THROWABLE TOY HAVING SPRING ASSISTED MOTION

• US 20070077857A1
• Filed: 09/15/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eric Wright
• Original Assignee: Eric Wright
• Inventors: Wright, Eric
• Application Number:
  US11/532,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20070077857A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/486
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/18 Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys discs used in athletics A63B65/10as part of a game A63F9/02; sling weapons F41B3/00; spring toy guns F41B7/08
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 37/005 Popper toys, i.e. disc-shaped toys which jump when snapping to their original shape after distortion

Abstract

A throwable toy device consisting of a generally tube-shaped body having a baffle defined on one end of the body, wherein the baffle defines an opening therein restricting the flow of air through the tube-shaped body, thereby providing aerodynamic stability to the device. The body of the device also has a spring integral therewith which allows the compression of the body of the device. The device is propelled away from the thrower by holding the device in a compressed position with both hands and propelling the device away from the body of the thrower in a motion similar to a two-handed basketball pass, with a combination of the throwing force and the decompression of the spring determining the speed, distance and trajectory of the device.

Claims

1. A throwable toy device comprising:

a. a body portion having an open distal end;

b. a spring mechanism integrated with said body which allows said body to be compressed and thereafter returned to its original shape; and

c. a baffle, disposed on a proximal end of said body opposite said open end, said baffle having an opening defined therein.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said body portion is generally in the shape of a hollow tube.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said hollow tube has a cross section having a shape consisting of one of a circle, a rectangle, a triangle, a trapezoid, a star, an oval, a pentagon, a hexagon and an octagon.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said spring mechanism consists of a coiled wire attached to said body portion.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said coiled wire generally has the same cross sectional shape as said body portion.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said body portion is composed of a material selected from a group consisting of nylon, kevlar, plastic, neoprene, cotton fabric and foam.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein said body portion defines a lip around said open distal end.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said lip is composed of layered and/or stitched material.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said lip has a wire integral therewith to provide structural strength.

10. The device of claim 2 wherein said baffle is composed of a material selected from a group consisting of nylon, kevlar, plastic, neoprene and plastic.

11. The device of claim 2 wherein said baffle is gel-filled.

12. The device of claim 2 wherein said opening in said baffle is generally of the same shape as the cross sectional shape of said body portion.

13. The device of claim 2 wherein said body portion is composed of molded, semi-rigid foam and further wherein said spring mechanism consists of a corrugated area defined in said foam intermediate said distal and proximal ends of said body portion.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein said baffle portion is composed of a molded, semi-rigid foam and is integral with aid body portion.

15. The device of claim 2 wherein said baffle is attached to said body portion by sewing.

16. The device of claim 2 further comprising a wire integral with said baffle portion providing structural rigidity thereto, said wire having the same general cross sectional shape as said body portion.

17. The device of claim 2 wherein said body portion may be any color, or may be transparent and further wherein said body portion may be decorated with logos are other designs.

18. The device of claim 2 wherein said proximal end of said body portion is heavier than said distal end of said body portion.

19. A collapsible hollow object comprising:

a. a body portion, said body portion being generally tube-shaped and composed of a molded, rigid foam material, having openings on both ends thereof;

b. a corrugation in said rigid foam material defined in said body portion intermediate said open ends; and

c. a baffle, defined on one open end of said body portion, said baffle having an opening therein, said baffle generally restricting the airflow through said body portion.

20. A collapsible hollow object comprising:

a. a body portion, said body portion being generally tube-shaped and composed of a flexible fabric material, having openings defined on both ends thereof;

b. a coiled spring device, attached to said body portion at one or more points; and

c. a baffle, defined on one open end of said body portion, said baffle having an opening therein, said baffle generally restricting the airflow through said body portion.