US2986363A - Flying toy - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1961 KyvANDEGRlFT FLYING TOY Filed NOV. 10, 1958 INVENTOR. .Thomas K. vandeyrfft (9% Q W Attorn ey United States Patent :O F

2,986,363 FLYING TOY Thomas K. Vandegrift, 3580 Vorhies Ann Arbor, Mich.

Filed Nov. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 772,990

14 Claims. (Cl. 244-153) Road,

This invention relates to a flying toy or kite and has for a primary object the provision of such a toy which during flight resembles a man-launched satellite 1n appearance.

, Another object is to provide a simply and economically fabricated and assembled kite-type toy comprising a number of struts radiating from a central spherical body and supporting sheet sail members arranged to lift the assembly into the air when subjected to the force of light wind and improved means within the spherical body for posi- 1 tively holding the struts in fixed relationship with respect to each other, whereby the spherical body'can be feasibly made from lightweight non-load sustaining plastic material supported in place by the struts.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the followguy strings being rigged for flying, but the sail surfaces and supporting strings therefor being removed.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the junction block employed to hold the struts in fixed relationship with respect to each other.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of descrip tion and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, a kite-type toy is illustrated comprising a spherical body 10 formed in the present instance from thin lightweight semi-spherical bowls 10a and 10b having equatorial flanges 11a and 11b respectively which are preferably cemented together to assure optimum rigidity. Where desired, the body '10 can be fabricated from comparatively rigid lightweight material, as for example, glazed paper board, whereby the body 10 comprises the support for a plurality of struts or antennae 12 of lightweight material, such as wood or tubular aluminum. In the present instance, economy is achieved by forming the body 10 from comparatively 2,986,363 Patented May 30, 1961 2 I flimsy non-load supporting plastic which is held in posi tion by the struts 12 passing therethrough as indicated, Figure 1. If the bowls 10a and 10b are of sufiiciently rigid material, these need not be glued or cemented together because they will be held in fixed position by the struts 12. v

The six struts or antennae 12 illustrated radiate from the center of the spherical body 10 and extend therethrough along three orthogonal axes x, y, and 2 respectively, the struts being individually designated 12x, 12x, 12y, 12y, 12z, and 12z in accordance with their respective axial directions. Where desired, each pair of oppositely directed antennae can be a single integral rod which passes the other two rods or paired integral antennae adjacent the 'center of the spherical body 10, in which case the rods will be maintained in fixed relationship with respect to each other by the rigidity of the sphere 10 or by a central junction block of comparatively lightweight wood or plastic material for example. In the present instance, a junction block 13 is located within the center of, the sphere 10 and comprises six plastic tubes 14x, 14x, 14y, 14y, 14z and 142, Figure 3, arranged along the aforesaid orthogonal axes and snugly containing therein the struts 12x, 12x, 12y, 12y, 121 and 122'. If desired, the struts can be secured within the junction block by glue or other means, or merely by friction and the tension of guys or strings 15 joining certain of the ends of the struts 12 and supporting the edge of sail surfaces 16 and 17 as described below.

By virtue of the symmetry of the struts or antennae 12 with respect to the spherical body 10 described thus far, any pair of oppositely directed struts can be designated the x-axis struts, thereafter either of the remaining two pairs of oppositely directed struts can be designated the y-axis struts, and the remaining pair of oppositely directed struts will be designated the z-axis struts, without in any way afiecting the following description of the arrangement of the strings 15 and sail surfaces 16 and 17. With the axes designated as in Figure l, the strings 15 tautly connect the outer end of each strut with the outer ends of each of the other struts except the oppositely directed strut.

The sail member 16-comprises a diamond-shaped sheet in its unfolded condition. In the assembled condition shown, the mid-line of the sail 16 folds over and extends along the length of the upper string joining the struts 12y and 122. Opposite ends of the diamond-shaped sail 16 extend to the outer ends of the struts 12x and 12x. Preferably the edges of the sail 16 are secured to the adjacent struts and portions of the strings 15.

Sail 17 is formed and secured in position similarly to sail 16 and comprises a diamond-shaped sheet having its mid-line folded over the lower string 15 joining struts 12z' and 12y. Opposite ends of the diamond-shaped sheet 17 extend to the outer ends of the struts =12x and 12x. Where required for stability in gusty weather, a suitable tail 18 may be secured to the lower end of the strut 1 2z'. The sails 16, 17, and tail 18 are preferably formed from clear plastic material so as not to be visible from a distance. Thus the toy in flight will resemble a satellite or sputnik.

I In, flight, the toy is controlled by a customary restraining string 19 having its lower end, not shown, under the manual control of a child or other operator of the toy. The upper end of the restraining string 19 is secured to the juncture 20 of four guy strings 21, 22, 23, and 24, the juncture 20 lying in the plane of the yz axes somewhat below the y-axis and about twice the distance along the latter axis in the forward or leftward direction that the corresponding strut 12y extends from the center of the sphere 10. Thus the imaginary line through the juncture 20 and the center of the sphere makes an angle q of approximately 8 to '10 degrees with the y-axis. From the juncture 20, the guy strings 21 and 22 extend toandare securedto the outer ends of the struts 12x and 12x. Similarly from the juncture ' 20fthe guy strings 23 and 24 extend to the out-er ends of the struts .12z and 12z'and are secured thereto.

Although the precise proportions can be varied within moderate limits, it has been found that the toy flies satisfactorily when constructed with 18" struts 36" from end to end) radiating from a 10" diameter sphere I and with the juncture 20 located '40" from the center of the sphere '10 approximately along the angle stated below the y-axis. By virtue of the structure described, a novel flying toy which resembles a satellite in flight can be economically fabricated and stored and shipped in a knocked-down condition. Thereafter the 'toy may be readily assembled and flown by a child with a 'minimum of instruction or assistance.

I claim:

1. In a flying toy, a body, a plurality o'f struts projecting from said body and arranged in fixed "relationship with respect to each other, wind'enga'gingsail means supported by said struts, said sail means having opposing surfaces confronting each other and opposite sides of said body and spaced from said body for passage of wind between said body and opposing surfaces, and means for connecting said toy with a restraining string.

2. In a flying toy, a body, a plurality of struts projecting from said body and arranged in fixed relationship with respect to each other, wind engaging sail means supported by said struts, said sail means having opposing surfaces confronting each other and opposite sides of said body and spaced from said body for passage of wind between said body and opposing surfaces, and

means for connecting said struts with 'a restraining'string.

3.111 a flying toy, a spherical body, aplur ality of struts projecting radially from said body and arranged in fixed relationship with respect to each other, wind engaging sail means supported by said struts, said sail means vhaving opposing surfaces confronting each other and opposite sides of said body and spacedfrom said body at said opposite sides for passage OfWiIld between said body and opposing surfaces, and means for connecting said struts with a restraining string.

4. A toy according to claim 3 having six struts arranged approximately along three orthogonal axes designated x, y, and 2 respectively, said sail means including sheet portions approximately coextensive with the two triangular areas determined by outer points on one of said struts on the z-axis, on one of said struts on the 'y-axis, and on both of said struts on the x-axis, "said sail means also including sheet portions approximately coextensive with two other triangular areas determined by outer points on the other strut on the z-axis, the other strut on the y-axis, and on both struts on said x-axis.

5. A toy according to claim 4 wherein said points are approximately equidistant from the center of said body, and said axes extend to adjacent said center.

6. A toy according to claim 4 wherein said means for connecting said struts with a restraining string include guys connected to outer portions of said struts on said x and z axes and converging to a location spaced from the y and z axes and lying in the plane containing the latter axes.

"7. A toy according to claim '6 'wherein saidtwo other triangular areas are located between said location and said body, and said location is on the same side of the plane containing said 2: and y axes as is said other triangular areas.

8. In a flying toy, a body, --six struts projecting from said body and arranged in fixed relationship with respect to each other along three orthogonal axes designated x, y. and .z respectively, wind engaging sail means supported by said struts including sheet portions approximately coextensive with the two triangular areas determined by outer points on one of said struts on the z-axis, on one of saidstruts on the .y-axis, and on both of said struts on'the x-axis, said sail means also including sheet portions approximately coextensive with two other triangular areas determined by outer points on the other strut on the z-axis, the other strut on the y-axis, and on both struts on said x-axis, and means for connecting said toy with a restraining string.

9. A toy according to claim 8 wherein said axes pass each other adjacent the center of said body.

1 0.-A toy according to claim 8 wherein said "toy is arranged symmetrically with respect to the plane "containing saidfy and z axes.

' 11. A toy according to claim 10 "wherein said means for connecting said'toy with'arestrainingstring include guys connected to outer portions of said struts on said x and -z axes and converging to a location spaced from the .y and z axes and lying in the plane containing'the latter axes.

112. A toy according to claim 11 wherein said two other triangular areas are located between said location and said body, and said location is on'the same side of the plane containing said x and'y axes as is "said other triangular areas.

'13. In a flying toy, a body, a plurality of struts "arranged in fixed relationship with respect to each other,

the axes of said struts crossing each other within said body, 'saidstruts extending outwardly beyond said body, a -pair of wind engaging sails supportedby said struts and having confronting surfaces spaced by said body and arranged forpassa'ge of wind around said body and between said confronting surfaces. I

14. In a flying toy, a spheroidalbody, a plurality of struts arranged in fixed relationship with respect to each other, the axes of said struts crossing each other within "said "body, said struts extending outwardly beyond said body, wind engaging sail means supported by said struts, said sail means including paired sail portions disposed at opposite sides of 'said body, said sailportions having surfaces confronting each other and also confronting said opposite sides of said body and being arranged for passage of wind between said opposite sides of said body and said surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,398,745 Jalbert Apr. 16, 1946 2,744,701 Robey May 8, 1956 2,835,548 Baumann "a May 20, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 300,597 Germany Sept. 19, 1917 508,119 Belgium Jan. 15, 1952

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