Self-propelled football with gyroscopic precession countermeasures
First Claim
1. A self-propelled flying toy, comprising:
- a body defined as comprising a front section, a center section and a back section each along a longitudinal axis;
a ducted fan disposed within the body substantially centered about the longitudinal axis;
a motor mechanically coupled to the ducted fan and fixed relative to the body;
a power source electrically coupled to the motor;
an air-inlet disposed substantially within the front section in airflow communication with the ducted fan;
an air-outlet disposed substantially within the back section in airflow communication with the ducted fan; and
at least two substantially flat angled surfaces fixed relative to the body disposed substantially within the front section, wherein each of the at least two angled surfaces are substantially evenly centered about the longitudinal axis producing a thrust in a same longitudinal direction as the ducted fan and facing an opposite direction relative to the ducted fan.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-propelled flying toy includes a body defined as having a front section, a center section and a back section each along a longitudinal axis. A ducted fan is located within the body substantially centered about the longitudinal axis. A motor is mechanically coupled to the ducted fan and a power source is coupled to the motor. An air-inlet is located substantially within the front section in airflow communication with the ducted fan. An air-outlet is located substantially within the back section in airflow communication with the ducted fan. At least two angled surfaces are fixed relative to the body and located substantially within the front section. Each of the at least two angled surfaces are evenly centered about the longitudinal axis and facing an opposite thrust-generating rotational direction relative to the ducted fan.
89 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A self-propelled flying toy, comprising:
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a body defined as comprising a front section, a center section and a back section each along a longitudinal axis; a ducted fan disposed within the body substantially centered about the longitudinal axis;
a motor mechanically coupled to the ducted fan and fixed relative to the body;a power source electrically coupled to the motor; an air-inlet disposed substantially within the front section in airflow communication with the ducted fan; an air-outlet disposed substantially within the back section in airflow communication with the ducted fan; and at least two substantially flat angled surfaces fixed relative to the body disposed substantially within the front section, wherein each of the at least two angled surfaces are substantially evenly centered about the longitudinal axis producing a thrust in a same longitudinal direction as the ducted fan and facing an opposite direction relative to the ducted fan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A self-propelled flying toy, comprising:
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a fan substantially centered about a longitudinal axis; a motor mechanically coupled to the fan;
a power source energetically coupled to the motor;a centrifugal switch in electrical communication with the motor and power source controllably powering the fan when rotation about the longitudinal axis is detected and not powering the fan when rotation about the longitudinal axis is not detected; and at least two substantially flat angled surfaces fixed relative to and ahead of the motor, where each of the at least two angled surfaces are substantially evenly centered about the longitudinal axis producing thrust in a same longitudinal direction as the fan and facing an opposite direction relative to the fan; wherein a first inherent gyroscopic precession of the fan is substantially opposite in direction and substantially equal in magnitude compared to a second inherent gyroscopic precession of the at least two angled surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A self-propelled flying toy, comprising:
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a substantially oblate spheroidal body disposed along a longitudinal axis; a fan disposed within the body substantially centered about the longitudinal axis; a motor mechanically coupled to the fan and fixed relative to the body; a power source energetically coupled to the motor; and at least two substantially flat angled surfaces fixed relative to the body and ahead of the motor, where each of the at least two angled surfaces are substantially evenly centered about the longitudinal axis producing thrust in a same longitudinal direction as the fan and facing an opposite direction relative to the fan; wherein a first inherent gyroscopic precession of the fan is substantially opposite in direction and substantially equal in magnitude compared to a second inherent gyroscopic precession of the at least two angled surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A self-propelled flying toy, comprising:
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a fan centered about a longitudinal axis; a motor mechanically coupled to the fan; a power source coupled to the motor; an air-inlet in airflow communication with the fan disposed ahead of the fan and fixed relative to the motor; an air-outlet in airflow communication with the fan disposed behind the fan and fixed relative to the motor; and at least two fixed angled surfaces disposed ahead of the fan and fixed relative to the motor, wherein each of the at least two angled surfaces are evenly centered about the longitudinal axis producing thrust in a same longitudinal direction as the fan and facing an opposite direction relative to the fan; wherein a first inherent gyroscopic precession of the fan is substantially opposite in direction and substantially equal in magnitude compared to a second inherent gyroscopic precession of the at least two angled surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification