US3814431A

US3814431A - Toy plastic boomerang

Info

Publication number: US3814431A
Application number: US00396196A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Callahan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-09-11
Filing date: 1973-09-11
Publication date: 1974-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-04

Abstract

A toy plastic boomerang having two interconnected wings arranged for free rotation on a vertical hollow handle with ballast therein to control the speed of descent. To propel, the user grasps one wing between the fingers so that the wings extend vertically with the handle extending laterally and throws the boomerang forward and vertically at a slight upward arc of approximately 45*.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Callahan 5] June 4,1974

[ TOY PLASTIC BOOMERANG [76] Inventor: Paul J. Callahan, 9762 Greenwood,

Montclair, Calif. 91763 [22] Filed: Sept. 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 396,196

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/106 D. 46/82 [51] Int. Cl A63b 65/00 [58] Field of Search l. 273/106 D. 105.4; 46/740, 46/82-85 [56 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 692,608 2/1902 Bristow 273/106 D 1,040,702 10/1912 Lee 1 273/106 D 1,368,176 2/1921 McMillanW. 273/106 D 2,035,629 3/1936 Wing 273/106 D X 2,564,053 8/1951 Donovan 46/83 UX 3,082,572 3/1963 Knox, Jr. 46/74 D X 3.507.497 4/1970 Gardner 46/82 X 3,565,434 2/1971 Liston 273/106 D Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Eruminer-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney, Agent. or Firm-W. Britton Moore 1 5 7 ABSTRACT A toy plastic boomerang having two interconnected wings arranged for free rotation on a vertical hollow handle with ballast therein to control the speed of descent. To propel, the user grasps one wing between the fingers so that the wings extend vertically with the handle extending laterally and throws the boomerang forward and vertically at a slight upward arc of approximately 45.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing F igurcs 1 TOY PLASTIC BOOMERANG The present invention relates to an improved toyplastic boomerang wherein the parts are adapted to be formed and shaped by plastic molding so that the wings may be readily and removably interconnected and a hollow ballast containing handle interconnected centrally therewith to enable the wings to rotate relative thereto during flight.

Toy boomerangs are generally well known. However, prior art boomerangs have the disadvantage of not being readily assembled and disassembled, and not being sufficiently controllable in flight so that the user is unable to regain possession thereof at the conclusion of flight without injury.

A principal object of the present invention is to produce a two wing plastic boomerang wherein the convex wings are provided with central thickened flat and apertured hub sections removably by fixedly interconnected by pins formed integrally on and projecting from one of such hubs.

Another object is the provision of plastic molded convex wings in which the concave under faces thereof have strengthening ribs extending partway from the hubs thereof.

A further object is to provide plastic molded wings having central generally square-shaped, thickened, flat interconnected hub sections, wherein a bore extends 'therethrough to receive a hollow ballast containing molded plastic handle so that the wings will rotate relative thereto in flight and enable the user to grasp the handle to regain possession of the boomerang when flight has been concluded.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent as the specification is considered with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled boomerang in the position it generally assumes in flight;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view through the central hub sections of the wings, illustrating the pins and holes thereinfor interconnecting, and the handle arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIG. 1 showing the handle in assembled position relative to the hubs;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the handle and one wing; and

FIG. 5 is an inverted perspective view of the hub sections of the wing and the handle with its end cap removed, and with the handle partly in section to show the ballast therein.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, numeral 1 generally denotes a toy boomerang, of any suitable plastic material, such as polystyrene. The boomerang includes two elongated, relatively thin, wings 2-2' having convex upper surfaces 3 and concave under surfaces 4 and curved ends 5. Each of the wings is formed with a thickened, generally flat and square, hub section 66' thereon arranged centrally thereof, with the upper wing hub section 6 having flat upper surface 7 extending transversely with respect to the convex upper surface 3 of wing 2, and a flat under surface 8 also extending transversely with respect to the concave under surface 4 of wing 2. Projecting downwardly from the concave under surface 4 at the side edges of under hub surface 8 are vertical flanges 9 having vertical inner faces 10 and angularly disposed under surfaces 11. A series of vertical pins 12, preferably four, extend downwardly from the comer areas of under surface 8 and terminate approximately in line with the lower edges of the flanges 9. Thus, the upper wing hub section 6 provides an inset or recess to accommodate the lower wing hub section 6 about to be described.

The hub section 6 of the lower wing 2 is oppositely but similarly formed with respect to that of the upper wing hub, with the flat upper surface 7' thereof being inset below the convex upper surface 3 and the flat under surface 8' thereof terminating generally in a plane with the side edges of the lower wing, as will be evident from FIGS. 1 and 3. Side edges 13 of the inset lower hub section snugly engage the inner faces 10 of flanges 9 of the upper hub section, when the wings are arranged at right angles to each other, and holes 1 4 in the lower hub section are in line with and adapted to receive the pins 12 on the upper hub section to permit ready but removable interlocking engagement of the wings, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A sleeved hollow plastic handle member 15 is adapted to be vertically received in aligned apertures l6l6' in the upper and lower wing hub sections, as best shown in FIG. 3. A lower closing cap 17 is removably sleeved on the-lower end of handle 15, and an annular rib 18 spaced from the upper end 19 of the sleeve flatly engages the underside of the lower hub section 6'. The aperture 16 in the upper hub is inset, as at 20, to accommodate an annular flange 22 on the upper end of a cylindrical plug 21 snugly sleeved within the upper end of handle 15 so that the latter is both sealed at both ends and securely but rotatably assembled relative to the wings and hub sections thereon. The plug 21- may be tapered at its lower end, as at 21 to facilitate insertion. It is to be noted that the top face of plug 21 is on a plane with the flat upper face 7 of hub section 6 so as to contribute to the stability of the device in flight.

Extending longitudinally a suitable distance from each of the wing hub sections 66' are vertical tapered strengthening ribs 23 which together with the thickened hubs impart strength to the wings and minimize damage thereto.

As the handle is hollow, either before or after assembly relative to the wings and the hub sections thereof, the end cap 17 or plug 21 may be removed and a suitable quantity of ballast material 24, such as sand, may be poured thereinto to increase the weight thereof. For example, when a slight wind exists, it may be desirable to add ballast to the handleso that the boomerang will tend to drop faster and the speed of descent will be controlled. It will, of course, be evident that the boomerang is always held by the bottom of one wing with the wings extending verticallyand the handle laterally and is thrown forwardly and upwardly at an angle of approximately (45).

While the boomerang is usually disassembled, it may readily be assembled by first interconnecting the right angularly disposed wings so that the pins 12 in the upper hub section 6 are snapped by pressure into holes 14 in the lower hub section. Thereafter, the handle is assembled in an obvious manner so that the assembled wings may rotate relative thereto in flight, and enable the user to grasp with ease the vertically extending, but

non-rotating, handle at the termination of flight. Disas- Having thus described and illustrated my improved plastic boomerang, it is to be understood that various changes and improvements may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim: a

l. A plastic molded boomerang of the character described comprising a pair of right angularly disposed wing members, said members being generally convex and having centrally arranged thickened relatively flat hub sections, one of said hub sections having vertically extending pin means, and the other of said sections being apertured to interconnectably receive said pins, said hub sections having centrally located aligned bores extending therethrough, and a handle sleeve member vertically extending within said bores, end cap means closing one end of said handle, and plug means closing the other end thereof, said handle member being so connected to said hub sections that. the latter and the wings will rotate relative thereto in flight.

2. In a plastic molded boomerang according to claim 1, wherein said hub sections are respectively inset with respect to said wings andformed with flat upper and lower surfaces thereon so that when. assembled said hub sections will be contained within the general contour of said wings.

3. In a plastic molded boomerang according to claim 1 wherein said wings have convex and concave upper and lower surfaces, and tapered strengthening ribs are formed on the under surfaces thereof and extend from said hub sections.

4. In a plastic molded boomerang according to claim 1 wherein said handle is hollow to accommodate ballast v therein.

5. In a plastic molded boomerang according to claim 1 wherein said handle is formed with annular rib means spaced from the upper end thereof for engaging the underside of one of said hub sections.

6. In a plastic molded boomerang according to claim 5 wherein said plug means has an annular rim at the outer end thereof for engaging the other of said hub sections whereby said handle is retained assembled thereon.

7. In a plastic molded boomerang according to claim 6 wherein the bore extending through one of said hub sections is inset at the outer end thereof to accommodate the rim on said plug means.

Claims

1. A plastic molded boomerang of the character described comprising a pair of right angularly disposed wing members, said members being generally convex and having centrally arranged thickened relatively flat hub sections, one of said hub sections having vertically extending pin means, and the other of said sections being apertured to interconnectably receive said pins, said hub sections having centrally located aligned bores extending therethrough, and a handle sleeve member vertically extending within said bores, end cap means closing one end of said handle, and plug means closing the other end thereof, said handle member being so connected to said hub sections that the latter and the wings will rotate relative thereto in flight.

2. In a plastic molded boomerang according to claim 1, wherein said hub sections are respectively inset with respect to said wings and formed with flat upper and lower surfaces thereon so that when assembled said hub sections will be contained within the general contour of said wings.

4. In a plastic molded boomerang according to claim 1 wherein said handle is hollow to accommodate ballast therein.