Flying toy with extending wings

• US 20060270307A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Montalvo, Michael, Strauss, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/361,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20060270307A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/64
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/008 Propelled by flapping of wings driving mechanisms with extensible rubber bands for toys in general A63H29/18
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 3/02 Catapults, e.g. slingshots
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/18 using a longitudinally slidable support member
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/00 Projectiles or missiles specially adapted for projection without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge, e.g. for blow guns, bows or crossbows, hand-held spring or air guns for delivering hypodermic charges F42B12/54; projectiles or missiles incorporating springs as the projecting means F41B7/02; Arrows or darts for dispensing materials, for producing chemical or physical reaction, or for signalling F42B12/362

Abstract

A flying toy may comprise an elongate body extending along a body axis from a forward end to a rearward end. The flying toy may comprise a wing assembly, comprising a wing adapted to move relative to the body between an extended position in which at least a portion of the wing extends away from the body and a retracted position in which the wing portion is closer to the body. The flying toy may comprise an actuator movable along the body between a forward position and a rearward position. One of the wing assembly and the actuator may comprise a contact element, and the other of the wing assembly and the actuator may comprise an elongate contact surface extending obliquely relative to the body axis. The contact element may move along the contact surface as the actuator moves between the rearward position and the forward position, thereby moving the wing between the retracted position and the extended position.

Claims

1. A flying toy, comprising:

an elongate body extending along a body axis, the body comprising a forward end and a rearward end;

a wing assembly, comprising a wing adapted to move relative to the body between an extended position in which at least a portion of the wing extends away from the body and a retracted position in which the wing portion is closer to the body;

an actuator movable along the body between a forward position and a rearward position; and

one of the wing assembly and the actuator comprising a contact element, and the other of the wing assembly and the actuator comprising an elongate contact surface extending obliquely relative to the body axis, the contact element moving along the contact surface as the actuator moves between the rearward position and the forward position, thereby moving the wing between the retracted position and the extended position.

2. The flying toy of claim 1, wherein the wing is biased toward one of the extended position and the retracted position.

3. The flying toy of claim 1, wherein the actuator is biased toward one of the forward position and the rearward position.

4. The flying toy of claim 1, wherein the wing is pivotingly connected to the body proximate the forward end.

5. The flying toy of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to resemble a human figure.

6. The flying toy of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the wing assembly is configured to resemble a cape.

7. The flying toy of claim 1, comprising a vertical stabilizer disposed on the wing assembly.

8. The flying toy of claim 1, comprising a retarding assembly, the retarding assembly configured to retard motion of the actuator along the body.

9. A flying toy, comprising:

an elongate body extending along a body axis from a forward end to a rearward end;

a wing assembly, comprising a wing adapted to pivot relative to the body between a retracted position in which at least a portion of the wing is proximate the body and an extended position in which the wing portion extends away from the body;

an actuator movable along the body from a forward position toward a rearward position; and

one of the wing assembly and the actuator comprising a contact element, and the other of the wing assembly and the actuator comprising an elongate contact surface extending obliquely relative to the body axis, the contact element moving along the contact surface as the actuator moves from the forward position toward the rearward position, the motion of the contact element along the contact surface as the actuator moves from the forward position toward the rearward position enabling pivoting motion of the wing from the extended position toward the retracted position.

10. The flying toy of claim 9, wherein the wing is biased toward the extended position.

11. The flying toy of claim 9, wherein:

the wing is biased toward the retracted position; and

the actuator is biased toward the forward position, the forward bias of the actuator sufficient to overcome the bias of the wing toward the retracted position, thereby moving the wing between the retracted position and the extended position.

12. The flying toy of claim 9, wherein the wing portion is proximate the rearward end when the wing is in the retracted position.

13. The flying toy of claim 9, wherein the body is configured to resemble a human figure.

14. The flying toy of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the wing assembly is configured to resemble a cape.

15. The flying toy of claim 9, comprising a retarding assembly, the retarding assembly configured to retard motion of the actuator along the body.

16. A flying toy, comprising:

an elongate body extending along a body axis, the body comprising a forward end and a rearward end;

a wing adapted to move relative to the body between a retracted position in which at least a portion of the wing is proximate the body and an extended position in which the wing portion extends away from the body;

an actuator movable along the body between a forward position and a rearward position;

a coupling assembly coupling the actuator with the wing, the coupling assembly being configured to move the wing from the extended position toward the retracted position as the actuator moves from the forward position toward the rearward position; and

a retarding assembly, the retarding assembly configured to retard motion of the actuator along the body.

17. The flying toy of claim 16, wherein the coupling assembly comprises:

an elongate contact surface extending obliquely relative to the body axis, the contact surface disposed on one of the wing assembly and the actuator; and

a contact element disposed on the other of the wing assembly and the actuator, the contact element moving along the contact surface as the actuator moves between the rearward position and the forward position, thereby moving the wing between the retracted position and the extended position.

18. The flying toy of claim 16, wherein the wing is biased toward one of the extended position and the retracted position.

19. The flying toy of claim 16, wherein the actuator is biased toward one of the forward position and the rearward position.

20. The flying toy of claim 16, wherein the body is configured to resemble a human figure and at least a portion of the wing assembly is configured to resemble a cape.