U.S. patent application number 13/506052 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-26 for air swimming toy with driving device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Randy Cheng. Invention is credited to Randy Cheng.
Application Number | 20130252505 13/506052 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49212247 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130252505 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cheng; Randy |
September 26, 2013 |
Air swimming toy with driving device
Abstract
An air swimming toy includes a toy body, a driving device
including an air propeller supported at a bottom side of the toy
body for creating an air dynamic underneath the toy body, and a
remote controller remotely controlling the driving device to
operate the air propeller, wherein the air propeller is activated
to rotate in order to control an altitude of the toy body via the
air dynamic. In particular, when a controllable air pressure
underneath the toy body is lesser than a surrounding air pressure,
the toy body is elevated in the air, and when the controllable air
pressure is higher than the surrounding air pressure, the toy body
is dropped down in the air.
Inventors: |
Cheng; Randy; (San Gabriel,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cheng; Randy |
San Gabriel |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49212247 |
Appl. No.: |
13/506052 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/155 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 27/10 20130101;
A63H 2027/1066 20130101; A63H 30/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/155 |
International
Class: |
A63H 23/10 20060101
A63H023/10 |
Claims
1. An air swimming toy, comprising: a toy body arranged for being
floated in the air; and a driving device which comprises an air
propeller supported at a bottom side of said toy body for creating
an air dynamic underneath said toy body; and a remote controller
remotely controlling said driving device to operate said air
propeller, wherein said air propeller is activated to rotate in
order to control an altitude of said toy body via said air
dynamic.
2. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said toy
body further comprises a motorized unit operatively connected to
said air propeller to drive said air propeller to rotate for
creating a controllable air pressure underneath said toy body, in
such a manner that when said controllable air pressure is lesser
than a surrounding air pressure, said toy body is elevated in the
air, and when said controllable air pressure is higher than said
surrounding air pressure, said toy body is dropped down in the
air.
3. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 2, wherein said toy
body further comprises an operative housing coupled at said bottom
side of said toy body, wherein said air propeller is housed in said
operative housing such that said air propeller is activated to
create said controllable air pressure within said operative housing
in relation to said surrounding air pressure outside said operative
housing.
4. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 3, wherein said
operative housing has a plurality of side air vents and a plurality
of bottom air vents for enabling said air propeller to create a
difference between said controllable air pressure and said
surrounding air pressure.
5. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 2, wherein said
motorized unit comprises a driving shaft sidewardly extended with
respect to said toy body, wherein said air propeller is coupled at
said driving shaft to be rotated at a direction with respect to a
centerline of said toy body.
6. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 4, wherein said
motorized unit comprises a driving shaft sidewardly extended with
respect to said toy body, wherein said air propeller is coupled at
said driving shaft to be rotated at a direction with respect to a
centerline of said toy body.
7. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 2, wherein said
motorized unit is a DC motor and is controlled to generate a
reversible rotating power to selectively drive said air propeller
between two opposite rotating directions.
8. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 6, wherein said
motorized unit is a DC motor and is controlled to generate a
reversible rotating power to selectively drive said air propeller
between two opposite rotating directions.
9. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said remote
controller comprises a handheld control and a remote receiver
wirelessly connected to said handheld control to control an
operation of said air propeller, wherein said driving device
further comprises a battery compartment for replaceably receiving a
battery thereat to electrically connect to said air propeller.
10. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 8, wherein said
remote controller comprises a handheld control and a remote
receiver wirelessly connected to said handheld control to control
an operation of said air propeller, wherein said driving device
further comprises a battery compartment for replaceably receiving a
battery thereat to electrically connect to said air propeller.
11. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 3, wherein said
operative housing is shaped in an aerodynamic configuration to have
an enlarged head portion to receive said air propeller therein, an
elongated tail portion extended toward a tail portion of said toy
body, and a streamlined bottom surface extended from said head
portion to said tail portion for reducing an air drag of said
operative housing.
12. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 10, wherein said
operative housing is shaped in an aerodynamic configuration to have
an enlarged head portion to receive said air propeller therein, an
elongated tail portion extended toward a tail portion of said toy
body, and a streamlined bottom surface extended from said head
portion to said tail portion for reducing an air drag of said
operative housing.
13. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 4, wherein said toy
body further comprises a covering layer detachably coupled at said
bottom side of said toy body to cover said driving device, wherein
said covering layer is made of the same material and is configured
to have matched color of said toy body to hide said driving device,
wherein said covering layer has a plurality of through slots
aligned with said side and bottom air vents to communicate an
interior of said operative housing with an exterior thereof.
14. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 12, wherein said toy
body further comprises a covering layer detachably coupled at said
bottom side of said toy body to cover said driving device, wherein
said covering layer is made of the same material and is configured
to have matched color of said toy body to hide said driving device,
wherein said covering layer has a plurality of through slots
aligned with said side and bottom air vents to communicate an
interior of said operative housing with an exterior thereof.
15. A method of controlling an altitude of an air swimming toy,
comprising the steps of: (a) supporting an air propeller at a
bottom side of a toy body for creating an air dynamic underneath
said toy body, wherein said toy body is arranged for being floated
in the air; and (b) activating said air propeller to rotate in
order to control an altitude of said toy body via said air
dynamic.
16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein, in the step (a), an
operative housing is coupled at said bottom side of said toy body,
wherein said air propeller is housed in said operative housing such
that said air propeller is activated to create a controllable air
pressure within said operative housing in relation to a surrounding
air pressure outside said operative housing.
17. The method, as recited in claim 16, wherein said operative
housing has a plurality of side air vents and a plurality of bottom
air vents for enabling said air propeller to create a difference
between said controllable air pressure and said surrounding air
pressure.
18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein, in the step (b),
said air propeller is powered by a motorized unit which is a DC
motor and is controlled to generate a reversible rotating power to
selectively drive said air propeller between two opposite rotating
directions.
19. The method, as recited in claim 15, wherein said air propeller
is remotely controlled by a remote controller.
20. The method, as recited in claim 18, wherein said air propeller
is remotely controlled by a remote controller.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a remote controlled flying
toy, and more particular to an air swimming toy, wherein a driving
device of the air swimming toy is arranged for creating an air
pressure difference underneath the toy body to control the altitude
of the air swimming toy.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0004] A plurality of air-floating toys are known which are capable
of self-floating in the air and propelling in the air via a remote
control. In particular, the air-floating toys are driven by means
of a wiggling motion. However, the conventional air-floating toy is
hard to be controlled its direction and elevation. An improved
air-floating toy generally comprises a toy body, a driving
mechanism and a steering mechanism to control the altitude and the
direction of the air-floating toy respectively via a remote
controller.
[0005] The driving mechanism is affixed underneath the toy body to
control the altitude thereof, wherein the driving mechanism
comprises an elongated track member longitudinally affixed to the
bottom side of the toy body and a weight member sildably coupled
along the track member. When the weight member is controlled via
the remote controller to slide toward the head of the toy body, the
weight of the weight member is shifted frontwardly, so as to shift
the center of mass of the toy body frontwardly. Therefore, the toy
body is dropped downwardly to lower the altitude of the
air-floating toy. Likewise, when the weight member is controlled
via the remote controller to slide toward the tail of the toy body,
the weight of the weight member is shifted rearwardly, so as to
shift the center of mass of the toy body rearwardly. Therefore, the
toy body is elevated upwardly to increase the altitude of the
air-floating toy. However, the driving mechanism has several
drawbacks.
[0006] The track member must be securely affixed to bottom side of
the toy body. Preferably, a front end, a rear end, and a
mid-portion of the track member are glued to the toy body to form a
three-point support, such that the weight member can be
controllably slid between the front and rear ends of the track
member to select the shifting position of the weight member.
However, the track member cannot be secured to the bottom side of
the toy body. In other words, the track member can be easily
detached from the toy body when the toy body is drastically dropped
on the floor or by any strong impact. In addition, the weight of
weight member keeps shifting between the front and rear ends of the
track member, such that the sliding movement and the weight
shifting force will cause the track member detaching from the toy
body. Accordingly, if one point of the track member is disengaged
with the toy body, the weight member will be misaligned to slide at
the bottom side of the toy body. In worst case, if one of the front
and rear ends of the track member is detached from the bottom side
of the toy body, the weight member will not able to slide at the
track member to control the altitude of the air-floating toy.
[0007] Furthermore, the weight member comprises a gear wheel
powered by a battery to rotatably engage with a gear track along
the track member. The gear wheel is actuated to rotate via a motor
electrically connected to the battery. However, the actuation of
the gear wheel requires relatively higher electrical power such
that the weight member will run out of battery rapidly. An
unavoidable noise will be generated during the actuation of the
gear wheel.
[0008] The driving mechanism requires relatively larger
installation space at the bottom side of the toy body. As it is
mentioned above, the track member is longitudinally affixed to the
bottom side of the toy body at a position that the front and rear
ends of the track member are extended toward the head and tail of
the toy body respectively. The length of the track member must be
long enough in order for the weight member to slide therealong so
as to shift the weight back and forth. In other words, the size of
the driving mechanism cannot be minimized and the driving mechanism
will destroy the aesthetic appearance of the toy body especially
when the toy body floats in the air.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0009] The invention is advantageous in that it provides an air
swimming toy, wherein a driving device of the air swimming toy is
arranged for creating an air dynamic underneath the toy body to
control the altitude of the air swimming toy.
[0010] Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air
swimming toy, wherein an air pressure difference is created
underneath the toy body by the driving device to control the
altitude of the air swimming toy.
[0011] Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air
swimming toy, wherein the air pressure difference is created by an
air propelling force to control the altitude of the air swimming
toy.
[0012] Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air
swimming toy, wherein the driving device comprises an air propeller
to create the air propelling force underneath the air swimming toy
so as to control the altitude of the air swimming toy.
[0013] Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air
swimming toy, wherein the driving device is fixed at the bottom
side of the toy body without any moving or sliding part along the
toy body so as to prevent the driving device being detached from
the toy body accidentally.
[0014] Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air
swimming toy, wherein the size of the driving device is relatively
small to minimize the installation space at the toy body so as to
keep the aesthetic appearance of the air swimming toy.
[0015] Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air
swimming toy, wherein only the air propeller is driven to create
the air propelling force to minimize the noise from the driving
device during operation.
[0016] Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air
swimming toy, which does not require to alter the original
structural design of the toy body, so as to minimize the
manufacturing cost of the air swimming toy incorporating with the
driving device.
[0017] Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air
swimming toy, wherein no expensive or complicated structure is
required to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the
above mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention
successfully provides an economic and efficient solution for
providing a stable and silent operation for the driving device to
control the altitude of the air swimming toy.
[0018] Additional advantages and features of the invention will
become apparent from the description which follows, and may be
realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations
particular point out in the appended claims.
[0019] According to the present invention, the foregoing and other
objects and advantages are attained by an air swimming toy which
comprises:
[0020] a toy body arranged for being floated in the air;
[0021] a driving device comprising an air propeller supported at a
bottom side of the toy body for creating an air dynamic underneath
the toy body, and
[0022] a remote controller remotely controlling the driving device
to operate the air propeller, wherein the air propeller is
activated to rotate in order to control an altitude of the toy body
via the air dynamic. Accordingly, when a controllable air pressure
underneath the toy body is lesser than a surrounding air pressure,
the toy body is elevated in the air, and when the controllable air
pressure is higher than the surrounding air pressure, the toy body
is dropped down in the air.
[0023] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
present invention comprises a method of controlling an altitude of
an air swimming toy, comprising the steps of:
[0024] (A) supporting an air propeller at a bottom side of a toy
body for creating an air dynamic underneath said toy body, wherein
the toy body is arranged for being floated in the air; and
[0025] (B) activating the air propeller to rotate in order to
control an altitude of the toy body via the air dynamic.
[0026] Still further objects and advantages will become apparent
from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
[0027] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air swimming toy
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
illustrating the driving device being supported underneath the toy
body and being controlled by a remote controller.
[0029] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the driving device
of the air swimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates the air propeller within the operative
housing to create a difference between a controllable air pressure
and a surrounding air pressure as the air dynamic underneath the
toy body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, an air swimming
toy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated, wherein the air swimming toy comprises a toy body 10,
a driving device 20, and a remote controller 30.
[0032] The toy body 10 comprises a floating body 11 and a tail body
12 movably coupled with the floating body 11, wherein the floating
body 11 is filled with a particular gas, such as helium, in order
to float in the air. In particular, the toy body 10 further
comprises a valve 13 provided at the floating body 11 for filling
the gas thereinto. The floating body 11 is made of high quality,
durable nylon material that will stay inflated for a relatively
long period of time, such as a week. The gas can be refilled to the
floating body 11 via the valve 13 to inflate the floating body
11.
[0033] Accordingly, when the tail body 12 is moved in a wiggling
motion, the toy body 10 will move forward slowly and smoothly as
the swimming motion in the air. The tail body 12 is also formed as
a steering member of the toy body 10 that when the tail body 12 is
moved sidewardly, the toy body 10 will turn correspondingly.
[0034] The air swimming toy further comprises a steering device 40
provided at a connection between the floating body 11 and the tail
body 12 to drive the tail body 12 to move in a wiggling motion. In
other words, the steering device 40 not only forms a movable joint
to connect the tail body 12 to the floating body 11 but also forms
a propelling unit to drive and steering the toy body 10
forward.
[0035] The driving device 20 of the present invention is used for
controlling an altitude of the toy body 10 but not the forward
driving movement thereof. In other words, the driving device 20 of
the present invention is arranged for controllably elevating the
toy body 10 and for controllably dropping down the toy body 10.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the driving device 20 comprises an air
propeller 21, an operative housing 22 and a motorized unit 23
located underneath the toy body 10.
[0037] The air propeller 21 is supported at a bottom side of the
floating body 11 of the toy body 10 for creating an air dynamic
underneath the toy body 10. The air dynamic at the bottom side of
the toy body 10 will either create an upward elevating force to
elevate the toy body 10 or create a downward dropping force to drop
down the toy body 10. Accordingly, the air propeller 21 is
activated to rotate in order to control an altitude of the toy body
10 via the air dynamic, i.e. the up and down movement of the toy
body 10. The air propeller 21 comprises a plurality of
airfoil-shaped blades for transmitting rotational motion into
thrust. It is worth mentioning that the air propeller 21 is not
arranged for propelling the toy body 10 forward but for controlling
the altitude of the toy body 10. The air propelling terminology is
old and well known for propelling an object forward. For example,
an airship is propelled through the air using propellers or other
thrust mechanisms to move the airship forward. A helicopter is
propelled by rotary wing terminology to elevate the helicopter.
However, none of the existing object incorporates with the air
propeller 21 at the bottom side as the air swimming toy of the
present invention in order to control the altitude of the air
swimming toy.
[0038] The operative housing 22 is mounted at the bottom side of
the floating body 11 of the toy body 10, wherein the air propeller
21 is housed in the operative housing 22 to create the air dynamic
within the operative housing 22. In particular, the operative
housing 22 is shaped in an aerodynamic configuration, wherein the
operative housing 22 has an enlarged head portion 221 to receive
the air propeller 21 therein, and an elongated tail portion 222
extended toward a tail portion of the toy body 10, i.e. the tail
body of the toy body 10. The operative housing 22 further has a
curved front surface 223 at the front side of the head portion 221
and a streamlined bottom surface 224 extended from the head portion
221 to the tail portion 222 for reducing an air drag of the
operative housing 22.
[0039] The operative housing 22 further has a plurality of side air
vents 225 formed at two sidewalls of the head portion 221 and a
plurality of bottom air vents 226 formed at the bottom surface 224
at the head portion 221.
[0040] The motorized unit 23 is operatively connected to the air
propeller 21 to drive the air propeller 21 to rotate for creating a
controllable air pressure underneath the toy body 10 at the
floating body 11 thereof, wherein the motorized unit 23 comprises a
driving shaft 231 sidewardly extended with respect to the toy body
10 to couple with the air propeller 21. In particular, the air
propeller 21 is coupled at the driving shaft 231 to be rotated at a
direction with respect to a centerline of the toy body 10.
Preferably, the rotational direction of the air propeller 21 is
supported and aligned with the centerline of the toy body 10.
[0041] Accordingly, when the controllable air pressure is lesser
than a surrounding air pressure, the toy body 10 is elevated in the
air, and when the controllable air pressure is higher than the
surrounding air pressure, the toy body 10 is dropped down in the
air. It is worth mentioning that through the side air vents 225 and
the bottom air vents 226, the air propeller 21 can create a
difference between the controllable air pressure and the
surrounding air pressure. As shown in FIG. 3, the air propeller 21
within the operative housing 22 is activated to create the
controllable air pressure within the operative housing 22 in
relation to the surrounding air pressure outside the operative
housing 22.
[0042] According to the preferred embodiment, the motorized unit 23
is a DC motor and is controlled to generate a reversible rotating
power to selectively drive the air propeller 21 between two
opposite rotating directions. In other words, when the air
propeller 21 is driven to rotate at a forward direction, the
controllable air pressure will be reduced in the operative housing
22. When the air propeller 21 is driven to rotate at a backward or
reversed direction, the controllable air pressure will be increased
in the operative housing 22.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the driving device 20 further comprises
a battery compartment 24 for replaceably receiving a battery
thereat to electrically connect to the motorized unit 23 and to the
air propeller 21. The battery compartment 24 is provided at the
tail portion 222 of the operative housing 22. The driving device 20
further comprises a mounting platform 25 securely coupled at the
bottom side of the toy body 10 via glue, double-sided adhering
layer, hook and loop fasteners or the like. The mounting platform
25 provides a flat supporting surface that the motorized unit 23 is
mounted at the front portion to support the air propeller 21 and
the battery compartment 24 is provided at the rear portion of the
mounting platform 25. The operative housing 22 is detachably
coupled with the mounting platform 25 to enclose the air propeller
21, the motorized unit 23, and the battery compartment 24.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, the toy body 10 further comprises a
covering layer 14 detachably coupled at the bottom side of the toy
body to cover the driving device 20. Accordingly, the covering
layer 14 is made of the same material and is configured to have
matched color of the floating body 11 of the toy body 10 to hide
the driving device 20, as shown in FIG. 1, so as to keep the
aesthetic appearance of the toy body 10. It is worth mentioning
that the operative housing 22 is relatively small comparing with
the size of the toy body 10. Therefore, when the covering layer 14
is attached to the bottom side of the floating body 11 of the toy
body 10, the driving device 20 will be hidden by the covering layer
14. Preferably, the covering layer 14 is detachably attached to the
floating body 11 of the toy body 10 via hook and loop fastener, or
other detachable fasteners. In addition, the covering layer 14 has
a plurality of through slots 141 aligned with the side and bottom
air vents 225, 226 of the operative housing 22 when the operative
housing 22 is covered by the covering layer 14, such that when the
air propeller 21 is operated, an interior of the operative housing
22 is communicated with an exterior thereof.
[0045] According to the preferred embodiment, the remote controller
30 is remotely controlling the driving device 20 to operate the air
propeller 21. In particular, the remote controller 30 is wirelessly
control the driving device 20 and the steering device 40.
Therefore, the remote controller 30 is arranged to control the
altitude of the toy body 10 via the driving device 20, and is
arranged to control the steering and propelling of the toy body 10
via the steering device 40.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 30 comprises a
handheld control 31 and a remote receiver 32 wirelessly connected
to the handheld control 31, wherein the remote receiver 32 is
housed in the operative housing 22 and is operatively linked to the
motorized unit 23 to control an operation of the air propeller 31.
Preferably, the handheld control 32 is wirelessly linked to the
remote receiver 32 via radio frequency (RF) connection, Infrared
(IF) connection or other wireless connections. Accordingly, the
remote receiver 32 comprises a control circuit and a remote antenna
electrically coupled thereto, wherein the motorized unit 23 is
operatively coupled at the control circuit of the remote receiver
32. Therefore, when the remote receiver 32 receives a control
signal from the handheld control 31, the motorized unit 23 is
activated to control the operation of the air propeller 21. In
addition, the steering device 40 is also operatively linked to the
control circuit of the remote receiver 32, such that when the
remote receiver 32 receives a control signal from the handheld
control 31, the steering device 40 is activated to control the
steering and propelling operation of air swimming toy.
[0047] The present invention further provides a method of
controlling an altitude of the air swimming toy, comprising the
following steps.
[0048] (1) Support the air propeller 21 at the bottom side of the
toy body 10 for creating the air dynamic underneath the toy body
10. Accordingly, the toy body 10 is filled with the gas in order to
float in the air.
[0049] According to the preferred embodiment, the mounting platform
25 is affixed to the bottom side of the floating body 11 of the toy
body 10 such that the motorized unit 23 is coupled underneath the
toy body 10 to support the air propeller 21 at the bottom side of
the toy body 10.
[0050] The battery is placed at the battery compartment 24 to
electrically connect to the motorized unit 23. Then, the operative
housing 22 is coupled with the mounting platform 25 to enclose the
motorized unit 23 and the air propeller 21 within the operative
housing 22.
[0051] (2) Activate the air propeller 21 to rotate in order to
control the altitude of the toy body 10 via the air dynamic.
[0052] Once the power of the motorized unit 23 is switched on, the
air propeller 21 is activated to rotate when the remote receiver 32
receives the control signal from the handheld control 31. The air
propeller 21 will start to rotate to create the air dynamic within
the operative housing 22 for creating the controllable air
pressure. Through the difference between the controllable air
pressure and the surrounding air pressure, the toy body 10 will be
selectively elevated at a predetermined height. It is worth
mentioning that the toy body 10 will be elevated or dropped down
gradually and slowly through the air dynamic.
[0053] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment
of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described
above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
[0054] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present
invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It
embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of
illustrating the functional and structural principles of the
present invention and is subject to change without departure from
such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all
modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *