Multiple configuration model aircraft

• US 5,007,875 A
• Filed: 10/02/1987
• Issued: 04/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Madhava Dasa
• Original Assignee: Madhava Dasa
• Inventors: Dasa, Madhava
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US07/103,954
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 446/61, 446/62, 446/63, 446/64, 446/65, 446/66, 446/67, 446/68, 446/94
• US Class Current: 446/66
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/00 Toy aircraft; Other flying toys toys with parachutes A63H33/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/001 Making or assembling thereof, e.g. by folding

Abstract

A multiple configuration model aircraft kit which enables the purchaser to assemble a plurality of model aircraft configurations, uses a relatively small number of components. The components of the model aircraft kid comprise at least one wing or primary lifting surface, one stabilizer and one fuselage or two secondary plane surfaces, and connector means. One of the secondary plane surfaces may alternately function as a fuselage or as a flight surface. Releasable connecting means are used to join the components thereby providing a plurality of configurations. Twin secondary plane surfaces may be provided which may be used alternately as wing tip flight surface extensions, dual fuselages, or as other flight surfaces.

Claims

1. A model aircraft kit including constituent parts which are adapted to be assemblied together in connected relation in differing model aircraft configurations providing correspondingly different model aircraft appearances and aerodynamic characteristics, comprising:

a wing panel having a longitudinal center line and and left and right wing portions symmetrical about the centerline;

a first planar member of elongate configuration having a slot therein extending in the direction of elongation, said wing panel being insertable into said slot of said first planar member in the first configuration of the model aircraft; and

at least one second planar member having an elongate body portion, a first end portion at one end of said body portion and a second, enlarged end portion at the opposite end of said body portion, said second planar member also having a first slot in said body portion thereof extending in the direction of elongation and of such length in said body portion thereof extending in the direction of elongation and of such length as to receive said wing panel, and a third slot in said second end portion, said wing panel being insertable into said second slot in the second and third configurations of the model aircraft and said first planar member being insertable into said first slot in the second configuration thereof and into said third slot in the third configuration thereof.

2. The model aircraft kit of claim 1 wherein said kit includes two said second planar members of identical configuration, said two second planar members being in abutting side-by-side relation in the second and third configurations of said model aircraft and in equally spaced apart relation on opposite sides of the centerline of said wing panel in fourth and fifth configurations corresponding otherwise to said second and third configurations, respectively.

3. The model aircraft kit of claim 2 wherein said wing panel has, on one edge thereof, tab portions which are foldable relative to the body of said wing panel to secure said two second planar members in each of said fourth and fifth configurations.

4. The model aircraft kit of claim 1 wherein said kit further includes a plurality of releasable connector means for engaging said second end portions of said second planar members and connecting the same to other of the constituent parts of said kit whereby additional configurations of the model aircraft are formed.