Self-stabilizing rotating toy

• US 6,899,586 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steven Davis
• Original Assignee: Steven Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BENA B
• Application Number:
  US10/924,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20050026534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• Field of Search: 446/34, 446/36, 446/37, 446/46, 446/48, 244/12.2, 244/23.C, 244/23.R
• US Class Current: 446/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/04 Captive toy aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• 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 rotating toy may then include a hub having a central axis and a lower portion; a plurality of counter rotating blades extending outwardly from the lower portion of the hub, the plurality of counter rotating blades having a tip connected to an outer ring; a single means for rotating the hub and blades sufficiently quickly to generate a major portion of the lift generated by the aircraft through the single rotating means; and the hub having an upper portion above the plurality of counter rotating blades and above the single rotating means such that the aircraft includes a center of gravity above a bottom portion defined by the outer ring to improve self stabilization of the toy. In furtherance thereto the single rotating means may be secured on the central axis and positioned below the counter rotating blades.

Claims

1. A rotating toy comprising:

a hub having a central axis and a center portion;

a plurality of counter rotating lifting blades extending outwardly from the center portion of the hub, the plurality of counter rotating lifting blades having a tip connected to an outer ring;

a single means for rotating the hub and blades sufficiently to generate a major portion of the lift through the single rotating means; and

the hub having an upper portion above the plurality of counter rotating blades and above the single rotating means such that the toy includes a center of gravity above a bottom portion of the outer ring to improve self stabilization of the toy.

2. The rotating toy of claim 1, wherein the single rotating means is secured on the central axis and positioned below the counter rotating blades.

3. The rotating toy of claim 2, wherein the single rotating means is a pair of main blades secured on said central axis, the pair of main blades include a total length that defines a diameter of the single rotating means.

4. The rotating toy of claim 3, wherein the center of gravity that is positioned above a bottom portion defined by the outer ring at a distance that is between about ⅓

to ½

the diameter defined by the pair of main blades.

5. The rotating toy of claim 3, wherein the center of gravity that is positioned above a bottom portion defined by the outer ring at a distance that is about 65% of one-half the diameter defined by the pair of main blades.

6. A rotating toy comprising:

a hub having a lower portion, an upper portion and a center portion;

a plurality of counter rotating lifting blades extending outwardly and downwardly from the center portion of the hub;

an outer ring having a bottom portion and being positioned below the center portion of the hub and connected to the plurality of counter rotating lifting blades;

a main pair of blades secured on an axle and positioned below the plurality of counter rotating lifting blades, the pair of main blades include a total length that defines a diameter of the main pair of blades;

a motor mechanism secured within the lower portion of the hub and when activated rotates the axle, wherein when the motor mechanism is activated the main pair of blades rotate in a first direction and the torque created by the rotation thereof rotates the counter rotating lifting blades in a direction opposite the first direction; and

the upper portion of the hub is positioned above the plurality of counter rotating lifting blades such that a center of gravity defined by the toy is positioned above the bottom portion of the outer ring to improve self stabilization of the toy.

7. The rotating toy of claim 6, wherein the distance the center of gravity is above the bottom portion is about 65% of one-half the diameter of the main pair or blades.

8. The rotating toy of claim 7, wherein the plurality of counter rotating lifting blades extend downwardly at about 20 to 30 degrees.

9. A rotating toy in combination with a remote control mechanism comprising:

the rotating toy including a hub having an upper portion, center portion and a lower portion;

a plurality of counter rotating lifting blades extending outwardly and downwardly from the center portion of the hub to an outer ring positioned below the upper portion of the hub;

a motor mechanism secured to the hub for rotating an axle, a pair of main blades secured to the axle below the counter rotating lifting blades, wherein when the motor mechanism rotates the main blades and the counter rotating lifting blades, the counter rotating lifting blades condition the air such that a major portion of lift generated by the rotating toy is generated by the main blades;

the rotating toy further including a receiver in communication with the motor mechanism to receive commands for controlling a rotational speed of the rotating toy, and further including a center of gravity positioned above a bottom portion defined by the outer ring to improve self stabilization of the toy; and

the remote control mechanism including a transmitter for sending commands to the receiver that control the rotational speed of the rotating toy.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein:

the rotating toy is made of a light weight foam material such that the rotating toy is susceptible to being moved by air currents, and the remote control mechanism includes a fan activated by said remote control mechanism for blowing air towards the rotating toy.