Illuminated flying disk

• US 5,032,098 A
• Filed: 05/01/1990
• Issued: 07/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eugene H Smith and Associates
• Original Assignee: Eugene H Smith and Associates
• Inventors: Balogh, John M., Smith, Eugene H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US07/517,220
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 446/46, 446/47, 446/48, 446/219, 446/484, 446/485, 273/424, 273/425
• US Class Current: 446/47
• 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

An illuminated flying disk includes a plurality of light emitters mounted in a flying disk toy as well as a control circuit mounted in a centrally disposed circuit housing on the underside of the disk. A cap for the control circuit housing is rotatable to provide a simple yet rugged switch for selectively supplying power to the light emitters.

Claims

1. An illuminated flying disk, comprising:

a disk shaped body of a shape to provide lift when tossed;

at least one light emitter mounted in said disk shaped body;

at least one battery to provide power to said at least one light emitter;

a control circuit electrically connecting to said at least one light emitter and said at least one battery; and

a housing mounted on said disk shaped body and enclosing said control circuit and said at least one battery, said housing forming a switch movable between a first position and a second position to selectively complete said control circuit to supply power to said at least one light emitter,

wherein said housing is of a cylindrical shape having a first portion rotatably mounted relative to a second portions aid first portion carrying a movable electrical contact, said movable contact being in contact with a terminal of said at least one battery when said first portion of said housing is in said first position and being free of contact with said terminal of said at least one battery when said first portion of said housing is in said second position.

2. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

means for indicating said first position of said housing and said second position of said housing.

3. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for indicating includes:

a plurality of ridges on said disk shaped body; and

a projection on said first portion of said housing for cooperative contact with ones of said plurality of ridges to form a detent.

4. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first portion of said housing is a cap rotatably affixed to said disk shaped body over said second portion of said housing, and said second portion of said housing is an annular wall extending from an underside of said disk shaped body.

5. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a disk of resilient foam affixed inside said cap of said first portion of said housing; and

said movable electrical contact is at least one conductive member on said disk of resilient foam for selective contact with said at least one battery when said first portion is in said first position.

6. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing is mounted on an underside of said disk shaped body.

7. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a channel formed on an underside of said body extending from said switch to said light emitter; and

electrical wiring disposed in said channel and connecting said at least one light emitter to said control circuit.

8. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control circuit is mounted on a circuit board held within said housing.

9. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control circuit includes a means for transmitting pulses to said at least one light emitter.

10. An illuminated flying disk, comprising:

a disk shaped body of a resilient material having a convex upper side and a concave lower side, said disk shaped body having a plurality of first recesses formed in a perimeter edge and a plurality of second recesses formed in said convex upper side intermediate a center of said disk shaped body and said perimeter;

a cup shaped receptacle formed on said concave underside of said disk shaped body;

channels formed on said concave underside of said disk shaped body extending from said cup shaped receptacle to said first and second recesses;

a corresponding plurality of light emitters mounted in said first and second recesses;

a control circuit mounted in said cup shaped receptacle and having electrical wiring connected between said control circuit and said plurality of light emitters, said control circuit including a plurality of battery contacts;

a plurality of batteries mounted in said cup shaped receptacle in contact with respective ones of said battery contacts;

a switch mounted over said cup shaped receptacle, said switch including;

a cup shaped cap mounted for rotation over said cup shaped receptacle,

a resilient member of non-conductive material mounted in said cup shaped cap,

a predetermined area of electrically conductive material formed on said resilient member for selective contact with a terminal of at least one of said batteries,

detent means between said cup shaped cap and said disk shaped body for indicating a first rotation position of said cup shaped cap relative to said body wherein said area of electrically conductive material is in contact with said terminal of said at least one battery to complete said electrical circuit and for indicating a second rotation position of said cup shaped cap relative to said body wherein said area of electrical conductive material is free of contact with said terminal of said at least one battery to open said electrical circuit.

11. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 10, wherein said plurality of first recesses is two first recesses and wherein said plurality of second recess is two recesses.

12. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 10, wherein said resilient member is annular in shape.

13. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 10, wherein said area of electrically conductive material connects terminals of two of said plurality of batteries when said cap is in said first position.

14. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 13, wherein said plurality of batteries is four batteries, and further comprising:

a second predetermined area of conductive material formed on said resilient member, said second predetermined area of conductive material connecting terminals of third and fourth ones of said batteries to one another when said cup shaped cap is in said first position.

15. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 10, wherein said detent means includes at least one extension projecting from an edge of said cup shaped cap, and a projection on an underside of said body in contact with said at least one extension as said cup shaped cap is moved between said first position and said second position.

16. An illuminated flying disk as claimed in claim 15, wherein said at least one extension is two extensions on opposite sides of said cup shaped cap.