Spinning flexible throw toy

• US 6,089,939 A
• Filed: 10/21/1998
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David B. Dyson
• Original Assignee: David B. Dyson
• Inventors: Dyson, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rimell, Sam
• Application Number:
  US09/177,433
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 446/34, 446/35, 446/46, 446/47, 446/48, 446/61, 446/62, 446/65, 446/66
• US Class Current: 446/48
• 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 spinning throw toy having a top hub and a bottom hub connected by a plurality of flexible straps which, when thrown with a spinning motion imparted to it, bends into an oblate shape. Spinning of the toy creates a gyroscopic effect, allowing it to be thrown accurately for considerable distances. In alternate embodiments the straps are detachably connected to the hubs for removal as needed. The toy can be collapsed for easy portability.

Claims

1. A throw toy comprising:

a first hub,

a second hub, and

at least three flexible straps disposed between and connecting said first hub and said second hub, said hubs and said straps defining a hollow interior space for airflow therethrough in flight, said hubs and said straps further defining the outermost boundary of said throw toy,

said straps having mass greater than said hubs, such that, upon spinning of said straps around said hubs, said straps move radially outward forcing said hubs into closer proximity and bending said straps and said hubs into an oblate shape.

2. The throw toy of claim 1 wherein:

each said strap has two oppositely disposed end portions and a middle portion between said end portions, said middle portion having greater mass than said end portions.

3. The throw toy of claim 1 wherein:

said straps include pairs of oppositely disposed straps, each said strap of each said pair being of a mass equal to the other strap of said pair.

4. The throw toy of claim 1 wherein:

said straps each have mass, and the mass of all of said straps is symmetrically balanced around said hubs.

5. The throw toy of claim 1 wherein:

said straps each have mass, and the mass of all of said straps is balanced evenly around said hubs.

6. The throw toy of claim 1 wherein:

said plurality of straps comprises at least four straps.

7. The throw toy of claim 1 wherein:

said plurality of straps comprises sets of oppositely disposed straps, each said set having mass symmetrically balanced with respect to said hubs.

8. The throw toy of claim 1 wherein:

said straps are of uniform length.

9. A throw toy comprising:

a first hub,

a second hub, and

a plurality of at least three straps disposed between and connecting said first hub and said second hub, each said strap including a plurality of reinforcing wires, each said wire extending lengthwise the entire length of said strap, said straps having mass greater than said hubs, such that, upon spinning of said straps around said hubs, said straps move radially outward forcing said hubs into closer proximity and bending said straps and said hubs into an oblate shape.

10. A throw toy comprising:

a first hub, and a second hub, said hubs each comprising a plurality of pivot pins, and

a plurality of at least three straps disposed between and connecting said first hub and said second hub, said straps having mass greater than said hubs, such that, upon spinning of said straps around said hubs, said straps move radially outward forcing said hubs into closer proximity and bending said straps and said hubs into an oblate shape.

11. The throw toy of claim 10 wherein:

each of said straps has two oppositely disposed end portions, each said respective end portion hinged to one of said hubs at one of said plurality of pivot pins.

12. The throw toy of claim 11 wherein:

each said hub is generally disposed in a plane, and

each said end portion swivels in a plane perpendicular to said plane of said to hub to which it is attached.

13. The throw toy of claim 11 wherein:

each of said end portions of said straps has a transverse opening, and

each one of said plurality of pivot pins of said hubs passes through said opening of one of said end portions of one of said straps.

14. The throw toy of claim 10 wherein:

each of said end portions of said straps has two end rings, and

one of said plurality of pivot pins of said hubs passes through said end rings of one of said end portions of each of said straps.

15. The throw toy of claim 10 wherein:

each said strap includes a plurality of reinforcing wires, each wire extending lengthwise for the entire length of said strap,

each said wire having two oppositely disposed end portions, each said end portion having an end loop, and

one of said plurality of pivot pins of said hubs passes through one of said end loops of each of said wires of said straps.

16. A throw toy comprising:

a first hub, and a second hub, each said hub having a plurality of pivot pins, and

a plurality of at least three straps disposed between and connecting said first hub and said second hub, each of said straps having two oppositely disposed end portions, each said end portion having two links, each of said links pivotally attached to one of said plurality of pivot pins for pivoting movement of said end portion of said strap about said pivot pin,

said straps having mass greater than said hubs, such that, upon spinning of said straps around said hubs, said straps move radially outward forcing said hubs into closer proximity and bending said straps and said hubs into an oblate shape.

17. The throw toy of claim 16 wherein:

each said end portion of each of said straps has a transverse link pin, and said links of said end portion are pivotally attached to said link pin for pivoting attachment of said links about said link pin.

18. The throw toy of claim 17 including:

means for detachably connecting each of said straps to said hubs.

19. A throw toy comprising:

a first hub, and a second hub, each said hub having a plurality of cavities,

a plurality of at least three straps disposed between and connecting said first hub and said second hub,

each of said straps having two oppositely disposed end portions, each said end portion of said straps including a plurality of buckles, each said buckle sized for removable insertion into one of said cavities of said hubs, and

a plurality of clips, each said clip removably attached to one of said hubs for retaining said buckles in said cavities, each said clip in overlapping engagement with said plurality of buckles of one of said end portions of one of said straps, such that each said buckle is removably locked in said cavity,

said straps having mass greater than said hubs, such that, upon spinning of said straps around said hubs, said straps move radially outward forcing said hubs into closer proximity and bending said straps and said hubs into an oblate shape.

20. The throw toy of claim 19 wherein:

said buckles are each I-shaped.

21. The throw toy of claim 19 wherein:

each said hub includes a plurality of channels, each said channel disposed transversely to said plurality of buckles of one of said end portions of one of said straps, and each said clip is sized to be removably inserted into one of said channels.

22. A throw toy comprising:

a top hub,

a bottom hub,

a plurality of at least four straps of uniform length disposed between and connecting said top hub and said bottom hub, said straps evenly interspaced angularly about said top and said bottom hubs, said straps having mass greater than said hubs, such that, upon spinning of said straps around said hubs, said straps move radially outward forcing said hubs into closer proximity and bending said straps and said hubs into an oblate shape,

each said hub having a plurality of pivot pins, a plurality of links, a plurality of link pins, and a plurality of hinge plates, each of said links pivotally attached to one of said pivot pins for pivoting movement of said link about said pivot pin, each said hinge plate having a link pin, each of said links pivotally attached to one of said link pins for pivoting movement of said link about said link pin, such that said hinge plate pivots on said link pin about said links,

each said end portion of said straps including a plurality of buckles,

each said hinge plate having a plurality of cavities, each cavity sized to slidingly receive one of said buckles, each said buckle removably inserted into one of said cavities, each said hinge plate further having a clip, said clip removably attached to said hinge plate, each said clip in overlapping engagement with said buckles in said cavities of said hinge plate, such that each said buckle is removably locked in said cavity so that each said strap is detachably connected to said hubs.