US20040192157A1

US20040192157A1 - Toy glider

Info

Publication number: US20040192157A1
Application number: US10/397,074
Authority: US
Inventors: Lambertus Zwiegers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-20
Filing date: 2003-03-27
Publication date: 2004-09-30
Also published as: CA2422831A1

Abstract

A toy glider made from corrugated plastic, designed to be hand launched into free flight by using an elastic band. A steel wire, which is “U” shaped, serving as a counterweight, sliding into the shoulder part of the delta wing. The fuselage slide into three slots cut on the centre line of the delta wing and being secured by three needles. The rear as well as the front of the delta shaped wing is adjustable to provide different flight patterns. This “U” shaped steel wire is covered with a rubber pipe and they also protect the nose of the toy glider against impact.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a toy glider made from a unique material. It is hand held and engaged into free flight by employing an elastic band.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a toy glider which is hand held and simply launched by using a slingshot-like catapult. With toy gliders you need the necessary precision in the design and construction, enough strength, weight and flexibility, plus good aerodynamics and balance to have a successful glider. With most gliders the cost is unnecessarily high, the demanding carefulness in use are excessive and yet the performance remains unpredictable. So what we need is a simple, efficient, but still very reliable toy glider which is easy to launch by young children.

Initially gliders were fabricated and shaped to resemble birds or other flying animals. Such toy gliders often evolve in fanciful shapes like monsters. A variety of very complicated designs for launchers and toy gliders have also been provided over the years. Yet the secret to a successful glider, as well as launcher, is hidden in the simplicity of the design. When we take a close look at the bone structure of any flying animal you will notice that the bones are hollow and in a certain sense we can say they are corrugated. That is why the material plays such an important role in the design, and that is why this toy glider must be made from corrugated plastic. The corrugated plastics do not only have aerodynamic properties, but it is also very light, strong, flexible and tenable. Earlier examples of such toy gliders are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,404 issued to Liao; U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,392 issued to Walker et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,765 issued to Forti et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,265 issued to Barthold; U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,246 issued to Forti et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,785 issued to Bausch; U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,341 issued to Dasa; U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,275 issued to Johnson et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,277 issued to Hufeld; U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,401 issued to Rose et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,412 issued to Milalinec; U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,138 issued to Chotia et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,960 issued to Bacca and U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,657 issued to Leckie.

These previous designs show general improvement in the art, some rather over whelming in design, but never the less there remains a continuing demand for simple and easily operated toy gliders.

SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION

This unique invention is to provide an advanced elastic propelled toy glider that has excellent flexibility, aerodynamics, adjustability and can withstand massive impact. This toy glider comprises: a fuselage, which is made from corrugated plastic to advance vertical stability and aerodynamics; a delta shaped wing, which is made from corrugated plastic to advance horizontal stability and aerodynamics; a counterweight that also acts as a bumper to protect the nose of the glider against impact. The counterweight which is also the nose cone is made from steel wire and partially slide into the channels of the delta wing. A piece of thin rubber pipe is slid over the steel wire nose cone to act as a guard and to stop the wire from sliding too deep into the wing and he keeps the center point of gravity in place. This combination of rubber pipe, steel wire and corrugated plastic gave this toy glider advanced shock absorbent properties against impact on landing or mid-air collision. The delta wing has three slots cut through the centre line, designed to receive the fuselage notches. The front notch of the fuselage below the wing is designed to receive the catapulting elastic band. My invention also provides adjustability in the front as well as in the rear part of the delta wing simply by using a single needle in each case. When you set the wing in the mid-position you will have a straight flight plus minus 200 ft. When you set the rear end of the wing in the upper position you will have a vertical back loop with a diameter of plus minus 100 ft and the glider will land at the place of launch. The launcher assembly consists simply out of a piece of steel wire handle and an elastic band. When the glider is released the engagement of the elastic band propels the glider into its flight path with sufficient speed to launch a decent flight.

BRIEF DISCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of the present invention. [0006]
FIG. 2 sets forth a side view of the toy glider in the ‘to be’ launched configuration. [0007]
FIG. 3 sets forth a top view of the present invention. [0008]
FIG. 4 sets forth a cross section side view of the present invention, cut on line A-A. [0009]
FIG. 5 sets forth a side view of the present invention. [0010]
FIG. 6 sets forth a cross section top view of the present invention cut on line B-B [0011]

DISCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a toy glider manufactured in accordance with the present invention. [0012]
FIG. 2 sets forth the launcher assembly, which corporate the steel wire handle [0013] 1, and the elastic band 2.
FIG. 3 sets forth a top view of the toy glider, where we can see the [0014] fuselage 5, the tail fin 6, which is integrated with the fuselage 5, which perfectly slots into the delta wing 4, that will be protected by the bumper 3 that also acts as a counterweight.
In FIG. 4 we can see the channels of the corrugated plastic fuselage. Angle θ shows the air intake angle [0015] 7, which means that the channels inside the fuselage are positioned at a 2.2° elevation, which guides the oncoming air downwards through the body to compensate partially for the effect that gravity, has on the body.
FIG. 5 shows the front notch [0016] 8, the middle notch 9, and the rear notch 19, which will fit perfectly into slots 13, 14 and 15 respectively, and will be held in place by needles 11, 18 and 12 respectively.
The elastic band [0017] 2 will be hooked onto notch 8 when engaged for launch. Upon launch the middle notch 9 will deflect the elastic band 2. Angle Ø indicates the deflection angle 20 which is 42°.
In FIG. 6 we can clearly see the steel wire bumper [0018] 17 that acts as a counterweight. The rubber pipe 16 slides over the steel wire bumper 17. The channels of the corrugated plastic allow the legs of the steel wire bumper 17 to slide into the delta wing 4, but the shoulders 10 of the wing 4 prevent the rubber pipe 16 from sliding into the wing 4, which in effect stop the steel wire bumper 17 from sliding too deep into the wing 4, and eventually gets in contact with the nose of the glider and looses it's soul purpose. Needle 18 will act as a fixed point and also help to secure the fuselage 5 to the delta wing 4. Needle 12 helps to fix the rear part of the fuselage 5 to the delta wing 4, but he 12 is also responsible for rear-wing adjustment. Needle 11 helps to fix the front part of the fuselage 5 to the delta wing 4, but he 11 is also responsible for front-wing adjustment. Adjustment is obtained by removing needle 11 or 12, then push the wing 4 up or down, then feed the needle 11 or 12 through the existing holes in the wing 4, but pierce a new hole through the fuselage 5 to keep the wing 4 in his new position.

Claims

1. A toy glider, comprising:

A fuselage with a basic shape of a narrow triangle, three said notches at the bottom of the fuselage. Said front notch shape to receive an elastic band, said middle notch shaped to deflect the elastic band upon launching action. A symmetrical said delta shaped wing with three said slots, penetrating through the centre line to receive the said fuselage notches; the said delta wing steps 10 mm down in size on either side towards the front section to form shoulder parts to support the said “U” shaped bumper. A said “U” shaped steel wire bumper, serving as a counterweight, covered with a thin rubber pipe, slide into the said channels of the said corrugated plastic.

2. a toy glider set forth in claim 1, wherein: the said fuselage is secured to the wing by means of needles.

3. a steel wire bumper acting as a counterweight.

4. a steel wire bumper set forth in claim 3, wherein: the internal movement of the said bumper will be stopped by means of a rubber pipe that slide over the said “U” shaped steel wire and stop on the shoulder parts of the said delta wing.

5. the counterweight set forth in claim 3, wherein: adjustability of the said counterweight will be obtained by replacing the said rubber pipe by a longer or shorter pipe, to extend or retract the said “U” shape counterweight.

6. a toy glider set forth in claim 1 wherein: the front as well as the rear end of the said wing is adjustable.

7. adjustable wings set forth in claim 6, wherein: the said adjustment happens by shifting a single needle in each case.

8. adjustable wings set forth in claim 6 wherein: said adjustment relies solely on the flexibility of the material.

9. a toy glider set forth in claim 1 wherein: the fuselage is made from corrugated plastic and shaped as shown in FIG. 4

10. a toy glider set forth in claim 1 wherein: the said delta wing is made from corrugated plastic and shaped as shown in FIG. 6.

11. a toy glider set forth in claim 1 wherein: one of the said fuselage notches that penetrate the said wing is shaped to receive the elastic band.

12. a toy glider set forth in claim 1 wherein: by steering the wind through the said channels of the said corrugated plastic body, improves stability and aerodynamics.

13. a toy glider set forth in claim 1 wherein: the air intake angle of the said fuselage channels is positioned at a 2.2° elevation, with respect to the body of the said fuselage, to compensate partially for the effect that gravity has on the body of the said glider.

14. a toy glider set forth in claim 1 wherein: the said middle notch, shaped at an angle of 48°, with respect to the said wing to deflect the elastic band upon launch.

15. a said launcher handle made from steel wire, shaped like a long “P” with an elastic band looped through the circle part of the “P” shaped handle.