Model helicopter

• US 8,702,466 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asian Express Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Asian Express Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Cheng, Bob, Matloff, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYLINSKI, ALYSSA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/497,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20100003886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 446/34, 446 36- 40, 244/17.11, 244/17.13, 244/17.19, 244/17.21, 244/17.23, 244/17.25, 416/120, 416/125, 416/128
• US Class Current: 446/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops

Abstract

A toy helicopter with four electric motors having a main body, at least one battery, and front and rear coaxial rotor assemblies. The front coaxial rotor assembly is made up of front upper and lower rotors and a front stabilizing bar operatively connected to the front upper rotor. The rear coaxial rotor assembly is made up of rear lower and upper rotors and a rear stabilizing bar operatively connected to the rear upper rotor. The helicopter includes a means for concentrically rotating the front lower and upper rotors in opposite directions and a means for concentrically rotating the rear lower and upper rotors in opposite directions. The means for concentrically rotating the front lower and upper rotors in opposite directions includes first and second front electric motors, and the means for concentrically rotating the rear lower and upper rotors in opposite directions includes first and second rear electric motors.

Claims

1. A toy helicopter capable of flight and controller system, comprising:

a main body having front and rear ends;

at least one battery located in said main body;

a front coaxial rotor assembly, said front coaxial rotor assembly comprising;

a front lower rotor, said front lower rotor comprising at least two rotor blades;

a front upper rotor, said front upper rotor comprising at least two rotor blades; and

a front stabilizing bar operatively connected to said front upper rotor;

a rear coaxial rotor assembly, said rear coaxial rotor assembly comprising;

a rear lower rotor, said rear lower rotor comprising at least two rotor blade;

a rear upper rotor, said rear lower rotor comprising at least two rotor blades; and

rear stabilizing bar operatively connected to said rear upper rotor;

a motor for concentrically rotating said front lower and upper rotors in opposite directions such that said front lower rotor and said front upper rotor are counter-rotated with respect to each other;

a motor for concentrically rotating said rear lower and rear upper rotors in opposite directions such that said rear lower rotor and said rear upper rotor are counter-rotated with respect to each other;

a controller configured to transmit data to the toy helicopter;

a processor communicatively connected to the controller and toy helicopter;

the toy helicopter configured to receive data from the controller;

the controller comprising at least one channel;

a first channel having a range of positions, including an equilibrium zone of the first channel;

wherein the range of positions comprises a first position, a second position, a third position and a fourth position;

wherein the first position and second position are located within the equilibrium zone of the first channel;

wherein the third position and fourth position are located outside the equilibrium zone of the first channel;

wherein the processor is configured to increase the speed of both the rear lower rotor and rear upper rotor, while decreasing the speed of both the front lower rotor and front upper rotor such that a total sum of vertical thrust remains constant, to cause a forwards movement of the toy helicopter while maintaining substantially the same altitude, in response to the first channel being positioned to the first position;

wherein the processor is configured to decrease the speed of both the rear lower rotor and rear upper rotor, while increasing the speed of both the front lower rotor and front upper rotor such that a total sum of vertical thrust remains constant, to cause a backwards movement of the toy helicopter while maintaining substantially the same altitude, in response to the first channel being positioned to the second position;

wherein the processor is configured to increase the speed of the rear lower rotor, rear upper rotor, front lower rotor and front upper rotor, to cause an increase of altitude of the toy helicopter, in response to the first channel being positioned to the third position;

wherein the processor is configured to decrease the speed of the rear lower rotor, rear upper rotor, front lower rotor and front upper rotor, to cause a decrease of altitude of the toy helicopter, in response to the first channel being positioned to the fourth position; and

a second channel having a range of positions;

wherein the range of positions comprises a fifth position and a sixth position;

wherein the processor is configured to vary the speed of two or more of the rear lower rotor, rear upper rotor, front lower rotor, and front upper rotor such that the resulting torque turns the toy helicopter left in response to the second channel being positioned in the fifth position;

wherein the processor is configured to vary the speed of two or more of the rear lower rotor, rear upper rotor, front lower rotor, and front upper rotor such that the resulting torque turns the toy helicopter right in response to the second channel being positioned in the sixth position;

wherein such a configuration allows the toy helicopter to turn right, turn left, move forward, and move backward without the use of an additional motor or servo for tilting one or more of the rotors or helicopter body in a direction of desired flight.

2. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 1, wherein said front upper rotor comprises two rotor blades, wherein said front stabilizing bar and said front upper rotor each define a longitudinal axis, wherein the axes of said front stabilizing bar and said front upper rotor define a first acute angle alpha, wherein the first acute angle alpha is between 30 degrees and 80 degrees.

3. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 1, wherein said front upper rotor comprises two rotor blades, wherein said front stabilizing bar and said front upper rotor each define a longitudinal axis, wherein the axes of said front stabilizing bar and said front upper rotor define a first acute angle alpha, wherein the first acute angle alpha is between 30 degrees and 50 degrees.

4. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 1, wherein said front upper rotor comprises two rotor blades, wherein said front stabilizing bar and said front upper rotor each define a longitudinal axis, wherein the axes of said front stabilizing bar and said front upper rotor define a first acute angle alpha, wherein the first acute angle alpha is between 30 degrees and 45 degrees.

5. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 1, wherein said front upper rotor comprises two rotor blades, wherein said front stabilizing bar and said front upper rotor each define a longitudinal axis, wherein the axes of said front stabilizing bar and said front upper rotor define a first acute angle alpha, wherein the first acute angle alpha is between 38 degrees and 42 degrees.

6. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 1, wherein said front upper rotor comprises two rotor blades, wherein said front stabilizing bar and said front upper rotor each define a longitudinal axis, wherein the axes of said front stabilizing bar and said front upper rotor define a first acute angle alpha, wherein the first acute angle alpha is 41 degrees.

7. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 1, wherein said rear upper rotor comprises two rotor blades, wherein said rear stabilizing bar and said rear upper rotor each define a longitudinal axis, wherein the axes of said rear stabilizing bar and said rear upper rotor define a second acute angle beta, wherein the second acute angle beta is between 30 degrees and 80 degrees.

8. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 1, wherein said rear upper rotor comprises two rotor blades;

wherein said rear stabilizing bar and said rear upper rotor each define a longitudinal axis, wherein the axes of said rear stabilizing bar and said rear upper rotor define a second acute angle beta, wherein the second acute angle beta is between 30 degrees and 50 degrees.

9. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 1, wherein said rear upper rotor comprises two rotor blades, wherein said rear stabilizing bar and said rear upper rotor each define a longitudinal axis, wherein the axes of said rear stabilizing bar and said rear upper rotor define a second acute angle beta, wherein the second acute angle beta is between 30 degrees and 45 degrees.

10. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 1, wherein said rear upper rotor comprises two rotor blades, wherein said rear stabilizing bar and said rear upper rotor each define a longitudinal axis, wherein the axes of said rear stabilizing bar and said rear upper rotor define a second acute angle beta, wherein the second acute angle beta is between 38 degrees and 42 degrees.

11. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 1, wherein said rear upper rotor comprises two rotor blades, wherein said rear stabilizing bar and said rear upper rotor each define a longitudinal axis, wherein the axes of said rear stabilizing bar and said rear upper rotor define a second acute angle beta, wherein the second acute angle beta is 41 degrees.

12. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a plastic outer shell.

13. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 12, further comprising lights arranged beneath the plastic outer shell, such that the glow of the lights is visible to a user.

23. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 1, wherein the processor is located within the toy helicopter.

14. A toy helicopter capable of flight and controller system, comprising:

a main body having front and rear ends;

at least one battery located in said main body;

a front coaxial rotor assembly, said front coaxial rotor assembly comprising;

a front lower rotor, said front lower rotor comprising at least two rotor blades;

a front upper rotor, said front upper rotor comprising at least two rotor blades; and

a front stabilizing bar operatively connected to said front upper rotor;

a rear coaxial rotor assembly, said rear coaxial rotor assembly comprising;

a rear lower rotor, said rear lower rotor comprising at least two rotor blade;

a rear upper rotor, said rear lower rotor comprising at least two rotor blades; and

rear stabilizing bar operatively connected to said rear upper rotor;

an onboard controller controlling four motors that are coupled to the front lower rotor, the front upper rotor, the rear lower rotor and the rear upper rotor;

the onboard controller varying the speed of each of the four motors to direct the flight of the toy helicopter;

a means for concentrically rotating said front lower and upper rotors in opposite directions such that said front lower rotor and said front upper rotor are counter-rotated with respect to each other; and

a means for concentrically rotating said rear lower and rear upper rotors in opposite directions such that said rear lower rotor and said rear upper rotor are counter-rotated with respect to each other;

wherein said means for concentrically rotating said front lower and upper rotors in opposite directions comprises first and second front electric motors;

wherein said means for concentrically rotating said rear lower and upper rotors in opposite directions comprises first and second rear electric motors;

a controller configured to transmit data to the toy helicopter;

a processor communicatively connected to the controller and toy helicopter;

the toy helicopter configured to receive data from the controller;

the controller comprising at least one channel;

a first channel having a range of positions configured to control altitude and forward movement of the toy helicopter;

wherein the range of positions comprises a first position, a second position and a third position;

wherein the processor is configured to rotate the rear lower rotor, rear upper rotor, front lower rotor and front upper rotor rotate with sufficient speed to increase the altitude of the toy helicopter, in response to the first channel being positioned to the first position;

wherein the processor is configured to rotate the rear lower rotor, rear upper rotor, front lower rotor and front upper rotor rotate with sufficient speed to maintain the altitude of the toy helicopter, in response to the first channel being positioned to the second position;

wherein the processor is configured to rotate the rear lower rotor, rear upper rotor, front lower rotor and front upper rotor with sufficient speed to slowly decrease the altitude of the toy helicopter, in response to the first channel being positioned to the third position;

wherein for each of the first, second, and third positions, the processor is configured to operate the rear lower rotor and rear upper rotor at a faster differential speed in comparison to the front lower rotor and front upper rotor, such that the toy helicopter will move forward constantly throughout the entire range of positions of the first channel;

wherein the faster differential speed of the rear lower rotor and rear upper rotor is between 5% and 50% faster than the speed of the front lower rotor and front upper rotor.

15. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 14, wherein the main body comprises a plastic outer shell encasing an inner portion comprising a foam material;

and,

wherein the inner portion is secured to the plastic outer shell by encasement, without the use of fasteners or adhesives.

16. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 15, further comprising lights arranged beneath the plastic outer shell, such that a glow of the lights is visible to a user.

17. The toy helicopter model helicopter of claim 14, wherein the onboard controller is controlled by input from a two channel wireless controller.

18. A method for controlling flight, comprising:

varying the speed of each of four motors to direct the flight of a toy helicopter in coplanar directions;

wherein two of the four motors are coupled to concentrically rotate front lower and front upper rotors in opposite directions such that said front lower rotor and said front upper rotor are counter-rotated with respect to each other about a front rotor shaft, forming a first set of concentrically rotating rotors;

wherein the remaining two of the four motors are coupled to concentrically rotate rear lower and rear upper rotors in opposite directions such that said rear lower rotor and said rear upper rotor are counter-rotated with respect to each other about a rear rotor shaft, forming a second set of concentrically rotating rotors;

wherein to direct the flight of the toy helicopter to turn left or right, the first and second sets of concentrically rotating rotors are controlled such that the speed of the upper rotors differs from the speed of the lower rotors, the difference in speed causing a first torque about the front rotor shaft and a second torque about the rear rotor shaft;

wherein the first torque and second torque result in a total torque;

wherein the total torque turns the toy helicopter right or left;

wherein a first channel controls the altitude and forwards and backwards movement of the toy helicopter and a second channel controls turning the toy helicopter right or left.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising directing the flight of the toy helicopter without using motors to tilt the rotors in the direction of desired flight.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the coplanar directions are right, left, forwards and backwards, and any combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the variation of speed of each of the four motors to direct the flight of the toy helicopter does not change the altitude of the toy helicopter.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the speed of each of the four motors is controlled by an onboard controller that is controlled by input from a two channel wireless controller.