WO2003086552A1

WO2003086552A1 - Flying toy

Info

Publication number: WO2003086552A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/000834
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kwang-Yoon Choi; Kwang-Joon Yoon
Original assignee: Hizeaero Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2002-04-06
Filing date: 2002-05-06
Publication date: 2003-10-23
Also published as: AU2002308809A1; KR20030079615A

Abstract

A flying toy includes an edge portion having a profile of a wing shape and including an inner circumferential edge, an outer circumferential edge, a lower surface, and an upper surface. The inner circumferential edge encompasses an open portion at the central portion. The outer circumferential edge encompasses the inner circumferential edge. The lower surface connects the inner circumferential edge and the outer circumferential edge. The upper surface has a path longer than a path of the lower surface and connects the inner circumferential edge and the outer circumferential edge. A plurality of pressure control holes are formed to penetrate the lower surface and the upper surface along the circumference of the edge portion such that the pressure control holes are inclined more outwardly at the upper surface than at the lower surface with respect to the center portion of the flying toy. Thus, the disc type flying toy is made to be lighter in weight while flight stability is obtained and the duration and distance of flight are extended.

Description

FLYING TOY

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a flying toy, and more particularly, to a flying toy that can fly a considerable distance by rotating when it is manually thrown.

Background Art

A flying toy is an object used for play by manually throwing and catching the same between a plurality of persons where each person is separated a predetermined distance from one another. When the flying toy is thrown by a player, it flies through the air while rotating and is caught by another player separated a predetermined distance from the player, thus providing an effect of exercise through the repetition of the throwing and catching actions. Accordingly, the flying toy must fly in a stable posture to fly a sufficient distance for a sufficient time to exert a desired effect of exercise and to provide interest.

The shape of the flying toy can be classified into two types: a dish type, that is, a disc type (typically referred to as a Frisbee), and a ring type. While the center portion of the disc type flying toy is not empty, the ring type flying toy has a ring shape which is formed by cutting a central portion off from a disc, thus forming an open portion. The ring type flying toy is a lighter form of the disc type flying toy which is made by reducing the weight. However, in conventional disc type flying toys, there is a limit in weight reduction due to its shape and a limit in flight stability due to a rolling phenomenon, in particular, a sharp reduction of flight stability in windy surroundings, so that the duration and distance of flight are not sufficient. Also, in the ring type flying toy suggested in consideration of the above disadvantages of the disc type flying toy, flight stability is lost due to the rolling phenomenon and the duration and distance of flight are reduced.

Here, the rolling phenomenon that occurs in the ring type flying toy will be described in detail. FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the conventional ring type flying toy. As shown in the drawing, when the ring type flying toy flies through the air, downwash, in which the flow of air passed a front portion 110a of an edge portion is slightly changed downward, is generated. Accordingly, an angle of attack of a rear portion 1 10b of the edge portion decreases so that a lift of the rear portion 1 10b is generated less than that of the front portion 110a. Consequently, a center of the lift is disposed on the front side along a direction in which the flying toy proceeds from the geometric center of gravity of the flying toy. Since the above change in the center of the lift makes an effect at a position at an angle of 90° from a direction of rotation when the flying toy flies while rotating, the rolling phenomenon in which the flying toy is inclined to the lateral side during flight occurs. The rolling phenomenon breaks a horizontal posture of the flying toy and shortens the duration and distance of flight. As described above, the conventional disc type flying toy has disadvantages when creating a light flying toy due to its shape, deterioration of flight stability due to the rolling phenomenon, and a limit in the flight stability in relation to outside conditions. Also, in the ring type flying toy which is made lighter by cutting out the central portion, the stability in its flight posture is deteriorated due to the rolling phenomenon, and resultingly, the duration and distance of flight are reduced.

Disclosure of the Invention

Thus, to solve the above and other problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disc type flying toy, which is made to be lightweight, and to secure flight stability so that the duration and distance of flight can be increased.

The above objects are achieved by providing a flying toy comprising an edge portion having a profile of a wing shape and including an inner circumferential edge, an outer circumferential edge, a lower surface, and an upper surface, in which the inner circumferential edge encompasses an open portion at the central portion, the outer circumferential edge encompasses the inner circumferential edge, the lower surface connects the inner circumferential edge and the outer circumferential edge, and the upper surface has a path longer than a path of the lower surface and connects the inner circumferential edge and the outer circumferential edge, and in which a plurality of pressure control holes are formed to penetrate the lower surface and the upper surface along the circumference of the edge portion such that the pressure control holes are inclined more outwardly at the upper surface than at the lower surface with respect to the center portion of the flying toy.

Here, the flying toy further comprises a core portion provided at the central portion of the opening portion, and a plurality of wing portions connecting the core portion and the edge portion. The core portion is disposed at a position higher than the edge portion, and the wing portions are inclined upward from the edge portion to the core portion. Thus, flight stability can be further obtained. Also, a light emitting portion emitting light is provided at the core portion, and the wing portions are light pipe paths guiding the light emitted by the light emitting portion so as to be recognized from the outside. Thus, the flying toy can be used at night time, providing interest to players. The light emitting portion comprises a plurality of LEDs emitting light, a circuit board connected to the LEDs, and a battery connected to the circuit board and supplying electric power to the LEDs. The light emitting portion further comprises a power switch installed on the circuit board to switch the electric power applied to the LEDs, in which one end of the power switch is exposed to the outside so that the light emitting portion is turned on and off from the outside. A light member transmitting and dispersing the light generated by the LEDs is provided in each of the light pipe paths.

In the meantime, the edge portion comprises an edge portion body disposed between the outer circumferential edge and the inner circumferential edge and encompassing the inner circumferential edge, and a buffer member coupled to both sides of the edge portion body in a diametric direction of the edge portion to form a wing-shaped profile. Thus, an impact applied when a player catches the flying toy can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a flying toy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the flying toy of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line Ill-Ill of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of an edge portion taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a core portion; FIG. 6 is a side view of a light emitting portion installed at the core portion;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 1 ; and FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the conventional ring type flying toy. Best mode for carrying out the Invention

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a flying toy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the flying toy of FIG. 1. As shown in the drawings, a flying toy according to the present invention includes an edge portion 10 forming a ring shape, a core portion 20 disposed at a central area of an open portion 18 formed by the edge portion 10, and a light pipe path 30 which is a wing portion connecting the edge portion 10 and the core portion 20.

The edge portion 10 includes an inner circumferential edge 11 encompassing the open portion 18 at the center portion, an outer circumferential edge 12 encompassing the inner circumferential edge 11 , a lower surface 13 connecting the inner circumferential edge 11 and the outer circumferential edge 12, and an upper surface 14 connecting the outer circumferential edge 12 and the inner circumferential edge 13 with a path longer than a path of the lower surface 13. The edge portion 10 forms a wing-shaped profile with a predetermined thickness. In general, the lower surface 13 is formed of a nearly flat surface and the upper surface 14 is formed convex, so that a lift can be generated in the flying toy during flight. Although the edge portion 10 can be manufactured using a variety of materials, in the present preferred embodiment, it is made of polycarbonate. Also, the edge portion 10 can be integrally formed. However, as shown in FIG. 3, which is a sectional view taken along line Ill-Ill of FIG. 1 , an edge portion body 16 at the middle portion is made of polycarbonate, and buffer members, for example, natural rubber portions 17a and 17b, are formed at both sides of the edge portion body 16 in a radial direction of the edge portion 10, thus forming a wing-shaped profile. The wing-shaped profile of the edge portion 10 is formed based on an airfoil of an airplane, for example, NACA 4412, such that a portion corresponding to a leading edge 19a of an airfoil faces the center portion of the edge portion 10. Accordingly, the profile of the rear portion 10b of the edge portion 10 forms the original shape generating a lift.

However, the profile of the front portion 10a forms a shape in which air flows from a tailing edge 19b to the leading edge 19a, so that the lift generated in the front portion 10a is slightly less than that generated in the rear portion 10b. In such an airfoil (NACA 4412), a change in drag according to a change in the angle of attack is small, and inclination in a ratio between the angle of attack and the lift is great, so that a great lift is generated.

In general, when a ring type flying toy flies, flight stability is lost. This is because the lift generated in the front portion 10a facing a direction in which the ring type flying toy flies is not the same as that generated in the rear portion 10b. That is, the resultant center of the lift does not match the geometric center of gravity so a rolling phenomenon is generated. Thus, a plurality of pressure control holes 15 are formed in the inner rubber portion 17a of the edge portion body 16 to provide flight stability by effectively rearranging distribution of surface pressure of the edge portion 10 generating a lift.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view illustrating the edge portion taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 1. As shown in the drawing, to prevent the rolling phenomenon during flight by reducing the difference in a lift between the front portion 10a and the rear portion 10b of the edge portion 10, the pressure control holes 15 are formed along the circumference of the edge portion 10 to control the distribution of pressure so that the lift of the front portion 10a and the lift of the rear portion 10b can be balanced. The pressure control holes 15 are formed to penetrate the upper surface 14 and the lower surface 13 of the edge portion 10 along the circumference of the edge portion 10 such that the pressure control holes 15 are inclined more outwardly at the upper surface 14 than at the lower surface 13 with respect to the center portion of the flying toy. Here, although a pair of corresponding pressure control holes 15 do not need to face each other in a diametric direction, the corresponding pressure control holes 15 are disposed to face each other to a certain degree. During the flight of the flying toy, the rear portion 10b of the edge portion 10 meets the flow of air as shown in FIG. 4. When the pressure control holes 15 are formed, the lift generated in the rear portion 10b of the edge portion 10 increases, compared to a case in which no pressure control holes are formed. The amount of lift increases because the air of high pressure at the lower surface of an airfoil flows on the upper surface of the airfoil through the pressure control holes 15 so that the speed of the air flow increases and the pressure at the upper surface is additionally decreased, compared to a case in which no pressure control holes are formed. In contrast, in the front portion 10a, since the increase of the pressure at the upper surface by the pressure control holes 15 connected to the air of high pressure at the lower surface is greater than the decrease of pressure at the upper surface according to the increase of the speed of air flow due to the incoming flow of air, the lift generated in the airfoil of the front portion 10a is decreased unlike the case in which no pressure control holes are present. Thus, the pressure control holes 15 penetrating the airfoil can effectively reduce a difference in the lift between the front portion 10a and the rear portion 10b of the edge portion 10 which is generated due to a difference in the angle of attack.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the core portion.

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a light emitting portion installed at the core portion. As shown in the drawings, the core portion 20 disposed at the central portion of the open portion 18 includes a light emitting portion 21 emitting light, a housing 27 accommodating and supporting the light emitting portion 21 , and a light emitting portion cover 29 covering the housing 27. The light emitting portion 21 includes a plurality of LEDs emitting light, a circuit board 25 connected to the LEDs 22, a battery 23 supplying electric power to the LEDs 22, and a power switch 24 installed at the lower surface of the housing 27 to be exposed to the outside and capable of being turned on or off from the outside and switching on and off the electric power applied to the LEDs 22 from the battery 23. The LEDs 22 are installed in the circuit board 25 in order to face the light pipe path 30, and the circuit board 25 is accommodated in the housing 27. The battery 23 is placed on the upper surface of the circuit board 25 to contact the same. Also, the power switch 24 is disposed in a hole 28 formed at the center of the lower portion of the housing 27 to be turned on or off by being pressed from the outside. FIG. 7 is a section view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 1. As shown in the drawing, the light pipe path 30, which is a wing portion, includes a pipe member 33 in which the middle portion thereof is indented to a predetermined depth, and a light pipe path cover 35 covering the upper end of the pipe member 33. The pipe member 33 is formed, through injection molding, integrally with the edge portion body 16 of the edge portion 10 and the housing 27. Also, the pipe member 33 is made of polycarbonate so that the light passing through the light pipe path 30 not only spreads to neighboring structures but can be clearly seen from the outside. The light pipe path cover 35 is coupled to the pipe member 33 to shield the upper end of a light member 31 , thus forming the light pipe path 30.

The light member 31 is installed in the light pipe path 30 so that the light generated by the LEDs 22 can be effectively transmitted and dispersed. One end of the light member 31 is disposed adjacent to a lens portion of each of the LEDs 22 while the other end thereof is disposed near the edge portion body 16. Thus, the light generated by the LEDs 22 is transmitted to the edge portion body 16 through the light member 31 so that the entire light pipe path 30 is lit. The light member 31 is manufactured with a strand of a tube formed by a mixture of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and ABS (acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene) polymer.

The profile of the light pipe path 30 is formed to have a shape of an oval airfoil so that while rotating air resistance is reduced. Also, since the upper surface of the airfoil is formed to be convex more so than the lower surface thereof, a small amount of lift is generated during the rotation. In addition, even in the ring type flying toy showing a stable flight posture, when a structure having a shape of the light pipe path 30 is connected to the central portion, the rolling phenomenon occurs severely due to interference between the edge portion 10 and the light pipe path 30. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, the interference can be reduced by connecting the edge portion 10 and the core portion 20 such that the core portion 20 is disposed higher than the edge portion 10 and the light pipe path 30, which is a wing portion, is inclined upward from the edge portion 10 toward the core portion 20.

The operation of the flying toy having the above structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below.

First, when the flying toy is held and is thrown in the air, the flying toy flies in the air while rotating. During the flight, a lift is generated by the edge portion 10 of the flying toy. Here, the difference in a lift generated at the front portion 10a and the rear portion 10b of the edge portion 10 is remarkably reduced by the pressure control holes 15 formed along the circumference of the edge portion 10 so that the rolling phenomenon is prevented and the duration and distance of the flight are extended. A player typically catches the flying toy by grabbing the edge portion 10. In this case, since the inner and outer sides of the edge portion 10 are rubber portions 17a and 17b, an impact generated when a player catches the flying toy can be reduced.

When the flying toy is to be used at night time, the power switch

24 disposed on the lower surface is pressed to operate the LEDs 22. Then, the light emitted by the LEDs 22 is transmitted to the light pipe path 30 and the entire portion of the light pipe path 30 emits light. Thus, since a player can easily recognize the flying toy while using during the night, the flying toy can be used at night time and further provides interest to the player, Therefore, by forming the open portion 18 at the central portion of a flying toy having a disc shape, the flying toy can be made to be lighter. Also, by forming the pressure control holes 15 along the circumference of the edge portion 10 of the flying toy, flight stability is obtained and the duration and distance of flight increase. Since the light emitting portion 21 and the light pipe path 30 are installed in the flying toy where the pressure control holes 15 are formed to maintain flight stability, the flying toy can be used at night time and provide interest to a player.

Although three light pipe paths 30, which are wing portions, are provided in the above preferred embodiment, any number of light pipe paths, for example, two or four light pipe paths, can be provided. Also, although the profile of the NACA 4412 airfoil is described in the above preferred embodiment, a variety of the profiles of airfoils can be used.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, according to the present invention, since the opening is formed at the central portion of a disc type flying toy, the weight of the flying toy is light. Also, since the pressure control holes are formed along the circumference of the edge portion of the flying toy, flight stability is obtained so that the duration and distance of flight can be extended.

Also, since the light emitting portion and the light pipe path are installed in the flying toy having the pressure control holes to maintain the flight stability, the flying toy can be used at night time while providing interest to players.

Further, since the inner and outer sides of the edge portion of the flying toy are made of rubber which is a buffer member, an impact generated when catching the flying toy can be reduced.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A flying toy comprising: an edge portion having a profile of a wing shape and including an inner circumferential edge, an outer circumferential edge, a lower surface, and an upper surface, wherein the inner circumferential edge encompasses an open portion at the central portion, the outer circumferential edge encompasses the inner circumferential edge, the lower surface connects the inner circumferential edge and the outer circumferential edge, and the upper surface has a path longer than a path of the lower surface and connects the inner circumferential edge and the outer circumferential edge, wherein a plurality of pressure control holes are formed to penetrate the lower surface and the upper surface along the circumference of the edge portion such that the pressure control holes are inclined more outwardly at the upper surface than at the lower surface with respect to the center portion of the flying toy.

2. The flying toy as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: a core portion provided at the central portion of the opening portion; and a plurality of wing portions connecting the core portion and the edge portion.

3. The flying toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein the core portion is disposed at a position higher than the edge portion, and the wing portions are inclined upward from the edge portion to the core portion.

4. The flying toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein a light emitting portion emitting light is provided at the core portion, and the wing portions are light pipe paths guiding the light emitted by the light emitting portion so as to be recognized from the outside.

5. The flying toy as claimed in claim 4, wherein the light emitting portion comprises: a plurality of LEDs emitting light; a circuit board connected to the LEDs; and a battery connected to the circuit board and supplying electric power to the LEDs.

6. The flying toy as claimed in claim 5, wherein the light emitting portion further comprises a power switch installed on the circuit board to switch the electric power applied to the LEDs, in which one end of the power switch is exposed to the outside so that the light emitting portion is turned on and off from the outside.

7. The flying toy as claimed in any of claims 4 through 6, wherein a light member transmitting and dispersing the light generated by the LEDs is provided in each of the light pipe paths.

8. The flying toy as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 4, wherein the edge portion comprises: an edge portion body disposed between the outer circumferential edge and the inner circumferential edge and encompassing the inner circumferential edge; and a buffer member coupled to both sides of the edge portion body in a diametric direction of the edge portion to form a wing-shaped profile.