Remote-control flying copter

• US 9,682,316 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: QFO Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: QFO Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Condon, John Paul, Fairman, James Edward, Pedersen, Bradley Dean, KraMer, Thomas Edward, Melanson, Scott Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US14/686,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20150273351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 446 34, 446 36, 446 37, 446 38, 446 48, 446219, 446454, 446456, 446457, 244 1711, 244 1723, 244 1725
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/00 Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/00 Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; convertible into other toys A63H33/003; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor traffic games with figures moved by players A63F9/14
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/32 Acoustical or optical signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/00 Toy aircraft; Other flying toys toys with parachutes A63H33/20
• 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 33/26 Magnetic or electric toys electric drives A63H29/22 ; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2203/00 Flying model aircraft, flying toy aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/36 with infrared light source
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 : by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle

Abstract

A hovering remote-control flying craft having a molded frame assembly includes a plurality of arms extending from a center body with an electric motor and corresponding propeller on each arm. In various embodiments, the motor and propeller are mounted downward-facing at a distal portion of each arm with a motor cover over the motor. The center body can be formed of a two-piece molded structure that sandwiches a circuit board to provide structural support for the frame. The circuit board can include a plurality of tabs that facilitate mounting of wire connectors, and can also provide antennas and emitters for both IR and RF communications. In some embodiments, a removable safety ring protects the propellers from lateral contact.

Claims

1. A hovering flying craft adapted to be controlled by a handheld remote control, the craft comprising:

a molded frame assembly including a center body formed of a top member having at least four arms integrally molded with and extending outwardly from the center body and a bottom member having at least three legs integrally molded with and extending downwardly from the center body;

at least four motor assemblies that each include an electromechanical motor and at least one corresponding propeller operably mounted downwardly-facing, with at least one motor assembly operably mounted at a distal portion of each of the at least four arms;

a circuit board assembly operably mounted to the center body and configured to control the craft in response to radio frequency signals from the handheld remote control;

a replaceable rechargeable battery insertable into a battery compartment defined by the top member and the bottom member and operably connectable to electrically power the circuit board assembly and the at least four motor assemblies; and

a removable safety ring mountable to and extending from the distal portion of the arms and configured to protect the propellers from lateral contact,

wherein a first plurality of the propellers rotates in a first direction of rotation and a second plurality of the propellers rotates in a second direction of rotation that is opposite the first direction of rotation.

2. The craft of claim 1, wherein the circuit board assembly is positioned and secured in the center body to provide structural support for the top member and the arms of the molded frame assembly.

3. The craft of claim 1, wherein the circuit board assembly includes a printed board having a plurality of tabs that extend outwardly from a central surface structure adapted to support circuit board assembly components, including a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a microcontroller, and a radio.

4. The craft of claim 3, wherein the plurality of tabs include a tab having a power connector for the rechargeable battery, a tab having a radio frequency antenna for the radio, and a tab having both an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver.

5. The craft of claim 1, further comprising at least one multi-color LED operably connected to the circuit board assembly and configured to display a selectable color in response to frequency signals from the handheld remote control.

6. The craft of claim 1, wherein the arms are formed of an injectable molded plastic having a durometer greater than 70 Shore D and the legs are formed of an injectable molded plastic having a durometer less than 60 Shore D.

7. The craft of claim 1, wherein the center body is formed of a two-piece structure that sandwiches the circuit board assembly to provide structural support for the molded frame assembly.

8. The craft of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least four motor assemblies includes a second propeller operably mounted upwardly-facing, in addition to the at least one propeller operably mounted downwardly-facing.

9. A hovering flying craft adapted to be controlled by a handheld remote control, the craft comprising:

a molded frame assembly including a center body formed of a top member having at least three arms integrally molded with and extending outwardly from the center body and a bottom member having at least three legs integrally molded with and extending downwardly from the center body;

at least three motor assemblies that each include an electromechanical motor and at least one corresponding propeller operably mounted downwardly-facing, with at least one motor assembly operably mounted at a distal portion of each of the at least three arms;

a circuit board assembly operably mounted to the center body and configured to control the craft in response to radio frequency signals from the handheld remote control; and

a replaceable rechargeable battery insertable into a battery compartment defined by the top member and the bottom member and operably connectable to electrically power the circuit board assembly and the at least three motor assemblies,

wherein each of the motor assemblies include a motor cover that is configured to secure the motor to the arm by a snap fit.

10. A hovering flying craft adapted to be controlled by a handheld remote control, the craft comprising:

a molded frame assembly including a center body formed of a top member having at least four arms integrally molded with and extending outwardly from the center body and a bottom member having at least three legs integrally molded with and extending downwardly from the center body;

at least four motor assemblies that each include an electromechanical motor and at least one corresponding propeller operably mounted downwardly-facing, with at least one motor assembly operably mounted at a distal portion of each of the at least four arms;

a circuit board assembly operably mounted to the center body and configured to control the craft in response to radio frequency signals from the handheld remote control;

a replaceable rechargeable battery insertable into a battery compartment defined by the top member and the bottom member and operably connectable to electrically power the circuit board assembly and the at least four motor assemblies; and

a removable safety ring that protects the propellers from lateral contact and includes an outer ring supported by a plurality of Y-arms that are each adapted to correspond to and interface with a corresponding one of the at least four arms,

wherein a first plurality of the propellers rotates in a first direction of rotation and a second plurality of the propellers rotates in a second direction of rotation that is opposite the first direction of rotation.