AU631348B2 - - Google Patents

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 631348

ORIGINAL

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OPOCIS

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Invention Title: A FLYING TOY S t car t* t l e 6 to t t L The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: GH&CO REF: 22272-A DAA/KLS i i 2 Iii Flying toys which glide during flight are commonly known in the art. Generally, the flight characteristics of these toys mimic that of man-made glider aircraft. An alternative to this type of flying toy is one which assumes the flight characteristics of a bird in flight.

That is, a flying toy which can mimic the action of the flapping of a birds wings.

The present invention relates generally to a flying toy constructed from foamed plastics materials which allow a flapping movement of the toys wings after launch.

The inventor of the present invention has discovered that a realistic flapping motion of the wing of a flying toy can be produced by providing a flying toy wherein the wing of the toy is constructed from foamed plastics S 15 materials having specific densities and thicknesses.

Therefore, in one aspect of the present invention there is provided a flying toy comprising a body portion and a wing portion, the wing portion being formed from sheet foamed plastics material having a density between 20 85 kg/m 3 and 130 kg/m3, and a thickness of between 2.1 mm and 4.2 mm. Most preferably, the foamed plastics *oo° material has a density of 110 kg/m3 and a thickness of 3.2 mm.

It is an advantage of the present invention that due 25 to the density and thickness of the wing portion a flapping motion of the wings of a flying toy embodying the present invention can be achieved when the toy is launched by a child, even at low velocities and over short distances.

A further advantage of the present invention is that foamed plastics materials used to manufacture the wing portion of the flying toy allow the use of bright colours to create a decorative marble effect. Foams of a lower density will not produce the same effect as colour dissipates to a paler shade during the manufacturing process.

22272-A/2904.92 ~1~-11.11-1 3 Still another advantage is the low cost to the manufacturer in the production of a flying toy embodying the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a two piece flying toy consisting of a die cut foam body and a die cut foam wing portion is provided. The flying toy is assembled by passing the wing section through the body by means of a slit. The slit being thin enough to allow a firm fit of the wing.

Moreover, the inventor has found that a body portion comprised of foamed plastics material having a density of between 20 kg/M 3 and 40 kg/m3 and a thickness of between 17 mm and 19 mm is effective in gripping the wing r a portion. Once the wing portion is inserted through the 15 body portion, the softer body foamed plastics material encloses around the edges of the harder wing portion, thereby increasing the grip with which the wing portion is held.

The inventor has also found that a body portion comprised of foamed plastics material having this density and thickness provides aerodynamic stability to the flying toy during flight.

Preferably, the body of the flying toy is planar, elongated in shape and possesses an upturned, long tapered tail which acts as a rudder and aerofoil during flight. While a long tail is a preferred feature it is not essential to the working of the invention.

Generally, a shorter tail section results in the flying toy dropping to the ground over a shorter distance.

Furthermore, any number of body shapes for a flying toy embodying the present invention may be envisioned including parrot, fish and pig shapes.

In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention a balance weight is located in a forward section of the body to provide balance to the flying toy during flight. Preferably the balance weight is cylindrical in shape.

22272-A/29.04.92 4 While the balance piece acts to increase stability of a flying toy embodying the present invention during flight, it is a preferred feature only and is not essential to the working of the invention. The actual weight of the balance piece is important only in so far as performance of the flight is concerned. The heavier the weight the further the distance flown.

The foamed plastics materials from which the toy is manufactured are generally light weight and therefore can be damaged by improper handling. As the flying toy is intended to be used by children it is advantageous to design a flying toy embodying the present invention with a system for catching the toy which limits or prevents damage to the toy by accidental or unintentional actions.

Many catching systems can be envisioned, however a preferred system is one utilising a hook tape/loop tape system. Such a system is commonly known as the velcro adhesive system.

the preferred system, loop tape is attached to a forward portion of the flying toys body while hook tape is attached to a catching device. Alternatively, the hook tape may be attached to the toy and the loop tape to 0. the catching device. In practice, the flying toy is caught when the loop tape affixed to the toy contacts the 25 hook tape affixed to the catching device thereby 4 immobilising the flying toy on the catching device.

Therefore, in a most preferred embodiment the body of the flying toy is designed with a flat nose section enabling the attachment of loop tape. The loop tape may also be attached to a flat underside section of the toy to provide an auxiliary catching area.

The catching device may be either a separate hand held part or a target fixture.

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to preferred, non-limitative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show: 22272-A/29.04.92 5 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembled flying toy embodying the present invention; Figure 2a is a side view of the body portion of the flying toy of Figure 1; Figures 2b and 2c are side views of alternative body portions suitable for use in a flying toy embodying the present invention; Figure 3 is a side view of the wing section of the flying toy of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the balance piece and cap pieces of the flying toy of Figure i; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the flying toy of Figure 1 showing a preferred method for catching the o flying toy in flight; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a flying toy embodying the present invention illustrating the movement of the wing section during flight in three stages.

According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 a flying toy having a planar, elongated body portion 1 and 20 a planar wing portion 2 is provided. Wing portion 2 is inserted through slit 3 in body portion 1 so that a portion of wing section 2 extends equally from either side of body portion 1. The wing portion 2 extending from body portion 1 is substantially perpendicular to the plane of body portion 1.

o Wing portion 2 is formed from sheet foamed plastics material having a thickness of between 2.1 mm and 4.2 mm and a density of between 85 kg/m 3 and 130 kg/3, preferably, wing section 2 is manufactured from a polyethylene E.V.A. mix foam material. Most preferably, the foamed plastics material has a density of 110 kg/m 3 and a thickness of 3.2 mm. It has been found that selection of the density and thickness specified gives the desired flapping action of the wings in flight.

Preferably, body portion 1 is formed from foamed plastics material having a thickness of between 17 mm and 19 mm and a density of between 20 kg/m3 and 40 kg/n 3 22272-A/29.04.92 I I '1 6 KThe flying toy of Figure 1 has an upraised, long tapered tail section 4 which acts as a rudder and aerofoil section to provide increased stability to the flying toy during flight. Figure 2b and Figure 2c however show other body portion shapes which can be utilised in a flying toy embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of body portion 1. Body portion 1 has a slit 3 which has small holes 8 located at opposite ends of slit 3. Slit 3 is preferable to a conventional slot as a firmer grip on the wing section 2 can be achieved. Small holes 8 at the end of slit 3 o prevent tearing during assembly. Die cut opening 9 allows insertion of cap pieces 6 and 7, shown in a perspective view in Figure 4 which maintain balance piece o 15 5 in position during the flight and landing of the toy.

o Cap pieces 6 and 7 are preferably cylindrical in shape, are sealed at one end and have a flange portion located at the sealed end to maintain balance piece 5 in position.

Balance piece 5 lies inside female cap piece 7 which is inserted through opening 9. Male cap piece 6 secures balance piece 5 in position when the cylindrical portion S.11 of cap piece 5 is inserted between an inner surface of female cap piece 7 and balance piece Preferably, cylindrical portion 11 of male cap piece 6 has four slits 12 and is of such a diameter then when inserted into female cap piece 7 cylindrical portion 11 is compressed to produce a tight fit. Preferably, cap pieces 6 and 7 are plastic and preferably, are glued or sonic welded together to form a sealed unit to maintain the position of balance piece 5 in body portion 1.

Body portion 1 has a first, straight, flat front edge section 13, lying in the plane of body portion 1 and substantially perpendici.lar to slit 3, for the attachment of loop tape 14 for the purpose of catching the flying toy by contact with hook tape 17 on a catching device 16.

An auxiliary catching area comprising a second straight, flat, underside edge section 15, with loop tape 22272-A/29.04.92 L 7 14 attached, lying in the plane of the body portion 1 and substantially parallel to slit 3 is also provided.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view illustrating a preferred method for catching a flying toy embodying the present invention in flight. The flying toy has loop tape 14 attached to first straight flat front edge section 13 and second straight flat underside edge section 15. The flying toy is immobilised on catching device 16 when it contacts hook tape 17.

The wings of a flying toy embodying the present invention flap during the flight of the toy. Figure 2a-c show a perspective view of a preferred embodiment during flight. The movement of wing portion 2 is illustrated in three stages.

Although the invention has been described hereinbefore relative to embodiments, numerous variants and modifications are possible without leaving the scope of the invention.

IC C j_ i! 22272-A/29.04.92

Claims (3)

1. A flying toy comprising a body portion and a wing portion, the wing portion being formed from sheet foamed plastics material having a density between 85 kg/m 3 and 130 kg/m 3 and a thickness between 2.1 mm and 4.2 mm.

2. A flying toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body portion is formed from sheet foamed plastics material having a density of between 20 kg/m 3 and 40 kg/m 3 and a thickness between 17 mm and 19 mm, and wherein a slit is formed through the body portion, the wing portion passing through the slit and protruding from either side of the body portion.

3. A flying toy as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a nose area of the body portion is provided with hook tape or loop tape adapted to engage and be held by complementary loop tape or hook tape affixed to a catching device. DATED this 24th day of September 1992 PETER FISH By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO 2-A/24.09.92 r_ 7 -c~ ABSTRACT A flying toy having a wing portion which moves in a flapping motion during flight, the wing portion is comprised of a foamed plastics material having a density between 85 kg/m 3 and 130 kg/m 3 and a thickness between 2.1 mm and 4.2 mm. 0 ococ ~so~ s 0 ii i -i 1 0 3 UO 00 0~(11 ~rJ001)9 0 00 UD 0 IO ~BDI ~D 0 9 00 oaD 0 0100 ~bOO BO 0 1)00 Os~

22272-A/29.04.92