Amusement devices: toys – Aerodynamically supported or retarded – Glider
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-16
2001-08-28
Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Aerodynamically supported or retarded
Glider
C446S066000, C446S454000, C244S016000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280280
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to remotely controlled toy vehicles such as reduced-scale models of cars, boats and planes that are self-propelled and can be remotely maneuvered by wireless link.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Remotely controlled, self-propelled toy vehicles are maneuvered by means of a very limited number of levers, knobs or joy-sticks mounted on a hand-held console. Radio or ultrasound signals are generated in response to the movements of those implements and transmitted to the vehicle. Electro-mechanical systems on the vehicle receive those signals and use them to drive servo-controls linked to the vehicle's operating mechanisms. For instance, a remotely controlled car is maneuvered by means of three types of controls — start and stop commands, left and right steering, and forward/backward commands.
Although those basic commands offer a great deal of maneuverability, the entertainment value of the toy could be greatly enhanced by additional commands that would cause the vehicle to execute more elaborate maneuvers.
It is well-known that the entertainment value of a toy or game is proportional to its flexibility and ability to challenge the imagination and skills of its operator. The operator of a remotely controllable toy car will quickly develop great skill in guiding his toy through intricate pathways and around obstacles to such a point that the use of the toy is no longer challenging or interesting.
Self-propelled toy aircraft are prone to very damaging crashes. They require a large operation area, and their fast rotating propellers create serious safety hazards. The instant invention results from an attempt to create a safe but challenging, remotely controllable, surface-and-air-plying toy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal and secondary objects of this invention to enhance the entertainment value of remotely controllable toy vehicles by adding a new dimension of maneuverablity without undue increase in the complexity and cost of the toy. More specifically, it is one of the objects of this invention to allow the user of such a toy to cause a surface-operated toy vehicle such as a car or boat to leave the ground or water for a few seconds and be able to fly over small obstacles.
These and other valuable objects are achieved by providing the surface toy vehicle with a pair of foldable wings that can be remotely deployed when the vehicle has reached a given take-off velocity whereby the kinetic energy accumulated by the vehicle through its surface-interactive propulsion system lifts and propels the vehicle up to at least half its height over a short distance of at least its length in the absence of any air-reactive propulsion system such as a propeller.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a fixed and rigid wing is pitched to keep the vehicle on its support surface while it is gathering speed, and can be shifted to a take-off angle of attack position when sufficient velocity has been attained.
A few control elements such as positionable cannards, wingtips, tail, or flaps can be manually preset and adjusted to impart the airborne vehicle, a particular, desired behavior. For instance, wingtips can be preset to establish a turning maneuver, or compensate for cross-winds. Accordingly, the invention adds a considerable degree of capability and flexibility to such a toy, greatly enhancing its entertainment value and interest.
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patent: 1895750 (1933-01-01), Brown
patent: 3610660 (1971-10-01), Price
patent: 4068810 (1978-01-01), Malewicki
patent: 4657207 (1987-04-01), Poling
patent: 5078335 (1992-01-01), David
patent: 5146203 (1992-09-01), Simuni
patent: 5580296 (1996-12-01), Chow
patent: 5803790 (1998-09-01), Tilbor et al.
patent: 6073882 (2000-06-01), Zieger
Love Larry
Stackable Steven D.
Vicino Robert K.
Ackun Jr. Jacob K.
Buchaca John D.
Cegielnik U.
Charmasson Henri J. A.
Vicino Robert K.
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