This application claims the benefit of Australian Innovation Patent No. 2017101568 filed Nov. 6, 2017.
In general, the present invention relates to tumbling pin toys of the type that are shaped like elongated barrels or candlepin bowling pins. More particularly, the present invention relates to the dimensions of tumbling pin toys and auxiliary tracks that are used to guide the tumbling action of the tumbling pin toys.
Toy pins that are barrel-shaped with flat ends and a wide center have been used in play for centuries. Many games, such as candlepin bowling, use such pins. Such pins can stand straight on one end and are easily knocked down if contacted. Traditional candlepins and toys that use the candlepin design typically use pins with a length that is at least five times longer than the maximum diameter of the pin. This makes traditional candlepins appear long and skinny. It also enables the candlepins to interact and cause cascading falls when the candlepins are placed in a particular formation, such as in the game of bowling.
It has recently been discovered that when a candlepin is shortened and its exterior rounded, the pin can be caused to tumble end over end. That is, when the pin is stood on its end, it can be made to roll end-over-end and return to its standing position. This is typically accomplished by providing the pin with a length to width maximum ratio of just above 3:1, with a preferred ratio of Pi-to-one, i.e. 3.14:1. This ratio is combined with an exterior that has a uniform radius of curvature from end to end. Such prior art pins are sold under a variety of tradenames, including Kururin® by Comcell Co. Limited of Saitama, Japan. In the toy industry, such pins are typically referred to as tumbling pins or tumble pins.
Although toy tumbling pins are shorter than candlepins, they still have a relatively long length in relation to width. Since the toy tumbling pins tumble end over end, the toy tumbling pins travel a significant distance per rotation. The distance traveled by the toy tumbling pin is equal to the circumference of the toy tumbling pin. Since the toy tumbling pin travels significant distances with each rotation, the toy tumbling pin rarely rotates more than a few times before it runs out of room to tumble and/or runs out of momentum to sustain the tumble. This significantly reduces the play value of the toy. Interest in a tumbling toy quickly diminishes if the tumbling toy can only tumble a few times before its stops.
A need therefore exists for an improved toy tumbling pin that can be made to tumble a significant number of times in a short area. A need also exists for a system that can maintain momentum in a toy tumbling pin and keep it tumbling for longer periods of time. These needs are met by the present invention as described and claimed below.
The present invention is a tumbling toy system where at least one tumble pin is provided that tumbles in a guide track. The guide track extends a first length between two opposite ends. The guide track is defined by two sides and a bottom that extends between the two opposite ends, wherein the two sides are a first distance apart at a first elevation height above the bottom.
One or more tumble pins can be placed in the guide track. Each tumble pin has a midplane between two ends. Each tumble pin rests in the guide track and is free to tumble end-over-end within the guide track. As the tumble pin tumbles, the ends of the tumble pin cyclically contact the bottom of the guide track.
Each tumble pin tapers from a maximum diameter at its midplane to a minimum diameter at either end. The maximum diameter of the tumble pin is larger than the first distance between the two sides of the guide track. This causes the tumble pin to cyclically contact the two sides of the guide track as it tumbles. When the tumble pin contacts the sides of the guide track, the tumble pin becomes temporarily suspended between the two sides. This causes the tumble pin to tumble in place within the guide track until one of the ends of the tumble pin again contacts the bottom of the guide track. The cyclical suspension of the tumble pin enables the tumble pin to tumble multiple times while only progressing a short distance within the guide track.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Although the present invention tumbling toy system can be configured in many ways, only one simple system has been selected for the purposes of explanation and illustration. The exemplary embodiment selected sets forth one of the best modes contemplated for the system. The selected embodiment, however, is merely exemplary and should not be considered a limitation when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.
Referring to
Referring to
Due to the radius of curvature, each tumble pin 12 is widest at the midplane 27 between the first end 26 and the second end 28. The midplane 27 has a diameter D1 which is between ten percent and twenty-five percent larger than the diameter of the first end 26 and the second end 28. The preferred length is 48 mm. This preferred length can be varied by +/−15%. The preferred diameter D1 is 28 mm, this value can also be varied by +/−15% in proportion to any concurrent variation of the length L1. Given the preferred dimensions, it can be seen that the length to diameter ratio is less than 2:1. This is significantly smaller than the corresponding ratios of prior art tumble pins. This makes the tumble pins 12 of the current system less elongated and more squat. By making the tumble pins 12 more squat, the tumble pins 12 retain more of their momentum after each tumble. The downside to retaining momentum is that the tumble pins 12 are more likely to roll in an undesired direction rather than tumble in a straight line. This loss in directional stability is not an issue because of the manner in which the tumble pins 12 interact with the guide track 24 created by the folding case 14.
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Since the tumble pin 12 only moves laterally in the guide track 24 during part of its rotation, the tumble pin 12 is capable of turning multiple times in a relatively short guide track 24. In the exemplary embodiment, the tumble pin 12 has a length of 48 mm and a maximum diameter of 28 mm. Accordingly, its bisected circumference is approximately 95 mm-100 mm. This means that if tumbled on an open surface, the tumble pin 12 could travel approximately 100 mms per full rotation. In the exemplary embodiment, the guide track 24 has a length of approximately 295 mms between its two ends 17, 19. This length is not long enough for even three full rotations of the tumble pin 12. However, since the tumble pin 12 partially spins in place as it is suspended between the side walls 32 of the guide track 24, the tumble pin 12 may be able to spin through as many as ten rotations as it travels the length of the guide track 24. This adds significantly to the play value of the tumbling toy system 10.
Additionally, since the tumble pin 12 is held within the guide track 24 of the folding case 14, the guide track 24 can be slanted by inclining the folding case 14. The folding case 14 can be tilted back and forth to cause the guide track 24 to teeter and the tumble pin 12 to tumble back and forth within the guide track 24. The tumble pin 12 can, therefore, be kept tumbling back and forth for as long as the folding case 14 is manipulated.
It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention that is illustrated and described is merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to that embodiment. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2017101568 | Nov 2017 | AU | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190134519 A1 | May 2019 | US |