Toy airplane powered by electric motor and capacitor power source

• US 6,568,980 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2001
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Barthold, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Hughes, S. Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US09/779,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20020106961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 446/34, 446/46, 446/56, 446/57, 446/483, 446/484, 446/462, 446/471, 320/107, 320/110, 320/111, 320/114, 320/119, 320/120, 320/122, 320/166, 320/167, 244/53.R, 244/60, 244/534, D21/441, D21/447, D21/498, D21/499, D21/450, D12/330, D12/332, D12/333
• US Class Current: 446/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/02 Model aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/14 Starting or launching devices for toy aircraft; Arrangements on toy aircraft for starting or launching for launching objects from an aircraft A63H27/004

Abstract

A toy airplane includes a flying wing body having a capacitor-powered electric motor propulsion apparatus supported within the body. A charging receptacle is formed in the airplane body and supports electrical contacts which in turn are coupled to the propulsion unit. A separate battery-powered charger includes a charger head insertable into the receptacle to transfer energy from internal batteries within the charger to the capacitor power unit of the airplane. A launcher button operates a normally closed switch to decouple the motor from the propulsion unit during the charging process.

Claims

1. A toy airplane comprising:

an airplane body having wings and defining a charger receptacle;

a propulsion unit supported within said airplane body having a motor and propeller rotated by said motor, a capacitor storage unit, a pair of contacts supported within said receptacle and a switch, said contacts being coupled to said capacitor storage unit and said switch having an open condition and a closed condition coupling said motor to said capacitor storage unit in its closed condition and decoupling said motor in its open condition;

a charger unit having a battery power supply and contact means for temporarily connecting to said pair of contacts to transfer energy from said battery power supply to said capacitor storage unit; and

a launcher button operatively coupled to said switch,

said switch being opened as said button is pressed during charging of said capacitor storage unit to maximize energy transfer between said battery power supply and said capacitor storage unit by decoupling said motor and said button being released as said toy airplane is launched;

said body defining a downwardly extending landing skid and said launcher button being supported by said skid.

2. The toy airplane set forth in claim 1 wherein said body defines a slot and wherein said propeller is supported for rotation within said slot.

3. The toy airplane set forth in claim 2 further including a generally cylindrical propeller shroud encircling said propeller.

4. A toy airplane comprising:

a body having a pair of wings and a fuselage, said fuselage defining a charger receptacle;

a pair of contacts supported within said receptacle;

a pair of series coupled capacitors coupled to said contacts;

a motor and propeller supported by said fuselage;

a switch having depressible button for actuating said switch for operatively connecting said motor to said pair of capacitors; and

charging means having a battery supply and a head for engaging said receptacle and for electrically connecting said battery supply to said pair of contacts,

said switch being opened by depressing said button as said toy airplane is held to disconnect said motor from said pair of capacitors and closed upon release to connect said motor to said at least one capacitor;

said body including a downwardly extending landing skid having said depressible button supported thereon.