, wherein .[.a third mass is secured to said tethering means so as to constrain said second, movable mass to positions along said tethering means between said first and third masses, whereby either of said first and third secured masses may be used as a grippable mass.]. .Iadd.said bore is substantially central, said tethering means can pass in a substantially straight line through said bore, and said movable mass can move freely along substantially the entire length of said tethering means.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       3. The toy of claim 2, wherein one of said masses has a circumferential groove in which said tethering means may be stored, whereby tangling of said tethering means during transportation and storage of said toy may be prevented. 
     
     
       4. The toy of claim 2, further comprising a stretchable, substantially tubular storage case of diameter smaller than a width of said masses, whereby various arrangements involving the insertion of said masses into said storage case prevent said tethering means from becoming tangled during transportation of said toy. 
     
     
       5. The toy of claim 2, wherein said masses are made of edible material or chewing gum. 
     
     
       6. The toy of claim 2, wherein .[.said second movable mass and said first and third secured masses have substantially equal mass.]. .Iadd.said tethering means is substantially unbifurcated along the range of motion of said second mass, said tethering means is comprised of at least one strand, and said strands of said tethering means pass through a single channel of said bore.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       7. The toy of claim 6 wherein .[.said second movable mass and said first and third secured masses have substantially equal dimensions.]. .Iadd.the swinging motions of said toy are substantially influenced solely by said flexible tethering means and said first, second and third masses, and said first, second and third masses are substantially spherical.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       8. A toy comprising: (a) a flexible elongated tethering means,   (b) a first .[.secured mass secured.]. .Iadd.mass constrained .Iaddend.to said tethering means,   (c) a bored movable mass, the bore of said movable mass allowing said movable mass to move freely along said tethering means, said movable mass having a moment of inertia I about an axis through its center of mass and perpendicular to the bore, said movable mass having given dimensions and weight and an inhomogeneous density distribution and a reduced moment of inertia, I, with respect to that of a homogeneous density mass with substantially the same dimensions and weight, whereby the smoothness of operation of said toy is enhanced, and the tendency for tangling of said tethering means is diminished.   
     
     
       9. The toy of claim 8, wherein a .[.second secured.]. .Iadd.third .Iaddend.mass is .[.secured.]. .Iadd.constrained .Iaddend.to said tethering means so as to constrain said movable mass to positions along said tethering means between said first and .[.second secured.]. .Iadd.third .Iaddend.masses, whereby either of said first or .[.second secured.]. .Iadd.third .Iaddend.masses can be used as a handle. 
     
     
       10. The toy of claim 8, wherein at least one of said masses has a soft protective .[.coating.]. .Iadd.casing .Iaddend.shielding a dense inner region, whereby the safety of operation is enhanced. 
     
     
       11. The toy of claim 9, wherein at least one of said masses has a soft protective .[.coating.]. .Iadd.casing .Iaddend.shielding a dense inner region, whereby the safety of operation is enhanced. 
     
     
       12. The toy of claim 11, wherein at least one of said masses has a circumferential groove in which said tethering means may be wound and stored, whereby tangling of said tethering means during transportation and storage of said toy may be prevented. 
     
     
       13. The toy of claim 11, further comprising a stretchable, substantially tubular storage case of diameter smaller than a width of said masses, whereby various arrangements involving the insertion of said masses into said storage case prevent said tethering means from becoming tangled during transportation of said toy. 
     
     
       14. The toy of claim 11, wherein said movable mass and said first and .[.second secured.]. .Iadd.third .Iaddend.masses have substantially equal mass. 
     
     
       15. The toy of claim 14, wherein said movable mass and said first and .[.second secured.]. .Iadd.third .Iaddend.masses have substantially equal dimensions. 
     
     
       16. A toy comprising: a tethering means;   a first .Iadd.mass .Iaddend.and .Iadd.a .Iaddend.second mass, each of which is .[.secured to distal ends of.]. .Iadd.constrained to .Iaddend.said tethering means; and   a movable mass movably disposed upon said tethering means between said first and second .[.secured.]. masses, said movable mass being inhomogeneous and characterized by a greater density in a center portion thereof, whereby the tendency of tangling is diminished for said tethering means.   
     
     
       17. A toy in accordance with claim 16, wherein said movable mass has an inner bore having a height h and a width b and an outer dimensional width w, such that approximately:   0.2<h/w       and       (h/w)-(b/w)<0.8. .Iadd.     
     
     
       18.  A toy comprising: (a) a flexible elongated tethering means,   (b) a first mass constrained to said tethering means,   (c) a bored movable mass, the bore of said movable mass allowing said movable mass to move freely along said tethering means, at least said movable mass having an inhomogeneous density distribution, the smoothness of operation of said toy being enhanced, and the tendency for tangling of said tethering means being diminished, and   (d) a second mass constrained to said tethering means so as to constrain said movable mass to positions along said tethering means between said first and second masses, either of said first or second masses being usable as a handle, at least one of said masses having a soft protective casing shielding a dense inner region, whereby safety of operation is enhanced. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The toy of claim 18, wherein at least one of said masses has a circumferential groove in which said tethering means may be wound and stored, whereby tangling of said tethering means during transportation and storage of said toy may be prevented. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The toy of claim 18, further comprising a stretchable, substantially tubular storage case of diameter prior to stretching smaller than a width of said masses, whereby various arrangements involving the insertion of said masses into said storage case prevent said tethering means from becoming tangled during transportation of said toy. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The toy of claim 18, wherein said movable mass and said first and second masses have substantially equal mass. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The toy of claim 18, wherein said movable mass and said first and second masses have substantially equal dimensions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The toy of claim 18, wherein said movable mass has a greater density in a center portion thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A kinetic toy comprising:   (a) a flexible elongated tethering means, said tethering means having at least one strand;   (b) a first mass constrained to said tethering means;   (c) a second mass constrained to said tethering means; and   (d) a third mass constrained to said tethering means between said first and second masses, said strands of said tethering means passing through a single channel of a substantially central bore in said third mass, said strands being able to pass in a substantially straight line through said channel, said third mass being able to move freely along substantially the entire length of said tethering means, said tethering means being substantially unbifurcated along the range of motion of said third mass, swinging motions of said toy being substantially influenced solely by said flexible tethering means and said first, second and third masses, and said first, second and third masses having substantially the same weight, shape and size, thereby permitting the performance of trick midair maneuvers.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.25.  The toy of claim 24, further comprising a stretchable, substantially tubular storage case with a diameter that is, prior to stretching, smaller than a width of said masses, whereby various arrangements involving the insertion of said masses into said storage case prevent said tethering means from becoming tangled during transportation of said toy. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The toy of claim 24 wherein the exterior surface of said first, second and third masses are substantially spherical. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The toy of claim 24, wherein said third mass has an inhomogeneous density distribution with a relatively dense region in a central portion thereof, thereby reducing a moment of inertia 
     
     
        of said third mass. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28.  The toy of claim 24 wherein the exterior surfaces of said first, second and third masses are substantially convex. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The toy of claim 24 wherein the exterior surfaces of said first, second and third masses are substantially ellipsoids of revolution. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The toy of claim 24 wherein said tethering means is substantially the only tethering means constraining said first, second and third masses, and said bore in said third mass is substantially the only bore in said third mass that said tethering means passes through. .Iaddend.