US20150151209A1

US20150151209A1 - Individual and assembleable flying toys

Info

Publication number: US20150151209A1
Application number: US14/094,886
Authority: US
Inventors: Jon Vanderbeek; Sean Mullaney
Original assignee: SWEET SPOT STUDIO Inc
Current assignee: SWEET SPOT STUDIO Inc
Priority date: 2013-12-03
Filing date: 2013-12-03
Publication date: 2015-06-04

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a top portion, a bottom portion, and a tail portion interconnecting to form a central body section, a nose section, a tail section, and a pair of wings. The airplane further includes at least one aperture and at least one connector projection positioned on the airplane, the connector projection configured to engage an aperture, of the at least one aperture, positioned on a second similarly configured airplane such that multiple similarly configured airplanes can be connected to form a larger single flying vehicle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toy airplanes.

BACKGROUND ART

While toy airplanes are well known and well developed there is always a continual need for improvements. The present invention improves upon the typical toy airplane by adding features that can be used to enhance the enjoyment and increase activities available with the use of the toy airplane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a toy airplane in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The toy airplane includes a toy airplane having in one embodiment a top portion, a bottom portion, and a tail portion interconnecting to form a central body section, a nose section, a tail section, and a pair of wings. The top portion has defined thereby a top body section, a top front nose section, a top rear tail section, and a pair of top wings extending outwardly from the top body section, and wherein the bottom portion has defined thereby a bottom body section, a bottom front nose section, a bottom rear tail section, and a bottom pair of wings extending outwardly from the bottom body section. At least one projection and at least one corresponding opening positioned on the top and bottom portions are provided and configured to interconnect such that the at least one projection is received through the corresponding opening. In addition, at least one aperture is positioned on the at least one projection, such that the at least one aperture is positioned through the at least one corresponding opening. At least one connector projection is also positioned on the airplane. The connector projection is configured to engage an aperture, of the at least one aperture, positioned on a second similarly configured airplane such that multiple similarly configured airplanes can be connected to form a larger single flying vehicle.
In another embodiment, the top portion further has a first opening positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the airplane, and the first opening has a first end about the top rear tail section and the first opening has a second end distal to the first opening first end and positioned about a midsection of the top portion. The bottom portion would further have a first projection extending upwardly from the bottom portion and positioned and sized to fit within the first opening. The first projection includes rear and forward flanges extending outwardly to engage edges defined on the first opening when the top and bottom portions are assembled. In another aspect of this embodiment, the first projection includes a rear aperture sized to receive a connector projection.
In another embodiment, the top portion further includes a pair of second openings separately positioned along the side wings, each of the second openings includes a second opening first end adjacent the first opening and a second opening second end distal to the second opening first end and positioned adjacent to the wing ends. The bottom portion would thus include a pair of second projections extending upwardly from the bottom side wings and sized to within the second projections. In another aspect of this embodiment, each of the second projections includes a wing aperture sized to receive a connector projection.
In yet another embodiment, the top portion further includes a third opening positioned towards the front nose of the top portion and the bottom portion includes a third projection positioned about the bottom front nose section and sized to fit within the front opening.
In another embodiment there is provided an toy airplane having a central body section, a nose section, a tail section, and a pair of wings. In addition, at least one aperture is provided and positioned about the airplane with at least one connector projection also positioned on the airplane. The connector projection configured to engage an aperture, of the at least one aperture, positioned on a second similarly configured airplane such that multiple similarly configured airplanes can be connected to form a larger single flying vehicle.
Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an airplane in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of an airplane in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a top portion component of an airplane in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom portion component of an airplane in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the bottom portion component of an airplane in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of multiple planes interconnected to define a larger flying vehicle of an airplane in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of a portion of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or the embodiments illustrated.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, there is provided a toy airplane generally referenced as 100 and defined in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention. Airplane 100 generally includes a central body section 112, a nose 114, a tail section 116, and a pair of wings 118. The airplane 100 is further and generally defined in includes 3 components, a top portion 120, a bottom portion 150, and a tail portion 180. The top portion 120 includes a body 122 with a front nose 124, a rear tail 126, and side wings 128. Each wing may further include an upwardly turned wing tip 129.
To secure the bottom portion 150 to the top portion, the body 122 includes openings that interconnect with projections on the bottom portion 150. More particularly, the top portion 120 has a first opening 130 positioned along the central longitudinal axis of the airplane 100. The first opening has a first end 132 about the rear tail 126 and a second end 134 about a midsection 136 of the top portion. A pair of second openings 138 is separately positioned along the side wings 128. Each of the second opening 138 includes a first end 140 adjacent the first opening 130 and a second distal end 142 adjacent the wing tips 129. In addition, each of the second distal ends 142 of the second openings is slightly enlarged in comparison to the rest of the second opening, as further defined and discussed below. A third opening 144 is positioned towards the front nose 124 of the top portion.
The bottom portion 150 similarly includes a bottom body portion 152 with a bottom front nose section 154, a bottom rear tail section 156, and bottom side wings 158. In addition, the bottom portion 150 includes a first projection 160 extending upwardly from the bottom portion 150 and sized to fit within the first opening 130. The first projection 160 further includes rear and forward flanges 162 that extend outwardly from the first projection 160 and secure about edges defined on the first opening. The first projection 160 further includes a rear aperture 166 extending into the first projection adjacent the bottom rear tail section 156 and further includes a central channel 168, defined in greater detail below.
The bottom portion 150 includes a pair of second projections 170 extending upwardly from the bottom side wings 158 and sized to fit within the second openings 138. Each of the pair of second projections 170 include a side wing aperture 172 extending into the second projection adjacent the wing tip 129. When assembled, the side wing apertures 172 will fit through the slightly enlarged second distal ends 142. In addition, the bottom portion 150 includes a third projection 174 positioned about the bottom front nose section 154 and sized to fit within the front opening 144. The third projection 174 may include a front rounded portion 176 to aid in the aerodynamics of the airplane 100.
Lastly, the tail portion 180 includes a lower extended portion 182 that is sized to fit into the central channel 168 on the first projection.
Extending downwardly from the bottom portion 150 is at least one connector projection 190 that is sized to frictionally engage the various apertures (i.e. the rear aperture 166 and/or either side wing apertures 172) on a similarly designed airplane. In one embodiment, there are three connector projections 190, one positioned adjacent the front nose section 154 and one positioned on each of the side wings 158. The bottom portion 150 may further include a launch clip 192 that includes a downward flange 194 that is able to latch to an end of a rubber band. The user holding the rear of the airplane with one hand and the opposite end of a rubber band with the other end can stretch the rubber band and release the plane launching the plane into flight.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, multiple airplane 100 are shown in accordance with the embodiments presented herein. Each airplane is configured to include at least one connector projection 190 and at least one aperture. The planes can then be easily secured to each other to create a single larger flying vehicle. As illustrated in FIG. 6, in one other embodiment the tail section 180 may include a cut out portion 181 adjacent the rear aperture 166, to more easily permit the nose of a second plane to connect to the rear aperture 166. In this instance the tail section 180 hangs over a portion of the nose 174. A weighted nose attachment 200 may also be provided with a aperture 202 to attach to the front airplane to provide a balanced weight when additional airplanes are attached.
In addition, the projections are further sized to fit snugly into the openings such that when assembled the components do not easily fall apart.
From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.

Claims

We claim:

1. A toy airplane comprising:

a top portion, a bottom portion, and a tail portion interconnecting to form a central body section, a nose section, a tail section, and a pair of wings;

wherein, the top portion having defined thereby a top body section, a top front nose section, a top rear tail section, and a pair of top wings extending outwardly from the top body section, and wherein the bottom portion having defined thereby a bottom body section, a bottom front nose section, a bottom rear tail section, and a bottom pair of wings extending outwardly from the bottom body section;

at least one projection and at least one corresponding opening positioned on the top and bottom portions and configured to interconnect such that the at least one projection is received through the corresponding opening;

at least one aperture positioned on the at least one projection, wherein the at least one aperture is positioned through the at least one corresponding opening; and

at least one connector projection positioned on the airplane, the connector projection configured to engage an aperture, of the at least one aperture, positioned on a second similarly configured airplane such that multiple similarly configured airplanes can be connected to form a larger single flying vehicle.

2. The airplane of claim 1, wherein:

the top portion further having a first opening positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the airplane, and wherein the first opening has a first end about the top rear tail section and the first opening has a second end distal to the first opening first end and positioned about a midsection of the top portion; and

the bottom portion further having a first projection extending upwardly from the bottom portion and positioned and sized to fit within the first opening, and wherein the first projection includes rear and forward flanges extending outwardly to engage edges defined on the first opening when the top and bottom portions are assembled.

3. The airplane of claim 2, wherein the first projection includes a rear aperture sized to receive a connector projection.

4. The airplane of claim 1, wherein:

the top portion further includes a pair of second openings separately positioned along the side wings, each of the second openings includes a second opening first end adjacent the first opening and a second opening second end distal to the second opening first end and positioned adjacent to the wing ends; and

the bottom portion includes a pair of second projections extending upwardly from the bottom side wings and sized to within the second projections

5. The airplane of claim 4, wherein each of the second projections includes a wing aperture sized to receive a connector projection.

6. The airplane of claim 1, wherein:

the top portion further includes a third opening positioned towards the front nose of the top portion and the bottom portion includes a third projection positioned about the bottom front nose section and sized to fit within the front opening.

7. The airplane of claim 2, wherein the tail portion includes a lower extended portion sized to fit into a central channel formed along an upper portion of the first projection.

8. An toy airplane comprising: a central body section, a nose section, a tail section, and a pair of wings; and at least one aperture positioned about the airplane and at least one connector projection positioned on the airplane, the connector projection configured to engage an aperture, of the at least one aperture, positioned on a second similarly configured airplane such that multiple similarly configured airplanes can be connected to form a larger single flying vehicle.

9. The toy airplane of claim 8 further comprising:

at least three apertures separately positioned about the tail section and on each of the wings; and at least three connector projections separately extending from a bottom portion of the airplane about the nose section and on each of the wings.

10. The toy airplane of claim 9 further comprising:

a top portion, a bottom portion, and a tail portion interconnecting to form the central body section, the nose section, the tail section, and the pair of wings;

wherein, the top portion having defined thereby a top body section, a top front nose section, a top rear tail section, and a pair of top wings extending outwardly from the top body section, and wherein the bottom portion having defined thereby a bottom body section, a bottom front nose section, a bottom rear tail section, and a bottom pair of wings extending outwardly from the bottom body section; and

at least three projections and at least three corresponding openings positioned on the top and bottom portions and configured to interconnect such that the at least three projections are received through the corresponding openings.

11. The airplane of claim 10, wherein:

the three openings are defined to include:

a first opening positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the top portion, and wherein the first opening has a first end about the top rear tail section and the first opening has a second end distal to the first opening first end and positioned about a midsection of the top portion;

a pair of second openings separately positioned along the side wings, each of the second openings includes a second opening first end adjacent the first opening and a second opening second end distal to the second opening first end and positioned adjacent to the wing ends;

a third opening positioned towards the front nose of the top portion; and

the three projections are defined to include:

a first projection extending upwardly from the bottom portion and positioned and sized to fit within the first opening, and wherein the first projection includes rear and forward flanges extending outwardly to engage edges defined on the first opening when the top and bottom portions are assembled;

a pair of second projections extending upwardly from the bottom side wings and sized to within the second projections; and

a third projection positioned about the bottom front nose section and sized to fit within the third opening.

12. The airplane of claim 11, wherein the first projection includes a rear aperture sized to receive a connector projection and wherein each of the second projections includes a wing aperture sized to receive a connector projection.

13. The airplane of claim 10, wherein the tail portion includes a lower extended portion sized to fit into a central channel formed along an upper portion of the first projection.

14. The airplane of claim 12, wherein the nose section includes a connector projection extending downwardly from the lower portion of the airplane.

15. The airplane of claim 14 further comprising a removable weighted section having an aperture sized to receive the connector projection.