Amusement devices: toys – Aquatic – Boat
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-17
2001-08-28
Rimell, Sam (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Aquatic
Boat
C446S044000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280284
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Toy submarines are typically used by children in bathtubs and swimming pools. Toy submarines have been available in two varieties. One type is self-propelled and the other is not self-propelled. The self-propelled types are powered either by floatation, chemical reaction, battery, or a windup mechanism.
Floatation powered designs are generally made in such a configuration that they are lighter than the water they displace. When the submarine is released at below the water surface, as the submarine moves towards the water surface it will be propelled forwards depending on the shape and weight distribution of the toy. One of the problems with these designs is that in order for the submarine to move forward, it must be released at depth. That means that the potential forward movement in a bathtub is small and in a pool, a small child can only submerge the submarine to a shallow depth. Also, this design is incapable of self-propelled descending motion or self-propelled constant depth motion. Children can become easily bored with these designs.
Chemical reaction powered designs are generally configured to be slightly negatively buoyant. When a tablet of a chemical such as common baking soda is placed inside of a compartment in the submarine, as water reacts with the baking soda, gas is produced which is captured such that the buoyancy of the submarine becomes positive. When the buoyancy becomes positive, the submarine will climb to the surface. These designs share the same problems as floatation powered submarines and additionally have the cost and hassle and complexity of requiring an expendable chemical. Also, the motion is relatively slow.
Battery powered designs are usually neutrally buoyant and generally have a small battery powered motor with a single propeller. With a single propeller turning, there is a tendency for the submarine to rotate in the opposite direction of the propeller. In order to combat this tendency, the propeller is relatively small and the submarine is weighted such that the submarine will tend to remain in a generally upright orientation. In actual use, these submarines twist at an odd angle in response to the motor-driven propeller. Battery powered submarines move very slowly because of the relatively small propeller and in order to prevent the submarine from twisting at too great of an angle. If too much power were introduced to the propeller, then the submarine would begin to rotate repeatedly in the direction opposite to the propeller. While in theory it would be possible to use a counter-rotating propeller system to solve some of the above problems, in reality this would add too much complexity and cost for a simple toy. Some battery-powered designs also include a chemical reaction system for surfacing.
Existing wind-up powered designs are similar to battery powered designs except that they use a wind-up mechanism instead of a battery and motor. The wind-up mechanism usually includes a metal spring, small gears and a knob for the child to twist in order to create the potential energy. The problem with these designs is that the distance traveled is small because the wind up mechanism allows relatively few windings, the motion is slow, and the buoyancy is such that the “submarine” is really more like a “boat”. Also, the motion is not in a straight line.
It is desirable for the toy submarine to be simple to use and operate even for very young children. It is also desirable for the toy submarine to be inexpensive and easy to manufacture. It is also desirable for the toy submarine to not contain any small, sharp components so that it is safe for very young children. It is also desirable for the toy submarine to move through the water in a relatively straight line. It is also desirable for the toy submarine to require little or no maintenance. It is also desirable for the toy submarine to be able to move across swimming pools after being wound up.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Our toy submarine, in its most basic form, consists of three components. Two of the components are preferably injection molded thermoplastic and the other is an ordinary rubber band. The plastic is slightly positively buoyant in typical tap water. The first molded component is the tailpiece and it includes a generally cylindrical body with an integrated propeller. The second molded component is the headpiece and it includes a generally cylindrical body with an integrated propeller that spirals in the opposite direction of the tailpiece propeller. Together they form a counter-rotating propeller system.
The bodies of both the tailpiece and the headpiece are hollow and open at both ends. One end of the tailpiece's body mates with one end of the headpiece's body such that their axes are aligned and the bodies are able to easily rotate relative to each other. The other ends of the tailpiece and headpiece each have a longitudinal slot. In the assembly, the rubber band is routed through the slot and around the body of the tail piece, then routed through both bodies of the tail and head pieces, and then through the slot and around the body of the head piece.
To use the toy submarine, the child holds either the tail piece or the head piece and, using a finger, rotates the other propeller until the rubber band is sufficiently twisted. Then the toy submarine is placed under water and released The two propellers will begin rotate in opposite directions. It will quickly travel in a relatively straight line in a forward direction until the energy in the rubber band has dissipated. Then, because the plastic that was used for molding the two components is slightly positively buoyant, the toy submarine will slowly surface. If used in a bathtub, the toy submarine will travel straight ahead until it bumps into a wall of the bathtub or some other object and may turn around on its own depending on the contours of the objects encountered.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a toy submarine that is primarily made from two injection-molded components and one rubber band. Another object of the present invention is for the toy submarine to be simple to use and operate even for very young children. Another object of the present invention is for the toy submarine to be inexpensive and easy to manufacture. Another object of the present invention is for the toy submarine to not contain any small, sharp components so that it is safe for very young children. Another object of the present invention is for the toy submarine to move through the water in a relatively straight line. Another object of the present invention is for the toy submarine to require little or no maintenance. Another object of the present invention is for the toy submarine to be able to move relatively far through water after being wound up.
The foregoing and other objects are attained, according to the present invention, by the assembly described below.
REFERENCES:
patent: 85874 (1869-01-01), Tilden
patent: 935384 (1909-09-01), Martin
patent: 2138168 (1938-11-01), Horak
patent: 2418269 (1947-04-01), Lewis
patent: 4084345 (1978-04-01), Tanaka
Hermansen Frank
Winefordner Carl
Rimell Sam
Tachner Leonard
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