Flexible flying disc with edge tube

• US 5,078,637 A
• Filed: 03/01/1991
• Issued: 01/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Floppy Disc Royalty Corporation
• Original Assignee: Carpe DIEM Imagineering Incorporated
• Inventors: McFarland, Martin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muir, David N.
• Application Number:
  US07/662,757
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 446/17, 446/46, 446/47, 446/48, 446/220, 446/225, 446/486, 446/450, 446/34, 273/424, 273/428
• 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 flexible flying disc used for play by adults and children as a retrieval toy for animals, particularly dogs. The disc is characterized by having an aerodynamic design for long and stable flight similar to rigid discs, yet is made of soft, flexible material which eliminates harm to humans and damage to the mouths of any animal catching it. The lower edge is made of an abrasion-resistant material which allows the disc to land and be skipped off hard surfaces without damaging the disc. A flexible tube within the disc provides a spring type action for maintaining the shape of the disc or for returning the disc to its original shape when the disc is folded or pulled out of shape. When the disc is tossed, it has a circular dome which inflates upwardly providing an air foil effect, while a lower edge, wrapped around the tube defines a toroid which provides a gyroscopic effect lending stability to the flight as the disk spins through the air. The dome includes a leading edge and a trailing edge, and the circular edge of the dome is offset from the leading and trailing edge of the disc, thereby reducing the laminar flow across the upper convex surface of the disc and in turn reducing drag thereon for longer flight.

Claims

1. A flexible flying disc having an aerodynamic toroidal air foil shape and useful as a toss and fetch toy, the disc comprising:

a flexible dome having an outer circular edge therearound;

an upper flexible peripheral ring member having an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, said inner circular edge joined to said outer circular edge of said dome;

a lower flexible peripheral ring member having an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, said outer circular edge joined to said outer circular edge of said upper member, said inner circular edge joined to said circular edge of said dome, said upper and lower members forming a void therebetween, said lower member being made of abrasion-resistant material so that the disc can land on or be skipped off of hard surfaces without damaging said lower member of said disc; and

an annular support member received in said void and held therein.

2. The disc as described in claim 1 wherein said upper member extends outwardly in a horizontal plane from said circular edge of said dome and then curves downwardly before being joined to said lower member.

3. The disc as described in claim 2 wherein said lower member extends downwardly when joined to said upper member and then curves upwardly before being joined to said dome.

4. The disc as described in claim 1 wherein said support member is a flexible rubber tube.

5. The disc as described in claim 4 wherein said tube has a length greater than a circumference around said void so that said tube is held in compression when inserted inside said void.

6. The disc as described in claim 1 wherein said dome includes an exterior convex surface and an interior concave surface, said interior concave surface having a waterproof coating thereon so that the disc can be used as a water dish.

7. The disc as described in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower members are joined to said circular edge of said dome using stitching therearound.

8. A flexible flying disc having an aerodynamic toroidal air foil shape and used for play by adults, children, and as a toss and fetch retrieval toy for animals, particularly dogs, the disc comprising:

a flexible dome having an upper, normally convex surface, a lower, normally concave surface, and a circular outer edge therearound;

an upper flexible peripheral ring member having an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, said inner circular edge stitched to said outer circular edge of said dome;

a lower flexible peripheral ring member having an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, said outer circular edge stitched to said outer circular edge of said upper ring member, said inner circular edge stitched to said outer circular edge of said dome, said upper and lower members forming an annular void therebetween; and

a flexible tube received in said void.

9. The disc as described in claim 8 wherein said upper member extends outwardly in a horizontal plane from said circular edge of said dome and then curved downwardly before being joined to said lower member.

10. The disc as described in claim 9 wherein said lower member extends downwardly when joined to said upper member and then curves upwardly before being joined to said dome.

11. The disc as described in claim 8 wherein said lower member is made of an abrasion-resistant material so that the disc can land and be skipped off hard surfaces without damaging the disc.

12. The disc as described in claim 8 wherein said tube is made of soft rubber not sensitive to temperature changes.

13. The disc as described in claim 12 wherein said tube has a length greater than the circumference around said void, said tube having opposite ends joined together by an outer sleeve.

14. The disc as described in claim 8 wherein said interior concave surface of said dome has a waterproof coating thereon so that the disc can be used as a water dish.

15. A flexible flying disc having an aerodynamic toroidal air foil shape and used for play by adults, children, and as a toss and fetch retrieval toy for animals, particularly dogs, the disc comprising:

a flexible dome having an upper, normally convex surface, a lower, normally concave surface, and a circular edge therearound;

an upper flexible peripheral ring member having an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, said inner circular edge joined to said circular edge of said dome, said upper member extending radially outward from said dome in a horizontal plane and then curved downwardly;

a lower flexible peripheral ring member made of abrasion-resistant material and having an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, said outer circular edge joined to said outer circular edge of said upper member, said lower member curved downwardly from said upper member and then curved upwardly forming a semi-annular void with said lower member joined to said circular edge of said dome; and

an annular flexible rubber tube received in said void and held in compression therein.

16. The disc as described in claim 15 wherein said dome and said upper member are made of a lightweight, durable nylon material.

17. A flexible flying disc normally having an aerodynamic air foil, saucer shape, and useful as a toss toy, said disc, when stretched, folded or bent out of its normal saucer shape having a memory which substantially instantly returns it to its normal saucer shape, said disc comprising:

a flexible dome having a circular outer edge therearound;

a flexible peripheral ring defining a toroidal void therein and having an inner circular edge, said inner circular edge of said flexible peripheral ring being joined to said outer circular edge of said flexible dome, said flexible peripheral ring extending outwardly in a horizontal plane from said outer circular edge of said flexible dome in a manner such that said outer circular edge of said flexible dome is offset below an uppermost surface of said flexible peripheral ring in a manner such that a laminar flow from an air stream during flight of said disc is interrupted, adding turbulence and thereby reducing drag;

a cylindrical support member having shape retention money properties received in said toroidal void defined by said flexible peripheral ring, and held therein, said support member holding said flexible dome and said flexible peripheral ring in tension, thereby maintaining the aerodynamic air foil, saucer shape prior to, during and after the flight of said disc.

18. The disc as described in claim 17 wherein said cylindrical support member is a flexible hollow tube.

19. The disc as described in claim 17 wherein said flexible tube is composed of rubber.

20. The disc as described in claim 18 wherein said tube has a length greater than the circumference of said toroidal void so that said tube is held in compression when inside said void.