US1675970A - Flying toy - Google Patents

Description

I Ju'ly3, 1928.

J. 'CALVO FLYING TOY Filed Jan. 18; 1927 a Sheets-Sheet 1 gmnmtoz 6 cl ("a 27/0 July 3, 1928. 1,675,970 J. CALVO FLYING TOY Filed Jannla 1927 :s Sheets-Sheet July3,1928. 1,675,970

J. CALVQ FLYING TOY Filed Jan. 18, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 3, 1928.

JOSE CALVO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLYING TOY.

Application filed January 18, 1927. Serial No. 161,833.

This invention relates to toys and more particularly to a flying toy including a projectile and a catapult, through the medium of which the projectile may have movement imparted to it and caused to sail through the air. At the present time flying toys are in use but they have been found unsatisfactory as the direction in which they travel cannot be controlled and as a general rule they move straight away from the operator and drop upon the ground at some distance from him. This not only makes it necessary for the operator to walk over to the fallen projectile and pick it up but also there is danger of the projectile landing in water or a mud puddle and becoming spoiled if used outdoors.

Therefore, one object of the invention is to provide a flying toy including a projectile which when discharged from a catapult may be caused to travel in a substantially circular path and return to the operator before striking the ground.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the projectile that by proper adjustment it may be caused to move either to ward the right or toward the left after leaving the operator.

Another object of the invention is to permit the projectile to travel straight away from the operator if so desir'ed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a catapult which may be employed to discharge the projectile and also for catching it when it returns to the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a catapult havinga resilient body and carrying an elastic or expansible projectile engaging element so' that, when the projectile is released, it may have movement imparted to it both by the resiliency of the body of the catapultand also by the elasticity of the projectile engaging element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flying toy, the projectile of which may be formed of paper, cardboard, or thin metal and thereby cheaply produced.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the movement of the projectile when discharged from the catapult;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one form of projectile;

F ig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the pro jectile shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of a form of projectile;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the projectile shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line S-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating a modified form of bill which may be employed in place of the bills shown in Figs. 3 and 7;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating another modified form of bill;

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of another modified form of projectile;

F 12 is a bottom plan view jectile shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 11 and illustrating a form of bill and the manner of connecting it with the head portion of the projectile;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a form of projectile intended to travel straight away from the operator;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of one form of catapult by means of which the projectile may be discharged;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of a catapult provided with a modified form of projectile-engaging element, and

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a modified form of catapult.

The flying toy includes a catapult which is indicated in general by the numeral 1 in Fig. 1 and adapted to be held by the operator in one hand while the projectile 2 is engaged with an elastic or resilient member carried by the catapult and discharged so that it moves through the air. By an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be seen that the projectile may be caused to travel in a circular path after leaving the catapult and modified of the proreturn to the operator. The projectile is of relatively light Weight and is preferably formed of cardboard, celluloid or sheet meta1. One form of projectile has been illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4L and 5. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the projectile has been shaped to resemble a bird with spread wings and includes a body portion 3 having a head portion 4, a tail portion and side wings 6. Thesheet of material from which the projectile is formed is curved transversely and longitudinally throughout its length and width, asshown in Figs. 4 and 5, and is, therefore, of a concavo-convex formation throughout its entire area. This is very important as the concavo-convexed formation causes the projectile to move in a circular path when discharged from a catapult. The whole body, wings and tail are integral and the whole device serves to support and guide itself in flight. The upper and lower surfaces of the sheet may be painted or otherwise marked to represent a bird or left plain. The tail portion 5 is forked to provide stabilizers 7 and is crimped longitudinally to provide a skid fin 8 which tapers forwardly and is substantially V-shape in cross section, as shown in Fig. 5. Since the projectile is formed of cardboard or other bendable sheet material, the forked portions 7 of the tail may be bent so that one extends upwardly and the other downwardly at a slight angle instead of horizontally, as shown in Fig. 5, orboth'may be bent to extend either upwardlv or downwardly. By properlybending the forked portions of the tail the path iii-which the projectile travels after being discharged from the catapult may be controlled and the projectile caused to follow a circular path which may be "either to the right or left of the operator or aloop. A bill 9 is car ried by the head portion l of the body and projects from the under face thereof in a rearward direction. I Figs. 3 and a consists of a strand of wire suitably anchored to the head and is intended to engage a resil ent member 10 formingra part of the'c'atapult so that when the catapult is held in one hand and theprojectile held in the other hand with its bill engaging the resilient member 10 a stretching action may be applied to extend the resilient member and the projectile then released so that contraction of the resilient member will cause the pro ectile to be discharged through the air. The catapult will be morefully described hereinafter.

In Figs. (3, 7 and 8, there has been illustrated a modified form of projectile. The projectile shown in these figures is also formed of a concavo-convexed sheet of material, the upper and lower surfaces of which are pointed to representan aeroplane of the monoplane type having an elongated body The bill illustrated in Y 11 provided with a head portion 12 and tail portion 13. The portion of the sheet forming the tail is forked to provide stabilizers 14, corresponding to the stabilizers 7, and crimped longitudinally to form a skid tin 15, corresponding to the skid fin 8. The plane 17 indicated by the front and rear lines 18 inscribed across the body and projects therefrom to form the wings 19 of the aeroplane. This form of projectile which constitutes a representation of an aeroplane of the monoplane type may also have its forked tail portions bent to cause it to circle in either a right or left hand direction or execute a loop when discharged from the catapult. The bill for this form of projectile may consist of a sheet metal base 20 secured against the under face of the head 12 and carrying a wire prong 21 which projects downwardly and rearwardly from the plate or the bill may be formed as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 instead of as shown in Fig. 7. Thebill shown in F 9 is provided wth a base 22 which is pre 'erably circular in shape, although it may be of any shape desired, and is cemented or otherwise secured to the head 12 and carries a prong 23 which projects from its center and is of sufficient length to engage the resilient member 10 of the catapult. In the form shown in Fig. 10, the base 24 may be secured to the head by a suitable adhesive or by means of spurs formed integral with its arms and passed through the material of the head. The bill 25 in punchec. out of the material of the base and pressed downwardly to extend in spaced relation to the base rearwardly of the body 11.

In Figs. 11, 12 and 13, there has been shown a further modified form of projectile which is also formed of sheet material, such as celluloid or cardboard, and consists of a eoncavo-convexed body portion 26 reduced in width intermediate its length as shown form of projectile is constructed, as shown in Fig. 14. Referring to this figure, it will be seen that plates 34 and 35 are fitted against the upper andlower faces of the head portion 31 and are formed with openings through which the arms 36 and 37 of a wire strand 38 are passed. The arm 36 has 4 its free end portion 39 clinched against the plate 34L and the arm 37 is bent forwardly and downwardly over the forward edge of the plate 34 and curved to provide a-bill intended to engage the resilient member 10 of the catapult. It will, course, be understood that bills, such as previously described, may be substituted for the specific type of bill shown in Figs. 11 and 1.3 if so desired.

In Fig. 15, the projectile is a representation of an arrow and includes an elongated flat body portion 11 having its forward end portion widened and tapered to provide a head 42, against the under face of which a bill 4-3 is secured. The rear portion of the bodyis forked to form stabilizers 44C, corresponding to the stabilizers previously described, and adapted to be bent upwardly or downwardly but preferably left in a horizontal plane so that the arrow will move straight away from the operator and may be projected towards a suitable target if so desired. A triangular skid fin is carried by the body adjacent the forward ends of the tail forks 4 and is formed with a base flange 46 which projects from one side and is glued or otherwise secured against the upper face of the body. This skid fin serves to prevent transverse movement of the body during flight and makes it easier to hita target toward which the projectile is fired.

The catapult by means of which the various forms of projectiles described are to be fired may be formed of light wood, heavy cardboard or sheet metal and includes a iody portion 47 which is reduced interme diate its length to form a hand grip 48 and has its upper end portion provided with side recesses 49 and a center recess 50 which leads from its upper edge. The center recess flares outwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 16, so that, when a projectile is fired, the bill portion will not be liable to catch in the recess. A rubber band 51 is disposed about the upper end portion of the body 47 with portions extending across. the center recess and adapted to be engaged by the bill of the projectile. Either the forward or the rear or both portions of the elastic band may be engaged with the bill of the projectile, but in the preferred method of operation only one portion of the elastic band will be engaged with the bill. After the bill is engaged with the elastic band, the right hand which grasps the rear portion of the projectile is moved away from the left hand holding the catapulta sufficient distance to stretch the elastic and the projectile is then released from the right hand. lVhen released, the elastic contracts and this will cause the projectile to be moved forwardly and discharged from the catapult at a rapid rate ofspeed. If an arrow-shaped pro jectile is discharged. it will move in a straight line forwardly away from the operator but if a concavoconvexed projectile representing a bird or aeroplane is discharged it will travel in a circle, as shown in Fig. 1, and return to the operator. If desired, a coiled spring 52 may be substituted for the elastic. band 51 and have one end wedged into the lower end portion of the center recess and the bill hooked into one of its convolutions or into a hooked portion formed at its rear end. By having the catapult formed as described above the projectile may be discharged with great deal of force as the contraction of the elastic band or coiled spring and the resiliency of the strip'of sheet material from which the body portion of the catapult is formed will both serve to impart forward movement to the projectile.

In order to catch a circling projectile when it returns to the operator, the catapult may be provided with a pocket 53, as shown in Fig. 17. This pocket is formed of light paper and provided with crimped side portions glued or otherwise secured to the body of the catapult. \Vhen pressure is applied to the sides of the pocket, its front and side portions will be moved away from the catapult to open the front of the pocket and after sutlicient practice the projectile may be caught in the pocket.

In Fig. 18, there has been shown a modilied form of catapult. In this form the catapult. is preferably formed of resilient sheet material and includes forward and rear sections 54 and 55 which are joined at their lower ends and preferably formed from a single blank of material folded intermediate its length. The side portions of the two sections are recessed near the lower end of the catapult, as shown at 56, to provide a hand-hold 57 and their upper end portions are formed with side recesses 58, corresponding to the recesses 49, and with center recesses 59, corresponding to the center recess 50. A pad 60 which is preferably formed of rubber but may consist of a coiled spring if so desired is secured against the inner face of the forward section 54 and engages the rear section so that when a projectile has been fired and pressure against the two sections is relieved they may move apart and form a pocket into which the projectile is to be caught. It should also be noted that when a concavoconvexed projectile is discharged and moves in a circular path it is necessary to follow it with the eye in order to catch it when it returns to the operator. This will exercise and strengthen the eyes of the operator.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A flying toy comprising a projectile formed from a single piece of sheet material and having a body provided with head, wing and tail portions, the projectile being of a concavo-convexed formation and areahead, tail and Wing port-ions, the projectile being curved longitudinally and transversely throughout its area and the tail portion thereof being formed with a longitudinally extending depending skid fin tapered forwardly, and a bill carried by the head portion for engaging a projecting catapult.

4. A flying toy comprisinga projectile formed of a single piece of sheet material and having a body provided with head, wing and tail portions, the tail portion being forked to provide stabilizers and crimped longitudinally toprovide a skid fin extending longitudinally of said tail portion and tapered to its forward end, and a bill extending from the head portion for engagement with a projecting catapult.

5. A flying toy comprising a projectile having head, tail and wing portions, the tail portion being crimped longitudinally to form a depending skid fin tapered forwardly and having side portions diverging upwardly.

.6. A flying toy comprising a projectile having a body formed with head, tail and wing portions, and a bill including a strand of wire extending longitudinally of the head beneath the same and having front and rear end portions passed upwardly through the head, the rear end portion being bent down against the head and the front end portion bent downwardly over the front edge of-the head and rearwardly to form a prong for engagement with a catapult.

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSE CALVO. [1,. 5.]

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