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Yo-yo having modifiable side membersRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Toys, Rotating Or Having Visible Rotating Portion (e.g., Spinning Or Whirling, Not Rolling), Having Attached Cord For Imparting Rotation, Wound About Rotatable Member, BandaloreYo-yo having modifiable side members description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060094329, Yo-yo having modifiable side members. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention is in the field of user-manipulated toys. More particularly, the invention is an apparatus in the form of a yo-yo adapted to enable a user to quickly and easily change the yo-yo's shape and/or rim material. This is accomplished through the use of interchangeable shape disks and a fastening system that releasably secures the shape disks and is easily operated without the need for tools. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Most yo-yos are in the form of two disk-shaped side members that are connected to each other by some form of axle structure. The side members are usually of unitary construction and are made out of plastic, metal or wood. The axle structure is secured to the center of both side members and may be an assembly of multiple parts, or merely be in the form of a dowel or a riveted pin. In many modern yo-yos, the axle structure includes a center-located bearing or other member that is secured to, and rotatable on, an elongated axle pin. [0003] The axle structure also forms an anchor for one end of a string-type tether. This is accomplished by having the tether's end-located loop encircle a portion of the axle structure. The free end of the tether is usually tied to create a loop that can be placed about one of a user's fingers to thereby secure the yo-yo to the user's hand. [0004] When the tether is wound about the axle structure and the yo-yo is released from the user's hand, the yo-yo will begin to rapidly spin as it moves away from the user's hand and the tether unwinds from the axle structure. Once the tether is fully unwound, the yo-yo may "sleep" at the end of the tether, whereby the yo-yo continues to spin without the tether rewinding on the axle structure. A user can then perform a quick hand movement to cause the yo-yo to return to his or her hand. [0005] Over the years, many different shapes have been employed for the yo-yo's side members. Traditional yo-yos will usually feature substantially planar side members that have a bulge in the area of the rim to provide an improved weight distribution that increases spin time and stability. [0006] A design for the yo-yo's side members that has become very popular in recent years provides the yo-yo with what is commonly referred to as a "butterfly" shape. In a butterfly yo-yo, each side member's central portion is stretched outwardly, away from the center of the yo-yo, thereby increasing the width of the yo-yo and giving the yo-yo a butterfly shape when viewed in cross-section. [0007] Besides changes in the yo-yo's shape, there have also been a number of different materials used for, or on, the rim portion of each of the yo-yo's side members. For example, it is known to place a relatively soft rubber o-ring on the periphery of each of the yo-yo's side members. Also, there have been yo-yo's developed that employ a relatively soft rubber material for the rim portion of each side member. [0008] The different shapes and materials employed in a yo-yo's side members not only make the yo-yo distinctive, they also affect the yo-yo's performance. For example, a user performing looping tricks with a yo-yo will usually prefer a traditionally shaped yo-yo that has substantially planar side members. Such a shape is best at looping since the weight distribution is close to the tether's attachment point on the yo-yo, thereby enabling the yo-yo to flip over relatively easily during each loop. For yo-yo tricks in which the user attempts to catch the spinning yo-yo on a medial portion of the tether, a butterfly shaped yo-yo is preferred. The more widely spaced-apart rims of the side members improve the yo-yo's stability whereby the yo-yo is less prone to tilt off the tether. Furthermore, the wider stance of a butterfly-shaped yo-yo facilitates a user being able to land the yo-yo on a medial portion of the tether. [0009] Yo-yos with soft rims also have their place. While a soft rim is not suitable for some tricks, such as "walk the dog" where a spinning rim will contact a hard and possibly abrasive surface, a rubber rim is preferable for off-string tricks. For off-string tricks, the user disconnects the yo-yo from the tether and uses the yo-yo much in the same way as one would use a diablo-type toy. During the performance of off-string tricks, it is not uncommon for the yo-yo to inadvertently contact a hard object or surface, a happenstance ameliorated through the use of soft/flexible rims. In addition, soft rims are appreciated by some beginners since they can cushion a hard return that results when a fast spinning yo-yo rapidly returns to the user's hand. [0010] To take advantage of the different characteristics provided by different shapes and materials used for yo-yo side members, many experienced yo-yo players will own a large variety of yo-yos. This enables the player to pick a yo-yo from his or her collection that will work best for the particular trick(s) that the player wishes to perform. However, the costs involved in buying and maintaining a large number of yo-yos can be considerable. In addition, transporting a large number of yo-yos can be bothersome and is usually accomplished using a bulky and expensive transport case that is specially adapted for carrying yo-yos. [0011] In the past, there have been yo-yos that feature side members that may be reversed, disassembled or that have removable flexible rims. However, the prior art does not provide a modifiable yo-yo that is easy to modify and that may assume a large number of different shapes or provide different rim materials. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] The invention is an improved yo-yo that features side members that have removable shape disks secured by a hand-operable fastening system. By replacing one set of shape disks with another, a user can change the shape of the yo-yo and/or change the material of the rim portion of the yo-yo's side members. This enables a user to adapt the yo-yo's performance characteristics to suit the user's needs. [0013] Like most other yo-yos, a yo-yo in accordance with the invention includes a central axle structure to which the tether is attached and that connects together the yo-yo's two side members in a spaced-apart relation. However, unlike most other yo-yos, a yo-yo in accordance with the invention has side members that are an assemblage of parts and can be readily modified. [0014] Each side member includes a hub and a removable shape disk secured to said hub. The peripheral portion of the shape disk functions as the side member's rim and defines the ultimate shape of the side member. The shape disk is fixedly positioned on the hub using a plurality of studs that extend into complementary apertures. In a first embodiment of the invention, the studs extend outwardly from the hubs, extend through shaped apertures in the shape disks, and are received into shaped bores in a lock disk located adjacent the outwardly-facing surface of each of the shape disks. In a second embodiment of the invention, the studs are formed in the shape disks and extend into shaped bores/apertures in the hubs. A hand-operable fastening system is then employed to apply pressure on an outwardly-facing surface of the lock disk (or, in the second embodiment, the shape disk) and thereby secure the shape disk in place. [0015] The fastening system features a multi-detent locking engagement between a fastener member and the lock disk (or, in the second embodiment, the shape disk). In said system, the penultimate and final rotations of the fastener member are preferably accompanied by a clicking sound as the member lockingly engages the lock disk (or, in the second embodiment, the shape disk) multiple times per revolution. The fastener member also includes shaped exterior portions that are easy to grasp and enable the user to rotate the fastener member with little effort and without the need for tools. [0016] The invention allows a user to remove one set of shape disks from the yo-yo and replace them with another set of shape disks that may have a different shape and/or that are entirely or partially made of a different material. For example, the yo-yo can initially be set for looping whereby it features shape disks that give the yo-yo's side members a traditional size and shape. In such a yo-yo, the side members are substantially planar, closely spaced from each other and each has a diameter of about 2.25 inches. The user can then quickly and easily remove the yo-yo's shape disks and attach new shape disks that convert the yo-yo into a butterfly shape that is ideal for string tricks. As another alternative, the user can replace one set of shape disks with another wherein the first shape disks have hard rim portions and each of the replacement shape disks has a rim portion made of a soft resilient material. A user can even replace the shape disks whereby the yo-yo is converted into a diablo-type toy. [0017] The invention is therefore a yo-yo having side members that can be easily modified by a user without the need for special tools. Modification of the side members enables the yo-yo's performance characteristics to be optimized for different types of tricks. By substituting different shape disks, the yo-yo can effectively take the place of multiple yo-yos. This negates the need for the user to own, maintain and transport multiple yo-yos. In addition, a user modifiable yo-yo can provide increased interest to a user through the yo-yo's extended range of usability and the player's ability to decide on the best manner in which to modify the yo-yo for the performance of particular tricks. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a yo-yo in accordance with the invention, with the right-hand portion of the yo-yo shown in cross-section. [0019] FIG. 2 is a front view of the yo-yo shown in FIG. 1, with the right-hand portion shown in exploded fashion. [0020] FIG. 3 is a side view showing the tether-facing surface of one of the hubs of the yo-yo shown in FIG. 1, taken at the plane labeled 3-3 in FIG. 2. Continue reading about Yo-yo having modifiable side members... Full patent description for Yo-yo having modifiable side members Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Yo-yo having modifiable side members patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Yo-yo having modifiable side members or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Activity device Next Patent Application: System and method for three-dimensional animation of rod-arm puppet extremities Industry Class: Amusement devices: toys ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Yo-yo having modifiable side members patent info. 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