EP0462968B1 - Jouet volant en forme d'anneau - Google Patents

Jouet volant en forme d'anneau Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0462968B1
EP0462968B1 EP19890909995 EP89909995A EP0462968B1 EP 0462968 B1 EP0462968 B1 EP 0462968B1 EP 19890909995 EP19890909995 EP 19890909995 EP 89909995 A EP89909995 A EP 89909995A EP 0462968 B1 EP0462968 B1 EP 0462968B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
toy
toy according
web
air
boundary structure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19890909995
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0462968A1 (fr
EP0462968A4 (fr
Inventor
David E. Silverglate
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
OddzOn Products Inc
Original Assignee
OddzOn Products Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by OddzOn Products Inc filed Critical OddzOn Products Inc
Priority to AT89909995T priority Critical patent/ATE98501T1/de
Publication of EP0462968A4 publication Critical patent/EP0462968A4/fr
Publication of EP0462968A1 publication Critical patent/EP0462968A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0462968B1 publication Critical patent/EP0462968B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/18—Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to flying toys.
  • Examples of flying toys include the Frisbee® flying disc, described in U.S. Patent No. 3,359,678, and the AerobieTM flying ring, described in U.S. Patent No. 4,560,358.
  • the Frisbee® flying disc is a saucer-shaped device that can be thrown over relatively long distances. A player throws such a disc by grasping its edge and flexing the wrist, while holding the forearm in a neutral position. Next, the player extends the wrist and releases the disc, i.e. the player "flings" from the wrist, imparting spin to the disc, resulting in its being propelled through the air.
  • Such a disc will fly over relatively long distances because of its relatively high mass, peripheral mass distribution, and solid/rigid construction and aerodynamic structure.
  • the AerobieTM flying ring has a relatively large mass, but, unlike the Frisbee® flying disc, has a mass which is distributed peripherally about a central void and a special air-foil shape, supposedly offering a unique flying capability.
  • a stick-propelled disc which features an annular disc with a circular rim defining an inner opening.
  • the disc also includes a relatively thin central portion and relatively thick inner and outer circumferential edges.
  • the De Martino disc's rim has an inner circumferential edge that is three times the thickness of the rim's central portion, and has an outer circumferential edge that is approximately one and one half times as thick as the rim's central portion. These relational dimensions concentrate the disc's mass toward the center, while still providing a reinforced outer edge. Also, because the central portion is thinner than either edge, it provides an aerodynamic cup for lift purposes. Such structural features are supposed to result in a disc that has a desirably "flatter" trajectory, with the capability of increased travel distance and higher flight speeds.
  • a disc-shape "joke” toy including an elastic member with a synthetic film stretched over it.
  • the toy folds into several overlapping portions, and stays in that shape until disturbed.
  • the toy is intended to be thrown in its folded condition, and then, upon impact with an object, is designed to unfold "immediately and explosively", in a joking/ snapping way, to its original shape.
  • a further object is to provide such a toy whose air frame and flight surface, while biased to certain nominal conditions are significantly impact-changeable to alter flight characteristics.
  • Yet another object is to provide a flying toy of the type outlined for safe playing indoors.
  • the present invention achieves the foregoing objects by providing a ring-like flying toy including lightweight outer and inner, ring-like boundary structures defining an annular space that is spanned (at least partially) by an air-foil web joined to and tensed between the structures.
  • the web is preferably formed of a multidirectionally stretchable, air-flow permeable fabric material that has elastomeric-memory characteristics.
  • the toy's boundary structures are readily, appreciably, impact deformable to cooperate with the tensed web in a way leading to unique and surprising flight performance.
  • This key feature of the toy of present invention results from the fact that the outer boundary structure, in particular, collaboratively cooperates, telegraphically, with the air-foil web during flight to reshape itself in infinitely varying ways after a deformity-producing impact with any external object, such as a players hand, a wall, a floor, etc.
  • the toy reshapes itself it effects infinitely springy-changing, and substantial, air-foil-varying configurations which create surprising, aerobatic, rebound flight characteristics.
  • Fig. 1 is a plan view of a ring-like flying toy constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figs. 2A-2D are nominally cross-sectional views of the toy, taken generally along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1. These figures show four alternative ways of forming the inner air-frame, boundary structure of the invention.
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a part of the flying toy shown in Fig. 1 with a portion of the toy broken away to reveal details of construction.
  • Figs. 4A-4D illustrate two examples of impact-deforming flight performance.
  • Figs. 5A,5B show the toy of Fig. 1 being folded for convenient carrying.
  • Figures 1, 2A-2C, and 3 show a ring-like flying toy 10, also referred to herein as a rebound-active-confounding, ring-like throwable flying toy, that is constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • the toy includes outer and inner boundary structures 12,14, also referred to herein as air-frame structures. Boundary structures 12,14 are generally concentric relative to one another, defining an annular space between them. The boundary structures are made in a manner, soon to be described, to be springy.
  • an air-foil web 16 Joined to and tensed between the boundary structures in the annular space therebetween, is an air-foil web 16, also referred to herein as a fabric means or fabric web.
  • Web 16 extends preferably as an annulus within the perimetral confines of boundary structures 12,14. Modifications are possible where the web takes the form of spaced, angularly distributed, fabric segments.
  • the boundary structures, either or both of them may be formed as distinct-sided polygons.
  • the term “nominally circular” used herein is intended to encompass such a construction.
  • the terms “annular” and “annular space” are intended to define the space between such one or more, non-circular boundary structures. Concentricity, as applied to the two boundary structures, means that their geometric centers are substantially coincident.
  • the web is made preferably from a multidirectionally stretchable, infinitely-memory-deformable, air-flow permeable material, such as the synthetic material sold under the Lycra® trademark. As will be described shortly, it is the novel combination of such a web, including these important features, tensed relative to the inner and outer boundary structures that forms a central aspect of the present invention.
  • the peripheral cover may be colored with a fluorescent dye or a design may be printed on it using, for example, a silk screening process.
  • outer boundary structure 12 is fabricated from a circular stay, or stay means (armature), 18, and a peripheral cover 20.
  • Stay 18 must be made from a material that is capable of tensioning web 16, thus to provide an appropriate deformable air foil during flight.
  • stay 18 must be of a sufficiently low-mass, or lightweight, material to ensure that toy 10 will have a relatively high surface-area-to-mass ratio. Also, it is important that stay 18 be readily and appreciably impact deformable.
  • stay 18 is fabricated by shaping into a circle a 127-centimeter (fifty-inch) length of Nylaflow brand, Type H, hollow plastic tubing, having an inside diameter of 0.28-centimeters (.110-inches) and an outside diameter of O.48-centimeters (3/16-inches).
  • stay 18 is closed into a circle by inserting into its ends an elongate coupler 19.
  • coupler 19 is fixedly attached, as by adhesive, to the inside of only one end of stay 18, thus allowing the stay's other end to freely rotate around coupler 19.
  • Peripheral cover 20 employed in each of the three disclosed embodiments, is a relatively thin, elongate section of lightweight, durable material, such a nylon material. It is folded lengthwise and positioned around stay 18, holding the stay in its fold, and fastened to top and bottom surfaces 22, 24 of web 16 as by folding its lengthwise edges over and sewing through all of the lengthwise folds and the web.
  • the peripheral cover may be colored with a fluorescent dye or a design may be printed on it using, for example, a silk screening process.
  • inner boundary structure 14 here is made in the form of an inner cover 26 that includes an elongate section of material folded lengthwise and fastened to the web's top and bottom surfaces, as described earlier in connection with cover 20.
  • Inner cover 26 is preferably made from nylon.
  • Acting as an armature within cove 26 is a suitable tensed elastomer 27.
  • a reinforcer 28 such as a 0.025-centimeter (.010-inches) stainless steel wire is placed lengthwise inside cover 26 after the same is folded and fastened to the web.
  • cover 26 may be integral with web 16 and formed by folding and sewing as shown to top surface 22.
  • Fig. 2D shows an inner boundary structure formed solely by cover 26.
  • FIGs. 4A-4D illustrate two examples of the unique, impact-deforming flight characteristics that are obtained in toy 10 due to the cooperation of the boundary structures and web 16.
  • toy 10 is shown flying while it spins in a counterclockwise direction.
  • a player moves his or her hand, shown schematically at 30, in the direction of arrow 32 so that the hand strikes the toy tangentially relative to the toy's ring-like shape. Striking the toy propels it in the direction of arrow 34 and maintains its rotational movement about axis 36.
  • Fig. 4B depicts the toy a short time after it has been struck by the hand.
  • Fig. 4A severe distortion
  • Fig. 4B depicts the toy's shape from that shown in Fig. 4A (severe distortion) to something approximating, but not identical to, the shape of toy 10 before being struck (refer back to Fig. 1).
  • the elastomeric-memory characteristics of multidirectionally stretchable web 16 and the springy characteristic of the boundary structures result in both springing back when the hand's deforming force is gone. From the severe-distortion impacted condition, the toy recovers towards its original condition, passing through an infinite number of intermediate conditions, each of which imparts a unique and different flight characteristic.
  • Figs. 4C and 4D illustrate another impact sequence where toy 10 deforms, and then springs back, or rebounds, through infinitely varying shapes toward its pre-deformation shape.
  • the web is preferably air-flow permeable adds yet another dimension, namely stability, to the toy's beautiful flight behavior.
  • FIGs. 5A and 5B toy 10 is shown being folded into a convenient storage/transport shape.
  • the toy is twisted, in the direction of the arrows, into a "figure-8".
  • the aforedescribed swivel joint between coupler 19 and stay 18 allows the toy to be twisted without "kinking”.
  • Fig. 5B the toy is folded along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the "figure-8", so that both loops of the "8" overlay one another. The convenience of this capability has been mentioned earlier.

Landscapes

  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un jouet volant (10) en forme d'anneau, que l'on peut lancer, comprenant des structures de délimitation déformables concentriques extérieure (12) et intérieure (14), ainsi qu'une bande (16) à plan de sustentation en matière étirable, reliée aux structures (12, 14) et tendue entre celles-ci. Ladite structure extérieure (12) comprend une armature résiliente, facilement et considérablement déformable lors d'un impact, ladite structure intérieure (14) comportant également une telle armature ou étant formée de la même matière que ladite bande (16).

Claims (17)

  1. Un jouet volant en forme d'anneau (10) qui comprend un moyen définissant une structure de limite extérieure élastique en forme d'anneau (12) et une toile aéroportante annulaire extensible élastomère (16) unie à la structure de limite extérieure (12), tendue à l'intérieur de celle-ci en un état de tension.
  2. Un jouet suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un moyen définissant une structure de limite intérieure élastique en forme d'anneau (14), généralement concentrique à la structure de limite extérieure (12), les structures de limite extérieure et intérieure (12, 14) délimitant nominalement un espace annulaire et la toile aéroportante (16) étant tendue entre les structures de limite extérieure et intérieure (12, 14), dans cet espace.
  3. Un jouet suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la structure de limite extérieure comporte une armature élastique, nominalement circulaire (18).
  4. Un jouet suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la toile (16) est formée en un tissu extensible dans de multiples directions.
  5. Un jouet suivant la revendication 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que la structure intérieure (14) comporte un pli dans la toile.
  6. Un jouet suivant la revendication 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que la structure de limite intérieure (14) comporte une armature d'élastomère (27).
  7. Un jouet suivant la revendication 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que la structure de limite intérieure (14) comprend une armature élastique nominalement circulaire (27).
  8. Un jouet suivant la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que la toile (16) est perméable à la circulation de l'air.
  9. Un jouet suivant la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que la structure de limite extérieure (12) est déformable à l'impact.
  10. Un jouet suivant la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que la toile (16) présente des caractéristiques de mémoire d'élastomère.
  11. Un jouet suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la toile (16) est formée en un matériau présentant des caractéristiques de mémoire d'élastomère extensible dans de multiples directions.
  12. Un jouet suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte une structure de limite intérieure élastique en forme d'anneau (14) qui est généralement concentrique à la structure de limite extérieure (12) et généralement co-plane avec celle-ci, la toile aéroportante (16) surplombant l'espace entre les structures de limite extérieure et intérieure (12, 14), en un état de tension.
  13. Un jouet suivant la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce que la toile aéroportante (16) est perméable à la circulation de l'air.
  14. Un jouet suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il se présente sous forme d'un jouet volant en forme d'anneau jetable rebondissant activement, dans lequel la toile aéroportante (16) est entièrement renfermée dans le périmètre de la structure de limite extérieure (12).
  15. Un jouet suivant la revendication 14, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte une seconde structure de limite (14) disposée à l'intérieur de la structure de limite extérieure (12) et placée nominalement concentriquement à cette dernière.
  16. Un jouet suivant la revendication 14, caractérisé en ce que la toile (16) est extensible dans de multiples directions.
  17. Un jouet suivant la revendication 14, 15 ou 16, caractérisé en ce que la toile (16) est perméable à la circulation de l'air.
EP19890909995 1989-03-15 1989-08-31 Jouet volant en forme d'anneau Expired - Lifetime EP0462968B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT89909995T ATE98501T1 (de) 1989-03-15 1989-08-31 Kreisfoermiges fliegendes spielzeug.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US32498689A 1989-03-15 1989-03-15
US324986 1989-03-15

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0462968A4 EP0462968A4 (fr) 1991-10-07
EP0462968A1 EP0462968A1 (fr) 1992-01-02
EP0462968B1 true EP0462968B1 (fr) 1993-12-15

Family

ID=23265957

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19890909995 Expired - Lifetime EP0462968B1 (fr) 1989-03-15 1989-08-31 Jouet volant en forme d'anneau

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0462968B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU4194989A (fr)
DE (1) DE68911542T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO1990010483A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2870462B1 (fr) * 2004-05-18 2008-08-29 Emmanuelle Laine Discoplane
FR2908320A1 (fr) * 2006-11-15 2008-05-16 Francois Morin Piste de des a jouer
WO2009123853A1 (fr) * 2008-03-31 2009-10-08 Young Jesse Hom Jouet volant lancé à la main

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3254443A (en) * 1963-10-21 1966-06-07 Maynard D Olson Hoop and guide stick
US4174834A (en) * 1977-10-03 1979-11-20 Aldo De Martino Stick-propelled disk game
US4241533A (en) * 1979-03-16 1980-12-30 Newsome Reginald W Aerial toy glider
US4709928A (en) * 1986-06-19 1987-12-01 Willingham W Preston Circular game board foldable into small volume

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE68911542T2 (de) 1994-06-16
AU4194989A (en) 1990-10-09
EP0462968A1 (fr) 1992-01-02
EP0462968A4 (fr) 1991-10-07
WO1990010483A1 (fr) 1990-09-20
DE68911542D1 (de) 1994-01-27

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