Flying disc toy with lighting system

• US 5,611,720 A
• Filed: 02/20/1996
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alien Warper, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alien Warper, Inc.
• Inventors: Vandermaas, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carlson, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US08/604,010
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 446/34, 446/46, 446/47, 446/48, 446/485, 273/424, 273/425, 273/428
• US Class Current: 446/47
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 65/10 Discus discs; Quoits

Abstract

A flying disc toy of the FRISBEE® type provides a lighting system having LEDs used in conjunction with a glow-in-the-dark body. The flying disc provides a raised center section having a plurality of LEDs mounted radially at spaced intervals. A motion responsive switch is used to turn on the LEDs in response to movement of the disc. Electronic circuitry controlling the LEDs provides a timer circuit that automatically turns off the LEDs a timed period after they are turned on. As a result of the motion sensitive switch and timer circuit, the lights flash on and off rapidly as the disc flies through air turbulence. No on-off switch is required, since the circuitry rapidly turns itself off. Because no on-off switch is present, all components are carried in a waterproof raised center section having no opening. An optional battery plug structure is threadedly insertable into a plug receiver in the raised center section, and allows the user to replace the battery.

Claims

1. A flying disc toy, comprising:

(a) a substantially disc shaped body terminating at its periphery in a downwardly extending rim, the body and the rim defining a substantially convex upper surface and a substantially concave lower surface;

(b) chemiluminescent means, carried by the body of the disc, for providing illumination;

(c) a raised center section, supported by the upper surface of the body, the center section providing an annular sidewall and a roof, and together with the upper surface of the body, defining an interior cavity that is waterproof;

(d) a plurality of LEDs, mounted at spaced intervals about the annular sidewall of the raised center section; and

(e) a circuit board, housed in the interior cavity, comprising;

(a) switch means for making and breaking electrical contact in response to the movement of the flying disc toy;

(b) circuit means for providing a first output signal, upon receipt of an input signal resulting from the closure of the switch means, causing the LEDs to light, and for providing a second output signal, causing the LEDs to turn off a timed period after the receipt of the first input signal;

(c) time selection means, attached to the circuit means, for determining the period of time between the first output signal and the second output signal;

(d) transistor means, connected to the circuit means and to a plurality of LEDs, for receiving the first and second output signals from the circuit means, and for upon receipt of the first signal causing the LEDs to turn on, and for, upon receipt of the second signal, causing the LEDs to turn off; and

(e) a battery, carried by a battery holder, connected to the circuit means.

2. The flying disc toy of claim 1, in which the switch means comprises a mercury activation switch, comprising:

(a) a container body;

(b) a mercury globule, carried by the container body;

(c) contact elements extending into the container body; and

(d) a mounting bracket, carried by the circuit board, which supports the container body.

3. The flying disc toy of claim 1, in which the circuit means comprises a monostable multivibrator circuit.

4. The flying disc toy of claim 1, in which the timing means comprises:

(a) a resistor, connected to the circuit means; and

(b) a capacitor, connected to the circuit means, wherein the values of the resistor and the capacitor are chosen to result in a timed period of approximately one-tenth of a second.

5. The flying disc toy of claim 1, additionally comprising:

(a) a plug receiver, carried by the disc body;

(b) a battery plug, threadedly engageable with the plug receiver.

6. A flying disc toy, comprising:

(a) a substantially disc shaped body terminating at its periphery in a downwardly extending rim, the body and the rim defining a substantially convex upper surface and a substantially concave lower surface;

(b) chemiluminescent means, carried by the concave lower surface of the disc shaped body, for providing illumination; and

(c) a raised center section, supported by the upper surface of the body, the center section providing an annular sidewall and a roof, and together with the upper surface of the body, defining an interior cavity that is waterproof; and

(d) a plurality of LEDs, mounted at spaced intervals about the annular sidewall of the raised center section; and

(e) a circuit board, housed in the interior cavity, comprising;

(a) switch means for making and breaking electrical contact in

response to the movement of the flying disc toy, comprising;

(a) a container body;

(b) a mercury globule, carried by the container body;

(c) contact elements extending into the container body; and

(d) a mounting bracket, carried by the circuit board, which supports the container body;

(b) circuit means, comprising a monostable multivibrator circuit, for providing a first output signal, upon receipt of an input signal resulting from the closure of the switch means, causing the LEDs to light, and for providing a second output signal, causing the LEDs to turn off a timed period after the receipt of the first input signal;

(c) time selection means, attached to the circuit means, for determining the period of time between the first output signal and the second output signal, comprising;

(a) a resistor, connected to the circuit means; and

(b) a capacitor, connected to the circuit means, wherein the values of the resistor and the capacitor are chosen to result in a timed period of approximately one-tenth of a second;

(d) transistor means, connected to the circuit means and to a plurality of LEDs, for receiving the first and second output signals from the circuit means, and for upon receipt of the first signal causing the LEDs to turn on, and for, upon receipt of the second signal, causing the LEDs to turn off; and

(e) a battery, carried by a battery holder, connected to the circuit means.

7. The flying disc toy of claim 6, additionally comprising:

(a) a plug receiver, carried by the disc body;

(b) a battery plug, threadedly engageable with the plug receiver.