U.S. patent number 3,673,732 [Application Number 05/081,104] was granted by the patent office on 1972-07-04 for aerial toy.
Invention is credited to Lance A. Liotta.
United States Patent |
3,673,732 |
Liotta |
July 4, 1972 |
AERIAL TOY
Abstract
An aerial toy comprising a disc-like body having aerodynamically
shaped surfaces adapted to be rotated about a center axis to which
is connected an elongated elastic tether. The surfaces are shaped
so as to provide lift during rotation about the axis and during
lateral movement through the air in a direction perpendicular to
the axis whereby the free end of the tether can be held and the
disc thrown for flight away from and back to the user.
Inventors: |
Liotta; Lance A. (East
Cleveland, OH) |
Family
ID: |
22162113 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/081,104 |
Filed: |
October 15, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/46;
473/576 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
33/18 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
33/00 (20060101); A63H 33/18 (20060101); A63h
027/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/47,50,74R,74B
;273/95A,99 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Louis G.
Assistant Examiner: Cutting; Robert F.
Claims
I claim:
1. An aerial toy including a body having upper and lower surfaces
with an axis about which the body is adapted to rotate, said axis
extending generally through the center of mass of said body and
said upper and lower surfaces defining air foil surfaces including
at least one first air foil surface portion for producing lift on
said body due to rotation of said body about said axis and at least
one second air foil surface portion generally at right angles to
said first portion for producing lift on said body due to
translation of said body through air in a direction generally
perpendicular to the axis; and,
a tether connected to said body at a point generally on said
axis.
2. The aerial toy defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of
said tether is capable of substantial longitudinal elastic
deformation.
3. The aerial toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and
second air foil surface portions are formed by a common
surface.
4. The aerial toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said tether is
connected at a point beneath the plane of rotation of said body and
extends over the upper surface of said body.
5. The aerial toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said air foil
surface portions are part of a continuous surface.
6. The aerial toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said tether is
capable of substantial elastic deformation throughout a major
portion of its length.
7. The aerial toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and
second air foil surface portions are on separate sections of said
body.
8. The aerial toy as described in claim 1 wherein said body has at
least two sets of said first and second air foil surface portions
located symmetrically on said body.
9. An aerial toy comprising a disc-like body having upper and lower
surfaces which define air foil surfaces capable of producing lift
due to translation of the body through the air in a direction
perpendicular to the plane of rotation; and,
a tether capable of substantial elastic elongation connected to the
body at a location generally on the axis and whereby the user can
hold a free end of the tether and throw the body with a spinning
action to cause it to spin with its plane of rotation generally
horizontally and translate through the air until the tether
overcomes the force imparted to the body to cause it to return to
the user, the air foil surfaces combined with the gyroscopic action
of the body causing it to maintain stable flight.
10. The aerial toy as defined in claim 9 wherein said body includes
at least two sets of air foil surfaces and wherein said axis passes
through the center of gravity of said body.
11. The aerial toy as defined in claim 9 wherein said body has a
generally oval shape with said air foil surfaces being at the
narrow ends of oval.
12. The aerial toy as defined in claim 9 wherein said tether is
connected at a location at or below the plane of rotation.
13. The aerial toy as defined in claim 9 wherein the body is
symmetrical about a plane in which said axis lies.
14. The aerial toy as described in claim 9 wherein said tether
passes over the upper surface of said body and is connected to said
body through a swivel joint.
Description
The present invention is directed to the toy art and, more
particularly, to an improved tethered-type aerial toy.
Various saucer or disc-type aerial toys are well known. Normally,
they are thrown generally horizontally with a spinning motion and
have a drifting or somewhat floating flight path. The path of
flight is affected by the manner in which the disc is oriented when
thrown, and the direction of the prevailing wind or air currents.
Although the discs can be thrown in a manner to cause them to curve
substantially during flight, only in rare instances is it possible
to have the discs return to the thrower.
The subject invention provides a disc-like aerial toy which can be
thrown or used for playing catch like a standard disc-type toy.
Preferably however, it is tethered on an elastic band so that it
returns to the thrower. The toy has aerodynamic characteristics
such that even when tethered, it retains its generally horizontal
orientation during flight away from the thrower, as well as, during
return.
The toy formed in accordance with the invention has the
characteristic such that when once thrown with a substantial spin,
it can make repeated passes past the thrower. The toy flies with
full aerodynamic stability to opposite sides of the thrower to the
full extent permitted by the elastic band. The total flight time
depends to a large extent upon the amount of spin originally
imparted to the disc; however, flights of a duration of up to one
minute are entirely possible.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the
aerial toy comprises a generally disc-like body having upper and
lower surfaces which define air foil surfaces adapted to provide
lift both during rotation of the disc about a central axis
generally perpendicular to the plane of rotation, as well as during
translation of the body through the air in a direction generally
perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Connected over the upper
surface of the body at a point generally on the axis and somewhat
at or below the general plane of rotation is an elongated tether at
least a portion of which is capable of substantial elastic
elongation.
In using the toy, the free end of the tether is held in one hand
and the body is held in the manner of a standard flying saucer disc
and thrown with a snap of the wrist to impart substantial spin to
the body. The combination of the air foil surfaces produces lift
which maintains the disc elevated during motion through the air.
The normal gyroscopic action of the body spinning about its central
axis maintains the body on stable flight as it stretches the
tether. When the force of the tether is sufficient to overcome the
motion of the disc in the translatory direction, the disc is
returned under the influence of the elastic tether in a direction
generally toward the user. At the point where the disc has stopped
moving in the thrown direction and begins moving in the reverse
direction, the lift surfaces which produce lift during rotation
maintain the disc stable and generally level until, on the return
under the influence of the elastic tether, the other lift surfaces
combine to add further lift. As can be appreciated, if sufficient
spin is imparted to the body, the body can make several passes away
from and back to the thrower. At all times, the disc maintains
generally stable, horizontal flight.
The advantages of this type of aerial toy are obvious. For example,
the toy can be thrown at a target after which it will return in
stable flight to the thrower. Alternately, the device can be used
like an aerial yo-yo and merely thrown and allowed to pass beyond
the thrower on its return flight after which it will return back
past the thrower in generally the original thrown direction.
The primary reason for the stable flight is the inherent gyroscopic
action plus the combination of lift surfaces producing lift
components at right angles to one another to provide lift both
because of rotation and because of horizontal translation through
the air. This, together with the attachment of the tether at a
point preferably on the axis of rotation but beneath the general
plane of rotation, produces an extremely stable flight path
throughout the motion of the disc.
Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is the provision of
a tethered aerial toy which maintains stable flight characteristics
throughout several reversals of flight direction.
Yet another object is the provision of an aerial toy which has
unusual aerodynamic characteristics and produces an extremely
unusual flight path.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a toy of the
type described which can be flown with substantial stability in
many directions.
Yet another object is the provision of a toy of the type described
which is extremely simple to use and can be manufactured relatively
inexpensively.
These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from
the following description when read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of an aerial toy
formed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a disc of the type shown in FIG. 1 being
used with the dotted line showing a typical repetitive flight
path;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of aerial toy formed
in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 1
showing the air foil surfaces; and,
FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views taken on line 7--7 and 8--8
of FIG. 5 showing the right angle air foil surfaces which produce
the unusual aerial action.
Although, as will become apparent from the following description,
the aerial toy can have many specific shapes and configurations
provided certain criteria are met, FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrates
the preferred form of aerial toy or disc formed in accordance with
the invention and embodying the important features of the
invention. Referring in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3, it will be
seen that the device comprises a generally oval, disc-like body 10
preferably formed from a single sheet of plastic of relatively
uniform thickness. The particular material from which the body is
formed and the method used to form it are not important and any
standard materials and forming methods can be used. For example,
plastic, fiberboard or the like can be used.
The body 10 has a central opening 12 which extends completely
therethrough. In the embodiment shown, the body 10 is symmetrical
relative to a center line 14 and has a pair of relatively wide air
foil surfaces 16 and 18 formed at the narrow ends of the oval body.
As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the air foil surfaces 16
and 18 have a compound curvature such that when the body is rotated
about a central axis 20, a lift component is produced over the air
foil surfaces 16 and 18 due to rotation of the disc member about
axis 20. Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that in a plane
parallel to axis 20 and 14, the disc has a convex curvature best
shown in FIG. 3. Note that the top surface of the portions 16 and
18 is convex such that during rotation of the member, air passing
over the surfaces must travel a greater distance than that passing
under the disc to provide a low pressure zone with consequent
lift.
In addition to the lift produced by the air foil surfaces 16 and 18
during rotation, lift is also produced merely because of
translation through the air in a direction perpendicular to axis
20. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that in planes
perpendicular to axis 14 and parallel to axis 20, the surfaces have
a convex configuration. Therefore, as the disc moves through the
air, air passing in the direction shown by the arrows produces a
lift irrespective of the amount of spinning. The surfaces 16 and 18
are thus seen to have the ability to provide lift from movement of
the body either spinning or translating.
As is apparent from the foregoing, the body 10 has an aerodynamic
shape such that when the upper surface is oriented generally
horizontally, it achieves lift from both spin about axis 20 and
translation through the air in a direction perpendicular to the
axis 20. This permits the structure thus far described to be used
generally in the manner of a standard flying saucer or flying
disc-type toy; however, in accordance with the preferred embodiment
of the invention, an elongated elastic tether or band member is
connected to the body at a particular location. As best shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, a support member 24 is positioned across the open
center portion 12 and has a swivel connector 26 positioned at its
center which corresponds to the axis 20. The elastic band or tether
member 28 is connected to the upper end of swivel 26. It will be
noted that the point of connection 30 is shown slightly below the
center of mass and general plane of rotation 34 of the air foil
surfaces 16 and 18 when revolving about axis 20. It has been found
that, so long as the connection point 30 is generally at or below
the plane 34, the device will function in the intended manner.
Referring again to the tether member, it should be understood that
the entire length of the tether does not have to be elastic.
Preferably, however, at least a major portion of it should be
capable of substantial elongation and, in the preferred embodiment,
approximately six feet of natural rubber band of the type used in
model planes is used.
To understand the operation of the device, reference is made to
FIG. 4 which shows in plan view a user holding one of the disc
members 10 in his right hand and holding the free end of the tether
28 in his left hand. This is the typical position preparatory to
throwing or launching the disc. With the right hand, the disc is
thrown so that its general plane of rotation is substantially
parallel to the earth with a spinning action as is generally done
with a standard flying saucer-type device. The disc 10 sails away
along the path 34 spinning about its axis 20 and stretching the
tether 28. When the throwing force imparted to the disc member 10
is overcome or balanced by the resistance to further elongation of
the tether 28, the horizontal translation of the disc along the
path 34 ceases and reverses due to the forces exerted by the band
28. If, at this time, a slight tug is applied to the band, the disc
will sail back along the path 36 past the thrower to the opposite
side. During the movement along path 34 to the end point 35, lift
is generated both by the rotation and the horizontal translation as
described in the detailed description of FIGS. 1 and 2. At its end
point 35, the horizontal translation has ceased and the lift is
generated by the rotation. The rotation is sufficient to maintain
the disc in an elevated position of stability. As the disc begins
moving back along the path 36, additional lift is generated by the
translation through the air. Throughout the movement along paths 34
and 36, the disc maintains its horizontal orientation. Through the
normal gyroscopic action of this general class of device, stability
is maintained.
The repeated passes past the thrower will continue so long as the
device has a spinning motion. It has been found that flights for as
long as one minute are possible provided that a substantial spin is
imparted to the disc with the original throwing. Additionally, it
should be understood that the disc can merely be thrown out and
caught on the return flight along path 36 if desired. Further, the
device can be used for various games, such as aerial fights, target
shooting and the like. The important feature of the device is its
ability to maintain flight stability both during movement away from
the thrower, at its end point of outward flight, and throughout its
return flight to or past the thrower.
Although, as will be apparent, many configurations could provide
the desired combination of lift surfaces to assure lift both
because of rotation and translation, and such other arrangements
are within the scope of this invention, the particular embodiment
shown has the following dimensions which have been found to be
extremely satisfactory. These dimensions are not intended to limit
the invention but merely to detail one specific structure which has
been found to have exceptional flight characteristics.
1/16" Thick Polystyrene Plastic
Weight 5 1/4 oz.
A 9"
b 6 3/4"
c 5 1/8"
d 9/16"
e 1/2"
f 1 7/8"
g 1 1/16"
merely by way of further explanation, FIGS. 5 through 8 show a
second embodiment of the device which has been found to be
extremely stable in flight and capable of use in the manner
described with reference to the FIGS. 1 through 3 embodiment.
Referring in particular to FIGS. 5 and 6, the device is shown as
comprising a somewhat disc-like body 40 formed from a single piece
of relatively thin plastic or the like and including three radially
extending legs or vanes 42. Legs or vanes 42 are preferably
uniformly spaced and of identical size and shape. Each of the legs
42 has throughout its length, the cross-sectional shape shown in
FIG. 8. Note that the upper surface is convex so that when the body
40 spins about the axis 44, lift is generated by the legs 42. At
the outer ends of each leg 42 is a vane or wing portion 46 which is
generally perpendicular to the axis of the legs 42. The wing of
each end portion 46 has a cross-section best shown in FIG. 7. It
will be noted that this portion is convex about an axis
perpendicular to the axis of the associated leg 42.
The vanes 46 generate lift due to translation of the device through
the air in a direction perpendicular to axis 44. Thus, this
embodiment utilizes two separate surfaces to generate the combined
lift generated by the single surfaces 16 and 18 in the FIGS. 1
through 3 embodiment. Further, it should be understood that
although the vanes or wing portions 46 are shown located
symmetrically at the ends of the legs 42, they could be offset in
either direction or formed as a continuous curved end on legs
42.
In the FIGS. 5 through 8 embodiment, the elastic tether is
connected in generally the same manner as in the FIGS. 1 through 3
embodiment. Note that a tether 50 formed from a rubber or elastic
strip or band is connected at the juncture between the legs 42. It
can be seen that this connection point is somewhat below the center
of mass of the device. Although a swivel is not shown, one could be
used if desired. Further, a wire or the like could extend upwardly
from the center point for connection to the elastic tether. It is
important however, that the point at which the forces are applied
to the device from the band be somewhere at or slightly below the
plane of rotation 52.
In using the device, it is preferably held and thrown in the same
manner described with reference to the FIGS. 1 through 3
embodiment.
Although the device has been described with reference to two
specific embodiments, it should be understood that many
modifications in overall configuration can be made without
departing from the scope of the invention. Merely by way of example
but not intending to limit the invention, it should be understood
that the device of FIG. 5 could have the vane portions 46
continuous about its periphery and take the shape of a flat
upwardly convex annulus. Also, for example, the device could be
made adjustable so that variations in the relative orientation of
the components could be adjustable to vary the flight
characteristics as desired.
In addition to variations in general overall configuration, it
should be appreciated that the device could be modified in many
other ways. For example, bells, whistles, streamers and the like
can be added to the device to change its visual and sound
characteristics. Further, it can be manufactured in many colors and
color combinations. It should also be understood that the devices
can be sold or used alone or in combination with other types of
game materials and devices.
The invention has been described with reference to preferred
embodiments however, these embodiments are not to be construed as
limiting the invention except so far as set forth in the appended
claims and having thus described my invention.
* * * * *