REVERSIBLE AERODYNAMIC DISC AND GYROSCOPIC TOY

• US 3,673,731 A
• Filed: 06/21/1971
• Issued: 07/04/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward H. Farhi, Raphael Farhi
• Original Assignee: Edward H. Farhi, Raphael Farhi
• Inventors: Farhi, Raphael, Farhi, Edward H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Louis G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cutting, Robert F.
• Application Number:
  US05/154,848
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 46/47,51,74R,74D
• US Class Current: 446/46
• 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

Abstract

A disc with an aerodynamically shaped concave/convex surface and an inwardly turned rim has a central portion that includes a central circular depression in at least one transverse end surface thereof. The depression has a concave bottom and a right cylindrical side wall. In one embodiment of the invention, the central portion constitutes a readily removable and invertible plug so that the central depression may be arranged to face either inwardly or outwardly of the disc. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the central portion is made integrally with the concave/convex surface and oppositely facing central depressions are formed on both (inner and outer) transverse end surfaces thereof. The disc is adapted to be spun by twirling an elongated wand the tip of which is in an inwardly or outwardly facing central depression of the disc, the disc being supported by the wand during such twirling. With the concave surface of the disc facing downwardly, twirling of the wand causes the disc to rotate, and after the disc is turning with sufficient speed a slight push of the wand in an upward direction will cause the disc either to hover or to sail through the air depending upon the magnitude and direction of the force applied by the wand and the speed of rotation of the disc. With the concave surface of the disc facing upwardly, either by inverting the central plug as in the first embodiment or by inverting the entire disc as in the second embodiment, a gyroscopic toy is provided. With the disc rotating and with its concave surface facing upwardly, the lower end of the wand the tip of which now is in the outwardly and downward facing depression can be placed on a flat surface where it will remain erect with the disc spinning on its upper end without any support for the wand. Should the wand be removed in this second mode of operation, the disc because of its aerodynamic configuration which generates a downward force, will descend and spin on the flat surface like a top. A feature of the invention is that both the central depression and the tip of the wand that coacts therewith are provided with low friction surfaces.

Claims

1. A reversible, aerodynamic and gyroscopic toy comprising:

a. a concave/convex disc with a peripheral rim;

b. a central boss formed on said disc, said boss including a plug defined by two axially spaced, transverse end surfaces;

c. a central circular depression formed in at least one of said transverse end surfaces of said plug said plug being structured to dispose a depression in downwardly facing orientations regardless of whether the concave or convex surface of the disc faces upwardly; and

d. an elongated wand having a circular tip that is receivable in said depression so that by twirling the wand the disc can be spun.

2. A toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plug is removable and wherein means is provided for releasably retaining said plug in said disc whereby when said toy is used aerodynamically said depression in said plug and said concave surface of said disc face downwardly and when said toy is used gyroscopically said plug is removed and inverted so that said depression therein still faces downwardly and said concave surface of said disc faces upwardly

3. A toy in accordance with claim 2 wherein said retaining means comprises mating screw threads.

4. A toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coacting surfaces of said depression and said wand are coated with a low-friction material.

5. A toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said disc and said plug are integral and a depression is formed in both axially spaced transverse end surfaces of said plug.

6. A toy in accordance with claim 5 wherein the coacting surfaces of said plug and said wand are coated with a low-friction material.

7. A toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein the depression has a concave base and a right cylindrical side wall and wherein the top of the wand has a convex top.

8. A toy as set forth in claim 7 wherein the radius of curvature of the base of the depression is greater than the radius of curvature of the top of the wand.