Toy airplane assembly having a microprocessor for assisting flight

• US 6,612,893 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spin Master Toys Far East Limited (Spin Master Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Spin Master Limited (Spin Master Corp.)
• Inventors: Grisolia, Nicholas, Rehkemper, Jeffrey G., Florov, Alexey, Johnson, Keith, Gould, Bret
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMILA O
• Application Number:
  US10/015,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 446/34, 446/36, 446/37-38, 446/61, 446/462, 446/484, 446/454, 446/255, 446/57, 446/58, 446/211, 446/220, 244/53.R, 244/62
• US Class Current: 446/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/02 Model aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A toy airplane assembly is provided that is easy to fly, inexpensive, and durable. The toy plane assembly includes a plane having a radio receiver and a microprocessor. Batteries housed in the fuselage power the printed circuit board to which the microprocessor and radio receiver are attached. The radio receiver receives signals from a hand-held remote control radio transmitter and are transmitted to the microprocessor. The microprocessor decodes the signals and, in response thereto, distributes power to the motors for driving the propellers. All movement of the plane is controlled by the microprocessor, thereby providing microprocessor assisted flight. The plane fuselage is a one-piece molded part, made of a foam material to provide a durable plane.

Claims

1. A toy airplane assembly, comprising:

a fuselage having first and second main wings and a tail;

first and second motors connected to said first and second main wings, respectively;

first and second propellers connected to and driven by said first and second motors, respectively;

a battery housed in said fuselage;

a circuit board housed in said fuselage and connected to said battery; and

a microprocessor housed in said fuselage and connected to said circuit board for controlling said first and second motors to control flight of the toy airplane assembly.

2. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 1, wherein

first and second rear wings are attached to said fuselage.

3. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 2, wherein

a rear-most point of each of said first and second main wings is proximal a forward-most point of each of said first and second rear wings.

4. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 3, wherein

said rear-most points are rearward of said forward-most points.

5. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 1, wherein

said battery is rechargeable.

6. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 1, wherein

said fuselage is foam.

7. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 1, wherein

said fuselage is selected from the group consisting of EPS and EPP foam.

8. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 1, wherein

a transmitter transmits a signal corresponding to a flight maneuver;

and

a radio receiver housed in said fuselage and connected to said circuit board receives said transmitter signal and sends said signal to said microprocessor.

9. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 1, wherein

a first switch connected to said microprocessor adjusts control of said first and second motors by said microprocessor.

10. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 5, wherein

a docking station recharges said battery.

11. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 10, wherein

a second switch connected to said docking station controls a recharge level of said battery.

12. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 1, wherein

said fuselage, said first and second main wings, and said first and second rear wings are integrally connected.

13. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 8, wherein

an antenna is connected to said receiver and housed in said fuselage to facilitate reception of said transmitter signal by said receiver.

14. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 1, wherein

said fuselage has a vent for cooling said battery with air during flight.

15. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 10, wherein

a first switch connected to said microprocessor adjusts control of said first and second motors by said microprocessor;

and

a tab on said docking station engages said first switch when said toy airplane is attached to said docking station and moves said first switch to a battery charging position.

16. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 1, wherein

first and second gears are connected between said first motor and said first propeller and between second motor and second propeller.

17. A toy airplane assembly according to claim 16, wherein

said first and second gears have a motor to propeller ratio of approximately 2.66 to 1.

18. A method of flying a toy airplane, comprising:

(a) supplying first and second currents from a microprocessor stored in a fuselage of the toy airplane to first and second motors, respectively, the first and second currents corresponding to a maneuver to be performed by the toy airplane;

(b) powering the first and second motors in response to the received first and second currents, respectively;

(c) driving first and second propellers with the first and second motors, respectively, in response to the first and second currents causing the toy airplane to perform the maneuver; and

(d) repeating steps (a) through (c) to control flight of the toy airplane.

19. A method of flying a toy airplane according to claim 18, further comprising

preprogramming the microprocessor with a flight pattern having at least one maneuver, and

executing the preprogrammed flight pattern during flight of the toy airplane to repeatedly generate the first and second currents to control flight of the toy airplane.

20. A method of flying a toy airplane according to claim 19, wherein

preprogramming the microprocessor with a flight pattern having at least one maneuver comprises preprogramming the microprocessor with at least two flight patterns;

and

selecting a flight pattern to be executed.

21. A method of flying a toy airplane according to claim 18, further comprising

sending a signal from a transmitter to the microprocessor, the signal corresponding to a maneuver to be performed by the toy airplane;

decoding the signal with the microprocessor; and

supplying the first and second currents in response to the decoded signal.

22. A method of flying a toy airplane according to claim 21, further comprising

supplying the first and second currents when the toy airplane has not received the signal from the transmitter for a predetermined amount of time.

23. A method of flying a toy airplane according to claim 22, wherein

supplying the first and second currents comprises supplying first and second currents to land the toy airplane.

24. A method of flying a toy airplane according to claim 21, further comprising

supplying the first and second currents when the toy airplane has reached a predetermined distance from the transmitter.

25. A method of flying a toy airplane according to claim 18, further comprising

selecting a control level with a switch on the toy airplane, wherein said control level controls the amount of the first and second currents supplied to the first and second motors.