ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,246,263, issued on March 11, was assigned to TOMY COMPANY LTD. (Tokyo).
"Top toy" was invented by Yohei Bando (Tokyo), Kenji Horikoshi (Tokyo), Makoto Muraki (Tokyo) and Takeaki Maeda (Tokyo).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A top part includes an upper trunk part, and a bottom part including a lower trunk part and first and second rod-shaped shafts. The lower trunk is attached to the upper trunk. The first and second rod-shaped shafts are interchangeable. The first rod-shaped shaft is inserted in an insertion through hole and being attached to the lower trunk. The second rod-shaped shaft is inserted in the insertion through hole and being...