U.S. patent application number 14/094886 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-04 for individual and assembleable flying toys.
This patent application is currently assigned to SWEET SPOT STUDIO, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Sean Mullaney, Sweet Spot Studio, Inc.. Invention is credited to Sean Mullaney, Jon Vanderbeek.
Application Number | 20150151209 14/094886 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53264202 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150151209 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vanderbeek; Jon ; et
al. |
June 4, 2015 |
INDIVIDUAL AND ASSEMBLEABLE FLYING TOYS
Abstract
In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a
top portion, a bottom portion, and a tail portion interconnecting
to form a central body section, a nose section, a tail section, and
a pair of wings. The airplane further includes at least one
aperture and at least one connector projection positioned on the
airplane, the connector projection configured to engage an
aperture, of the at least one aperture, positioned on a second
similarly configured airplane such that multiple similarly
configured airplanes can be connected to form a larger single
flying vehicle.
Inventors: |
Vanderbeek; Jon; (Saugatuck,
MI) ; Mullaney; Sean; (Cincinnati, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mullaney; Sean
Sweet Spot Studio, Inc. |
Saugatuck |
MI |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
SWEET SPOT STUDIO, INC.
Saugatuck
MI
|
Family ID: |
53264202 |
Appl. No.: |
14/094886 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/61 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 27/001
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 27/00 20060101
A63H027/00 |
Claims
1. A toy airplane comprising: a top portion, a bottom portion, and
a tail portion interconnecting to form a central body section, a
nose section, a tail section, and a pair of wings; wherein, the top
portion having defined thereby a top body section, a top front nose
section, a top rear tail section, and a pair of top wings extending
outwardly from the top body section, and wherein the bottom portion
having defined thereby a bottom body section, a bottom front nose
section, a bottom rear tail section, and a bottom pair of wings
extending outwardly from the bottom body section; at least one
projection and at least one corresponding opening positioned on the
top and bottom portions and configured to interconnect such that
the at least one projection is received through the corresponding
opening; at least one aperture positioned on the at least one
projection, wherein the at least one aperture is positioned through
the at least one corresponding opening; and at least one connector
projection positioned on the airplane, the connector projection
configured to engage an aperture, of the at least one aperture,
positioned on a second similarly configured airplane such that
multiple similarly configured airplanes can be connected to form a
larger single flying vehicle.
2. The airplane of claim 1, wherein: the top portion further having
a first opening positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the
airplane, and wherein the first opening has a first end about the
top rear tail section and the first opening has a second end distal
to the first opening first end and positioned about a midsection of
the top portion; and the bottom portion further having a first
projection extending upwardly from the bottom portion and
positioned and sized to fit within the first opening, and wherein
the first projection includes rear and forward flanges extending
outwardly to engage edges defined on the first opening when the top
and bottom portions are assembled.
3. The airplane of claim 2, wherein the first projection includes a
rear aperture sized to receive a connector projection.
4. The airplane of claim 1, wherein: the top portion further
includes a pair of second openings separately positioned along the
side wings, each of the second openings includes a second opening
first end adjacent the first opening and a second opening second
end distal to the second opening first end and positioned adjacent
to the wing ends; and the bottom portion includes a pair of second
projections extending upwardly from the bottom side wings and sized
to within the second projections
5. The airplane of claim 4, wherein each of the second projections
includes a wing aperture sized to receive a connector
projection.
6. The airplane of claim 1, wherein: the top portion further
includes a third opening positioned towards the front nose of the
top portion and the bottom portion includes a third projection
positioned about the bottom front nose section and sized to fit
within the front opening.
7. The airplane of claim 2, wherein the tail portion includes a
lower extended portion sized to fit into a central channel formed
along an upper portion of the first projection.
8. An toy airplane comprising: a central body section, a nose
section, a tail section, and a pair of wings; and at least one
aperture positioned about the airplane and at least one connector
projection positioned on the airplane, the connector projection
configured to engage an aperture, of the at least one aperture,
positioned on a second similarly configured airplane such that
multiple similarly configured airplanes can be connected to form a
larger single flying vehicle.
9. The toy airplane of claim 8 further comprising: at least three
apertures separately positioned about the tail section and on each
of the wings; and at least three connector projections separately
extending from a bottom portion of the airplane about the nose
section and on each of the wings.
10. The toy airplane of claim 9 further comprising: a top portion,
a bottom portion, and a tail portion interconnecting to form the
central body section, the nose section, the tail section, and the
pair of wings; wherein, the top portion having defined thereby a
top body section, a top front nose section, a top rear tail
section, and a pair of top wings extending outwardly from the top
body section, and wherein the bottom portion having defined thereby
a bottom body section, a bottom front nose section, a bottom rear
tail section, and a bottom pair of wings extending outwardly from
the bottom body section; and at least three projections and at
least three corresponding openings positioned on the top and bottom
portions and configured to interconnect such that the at least
three projections are received through the corresponding
openings.
11. The airplane of claim 10, wherein: the three openings are
defined to include: a first opening positioned along a central
longitudinal axis of the top portion, and wherein the first opening
has a first end about the top rear tail section and the first
opening has a second end distal to the first opening first end and
positioned about a midsection of the top portion; a pair of second
openings separately positioned along the side wings, each of the
second openings includes a second opening first end adjacent the
first opening and a second opening second end distal to the second
opening first end and positioned adjacent to the wing ends; a third
opening positioned towards the front nose of the top portion; and
the three projections are defined to include: a first projection
extending upwardly from the bottom portion and positioned and sized
to fit within the first opening, and wherein the first projection
includes rear and forward flanges extending outwardly to engage
edges defined on the first opening when the top and bottom portions
are assembled; a pair of second projections extending upwardly from
the bottom side wings and sized to within the second projections;
and a third projection positioned about the bottom front nose
section and sized to fit within the third opening.
12. The airplane of claim 11, wherein the first projection includes
a rear aperture sized to receive a connector projection and wherein
each of the second projections includes a wing aperture sized to
receive a connector projection.
13. The airplane of claim 10, wherein the tail portion includes a
lower extended portion sized to fit into a central channel formed
along an upper portion of the first projection.
14. The airplane of claim 12, wherein the nose section includes a
connector projection extending downwardly from the lower portion of
the airplane.
15. The airplane of claim 14 further comprising a removable
weighted section having an aperture sized to receive the connector
projection.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to toy airplanes.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] While toy airplanes are well known and well developed there
is always a continual need for improvements. The present invention
improves upon the typical toy airplane by adding features that can
be used to enhance the enjoyment and increase activities available
with the use of the toy airplane.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a toy airplane in accordance with one embodiment
of the present invention. The toy airplane includes a toy airplane
having in one embodiment a top portion, a bottom portion, and a
tail portion interconnecting to form a central body section, a nose
section, a tail section, and a pair of wings. The top portion has
defined thereby a top body section, a top front nose section, a top
rear tail section, and a pair of top wings extending outwardly from
the top body section, and wherein the bottom portion has defined
thereby a bottom body section, a bottom front nose section, a
bottom rear tail section, and a bottom pair of wings extending
outwardly from the bottom body section. At least one projection and
at least one corresponding opening positioned on the top and bottom
portions are provided and configured to interconnect such that the
at least one projection is received through the corresponding
opening. In addition, at least one aperture is positioned on the at
least one projection, such that the at least one aperture is
positioned through the at least one corresponding opening. At least
one connector projection is also positioned on the airplane. The
connector projection is configured to engage an aperture, of the at
least one aperture, positioned on a second similarly configured
airplane such that multiple similarly configured airplanes can be
connected to form a larger single flying vehicle.
[0004] In another embodiment, the top portion further has a first
opening positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the
airplane, and the first opening has a first end about the top rear
tail section and the first opening has a second end distal to the
first opening first end and positioned about a midsection of the
top portion. The bottom portion would further have a first
projection extending upwardly from the bottom portion and
positioned and sized to fit within the first opening. The first
projection includes rear and forward flanges extending outwardly to
engage edges defined on the first opening when the top and bottom
portions are assembled. In another aspect of this embodiment, the
first projection includes a rear aperture sized to receive a
connector projection.
[0005] In another embodiment, the top portion further includes a
pair of second openings separately positioned along the side wings,
each of the second openings includes a second opening first end
adjacent the first opening and a second opening second end distal
to the second opening first end and positioned adjacent to the wing
ends. The bottom portion would thus include a pair of second
projections extending upwardly from the bottom side wings and sized
to within the second projections. In another aspect of this
embodiment, each of the second projections includes a wing aperture
sized to receive a connector projection.
[0006] In yet another embodiment, the top portion further includes
a third opening positioned towards the front nose of the top
portion and the bottom portion includes a third projection
positioned about the bottom front nose section and sized to fit
within the front opening.
[0007] In another embodiment there is provided an toy airplane
having a central body section, a nose section, a tail section, and
a pair of wings. In addition, at least one aperture is provided and
positioned about the airplane with at least one connector
projection also positioned on the airplane. The connector
projection configured to engage an aperture, of the at least one
aperture, positioned on a second similarly configured airplane such
that multiple similarly configured airplanes can be connected to
form a larger single flying vehicle.
[0008] Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will
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
[0009] A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an airplane in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of an airplane
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a top portion component of
an airplane in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom portion component
of an airplane in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the bottom portion
component of an airplane in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of multiple planes
interconnected to define a larger flying vehicle of an airplane in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of a portion
of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many
different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be
described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the
present invention. It should be understood, however, that the
present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the
principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit
or scope of the invention and/or the embodiments illustrated.
[0018] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, there is provided a toy
airplane generally referenced as 100 and defined in accordance with
one of the embodiments of the present invention. Airplane 100
generally includes a central body section 112, a nose 114, a tail
section 116, and a pair of wings 118. The airplane 100 is further
and generally defined in includes 3 components, a top portion 120,
a bottom portion 150, and a tail portion 180. The top portion 120
includes a body 122 with a front nose 124, a rear tail 126, and
side wings 128. Each wing may further include an upwardly turned
wing tip 129.
[0019] To secure the bottom portion 150 to the top portion, the
body 122 includes openings that interconnect with projections on
the bottom portion 150. More particularly, the top portion 120 has
a first opening 130 positioned along the central longitudinal axis
of the airplane 100. The first opening has a first end 132 about
the rear tail 126 and a second end 134 about a midsection 136 of
the top portion. A pair of second openings 138 is separately
positioned along the side wings 128. Each of the second opening 138
includes a first end 140 adjacent the first opening 130 and a
second distal end 142 adjacent the wing tips 129. In addition, each
of the second distal ends 142 of the second openings is slightly
enlarged in comparison to the rest of the second opening, as
further defined and discussed below. A third opening 144 is
positioned towards the front nose 124 of the top portion.
[0020] The bottom portion 150 similarly includes a bottom body
portion 152 with a bottom front nose section 154, a bottom rear
tail section 156, and bottom side wings 158. In addition, the
bottom portion 150 includes a first projection 160 extending
upwardly from the bottom portion 150 and sized to fit within the
first opening 130. The first projection 160 further includes rear
and forward flanges 162 that extend outwardly from the first
projection 160 and secure about edges defined on the first opening.
The first projection 160 further includes a rear aperture 166
extending into the first projection adjacent the bottom rear tail
section 156 and further includes a central channel 168, defined in
greater detail below.
[0021] The bottom portion 150 includes a pair of second projections
170 extending upwardly from the bottom side wings 158 and sized to
fit within the second openings 138. Each of the pair of second
projections 170 include a side wing aperture 172 extending into the
second projection adjacent the wing tip 129. When assembled, the
side wing apertures 172 will fit through the slightly enlarged
second distal ends 142. In addition, the bottom portion 150
includes a third projection 174 positioned about the bottom front
nose section 154 and sized to fit within the front opening 144. The
third projection 174 may include a front rounded portion 176 to aid
in the aerodynamics of the airplane 100.
[0022] Lastly, the tail portion 180 includes a lower extended
portion 182 that is sized to fit into the central channel 168 on
the first projection.
[0023] Extending downwardly from the bottom portion 150 is at least
one connector projection 190 that is sized to frictionally engage
the various apertures (i.e. the rear aperture 166 and/or either
side wing apertures 172) on a similarly designed airplane. In one
embodiment, there are three connector projections 190, one
positioned adjacent the front nose section 154 and one positioned
on each of the side wings 158. The bottom portion 150 may further
include a launch clip 192 that includes a downward flange 194 that
is able to latch to an end of a rubber band. The user holding the
rear of the airplane with one hand and the opposite end of a rubber
band with the other end can stretch the rubber band and release the
plane launching the plane into flight.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, multiple airplane 100 are shown
in accordance with the embodiments presented herein. Each airplane
is configured to include at least one connector projection 190 and
at least one aperture. The planes can then be easily secured to
each other to create a single larger flying vehicle. As illustrated
in FIG. 6, in one other embodiment the tail section 180 may include
a cut out portion 181 adjacent the rear aperture 166, to more
easily permit the nose of a second plane to connect to the rear
aperture 166. In this instance the tail section 180 hangs over a
portion of the nose 174. A weighted nose attachment 200 may also be
provided with a aperture 202 to attach to the front airplane to
provide a balanced weight when additional airplanes are
attached.
[0025] In addition, the projections are further sized to fit snugly
into the openings such that when assembled the components do not
easily fall apart.
[0026] From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be
observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected
without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of
the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with
respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is
intended or should be inferred.
* * * * *