GB2407278A

GB2407278A - Helicopter balloon toy

Info

Publication number: GB2407278A
Application number: GB0324649A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chia-Wen Hung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-22
Filing date: 2003-10-22
Publication date: 2005-04-27
Also published as: GB0324649D0

Abstract

A helicopter toy includes a hub (30) forming an axially extending central bore having upper and lower openings and a side surface, a plurality of nozzles (33) integrally formed with the side surface and in fluid communication with the central bore, and a balloon (10) removably attached to the lower opening of the central bore of the hub, to supply pressurized air into the bore and the nozzles. The nozzles (33) are circumferentially spaced along the side surface of the hub (30) at fixed angles, and each nozzle (33) is orientated at a predetermined angle with respect to the side surface of the hub (30). A blade (50) is attached to each nozzle (33). The blade (50) is comprised of a top member (21) forming a semi-circular convex portion extending from a proximal opening (24) and a flat bottom member (22) to which the top member (21) is attached, The convex portion of the top member (21), together with a corresponding flat portion of the bottom member (22), forms an air channel extending from the proximal opening, through the blade, to the distal opening. The proximal opening (24) is sized and shaped to directly and tightly fit over the nozzle (33) whereby the pressurized air from the balloon (10) is expelled into the air channel by the nozzle (33) and inturn discharged through the distal opening (25) of the blade to cause a reaction that drives the movement of the helicopter toy in the air.

Description

HELICOPTER TOY

1] The present invention generally relates to a helicopter top comprising rotatable blades that rotate to fly the helicopter toy in the air, and in particular to a helicopter toy having a simplified structure with reduced number of parts.

lO002] Flying helicopter toys are known. A conventional helicopter toy is shown in Figures 4-7 of the attached drawings. The conventional helicopter toy comprises a balloon or an inflatable portion 40 and a rotation hub 60 carrying a plurality of blades 50 arranged in an angularly equally spaced manner. The hub 60 has a circumferential side surface on which discharge nozzles 63 are formed in an angularly equally spaced manner to each of which the blades SO are coupled by means of a coupling tube 64. The hub 60 defines a bore (not shown) in fluid communication with the discharge nozzles 63 and forming an opening in a lower end of the hub 60. An air conduit 61 is mounted to and in fluid communication with the bore of the hub 60 for connecting the balloon 40. A whistle 62 is mounted to an upper end of the hub 60 and in fluid communication with the bore of the hub 60.

3] To operate, the balloon 40 is inflated and thus contains pressurized air.

The balloon 40 is connected to the hub 60 by the air conduit 61. the pressurized air inside the balloon 40 is released into the bore of the hub 60 and then discharged through the discharge nozzles 63 to rotate the blades 50. The rotation of the blades moves the toy in the air. The pressurized air is also allowed to discharge through the whistle 62, giving off whistling sound during the flying of the helicopter toy in the air.

10004] The conventional helicopter toy, however, has a complicated structure, which not only makes the manufacture thereof difficult, but also increases manufacturing costs. For example, each blade 50 of the conventional helicopter toy is comprised of a top member 51 that forms an extended convex portion 53, defining a semi-circular upper section of a circular air channel, and a bottom member 52 that forms an extended concave portion 54, corresponding in position to the convex portion 53 and defining a semi-circular lower section of the air channel, whereby the air channel is formed in the blade 50 by attaching the upper and lower members 51, 52 together. In this respect, the alignment of the convex portion 53 and the concave portion 54 is of vital importance in forming the air channel. The air channel has a proximal opening 55 that is fit over the coupling tube 64 and a distal opening 66.

The pressurized air discharged from the discharge nozzle 63 is guided into the air channel inside the blade 50 through the proximal opening 55 and released through the distal opening 56. The discharge of the pressurized air in the surrounding through the distal opening 56 causes a reaction of the surrounding airs, which drives the movement of the helicopter toy in the air.

[00051 The overall thickness of the blade 50 is increased due to the combination of the top and bottom members 51, 52 having convex and concave portions 53, 54 respectively, which in turn causes increased resistance of air during the movement of the blade in the air. In addition, the convex portion 53 and the concave portion 54 of the top and bottom members 51, 52 are subject to easy deformation, which leads to change of the inside diameter of the air channel of the blade 50, as a result of which, driving force induced in the blades 50 is different from blade to blade, making the movement of the helicopter toy instable.

[00061 Further, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, each blade 50 is coupled to the discharge nozzle 63 of the hub 60 by a coupling tube 64. the coupling tube 64 forms a positioning slit 65 having an opening (not labeled) at an axial end of the coupling tube 64 to fit over positioning pegs 65 formed on the discharge nozzle 63 whereby the blade 50 is mounted at a correct inclined angle with respect to the hub 60.

An opposite end of the coupling tube 64 is fit into the proximal opening 55 of the blade 50 and adhesive is applied between the coupling tube 64 and the blade 50 to secure them together. The relative angular position between the blade 50 and the coupling tube 64 must be carefully and manually adjusted in order to ensure proper lifting force induced by the rotation of the blade 50. 'I'his complicates the manufacturing process and arises the manufacturing costs due to the complicated process and increased number of parts.

00071 Thus, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide a helicopter toy that alleviates one or more of the problems and drawbacks as discussed above.

[00081 To achieve the above objective, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a helicopter toy comprising a hub forming an axially extending central bore and having upper and lower openings and a side surface, a plurality of nozzles integrally formed with the side surface and in fluid communication with the central bore and a balloon removably attached to the lower opening of the central bore of the hub to supply pressurized air into the bore and the nozzles. The nozzles are eircumferentially spaced along the side surface of the hub at fixed angles and each nozzle is oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to the side surface of the hub.

A blade is attached to each nozzle. The blade is comprised of a top member forming a semi-circular convex portion extending from a proximal opening to a distal opening and a flat bottom member to which the top member is attached. The convex portion of the top member, together with a corresponding flat portion of the bottom member, forms an air channel extending from the proximal opening, through the blade, to the distal opening 'I'he proximal opening is sized and shaped to directly and tightly fit over the nozzle whereby the pressurized air from the balloon is expelled into the air channel by the nozzle and in turn discharged through the distal opening of the blade to cause a reaction that drives the movement of the helicopter toy in the air.

[00091 Since the air channel has a semi-circular cross section, which, as compared to the circular cross section of air channel of the conventional helicopter toy, has a reduced cross-sectional area and in turn reduced flow rate of air therethrough.

The time period in which the helicopter toy is floating in the air is extended. In addition, since no concave portion in the bottom member is needed, the molding process of the bottom member is simplified, as compared to the prior art, and the manufacturing costs are reduced.

0] Further, the nozzles are integrally formed with the hub and can be molded at the same inclined angle with respect to the side surface of the hub. Thus, the blades can be fiend at the same inclined angle with respect to hub. No additional coupling tubes and adhesives are needed in the manufacturing process. Thus the structure is simplified and the assembling is enhanced.

lOOlll The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawing, in which: l0012l Figure 1 is a perspective view of a helicopter toy constructed in accordance with the present invention; 100131 Figure 2 is an exploded view of the helicopter toy of the present invention with only one blade shown for simplicity; 100141 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a hub of the helicopter toy of the present invention; 0015l Figure 4 is a perspective view of a conventional helicopter toy; 100161 Figure 5 is an exploded view of the conventional helicopter toy with only one blade shown for simplicity; [00171 Figure 6 is an exploded view, in an enlarged scale, of a portion of the conventional helicopter toy; and 100181 Figure 7 is a perspective view, in an enlarged scale, of a portion of the conventional helicopter toy.

9] With reference to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1, a helicopter top constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a hub 30 having axially extending central bore having upper and lower openings and a side surface, a plurality of blades 20 attached to the side surface of the hub 30 in an angularly equally spaced manner and a balloon 10 removably mounted to the lower opening of the hub 30.

100201 Also referring to Figures 2 and 3, the central bore of the hub 30 is in fluid communication with the upper and lower openings thereof. An air conduit 31 connects the balloon 10 to the lower opening ofthe hub 30. A whistle 32 is mounted to the upper opening of the hub 30. A plurality of discharge nozzles 33 is integrally formed on and projects from the side surface of the hub 30 and is in fluid communication with the central bore of the hub 30. Each nozzle 33 has a semi-circular cross section. The nozzles 33 are circumferentially spaced from each other at substantially fixed angles. Each blade 20 forms an air channel (not labeled) having a semi-circular cross section and proximal and distal openings 24, 23 in fluid communication with the air channel. The proximal opening 24 is shaped and sized to tightly fit over the nozzle 33 thereby attaching the blade 50 to the side surface of the hub 30.

10021] The balloon 10 is inflated first and is removably attached to the lower opening of the hub 30 by the air conduit 31. Pressurized air is released from the balloon 10 and guided into the central bore of the hub 10, which is in turn led to and discharged through the nozzles 33. The air is expelled by the nozzles 33 into the air channels of the blades 50, which is then discharged through the distal openings 23, causing reaction that drives the helicopter toy in the air.

10022] Each blade 50 is comprised of a flat bottom member 22 to which a top member 21 forming a semi-circular convex portion (not labeled) extending from the proximal opening 24 to the distal opening 23 is attached by means of for example adhesives. The convex portion of the top member 21, together with a corresponding flat portion of the bottom member 22, forms the air channel that has a semi-circular s cross section substantially corresponding in size and shape to the semi-circular crosssectional configuration of the discharge nozzle 33 whereby the proximal opening 24 is directly and tightly fit over the nozzle 33.

10023] The discharge nozzles 33 are integrally formed with the side surface of the hub 30 whereby the discharge nozzles 33 can be precisely oriented at a predetermined inclined angle with respect to the side surface of the hub 10. The semi-circular configuration makes it possible to correctly orient the blades 50 at desired inclined angle with respect to the hub 10. No manual adjustment of the inclined angle of the blades 50 is required. Further, since the proximal opening 24 of the blade 50 is directly fit over the nozzle 33, there is no need of a coupling tube between the blade 50 and the nozzle 33. The number of parts is reduced.

4] Further, since the air channel is comprised of a convex portion and a flat portion, the alignment between convex and concave portions required in the conventional helicopter toy is no longer needed. Molding processes for forming the convex portion in the conventional helicopter toy is eliminated also. Thus, the manufacturing process is significantly simplified. Moreover, adhesive is no longer needed to fix the blade to the nozzle, which leads to further simplification of the manufacturing process.

5] In addition, as compared to the circular cross section of the air channel in the blades of the conventional helicopter toy, the semicircular cross section of the air channel in accordance with the present invention may reduce the flow rate of the pressurized air therethrough, thereby extending the time in which the helicopter toy is moving in the air.

10026] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A helicopter toy comprising: a hub forming an axially extending

central bore and having upper and lower openings, the hub having a side surface with which a plurality of nozzles are integrally formed and in fluid communication therewith, the nozzles being circumferentially spaced from each other at a predetermined angle, each nozzle having a semicircular cross section and being oriented at a predetermined inclined angle with respect to the side surface of the hub; a balloon removably attached to the lower opening of the hub for supplying pressurized air into the central bore and thus the nozzles; a blade comprising a top member forming a convex portion extending from a proximal opening to a distal opening and a flat bottom member to which the top member is attached whereby the convex portion, together with a corresponding flat portion of the bottom member forms an air channel having a semi-circular cross section, the proximal opening of the air channel being sized and shaped to fit over the nozzle to attach the blade to each nozzle whereby the blade is fixed to the hub at an inclined angle determined by the predetermined inclined angle of the nozzle.
2 The helicopter toy as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising a whistle mounted to the upper opening of the hub whereby when the pressurized air released from the balloon into the central bore of the hub is allowed to flow through the whistle, causing whistling sound.
3 A helicopter toy substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.