WO1981001524A1

WO1981001524A1 - Flying disc

Info

Publication number: WO1981001524A1
Application number: PCT/GB1980/000208
Authority: WO
Inventors: F Thibault
Original assignee: Royquest Ltd; F Thibault
Priority date: 1979-12-04
Filing date: 1980-12-04
Publication date: 1981-06-11
Also published as: EP0041965A1

Abstract

A flying disc (1) includes a night plate (2) of flexible material and an inflatable chamber which is preferably formed by the flight plate itself. The inflatable chamber suitably includes a valve (3) so that the degree of inflation can be varied by the user to alter flight behaviour. Where the flight plate (2) itself includes the inflatable chamber an annular lip (5) depends from the periphery of the night plate for increasing flotability by entrapping air in flight.

Description

"FLYING DISC"

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a flying disc.

BACKGROUND ART

Flying discs are well known and have been available for many years. The best known flying disc is the FRISBEE (trade mark) which is a solid plastics moulding having a slightly arched flight plate with a depending peripheral lip. Whilst such a solid plastics disc flies well it has two main disadvantages; firstly it is rigid and thus potentially dangerous in flight, and secondly, being usually about 28cm in diameter, it is inconvenient to carry. An alternative flying disc is available as disclosed in U.S. Patent Specification No.4115946 which is foldable comprising a cloth disc having a chain set in a hem about the edge of the cloth, however, whilst avoiding the inconvenience factor of rigid discs, this too is potentially dangerous in flight due to its solid rim.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved flying disc which is both foldable, making it easy to carry, and also safe in flight.

According to the present invention there is provided a flying disc comprising a flight plate of flexible material characterised in that the disc includes an inflatable chamber, inflation of which determines the flight characteristics of the disc. The flight plate itself may include the inflatable chamber or alternatively the inflatable chamber may surround the flight plate.

The invention also includes a flying disc comprising a flight plate of flexible material characterised in that the flight plate includes an upper and a lower circular wall joined together about their peripheries so as to define a sealed chamber for air, means for introducing air into the chamber, and an annular lip depending from the periphery of the flight plate, in use the flight plate including at least some air in its chamber so that it assumes a configuration conducive to flight whilst retaining the flexibility inherent in the material from which the flight plate is made. Preferably, where the flight plate includes the inflatable chamber, the flying disc includes a peripheral lip depending from the flight plate in order to trap air and add some increased flotability. The flying disc may be made from rubber or any other suitable material e.g.: plastics material such as PVC. The flexible material may be the same thickness throughout or may be thicker at the periphery to provide appropriate weighting to improve flight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an underneath perspective view; Figure 2 is a section on 2-2 in figure 1 before inflation;

Figure 3 is a section on 2-2 in figure 1 after inflation; Figure 4 is a side elevation of a preferred upper wall of the flight plate; and Figure 5 is an alternative form of flying disc in perspective partial ly broken away.

BEST MODE OF CARRY ING OUT THE INVENTION

In figures 1 to 4 of the drawings a flying disc 1 consists of a hol low fl ight plate 2 of flexible material which is adapted to be fil led or partial ly fi l led with air through a valve 3. The fl ight plate 2 consists of a lower wall 4 which is substantially flat and an upper wal l 6. Depending from the periphery of the lower wall 4 of the flight plate 2 is an annular lip 5 for increasing flotabil ity by entrapping air in flight.

From figure 2 of the drawings particularly it wil l be seen that the depending annular l ip 5 preferably either angles or curves inwardly from where it is joined to the flight plate 2 i .e. : the free edge of the l ip is closer to the centre of the disc rather than merely being straight down. Although on inflation the lip 5 may assume a downward position as shown in figure 3 , if the lip is downwaidly arranged before inflation it wi l l flare out when the disc is inflated and thus fai l to trap the air adequately thereby reducing stabil ity and gl ide.

The valve 3 is disposed substantial ly central ly of the lower wal l 4 of the fl ight plate 2 and may either be seal ed during manufacture or may be arranged to be operable by the user to al low for adjustment of the size and shape of the flying disc by varying the degree of inflation. Thus , with this arrangement , the valve 3 provides a means of varying fl ight behaviour .

Preferably , as shown in figure 4 the upper wal l 6 of the fl ight disc 2 is arched in shape rather than being of a regular curved shape. With this arrangement, assuming the lower wal l is straight to begin with as shown rather than being convex, when air is pumped into the disc the lower wall 4 will not swell enough to eliminate a suitable air trap. In addition, in order to improve the streamlining of the flying disc and thus its flight performance it may be advantageous to make the lower wall 4 thicker than the upper wall 6 to reduce the amount of bulge on the underside of the disc. As seen, paricularly from figure 3, the flight plate 2 is not filled completely with air so that the flying disc assumes a generally planar configuration conducive to flight and so that the disc is collapsible on impact preventing injury.

A particular advantage of the flying disc in accordance with the first embodiment of figures 1 to 4 over previous collapsible discs is that, whereas previous col lapsible discs yield to air flowing over and under the flight plate thereby losing its intended shape to such an extent that significant distance is lost in a wind, the flying disc of the present invention has an internal pressure which, during flight, maintains the original shape whilst, at the same time, providing a resiliency. This arrangement enables the disc to travel considerably further than previous collapsible discs and yet be so compliant as to be harmless to almost anything it may strike.

In figure 5 there is shown an alternative flying disc comprising a single-walled flight plate 12 of stretchy or over-sized material surrounded by an annular inflated or inflatable tube 13 made of rubber or the like. The tube 13 is joined all the way round to the flight plate 12 which expands and extends itself. as the tube 13 is inflated: the tube 13 forming the necessary air trap. Such an arrangement floats well but travels less than the first embodiment. A combination of the embodiments of figures 1 to 4 and 5 may provide a compromise between float and distance characteristics. The flying disc of the present invention is particularly suitable for use by

chi ldren retaining the fun of rigid flying discs but avoiding injury.

Claims

1. A flying disc comprising a flight plate of flexible material characterised in that the disc includes an inflatable chamber , inflation of which determines the flight characteristics of the disc .

2. A flying disc according to claim 1 characterised in that the flight plate includes the inflatabl e chamber.

3. A flying disc according to claim 1 characterised in that the inflatable chamber surrounds the fl ight plate.

4. A flying disc according to claim 2 characterised in that the flight plate includes an upper and a lower wal l defining the inflatable chamber, the upper wal l being slightly arched and the lower wal l being substantial ly planar.

5. A flying disc according to claim 4 characterised in that the lower wal l of the fl ight plate is more resistant to expansion than the upper wal l .

6. A flying disc according to claim 2 , 4 or 5 characterised in that a peripheral l ip depends downwardly from the fl ight plate in order to trap air and increase flotabi lity.

7. A flying disc according to claim 6 characterised in that the l ip is directed inwardly of the disc before inflation in order to retain an air trap on inflation.

8. A flying disc according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the inflatable chamber includes a valve so that a user may vary flight behaviour by adjusting the degree of inflation of the chamber.

9. A flying disc comprising a fl ight plate of flexible material characterised in that the flight plate is hol low and is partial ly fi .led , or adapted to be partially fi lled , with air.

10. A flying disc comprising a flight plate of flexible material characterised in that the flight plate includes an upper and a lower circular wal l joined together about their peripheries so as to define a sealed chamber for air , means for introducing air into the chamber , and an annular l ip depending from the periphery of the fl ight plate , in use the fl ight plate including at least some air in its chamber so that it assumes a configuration conducive to fl ight whilst retaining the flexibi l ity inherent in the material from which the flight plate is made.