GB2250212A - Rotating flying toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A flying saucer type of toy is constructed from sheet, e.g. cardboard, elements, the elements being held together by tab and slit connections 24-30. The toy can be launched by an elastic band engaging notch 11. <IMAGE>

Description

A TOY This invention relates to toys and is particularly concerned with the type of toy which can be constructed by either cutting or pressing its component parts from thin sheet material and assembling the parts by interfitting one part with one or other parts, without the use of adhesive or other means or devices.

One particular application of the invention is in a toy which can be made to fly or glide through the air after being initially propelled by hand or by mechanical propelling means.

Flying toys are known which comprise separate members which may be assembled and retained in position by means of elastic bands, adhesives, staples or eyelets.

Such toys have been comparatively expensive to produce.

It is an object of this invention to provide a flying toy that can be readily cut or pressed out of sheet material and which comprises at least two component parts that may be assembled together without the use of adhesive or other materials.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a flying toy comprising a base part and a top part, the base part comprising a flat plate-like element, and the top part comprising a pointed conical or multi-facetted element, the plate-like element being circular or multisided, and provided with a plurality of slits, and the top part is provided with a plurality of tabs, each of the tabs being arranged to pass through one of the slits to retain the top part and the base part in juxtaposition.

The base part may comprise two plate-like elements, one located above the other, the lower element being provided with a plurality of slits and the upper element provided with a plurality of tabs, each of the tabs being arranged to pass through one of the slits to retain the upper element and the lower element in juxtaposition.

The upper and the lower elements of the base part are hingedly connected with each other by means of a fin.

The top part is constructed from a flat disc member having one sector removed, and being bent to a conical or multi-facetXed pyramidal form, the joint lines of the cone or pyramid being retained in juxtaposition by means of tab and slit connections.

Preferably the outlines and slits of the components of the toy are printed on a single sheet of material and maybe at least part-perforated through the sheet material.

The material may be cardboard, plastics, or metal.

The fin connecting the upper and lower elements of the base part may constitute a launching fin to be engaged by an elastic band during the launching operation, and the plate-like elements constituting the base part are preferably of annular form.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view; Figure 3 is a perspective view of one component part of the toy in a partly opened condition; Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the individual components; Figure 5 is a plan view of a further component; Figure 6 is a view of a typical sheet of card printed and perforated for use in making the toy.

As seen particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings the toy 2 is in the form of a flying saucer type of vehicle and comprises a disc-like base 4 and a conical "capsule area" 6. The base is provided with a number of "landing pads" 8 and a launching fin 10. In construction, the base 4 is formed from two discs 12 and 14 having their central portions removed at 16 and 18. The discs 12, 14 are joined by elements 20 and 22 of the launching fin 10. The disc 12 is provided with tabs 24 and slits 26. The disc 14 is formed with slits 28.

The conical "capsule area" 26 is formed from a partcircular piece of card and has a number of tabs 30 on its periphery. Two further tabs 32 are formed on part of a cut-away portion of the disc and slits 34 are cut through the card.

The components of the toy are supplied in the form of a card as illustrated in Fig. 6 and each outline is partly perforated through the card such that the pieces may be readily pressed out by slight finger-pressure.

The slits are fully cut through the card.

To assemble the toy, the components are first pressed out of the sheet of card, and, dealing first with the conical capsule area" the part-circular piece is bent round to form a cone and retained in that condition by passing the tabs 32 through the slits 34. The tabs may then be bent back on themselves to resist any tendency of the cone to revert to its flattened out condition.

Next, the base member 4,consisting of a disc 12 and lower disc 14, is similarly pressed out from the sheet of card, pressing out also the central discs 13 and 15. The members 12 and 14 are then folded across the dotted line 17 to overlie one another and the tabs 24 in the disc 12 are passed through the slits 28 in the disc 14 where they simulate landing pads on the completely assembled toy.

The tabs 30 on the conical capsule 6 are then passed through the slits 26 in the disc 12 and may be bent outwardly to underlie the inner edge of the hollow disc 14, for assisting in retaining the two discs in juxtaposition.

To launch the flying saucer toy, an elastic band 38 is looped around the launching fin 10 to engage a notch 11.

With the launching fin and elastic band held firmly between the thumb and forefinger of one hand, the elastic band is then stretched by about 10 centimetres. Release of the thumb and forefinger allows the toy to be projected from the handler, spinning as it flies gently through the air and hovers to the ground.

As seen in Fig. 6 the toy may be sold as a kit provided on a card with the components clearly marked and preferably part-perforated through the card. A pair of tabs 42 are shown around which the elastic band 38 is retained, and instructions for assembly and use may be printed on the card.

The toy may be sold in a normal commercial manner, or may be used as a promotional "give-away" article.

For example the capsule and/or base may be printed with a trade name or logo.

Alternatively the components and instructions may be printed on a cardboard box e.g. a box containing breakfast cereal or a selection of childrens sweets or chocolates.

It is found that the flying saucer may be readily cut out or pressed from the sheet of cardboard and assembled without the use of glue or other adhesives and is of such simple form as to be quite within the capabilities of young children.

Because of its hollow conical form the toys may be given to children as party hats, before they are taught how to launch them as flying saucers.

Although the above description makes reference to the use of thin cardboard as suitable material for manufacture of the toy, other materials may be used, e.g. thin sheet plastics or aluminium.

The inner discs 13, 15 which are cut out from the centre portions of the base members may be provided with a number of perforations and formed with a notch capable of being engaged by the elastic band to be launched as a "hissing discl' missile during any "space invaders" type of game played in conjunction with the flying toy.

The toy may be suitably decorated to simulate an invading space vehicle or flying saucer.

Claims (12)

1. h flying toy comprising a base part and a top part the base part comprising a flat plate-like element and the top part comprising a pointed conical or multi faceted element, the plate-like element being circular or multi-sided, and provided with a plurality of slits and the top part being provided with a plurality of tabs, each of the tabs being arranged to pass through one of the slits to retain the top part and the base part in juxtaposition.

2. A flying toy according to claim 1 wherein tl-ebase part comprises two plate-like elements one located above the other, the lower element being provided with a plurality of slits and the other element provided with a plurality of tabs, each of the tabs being arranged to pass through one of the slits to retain the upper element and the lower element in juxtaposition.

3. A flying toy according to claim 2 wherein the upper and the lower element of the base part are hingedly connected with each other by means of a fin.

4. A flying toy according to claim 1 wherein the top part is constructed of a flat disc member having one sector removed, and being bent to a conical or multi faceted pyramidal form, the joint line of the cone or pyramid being retained in juxtaposition by means of tab and slit connections.

5. A flying toy according to any of the previous claims wherein the outlines and slits of the components of the toy are printed on a single sheet of material.

6. A flying toy according to any of the previous claims wherein the outlines and slits are at least partperforated through the sheet material.

7. A flying toy according to claims 5 and 6 wherein the material is cardboard..

8. A flying toy according to claims 5 and 6 wherein the material is plastics.

9. A flying toy according to claims 5 and 6 wherein the material is metal.

10. A flying toy according to claim 3 wherein the fin constitutes a launching fin.

11. A flying toy according to any of the above claims wherein the plate-like elements constituting the base part are of annular form.

12. A flying toy as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.