Rotating toy with directional vector control
First Claim
1. A rotating toy comprising:
- a hub having an outer portion rotatably connected to an inner portion;
at least three rods extending outwardly from the outer portion and connecting to at least one outer ring, the rods further being positioned at a predetermined offset angle from each other;
a rotary device disposed on each rod between the hub and the outer ring, each rotary device includes a motor and a propeller, the propellers being designed to generate lift when rotating by displacing air downwardly, and when the propellers are rotating the motors may generate a reaction torque causing the outer portion of the hub to rotate defining a rotating portion which includes the outer portion of the hub, the rods, the rotary devices and the outer ring;
a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the inner portion of the hub to support the rotating toy in an upright configuration when the rotating toy is positioned on a surface, each leg including a vane protruding outwardly into downwardly displaced air to deflect said displaced air such that the vanes tend to drive the inner portion of the hub in a direction opposite of the outer portion such that when the outer portion is rotating the inner portion is substantially non-rotating defining a non-rotating portion;
a means for determining a directional point of reference for the motors when said toy is rotating; and
a means for individually controlling the speed of the motors such that the rotating toy may travel in a specified direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The rotating toy in accordance with the present invention includes a hub having an outer portion rotatably connected to an inner portion. At least three rods extending outwardly from the hub to connect to an outer ring. A motor operably connected to a propeller is further disposed on each rob between the hub and the outer ring. In addition the rods are positioned such that each is offset by the same predetermined angle. When operating, the propellers spin in a first direction exerting a reaction torque in the opposite direction causing the outer portion to rotate in the opposite direction. The inner portion includes a plurality of legs with vanes that protruded outwardly such that the downward moving air is deflected causing the inner portion not to rotate. A tether attached to a control box and the rotating toy communicates a drive voltage to each motor. The control box further includes a means for determining the orientation of the motors at a specified point of reference thereby permitting a user to change the direction of the rotating toy in reference to person operating the toy.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A rotating toy comprising:
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a hub having an outer portion rotatably connected to an inner portion;
at least three rods extending outwardly from the outer portion and connecting to at least one outer ring, the rods further being positioned at a predetermined offset angle from each other;
a rotary device disposed on each rod between the hub and the outer ring, each rotary device includes a motor and a propeller, the propellers being designed to generate lift when rotating by displacing air downwardly, and when the propellers are rotating the motors may generate a reaction torque causing the outer portion of the hub to rotate defining a rotating portion which includes the outer portion of the hub, the rods, the rotary devices and the outer ring;
a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the inner portion of the hub to support the rotating toy in an upright configuration when the rotating toy is positioned on a surface, each leg including a vane protruding outwardly into downwardly displaced air to deflect said displaced air such that the vanes tend to drive the inner portion of the hub in a direction opposite of the outer portion such that when the outer portion is rotating the inner portion is substantially non-rotating defining a non-rotating portion;
a means for determining a directional point of reference for the motors when said toy is rotating; and
a means for individually controlling the speed of the motors such that the rotating toy may travel in a specified direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 28)
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19. A rotating toy comprising:
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a housing;
at least a pair of motors secured to said housing by a predetermined offset angle from each other, each motor rotates a wheel in a direction such that the housing rotates;
a power unit supplying a drive voltage to each motor;
a microprocessor in communication with the power unit and the motors for controlling the drive voltage to each motor;
a sensor positioned on the housing in a restricted view angle in communication with the microprocessor; and
a wireless remote transmitter for transmitting a point of reference signal and for transmitting speed and directional control inputs to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor upon receiving said signals may determine the orientation of the rotating toy such that the rotating toy may be directed in a direction and rate specified by said speed and directional control inputs.
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22. A rotating toy comprising:
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a hub supporting a plurality of motors positioned at a predetermined offset angle from each other, the motors secured to a means for rotating the toy;
a means to provide a drive voltage to each motor;
a means to determine the orientation of the motors from a point of reference in a remote non-rotating control box;
a means to generate and add a sinusoidal wave to each drive voltage, wherein each sinusoidal wave is out of phase with each other by the predetermined offset angle; and
a means to control the amplitude and to shift a beginning phase angle of each sinusoidal wave in response to speed and directional inputs from the remote non-rotating control box, such that the rotating toy may move in a direction referenced from the non-rotating body in response to said speed and directional inputs. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30)
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29. A rotary aircraft comprising:
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a hub having a plurality of motors positioned at a predetermined offset angle from each other, the motors secured to a means for generating lift and for rotating the toy;
a means to separately provide power to each motor;
a means to determine the orientation of the motors from a point of reference in a remote non-rotating control box; and
a means to generate and add a sinusoidal wave to each power means, wherein each sinusoidal wave is out of phase with each other by the predetermined offset angle; and
a means to control the amplitude and to shift a beginning phase angle of each sinusoidal wave in response to speed and directional inputs from the remote non-rotating control box, such that the rotary aircraft may move in a direction referenced from the non-rotating body in response to said speed and directional inputs.
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Specification