IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0592288
(2009-11-20)
|
등록번호 |
US-8182306
(2012-05-22)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
18 |
초록
▼
Provided are flying devices and methods of manufacturing and launching same, in particular flying toys or other recreational items that are designed to be thrown through the air by a user participating in any one of a variety of throwing (i.e. “catch”) games. In particular, the concept is directed t
Provided are flying devices and methods of manufacturing and launching same, in particular flying toys or other recreational items that are designed to be thrown through the air by a user participating in any one of a variety of throwing (i.e. “catch”) games. In particular, the concept is directed toward a flying disc having rotatably attached non-rotating (a.k.a. “gliding”) portions that are attached to the disc and provide an optical illusion, wherein the user (and, similarly, an observer) does not notice the spinning of the flying disc, but instead sees a flying craft that appears to have no propulsion, yet flies. While the non-rotating portions alter the airflow associated with a typical flying disc, they do not negatively affect the flight characteristics of the disc itself. Indeed, in certain embodiments, the non-rotating portions (e.g., ailerons) have been observed to improve the flight characteristics of typical flying discs. The non-rotating portions (a.k.a. “gliding”) also provide surfaces upon which to place advertising that remains legible during flight. In this manner, the non-rotating portions of the flying device serve both a functional and an aesthetic purpose.
대표청구항
▼
1. A flying toy apparatus, said flying toy apparatus when flying along a generally horizontal flight path comprising: A) a rotating disc portion having including a substantially circular central body portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a substantially circular outer periphery, and al
1. A flying toy apparatus, said flying toy apparatus when flying along a generally horizontal flight path comprising: A) a rotating disc portion having including a substantially circular central body portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a substantially circular outer periphery, and also including a substantially annular outside rim depending downwardly from said outer periphery and terminating at a substantially circular lower free edge, said rotating disc portion having a substantially vertical central rotational axis, said disc defining a lower cavity defined as underneath said rotating disc portion and above a substantially horizontal plane being substantially perpendicular to said central rotational axis and including said substantially circular lower free edge, and said rotating disc portion configured to rotate about said central rotational axis while flying along said generally horizontal flight path such that said rotational axis moves generally along said flight path while remaining generally perpendicular to said flight path;B) a gliding body portion comprising at least one underside aileron, said underside aileron including a downwardly directed aileron fin portion; andC) a rotating connection portion, said rotating connection portion rotatably connecting said rotating disc portion relative to said gliding body portion substantially about said vertical rotational axis, such that at least a portion of said downwardly directed aileron fin portion is within said cavity and defines a generally forwardly-facing surface which is inclined relative to horizontal, and remains forwardly-facing notwithstanding said rotation of said disc portion. 2. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aileron is configured to be trailing said connection portion when said flying toy apparatus is in at least a part of its flight. 3. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said aileron can still pivot slightly relative to flight path due to the presence of said rotating connection portion. 4. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said forwardly-facing surface of said aileron fin portion is substantially planar. 5. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said substantially planar forwardly-facing surface of said aileron fin portion is positioned at an angle relative to said rotational axis of said disc portion. 6. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said substantially planar forwardly-facing surface of said aileron fin portion is positioned substantially parallel relative to said rotational axis of said disc portion. 7. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said aileron is composed of a substantially planar subsection which is at an obtuse angle relative to the flight path of said apparatus. 8. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said aileron is composed of a substantially planar subsection which is at a right angle relative to the flight path of said apparatus. 9. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aileron includes an arcuate portion which is directed towards said connecting portion. 10. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said arcuate portion of said aileron includes a concave side which is directed towards said connecting portion. 11. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said arcuate portion of said aileron is proximate said downwardly depending annular outside rim of said rotating disc and tends to follow the contour of the said rim. 12. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said aileron is configured to be trailing said connection portion when said flying toy apparatus is in flight. 13. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one aileron is a first aileron, and further comprising a second aileron adjacent said first aileron. 14. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gliding base also include a fuselage. 15. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting portion includes a shaft which passes through a hole in both said disc portion and said gliding body portion and provides a connecting feature such that the disc portion and said gliding body portion can rotate relative to each other substantially about the longitudinal axis of said shaft. 16. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said connecting portion further comprises roller bearings. 17. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotating connection portion further comprises: 1) an upper bearing assembly positioned above said central body portion of said disc portion, said upper bearing assembly itself including an upper race element, a lower race element configured to be attached relative to said central body portion of said disc portion, and intermediate rolling bearing elements between said upper and lower race elements;2) a lower bearing assembly positioned below said central body portion of said disc portion, said lower bearing assembly itself including an upper race element configured to be attached relative to said central body portion of said disc portion, a lower race element configured to be attached relative to said gliding body portion, and intermediate rolling bearing elements between said upper and lower race elements; and3) a connecting rod element configured to connect the following three elements together: a) said upper race element of said upper bearing; b) said lower race element of said lower bearing; and c) said gliding body portion, such that said rotating disc portion can rotate thereto. 18. The flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said connecting portion further comprises roller bearings having race diameters which are greater than the minimum spacing between said rotating disc portion and said gliding body portion. 19. A method of operating a flying toy apparatus, said flying toy apparatus when flying along a generally horizontal flight path comprising the steps of: A) providing a flying toy apparatus itself comprising: 1) a rotating disc portion having including a substantially circular central body portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a substantially circular outer periphery, and also including a substantially annular outside rim depending downwardly from said outer periphery and terminating at a substantially circular lower free edge, said disc portion having a substantially vertical central rotational axis, said disc defining a lower cavity defined as underneath said disc portion and above a substantially horizontal plane including said substantially circular lower free edge and being substantially perpendicular to said central rotational axis, said disc portion configured to rotate about said central rotational axis while flying along said generally horizontal flight path such that said rotational axis moves generally along said flight path while remaining generally perpendicular to said flight path;2) a gliding body portion comprising at least one aileron, said aileron including a downwardly directed aileron fin portion; and3) a rotating connection portion, said rotating connection portion rotatably connecting said disc portion relative to said gliding body portion substantially about said vertical rotational axis, such that at least a portion of said downwardly directed aileron fin portion is within said cavity and defines a generally forwardly-facing surface which is inclined relative to horizontal, and remains forwardly-facing notwithstanding said rotation of said disc portion; andB) launching said flying toy apparatus into flight, such that said disc portion rotates about its while said rotational axis moves generally along said flight path while said rotational axis remains generally perpendicular to said flight path, and such that said body portion, including said aileron, does not rotated but provides a gliding action. 20. The method of operating a flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said aileron trails said connection portion while said flying toy apparatus is in flight. 21. The method of operating a flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said aileron trails said connection portion while said flying toy apparatus is in flight, but is still capable of variations in orientation relative to said flight path. 22. The method of operating a flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said aileron trails said connection portion while said flying toy apparatus is in flight, but is still capable of a slight angular “cant” relative to the flight path, the direction of said cant depending on the direction of rotation of said disc. 23. The method of operating a flying toy apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said aileron trails said connection portion while said flying toy apparatus is in flight due to a windsock effect.
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