Flying disc

• US 4,334,385 A
• Filed: 11/05/1979
• Issued: 06/15/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BMC Toys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wham-O Manufacturing Co.
• Inventors: Geller, Douglas A., Gillespie, Richard L., Melin, Arthur K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US06/091,580
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 46/74 D, 46/75, 273/424, 273/425
• 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

An aerodynamically-shaped flying disc comprised of two separate and distinct parts, a disc body portion and one or more separate rim portions. In one embodiment, the connection between the body and rim portions is permanent. In a second embodiment, the connection is disengageable to permit the use of interchangeable rim portions of different aerodynamic configurations, colors, dimensions and weights.

Claims

1. An aerodynamically-shaped circular flying disc comprising

a domed body having a circular central portion of a generally uniform cross-section and a downwardly depending skirt portion;

and

a separately integral circular rim portion having an upwardly opening passage extending annularly around the rim portion and a generally greater cross-sectional area than said central portion, said rim portion being secured to the skirt portion at the annular passage such that the rim portion brackets the skirt portion, the cross-sectional profile of the central portion and rim portion conforming to that of an airfoil.

2. The disc according to claim 1 further comprising means for snap-fitting the rim portion to the central portion.

3. The disc according to claim 1 wherein the rim portion has a first annular outer portion extending around the exterior of the domed body and a second annular inner portion integrally formed with the outer portion extending around the interior of the domed body, the inner portion being heavier and larger in cross-sectional profile than the outer portion for weighting the interior side of the disc and for increasing its lifting surface area.

4. The disc according to claim 3 wherein the inner rim portion includes an auxiliary web portion integrally formed into the inner rim portion, the web portion having a curved cross-sectional profile extending toward the center of the disc for providing a hollow-rimmed disc.

5. The disc according to claim 3 wherein the inner rim portion defines a plurality of surface striations along the lower edge of the inner rim portion for improving the grip of the disc.

10. The disc according to claim 2 wherein the joining means provided in the body and rim portions are snap-fittings.

6. An aerodynamically-shaped flying disc comprising

a circular central body portion having a generally uniform cross section;

an annular rim portion integrally formed with the body portion depending from the plane of the body portion to provide the disc with a skirt portion of predetermined length; and

a deformable circular auxiliary portion having a cylindrical passage extending annularly around the auxiliary portion, said auxiliary portion being detachably engageable along the cylindrical passage with the interior and exterior side of said annular rim portion for providing disc profile and weighting adjustments whereby different disc flight characteristics are obtained.

7. The disc according to claim 6 wherein the skirt portion is undercut and the auxiliary portion is attached to the interior of the disc.

8. The disc according to claim 6 wherein the annular rim portion includes an outwardly-extending circumferential shelf at the terminal edge of the skirt for detachably engaging the auxiliary portion.

9. An aerodynamically-shaped flying disc comprising

a domed body having a central, generally flat, circular portion bounded by a bent outer portion providing the body portion with an upwardly-directed convex configuration and a downwardly-directed concave configuration, the central circular portion having a generally uniform cross-section;

a separately integral annular rim portion of a predetermined weight and configuration having an axially oriented slot extending annularly around the rim portion whereby the rim portion brackets the bent outer portion when the slot and bent portion are engaged; and

joining means provided in the body and rim portions for securely interengaging said portions.

11. Apparatus for providing an aerodynamically adjustable flying disc comprising a body portion and a separate rim portion;

the body portion being balanced about a center of rotation of the disc and having joining means located on a downwardly depending outer perimeter of the body portion for detachable engagement with the rim portion; and

the rim portion having a predetermined weight and cross-sectional profile and an upwardly opening annular slot for receiving and continuously bracketing the entire outer perimeter of the body portion and engaging means for cooperatively interlocking with the joining means of the body portion to provide a disc having adjustable flight characteristics.

12. The disc according to claim 11 wherein the rim portion defines an upwardly-opening slot and the downwardly depending outer perimeter of the body portion is engaged in said slot.