GB1572692A - Aerial projectile - Google Patents

Description

(54) AERIAL PROJECTILE (71) We, NOVATION LIMITED, a British Company, of Heyworth House, 40 a Kenilworth Road, Coventry, West Midlands, CV3 6PG, (formerly of 34 Armorial Road, Coventry, West Midlands CV3 6GJ) hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to an aerial projectile and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with an aerial toy.

According to the invention an aerial projectile comprises a nose portion and a blade portion extending from the rear of the projectile to a position near the forward end of the projectile where it is connected to the nose portion, the blade portion being of substantially constant width, the nose portion being of substantially the same width as the blade portion, and the nose portion being of greater thickness than the blade portion so that the centre of gravity of the projectile will be adjacent its forward end whereby. when the projectile is launched into the air. it will follow a first flight path generally longitudinally of itself with said nose portion leading, followed by a second flight path with the projectile rotating about its longitudinal axis whilst simultaneously turning about a substantially vertical axis adjacent its nose portion.

A notch is preferably positioned adjacent said forward end for engagement by a catapult or other launching means. Alternatively the nose portion may be shaped to fit sealingly in a blow pipe or gun for launching purposes.

The blade portion may have an aerofoil section. A stiffening rib may extend longitudinally along the blade portion. The nose and blade portions are preferably integral.

The nose portion is preferably streamlined.

The blade portion may taper in thickness from the nose portion towards the rear of the projectile. The nose portion may be provided with a dart-like point for penetrat ing a target. The nose portiob may be provided with a weight for adjusting the centre of gravity.

An aerial projectile in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accom panying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of projectile; Figures 2, 3, 45 and 6 are cross-sections of the projectile shown in Figure 1 on the lines 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6 respectively in Figure 1, and Figure 7 illustrates the aforesaid second flight path of the projectile.

The projectile includes a nose portion 1 and an integral blade portion 2 which tapers in thickness as shown in Figures 2 to 6.

From Figure 1 it will be noted that the blade portion 2 extends from the rear of the projectile to a position near the forward end thereof where it smoothly joins the nose portion 1. A notch 3 is provided to enable the projectile to be launched into the air at high speed by a suitable catapult. As shown, the blade portion 2 is of substantially con stant width and the nose portion 1 has substantially the same width as that of the blade portion 2. However, the nose portion 1 is of greater thickness than the blade portion 2 so that the centre of gravity of the projectile will be adjacent its forward end, for example as indicated by reference num eral 4.

After being launched, the projectile ini tially travels longitudinally of itself with the nose portion 1 leading. However, as the projectile begins to lose speed, its flight path suddenly changes into one in which the projectile rotates about its longitudinal axis 5 whilst simultaneously turning about a substantially vertical axis 6 as illustrated in Figure 7. The position of the axis 6 may vary depending on the configuration of the projectile but is always in the region of the nose portion. This flight path continues until the projectile reaches the ground.

The cross-section of the projectile may differ from that shown in Figures 2 to 6.

It is envisaged that the projectile could be launched by means other than a catapult.

For example, the nose portion 1 could be shaped to fit sealingly in a blow pipe or air gun for launching purposes.

For a given launching speed and given atmospheric conditions, the transition from the initial flight path to that shown in Figure 7 occurs after the projectile has covered a substantially fixed distance. Therefore the projectile may conveniently be used in conjunction with a target located slightly short of the aforesaid fixed distance. Should the projectile miss the target, the change of flight path prevents the projectile from over shooting the target significantly. In such a case, the nose of the projectile could be provided with a dart-like point to enable it to penetrate the target.

The projectile may be formed from metal, a single piece of timber, or moulded from plastics. Alternatively, the nose and blade portions could be separate pieces joined together.

The blade portion 2 may be made specifically in the form of an aerofoil and, in this case, it is preferred that the thicker portion of the aerofoil lies along the edge remote from the notch 3. Alternatively a stiffening rib may be provided along the blade portion 2 adjacent one of its edges, or between its edges. If desired, the nose portion may be provided with a weight for adjusting the centre of gravity 4.

When used as a toy, it is found that the projectile will leave a catapult, or similar launching device, at considerable speed and will follow a normal ballistic trajectory until its velocity is reduced by drag to the point at which the projectile becomes aerodynamically unstable. At this point the projectile suddenly begins to autorotate. On autorotation the projectile makes a sudden whirring noise which is attractive to children, and rapidly decelerates. The projectile then continues to autorotate as it falls to the ground at low speed.

In addition to providing an interesting toy for children, it is felt that the principles of the invention can be applied to several other types of aerial projectile. For instance, the principles could conceivably be applied to arrows.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An aerial projectile comprising a nose portion and a blade portion extending from the rear of the projectile to a position near the forward end of the projectile where it is connected to the nose portion, the blade portion being of substantially constant width, the nose portion being of substantially the same width as the blade portion, and the nose portion being of greater thickness than the blade portion so that the centre of gravity of the projectile will be adjacent its forward end whereby, when the projectile is launched into the air, it will follow a first flight path generally longitudinally of itself with said nose portion leading, followed by a second flight path with the projectile rotating about its longitudinal axis whilst simultaneously turning about a substantially vertical axis adjacent its nose portion.

2. An aerial projectile, as in Claim 1, having a notch positioned adjacent said forward end for engagement by a catapult or other launching means.

3. An aerial projectile, as in Claim 1, in which the nose portion is shaped to fit sealingly in a blow pipe or gun for launching purposes.

4. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, in which the blade portion has an aerofoil section.

5. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, including a stiffening rib extending longitudinally along the blade portion.

6. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, in which the nose and blade portions are integral.

7. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, in which the nose portion is streamlined.

8. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, in which the blade portion tapers in thickness from the nose portion towards the rear of the projectile.

9. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, in which the nose portion is provided with a dart-like point for penetrating a target.

10. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, in which the nose portion is provided with a weight for adjusting the centre of gravity.

11. An aerial projectile substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. A kit comprising one or more aerial projectiles according to any preceding claim and a catapult or other launching means for launching the aerial projectile into its said first flight path.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Figure 7. The position of the axis 6 may vary depending on the configuration of the projectile but is always in the region of the nose portion. This flight path continues until the projectile reaches the ground. The cross-section of the projectile may differ from that shown in Figures 2 to 6. It is envisaged that the projectile could be launched by means other than a catapult. For example, the nose portion 1 could be shaped to fit sealingly in a blow pipe or air gun for launching purposes. For a given launching speed and given atmospheric conditions, the transition from the initial flight path to that shown in Figure 7 occurs after the projectile has covered a substantially fixed distance. Therefore the projectile may conveniently be used in conjunction with a target located slightly short of the aforesaid fixed distance. Should the projectile miss the target, the change of flight path prevents the projectile from over shooting the target significantly. In such a case, the nose of the projectile could be provided with a dart-like point to enable it to penetrate the target. The projectile may be formed from metal, a single piece of timber, or moulded from plastics. Alternatively, the nose and blade portions could be separate pieces joined together. The blade portion 2 may be made specifically in the form of an aerofoil and, in this case, it is preferred that the thicker portion of the aerofoil lies along the edge remote from the notch 3. Alternatively a stiffening rib may be provided along the blade portion 2 adjacent one of its edges, or between its edges. If desired, the nose portion may be provided with a weight for adjusting the centre of gravity 4. When used as a toy, it is found that the projectile will leave a catapult, or similar launching device, at considerable speed and will follow a normal ballistic trajectory until its velocity is reduced by drag to the point at which the projectile becomes aerodynamically unstable. At this point the projectile suddenly begins to autorotate. On autorotation the projectile makes a sudden whirring noise which is attractive to children, and rapidly decelerates. The projectile then continues to autorotate as it falls to the ground at low speed. In addition to providing an interesting toy for children, it is felt that the principles of the invention can be applied to several other types of aerial projectile. For instance, the principles could conceivably be applied to arrows. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An aerial projectile comprising a nose portion and a blade portion extending from the rear of the projectile to a position near the forward end of the projectile where it is connected to the nose portion, the blade portion being of substantially constant width, the nose portion being of substantially the same width as the blade portion, and the nose portion being of greater thickness than the blade portion so that the centre of gravity of the projectile will be adjacent its forward end whereby, when the projectile is launched into the air, it will follow a first flight path generally longitudinally of itself with said nose portion leading, followed by a second flight path with the projectile rotating about its longitudinal axis whilst simultaneously turning about a substantially vertical axis adjacent its nose portion.

2. An aerial projectile, as in Claim 1, having a notch positioned adjacent said forward end for engagement by a catapult or other launching means.

3. An aerial projectile, as in Claim 1, in which the nose portion is shaped to fit sealingly in a blow pipe or gun for launching purposes.

4. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, in which the blade portion has an aerofoil section.

5. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, including a stiffening rib extending longitudinally along the blade portion.

6. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, in which the nose and blade portions are integral.

7. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, in which the nose portion is streamlined.

8. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, in which the blade portion tapers in thickness from the nose portion towards the rear of the projectile.

9. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, in which the nose portion is provided with a dart-like point for penetrating a target.

10. An aerial projectile, as in any preceding claim, in which the nose portion is provided with a weight for adjusting the centre of gravity.

11. An aerial projectile substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. A kit comprising one or more aerial projectiles according to any preceding claim and a catapult or other launching means for launching the aerial projectile into its said first flight path.