U.S. patent application number 10/068701 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-15 for floppy flying ring toy.
Invention is credited to Silverglate, David E..
Application Number | 20020111105 10/068701 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26749259 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020111105 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Silverglate, David E. |
August 15, 2002 |
Floppy flying ring toy
Abstract
A hand-thrown floppy flying device that is compressible in a
non-uniform manner, yet in the presence of certain forces regains a
non-compressed shape that is beneficial for flight. The device is
relatively limp and flexible. Various embodiments are disclosed
including various rim and airfoil configurations that facilitate
stable flight.
Inventors: |
Silverglate, David E.;
(Santa Cruz, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Steven J. Adamson, PC
P.O. Box 5997
Portland
OR
97228
US
|
Family ID: |
26749259 |
Appl. No.: |
10/068701 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60266032 |
Feb 2, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/46 |
International
Class: |
A63H 027/00 |
Claims
1. A hand-thrown flying device, comprising: an annular rim; and an
airfoil disposed at least in part within said rim; wherein said rim
and airfoil are configured to be compressible in three mutually
orthogonal direction, yet capable of regaining a substantially
planar shape in the presence of centrifugal force.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/266,032, filed Feb. 2, 2001, entitled Flexible
Flying Ring Toy and having the same title and inventor(s) as
above.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to hand thrown flying ring and
disc toys.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A lightweight, flat disk or ring will roll significantly to
one side when thrown with a spin. This is caused by lift forces
forward of the center of gravity interacting with the object's
angular momentum that imparts a torque on the object that results
in the device rolling in flight. If a spinning flying disc or ring
is aerodynamically balanced, the angular momentum provides flight
stability much like a gyroscope. Flying discs and rings such as
Frisbees.TM., Aerobies.TM. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,560,358 and 4,456,265)
and Wooshl (U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,707, and invented by the inventor
herein) use different approaches to achieve aerodynamic stability,
especially roll stability.
[0004] The Frisbee is a saucer-shaped device that can be thrown
over relatively long distances. A player throws such a disc by
grasping its edge and flexing the wrist, while holding the forearm
in a neutral position. Next, the player extends the wrist and
releases the disc, i.e. the player "flings" from the wrist,
imparting spin to the disc, resulting in it being propelled through
the air. Such a disc will fly over relatively long distances
without rolling because of its relatively high mass, peripheral
mass distribution, solid/rigid construction and domed aerodynamic
structure.
[0005] The Aerobie has a relatively large mass, but, unlike the
Frisbee, it has a mass that is distributed peripherally about a
central void. It also has a special, diamond-shaped airfoil,
offering roll stable flight characteristics over a wide range of
speeds. The Aerobie has set distance records for flying toys. The
Aerobie goes very fast, is quite thin, and has a rigid frame that
makes it an intimidating object to catch and can easily cause
damage.
[0006] Rigid flying discs and flying rings have the disadvantage of
damaging objects and hurting users when caught, and also from an
inability to be sufficiently compressed or "crumpled" so as to be
placed in a pocket or otherwise easily transported.
[0007] Woosh is a semi-rigid, resilient, ring-like flying toy. It
is relatively lightweight including light-weight outer and inner,
ring-like boundary structures defining an annular space that is
spanned by an airflow permeable airfoil web joined to and tensed
between the outer and inner boundary structures. This "leaky
airfoil" is the basis for the Woosh Ring's non-rolling flight
characteristics over a wide range of relatively slow speeds.
Besides being lightweight and only semi-rigid, a benefit of the
Woosh Ring over a Frisbee is that it is relatively thin and flat
for increased ease in transporting. A disadvantage of Woosh is the
need to use expensive fabrics such as spandex to achieve a
wrinkle-free, tensed web. Another disadvantage is that although the
Woosh can be twisted and then folded to a reduced size, this size
is normally too large for a normal pocket and the frame of Woosh
can become permanently warped or may even crack apart due to this
twisting and folding. Yet another disadvantage of the Woosh is that
due to its highly tensed structure it is more likely to bounce out
of a hand before being grasped making it difficult to catch.
[0008] Other prior art flying toys include the Floppy Disc, (U.S.
Pat. No. 5,078,637), the Flippy Flier (U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,473) and
the Winger.TM.. The Floppy Disc and the Flippy Flier are limp,
domed-shaped flying discs. The Winger.TM. is a limp, heavy flying
ring without a porous airfoil member. These devices are
characterized in that they are relatively heavy and do not roll
significantly in flight because their aerodynamic forces are small
compared to their inertia. They are disadvantageous, amongst other
reasons, in that they have high wing loading, high drag and are
bulky which renders them hard to catch, limits their flight
distance, and makes fitting them in one's pocket difficult.
[0009] Thus, in an effort to overcome shortcomings of the prior
art, the present invention is directed towards providing an
improved flying device with reduced bulk, relatively low wing
loading and drag, that is capable of long slow flights without
rolling, is easy to catch and that fits easily in one's pocket
without causing the device to be permanently warped or break.
[0010] The present invention includes various embodiments. In one
embodiment a floppy flying device is provided that has a ballast
providing outer rim and an airfoil provided at least in part within
that rim. The rim and airfoil are formed of relatively limp and
flexible material that permit the flying device to be compressed
non-uniformly into a small volume capable, for example, of being
placed in a typical pocket or other space. The flying device is
further configured such that when the annular rim is held by a
human hand and thrown with a lateral arm movement and wrist flick,
centrifugal forces expand the device into a substantially planar
shape that flies well.
[0011] Desired non-rolling characteristics are achieved in a
variety of ways including adjusting the shape and air passage
properties of the airfoil. In one embodiment, the airfoil defines
an annular surface area about a central opening that has a
plurality of air passage openings therein. In another embodiment,
the airfoil does not have a central opening but has suitable air
passage to compensate for the lack of a central opening.
[0012] The airfoil material may be a flexible substantially non-air
porous material with a plurality of holes provided therein or it
may be made of an air-porous material such a woven fabric. Various
material and porosity arrangements are contemplated without
departing from the present invention.
[0013] The attainment of the foregoing and related advantages and
features of the present invention should be more readily apparent
to those skilled in the art, after review of the following more
detailed description of the invention taken together with the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a floppy flying toy in accordance
with the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a view of a molded floppy flying toy in accordance
with the present invention.
[0016] FIGS. 3A-3D are cross-sectional views of regions of a floppy
flying toy in accordance with the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a view of a crocheted floppy flying toy in
accordance with the present invention.
[0018] FIGS. 5-10 are views of other embodiments of a floppy flying
toy in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The term "airfoil structure" as used herein generally refers
to a structure that presents to an air stream (i.e., in flight) a
differential path over the upper and lower surfaces of the
structure to achieve lift, various airfoil structures are known in
the art.
[0020] The term "crumpleable" as used herein generally refers to a
material or structure that compresses in a non-uniform manner when
acted on by compressive forces yet that is capable of recovering a
pre-crumpled shape in the absence of the compressive force and in
the presence of a decompressive force such as centrifugal
force.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, a plan view of a flying ring in
accordance with the present invention. The flying ring 10 includes
an annular rim 12 that is preferably made of a flexible material
that provides ballast to the ring and facilitates gripping by a
user's hand. The rim may comprise a rope, cord, tube or filament or
like material, or be formed of a molded material or otherwise
configured. Cross-sectional views of various exemplary annular rim
arrangements are shown in FIGS. 3A-3D. Ring 10 and the other flying
devices herein are crumpleable.
[0022] An airfoil 20 is preferably coupled to annular rim 12. In
FIG. 1, this is achieved by mounting members or "grips" 30 that are
provided over rim 12 and affixed to airfoil 20. Airfoil 20 is
preferably made of a material that is lightweight and flexible.
Preferred characteristics for the embodiment of FIG. 1 include that
the material neither appreciably wrinkles nor stretches out.
Preferred materials include urethane, dacron/mylar, vinyl/mylar or
other materials with similar properties.
[0023] Grips 30 may be made of neoprene, dacron/mylar, cloth,
nylon, molded plastic or any other suitable material. Desirable
characteristics include that the material is generally resistant to
abrasion, easy to grip and flexible. Grips 30 may be stitched,
glued or otherwise fastened to airfoil 20. Note that while three
grips are shown in FIG. 1, other grip arrangements are possible
including a greater plurality of grips and a singular grip that
covers the length of the annular rim (for example, as shown in FIG.
5-8).
[0024] Airfoil 20 is preferably configured and arranged within
annular rim 12 so as to include holes or openings that permit air
passage. These air passages reduce lift, and since lift interacts
with angular momentum to produce a torque that induces rolling,
reducing lift in this manner reduces rolling. FIG. 1 illustrates an
airfoil embodiment with a central, non-circular opening 25 and a
plurality of smaller openings 28. The smaller openings include
those formed in the airfoil material and those defined by the edge
of the airfoil material and the annular rim 12.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates another floppy flying ring in accordance
with the present invention. In contrast to the multi-part ring of
FIG. 1, the ring 40 of FIG. 2 is preferably formed of a single
piece of molded plastic such as an elastomeric plastic or another
elastomeric material. Ring 40 includes an annular rim 42, and an
airfoil 44 that defines a central opening 45 and has a plurality of
smaller holes 48. While ring 40 obtains a substantially planar
shape in flight, it is shown partially folded or "flopped" over in
FIG. 2.
[0026] FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate cross-sectional views of a plurality
of annular rims in accordance with the present invention. FIGS.
3A-3B are taken along the line indicated in FIG. 1, FIG. 3C is
taken along the line indicated in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3D is taken
along the line indicated in FIG. 5.
[0027] FIGS. 3A,3B illustrate annular rim 12 implemented with a
solid or hollow internal member 14,16, respectively. That member
may be a solid or hollow rope or other flexible filament and grip
30 is mounted around member 14,16 and secured to airfoil 20 via
stitches 19 or glue or other suitable fastener. Member 14,16 may be
made of a braided nylon rope, extruded vinyl tubing or another
suitable material. FIG. 3C illustrated a solid integrally formed
annular rim member of the type formed in the embodiment of FIG. 2.
FIG. 3D is discussed below with reference to FIGS. 5-8.
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a floppy flying
ring in accordance with the present invention. This ring 50 is
formed by crochet or related knitting techniques. The ring includes
an annular rim 52 that includes thread or yarn which joins a
plurality of weights 53 provided in a relatively distributed manner
about the periphery of the ring. These weights provide ballast and
serve a function similar to the annular rims portrayed in FIGS.
3A-3D. The weights 53 may be made of wood or plastic or another
suitable material.
[0029] The airfoil 54 is preferably formed of yarn or other
material, which may be cotton, wool, synthetic or other, and
configured to define a central opening 55 and a relatively large
plurality of much smaller holes 58. These smaller holes are
effectively the spaces between crochet knots. The crochet work is
preferably started on the inner rim and progresses to the outer rim
(rim 52). The outer rim region may have a slight up-and-down wave
relative to the inner rim region when placed on a flat surface, but
this wave will flatten out when the device is thrown due to
centrifugal forces exerted on the ring.
[0030] The number of knots per concentric knot circle has to
increase as the airfoil expands outwardly. The number of knots per
circle and their spacing will vary depending on the initial
diameter of the ring, but the requisite increase to maintain a flat
ring is within know crocheting practices. The size of openings 55
and 58 is preferably analogous to size of the other air passage
openings discussed herein. In one embodiment, the ring of FIG. 4
has an inner diameter of approximately 5.5" and an outer diameter
of 8.5".
[0031] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of a floppy
flying ring in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 5 shows
ring 60 in a substantially planar arrangement, while FIG. 6 shows
the same ring in a crumpled arrangement. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate
another embodiment of a floppy flying ring in accordance with the
present invention. FIG. 7 shows ring 70 in a substantially planar
arrangement, while FIG. 8 shows the same ring folded approximately
in half. FIG. 6 illustrates well the "crumpleable" nature of a
floppy flying device in accordance with the present invention. The
device of FIG. 6 recovers the planar shape of FIG. 5 when a user
grabs rim 62 and throws the device moving their arm laterally and
flicking their wrist upon release.
[0032] Each of rings 60,70 includes an annular rim 62,72 and an
airfoil 64,74. The airfoils each define a central opening 65,75 and
have a plurality of holes 68,78 for air passage in flight. FIGS.
5-8 illustrate a mounting member 66,76 formed of a seam-biased tape
or neoprene or the like that is provided at rim 62,72 and fastened
to the airfoil. In contrast to the plurality of grips of FIG. 1,
member 66,76 is substantially continuous.
[0033] FIG. 3D illustrates the mounting of member 66,76 to an
airfoil 64,74. A tube or rope or the like 18 is preferably provided
within member 66,76 which can be mounted to the airfoil by stitches
19 or glue or other means. Note that members 14, 16, 18, 42 (and
weights 53) represent elements that provide ballast to the outer
rim and they are exemplary. Thus, they may in some instances be
substituted for one another, or a different structure, providing a
ballast function, can be utilized.
[0034] FIGS. 9-10 illustrate two additional embodiments of a floppy
flying ring in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 9
illustrates a ring 80 that includes an annular rim 82
(substantially as described above for rim 12 or 62 or other) and an
airfoil 84 that defines a central opening 85. In contrast to the
urethane, mylar or other relatively non-air permeable materials
discussed above, airfoil 84 is formed of a substantially air-porous
material, i.e., a material having a relatively large plurality of
smaller holes. Representative materials include spandex, treco,
etc. This material tends to be limp and flexible. To facilitate a
planar shape in flight, a rubber band or similar elastic member 83
(actually not visible) is provided interior of the airfoil material
at the inner rim 81 of airfoil 84 to constrict opening 85 and tense
the airfoil such that it more readily achieves a substantially
planar shape during flight.
[0035] The ring 90 of FIG. 10 is similar to that of FIG. 9 and has
an annular rim 92 and an airfoil 94. A difference in ring 90 is
that a central opening is not provided. To compensate for the lack
of a central opening the porosity of the material used for airfoil
94 is significantly increased over that used in airfoil 84. Various
woven fabrics may suffice. Alternatively, airfoil 94 could be
configured with a plurality of holes such as holes 28, 48, 68, 78,
etc., that are distributed across the airfoil and compensate for
lack of a central opening. This latter arrangement may be
configured with either a generally air-porous airfoil material
(e.g., a woven material) or a generally non-air porous material
(e.g., urethane, etc.), though the air passage openings would have
to be adjusted in size to achieve the desired lift reduction to
reduce or eliminate roll.
[0036] With respect to general considerations for operation and
design of a floppy flying device in accordance with the present
invention the following is provided. For a "ring" embodiment in
flight, a cross-section along the flight path provides two
airfoils, a front one and a rear one. The front airfoil interacts
with the airflow first. The front airfoil generates lift due to its
angle of attack and the relatively high airflow over the front
airfoil rather than under it. The rear airfoil meets the downwash
from the front airfoil and generate less lift because of the
relatively lower angle of attack relative to the air stream it
encounters. With a porous airfoil, the front airfoil generates only
a small amount of lift and the rear airfoil, encounters a
negligible amount of downwash, and thus has about the same lift
vector. The forces balance out over a wide speed range. The porous
floppy flying device of the present invention, with appropriate
inner and outer diameters, ratios of holes to airfoil surface, and
thickness (i.e., height) of annular rim, flies straight and true
without rolling from when it is released at a high launch speed
until it lands.
[0037] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the outer
diameters are approximately 11" and the inner diameters are 6".
More than approximately 15-20% of the surface area defined by the
inner and outer diameters is preferably given to air passage holes
and more preferably approximately 1/3 of this surface area is given
to air passage holes. The dimensions for the flying devices of
FIGS. 5-9 may be similar to those of FIGS. 1 and 2, though flying
devices size may vary widely. Proportionality is preferably
maintained.
[0038] While the invention has been described in connection with
specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is
capable of further modification, and this application is intended
to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention
following, in general, the principles of the invention and
including such departures from the present disclosure as come
within known or customary practice in the art to which the
invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features
hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the
invention and the limits of the appended claims.
* * * * *