AIRBORNE VEHICLE

• US 3,556,438 A
• Filed: 09/02/1969
• Issued: 01/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ludwig F. Meditz
• Original Assignee: Ludwig F. Meditz
• Inventors: Meditz, Ludwig F.
• Application Number:
  US04/854,563
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• US Class Current: 244/4.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/026 for use as personal propulsion unit

Abstract

An aircraft for transporting a single person through the air comprises a cradle for supporting that person, and a pair of electrically operated fan assemblies operatively connected to the cradle. The orientation of the fan assemblies is controlled from a console accessible to the passenger, thereby to control the flight of the aircraft. Means are provided to move the fans to an inoperative position in which they extend to the rear of the cradle and are disposed in an overlying relationship with respect to one another.

Claims

1. In an aircraft for use in transporting an individual through the air comprising a support for the passenger, first and second electrically operated fans articulatably mounted on said support, means for operating said fans to produce a sufficient lift for the aircraft, and means accessible to the individual, operatively connected to at least one of said fans, and effective when operated by the individual to adjust the relative orientation of said fans, thereby to control the flight of the aircraft.

2. The aircraft of claim 1, further comprising means operatively connected to said support and to one of said fans and effective when actuated to adjust the vertical position of said one of said fans with respect to the vertical position of the other said fans.

3. The aircraft of claim 2, in which said fans when in an operative position extend transversely to either side of said support, and further comprising means operatively connected thereto and effective when actuated to pivot said fans to an inoperative position in which said fans extend longitudinally along said support.

4. The aircraft of claim 3, in which said fans when in their inoperative positions lie in partial overlying relation with respect to one another.

5. The aircraft of claim 1, in which said fans when in an opeRative position extend transversely to either side of said support, and further comprising means operatively connected thereto and effective when actuated to pivot said fans to an inoperative position in which said fans extend longitudinally along said support.

6. The aircraft of claim 5, in which said fans when in their inoperative positions lie in partial overlying relation with respect to one another.

7. The aircraft of claim 6, in which said support further comprises an extension member operatively connected to the rear end of said support, said extension member being movable from a first position in which it extends longitudinally beyond the rear end of the support, to a second position in which it is retracted in said support.

8. The aircraft of claim 1, in which said support further comprises an extension member operatively connected to the rear end of said support, said extension member being movable from a first position in which it extends longitudinally beyond the rear end of the support, to a second position in which it is retracted in said support.

9. The aircraft of claim 2, in which said support further comprises an extension member operatively connected to the rear end of said support, said extension member being movable from a first position in which it extends longitudinally beyond the rear end of the support, to a second position in which it is retracted in said support.