US20130309939A1

US20130309939A1 - Remote control with gyro-balancer control

Info

Publication number: US20130309939A1
Application number: US13/506,837
Authority: US
Inventors: Randy Cheng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-18
Filing date: 2012-05-18
Publication date: 2013-11-21

Abstract

A remote control is arranged for controlling an air swimming toy includes a toy body and an operation system for shifting an altitude of the toy body and for steering a direction of the toy body. The remote controller includes a hand-held housing adapted for being held by a user's hand, a circuit control which is received in the hand-held housing and is wirelessly linked to the operation system, and a gyro-balancer control built-in with the circuit control to detect an orientation of the hand-held housing, wherein the operation system is controlled by the circuit control in response to the orientation of the hand-held housing to concurrently control the altitude and direction of the toy body in the air.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a remote controlled toy, and more particular to a toy wirelessly controlled by a remote control with a gyro-balancer control, which provides a 3-dimensional control to remotely control the altitude, the steering, and direction of the toy, especially for the air swimming toy.
2. Description of Related Arts
A plurality of air-floating toys are known which are capable of self-floating in the air and propelling in the air via a remote control. In particular, the air-floating toys are driven by means of a wiggling motion. A conventional air-floating toy generally comprises a toy body, a driving mechanism and a steering mechanism to control the altitude and the direction of the air-floating toy respectively via the remote controller.
Accordingly, the driving mechanism is affixed underneath the toy body to control the altitude thereof. The steering mechanism is provided at a tail portion of the air-floating toy to control the direction and propelling movement thereof, wherein the steering mechanism comprises a motor for generating a sideward moving force to move the tail portion of the air-floating toy sidewardly and a spring for generating an opposed spring force to move the tail portion of the air-floating toy back to the original position. In other words, a wiggling motion of the tail portion of the air-floating toy is formed via the sequent order of the sideward moving force and the spring force.
The remote control comprises two individual controllers remotely linked to the driving mechanism and the steering mechanism respectively. In particular, one controller is operatively moved at a transverse direction to control the altitude of the toy body via the driving mechanism. The other controller is operatively moved at a longitudinal direction to control the direction of the toy body via the steering mechanism.
Since the toy body will move slowly and smoothly as the swimming motion in the air, the user must hold the two individual controllers at a predetermined angle for a period of time in order to adjust the desire movement of the toy body. In particular, the user must move the controllers back and forth to adjust the altitude and the direction of the toy body. In other words, the conventional controllers do not provide any accurate and precise controls for the slow motion air-floating toy.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides an air swimming toy, which is wirelessly controlled by a remote control with a gyro-balancer control to provide a 3-dimensional control for remotely controlling the altitude, the steering, and direction of the toy.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein the gyro-balancer control provides more accurate and precise controls for the slow motion air-floating toy comparing with the conventional controllers.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein the gyro-balancer control enables the remote control to detect movement up and down, rotation around gravity and vastly improved the accuracy over the conventional controller. In particular, the gyro-balancer control can detect movement in any axis to accurately control the altitude and direction of the toy body at the same time.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein the gyro-balancer control is an added-on control for the air swimming toy, such that the user is able to select which controlling system for controlling the air swimming toy.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein the gyro-balancer control is built-in with the circuit board in the remote control to minimize the space of the remote control incorporating the gyro-balancer control.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein the gyro-balancer control is located at a mid-portion of the remote control for accurately measuring and maintaining the orientation of the remote control so as to precisely control the air swimming toy.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein the gyro-balancer control is adapted to configure for controlling any existing air swimming toy.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, which does not require to alter the original structural design of the toy body, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the air swimming toy incorporating with the gyro-balancer control.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein no expensive or complicated structure is required to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution for providing an accurate and precise operational control to control the altitude and direction of the air swimming toy.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by an air swimming toy which comprises:
a toy body arranged for being floated in the air;
an operation system for shifting an altitude of the toy body and for steering a direction of the toy body; and
a remote controller remotely controlling the operation system, wherein the remote controller comprises:
a hand-held housing adapted for being held by a user's hand;
a circuit control which is received in the hand-held housing and is wirelessly linked to the operation system; and
a gyro-balancer control built-in with the circuit control to detect an orientation of the hand-held housing, wherein the operation system is controlled by the circuit control in response to the orientation of the hand-held housing to concurrently control the altitude and direction of the toy body in the air.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the present invention comprises a method of operating an air swimming toy via a remote control, comprising the steps:
(a) wirelessly linking a circuit control of the remote control to an operation system supported by a toy body of the air swimming toy, wherein the operation system is arranged for shifting an altitude of the toy body and for steering a direction of the toy body in the air;
(b) detecting an orientation of a hand-held housing via a gyro-balancer control provide therein, wherein the circuit control is supported in the hand-held housing which is held by a user's hand; and
(c) wirelessly controlling the operation system by the circuit control in response to the orientation of the hand-held housing to concurrently control the altitude and direction of the toy body in the air.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air swimming toy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the operation system being controlled by a remote controller.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the driving device of the air swimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates an alternative mode of the air propeller of the air swimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the air propeller within the operative housing to create a difference between a controllable air pressure and a surrounding air pressure as the air dynamic underneath the toy body.

FIG. 3A illustrates the alternative mode of the air propeller of the air swimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the air propeller being rotated horizontally.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the steering device of the air swimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the steering device of the air swimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the gear unit of the steering device of the air swimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a remote control of the air swimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the circuit control with the gyro-balancer control according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, an air swimming toy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the air swimming toy comprises a toy body 10, an operation system, and a remote controller 30. The operation system comprises a driving device 20 and a steering device 40.
The toy body 10 comprises a floating body 11 and a tail body 12 movably coupled with the floating body 11, wherein the floating body 11 is filled with a particular gas, such as helium, in order to float in the air. In particular, the toy body 10 further comprises a valve 13 provided at the floating body 11 for filling the gas thereinto. The floating body 11 is made of high quality, durable nylon material that will stay inflated for a relatively long period of time, such as a week. The gas can be refilled to the floating body 11 via the valve 13 to inflate the floating body 11.
Accordingly, when the tail body 12 is moved in a wiggling motion, the toy body 10 will move forward slowly and smoothly as the swimming motion in the air. The tail body 12 is also formed as a steering member of the toy body 10 that when the tail body 12 is moved sidewardly, the toy body 10 will turn correspondingly.
The driving device 20 of the present invention is used for shifting an altitude of the toy body 10 but not the forward driving movement thereof. In other words, the driving device 20 of the present invention is arranged for controllably elevating the toy body 10 and for controllably dropping down the toy body 10. The driving device 20 is coupled at a bottom side of the floating body 11 to elevate or drop down the air swimming toy so as to control the up and down movement thereof.
The steering device 40 is provided at a connection between the floating body 11 and the tail body 12 to drive the tail body 12 to move in a wiggling motion. In other words, the steering device 40 not only forms a movable joint to connect the tail body 12 to the floating body 11 but also forms a propelling unit to drive and steering the toy body 10 forward.
As shown in FIG. 2, the driving device 20 comprises an air propeller 21, an operative housing 22 and a motorized unit 23 located underneath the toy body 10.
The air propeller 21 is supported at a bottom side of the floating body 11 of the toy body 10 for creating an air dynamic underneath the toy body 10. The air dynamic at the bottom side of the toy body 10 will either create an upward elevating force to elevate the toy body 10 or create a downward dropping force to drop down the toy body 10. Accordingly, the air propeller 21 is activated to rotate in order to control an altitude of the toy body 10 via the air dynamic, i.e. the up and down movement of the toy body 10. The air propeller 21 comprises a plurality of airfoil-shaped blades for transmitting rotational motion into thrust. It is worth mentioning that the air propeller 21 is not arranged for propelling the toy body 10 forward but for controlling the altitude of the toy body 10. The air propelling terminology is old and well known for propelling an object forward. For example, an airship is propelled through the air using propellers or other thrust mechanisms to move the airship forward. A helicopter is propelled by rotary wing terminology to elevate the helicopter. However, none of the existing object incorporates with the air propeller 21 at the bottom side as the air swimming toy of the present invention in order to control the altitude of the air swimming toy.
The operative housing 22 is mounted at the bottom side of the floating body 11 of the toy body 10, wherein the air propeller 21 is housed in the operative housing 22 to create the air dynamic within the operative housing 22. In particular, the operative housing 22 is shaped in an aerodynamic configuration, wherein the operative housing 22 has an enlarged head portion 221 to receive the air propeller 21 therein, and an elongated tail portion 222 extended toward a tail portion of the toy body 10, i.e. the tail body of the toy body 10. The operative housing 22 further has a curved front surface 223 at the front side of the head portion 221 and a streamlined bottom surface 224 extended from the head portion 221 to the tail portion 222 for reducing an air drag of the operative housing 22.
The operative housing 22 further has a plurality of side air vents 225 formed at two sidewalls of the head portion 221 and a plurality of bottom air vents 226 formed at the bottom surface 224 at the head portion 221.
The motorized unit 23 is operatively connected to the air propeller 21 to drive the air propeller 21 to rotate for creating a controllable air pressure underneath the toy body 10 at the floating body 11 thereof, wherein the motorized unit 23 comprises a driving shaft 231 sidewardly extended with respect to the toy body 10 to couple with the air propeller 21. In particular, the air propeller 21 is coupled at the driving shaft 231 to be rotated at a direction with respect to a centerline of the toy body 10. Preferably, the rotational direction of the air propeller 21 is supported and aligned with the centerline of the toy body 10.
Accordingly, when the controllable air pressure is lesser than a surrounding air pressure, the toy body 10 is elevated in the air, and when the controllable air pressure is higher than the surrounding air pressure, the toy body 10 is dropped down in the air. It is worth mentioning that through the side air vents 225 and the bottom air vents 226, the air propeller 21 can create a difference between the controllable air pressure and the surrounding air pressure. As shown in FIG. 3, the air propeller 21 within the operative housing 22 is activated to create the controllable air pressure within the operative housing 22 in relation to the surrounding air pressure outside the operative housing 22.
According to the preferred embodiment, the motorized unit 23 is a DC motor and is controlled to generate a reversible rotating power to selectively drive the air propeller 21 between two opposite rotating directions. In other words, when the air propeller 21 is driven to rotate at a forward direction, the controllable air pressure will be reduced in the operative housing 22. When the air propeller 21 is driven to rotate at a backward or reversed direction, the controllable air pressure will be increased in the operative housing 22.
In particular, the air propeller 21 is supported at a horizontal level, i.e. the driving shaft 231 is downwardly extended from the motorized unit 23, wherein the air propeller 21 is rotated horizontally. For example, when the air propeller 21 is driven to horizontally rotate at the clockwise direction, the toy body 10 will be lifted upwardly. When the air propeller 21 is driven to horizontally rotate at the counter clockwise direction, the toy body 10 will be dropped downwardly.
FIGS. 2A and 3A further illustrate the alternative of the air propeller 21A at different orientation to steer the toy body 10. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A, the air propeller 21A is supported at a vertical level, i.e. the driving shaft 231 is sidewardly extended from the motorized unit 23, wherein the air propeller 21A is rotated vertically.
Accordingly, when the controllable air pressure is different the surrounding air pressure at one side of the operative housing 22, the toy body 10 is driven to turn in the air. In other words, when the controllable air pressure is lower than the surrounding air pressure at the right side of the operative housing 22, the toy body 10 is driven to turn left. When the controllable air pressure is lower than the surrounding air pressure at the left side of the operating housing 22, the toy body 10 is driven to turn right. It is worth mentioning that through the side air vents 225 and the bottom air vents 226, the air propeller 21A can create a difference between the controllable air pressure and the surrounding air pressure at either side of the operative housing 22. For example, when the air propeller 21A is driven to vertically rotate at the clockwise direction, the toy body 10 is driven to turn left. When the air propeller 21 is driven to vertically rotate at the counter clockwise direction, the toy body 10 is driven to turn right.
As shown in FIG. 2, the driving device 20 further comprises a battery compartment 24 for replaceably receiving a battery thereat to electrically connect to the motorized unit 23 and to the air propeller 21. The battery compartment 24 is provided at the tail portion 222 of the operative housing 22. The driving device 20 further comprises a mounting platform 25 securely coupled at the bottom side of the toy body 10 via glue, double-sided adhering layer, hook and loop fasteners or the like. The mounting platform 25 provides a flat supporting surface that the motorized unit 23 is mounted at the front portion to support the air propeller 21 and the battery compartment 24 is provided at the rear portion of the mounting platform 25. The operative housing 22 is detachably coupled with the mounting platform 25 to enclose the air propeller 21, the motorized unit 23, and the battery compartment 24.
As shown in FIG. 2, the toy body 10 further comprises a covering layer 14 detachably coupled at the bottom side of the toy body to cover the driving device 20. Accordingly, the covering layer 14 is made of the same material and is configured to have matched color of the floating body 11 of the toy body 10 to hide the driving device 20, as shown in FIG. 1, so as to keep the aesthetic appearance of the toy body 10. It is worth mentioning that the operative housing 22 is relatively small comparing with the size of the toy body 10. Therefore, when the covering layer 14 is attached to the bottom side of the floating body 11 of the toy body 10, the driving device 20 will be hidden by the covering layer 14. Preferably, the covering layer 14 is detachably attached to the floating body 11 of the toy body 10 via hook and loop fastener, or other detachable fasteners. In addition, the covering layer 14 has a plurality of through slots 141 aligned with the side and bottom air vents 225, 226 of the operative housing 22 when the operative housing 22 is covered by the covering layer 14, such that when the air propeller 21 is operated, an interior of the operative housing 22 is communicated with an exterior thereof.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the steering device 40 comprises a motorized unit 41 for generating a reciprocating power transmitting to the tail body 12 so as to generate a wiggling motion thereof. Accordingly, the motorized unit 41 is a DC motor and is controlled to generate a reversible rotating power as the reciprocating power to drive the tail body 12 to swing in a reciprocating manner with respect to the floating body 11. The motorized unit 41 comprises an output shaft 411 being driven to rotate in a reciprocating manner.
As shown in FIG. 6, the steering device 40 further comprises a gear housing 42 supported at the floating body 11 and a gear unit 43 received in the gear housing 42, wherein the gear unit 42 is operatively coupled to the motorized unit 41 for directly transmitting the reciprocating power to the tail body 11. In particular, the gear unit 43 is coupled at the output shaft 411 of the motorized unit 41 for transmitting the reciprocating power therefrom.
According to the preferred embodiment, the gear unit 43 comprises a plurality of driving gears having different diameter sizes to transmit the reciprocating power from the motorized unit 41. As shown in FIG. 6, the driving gears are configured to convert the rotational speed of the output shaft 411 of the motorized unit 41 into a swinging motion and to control the wiggling angle of the tail body 12. In other words, when the output shaft 411 of the motorized unit 41 is rotated at a predetermined angle, the tail body 12 is precisely driven to wiggle at a predetermined wiggling angle with respect to the floating body 11. Therefore, the wiggling angle of the tail body 12, i.e. the angle of the tail body 12 being wiggled from one side to the other side, will be maximized. In addition, through the gear unit 43, the reciprocating power from the motorized unit 41 can be evenly and smoothly transmitted to the tail body 12 so as to smoothly wiggle the tail body 12 from one side to the other side. Furthermore, the toy body 10 can be steered via the direction of the tail body 12 via the motorized unit 41 that when the tail body 12 is driven to wiggle at one side via the rotational power of the motorized unit 41, the toy body 10 will turn at the corresponding direction.
The steering device 40 further comprises a base frame 44 affixed to the floating body 11 to support the motorized unit 41 thereat and a wiggling frame 45 coupled to the tail body 12, wherein the wiggling frame 45 is movably coupled with the base frame 44 via the gear unit 43. In particular, the wiggling frame 45 is operatively driven by the motorized unit 41 to drive the tail body 12 moving in a wiggling motion.
According to the preferred embodiment, the base frame 44 has a circular shape and is coupled at a rear portion of the floating body 11, wherein the gear housing 42 is coupled at the center of the base frame 44. The steering device 40 further comprises a motor housing 46 supported at the base frame 44 at a position adjacent to the gear housing 42, wherein the motorized unit 41 is received at the motor housing 46. The output shaft 411 of the motorized unit 41 is extended from the motor housing 46 to the gear housing 42 so as to operatively couple with the gear unit 42 therewithin.
The motor housing 46 is coupled at the base frame 44 at a position that the output shaft 411 of the motorized unit 41 is radially extended with respect to the base frame 44 in order to couple with the gear unit 42.
It is worth mentioning that the motorized unit 41 and the gear unit 43 are received at the motor housing 46 and the gear housing 42, which are supported at the base frame 44. In other words, the overall weight of the motorized unit 41, the gear housing 42, the gear unit 43, and the motor housing 46 are supported at the base frame 44 via the floating body 11. Therefore, the overall weight at the wiggling frame 45 will be minimized to enable the reciprocating power from the motorized unit 41 transmitting to the wiggling frame 45 effectively.
In order to couple the wiggling frame 45 to the gear unit 43, the steering device 40 further comprises a swing shaft 47 extended through the gear housing 42 to operatively couple with the gear unit 43, wherein the swing shaft 47 is driven to rotate reciprocatingly by the reciprocating power of the motorized unit 41 through the gear unit 43. In particular, the wiggling frame 45 is coupled at the swing shaft 47, such that when the swing shaft 47 is driven to rotate in a reciprocating manner, the wiggling frame 45 is moved in a wiggling motion.
According to the preferred embodiment, the wiggling frame 45 comprises a U-shaped retention member 451 and two elongated retention arms 452 inclinedly extended from the retention member 451 to form a V-shaped configuration. Accordingly, the retention member 451 has two coupling ends coupled at two end portions of the swing shaft 47 respectively, wherein the gear housing 42 is positioned between the two coupling ends of the retention member 451 to minimize the distance between the base frame 44 and the wiggling frame 45.
The tail body 12 is coupled at the wiggling frame 45 via the retention arms 452, wherein two side edges of the tail body 12 are detachably coupled with the retention arms 452, such as by clipping, respectively so as to securely couple the tail body 12 with the floating body 11 via the steering device 40.
As shown in FIG. 4, the driving device 20 further comprises a battery compartment 24 for replaceably receiving a battery thereat to electrically connect to the motorized unit 41 via a connection cable. The battery compartment 24 is provided at the bottom side of the toy body 10.
The present invention further provides a method of controlling an altitude of the air swimming toy, comprising the following steps.
(1) Support the air propeller 21 at the bottom side of the toy body 10 for creating the air dynamic underneath the toy body 10. Accordingly, the toy body 10 is filled with the gas in order to float in the air.
According to the preferred embodiment, the mounting platform 25 is affixed to the bottom side of the floating body 11 of the toy body 10 such that the motorized unit 23 is coupled underneath the toy body 10 to support the air propeller 21 at the bottom side of the toy body 10.
The battery is placed at the battery compartment 24 to electrically connect to the motorized unit 23. Then, the operative housing 22 is coupled with the mounting platform 25 to enclose the motorized unit 23 and the air propeller 21 within the operative housing 22.
(2) Activate the air propeller 21 to rotate in order to control the altitude of the toy body 10 via the air dynamic.
Once the power of the motorized unit 23 is switched on, the air propeller 21 is activated to rotate when the remote receiver 32 receives the control signal from the handheld control 31. The air propeller 21 will start to rotate to create the air dynamic within the operative housing 22 for creating the controllable air pressure. Through the difference between the controllable air pressure and the surrounding air pressure, the toy body 10 will be selectively elevated at a predetermined height. It is worth mentioning that the toy body 10 will be elevated or dropped down gradually and slowly through the air dynamic.
According to the preferred embodiment, the remote controller 30 is remotely controlling the driving device 20 and the steering device 40. In particular, the remote controller 30 is wirelessly control the driving device 20 and the steering device 40. Therefore, the remote controller 30 is arranged to control the altitude of the toy body 10 via the driving device 20, and is arranged to control the steering and propelling of the toy body 10 via the steering device 40.
According to the preferred embodiment, the remote controller 30 is remotely controlling the driving device 20 to operate the air propeller 21 and the steering device 40. In particular, the remote controller 30 is wirelessly control the driving device 20 and the steering device 40. Therefore, the remote controller 30 is arranged to control the altitude of the toy body 10 via the driving device 20, and is arranged to control the steering and propelling of the toy body 10 via the steering device 40.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the remote controller 30, which is remotely controlling the operation system, comprises a hand-held housing 31 adapted for being held by the user's hand, a circuit control 33 which is supported in the hand-held housing 31 and is wirelessly linked to the operation system, and a gyro-balancer control 34 operatively linked to the circuit control 33 to detect an orientation of the hand-held housing 31, wherein the operation system is controlled by the circuit control 33 in response to the orientation of the hand-held housing 31 to concurrently control the altitude and direction of the toy body 10 in the air.
According to the preferred embodiment, the user is able to hold the hand-held housing 31 in order to control the operation of the toy body 10. In particular, the driving device 20 is arranged for shifting the altitude of the toy body 10 when the hand-held housing 31 is tilted front and back, and the steering device 40 is arranged for steering the direction of the toy body when the hand-held housing 31 is tilted sidewardly.
The hand-held housing 31 has two side handle portions 311 for being ergonomically held by hands of the user and a mid-portion 312 located between the handle portions 311. Preferably, the handle portions 311 are symmetrically extended for being held thereon, so that the hand-held housing 31 is able to be held with two hands of the user. A power source is received in the hand-held housing 31 to operatively link to the circuit control 33.
According to the preferred embodiment, the circuit control 33 comprises a control circuitry 331 supported in the hand-held housing 31, and a remote receiver 32 wirelessly connected to the control circuitry 331, wherein the remote receiver 32 is housed in the operative housing 22 and is operatively linked to the motorized unit 23 to control an operation of the air propeller 31. A power supply, which is preferably a rechargeable battery or replaceable battery, is operatively linked to the circuit control 33 and is received in the mid-portion 312 of the hand-held housing 31 to maintain the balance thereof
Preferably, the control circuitry 331 is wirelessly linked to the remote receiver 32 via radio frequency (RF) connection, Infrared (IF) connection or other wireless connections. Accordingly, the remote receiver 32 comprises a control circuit and a remote antenna electrically coupled thereto, wherein the motorized unit 23 is operatively coupled at the control circuit of the remote receiver 32. Therefore, when the remote receiver 32 receives a control signal from the control circuitry 331, the motorized unit 23 is activated to control the operation of the air propeller 21. In addition, the steering device 40 is also operatively linked to the control circuit of the remote receiver 32, such that when the remote receiver 32 receives a control signal from the handheld control 31, the steering device 40 is activated to control the steering and propelling operation of air swimming toy.
According to the preferred embodiment, the gyro-balancer control 34 is built-in with the control circuitry 331 to detect the orientation of the hand-held housing 31 so as to minimize the space of the hand-held housing 31 incorporating the gyro-balancer control 31. In particular, the gyro-balancer control 34 comprises a 3-axis gyro that detects the roll, pitch, and yaw of the hand-held housing 31 to control concurrently control the altitude and direction of the toy body 10 in the air. Therefore, the gyro-balancer control 34 can detect movement in any axis to accurately control the altitude and direction of the toy body 10 at the same time.
As shown in FIG. 8, the gyro-balancer control 34 is located at the mid-portion 311 of the hand-held housing 31, such that the hand-held housing 31 is able to be held with two hands of the user at the handle portions 311 to selectively move the hand-held housing 31 at a desired orientation so as to control the toy body 10. Therefore, the gyro-balancer control 34 provides more accurate and precise controls for the slow motion air-floating toy when the gyro-balancer control 34 is located between the hands of the user. In other words, the user is able to easily control the altitude and direction of the toy body 10 in the air via the hand-held housing 31.
Accordingly, the circuit control 33 comprises a lever control 332 provided on the hand-held housing 31, and a control switch 333 selectively activated one of the lever control 332 and the gyro-balancer control 34 for controlling the operation system.
The lever control 332 preferably comprises two levering members provided at the handle portions 311 of the hand-held housing 31 respectively such that the handle portions 311 of the hand-held housing 31 can be held with two hands of the user while having at least the thumbs of each hands of player as free fingers for controllably actuating the lever control 332 by the free fingers. Preferably, the gyro-balancer control 34 is located between the two levering members of the lever control 332.
The control switch 333 is provided on the hand-held housing 31 to selectively activate one of the lever control 332 and the gyro-balancer control 34. Accordingly, when the lever control 332 is disabled, the gyro-balancer control 34 will be automatically enabled to control the operation system. Likewise, when the gyro-balancer control 34 is disabled, the lever control 332 will be automatically enabled to control the operation system. In other words, only one of the lever control 332 and the gyro-balancer control 34 will be activated to control the operation of the toy body 10.
The present invention further provides a method of operating the air swimming toy via the remote control 30, comprising the following steps.
(1) Wirelessly link the circuit control 33 of the remote control to the operation system of the air swimming toy.
Accordingly, the step (1) further comprises a step of selectively activating the circuit control 33 between a gyro-controlling mode and a lever-controlling mode. At the gyro-controlling mode, the operation system is controlled in response to the gyro-balancer control 34. At the lever-controlling mode, the operation system is controlled in response to the lever control 332 provided on the hand-held housing 31. The user is able to select the circuit control 33 between the gyro-controlling mode and the lever-controlling mode by the control switch 333.
(2) Detect an orientation of the hand-held housing 31 via the gyro-balancer control 34 provide therein. Accordingly, when the user holds at the handle portions 311 of the hand-held housing 31, the user is able to shift the hand-held housing 31 at any angle such that the gyro-balancer control 34 will detect the roll, pitch, and yaw of the hand-held housing 31 to control concurrently control the altitude and direction of the toy body 10 in the air.
(3) Wirelessly control the operation system by the circuit control 33 in response to the orientation of the hand-held housing 31 to concurrently control the altitude and direction of the toy body 10 in the air.
According to the preferred embodiment, the gyro-balancer control 34 of the remote control 30 is adapted to configure for controlling any existing air swimming toy. Once the wireless connection between the remote control 30 and the operation system is set up, the toy body 10 will be controlled by the gyro-balancer control 34 of the remote control 30.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An air swimming toy, comprising:

a toy body arranged for being floated in the air;

an operation system for shifting an altitude of said toy body and for steering a direction of said toy body; and

a remote controller remotely controlling said operation system, wherein said remote controller comprises:

a hand-held housing adapted for being held by a user's hand;

a circuit control which is supported in said hand-held housing and is wirelessly linked to said operation system; and

a gyro-balancer control operatively linked to said circuit control to detect an orientation of said hand-held housing, wherein said operation system is controlled by said circuit control in response to said orientation of said hand-held housing to concurrently control the altitude and direction of said toy body in the air.

2. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said operation system comprises a driving device for shifting the altitude of said toy body when said hand-held housing is tilted front and back, and a steering device for steering the direction of said toy body when said hand-held housing is tilted sidewardly.

3. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said circuit control comprises a control circuitry supported in said hand-held housing, wherein said gyro-balancer control is built-in with said control circuitry to detect the orientation of said hand-held housing.

4. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 2, wherein said circuit control comprises a control circuitry supported in said hand-held housing, wherein said gyro-balancer control is built-in with said control circuitry to detect the orientation of said hand-held housing.

5. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said gyro-balancer control is located at a mid-portion of said hand-held housing.

6. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 2, wherein said gyro-balancer control is located at a mid-portion of said hand-held housing.

7. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 4, wherein said gyro-balancer to control is located at a mid-portion of said hand-held housing.

8. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said gyro-balancer control comprises a 3-axis gyro that detects the roll, pitch, and yaw of said hand-held housing to control concurrently control the altitude and direction of said toy body in the air.

9. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 4, wherein said gyro-balancer control comprises a 3-axis gyro that detects the roll, pitch, and yaw of said hand-held housing to control concurrently control the altitude and direction of said toy body in the air.

10. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 7, wherein said gyro-balancer control comprises a 3-axis gyro that detects the roll, pitch, and yaw of said hand-held housing to control concurrently control the altitude and direction of said toy body in the air.

11. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said circuit control comprises a lever control provided on said hand-held housing, and a control switch selectively activated one of said lever control and said gyro-balancer control for controlling said operation system.

12. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 7, wherein said circuit control comprises a lever control provided on said hand-held housing, and a control switch selectively activated one of said lever control and said gyro-balancer control for controlling said operation system.

13. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 10, wherein said circuit control comprises a lever control provided on said hand-held housing, and a control switch selectively activated one of said lever control and said gyro-balancer control for controlling said operation system.

14. A method of operating an air swimming toy via a remote control, comprising the steps:

(a) wirelessly linking a circuit control of said remote control to an operation system supported by a toy body of said air swimming toy, wherein said operation system is arranged for shifting an altitude of said toy body and for steering a direction of said toy body in the air;

(b) detecting an orientation of a hand-held housing via a gyro-balancer control provide therein, wherein said circuit control is supported in said hand-held housing which is held by a user's hand; and

(c) wirelessly controlling said operation system by said circuit control in response to said orientation of said hand-held housing to concurrently control the altitude and direction of said toy body in the air.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein, in the step (b), said gyro-balancer control is built-in a said control circuitry of said circuit control to detect the orientation of said hand-held housing.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein, in the step (b), said gyro-balancer control comprises a 3-axis gyro that detects the roll, pitch, and yaw of said hand-held housing to control concurrently control the altitude and direction of said toy body in the air.

17. The method, as recited in claim 14, wherein said gyro-balancer control is located at a mid-portion of said hand-held housing.

18. The method, as recited in claim 16, wherein said gyro-balancer control is located at a mid-portion of said hand-held housing.

19. The method, as recited in claim 14, wherein the step (a) further comprises a step of selectively activating said circuit control between a gyro-controlling mode and a lever-controlling mode, wherein at said gyro-controlling mode, said operation system is controlled in response to said gyro-balancer control, wherein at said lever-controlling mode, said operation system is controlled in response to a lever control provided on said hand-held housing.

20. The method, as recited in claim 18, wherein the step (a) further comprises a step of selectively activating said circuit control between a gyro-controlling mode and a lever-controlling mode, wherein at said gyro-controlling mode, said operation system is controlled in response to said gyro-balancer control, wherein at said lever-controlling mode, said operation system is controlled in response to a lever control provided on said hand-held housing.