TOY AIRCRAFT WITH MODULAR POWER SYSTEMS AND WHEELS

• US 20110130066A1
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Strom, David, Chui, Chi Keung, Amireh, Nicholas, King, Paulo
• Granted Patent: US 8,202,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/02 Model aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/22 Electric drives power supply through track A63H18/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

Toy aircraft may include an airframe, a modular power system, first and second wheel supports, and first and second wheels. The modular power system may be configured for selective use with and selective removal from the airframe. The power system may include a propulsion unit operable to propel the toy aircraft and a power unit, which may include an energy source configured to supply energy to the propulsion unit. The airframe may include a fuselage, a propulsion unit mount, which may be disposed on the airframe and configured to removably retain the propulsion unit, and a power unit mount, which may be disposed on the fuselage and configured to removably retain the power unit. The first and second wheel supports may extend from the power unit mount toward respective first and second wheel mounts to which the first and second wheels may be rotatably mounted.

Claims

1. A toy aircraft having an aircraft frame, the aircraft frame comprising:

an aircraft wing;

a wing support clip including;

a wing support clip body,

a backing clip engagement pin on the wing support clip body,

a first wing support clip socket on the wing support clip body configured to engage a first wing support clip engagement pin, and

a second wing support clip socket on the wing support clip body configured to engage a second wing support clip engagement pin;

a backing clip including;

a backing clip body, and

a wing support clip engagement socket on the backing clip body removably engaged with the backing clip engagement pin through a hole in the aircraft wing;

an aircraft fuselage;

a first wing strut including;

a first wing strut body,

a first wing support clip engagement pin on the first wing strut body configured to removably engage the first wing support clip socket, and

a strut attachment pin on the first wing strut body; and

a second wing strut including;

a second wing strut body,

a second wing support clip engagement pin on the second wing strut body configured to removably engage the second wing support clip socket, and

a strut attachment socket on the second wing strut body removably engaged with the strut attachment pin through a hole in the aircraft fuselage.

2. A toy aircraft having an aircraft frame, the aircraft frame comprising:

a wing support clip including;

a wing support clip body,

a backing clip engagement pin on the wing support clip body,

a first wing support clip socket on the wing support clip body configured to engage a first wing support clip engagement pin, and

a second wing support clip socket on the wing support clip body configured to engage a second wing support clip engagement pin; and

a backing clip including;

a backing clip body, and

a wing support clip engagement socket on the backing clip body removably engaged with the backing clip engagement pin through a hole in an aircraft wing.

3. The toy aircraft of claim 2 where the wing support clip engagement socket frictionally or mechanically engages and retains the backing clip engagement pin.

4. The toy aircraft of claim 2 where the wing support clip body includes outer portions that are coplanar to each other.

5. The toy aircraft of claim 2 where the wing support clip body includes outer portions angled relative to each other.

6. The toy aircraft of claim 5 where the wing support clip is secured to a lower surface of the aircraft wing.

7. The toy aircraft of claim 5 where the wing support clip is secured to an upper surface of the aircraft wing.

8. The toy aircraft of claim 2 where the wing support clip further includes:

a first arm including a fuselage attachment pin, and

a second arm including a fuselage attachment socket.

9. The toy aircraft of claim 8 where the fuselage attachment socket is configured for frictional or mechanical engagement with the fuselage attachment pin through a hole in an aircraft fuselage.

10. The toy aircraft of claim 8 where the first arm and the second arm are connected to a central portion of the wing support clip by regions of reduced thickness on the wing support clip body.

11. A toy aircraft having an aircraft frame, the aircraft frame comprising:

a first wing strut including;

a first wing strut body,

a first wing support clip engagement pin on the first wing strut body configured to removably engage a first wing support clip socket, and

a strut attachment pin on the first wing strut body; and

a second wing strut including;

a second wing strut body,

a second wing support clip engagement pin on the second wing strut body configured to removably engage a second wing support clip socket, and

a strut attachment socket on the second wing strut body removably engaged with the strut attachment pin through a hole in an aircraft fuselage.

12. The toy aircraft of claim 11 where the strut attachment socket frictionally or mechanically engages and retains the strut attachment pin.

13. The toy aircraft of claim 11 where the first wing strut body includes an end region and a central portion, and the end region is flexibly connected to the central portion.

14. The toy aircraft of claim 13 where the end region includes one of the strut attachment pin and the first wing support clip engagement pin.

15. The toy aircraft of claim 13 where the end region is flexibly connected to the central portion by a region of reduced thickness on the first wing strut body.

16. The toy aircraft of claim 11 where the second wing strut body includes an end region and a central portion, and the end region is flexibly connected to the central portion.

17. The toy aircraft of claim 16 where the end region includes one of the strut attachment socket and the second wing support clip engagement pin.

18. The toy aircraft of claim 16 where the end region is flexibly connected to the central portion by a region of reduced thickness on the second wing strut body.