Patent Application
20190083892
The present invention relates to fidget spinner and, more particularly, to holders for fidget spinners.
The current way of holding and playing with fidget spinners is limited to holding them with two fingers and spinning the device. While enjoyable for entertainment and stress relief, this limits and does not create any additional enjoyment or imagination with the toy.
As can be seen, there is a need for an improved holding apparatus for a fidget spinner.
In one aspect of the present invention, a holding adapter for operatively coupling a fidget spinner to an article is disclosed. The holding adapter includes a cylindrical disk shaped mount having a central cavity defined in a front surface. A stem extends from a back surface and is configured to be removably coupled to a receiver defined in the article. A cylindrical adapter cup has an interior cavity that is dimensioned for an interference fit with a holding disk of the fidget spinner. An outer diameter of the adapter cup is dimensioned for an interference fit within the central cavity of the cylindrical disk shaped mount.
In some embodiments, the article comprises an airplane shaped body and the receiver is oriented at a propeller point of the airplane shaped body. The stem may be coupled to the receiver and the fidget spinner may be coupled to the cylindrical adapter cup. In other embodiments, the article comprises a helicopter shaped body and the receiver is oriented at a rotor point of the helicopter body. In yet other embodiments, the article comprises a cycle shaped body and the receiver is transversely oriented on a fork of the cycle body. The stem may be coupled to the receiver and a fidget spinner may be coupled to the cylindrical adapter cup.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an improved holding adapter that allows for increased enjoyment of a fidget spinner that allows the fidget spinner to be readily mounted in a fixed position to an article. The article may be a toy helicopter, a plane or a motorcycle wheel, or other article with a spinning accoutrement. The user would no longer have to hold the spinner with two fingers but would allow the invention to sit on a table resembling a toy helicopter with any color or type of spinner to take the place of the propeller. The spinner then creates the illusion of a plane's propeller or helicopter rotor which can replaceable couple with a different fidget spinner at any time.
The holding adapter and an associated article can be used as a toy for children or a fidget device for an adult on the desk of an office. People may receive more enjoyment out of the holding adapter and article than with the fidget spinner alone, and their imagination will be more stimulated, thus having the potential to yield an even greater positive affect on an individual suffering with boredom or ADHD.
As seen in reference to the drawings of
The fidget spinner 12 generally includes a central hub and a plurality of weighted spinner blades. The hub includes a holding disk 15 on each side of the fidget spinner that is carried on a shaft 17 extending through a central axis of the inner bearing race 22. The inner bearing race 22 is carried in an outer bearing race 24 for rotation of the blades about the bearings 22, 24 and the shaft 17. In conventional use, the user holds the spinner with two fingers by pressing the holding disks 15 between their fingers.
The holding adapter 10 includes a cylindrical adapter cup 14 and a cylindrical mount 16. The cylindrical adapter cup 14 has an interior cavity with a diameter dimensioned for an interference fit with the holding disk 15 of the spinner 12. An outer diameter of the cylindrical adapter cup 14 is dimensioned to be received within a central cavity defined in a front face of the cylindrical mount 16 with an interference fit. A stem 18 extends from a back face of the cylindrical mount 16. The stem 18 is configured to be removably coupled to a receiver 20 defined in the body of the article. The cylindrical cup 14 may be formed of a resilient material such as rubber, or other elastomeric material, so that the hub 15 may be received within the cylindrical cup 16 in a press fitting engagement. In some embodiments, the holding disk 15 may be secured within the adapter cup 14 via an adhesive.
When mounted to the article, the holding adapter 10 permits the spinner 12 to provide a spinning adornment to the article. As seen in reference to
In the representative embodiment shown in reference to
In another representative embodiment, shown in reference to
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
