U.S. patent application number 12/033890 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-28 for toy aircraft.
Invention is credited to Adam G. Erickson, Alex J. Erickson, Randall T. Erickson.
Application Number | 20080207081 12/033890 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39716425 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080207081 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Erickson; Adam G. ; et
al. |
August 28, 2008 |
Toy Aircraft
Abstract
A toy glider aircraft is assembled using a recycled beverage
container. Portions of a box containing a plurality of the beverage
containers can include airplane parts such as wings and a vertical
stabilizer. Other parts for the toy glider can be fit to the glider
using the beverage container neck threads. The bottle can be formed
to resemble an aircraft fuselage.
Inventors: |
Erickson; Adam G.; (Wheaton,
IL) ; Erickson; Alex J.; (Wheaton, IL) ;
Erickson; Randall T.; (Wheaton, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE LAW OFFICE OF RANDALL T. ERICKSON, P.C.
1749 S. NAPERVILLE ROAD, SUITE 202
WHEATON
IL
60187
US
|
Family ID: |
39716425 |
Appl. No.: |
12/033890 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10839441 |
May 5, 2004 |
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12033890 |
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60467916 |
May 5, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
446/61 ;
446/75 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 27/001
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/61 ;
446/75 |
International
Class: |
A63H 27/00 20060101
A63H027/00 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. A toy kit comprising: a package comprising at least one planar
side wall; a plurality of beverage containers contained by said
package for retail sale of said plurality of beverage containers,
said package having a bottom for supporting said beverage
containers; and said at least one planar side wall having
designated thereon two wings configured for removal from said
planar sidewall and subsequent attachment to one of said beverage
containers; and wherein said one beverage container contained by
said package includes a surrounding sidewall with an outside
surface and said surrounding sidewall having pre-formed depressions
for attaching said two wings to said outside surface of said
surrounding sidewall after removal from said planar side wall, said
pre-formed means formed in unitary fashion with said surrounding
sidewall.
10. The toy kit according to claim 9, wherein said at least one
planar side wall comprises at least two parallel side walls, and
each side wall has designated thereon one wing for attachment to
said one beverage container.
11. The toy kit according to claim 9 wherein said package contains
at least four beverage containers.
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. A compact, easily assembled toy gliding aircraft, comprising: a
plastic bottle having a surrounding sidewall with an outside
surface and a neck terminating in a central opening, and a bottom;
a cap closing said neck, said bottle aerodynamically shaped to
first function as a beverage container and when empty function as a
toy glider, said bottle provided with first means for mounting
detachable wings to said outside surface of said sidewall, said
first means formed in unitary fashion with said sidewall;
detachable wings sized and shaped to be held by said means for
mounting to said bottle; wherein said plastic bottle comprises a
longitudinal axis extending from said bottom through said opening,
and when said axis is horizontal during flight, said wings extend
from said plastic bottle in a symmetrical, mirror image fashion
across a longitudinal vertical center plane through said axis; a
detachable vertical stabilizer attached to said outside surface of
the surrounding sidewall of the plastic bottle and extending
outward therefrom, and when said axis is horizontal during flight,
said vertical stabilizer being in said vertical center plane,
extending upwardly, and located equidistantly between said wings;
and second means for mounting the detachable vertical stabilizer to
said outside surface of said surrounding sidewall of said bottle,
said second means formed in unitary fashion with said sidewall.
16. The toy aircraft according to claim 15, comprising detachable
horizontal stabilizers, and means for mounting the detachable
horizontal stabilizers to said bottle.
17. The toy kit according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of
beverage containers comprises a plurality of plastic bottles each
containing a supply of beverage; and said at least one side wall
having designated thereon a vertical stabilizer for removal and
attachment to one of said plastic bottles.
18. The toy kit according to claim 17, wherein said at least one
side wall has designated thereon two horizontal stabilizers for
removal and attachment to said one of said plastic bottles.
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. A compact, easily assembled toy gliding aircraft, comprising: a
plastic beverage container having a substantially cylindrical
sidewall with an outside surface wherein said container comprises a
tapered neck terminating in a central opening, and a bottom,
wherein said cylindrical sidewall includes a plurality of
depressions formed into the sidewall for mounting wings; and a pair
of wings attached to said outside surface of said substantially
cylindrical sidewall of the beverage by at least partially fitting
into the depressions.
22. The toy aircraft according to claim 21, comprising a vertical
stabilizer attached to said outside surface of the substantially
cylindrical sidewall of the container by fitting into one of said
depressions and extending outward therefrom.
23. The toy aircraft according to claim 22, comprising two
horizontal stabilizers attached to said cylindrical sidewall by at
least partially fitting into two of said depressions.
24. (canceled)
25. The toy aircraft according to claim 21, wherein said plurality
of depressions comprises a longitudinally arranged slot on each
side of said sidewall, each slot for receiving one wing.
26. The toy aircraft according to claim 25 wherein said slot is
sized to resiliently grip said one wing when said wing is inserted
therein.
27. The toy gliding aircraft according to claim 21, further
comprising a nose cone section having a tapered profile, attached
to said neck to close said container.
28. The toy gliding aircraft according to claim 21, comprising a
closure for threaded mounting to said neck, a propeller and a
self-contained motive drive carried by said closure, and said
propeller mounted rotatably to said closure, said motive drive
connected to said container by being screwed onto said neck by
threads formed on an inside of said closure and threads formed on
an outside of said neck.
29. The toy aircraft according to claim 28, wherein said motive
drive comprises a support extending from said closure inside said
container and a rubber band connected to said propeller and to an
end of said support.
30. The toy aircraft according to claim 21, further comprising a
whistle component attached to said container, said whistle
component making a sound when said container glides through the
air.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application 60/467,916 filed May 5, 2003, and is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/839,441 filed May 5,
2004.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to toys and in particular to
toy aircraft.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is known to provide toy airplanes or toy gliders that
comprise a lightweight balsa wood frame and polymer, lightweight
wings. Such toy gliders are typically propelled into flight by a
thrust from movement of a person's arm. It is also known to provide
such gliders with a rubber band driven propeller for driving the
gliders through the air.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a glider or toy aircraft that
utilizes as a fuselage a recycled beverage container. Particularly,
a plastic beverage container, such as a soft drink plastic bottle,
is used. Cardboard, balsa wood, polymer, or other material wings
and a vertical stabilizer are attached to the beverage container to
configure the beverage container like an aircraft. The beverage
container, having a thin wall and being lightweight has surprising
aerodynamic capabilities when wings and vertical stabilizer are
added.
[0005] As a further refinement of the invention, the plastic
container can carry a rubber band driven propeller assembly, or
other type motive drive, which can be quickly mounted to the
container using the threaded neck of the container. As an alternate
to a rubber band drive, a fluid motor drive or a battery motor
drive can be fit into the container using the threaded neck of the
container.
[0006] As a further refinement of the aircraft, a nose cone can be
screwed onto the threaded neck of the container to further simulate
an airplane and to increase the aerodynamic capabilities of the
aircraft.
[0007] As a further refinement of the invention, a whistle device
can be formed into the nose cone. The whistle device is configured
such that travel of the aircraft through the air causes flow of air
through the whistling device to cause a whistling sound.
[0008] As a further refinement, the container can be pre-formed to
simulate the coloring or contour of a real life aircraft. The
container, for example, can have a preformed cockpit dome or
windows or can have the overall tapered shape of an aircraft.
[0009] As a further refinement, the container can be packaged for
sale in a box or package that includes integrated aircraft
components for attachment to one or more of the beverage
containers. The airplane components can be, for example, punch-out
portions of the box panels.
[0010] Alternately, the bottle could be a completely assembled,
aerodynamically shaped glider that first functions as a beverage
container and when empty functions as a toy glider.
[0011] Numerous other advantages and features of the present
invention will be become readily apparent from the following
detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof,
from the claims and from the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a toy aircraft according to
the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a right-side view of the aircraft of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary alternate right side view of the
aircraft of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment
nose cone section of the aircraft of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4A is a sectional view taken generally along line 4A-4A
of FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an alternate aircraft of the
invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an aircraft of the
invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a packaging arrangement of
beverage containers, the packaging including airplane
components
[0020] FIG. 8 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment
aircraft of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a right side view of the alternate embodiment
aircraft of FIG. 8;
[0022] FIG. 10 is an elevational view of another alternate
embodiment aircraft of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a right side view of the alternate embodiment
aircraft of FIG. 10;
[0024] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the alternate embodiment aircraft
of FIG. 10;
[0025] FIG. 13 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment
aircraft of the invention;
[0026] FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken generally along line 14-14
of FIG. 13; and
[0027] FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally
along lines 15-15 of FIGS. 13 and 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be
described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments
illustrated.
[0029] A toy aircraft, such as an airplane 30, of the invention is
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The airplane 30 comprises a plastic
beverage container 34 and add-on components. The add-on components
include wings 38, 40 (40 shown in FIG. 2), an engine section 44, a
vertical stabilizer 48, a cockpit section 52, and a nose cone 56.
The cockpit section 52 and the engine section 44 are substantially
decorative, particularly arranged to simulate actual aircraft
components.
[0030] The beverage container 34 is advantageously a soft drink
plastic bottle having a cylindrical section 58, and an elongated
tapered transition section 60 and a neck 61.
[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the preferred
dimensions of the cylindrical section 58 are about 4 inches long
and 2.75 inches in diameter. The preferred dimensions of the
tapered section are 3.25 inches long and 2.75 inches in large
diameter and 1 inch in small diameter. The plastic bottle can be a
lightweight, thin walled commercially available bottle, such as
that sold to package SUNKIST.RTM. soft drinks. This particular
bottle has a volume of about 20 fl. oz. (592 ml), and weighs about
1.1 ounces empty without its cap. Other commercially available
bottles could also work.
[0032] The wings and vertical stabilizer of the first embodiment
each have substantially the same shape, and have a dimension "a" of
about 3.75 inches and a dimension "b" about 4.75 inches. The wings
and vertical stabilizer are approximate right triangles with a
curved hypotenuse.
[0033] The wings and vertical stabilizer can be composed of
plastic, cardboard, wood, foam material, or any other material that
is relatively strong and lightweight to be useful on a glider.
[0034] The add-on components are preferably shaped and sized to add
to the aerodynamics of the airplane. The above dimensions for the
wings and vertical stabilizer are for the first prototype and
should not be considered to be optimized dimensions. Further
testing may ascertain better dimensions.
[0035] The components can also be shaped and sized such that the
airplane resembles any known, popular or historic aircraft. Thus,
the components can be shaped for example, to resemble World War II
airplanes, or the U.S. space shuttle, comic book hero aircraft, a
U.S. stealth fighter jet, etc.
[0036] The nose cone 56 is shape to provide an aerodynamic profile.
It preferably has inside threads that allow the nose cone to be
screwed onto the neck 61 of the bottle 34. The cockpit 52 can
include a clear plastic dome(s) mounted on a support plate that is
mounted to the container.
[0037] The wings and vertical stabilizer can be mounted in a
variety of ways. According to FIG. 1, the wings and vertical
stabilizer are connected by folded adhesive tape elements 76, 78
adhered on opposite faces of the wings and vertical stabilizer,
extending over the edges adjacent to the bottle 34. The tape
elements 76, 78 can be applied to the wings and vertical stabilizer
and cover paper can be removed from the adhesive tape elements to
expose the adhesive to be pressed to the container. Alternately,
the elements 76, 78 could be plastic pieces that are adhesively
secured to the wings and vertical stabilizer and then adhesively
secured to the container.
[0038] According to FIG. 3, the wings and vertical stabilizer are
mounted by being tightly fit between parallel ribs 82, 84 formed on
an outside of the container, that form a groove 85 therebetween.
Adhesive can be applied between the ribs 82, 84 to secure the
component to the bottle, or the groove 85 can be sized for the
component to be a snap fit therein.
[0039] Alternately, the wings and/or the vertical stabilizer could
be pre-fastened to a sleeve that fits over the bottle 34 and is
held in place by friction or adhesive.
[0040] Alternately, the wings and/or vertical stabilizer could be
pre-attached at base ends to the bottle 34 and rolled tightly
around the perimeter of the bottle and secured for shipping and
sale wherein the customer can thereafter deploy the wings and/or
vertical stabilizer by un-securing the wings or vertical stabilizer
and unrolling same from the bottle. The rolled wings preferably
have a material memory that allows them to be rolled out
substantially straight or otherwise at an aerodynamic profile. The
wings and/or vertical stabilizer can be secured with one or more
rubber bands or one or more pieces of tape.
[0041] The wings and/or the stabilizer can be secured using
slot-shaped depressions into the cylindrical section 58 as
described in FIGS. 13-15.
[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate nose cone 102 having a nose
cone portion 106 having internal threads 108 screwed onto a
container 34 (shown in phantom). A cockpit section 110 is unitary
with the nose cone portion 106. The cockpit section 110 includes a
clear dome 114 and a frustoconical skirt portion 112 which is sized
to be slightly elevated from a top surface 113 of the container,
forming a gap 115 on an end thereof. A whistle hole 16 through the
skirt portion 112 is in communication with a space 118 between the
skirt portion 112 and the top surface 113. During travel through
the air, air passes through the whistle hole 16, through the space
118 and out of the gap 115 causing a whistling sound. The skirt
portion can be contoured and/or elements, such as a reed element,
can be added to the whistle hole 116 or space 118 to enhance or
amplify the whistle sound.
[0043] Other known configurations for applying a toy projectile air
whistle are encompassed by the invention.
[0044] The nose cones described herein can be composed of plastic,
rubber, foam material, or other material.
[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates a further refinement of the invention
wherein motive components can be quickly added to the aircraft
described herein. A motive component 150 is connected to a threaded
closure 154 which is threaded to the container 34. The motive
component can fit inside the container, substantially out of sight.
A propeller 152 is driven by a member 154 which penetrates the
closure and is engaged to the motive component 150.
[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates the motive component 150 being a rubber
band assembly. A rubber band 160 is connected to the member 154,
extends to the end of a rigid support such as a cylinder 162,
wherein it is connected at an end 166 of the support. Winding of
the propeller repetitively twists the rubber band 160. Releasing
the propeller allows the rubber band to spin the propeller to cause
movement of the airplane in flight.
[0047] Alternately, the component 150 could be a motor and battery
assembly or a fluid motor such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,006,517 or 4,329,806 herein incorporated by reference.
[0048] FIG. 7 illustrates a packaging arrangement wherein beverage
containers 34 are packaged in a box 200 having cut out or punch out
portions of the box serve as add-on components to complete the toy
aircraft such as the wings 38, 40 and vertical stabilizer 48. A
cone section 204 can be provided to be rolled into a cone and
secured over the neck, in lieu of a screwed-on cone section.
Alternately, parts to assemble the toy aircraft can be packaged
separately within the box, or the box can provide punch out
patterns from which component parts can be made from other raw
materials.
[0049] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment wherein the
container 34' itself is pre-contoured during manufacture thereof to
resemble part of an aircraft, such as the fuselage a vintage or
modern jet fighter, or other aircraft such as the space shuttle. In
this regard the cock pit 52' and the vertical stabilizer 48' could
be formed as part of the hollow container and hold beverage. The
nose cone 106' could be the actual beverage containing cap screwed
onto the bottle neck 61'. Alternatively, the vertical stabilizer
48' and/or the cockpit 52' could be a separate panel or element
attached as described herein for previous embodiments.
[0050] As also shown in FIGS. 8-12, the bottle 34' can have an
aerodynamic shaping wherein the diameter D2 at a rear of the bottle
is less than a diameter D1 in a central region.
[0051] FIGS. 10-12 illustrate a variation to the embodiment
described above, in that horizontal stabilizers 302, 304 are
attached to a rear portion of the bottle using ribs 82, 84 as
described above. Alternately, the horizontal stabilizers 302, 304
could be attached in alternate fashion or formed with the bottle,
as described herein. The horizontal stabilizers 302, 304 can also
be provided packaged with, or as part of the box as shown in FIG.
7.
[0052] The wings and/or the stabilizer and/or horizontal
stabilizers can be secured using slot-shaped depressions into the
cylindrical section 58 as described in FIGS. 13-15.
[0053] As a further advantage, demonstrated in FIG. 12, advertising
or other message labels 310 can be applied to the aircraft parts,
such as to the wings 38, 40 and/or the stabilizers 302, 304,
48.
[0054] Alternatively to the above described embodiments, the bottle
34' could be a completely assembled, aerodynamically shaped glider
toy that first functions as a beverage container and when empty
functions as a toy glider.
[0055] As further refinements of the invention, the bottles
described above could be surface treated to allow the consumer to
apply stickers or to paint the bottle to resemble real aircraft. As
a further refinement of the invention, the bottles within a
package, or within different packages, could be different
collectible aircraft. As a further refinement of the invention, the
aerodynamic components such as the nose cone, wings and/or vertical
stabilizer could be sold at the beverage supply outlet on display
next to the beverage display, or sold in hobby shops or retail
stores.
[0056] A further construction detail is illustrated in FIGS. 13-15.
According to this alternate embodiment, the beverage container 34''
has preformed slot-shaped depressions 38a, 40a, 48a formed into the
cylinder 58'' to receive the add-on components such as wings 38, 40
and/or a vertical stabilizer 48, and/or horizontal stabilizers (not
shown). The slot-shaped depressions 38a, 40a, 48a are indentations
formed into the cylinder 58'' of the container 34'' such that the
slot-shaped depressions do not breach the sealed integrity of the
container, and its ability to hold liquid, and such that there are
no protrusions outside of the normal circular circumference of the
container 34' until the add-on components are installed. This
allows the containers 34'' to be packaged in a conventional closely
arranged fashion such as in a package shown in FIG. 7. Therefore,
ribs or other outward protrusions are not present to make packaging
more difficult.
[0057] The slot-shaped depressions can be formed during molding of
the container 34'' by plate-shaped molding protrusions that
protrude into the mold cavity which molds the container 34''. After
the molded container 34 solidifies or cools, the plate-shaped
protrusions can be retracted from the mold cavity to allow the
molded plastic container to be removed.
[0058] Although the entire width of the add-on components 38, 40,
48 are shown received within the slot-shaped depressions, it is
also possible that the add-on components can have one or more tabs
having a lesser width than the respective component, which tabs are
tightly fit into smaller slot-shaped depressions formed into the
cylinder 58''. Alternately, the slot-shaped depressions can be
cylindrically-shaped to receive plug-shaped dowels protruding from
the add-on component.
[0059] The slot-shaped (or other shape) depressions can be used to
replace the tape or ribs shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 7-12, which connect
the add-on components such as the wings, vertical stabilizer, or
horizontal stabilizers.
[0060] The slot-shaped (or other shape) depressions are sized to
tightly receive the add-on components in a resilient or gripping
fashion. In this regard, the slot-shaped (or other shape)
depressions can be slightly stretched to grip the add-on components
and/or the add-on components can be slightly squeezed by the
slot-shaped (or other shape) depressions. Alternatively, a snap-fit
or latching arrangement between the add-on components and the
slot-shaped (or other shape) depressions can be provided or
adhesive can be applied within the slot-shaped (or other shape)
depressions to fix the add-on components therein.
[0061] One advantage of all of the embodiments described herein for
attaching add-on components is the fact that the add-on components
can be attached without having to cut into the container cylinder
with a sharp knife or scissors. Furthermore, since the container
cylinder is not breached by the addition of the add-on components,
it is conceivable that the container can still be used as a
beverage container after the add-on components have been
attached.
[0062] From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous
variations and modifications may be effected without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that
no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated
herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course,
intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as
fall within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *