IP Library Granted Patent US 12,427,435
Granted Patent B2
US 12,427,435 · App. 17/364,373 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Connected yo-yo

Inventors: Bryan Paul Jardin (Champions Gate, FL); Jason C. Sauey (Madison, WI); James M. Petras (Euclid, OH); Matthew Banach (Gurnee, IL); Joe Brian Doran (Round Rock, TX); Try Ty (Chicago, IL); Michael D. Banach (Ellicott City, MD); Richard Philip Zavracky (Reminderville, OH)
Assignee: DUNCAN YO-YO GO, LLC
A63H1/30A63H1/24A63H1/28G01P3/36G01P3/44G01P15/18H04B1/02
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,427,435
App. No.
17/364,373
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A yo-yo has at least one sensor configured to measure a parameter related to movement of the yo-yo, a transmitter configured to transmit the measured parameter to the computing device. A server is configured to determine a trick performed with the yo-yo based on the measured parameter, and to communicate the determination to one or more computing devices of different players.

Claims (63)

1. A method, comprising:

displaying a first visualization on a first computing device, the first visualization showing a first virtual trick faced by a virtual character;

receiving a parameter related to movement of a first rotatable device, the parameter being measured by at least one sensor in the first rotatable device and transmitted by a transmitter in the first rotatable device;

determining a trick performed by a user of the rotatable device based on the received measured parameter; and

displaying a second visualization on the first computing device, the second visualization showing a second virtual trick faced by the virtual character,

wherein the determined trick constitutes an input to the first computing device that controls the virtual character in a manner that causes the virtual character to pass from the first visualization to the second visualization, and

wherein the first rotatable device is a yo-yo, a diabolo, a frisbee, a top, or a dreidel.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying a first trick animation corresponding to the performed trick on the first computing device.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

communicating the determination to a second computing device, the second computing device being configured to display a second trick animation corresponding to the performed trick on a display of the second computing device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a measured parameter related to movement of a second rotatable device;

determining a trick performed by the second rotatable device based on the measured parameter of the second rotatable device;

scoring the trick performed with the first rotatable device;

scoring the trick performed with the second rotatable device; and

transmitting the scores of the tricks performed with the first and second rotatable devices to the first and second computing devices.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first rotatable device is the yo-yo.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first rotatable device is configured to rotate around a predetermined axis.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first rotatable device is the diabolo.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first rotatable device is the top or the dreidel.

9. A rotatable device, comprising:

two shells connected by an axle;

at least one sensor configured to measure a parameter related to movement of the rotatable device; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the measured parameter to a computing device,

wherein the rotatable device is a diabolo or a yo-yo,

wherein the at least one sensor and the transmitter are housed in a first of the two shells, and

wherein the second shell comprises a protruding ring within the second shell that is coaxial with the axle.

10. The rotatable device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a time of flight sensor.

11. The rotatable device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a magnetometer.

12. A method, comprising:

displaying a first visualization on a first computing device, the first visualization prompting a user to perform a first trick with a first rotatable device;

receiving a parameter related to movement of the first rotatable device, the parameter being measured by at least one sensor in the first rotatable device and transmitted by a transmitter in the first rotatable device;

determining whether the first prompted trick was performed by the user of the first rotatable device based on the received measured parameter; and

displaying a second visualization on the first computing device based on whether the first prompted trick was performed, the second visualization prompting the user to perform a second successive trick with the first rotatable device,

wherein the first and second visualizations constitute sequential elements of an animation whose advancement is determined based on whether prompted tricks are performed, and

wherein the first rotatable device is a yo-yo, a diabolo, a frisbee, a top, or a dreidel.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

displaying a first animation corresponding to the performed trick on the first computing device.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

communicating the determination of the performed trick to a second computing device; and

displaying a second animation corresponding to the performed trick on the second computing device.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving a parameter related to movement of a second rotatable device;

determining a trick performed with the second rotatable device based on the received parameter;

scoring the trick performed with the first rotatable device;

scoring the trick performed with the second rotatable device; and

transmitting the scores of the tricks performed with the first and second rotatable devices to the first computing device and to a second computing device associated with the second rotatable device.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

storing received parameters and corresponding determined performed tricks for each of a plurality of rotatable devices, the plurality of rotatable devices including the first rotatable device;

storing account information corresponding to a plurality of users; and

associating each of the plurality of rotatable devices with the account information corresponding to one of the plurality of users.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a skill level of the user of the first rotatable device is determined based on the stored received parameters and corresponding determined tricks for each rotatable device associated with the account information of the user of the first rotatable device.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

transmitting a score of the determined trick to a plurality of computing devices,

wherein the plurality of computing devices are associated only with users having a same skill level as the user of the first rotatable device.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving parameter information corresponding to a trick that is input by the user into the first computing device,

wherein determining the trick performed with the first rotatable device is further based on the received parameter information.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first rotatable device is configured to rotate around a predetermined axis.

21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first rotatable device is the yo-yo.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first rotatable device is the diabolo.

23. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first rotatable device is the top or the dreidel.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2026
From: FLAMBEAU, INC.; SEATS, INCORPORATED; COLUMBIA VEHICLE GROUP; DUNCAN TOYS COMPANY, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 075120/0585 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 22, 2025
From: DUNCAN YO-YO GO, LLC.
To: DUNCAN TOYS COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 072920/0469 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2022
From: JARDIN, BRYAN PAUL; SAUEY, JASON C.; PETRAS, JAMES M.; BANACH, MATTHEW; DORAN, JOE BRIAN; TY, TRY; BANACH, MICHAEL D.; ZAVRACKY, RICHARD PHILIP
To: DUNCAN YO-YO GO, LLC
Reel/Frame 061985/0326 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63046995 · Jul 1, 2020
Related Publication 20220001289A1 · Jan 6, 2022
References Cited (54)
US 4867727A · Lanius · 1989 [cited by examiner]
US 6265984B1 · Molinaroli · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6287193B1 · Rehkemper · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6634922B1 · Driscoll et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6695670B1 · Driscoll et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 7037169B2 · Benedek et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 8137182B2 · Kearns · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 9257054B2 · Coza et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9381444B2 · Grossman · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 10150044B2 · Shlomot · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10413837B2 · Pance · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10668396B2 · Shlomot · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10738792B2 · Christ et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20050160066A1 · Shaw · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20090004945A1 · deLassus · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20110124417A1 · Baynes · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110304497A1 · Molyneux · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20120116714A1 · Rogel · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20130274040A1 · Coza · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20140278218A1 · Chang · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20150375115A1 · Bunting · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20160045785A1 · Tzovanis · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160236102A1 · Shlomot · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160332060A1 · Rogel · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160332064A1 · Rogel · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170136374A1 · Pance · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180104584A1 · Utsugi · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20200246712A1 · Shlomot · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210187393A1 · Huang · 2021 [cited by examiner]
BE 1025294A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 104076920A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 206081611U · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 106693377A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 110384927A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
DE 102010000025A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 3107634A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013221942A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017505703A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019022709A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011053193A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2013074939A2 · 2013 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2015126739A1 · 2015 [cited by examiner]
“Skate. (Xbox 360). Controls” Copyright 2007. (Year: 2007). [cited by examiner]
“Skate Xbox 360 Gameplay—Downtown (HD)”, published Jun. 23, 2011. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLqLxrK2-WO (Year: 2011). [cited by examiner]
“Skate Xbox 360 Gameplay—Game of S-K-A-T-E (HD)”, published Jun. 23, 2011. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YvbSF_iYHY (Year: 2011). [cited by examiner]
“Xboxachievements.com Skate Game info and Screenshot Gallery”, Sep. 14, 2007. (Year: 2007). [cited by examiner]
Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US21/39975 mailed Oct. 13, 2021. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Reasons for Refusal; Japan Application No. 2023-524489 dated Oct. 30, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Search Report in corresponding Chinese application CN 2021800470344, dated Jan. 8, 2025. [cited by applicant]
Office action in corresponding Chinese application CN 2021800470344, dated Jan. 9, 2025. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report in corresponding EP Application No. 21833071.0, dated Jun. 6, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Action in corresponding JP Application No. 2023-524489, dated Mar. 11, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Canadian Office action in corresponding CA Application No. 3,184,125, dated May 28, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Office action in corresponding Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-7002267, dated Jul. 15, 2024. [cited by applicant]