US2443298A - Rocket helicopter toy - Google Patents

Description

June 15, 1 1.. w. BROWN ROCKET HELICOPTER TOY Filed Feb. 18, 1946 IN V EN TOR. Lawrence W Brown Patented June 15, 1948 *UINI TED S TATIEE 71 Fl CE BOCKETHELICOPTER"TOY Lawrence .W.:Brown, Clinton, "Mo.

Application' February"18, 1946, 'Serial='No."fi48;23'5

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a h'elicoptertoy and more-particularly to a helicopter toy having rooket propulsion for rotating and effecting lifting of' said toy into the air providing amusement with little danger of' burns or fire.

' The principal objects of the present invention are-to provide a toy having combined rocket. propuision and helicopter action; to provide a propellant'charge so arranged that the initial ignitionis sufiicientto lift the toy butnot powerful enoughto'cause explosion of the device; .to provide :a'rocket toy with a jetapertureithat will retainits-size throughoutthe burning of the propulsion-charge; to "provide a jetaperture'in a rocket toy :where the-escaping-burning gases will not ignite any portion ofthe toy; to provide a rocket'toy of substantially non-inflammabl mater-ial except-forthe charge therein; to provide a rockethelicopter toy with an explosive charge for exploding said toy at'the peak of its flight; and to provide an amusing, economical and highly'efficient'rocket helicopter toy that is relatively-safe to operate.

In accomplishing these and other objects-of the present invention, 1 have provided improved details of structure, thepreferred iormof which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rocket helicopter:toyembodyin the features of the present invention.

FigJ'Z isapIan-VieW of the toy,.portions being broken-away: to illustrate the arrangement-"f the fuseandjet'orifice.

1F.ig.i3 is :a vertical longitudinal sectional view through :thezbody of the "toy on the line ;3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional ".viewthrough the body of:the toy on;the.line 4-4 of j Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of therhelicopter wing.

Fig. 'fi is a detail'perspective'view of'the body of the toy,ithe-parts thereo'f'being shown'in disassembledspaced relation.

Referring more in detail to the-drawing:

.I generallydesignates a rocket'helicopter toy constructed in accordance with the :preferred form of *the invention. The toy :preferably consists of a bodyZ having a longitudinal axis-arrangedhorizontally and includingraitubet made substantially non-"inflammable by formin same of '--tightly rolled paper. The rear 'end '4 of the tube 3'isclosed by'a plugf5-=preferably formed 'of ceramic "material. The plug hash tight fit into the here 6 i the *tube 'and if -desired may 'be cemented orotherwisesecured in place with the flat rear face 1-of the plug flush with-the rear end ofthe'tube 3. The forward end Of the plug 5 is provided'wi-th' a conical'socket 8 adaptedto receive-a conical projection 9 on a propulsion charge H3, said charge preferably consisting of black powder pressedinto a'cylindri-cal shape to fit into the bore 6 of the tube '3.

Approximately midway the depth of the socket t the plug 5 is provided with an aperture ll preferably extending radially through' the wall of the plug and downwardlyat approximately a thirty degree angle to a horizontal line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 2. The aperture H aligns With'a recess I'Z in the conical projection't of the propulsion charge l0 and an aperture ['3 in the tube3. The apertures Hand l3 andtherecess l2 are of such size to receive a standard size fuse of suitable length, the inner end of said fuse restingin therecess l2 'in contact with the charge I'll so any'burningof the rotated send for :end.

fuse will'igmte said charge. The fuse I4 is preferably held'inthe apertures by-an adhesive tape l5 such as Cellophane tape, said 'tape being 'wrapped aroundthe fuse-adjacent thetube 3 and the ends 46 of the tape are drawn upwardly over the-top-of-th'e tubewhere said ends are secured to the tube in lapping condition.

While "I-have described the fuse l4 and jet apertures 'as'being'located at an angle'of'approximately thirty degrees with the horizontal, it is obvious other angularities would provide the same jet propulsion with'some difference in the lift provided by saidjet.

In order to providea helicopter action'to the rocket toy, a horizontal wing l-T is located near the front of the 'bod-y 2 an'd'secure'dzabove the horizontal longitudinal axis thereof by suitable fastening .means. The-win may be any suitable material, but preferably consists :of a'metal strip l8 mounted edgewise in a vertical transverse slot :Ii9 in vthetuhe 3, .the .ends of'said Strip'extending "laterally of said tube. The ends are twisted in-opposite directions at apoint 20 ad- ;jacent the tube-to ;prov-ide-blades -2l and -22 having opposing edges bent upwardly at an angle or ia'reverse warp in said blades which will tend toli'ft thetoy fromrtheground when, said toy is The upper edge 23 .of :the blade;2l,;located onthe same side 'ofthe'tubeas the'gietiaperture, is twisted toward therear of the device rand theupper edge :24 of the opposite blade -22iistwisted=toward=theiorward end of the tube :as illustrated :to obtain the lifting efiect. The

- wing. may-be :secured to the ;tube bytmeans of an 3 adhesive tape which has one end '25 secured to the top of the tube at the rear of the slot IS. The other end 26 of the tape extends over the front of the tube and is turned under the tube where it is secured to said tube to securely hold the wing in place.

If desired, the toy may be provided with an explosive charge 21 at the forward end of the propulsion charge, said explosion charge being ignited when the propulsion charge has substantially completed its burning or at the peak of the flight of the toy, thereby providing a loud noise to add to the amusement provided by the device. The explosive charge may be of any suitable material such as a pellet of granulated black powder. When an explosive charge is used in the toy, the forward end of the tube is provided with a packing or wadding 28 of fiberboard which is tightly pressed to prevent igniting thereof. The packing 28 is pressed into the tube 3 into contact with the explosive charge .7 where it seals the forward end of the tube.

The operation of the rocket helicopter toy constructed as described is as follows:

The toy is placed on the ground or other suitable surface with the longitudinal axis of the body horizontal and the wing H on the upper side of said body. The, fuse i l is thenignited. Burning of the fuse will direct a flame into the recess #2 in the conical projection 9 of the propellant charge iii to ignite same creating gases which will escape through the apertures ii and K3 in the plug E, and tube 3 respectively. The projection 9 of the charge H3 is small thereby preventing too rapid initial burning and formation of sufficient gas to explode the toy; The force of the escaping gases through the jet apertures ii and it will cause the toy to rotate or spin and be lifted by the wing ll, the body turning end for end and the longitudinal axis of the body remaining substantially horizontal during the rotation and lifting action. The location of the jet aperture radially and below a horizontal line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body of the toy also provides lift thereto. When the propellant charge is burned and the toy is at approximately the peak of its flight, the explosive charge is ignited from the propellant charge. The explosive charge will cause a loud noise and also the force of the explosion will blowout any flames if any portion of the toy should become ignited; however, there is substantially no danger of fire in the use of this toy as the tightly wound paper tube 3 is substantially non-inflammable and the wing is toward the front on the opposite end of the tube from the jet apertures H and I3.

The plug 4 being of suitable ceramic materials prevents enlargement of the aperture ll due to burning and maintains an even propulsion of the toy throughout its flight.

It is believed to be obvious that the present invention combines rocket propulsion and helicopter action in a safe amusement toy.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy of the character described, a horizontal body member having a longitudinal bore therein, a substantially horizontal wing mounted on the top of the body member including laterally reversely warped extending blades adapted to lift the toy when said body member is rotated end for end, a non-inflammable means closing one end of the bore in the body member and having a laterally arranged jet aperture, a pro- 4 pulsion charge in the bore, means extending through the jet aperture and having contact with the propulsion charge for igniting the propulsion charge adjacent the bore closing means whereby gases formed by burning the charge are discharged through the jet aperture to efiect end for end rotation of the body member, and an explosive charge in the bore of the body member in contact with the propulsion charge on the opposite end thereof relative to the jet aperture whereby said explosive charge is ignited at the termination of the burning or" the propulsion charge.

2. A toy of the character described, a horizon tal body member having a longitudinal bore therein, a substantially horizontal wing mounted on the top of the body member including laterally extending reversely warped blades adapted to lift the toy when said body member is rotated end for end, ceramic means closing one end of the bore in the the body member and having a laterally arranged jet aperture, a propulsion charge in the bore having a reduced portion adjacent the bore closing means, means extending through the jet aperture and having contact with the reduced portion of the propulsion charge for igniting said reduced portion whereby gases formed by the initial burning the charge are progressively increased and discharged through the jet aperture to efiect end for end rotation of the body member, and an explosive charge in the bore of the body member in contact with the propulsion charge on the opposite end thereof relative to the jet aperture whereby said explosive charge is ignited at the termination of the burning of the propulsion charge.

3. A toy or the character described, a horizontal body member having a longitudinal bore therein and a laterally and downwardly directed aperture extending through the wall of said body member adjacent one end thereof, means mounted adjacent the other end of the body member and having laterally extending reversely warped blades adapted to lift the toy when said body member is rotated end for end, a ceramic plug in the bore adjacent the aperture in the body member, said plug having a radially arranged aperture aligned with the aperture in the body member providing communication from outside the body to the bore therein, a propellant charge in the bore of the body member and having a reduced portion adjacent the plug, and a fuse extending through the aligned apertures and having contact with thepropellant charge for igniting same, the burning or" said propellant charge forming gases for discharge through the aligned apertures to effect rotation of the body member, the gases formed by the initial burning of the propellant charge being insuflicient to explode the toy.

4. A toy of the character described, a horizontal body member having a longitudinal bore the-rein and a laterally and downwardly directed aperture extending through the wall of said body member adjacent one end thereof, a substantially horizontal wing mounted on top of the body member adjacent the other end thereof and having laterally extending reversely warped blades adapted to lift the toy when said body member is rotated end for end, a non-inflammable plug in the bore adjacent the aperture in the body member, said plug having a radially arranged aperture aligned with the aperture in the body member providing communication from outside the body to the bore therein, a propellant charge in the bore of the body member and having a reduced portion adjacent the plug, a fuse extending through the aligned apertures and having contact with the reduced portion of the propellant charge for igniting same, the burning of said propellant charge forming gases for discharge through the aligned apertures for eifecting rotation of the body member, the gases formed by the initial burning of the reduced portion of the propellant charge being insufficient to explode the toy, and an explosive charge in the bore of the body member and in contact with the opposite end of the propellant charge from the reduced portion whereby said explosive charge is ignited at the end of the burning of the propellant charge.

5. A toy of the character described, a horizontal body member having a longitudinal bore therein and a laterally directed aperture extending through the wall of said body member adjacent one end thereof, a horizontal wing mounted on top of the body member and adjacent the other end thereof and having laterally extending reversely warped blades adapted to lift the toy when said body member is rotated end for end, means for securing the wing to the body member, a ceramic plug in the bore adjacent the aperture in the body member having a recess communicating with said bore, said plug having a radially arranged aperture aligned with the aperture in the body member providing communication from outside the body to the recess in said plug, a propellant charge in the bore of the body member and having a reduced projection extending into the recess of the plug, a fuse extending through the aligned apertures and having contact with the projection of the propellant charge for igniting same, the burning of said propellant charge forming gases for discharge through the aligned apertures to effect end for end rotation of the body member, the initial burning of the reduced portion of the propellant charge being insufilcient to explode the toy, means for securing the fuse to the body member, an explosive charge in the bore of the body member and in contact with the opposite end of the propellant charge from the projection whereby said explosive charge is ignited at the end of the burning of the propellant charge, and a packing in the bore for confining said explosive charge.

6. A toy of the character described, a horizontal body member having a longitudinal bore therein and a laterally directed aperture extending through the Wall of said body member adjacent one end thereof, a horizontal wing mounted on top of the body member and adjacent the other end thereof and having laterally extending reversely warped blades adapted to lift the toy when said body member is rotated end for end, means for securing the wing to the body memher, a ceramic plug in the bore adjacent the aperture in the body member having a recess communicating with said bore, said plug having a radially arranged aperture aligned with the aperture in the body member providing communication from outside the body to the recess in said plug, a propellant charge in the bore of the body member and having a reduced projection extending into the recess of the plug, a fuse extending through the aligned apertures and having contact with the projection of the propellant charge for igniting same, the burning of said propellant charge forming gases for discharge through the aligned apertures to effect end for end rotation of the body member, the initial burning of the reduced portion of the propellant charge being insufficient to explode the toy.

LAWRENCE W. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 37,940 Plant Mar. 17, 1863 693,327 Matteson et al Feb. 11, 1902 1,554,065 Blair Sept. 15, 1925 1,714,671 Hitt May 28, 1929 2,001,496 Kroelling May 14, 1935 2,174,202 Cimorosi Sept. 26', 1939 2,259,155 Driggs Oct. 14, 1941

Images