Waterproof illuminated disc flyer

• US 6,783,421 B1
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank Lopez
• Original Assignee: Frank Lopez
• Inventors: Lopez, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jack K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Jamila O.
• Application Number:
  US10/614,284
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 446/46-48, 446/153, 446/242, 446/255, 446/256, 446/485, 473/588-589, 473/570
• US Class Current: 446/153
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 23/10 Other water toys, floating toys, or like buoyant toys
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/26 Magnetic or electric toys electric drives A63H29/22 ; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068

Abstract

The waterproof illuminated disc flyer is an illuminated and waterproof flying plastic disc. The disc has upper and lower disc members sealed together at the outer perimeter of the discs, and is illuminated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A pushbutton switch and a battery compartment are enclosed within a waterproof enclosure formed between the upper and lower discs. A battery cover having a thin depressible plastic membrane enables a user to toggle the switch from outside the waterproof interior. The upper surface of the flying disc has a centered dome having six spokes, each spoke having a LED extending from alternating opposite ends.

Claims

1. A waterproof, illuminated disc flyer, comprising:

an upper disc member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a circular periphery, a centrally disposed dome and a plurality of molded spokes uniformly spaced and extending radially outward from the dome to the periphery;

a concave lower disc member having an outer periphery sealed to the periphery of the upper disc member, the lower disc member having an opening defined therein defining an inner periphery and forming an entrance to a chamber defined under the dome;

a plurality of lights, the lights protruding outwards at alternating opposite ends of the plurality of molded spokes and at least one of the lights extending upward from the centrally disposed dome;

a cover removably mounted over the opening in said lower disc member;

waterproofing means for providing a waterproof seal between said cover and said lower disc member; and

electric circuit means for supplying power to the lights.

2. The waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to claim 1, further comprising a battery clip disposed in the chamber under said dome.

3. The waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to claim 1, further comprising a switch disposed in the chamber under said dome.

4. The waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support walls disposed under said dome, each of said walls having a threaded blind bore defined therein.

5. The waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to claim 1, wherein said cover is a molded plastic disc, the cover having an outer flange, a flexible membrane central to said cover, and a plurality of apertures uniformly distributed along the outer flange.

6. The waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to claim 5, further comprising a pushbutton switch having a depressible button generally in contact with the membrane portion of said cover, whereby depressing the outer surface of said membrane operates said switch.

7. The waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to claim 1, further comprising a waterproof gasket disposed between the lower surface of said upper disc member and said cover.

8. The waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of said upper body slopes from the center to the outer periphery with the lowermost outer edge projecting outward, slightly beyond the end of said lighting means, thereby protecting said lights.

9. The waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board disposed in the chamber under said dome, the printed circuit board electrically connected to said electric circuit means.

10. The waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to claim 9, wherein said circuit board further comprises electronic circuitry means for controlling said lights.

11. The waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to claim 1, wherein said upper disc, said lower disc, and said cover are comprised of molded plastic.

12. The waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to claim 1, wherein said lights comprise light emitting diodes.

13. The waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to claim 1, wherein said upper disc is sonic welded to said lower disc, whereby said disc flyer has positive buoyancy when placed in fresh water.