AU2323601A - Toy - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 REGULATION 3.2 Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor/s: Address for Service: FRANK STREIT FRANK STREIT E.F. WELLINGTON

CO.,

Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, 312 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Southbank, Victoria, 3006.

Invention Title:

"TOY"

Details of Associated Provisional Applications Nos: The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us.

Toy The invention refers to a toy in the form of a flying top comprising a flat body with at least an area nearby the center of gravity and at least one planar extension having a free end, and to a method for starting that peg.

It is known that a body rotating at high speed around its own axis has a great positional stability. This principle is used e.g. to give the well-known "Frisbee" disk its stability in flight. However, this principle applies not only to rotationally symmetrical bodies, but also to the highly crooked boomerang used by the Australian aborigines e.g. for hunting. Such a boomerang has the additional advantage that its usually asymmetric shape causes it to change direction in flight, so that, ideally, one can catch the returning boomerang. The boomerang is therefore a very nice toy which, in 15 contrast to the "Frisbee" disk, one can even throw and catch without a partner and constitutes an entertaining pastime. On the other hand, both "Frisbee" and **°**boomerang require a vast open space, as their flight paths are very long. Particularly in large cities, such vast open space is hard to find, so that children growing up there often have no opportunity to play with these interesting flying objects. Even in the event that sufficient open space is available, "Frisbee" and boomerang require S. reasonably nice, not too windy weather, as.they can only be thrown outdoors.

On the other hand, rules for building small planes from paper are known, which do not destroy an obstacle in case of collision. The orientation of such flying objects is only stabilized by the airflow during flight so that they can stay airborne only if they have been started with a sufficiently high translatory velocity, too. Therefore, the pleasure in such flying objects is always of very short duration and interrupted by the necessity of fetching the flying object at a distant place of the room.

From that circumstances results the problem of developing a flying toy that can be used indoors without danger for persons and objects and can fly at a slow velocity with stable behavior so that even in a narrow space a flight of long duration can be achieved.

The solution of this problem is possible with a toy according to claim 1.

Both boomerangs and "Frisbees" are held at their periphery with one hand and then thrown away forcefully with a movement of the arm. This momentum sends them in a fast rotation, which is essential for their stability in flight. Inevitably, the flying object also receives a great impulse, so that it flies away at high speed and, in the event that it hits an obstacle, can seriously damage that object or even be destroyed itself.

As these characteristics, which are a disadvantage for playing narrow space, result from the impulse energy incurred when starting, the invention described here uses a different principle: The center of gravity of the flying object is supported on a resting body and then pushed in tangential direction in at least one peripheral point, so that a high torque will send the light-weight body in a fast rotary movement without a too great flying impulse. To achieve this, the inertia of masses of the invented flying .object is relatively large compared to its moment of inertia, so that the greater part of 15 the starting energy is translated into a rotary movement and only a relatively small part into the forward movement. This results from the geometry of the flying top with .oo* its wing-like extension, as this ends in a peripheral tip, which supplies a relatively low moment of inertia, but still contributes to the inertia of masses of the whole object. It is of key importance for this invention that the mass of the invented toy lies close to 20 its center of gravity, while the mass in the periphery is significantly lower. This results 0. from the free end of the wing-like extension, whereas e.g. a Frisbee disk has a rim all round. While other flying objects are stabilized by a peripheral ring connecting several wing-like extensions, the invention described here has no such ring in order to reduce the moment of inertia as far as possible. Moreover, the free end of the 25 wing-like extension is of key importance for starting the invented flying object. In case of a ring shape, it would be almost impossible to induce a tangential torque.

A peripheral stabilization element is not needed because the base of the flat body, including all extensions, is limited by a smooth curve. As the wing-like extension(s) verge(s) into the flat body without any notch, the invented flying object is comparatively stable, particularly around the wing(s), so that no peripheral rings or the like are needed to stabilize it (them). Another measure helping to stabilize the invented flying object is that the cross-section of the wing-like extension tapers barely or not at all around its center of gravity compared with the peripheral area.

The inherent stability of the invented structure can be further improved if the flat body has a diameter of between 2 cm and 10 cm. With such a small diameter, the forces acting upon the wing-like extension during the flight are relatively small, so that a peripheral stabilization can be omitted.

Furthermore, the invention provides for a thickness of the flat body of 0.1 mm to 3 mm, preferably 0.2 mm to 1 mm, ideally 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm. The required thickness results primarily from the stability requirements to the invented flying object and possibly from factors related to the production.

A light, stable material, particularly plastic, should be the material of choice for the invented flying object. Moreover, such a plastic material is already corrosion-proof oO*.

without any further treatment, so that production costs are reduced to a minimum. As 15 the desired color can already be achieved by adding pigments to the e.g. granulated raw material, the object will not need to be colored afterwards. Selecting a suitable material will also make sure that it contains no toxic substances and thus poses no risk for playing children, even if they should try to take such a toy into their mouths.

"Furthermore, the invented object was deliberately dimensioned with a diameter that makes it impossible to swallow the toy.

addition, the invention makes it possible to punch out the flat body, including the wing-like extensions, in one piece from a rigid film. This production method proceeds from a film-like intermediate product, so that the further production steps can be done 25 with simple tools, which permits a production at particularly low cost.

The further concept of this invention, that the wing-like extension(s) diverge about radially from the center of gravity of the flat body, make use of the fact that the shortest connection between two points is a straight line. The radial arrangement of the wing-like extensions creates a connection between the wing's peripherals and the centroidal area of the flying object with the least possible material requirement and thus with a low moment of inertia.

The invention can be further developed in that the wing-shaped extension(s) has (have) a base with a curved perimeter. By bending the wing-like extensions e.g. in their peripheral area, the lift generated there can be increased, as the bent wing areas result in a greater wing cross section in that area. If there are several wings, they should all be bent in the same direction, against the preferred rotation direction, in order to improve flying properties, especially flight stability.

As the surface of the wing-like extension(s) is slightly inclined in relation to the base of the flat body, similar to a propeller, the invented toy can draw on its rotational energy throughout the entire flight to accelerate the molecules of the surrounding air downwards and thus generate an ascending force according to Newton's law of reaction an ascending force that balances the weight of the invented toy, so that it can stay in the air even at minimal translation speed. Similar to a helicopter, this oe-o.

results in optimal properties when flying at low speed, which is of particular 9 15 importance for use indoors. The inclination of an extension in relation to the base of the flat body may be between 50 and 300, preferably between 100 and 200.

The inclination of the wing-like extension(s) in relation to the base of the flat body can be achieved by shaping the plastic film. For this purpose, the punched-out body can be heated (at least partially) and thus temporarily transformed in a plastic state.

When cooling down, it can be forced into the desired shape.

The flying properties of the invented toy depend on a number of fringe conditions.

Particularly fluidic factors must be taken into account. Therefore not all feasible S 25 shapes of the flat body are fit to fly. On the basis of further studies, the inventor designed various categories of flying objects that have particularly favorable flying qualities due to their shape.

The first variant has a second planar extension offset by about 100 to 900, preferably by 300 to 600, opposite to the preferred direction of rotation. This extension serves to stabilize the position of the actual lifting wing, which should ideally be longer, and thus ensures stable flight. The advantage of this variant is that only one lifting wing plus a stabilizing wing are necessary, which further reduces the moment of inertia. A high torque can apply on the comparatively long lifting wing, so that this structure can be sent in a particularly strong rotary movement, take up a high quantum of rotational energy at the start and thus can stay in the air for a particularly long time.

Another category of flying toys is characterized by several wing-like extensions in rotationally symmetric positions to the center of gravity of the flat body or laterally inversed to an axis running through that center of gravity. In this case, the flying object owes its stable flying qualities to a symmetric geometry. At the same time, the center of gravity is positioned favorably approximately in the middle of the flat body.

The flying qualities of the rotationally symmetric variant can be further perfected if the wing-like extensions, offset against each other in identical angles, lead away from the center of gravity of the flat body. This results in an approximately star-shaped structure, while the individual beams can follow a curved line.

15 In this variant, the center of the object generates no ascending force, so that there can be a centric recess surrounded by the closed ring of the flat body. As this ring takes over the connection and stabilization of the wing-like extensions, the center of the object can be omitted as largely neutral, which further reduces the moment of inertia of this structure. Moreover, this ring-shaped structure makes it possible to *ooo 20 decouple the wings to a very large extent, so that the inclination of a wing can be achieved with the simplest means.

o.

It can be achieved e.g. if the closed ring of the flat body is undulated in tangential direction. Due to this undulation, the protruding wings will have an incidence, which 25 provides an ascending force during flight.

The inclination angle of the wing-like extensions can be determined as the number of undulations of the closed ring is equivalent to the number of extensions, and the phases of the points from which the wings diverge are shifted against the undulations. Thus, the wing-like elements themselves need not be deformed, so that a highly symmetrical structure can be achieved even with the simplest tools.

To start the invented flying top, the centroidal area of the flat body is placed on a convex surface, e.g. a knuckle. Then one extension of the flat body is flicked with a finger in roughly horizontal direction, so that the body is sent in a fast rotation. A gyro force then stabilizes the orientation of the object, and a propeller-like effect of the extensions may exert a supporting vertical force, so that the object flies away in a stable manner with a relatively slow translatory velocity and remains airborne for a long duration.

This method is suitable for operating the flying top indoors. As a particularly slow translation movement is desired, the invented flying top is chipped only at one peripheral end. The large torque applying in this case results in a fast rotary movement, while the horizontal accelerating force, which results in a translation movement, is relatively low. This is achieved by the shape of the extension generating the ascending force, especially by a rearward rim of such extension, especially of a distal part thereof, having a section with a tangent extending towards the center of gravity or even in front of this point, seen in direction of movement of S 15 that jerked extension. This gives a maximum resulting torque at a definite jerk, allowing an optimum ratio VR/vT between rotational speed VR o r and translatory S* speed vT.

Further features, details, properties and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention S with regard to the enclosed drawings, whereby: Fig. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of the invention; S 25 Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention at the same view as Fig.

1; Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention at the same view as Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a further modified embodiment of the invention at the same view as Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a view on Fig. 2 in direction of arrow V.

Fig. 1 shows the flying top 1 in original size. It is made from 0.2 mm plastic film and therefore extremely lightweight; it weighs only about 0.5 g. It has a ring-shaped body 2 with three preferably wing-like extensions 3 positioned at intervals of 1200 around the center of the ring. Like the ring 2, the wing-like extensions 3 are about 0.6 cm to 1.0 cm wide. At the junction 4, the wing-like extensions 3 at first diverge radially, before gradually bending by about 900. At their ends, they are approximately coaxial to the ring 2. They end in wing tips 5 limited by a roughly semi-circular curve. The flying top 1 has a preferred rotation direction 7 which goes approximately from the free end 5 of a wing 3 to its junction 4 with the ring.

The entire border line 6 of the flying object 1 is extremely smooth and strongly rounded particularly around the junctions 4, so that there are no notches that might impair stability. The ring 2 is undulated along its perimeter with an approximately sinusoidal amplitude. One undulation period is equivalent to one-third of the ring 15 perimeter, so that a total of three undulations occur along this perimeter. The undulation of the ring 2 is dephased against the wings 3 in such a way that there is a maximum of the wave amplitude 9 on the front side 8 of each wing-like extension 3, while the following minimum 11 is located on the back side of the wing 10. For this •reason, the ring 2 is inclined downward at the junctions 4 between a front side 8 and a back side 10 of a wing. This inclination affects the otherwise planar wings 3 into their tips 5. Consequently, all wings 3 are inclined against the turning direction 7, i.e.

.*•downwards from their junctions 4 on the ring 2 to their free ends 5. If the flying top 1 rotates at high speed in direction of the arrow 7, the wing-like extensions 3 displace the air downwards, which results in an opposite ascending force for the flying top 1.

25 Due to the extremely low weight of the flying top 1, it can stay in the air for a very long time and even gain height continuously over a long period of time.

In the variant shown, the central recess 12 inside the ring 2 has a diameter of about 22 mm, so that the center of gravity in the middle of this recess 12 is only 11 mm away from the nearest border line 13. Thus the ring 2 of the flying top 1 can be placed on a knuckle or a crooked finger, where it is additionally centered. Then the one of the free ends 5 of the wing-like extensions 3 is chipped with a finger of the other hand and the flying top 1 is thus sent in a fast rotational movement.

If the flying top 1 is placed on a flat surface for starting, some of the energy absorbed from chipping is converted into a translation movement, so that the flying top 1, barely slowed down due to the low air resistance, flies away. If, however, the flying top 1 is placed over a crooked finger, it cannot fly away when it is chipped, but only gets a fast rotational movement and rises vertically, similar to a helicopter.

Embodiment 21 of a flying peg, which is shown in Fig. 2, differs from embodiment 1 mainly in that the central body does not have the shape of a ring, but roughly that of a disk. Again, three wings 23, offset by 1200 each, diverge from this central area 22.

Again, these wings 23, which diverge in the shape of a star, are bent from their longitudinal axes, which are approximately radial at the junctions 24, in an approximately tangential axis direction close to their peripheral ends 25. Here, too, the rim or edge 26 is completely rounded, so that no notches impair the stability of the flying top 21. The preferred direction of rotation 27 also runs from the wing tips to the preceding junctions 24.

can be seen from the lateral view in Fig. 5, the wings 23 are also inclined against the base 28 of the flying top 21. This is achieved by an undulation of the center part 22 particularly at the junctions 24. The undulation is such that the wings 23 are inclined downwards from their front edge 29 in turning direction 27 to their rear edge 30. When the flying top 21 is turning fast 27, the air molecules are accelerated and the flying top 21 receives an ascending force which provides it with optimal flying qualities. In contrast to embodiment 1, as shown in Fig. 1, however, this flying top 21 cannot be centered e.g. on a knuckle, so that it receives a translation movement in 25 addition to the rotational movement when it is chipped.

While the flying objects described above 1, 21 have a rotationally symmetric base, the third flying top 31 instead has a basic shape that is symmetric to a central axis 32, as three different wings 35, 36, 37 are joined to a disk-shaped central body 34 close to the center of gravity 33. While two wings 35, 36 have an approximately angled shape and are joined to the central body 34 around one of their sides, the third wing 37 has the shape of a triangle, one side of which is joined to the central part 34. Cross-section, diameter and weight are roughly equivalent to versions 1 and 21. All wings 35, 36, 37 are surrounded by a rounded edge or border line 38. The preferred turning direction 39 of this flying top 31 is clockwise. Accordingly, the wings 36, 37 are inclined downwards opposite to this turning direction 39 in order to generate the ascending force needed for a long flight. Like in the previously described variants 1, 21, the inclination of the wings 35, 36, 37 is relatively flat and lies approximately between 5' and 150. Also with this embodiment 31, it is not possible to start vertically, but owing to its differently shaped wings 35, 36, 37, it can be chipped in different spots 40, 41, 42 which have different distances to the center of gravity 33. With the same start impulse, the start energy is thus divided into different rotary and translation movements for each wing, so that one can achieve a slow and rising flight as well as a fast and, due to the low rotary speed, slowly descending flight.

Finally, embodiment 51 of the flying top, as shown in Fig. 4, is completely unsymmetrical. Roughly speaking, this embodiment consists of a central part 52 in 9 the shape of a ring segment comprising a central angle of 600, with a main wing 54 in front in the rotating direction 53 protruding roughly perpendicularly, an auxiliary wing *55 offset by around 30 and a third steering or stabilization wing 56. While the surface of the auxiliary wing 55 is about 80% to 90% of that of the main wing 54, the ,ooooo .•99 •steering wing 57 is relatively small with a surface of only about 10% to 20%. In this variant, the main wing 54 can be designed for maximum rise, the steering wing 56 ensures a stable flight, similar to the horizontal tail unit of an aircraft, and the auxiliary wing 55 has been optimized to be used preferably for starting. The preferred flying speed of this flying top 51 can be adjusted by the ratio of the lengths of main wing 54 and auxiliary wing 55. It has turned out that optimal long-distance flying qualities can 0 °9 25 be achieved with a wing length ratio of 5:4.

As various changes could be made in the above-described constructions of the toy and the methods of use of the toy without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above-description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

With reference to the use of the word(s) "comprise" or "comprises" or "comprising" in the foregoing description and/or in the following claims, unless the context requires otherwise, those words are used on the basis and clear understanding that they are 11 to be interpreted inclusively, rather than exclusively, and that each of those words is intended to be so interpreted in construing the foregoing description and/or the following claims.

The matter contained in each of the following claims is to be read as part of the general description of the present invention.

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Claims (22)

1. Toy in the form of a flying top (1;21;31;51) comprising a flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) with at least an area nearby the center of gravity (33) and at least one planar extension (3;23;35;54-56) having a free end (5;25;35), characterized in that the maximum distance r between the peripheral rim and the center of gravity the mass m and/or the mass of inertia 0 of the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) are defined in such manner that the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) can be laid with its area near the center of gravity onto a convex arched surface, especially onto a finger knuckle, where it can be given a fast rotatory motion o (co 300 rpm) (7;27;39;53) by flipping or jerking with a finger in a horizontal and tangential direction against the free end (5;25;35) of an extension (3;23;35;54-56), while it receives only a slow translatory motion VT (VT c so that its horizontal 15 orientation is spin-stabilized and results in an air cushion carrying the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) during its flight.

2. Toy according to claim 1, characterized in that the rim of the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) including all extensions (3;23;35;54-56) is limited by a smooth curve (6,13;26;38).

3. Toy according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) has a diameter of between 3 cm and 10 cm, preferably between 4 cm and 8 cm, ideally between 5 cm and 7 cm.

4. Toy according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) has a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, preferably between 0.2 mm and 1 mm, ideally between 0.3 mm and 0.7 mm.

Toy according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the toy is made from a light, stable material, particularly a plastic material.

6. Toy according to claim 5, characterized in that the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) including the extensions (3;23;35;54-56) is made, particularly punched out, from a rigid film.

7. Toy according to any one of the above claims, having a total weight of not more than 1 g.

8. Toy according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that at least one extension (3;23;35;54-56) diverges about radially from the center of gravity (33) of the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56).

9. Toy according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that at least one extension (3;23;35;54-56) has a base with a convex perimeter. 15

10. Toy according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the 9. surface of at least one extension (3;23;35;54-56), similar to a propeller, is inclined against the base (28) of the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56).

11. Toy according to claim 10, characterized in that the angle of inclination is between 20 and 200, preferably between 50 and 150.

12. Toy according to claim 10 or 11, in combination with claim 6, characterized in that the inclination of the extension(s) (3;23;35;54-56) is achieved by a preferably thermal deformation of the plastic film.

13. Toy according to any one of the above claims, characterized by a second flat extension (55,56) offset by about 100 to 120', preferably by 300 to 900, behind the first extension (54) in the preferred rotation direction (53).

14. Toy according to any one of the above claims, with several extensions (3;23;35-37) positioned in a rotationally symmetrical structure around the center of gravity (33) of the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) or laterally reversed to an axis (32) running through this center of gravity.

Toy according to claim 14, characterized in that the extensions (3;23;35) diverge from the center of gravity (33) of the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54- 56), offset from each other at identical angles.

16. Toy according to claim 14 or 15, characterized by a central recess (12) surrounding the center of gravity (33) located inside the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56), which recess is surrounded by a closed ring of the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56).

17. Toy according to claim 16, characterized in that, in the area of the closed ring the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) has an undulated shape along a tangential direction (9,11).

18. Toy according to claim 17, characterized in that the number of undulations 15 (9,11) of the closed ring is equivalent to the number of wing-like extensions (3;23). 9*

19. Toy according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the center *o of gravity (33) of the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) lies within that body (centroidal area (2;22;34;52)) or in a distance of not more than 2 cm, preferably not more than 1.5 cm, ideally not more than 1.2 cm from it.

Method for starting a flying top (1;21;31;51) according to any one of the above *claims, characterized in that 25 a) the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) is laid with its area near the center of gravity (33) onto a convex arched surface, especially onto a finger knuckle, b) the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) is imparted a fast rotatory motion co (o 300 rpm) (7;27;39;53) by flipping or jerking with a finger in a horizontal and tangential direction against the free end (5;25;35) of an extension (3;23;35;54-56), while it receives only a slow translatory motion VT (VT co r), I c) so that its horizontal orientation is spin-stabilized and results in an air cushion carrying the flat body (2,3;22,23;34,35;52,54-56) during its flight.

21. Toy according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

22. Method according to claim 20, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED this day of February 2001 00 .0 0 0* S Oe 0 S S. S OS 05 0@ OS @5 0 S. S S S 5@ 555050 0 @000 5 0005 55 55 SSS* 0 6055 6S 5 0005 00 0 00 00 FRANK STREIT, By his Patent Attorneys, E. F. WELLINGTON CO., Y: ktruce vveiiington) BA.2654