US20140134914A1

US20140134914A1 - Toy capable of flying and bouncing

Info

Publication number: US20140134914A1
Application number: US13/674,998
Authority: US
Inventors: Chia-Yen Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-11-13
Filing date: 2012-11-13
Publication date: 2014-05-15

Abstract

A toy capable of flying and bouncing includes a circular concave disk body and a spherical elastic body disposed at a center of the disk body. Two ends of the elastic body protrude out of a top surface and beyond a bottom plane of the disk body. Thus, after being thrown out, the disk body would fly in the air. After the disk body lands, the elastic body hits the ground and begin to bounce. An outer surface of the elastic body where the common axis passes through comprises at least one projected portion extended outward from the outer surface, such that the toy could spin and balance on the projected portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a toy promoting physical activities and providing fun, and in particular to a toy which is capable of flying in the air, and bouncing and spinning on the ground, thereby providing entertaining feature.
2. The Prior Arts
A conventional frisbee is a circular concave disk having a space disposed at a bottom thereof. When the frisbee is thrown out, it flies in the air because of the lift force it generates when it hits the oncoming air flow. When the Frisbee lands, it just simply hit the ground and slide for a distance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a toy, which flies in the air after being rotatably thrown out, bounces on the ground after landing, and even spins like a spinning top.
One of characteristics of the present invention is that an elastic body is provided at a center of a disk body. Two ends of the elastic body protrude out of a top surface and beyond a bottom plane of the disk body, respectively. When the toy is thrown out, the disk body generates a lift force to make the toy flying in the air. After the toy landing, the lower end of the elastic body hits the ground and the bounce occurs.
Another characteristics of the present invention is that an outer surface of the elastic body is provided with at least one projected portion extended outward from one end or two ends of a central axes of the elastic body. When the flying disk body lands, the elastic body hits the ground and spins by the projected portion.
In order to achieve the objective, a toy capable of flying and bouncing according to the present invention includes a disk body and an elastic body. The concave disk body has a space disposed at a bottom thereof and a through hole located at a center thereof. The elastic body is fitted in the through hole and both ends of the elastic body respectively protrude out of a top surface and beyond a bottom plane of the disk body. Both of centers of gravity of the elastic body and the disk body 1 are located on a common axis of gravity of a combination of the disk body and the elastic body. After the toy is rotatably thrown, lift is generated by accelerating upper airflow due to the space disposed at the bottom of the disk body so that a pressure difference gives rise to a lifting force, thereby making the toy flying and spinning in the air. After the disk body lands, the part of the elastic body that protrudes beyond the bottom plane would hit the ground and bounce.
According to an embodiment, an outer surface of the elastic body may further include at least one projected portion extended from one end or two ends of a central axis of the elastic body. The projected portion may be an integral part with or a separated part from the elastic body When the flying disk body lands and the projected portion contacts with the ground, the projected portion become the rotating axis of the spinning elastic body.
According to another embodiment, the elastic body is a spherical member or a member shaped in other geometric shape.
According to still another embodiment, the projected portion is made of a material the same as that of the elastic body, so that the elastic body and the projected portion may be integrally formed.
According to further still another embodiment, the projected portion is made of a material different from that of the elastic body, so that the projected portion is placed in a mold to be connected with the elastic body that is made by injection molding.
The projected portion may be made of a rigid material or an elastic material. Free ends of the projected portion may include a pointed end or a rounded end.
According to an embodiment, the elastic body includes a circumferential groove disposed at an outer surface thereof. Thus, a periphery of the through hole of the disk body is engaged with the circumferential groove of the elastic body by interference fit, thereby fixing the elastic body in the through hole of the disk body.
According to another embodiment, a periphery of the through hole of the disk body includes an annular ridge and an outer surface of the elastic body includes a circumferential groove corresponding to the annular ridge. Therefore, when the elastic body is fitted into the disk body, the circumferential groove is engaged with annular ridge by interference fit, thereby fixing the elastic body in the through hole of the disk body.
The flying and bouncing toy according to the present invention may be played as a conventional frisbee. Furthermore, the toy may bounce on the ground and spin like a spinning top after landing, which enhances the fun and increases the value of the toy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a toy capable of flying and bouncing according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the toy according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the toy according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is another cross sectional view showing the toy of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing a toy capable of flying and bouncing according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing a toy capable of flying and bouncing according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 3, a toy capable of flying and bouncing according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a disk body 1 and an elastic body 2. The disk body 1 is preferred to be a circular concave disk and has a space 10 disposed in a bottom thereof. The disk body 1 includes a top surface 11 located on a top thereof and a bottom plane 12 defined on the bottom thereof. An axial through hole 13 is located at a center of the disk body 1 and penetrates through the top surface 11. According to the first embodiment, the through hole 13 is a circular hole. The through hole 13 may also be shaped in other geometric shapes, such as a triangle, a rectangle, a pentagon and a hexagon. According to the first embodiment, the disk body 1 is made by plastic injection molding to form the circular concave disk which is similar to a regular frisbee.
The elastic body 2 may be shaped in a sphere or any other geometric form. According to the first embodiment, the elastic body 2 is a spherical member. The spherical elastic body is made of an elastic material, such as polyurethane (PU). The elastic body 2 may be a solid member or a hollow member having an inner space 20. When the elastic body 2 is a hollow member, the elastic body 2 further includes a valve 23 disposed at a wall thereof. The valve 23 is adapted for communicate the inner space 20 with an exterior of the elastic body 2, such that a fluid (water, oil or air) may be injected into the inner space 20 to inflate the elastic body 2.
The elastic body 2 is assembled in the through hole 13 of the disk body 1, such that a top end of the elastic body 2 protrudes out of the top surface 11 and a bottom end of the elastic body 2 protrudes beyond the bottom plane 12. In order to securely assemble the spherical elastic body 2 in the circular through hole 13 of the disk body 1, a periphery of the through hole 13 may be provided with an annular ridge 131 and the wall of the elastic body 2 includes a circumferential groove 22 corresponding to the annular ridge 131. Therefore, when the elastic body 2 is forced to be fitted into the through hole 13, the annular ridge 131 is engaged with the circumferential groove 22, thereby securely fixing the elastic body 2 in the through hole 13 of the disk body 1. When the elastic body 2 is a hollow member, the elastic body 2 is placed in the through hole 13 and then the elastic body 2 is inflated by injecting air or liquid through the valve 23 into the elastic body 2. Because of the increased volume of the inflated elastic body 2, the annular ridge 131 is engaged with the circumferential groove 22 by interference fit (as shown in FIG. 4). After the elastic body 2 is assembled with the disk body 1, both of centers of gravity of the elastic body 2 and the disk body 1 are located on a common axis of gravity X of a combination of the disk body 1 and the elastic body 2.
Referring to FIG. 5, a disk body 1 and an elastic body 2 according to a second embodiment is similar to those of the first embodiment. An outer surface of the elastic body 2 includes a circumferential groove 22, but a periphery of the through hole 13 is not provided with any annular ridge. Thus, the circumferential groove 22 of the elastic body 2 is directly engaged with the periphery of the through hole 13 of the disk body 1 by interference fit. When the elastic body 2 is a hollow member, the elastic body 2 is placed in the through hole 13 and then the elastic body 2 is inflated by injecting air or liquid through the valve 23 into the elastic body 2. Because the elastic body 2 is inflated, the periphery of the through hole 13 is engaged with the circumferential groove 22 by interference fit as shown in FIG. 5.
A user may rotatably throw the toy capable of flying and bouncing according to the present invention in the air just like playing a regular frisbee. After the toy is tossed, lift is generated by accelerating upper airflow so that a pressure difference gives rise to a lifting force, thereby making the toy flying and spinning in the air. Because the bottom end of the elastic body 2 protrudes beyond the bottom plane 12, the elastic body 2 would bounce on the ground and even spin like a spinning top after landing. When the elastic body 2 spins, the elastic body 2 drives the disk body 1 to rotate simultaneously.
Referring to FIG. 6, a toy capable of flying and bouncing according to a third embodiment of the present invention includes a disk body 1 and an elastic body 2. Preferably, the disk body 1 is shaped in a circular concave disk having a space 10 disposed in a bottom thereof. The disk body 1 includes a top surface 11 disposed on a top thereof and a bottom plane 12 defined on a bottom thereof. An axial through hole 13 is located at a center of the disk body 1 and penetrates through the disk body 1. The through hole 13 of the disk body 1 according to the third embodiment is a circular hole. The same as previous embodiments, the through hole 13 may also be shaped in other geometric shapes. According to the third embodiment, the disk body 1 is made by plastic injection molding to form the circular concave disk.
The elastic body 2 may be shaped in a sphere or any other geometric form. According to the third embodiment, the elastic body 2 is a spherical member. The spherical elastic body 2 is made of an elastic material, such as polyurethane (PU). The elastic body 2 may be a solid member or a hollow member having an inner space 20 disposed therein. When the elastic body 2 is a hollow member, a valve 23 is further provided at a wall of the elastic body 2. The valve 23 is adapted for communicate the inner space 20 with the exterior of the elastic body 2, such that a fluid (water, oil or air) may be injected into the inner space 20 to inflate the elastic body 2. An outer surface of the elastic body 2 according to the third embodiment includes two projected portion 21 extended outward from two end of the central axes thereof, or includes only one projected portion 21 extended outward from one end of the central axes thereof. The projected portion 21 may be made of an elastic material the same as that of the elastic body 2, and be integrally formed with the elastic body 2 by plastic injection molding. The projected portion 21 may also be made of a material different from that of the elastic body 2. The projected portion 21 may be made of a rigid material, such as metal and fiber reinforced plastics and an elastic material, such as plastics and fibers. Free ends of the projected portion 21 may include a pointed end or a rounded end.
The elastic body 2 is assembled in the through hole 13 of the disk body 1, such that the elastic body 2 is protruded out of the top surface 11 and beyond the bottom plane 12 of the disk body 1. In order to fix the spherical elastic body 2 in the circular through hole 13, the same as the first embodiment, a periphery of the through hole 13 of the disk body 1 has an annular ridge 131 and the outer surface of the elastic body 2 includes a circumferential groove 22 corresponding to the annular ridge 131. Therefore, when the elastic body 2 is forced to be fitted into the through hole 13 of the disk body 1, the annular ridge 131 is engaged with the circumferential groove 22, thereby securely fixing the elastic body 2 in the through hole 13 of the disk body 1. When the elastic body 2 is a hollow member, the elastic body 2 is placed in the through hole 13 and then the elastic body 2 is inflated by injecting air or liquid through the valve 23 into the elastic body 2 until the inflated elastic body 2 makes the annular ridge 131 be engaged with the circumferential groove 22 by interference fit. After the elastic body 2 is assembled with the disk body 1, both of centers of gravity of the elastic body 2 and the disk body 1 are located on a common axis of gravity X of a combination of the disk body 1 and the elastic body 2. The at least one projected portion 21 is located on the common axis of gravity X of the combination of the disk body 1 and the elastic body 2.
A toy capable of flying and bouncing according to a fourth embodiment include a disk body 1 and an elastic body 2. In the same way as the second embodiment, an outer surface of the elastic body 2 includes a circumferential groove 22, but a periphery of the through hole 13 is not provided with any annular ridge, such that the circumferential groove 22 of the elastic body 2 is directly engaged with the periphery of the through hole 13 by interference fit. When the elastic body 2 is a hollow member, the elastic body 2 is placed in the through hole 13 and then the elastic body 2 is inflated by injecting air or liquid through the valve 23 into the elastic body 2. The elastic body 2 is inflated and therefore the periphery of the through hole 13 is engaged with the circumferential groove 22 by interference fit.
A user may throw the toy capable of flying and bouncing according to the third or fourth embodiment just like a frisbee. A lift force is generated and the toy according to the present invention would fly and spin in the air. Because the bottom end of the elastic body 2 protrudes beyond the bottom plane 12, the elastic body 2 would bounce on the ground after landing. The elastic body 2 would even spin on the common axis of gravity X and balance on the projected portion 21. When the elastic body 2 spins, the disk body 1 is driven by the elastic body 2 to rotate together.
The toy capable of flying and bouncing according to the present invention can fly like a regular Frisbee, bounce on the ground and spin like a spinning top, which increases the fun and value of the toy.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments 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

What is claimed is:

1. A toy capable of flying and bouncing, comprising:

a disk body having a space disposed in a bottom thereof and a through hole defined at a center thereof; and

an elastic body having an inner space, the elastic body fixed in the through hole of the disk body, the elastic body protruding out of a top surface and beyond a bottom plane of the disk body, a wall of the elastic body including a valve to communicate the inner space with an exterior of the elastic body.

2. The toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the elastic body where a common axis of gravity of a combination of the disk body and the elastic body passes through comprises at least one projected portion extended outward from the outer surface.

3. The toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein the projected portion is made of a material the same as that of the elastic body, and the elastic body and the projected portion are integrally formed.

4. The toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein the projected portion is made of a material different from that of the elastic body.

5. The toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein the projected portion is made of a rigid material.

6. The toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein a free end of the projected portion is a pointed end.

7. The toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein a free end of the projected portion is a rounded end.

8. The toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic body comprises a circumferential groove disposed on an outer surface thereof, the circumferential groove is engaged with a periphery of the through hole of the disk body by interference fit, thereby fixing the elastic body in the through hole of the disk body.

9. The toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein a periphery of the through hole of the disk body comprises an annular ridge and an outer surface of the elastic body includes a circumferential groove, the circumferential groove is engaged with the annular ridge by interference fit, thereby fixing the elastic body in the through hole of the disk body.