Throwing toy with retractable tail

• US 6,042,494 A
• Filed: 06/11/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jose E. Leal, Mark Rappaport
• Original Assignee: Jose E. Leal, Mark Rappaport
• Inventors: Leal, Jose E., Rappaport, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/096,159
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 473/575, 473/576, 473/580, 473/584, 473/585, 473/586, 473/587, 473/596, 473/613, 446/66
• US Class Current: 473/613
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10
• 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 throwing toy is provided that is configured to be held in a user'"'"'s hand and thrown by the user with the user'"'"'s hand imparting to the toy during release a spin about the toy'"'"'s axis. The toy has a head portion and a tail portion adjacent the rear end of the head portion. The tail is configured to be selectively changeable by the user between an extended position wherein at least a part of the tail extends rearward of the head portion along the axis for a tail length and a retracted position wherein the tail length is reduced. The toy has a coupling connected to the head portion which includes a tail control mechanism supporting the tail portion. The control mechanism is configured to allow the user to change the tail between the extended and the retracted positions. The tail control mechanism includes a cylinder installed in the head portion and a piston movable in the cylinder. The tail portion is coupled to the piston and a biasing means urges the tail portion toward one of the extended or retracted positions. A latching mechanism is selectively operable by the user to fix the tail in one of the positions and operable by a user to unlatch the tail from the fixed position. The latching mechanism includes a latch coupled to the tail portion and a clasp coupled to the head portion, wherein the clasp is selectively operable by the user to hold the latch. The latching mechanism further includes a switch disposed within the head portion below an outer surface of the head portion, and the switch is operable by the user by depressing the outer surface of the head portion to release the clasp'"'"'s hold on the latch.

Claims

1. A throwing toy having an axis defined therethrough, the toy configured to be held in a user'"'"'s hand and thrown by the user with the user'"'"'s hand imparting to the toy during release a spin about the toy'"'"'s axis, the toy comprising:

a head portion having a front end and a rear end;

a tail portion adjacent the rear end of the head portion, the tail configured to be selectively changeable by the user between an extended position wherein at least a part of the tail extends rearward of the head portion along the axis for a tail length and a retracted position wherein the tail length is reduced; and

a switch mounted on the toy, the switch operable by the user selectively to change the tail between the retracted position and the extended position.

2. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the switch is mounted to the head portion.

3. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the switch is depressible by the user to release the tail from at least one of the retracted and extended positions.

4. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the switch is operable by the user to release the tail from the retracted position.

5. The throwing toy of claim 1, further comprising a biasing means for urging the tail toward one of the retracted and extended positions, and wherein the switch is operable by the user to release the tail from the other one of the retracted and extended positions.

6. The throwing toy of claim 5, wherein the biasing means urges the tail toward the extended position and the switch releases the tail from the retracted position.

7. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the head portion defines an outer surface, and further wherein the switch is disposed within the head portion below the outer surface.

8. The throwing toy of claim 7, wherein the switch is operable by depressing the outer surface adjacent the switch.

9. A throwing toy configured to be held in a user'"'"'s hand and thrown by the user, the toy comprising:

a head portion having a front end and a rear end;

a tail portion adjacent the rear end of the head portion, the tail configured to be selectively changeable by the user between an extended position wherein at least a part of the tail extends rearward of the head portion for a tail length and a retracted position wherein the tail length is reduced; and

a latching mechanism coupled between the head portion and the tail portion, the latching mechanism selectively operable by the user to fix the tail in one of the positions and operable by a user to unlatch the tail from the fixed position.

10. The throwing toy of claim 9, wherein the latching mechanism includes a switch operable by the user selectively to change the tail between the retracted position and the extended position.

11. The throwing toy of claim 10, wherein the switch is disposed within the head portion below an outer surface of the head portion, the switch operable by the user by depressing the outer surface of the head portion.

12. The throwing toy of claim 9, wherein the latching mechanism fixes the tail in the retracted position, and is operable to unlatch the tail from the retracted position.

13. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the switch is disposed within the head portion below an outer surface of the head portion, the switch operable by the user by depressing the outer surface of the head portion adjacent the switch.

14. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the tail portion is fixed against rotation, relative to the head portion, about the longitudinal axis.

15. The throwing toy of claim 1 further comprising a bracket coupled to the head portion adjacent the rear end, the bracket having a central aperture defined therethrough, the tail extending through the aperture.

16. The throwing toy of claim 14 wherein the bracket prevents rotation of the tail portion, relative to the head portion, about the longitudinal axis.