{
  "patent_number": "US 2415012",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How the Slinky Toy Works",
  "original_title": "Toy and process of use",
  "summary": "The original 1947 patent for the Slinky, a helical spring toy designed to walk down stairs through the transfer of energy.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent describes a helical spring made of a specific gauge of wire that can store and release potential energy. When placed on an incline, such as a set of stairs, the spring moves by shifting its center of gravity. As one end of the spring moves forward, it stretches and then contracts, pulling the rest of the coil along with it in a rhythmic, walking motion.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover springs made of materials other than metal, such as plastic coils.",
    "Does not cover non-helical spring designs or shapes.",
    "Does not cover the use of the spring for industrial or mechanical dampening purposes."
  ],
  "filed": "1946-08-21",
  "granted": "1947-01-28",
  "expires": "1966-08-21",
  "status": "expired",
  "holder": "James Industries Inc",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/james-industries-inc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Richard T James",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/richard-t-james"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 29,
  "tags": [
    "mechanical",
    "consumer_electronics"
  ],
  "abstract": null,
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2415012/slinky-toy",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2415012/slinky-toy/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US2415012",
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}