US-12616908-B2 - Spinning top attachment device for writing and drawing instruments

Abstract

A spinning top attachment device includes a top having a top base and a collet removably attached to the base. The collet has a pinion gear portion. A bore of the collet and a bore of the top base are sized and shaped to removably receive a drawing instrument, and the collet is configured to secure the drawing instrument to the top. A pull stick is sized and shaped to mesh with the pinion gear portion of the collet. The top and the drawing instrument, when assembled with one another, are configured to spin relative to a surface when the pull stick is pulled relative to the pinion gear portion, and the drawing instrument is configured to spin on and create a design on the surface.

Inventors

• Travis Schattle

Assignees

• Locomotion Creations LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240709

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A spinning top attachment device, comprising: a top including a top base having an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, a bore extending from the upper end to the lower end, and a collet having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a bore extending from the first end to the second end, and a pinion gear portion having a first plurality of teeth, wherein the collet is removably attached to the top base, wherein the bore of the collet is coextensive with the bore of the top base, wherein the bore of the collet and the bore of the top base are sized and shaped to removably receive a drawing instrument, wherein the collet is configured to secure the drawing instrument to the top; and a pull stick having a second plurality of teeth, wherein the second plurality of teeth of the pull stick is sized and shaped to mesh with the first plurality of teeth of the pinion gear portion of the collet, wherein the top and the drawing instrument, when assembled with one another, are configured to spin relative to a surface when the pull stick is pulled relative to the pinion gear portion, and wherein the drawing instrument is configured to spin on and create a design on the surface.
2. 2 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 1 , wherein the collet includes a plurality of external threads, wherein the top base includes a plurality of internal threads, and wherein the external threads of the collet threadedly engage the internal threads of the top base.
3. 3 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 2 , wherein the collet being moveable from an advanced position, in which the collet is configured to grip the drawing instrument, and a retracted position, in which at least a portion of the collet is retracted from the top base and in which the collet is configured to release the drawing instrument.
4. 4 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 3 , wherein the collet includes a plurality of collet fingers at the second end of the collet, and wherein the plurality of collet fingers is sized and shaped to grip the drawing instrument when the collet is in its advanced position.
5. 5 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 3 , wherein the drawing instrument is axially moveable relative to the top when the collet is in its retracted position.
6. 6 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 3 , further comprising a first wrench, wherein the first wrench is configured to engage and move the collet to and from its retracted position and its advanced position.
7. 7 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 6 , wherein the first end of the collet includes at least one groove, wherein the first wrench includes at least one tab, and wherein the at least one tab of the first wrench is sized and shaped to mate with a corresponding one of the at least one groove of the collet.
8. 8 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 6 , further comprising a second wrench, wherein the second wrench is configured to engage the top base.
9. 9 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 8 , wherein the lower end of the top base includes at least one groove, wherein the second wrench includes at least one tab, and wherein the at least one tab of the second wrench is sized and shaped to mate with a corresponding one of the at least one groove of the top base.
10. 10 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 1 , further comprising a handle having a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the handle, wherein the second end of the handle includes an interior wall forming a first aperture, and wherein the first aperture of the handle is sized and shaped to removably receive the collet.
11. 11 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 10 , wherein the handle includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a slot extending from the first side to the second side, wherein the slot is sized and shaped to receive the pull stick.
12. 12 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 11 , wherein the slot extends from a first opening formed within the first side to a second opening formed within the second side, wherein the slot includes a third opening extending within the interior wall, and wherein the first plurality of teeth of the pinion gear portion of the collet is substantially aligned with the third opening of the slot.
13. 13 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 12 , wherein the slot has a width, wherein the collet has an outer diameter, and wherein the width of the slot and the outer diameter of the collet are sized and shaped to provide a space between the outer diameter of the pinion gear portion and interior wall, and wherein the space is sized and shaped to receive the pull stick.
14. 14 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 13 , wherein the first aperture of the handle has an inner diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the first aperture provides clearance between the outer diameter of the collet and the interior wall of the handle to enable the top to spin and rotate when the pull stick is pulled.
15. 15 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 14 , wherein the clearance between the outer diameter of the collet and the interior wall of the handle enables the top to disengage from the handle when the pull stick is fully disengaged from the top.
16. 16 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 1 , wherein the drawing instrument is a marker, a pen, a pencil, a crayon, chalk, or a charcoal drawing instrument.
17. 17 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 1 , wherein the drawing instrument includes a tip, and wherein the tip extends from the lower end of the top base.
18. 18 . The spinning top attachment device of claim 1 , wherein the top base is frustoconical in shape.
19. 19 . A kit, comprising: a top including a top base having an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, a bore extending from the upper end to the lower end, and a collet having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a bore extending from the first end to the second end, and a pinion gear portion having a first plurality of teeth, wherein the collet is removably attached to the top base, wherein the bore of the collet is coextensive with the bore of the top base, wherein the bore of the collet and the bore of the top base are sized and shaped to removably receive a drawing instrument, wherein the collet is configured to secure the drawing instrument to the top; at least one wrench, wherein the at least one wrench is configured to attach the collet to the top base and remove the collet from the top base; a handle having a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the handle, wherein the second end of the handle includes an interior wall forming a first aperture, wherein the first aperture of the handle is sized and shaped to removably receive the collet, and a slot formed within the second end of the handle; and a pull stick having a second plurality of teeth, wherein the slot of the handle is sized and shaped to receive the pull stick, wherein the second plurality of teeth of the pull stick is sized and shaped to mesh with the first plurality of teeth of the pinion gear portion of the collet, wherein the top and the drawing instrument, when assembled with one another, are configured to spin relative to a surface when the pull stick is pulled relative to the pinion gear portion, and wherein the drawing instrument is configured to spin on and create a design on the surface.
20. 20 . A system, comprising: a drawing instrument; and a top including a top base having an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, a bore extending from the upper end to the lower end, and a collet having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a bore extending from the first end to the second end, and a pinion gear portion having a first plurality of teeth, wherein the collet is removably attached to the top base, wherein the bore of the collet is coextensive with the bore of the top base, wherein the bore of the collet and the bore of the top base are sized and shaped to removably receive the drawing instrument, wherein the collet is configured to secure the drawing instrument to the top; a handle having a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the handle, wherein the second end of the handle includes an interior wall forming a first aperture, wherein the first aperture of the handle is sized and shaped to removably receive the collet, and a slot formed within the second end of the handle; and a pull stick having a second plurality of teeth, wherein the slot of the handle is sized and shaped to receive the pull stick, wherein the second plurality of teeth of the pull stick is sized and shaped to mesh with the first plurality of teeth of the pinion gear portion of the collet, wherein the top and the drawing instrument, when assembled with one another, are configured to spin relative to a surface when the pull stick is pulled relative to the pinion gear portion, and wherein the drawing instrument is configured to spin on and create a design on the surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a Section 111 (a) application relating to and claiming the benefit of commonly owned, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/528,573, filed Jul. 24, 2023, entitled “Spiral Tops-A spinning top toy that is secured onto common writing utensils, and is then spun with a device to draw spirals on paper,” the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to writing and drawing instruments and utensils and, more particularly, spinning top attachment devices for writing and drawing instruments and utensils to facilitate the rotation of the instruments and utensils on a drawing surface for the creation of designs, patterns, and artwork. BACKGROUND Writing and drawing instruments and utensils, such as markers, pens, crayons, and pencils, are used to create artistic and pictorial designs and patterns on a drawing surface. SUMMARY In some embodiments, a spinning top attachment device includes a top including a top base having an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, a bore extending from the upper end to the lower end, and a collet having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a bore extending from the first end to the second end, and a pinion gear portion having a first plurality of teeth, wherein the collet is removably attached to the top base, wherein the bore of the collet is coextensive with the bore of the top base, wherein the bore of the collet and the bore of the top base are sized and shaped to removably receive a drawing instrument, wherein the collet is configured to secure the drawing instrument to the top; and a pull stick having a second plurality of teeth, wherein the second plurality of teeth of the pull stick is sized and shaped to mesh with the first plurality of teeth of the pinion gear portion of the collet, wherein the top and the drawing instrument, when assembled with one another, are configured to spin relative to a surface when the pull stick is pulled relative to the pinion gear portion, and wherein the drawing instrument is configured to spin on and create a design on the surface. In some embodiments, the collet includes a plurality of external threads, wherein the top base includes a plurality of internal threads, and wherein the external threads of the collet threadedly engage the internal threads of the top base. In some embodiments, the collet being moveable from an advanced position, in which the collet is configured to grip the drawing instrument, and a retracted position, in which at least a portion of the collet is retracted from the top base and in which the collet is configured to release the drawing instrument. In some embodiments, the collet includes a plurality of collet fingers at the second end of the collet, and wherein the plurality of collet fingers is sized and shaped to grip the drawing instrument when the collet is in its advanced position. In some embodiments, the drawing instrument is axially moveable relative to the top when the collet is in its retracted position. In some embodiments, the spinning top attachment device further includes a first wrench, wherein the first wrench is configured to engage and move the collet to and from its retracted position and its advanced position. In some embodiments, the first end of the collet includes at least one groove, wherein the first wrench includes at least one tab, and wherein the at least one tab of the first wrench is sized and shaped to mate with a corresponding one of the at least one groove of the collet. In some embodiments, the spinning top attachment device further includes a second wrench, wherein the second wrench is configured to engage the top base. In some embodiments, the lower end of the top base includes at least one groove, wherein the second wrench includes at least one tab, and wherein the at least one tab of the second wrench is sized and shaped to mate with a corresponding one of the at least one groove of the top base. In some embodiments, the spinning top attachment device further includes a handle having a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the handle, wherein the second end of the handle includes an interior wall forming a first aperture, and wherein the first aperture of the handle is sized and shaped to removably receive the collet. In some embodiments, the handle includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a slot extending from the first side to the second side, wherein the slot is sized and shaped to receive the pull stick. In some embodiments, the slot extends from a first opening formed within the first side to a second opening formed within the second side, wherein the slot includes a third opening extending within the interior wall, and wherein the first plurality of teeth of the pinion gear portion of the collet is substantially aligned with the third opening of the slot. In some embodime