Self-stabilizing rotating toy

• US 7,255,623 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2005
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven Davis
• Original Assignee: Steven Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US11/106,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20050173589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 446/37, 446/46, 446/48, 244 122- 123, 244/21, 244/39, 244/23.C, 244/23.R, 244/46, 244/48, D21/444, D21/441
• US Class Current: 446/36
• 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 31/08 Gear-control mechanisms; Gears for imparting a reciprocating motion
• 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 bottom portion;

an outer ring having a diameter larger than a diameter defined by the hub and the outer ring having a bottom portion positioned below the bottom portion of the hub;

a plurality of blades extending outwardly from the hub and each blade, of the plurality of blades, having an end connected to the outer ring, each blade having an underside portion;

a motor mechanism substantially housed within the hub; and

a main rotor rotated by the motor mechanism and suspended below the hub and having ends that extend past a perimeter defined by the hub such that the ends of the main rotor when rotating are suspended below the underside portion of the plurality of blades, the main rotor when rotating rotates in a first direction and a torque created by the rotation thereof rotates the hub, blades, and outer ring in a direction opposite the first direction, and the main rotor when rotated sufficiently causes the toy to rotate and fly.

2. The rotating toy of claim 1, wherein the hub includes an upper portion above the plurality of counter rotating blades and above the main rotor such that the toy includes a center of gravity above a bottom portion of the outer ring.

3. The rotating toy of claim 2, wherein the center of gravity is positioned above the bottom portion of the outer ring at a distance that is between about ⅓

to ½

a diameter defined by the main motor.

4. The rotating toy of claim 2 further comprising a dome positioned on an upper portion of the hub.

5. The rotating toy of claim 1, wherein the motor mechanism rotates a drive shaft connected to the main rotor.

6. The rotating toy of claim 1, wherein the main rotor has a diameter less than an internal diameter defined by the outer ring.

7. The rotating toy of claim 1 further comprising a wireless controller that controls a rotational speed of the main rotor.

8. The rotating toy of claim 1, wherein said end of each blade, of the plurality of blades, includes a first portion connected to said outer ring and includes a second portion positioned about a circumference defined by an internal diameter of said outer ring.

9. A rotating toy comprising:

a hub;

a plurality of counter rotating lifting blades extending outwardly from the hub, each counter rotating lifting blade, of said plurality of counter rotating lifting blades, includes an end connected to an outer ring;

a main rotor positioned below the hub for generating a major portion of the lift therethrough such that the toy is able to fly; and

a center of gravity positioned above a bottom portion defined by the outer ring along a central axis defined by the hub.

10. The toy of claim 9, wherein the main rotor includes a diameter less than an internal diameter defined by the outer ring.

11. The toy of claim 9 further comprising a motor mechanism for driving the main rotor, and an internal space defined by the hub for housing at least a portion of the motor mechanism.

12. The toy of claim 9, wherein the bottom portion of the outer ring is below the lower portion of the hub.

13. The toy of claim 12, wherein each blade of the plurality of counter rotating lifting blades, has a downwardly and an outwardly slope from said hub to said outer ring.

14. The toy of claim 9 further comprising a control mechanism for controlling the rotational speed of said main rotor.

15. The toy of claim 14, wherein said control mechanism is controlled through a wireless controller.

16. The toy of claim 15, wherein said wireless controller is an infrared wireless controller.

17. A rotating toy in combination with a remote controller comprising:

the rotating toy including a hub having a cavity and a lower portion;

a plurality of counter rotating lifting blades extending outwardly and downwardly from the hub to an outer ring, the outer ring having a bottom portion positioned below the lower portion of the hub;

a motor mechanism substantially housed within the hub rotates a shaft extending from said motor mechanism, a main rotor secured to the shaft below the lower portion of the hub, and a receiver in communication with the motor mechanism to receive commands for controlling a rotational speed of the main rotor, wherein the rotating toy has a center of gravity positioned above the bottom portion of the outer ring and wherein the main rotor when rotated sufficiently causes the rotating toy to fly; and

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

18. The rotating toy of claim 17, wherein the outer ring includes an internal diameter larger than a diameter defined by the main rotor.

19. The toy of claim 17, wherein said transmitter is an infrared transmitter and the receiver is an infrared receiver.

20. A hovering toy comprising:

a hub having a central axis, and an internal space;

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

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

a motor mechanism substantially housed in the internal space of the hub, the motor mechanism drives a shaft that extends downwardly from the hub along the central axis;

a main rotor secured to the shaft such that the main rotor is positioned below the hub; and

a center of gravity defined by the hovering toy positioned above the bottom portion of the outer ring.

21. The rotating toy of claim 20, wherein the center of gravity is positioned above the bottom portion of the outer ring at a distance that is about ⅓

a diameter defined by the main motor.

22. The hovering toy of claim 20, wherein the main rotor has a diameter less than an internal diameter defined by the outer ring.

23. The hovering toy of claim 20, further comprising a dome positioned on an upper portion defined by said hub.

24. The toy of claim 20 further comprising a control mechanism for controlling the rotational speed of said main rotor.

25. The toy of claim 24, wherein said control mechanism is controlled through a wireless controller.

26. The toy of claim 25, wherein said wireless controller is an infrared wireless controller.

27. The rotating toy of claim 20, wherein each blade, of the plurality of counter rotating blades, includes an end having a first portion connected to said outer ring and having a second portion positioned about a circumference defined by an internal diameter of said outer ring.

28. A rotating toy comprising:

a hub;

an outer ring having a bottom portion positioned below the hub;

a plurality of blades extending outwardly from the hub, the plurality of blades each having an end connected to the outer ring;

a motor mechanism substantially housed within the hub; and

a main rotor positioned below the hub and connected to the motor mechanism such that the motor mechanism is able to rotate said main rotor sufficiently to cause the rotating toy to fly wherein the main rotor has a diameter greater than a perimeter defined by the hub and less than an internal diameter defined by the outer ring.

29. The rotating toy of claim 28, wherein the hub includes an upper portion above the plurality of counter rotating blades and above the main rotor.

30. The rotating toy of claim 29 further comprising a center of gravity above a bottom portion of the outer ring.

31. The rotating toy of claim 30, wherein the center of gravity is positioned above the bottom portion of the outer ring at a distance that is about ⅓

a diameter defined by the main motor.

32. The toy of claim 28, wherein each blade of the plurality of counter rotating lifting blades, has a downwardly and an outwardly slope from said hub to said outer ring.

33. The toy of claim 28 further comprising a control mechanism for controlling the rotational speed of said main rotor.

34. The toy of claim 33, wherein said control mechanism is controlled through a wireless controller.

35. The toy of claim 34, wherein said wireless controller is an infrared wireless controller.

36. A rotating toy comprising:

a hub;

an outer ring having a bottom portion;

a plurality of counter-rotating blades extending outwardly from the hub, the plurality of blades each having an end connected to the outer ring;

a rotating means positioned below the hub and rotatably connected thereto and wherein the rotating means has a diameter greater than a perimeter defined by the hub; and

a rotational mechanism for rotating the rotating means sufficiently to cause the toy to rotate and fly.

37. The rotating toy of claim 36 further comprising a center of gravity above a bottom portion of the outer ring.

38. The toy of claim 36, wherein each blade of the plurality of counter rotating lifting blades, has a downwardly and an outwardly slope from said hub to said outer ring.

39. The toy of claim 36 further comprising a control mechanism for controlling the rotational speed of the rotating means.

40. The toy of claim 39, wherein said control mechanism is controlled through an infrared wireless controller.