Aerodynamic rotor with chemiluminescent light source holder

• US 5,474,482 A
• Filed: 05/09/1994
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frankie Toys, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Frankie G. Davidson
• Inventors: Davidson, Frankie G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US08/239,294
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 446/36-48, 446/219, 446/242, 273/DIG. 24
• US Class Current: 446/41
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops

Abstract

An aerodynamic rotor with pull-cord launcher toy adapted to attach a self-contained chemiluminescent light source to the rotor thereof, making the toy suited for use in the dark. The rotor includes one or more holders integrally formed into the blade(s) thereof for confining the light source therein. The light source is non-heat generating and creates a glowing shape of light when the rotor is launched and provides a source for locating the rotor when it lands. The rotor'"'"'s shaft and the launcher'"'"'s connector tube have an interconnecting design which enables them to easily be connected in the dark by feel. Some blades of the rotor have a small opening near their outer end to produce a whistling sound when the rotor is launched and rotates rapidly.

Claims

1. An aerodynamic rotor with pull-cord launcher toy comprising in combination:

(a) a rotor, integrally formed and made of a moldable plastic material including

a system of pitched blades, said blades converging horizontally to an axis ring and being evenly distributed about said axis ring;

an annular band extending continuously from the extreme outer end of one said blade to the enter end of the next said blade, said band being concentrically positioned about said axis ring and forming the perimeter of said rotor;

a socket having a rectangular inner surface, said socket protruding perpendicularly from the center of said axis ring, thereby indicating the bottom side of said axis ring, said blades, and said rotor;

wherein the improvement comprises;

a holder for attaching a self-contained chemiluminescent light source to one of said blades of said rotor, said holder being integrally formed therewith and including

a border of material framing an opening through said blade and two receptacles on said bottom side of said blade, said receptacles being positioned opposite each other, at opposing ends of said opening, spanning the width of said opening;

(b) a shaft adapted for attaching to said socket of said axis ring of said rotor and for connecting to said pull-cord launcher;

(c) a pull-cord launcher;

wherein the improvement comprises;

a connector tube having a number of slots evenly distributed about the upper portion of its side wall, said connector tube being designed so said shaft can be connected to it by feel.

2. The aerodynamic rotor of claim 1 wherein openings are positioned in a plurality of said blades to produce a whistling sound when said rotor rotates rapidly.

3. The aerodynamic toy rotor according to claim 1 wherein the chemiluminescent light source is elongate, and wherein the holder holds the light source along the length of the blade.

4. The aerodynamic toy rotor according to claim 1 wherein the holder holds the chemiluminescent light source on the underside of the blade.

5. The aerodynamic toy rotor according to claim 4 wherein the holder comprises an elongate radially extending slot in the blade, and a receptacle at each end of the slot, the slot adapted to receive the top portion of an elongate chemiluminescent light source, and the receptacles adapted to receive and hold the ends of the light source.