US20160236110A1

US20160236110A1 - Flying Toy Wingsuit Character

Info

Publication number: US20160236110A1
Application number: US15/044,208
Authority: US
Inventors: Gregory David Tanous
Original assignee: Tanous Works LLC
Current assignee: Tanous Works LLC
Priority date: 2015-02-16
Filing date: 2016-02-16
Publication date: 2016-08-18

Abstract

A remote controlled flying toy wingsuit character having a forward elevated dihedral wing configuration and a rearward lowered tail stabilizer, thereby producing an airfoil effect on the overall wingsuit character. The wingsuit character is stabilized against yawing motion by the A-shape arrangement of leg members, and this stabilizing drag effect is enhanced by a drag inducing edge running along the outside surface of the leg members. The wingsuit web spans between the leg members, thereby forming the lowered tail stabilizer. The wingsuit character comprises wing vents for greater stability and control during flight. The wingsuit character comprises a timer device that determines the flight time and flight pattern of the wingsuit character.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e), this application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/116,616, filed on Feb. 16, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference.

BACKGROUND

(1) Field of Endeavor
The present invention relates generally to the field of remote controlled flying toys, and more particularly, to a control and steering system for flying toy figures.
(2) Description of Related Art
Past flying toy figures are generally planar in form, and they are driven by a single propeller or by two propellers in fixed relation to the body of the figure. The body typically has a vertical tail surface or fin for yaw directional stabilization. As a result, these flying toys can be difficult to maneuver and control at normal toy flight speeds. With this reduced control and stability, such toys often fly out of the range of the radio controller, often causing the toy to crash.
The present invention seeks to overcome these problems by providing a flying toy wingsuit character having a configuration in which the wing members and leg members induce stabilizing aerodynamic forces, thereby enhancing control of the flying toy figure.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The wingsuit character comprises a body, wing members, leg members, a propulsion system, and a control system. The upper side of the body generally forms a back of the human figure, and the bottom side of the body generally forms a torso of the human figure. The leg members are spread apart in an A-shape, and they are generally cylindrical in shape, having features and contours defining the shape of a human leg. The leg members comprise a drag inducing edge that runs along the outside surface of each of the leg members. The wingsuit web spans between the leg members. The web is generally triangular in shape, and it extends from the apex of the leg members to the lower part of the leg members, terminating near the knee, calf, ankle, or feet of the leg members.
The forward portion of the body comprises a propulsion system. In one embodiment, the propulsion system has a support bar and at least one propulsion unit disposed near each end of the support bar. In another embodiment, the propulsion system comprises stand-alone pod units disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the wingsuit character. In one embodiment of the propulsion unit is an electrical motor driving a propeller. The propulsion system is operated and controlled by the control system, which typically comprises a receiver, a power source such as a battery, a circuit board, and other electronic components and wiring necessary to create electrical connectivity between the receiver, power source, and the propulsion units.
In one embodiment of the operation of the wingsuit character, the propulsion units are independently driven to promote a greater degree of steering and control by the user. In an embodiment having two propulsion units, for example, the user uses the wireless control device to send a signal to the receiver of the control system to allocate more power to the propulsion unit at one end of the support bar, thereby creating a thrust differential between the respective propulsion units. This increase in power causes an increase in thrust produced by the over powered propulsion unit, thereby producing greater thrust on one side of the body. This thrust differential forces the wingsuit character to bank and turn in the opposite direction. For example, to make a turn to the right, the control system allocates more power to the left propulsion unit, thereby creating greater thrust on the left side of the body and forcing the figure to turn to the right. A corresponding left turn is produced by producing more thrust from the right propulsion unit than from the left.
The wingsuit character has improved aerodynamic properties enabled by the configuration of the wing members, leg members, and web. For example, the severity of the dihedral angle is adjusted to create the desired stabilizing effect on the rolling motion of the wingsuit character. A more pronounced dihedral angle promotes greater rolling stability of the wingsuit character. A less pronounced dihedral angle renders the wingsuit character more susceptible to rolling oscillations and instabilities.
The yawing motion of the wingsuit character is controlled by the spread arrangement of the leg members and the drag inducing edge of the leg members. The spread arrangement of the leg members causes the outside surface to create drag, thereby causing the rearward portion of the wingsuit character to trail the forward portion of the wingsuit character during flight. This drag effect stabilizes the figure from yawing motion, and this stabilizing effect is enhanced by the additional drag created by the inducing edge, which provides further stabilization to the wingsuit character during flight.
The pitching motion of the wingsuit character is a function of the thrust of the propulsion units, the speed of flight, the location of the wingsuit character's center of gravity along the longitudinal axis, and the orientation and shape of the web at the rearward portion of the wingsuit character. The web acts as a trailing wing of the wingsuit character, thereby counteracting sharp movement in pitching motions of the wingsuit character during flight.
The overall shape of the wingsuit character produces an airfoil effect. In one exemplary embodiment, the wing members form a forward, elevated dihedral wing configuration that is elevated in relation to the remainder of the wingsuit character. The web is attached to the bottom portion of the leg members as described above, forming a rearward, lowered tail stabilizer that is lowered in relation to the remainder of the wingsuit character. During flight, the air moves over the elevated dihedral wing configuration and drops down to the lowered tail stabilizer as the air passes along the top of the wingsuit character. This drop in elevation causes reduced air pressure acting on the upper surfaces of the wingsuit character, thereby creating an uplift force on the overall wingsuit character.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a reverse isometric view of one embodiment of the wingsuit character.

FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of the wingsuit character.

FIG. 3 is a top view of one embodiment of the wingsuit character.

FIG. 4 is a left reverse isometric view of one embodiment of the wingsuit character.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the wingsuit character.

FIG. 6 is a side view of one embodiment of the wingsuit character.

FIG. 7 is a back right isometric view of one embodiment of the wingsuit character.

FIG. 8 is a side view of one embodiment of the wingsuit character.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the wingsuit character.

FIG. 10 is a side view of one embodiment of the wingsuit character.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the wingsuit character.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the wingsuit character having a low poly configuration.

FIG. 13 is front view of one embodiment of a wireless control device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the connectivity between a power source, a timer device, and an exemplary propulsion unit.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the connectivity between a power source, a timer device, and a propulsion unit.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the connectivity between a power source, a timer device, and a propulsion unit.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures are not intended to illustrate every embodiment of the invention. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures, or to the shapes, relative sizes, or proportions shown in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings, the flying toy wingsuit character will now be described with regard for the best mode and the preferred embodiment. In general, the device is a remote controlled, flying toy wingsuit character having improved aerodynamic properties. The embodiments disclosed herein are meant for illustration and not limitation of the invention. An ordinary practitioner will appreciate that it is possible to create many variations of the following embodiments without undue experimentation.
For the purpose of illustration, the wingsuit character described herein is presented in terms of a generic toy character, such as a toy human or animal figure. As used herein, the terms “right,” “left,” “forward,” “rearward,” “top,” “bottom,” and similar directional terms refer to orientations when facing the direction of flight of the wingsuit character 1. The term “horizontal” means a plane generally parallel to the ground or other surface above which the wingsuit character 1 is flying. The term “vertical” means the direction generally perpendicular to the ground or other surface above which the wingsuit character 1 is flying. The term “electronic signal” means any wireless electromagnetic signal transmitted from the wireless control device 5 to the control system 30 for controlling the flying wingsuit character 1. In one embodiment, the electronic signal is a radio frequency signal typical for radio controlled (RC) toys. The term “longitudinal axis” of the wingsuit character 1 refers to the axis about which the FIG. 1 rolls.
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of the wingsuit character 1 is in the general shape of a human wearing a wingsuit. This embodiment of the wingsuit character 1 comprises a body 10, wing members 11, leg members 12, a propulsion system 25, and a control system 30. At least one embodiment of the wingsuit character 1 additionally comprises a head 13 and feet 14, as described below. However, the head 13 and feet 14 are not required for proper operation of the wingsuit character 1.
The wing members 11 comprise arms 15 of the human figure and the airfoil 16 portion, which is a web-like member that spans between the body 10 and the arms 15. The upper side of the body 10 generally forms a back 17 of the human or animal character, and the bottom side of the body 10 generally forms a torso 18 of the human figure. In at least one embodiment, the wing members 11 are attached at the top of the body 10 near the back 17 so that the torso 18 projects below the interface between the wing members 11 and the body 10. The wing members 11 are disposed either horizontally or in a dihedral arrangement such that the wing members 11 rise above the elevation of the back 17.
The leg members 12 are spread apart in an A-shaped configuration, and they are generally in the form, shape, and proportion of legs of the character, whether human-like or animal-like legs. In other words, the leg members 12 are generally cylindrical in shape, having features and contours defining the shape of the leg of the character. The A-shaped arrangement of the leg members 12 causes drag forces that stabilize the wingsuit character 1 from yawing motion, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for vertical yaw stabilizers such as tail fins or other vertical members. The leg members 12 comprise a drag inducing edge 19 that runs along the outside surface of each of the leg members 12. It is preferable, but not required, that the drag inducing edge 19 is located near the upper part of the outside surface of the leg members 12. The drag inducing edge 19 is a raised edge, ridge, seam, or other protrusion that projects from the outside surface of the leg members 12. For example, the drag inducing edge 19 could be a raised seam defined by the interface of two pieces of material that are adjoined to create at least a portion one of the leg members 12. The drag inducing edge 19 could also be a rod, ridge, or other equivalent structure that is permanently, semi-permanently, or removably attached to the outside surface of the leg members 12. The drag inducing edge 19 can be disposed either continuously or intermittently along the outside surface of the leg members 12.
The wingsuit web 21 spans between the leg members 12. The web 21 is generally triangular in shape, and it extends from the apex of the leg members 12 toward the extremities of the leg members 12, terminating near the knee, calf, ankle, or feet 14 of the leg members 12. In one embodiment, the web 21 is attached to the leg members 12 at a location near the chin or front of the quadriceps, or other equivalent feature, of the leg members 12. In this configuration, the inside portion of the leg members 12 rises significantly above the top surface of the web 21. In at least one embodiment, the web 21 further comprises flap members 22 disposed at the trailing edge of the web 21. The flap members 22 act as ailerons, elevators, elevons or the like.
The forward portion of the body 10 comprises a propulsion system 25. In one embodiment, the propulsion system 25 comprises a support bar 26 and at least one propulsion unit 27 disposed near each end of the support bar 26. One embodiment of a propulsion unit 27 is an electrical motor driving a propeller. In another embodiment, the propulsion unit 27 is a ducted fan. In another embodiment, the propulsion units 27 are mounted directly to the wingsuit character 1 without the need for a support bar 26. In this embodiment, the propulsion units 27 comprise one or more independently operated motors or motor pods mounted to the wingsuit character 1, such as at the shoulders or elbows of the wingsuit character 1, the wing members 11, or elsewhere as desired. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the power delivered by the motors and the size and shape of the propellers is a matter of design choice, and these components of the propulsion units 27 are selected in proportion to the other aerodynamic properties of the flying wingsuit character 1. The propulsion units 27 are independently operable, such that the thrust produced by one of the propulsion units 27 is independent of that produced by the other propulsion units 27.
Another embodiment of the propulsion system 25 (not shown) comprises more than two propulsion units 27. For example, one embodiment of the propulsion system 25 comprises two propulsion units 27 attached to the support bar 26 or directly to the wingsuit character 1 on one side of the body 10, and two propulsion units 27 attached to the support bar 26 or directly to the wingsuit character 1 on the opposite side of the body 10, for a total of four propulsion units 27. In another embodiment of the propulsion system 25 (not shown), the flying wingsuit character 1 has two support bars 26 attached to the body 10, with one support bar 26 above the other. Each of these support bars 26 supports two propulsion units 27 attached at opposite ends of the support bar 26, for a total of four propulsion units 27. In another embodiment, the propulsion system 25 comprises motor pods attached to the elbows and shoulders of the wingsuit character 1 for a total of four motor pods.
In any of the embodiments of the support bar 26, the support bar 26 can take the shape of an airfoil or a wing such that the support bar 26 operates as a front wing 23 during flight, thereby creating an additional lift force for the flying wingsuit character 1.
The propulsion system 25 is operated and controlled by the control system 30, which comprises the electronic components for operation of the remote controlled wingsuit character 1. Various embodiments of the control system 30 may comprise one or more of a receiver, a power source such as a battery, a circuit board, and other electronic components and wiring necessary to create electrical connectivity between the receiver, power source, and the propulsion units 27. The main components of the control system 30 are attached to the wingsuit character 1 by tape, glue, screws, clips, or other suitable attachment material or device. Alternatively, any or all of the components of the control system 30 could be embedded or housed within the body 10 or within the head 13 (in embodiments of the wingsuit character 1 having a head 13). In any of the embodiments of the support bar 26, the support bar 26 could be hollow, thereby acting as a conduit for the passage of electrical wires between the control system 30 and at least one of the propulsion units 27.
On embodiment of the control system 30 of the flying wingsuit character 1 is controlled by a wireless control device 5 (see FIG. 13) having a transmitter to transmit an electronic signal to the control system 30 of the flying wingsuit character 1. The control system 30 controls the propulsion system 25 on the flying wingsuit character 1 to produce a gliding form of flight.
In one embodiment of the operation of the wingsuit character 1, the propulsion units 27 are independently driven to promote a greater degree of steering and control by the user. In an embodiment having two propulsion units 27, for example, the user uses the wireless control device 5 to send a signal to the receiver of the control system 30 to allocate more power to the propulsion unit 27 at one end of the support bar 26, thereby creating a thrust differential between the respective propulsion units 27. This increase in power causes an increase in thrust produced by the over powered propulsion unit 27, thereby producing greater thrust on one side of the body 10. This thrust differential forces the wingsuit character 1 to turn in the direction toward the lower powered propulsion unit 27. For example, to make a turn to the right, the control system 30 allocates more power to the left propulsion unit 27, thereby creating greater thrust on the left side of the body 10 and forcing the FIG. 1 to turn to the right. A corresponding left turn is produced by producing more thrust from the right propulsion unit 27 than from the left.
The wingsuit character 1 has improved aerodynamic properties enabled by the configuration of the wing members 11, leg members 12, and web 21. For example, the severity of the dihedral angle is adjusted to create the desired stabilizing effect on the rolling motion of the wingsuit character 1. A more pronounced dihedral angle promotes greater rolling stability of the wingsuit character 1. A less pronounced dihedral angle renders the wingsuit character 1 more susceptible to rolling oscillations and instabilities.
The yawing motion of the wingsuit character 1 is controlled by the spread arrangement of the leg members 12 and the drag inducing edge 19 of the leg members 12. The spread arrangement of the leg members 12 causes the leg members 12 to create drag, thereby causing the rearward portion of the wingsuit character 1 to trail the forward portion of the wingsuit character 1 during flight. This drag effect stabilizes the FIG. 1 from yawing motion, and this stabilizing effect is enhanced by the additional drag created by the inducing edge 19, which provides further stabilization to the wingsuit character 1 during flight. The drag enhancement provided by the drag inducing edge 19 can be adjusted by altering the orientation and configuration of the drag inducing edge 19. For example, a drag inducing edge 19 having a pronounced or sharp profile will create more drag and more stability, while diminishing the top speed at which the wingsuit character 1 can fly. A less pronounced, rounded, or intermittently spaced drag inducing edge 19 creates a lesser drag effect, thereby reducing the stabilizing effect while allowing for a higher top-end flying speed of the wingsuit character 1. The stabilizing drag effect can be further enhanced by adding feet 14 to the ends of the leg members 12.
The pitching motion of the wingsuit character 1 is a function of the thrust of the propulsion units (i.e. the acceleration or deceleration of the wingsuit character 1), the location of the wingsuit character's 1 center of gravity along the longitudinal axis, and the orientation of the web 21 at the rearward portion of the wingsuit character 1. The effect of the center of gravity on the pitch is discussed above. The acceleration of the propulsion units 27 has an effect on the pitch of the wingsuit character 1 that would be appreciated by persons skilled in the art. The web 21 acts as a trailing wing of the wingsuit character 1, thereby counteracting sharp movement in pitching motions of the wingsuit character 1 during flight.
The overall shape of the wingsuit character 1 produces an airfoil effect, thereby generating additional lift over that provided by the wing members 11 alone. In one exemplary embodiment, the wing members 11 are in a dihedral configuration with the base of each wing member 11 attached to the body 10 in close proximity to the back 17. This arrangement creates a forward, elevated or raised dihedral wing configuration 35 that is elevated in relation to the remainder of the wingsuit character 1. The web 21 is attached to the bottom portion of the leg members 12 as described above, forming a rearward, lowered tail stabilizer 36 that is lowered in relation to the remainder of the wing suit character 1. During flight, the air moves over the elevated dihedral wing configuration 35 and drops down to the lowered tail stabilizer 36 as the air passes along the top of the wingsuit character 1. This drop in elevation causes reduced air pressure in the airflow over the top of the wingsuit character 1, thereby creating an uplift force on the overall wingsuit character 1.
In one embodiment, the elevation difference between the forward, elevated dihedral wing configuration 35 and the lower tail stabilizer 36 is greater than or equal to the thickness of the body 10. The thickness of the body 10 is the distance from the top surface of the back 17 to the bottom surface of the torso 18 when measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at the thickest part of the body 10. In another embodiment, the elevation difference between the forward, elevated dihedral wing configuration 35 and the lower tail stabilizer 36 is greater than or equal to twice the thickness of the body 10. In another embodiment, the elevation difference between the forward, elevated dihedral wing configuration 35 and the lower tail stabilizer 36 is greater than or equal to three times the thickness of the body 10.
In another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 4-6, the wingsuit character 101 is particularly suited for high lift and slow speed, which produces a smooth gliding action during flight. The wing members 111 and the web 121 extend beyond the leg members 112, taking the form of a cape-like member of the wingsuit character 101. The arms 115 are swept back at an angle that ranges from approximately 30 degrees to approximately 40 degrees in relation to the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the arms 115 are positioned at about 37 degrees from the longitudinal axis.
The propulsion units 127 are attached to the wing members 111 on each side of the body 110. As one example, on each side of the body 110 at least one propulsion unit 112 is disposed at a wing vent 134 located between the arm 115 and the body 110, between the arm 115 and the leg member 112, or between the arm 115 and the far edge of the wing member 111. In one embodiment, the wing members 111 comprise a convex duct 132 in front of the propulsion units 127 on the forward side of the vent 134. The convex duct 132 forms a convex bubble-like surface on the top side of the wing members 111. The bottom side of the convex duct 132 forms a concave ducted surface that permits at least some of the high pressure air under the wing members 111 to pass around the body 110, through the wing vents 134, and over the top side of the wingsuit character 101. The arms 115 of the FIG. 101 are disposed in a dihedral configuration, and the top of the convex duct 132 rises above the level of the back 117. The convex duct 132 exaggerates the elevation difference between the elevated dihedral wing configuration 135 and the lowered tail stabilizer 136.
The convex duct 132 extends over the propeller such that the convex duct 132 protects the propeller from intruding objects, debris, and accidental contact by the user. In one embodiment of the wingsuit character 101, the underside of the wing members 111 further comprises one or more propulsion unit guards 137, which protects certain components of the propulsion units 127, such as a propeller, from interference by intruding objects, debris, and accidental contact by the user. In one embodiment, one or more unit guards 137 is disposed on the underside of the wing member 111. The unit guards 137 cooperate with the convex duct 132 and a propulsion unit 127 such that the combination of these elements acts as a ducted fan for propelling the wingsuit character 101.
In this embodiment, the FIG. 101 further comprises fin members 133 that are located on the underside of the wing member 111, the web 121, or both. The fin members 133 are generally oriented in line with the leg member 112. The fin members 133 provide additional stabilization to the wingsuit character 101 in the yaw direction. One embodiment of the fin members 133 is placed at an adjustable orientation with respect to the legs members 112 such that the fin members 133 can be bent or moved to control flight trim of the wingsuit character 101. The leg members 112 are separated at an angle that ranges from about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees. In one embodiment, the leg members 112 are separated at about a 40 degree angle.
In one variation of this embodiment, the wing members 111 extend beyond the leg members 112, as does the web 121 and the lowered tail stabilizer 136. The wing members 111 and the web 121 are arranged in a dihedral configuration for at least one half of their length. In another variation, the wing members 111 and the web 121 continue coextensively beyond the end of the leg members 112, and the dihedral arrangement extends for the full length of the wing members 111.
In another embodiment of the wingsuit character 201, shown in FIGS. 7-9, the FIG. 201 comprises only one propulsion unit 227, which is attached to the back 217 of the FIG. 201. The propulsion unit 227 is protected by a guard 207, which is attached to the back 217, wing members 211, arms 215, or convex ducts 232.
In another embodiment of the wingsuit FIG. 301, shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the FIG. 301 does not have a control system or any other electronics. Instead, the wingsuit FIG. 301 acts as a glider that is tossed by the user. The wing members 311 comprise one or more optional cutouts that act as vents 302 in the plane of the wing members 311. The vents 302 generally take the shape of a circle or oval, although they can be of many different shapes. The vents 302 are disposed in the plane of the wing member 311, without a convex duct. In this embodiment, the wingsuit FIG. 301 is thrown by hand, and the FIG. 301 takes an otherwise unpropelled form of gliding flight. The vents 302 create an exaggerated drag effect on the wingsuit FIG. 301, thereby acting as air brakes. The drag effect is proportional to the size of the vents 302, with larger vents 302 generating more drag. Because of the drag effect, the wingsuit FIG. 301 of this embodiment is particularly well-suited for flying short distances of about 15 feet to about 25 feet when thrown by the user. Thus, the wingsuit FIG. 301 of this embodiment is well-suited for indoor use and for playing games of “catch” with another user.
In any of the foregoing embodiments, the wingsuit character 1 can take the form of a polygon mesh, such as a “low poly” or “mid poly” design, as shown in FIG. 12. In this embodiment, the wingsuit character 1 comprises the same or similar elements as the embodiments described above. For simplicity and clarity, these elements are not repeated here.
In any of the foregoing embodiments that comprise propulsion units 27, 127, 227, the wingsuit character 1, 101, 201 can be further modified to include a timer device 501 for controlling the propulsion units 527. According to this modification, the wireless control device 5 is removed, and the control system 530 is modified to incorporate the timer device 501. Referring to FIGS. 14-16, the timer device 501 is an electrical component that enables power to transfer from a power source 506 to the propulsion units 527. In this manner, the timer device 501 is configured to activate the propulsion units 527 upon the user's command, and then deactivate the propulsion units 527 after a pre-determined period of time. By way of example, the embodiment of the wingsuit character 201 shown in FIGS. 7-9 could be adapted such that the control system 230 comprises a timer device 501. As shown in FIGS. 14-16, in many embodiments, the power source 506 is a battery that is part of the control system 230, and the power is electrical power flowing from the battery to the propulsion units 527, each of which is an electric motor driving a propeller. Upon the user's command, the timer device 501 activates the battery 506 to power the propulsion units 527, and then deactivate the battery 506 after a pre-determined period of time, such as five seconds or ten seconds, which deactivates the propulsion units 527.
In these embodiments, the user holds the wingsuit character 201 in one hand, and then activates the timer device 501 to start the propulsion units 527. The user then tosses the wingsuit character 201 into the air, and the FIG. 501 takes to flight. After the pre-determined period of time expires, the propulsion units 527 cease operation, and the wingsuit character 201 glides softly to the ground in a skid-like landing. Since this embodiment does not comprise a wireless control device 5, the user has no control over the wingsuit character 201 during flight.
There are several embodiments of user activation of the timer device 501. For example, in one embodiment the timer device 501 is housed inside the body 210. The outside surface of the body 210 or the wing member 211 comprises an activation device 502 for activating the timer device 501. The activation device 502 is a switch, a button, a lever, or other device disposed in communication with the timer device 501 and configured for activating the timer device 501. In another embodiment, the body 210 of the wingsuit character 201 comprises a resilient material, such as deformable plastic or rubber, and the activation device 502 is placed below the surface of the body 510. The user engages the activation device 502 by squeezing the body 510. For example, the activation device 502 could be a button placed below a rubber surface of the body 210 in proximity to the torso, such as near the rib cage. The user engages the activation device 502 by squeezing the rib cage, which starts the time device 501 and activates the propulsion units 527. The wingsuit character 201 is then ready to be tossed into flight.
The pre-determined periods of timer device 501 activation are adjustable by the user. The periods of time could be five seconds, ten seconds, fifteen seconds, or the like. The pre-determined time period could be fixed by the timer device 501, or it could be selected by the user via a selector device 503. The selector device 503 is a switch, button, lever, or other device enabling the user to alter the pre-determined time period for the timer device 501. For example, the selector device 503 could be a switch having two different positions corresponding to time periods of ten seconds and fifteen seconds, respectively. The selector device 503 could have a third position or more, corresponding to time periods of twenty seconds, twenty-five seconds, and the like. Alternately, the selector device 503 could be a button that the user depresses once for a 5 second time period, twice for a ten second time period, three times for a fifteen second time period, and so on. In another embodiment, the selector device 503 is a button, and the user controls the pre-determined time period by depressing the button and holding it down. For example, depressing the button for one second, two seconds, and three seconds corresponds to pre-determined time periods of five seconds, ten seconds, and fifteen seconds, respectively. The foregoing examples are for illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the scope of the selector device 503 or the timer device 501.
In one embodiment, the timer device 501 further comprises a control unit 504, which comprises circuitry or other functionality configured to control the flight pattern of the wingsuit character 201 such that the wingsuit character 201 flies in a pre-determined flight pattern. The control unit 504 could be a circuit, a microprocessor, or another electrical or processing unit configured to control the propulsion units 527. The pre-determined flight pattern could be a figure-eight, a circle, a serpentine pattern, or some other pattern.
In one embodiment, the control unit 504 is configured to control power delivered to each propulsion unit 527 to control the predetermined flight pattern. The variable power allocation controls the thrust output of each of the propulsion units. For example, in one embodiment the control unit 504 allocates more power to the right propulsion unit 527 than to the left propulsion unit 527, thereby causing a thrust differential and turning the wingsuit character 201 to turn to the left, as described in more detail above. Maintaining this power allocation for the duration of the pre-determined time period causes the wingsuit character 201 to fly in a circular pattern by circling to the left. As another alternative, the control unit 527 under powers the left propulsion unit 527 only for a segment of the pre-determined time period before reversing the power allocation between the propulsion units 527 such that the left propulsion unit 527 receives more power than the right propulsion unit 527. This power allocation causes the wingsuit character 201 to turn back to the right. Alternating these two different power allocations during the pre-determined time period causes the wingsuit character 201 to fly in a serpentine pattern, turning back and forth until the pre-determined time period ends and the wingsuit character 201 glides to a skid landing.
In another embodiment, the pre-determined flight pattern is determined by adjusting the fin members 233 prior to activating the timer device 501. The fin members 233 are flexibly adjustable members that remain in a fixed orientation during flight. Between flights, the orientation of the fin members 233 is adjusted by the user as desired. Adjustment of the fin members 233 may be for trim of the wingsuit character 201, or it could be a more pronounced adjustment that causes the wingsuit character 201 to fly in a circular or spiral patter as described above.
The timer device 501 and the control unit 504 could be separate components or integrated into the same component within the control system 230. For example, the timer device 501 could be an electrical gate that permits electricity to flow from a power source 506, such as a battery, to the electrical propulsion units 527. The gate opens to enable operation of the propulsion units 527, and the gate closes to cut off the flow of electricity to the propulsion units 527, thereby terminating their operation.
For example, in one embodiment, shown in FIG. 15, the timer device 501 comprises a board supporting circuitry for the electrical components described herein. The timer device 501 comprises a transistor 541, such as a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (“MOSFET”), and a capacitor 542. Transistors 541 other than a MOSFET could be suitable for the purpose as well. The activation device 502 signals the MOSFET 541 to open the gate, thereby permitting electricity to reach the capacitor 542 and fill it. After the activation device 502 is released, the capacitor 542 provides enough electricity to keep the gate open, thereby enabling the flow of electricity to the propulsion units 527. Once the capacitor 542 has exhausted its electricity storage, the gate closes, electricity ceases flowing to the propulsion units 527, and the propulsion units 527 cease operation. The wingsuit character 201 then glides to a skid landing as described above. The timer device 501 can further comprise a resistor 543, which slows down the discharge of electricity from the capacitor 542. The gate in the MOSFET 541 therefore stays open for a longer period of time, enabling operation of the propulsion units 527 for a longer time period. A resistor 543 providing greater resistance prolongs energy dissipation from the capacitor 542, thereby enabling a longer operational time of the propulsion units 527. Correspondingly, a resistor 543 providing lower resistance will comparatively lessen the operational time of the propulsion units 527. The timer device 501 can further comprise an optional circuit overload diode 507.
In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 16, the timer device 527 comprises an integrated circuit 545 pre-programmed with timing functionality, and two potentiometers (“pots”), a first pot 546 and a second pot 547. The integrated circuit 545 is programmed to read the values from the two pots 546, 547. The signals from the first and second pots 546, 547 are converted to a time values and thrust values, respectively. The activation device 502 signals the integrated circuit 545 to turn on the propulsion units 527 for the pre-determined period of time designated by the signal from the first pot 546 at the thrust level determined by the signal from the second pot 547. Then the pre-determined period of time expires, the integrated circuit 545 signals the propulsion units 527 to cease operation, and the wingsuit character 201 glides to a skid landing.
The foregoing embodiments are merely representative of the flying wingsuit character and not meant for limitation of the invention. For example, persons skilled in the art would readily appreciate that there are several embodiments and configurations of wing members, leg members, the propulsion system, or the control system will not substantially alter the nature of the flying wingsuit character. Consequently, it is understood that equivalents and substitutions for certain elements and components set forth above are part of the invention described herein, and the true scope of the invention is set forth in the claims below.

Claims

I claim:

1. A flying toy wingsuit character comprising:

a body;

a pair of legs attached to the body, the legs spread apart in a generally A-shaped configuration, and a web spanning between the legs, wherein the legs and the web define a lower tail stabilizer;

two wing members, each of the two wing members comprising an arm attached to the body forward of the location of attachment between the legs and the body, each arm extending laterally from the body and swept back toward the legs, each wing member further comprising an airfoil spanning between the arm and the body, wherein the two wing members define an elevated dihedral wing configuration;

a propulsion system attached to the wingsuit character, the propulsion system adapted to propel the wingsuit character in a gliding form of flight; and

a control system disposed in electronic communication with the propulsion system, the control system adapted for controlling the propulsion system.

2. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 1, wherein the wing members and the web extend beyond the legs, an underside of the wing members or the web comprising one or more fin members generally disposed parallel to the legs.

3. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 1, further comprising a vent in each wing member, wherein the propulsion system comprises one propulsion unit attached to the body, and the vent in each wing member is an opening in the wing member defined by a convex duct disposed in the airfoil forward of the vent, the convex duct placed in an arching configuration above the plane of the wing member aft of the vent.

4. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 2, further comprising a vent in each wing member, wherein the propulsion system comprises one propulsion unit attached to the body, and the vent in each wing member is an opening in the wing member defined by a convex duct disposed in the airfoil forward of the vent, the convex duct placed in an arching configuration above the plane of the wing member aft of the vent.

5. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 1, further comprising a vent in each wing member, wherein the propulsion system comprises two propulsion units attached to the body, the vent in each wing member being an opening in the wing member defined by a convex duct disposed in the airfoil forward of the vent, the convex duct placed in an arching configuration above the plane of the wing member aft of the vent, a unit guard disposed on the underside of the wing member such that the unit guard, a propulsion unit, and the convex duct cooperate to act as a ducted fan for propelling the wingsuit character.

6. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 2, further comprising a vent in each wing member, wherein the propulsion system comprises two propulsion units attached to the body, the vent in each wing member being an opening in the wing member defined by a convex duct disposed in the airfoil forward of the vent, the convex duct placed in an arching configuration above the plane of the wing member aft of the vent, a unit guard disposed on an underside of the wing member such that the unit guard, a propulsion unit, and the convex duct cooperate to act as a ducted fan for propelling the wingsuit character.

7. A flying toy wingsuit character comprising:

a body;

a control system disposed in electronic communication with the propulsion system, the control system adapted for controlling the propulsion system, the control system comprising a timer device in operable communication with the propulsion system, the timer device being configured to electrically activate and deactivate the propulsion system.

8. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 7, wherein the legs terminate in feet, the wing members and the web extend beyond the location of the feet, an underside of the wing members or the web comprising one or more fin members generally disposed as extensions of the legs.

9. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 7, further comprising a vent in each wing member, wherein the propulsion system comprises one propulsion unit attached to the body, and the vent in each wing member being an opening in the wing member defined by a convex duct disposed in the airfoil forward of the vent, the convex duct placed in an arching configuration above the plane of the wing member aft of the vent.

10. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 8, further comprising a vent in each wing member, wherein the propulsion system comprises one propulsion unit attached to the body, and the vent in each wing member being an opening in the wing member defined by a convex duct disposed in the airfoil forward of the vent, the convex duct placed in an arching configuration above the plane of the wing member aft of the vent.

11. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 7, further comprising a vent in each wing member, wherein the propulsion system comprises two propulsion units attached to the body, the vent in each wing member being an opening in the wing member defined by a convex duct disposed in the airfoil forward of the vent, the convex duct placed in an arching configuration above the plane of the wing member aft of the vent, a unit guard disposed on the underside of the wing member such that the unit guard, a propulsion unit, and the convex duct cooperate to act as a ducted fan for propelling the wingsuit character.

12. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 8, further comprising a vent in each wing member, wherein the propulsion system comprises two propulsion units attached to the body, the vent in each wing member being an opening in the wing member defined by a convex duct disposed in the airfoil forward of the vent, the convex duct placed in an arching configuration above the plane of the wing member aft of the vent, a unit guard disposed on an underside of the wing member such that the unit guard, a propulsion unit, and the convex duct cooperate to act as a ducted fan for propelling the wingsuit character.

13. A flying toy wingsuit character of claim 7, wherein the timer device is operably connected to an activation device, and the activation device is configured to signal the timer device to activate a propulsion unit for a predetermined time period.

14. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 13, wherein the legs terminate in feet, the wing members and the web extend beyond the location of the feet, an underside of the wing members or the web comprising one or more fin members generally disposed as extensions of the legs.

15. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 13, further comprising a vent in each wing member, wherein the propulsion system comprises one propulsion unit attached to the body, and the vent in each wing member being an opening in the wing member defined by a convex duct disposed in the airfoil forward of the vent, the convex duct placed in an arching configuration above the plane of the wing member aft of the vent.

16. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 14, further comprising a vent in each wing member, wherein the propulsion system comprises one propulsion unit attached to the body, and the vent in each wing member being an opening in the wing member defined by a convex duct disposed in the airfoil forward of the vent, the convex duct placed in an arching configuration above the plane of the wing member aft of the vent.

17. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 13, further comprising a vent in each wing member, wherein the propulsion system comprises two propulsion units attached to the body, the vent in each wing member being an opening in the wing member defined by a convex duct disposed in the airfoil forward of the vent, the convex duct placed in an arching configuration above the plane of the wing member aft of the vent, a unit guard disposed on the underside of the wing member such that the unit guard, a propulsion unit, and the convex duct cooperate to act as a ducted fan for propelling the wingsuit character.

18. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 14, further comprising a vent in each wing member, wherein the propulsion system comprises two propulsion units attached to the body, the vent in each wing member being an opening in the wing member defined by a convex duct disposed in the airfoil forward of the vent, the convex duct placed in an arching configuration above the plane of the wing member aft of the vent, a unit guard disposed on an underside of the wing member such that the unit guard, a propulsion unit, and the convex duct cooperate to act as a ducted fan for propelling the wingsuit character.

19. A flying toy wingsuit character comprising:

a body;

a pair of legs attached to the body, the legs spread apart in a generally A-shaped configuration, and a web spanning between the legs, wherein the legs and the web define a lower tail stabilizer; and

two wing members, each of the two wing members comprising an arm attached to the body forward of the location of attachment between the legs and the body, each arm extending laterally from the body and swept back toward the legs, each wing member further comprising an airfoil spanning between the arm and the body, each airfoil comprising a vent, wherein the two wing members define an elevated dihedral wing configuration.

20. The flying toy wingsuit character of claim 1, wherein each leg further comprises a drag inducing edge.