Boomerang and launcher

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6505618
  • Patent Number
    6,505,618
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, February 8, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 14, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Ricci; John A.
    Agents
    • Marshall, Gerstein & Borun
Abstract
A launcher for a flying object, such as a boomerang, is provided having a body that includes a plurality of wings. The launcher includes a stop against which the object rests at a point on its body. A moving member engages one of the wings of the object so as to impart forward motion thereto, such that the object is propelled forward from the launcher with a rotational moment about the stop. The boomerang is preferably made from a sheet of material which is cut to form the plurality of wings, joined at a vertex, wherein one or more of the wings are folded to produce lift flaps.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to toys and games, and specifically to flying toys and methods and apparatus for launching such toys.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The boomerang was originally invented by the aborigines of Australia as a hunting weapon. It typically comprises two mutually-angled wings connected at a vertex. The wings are shaped so that when the boomerang is thrown in the proper manner, it will describe a circuit and return to the point from which it was thrown. Throwing the boomerang properly, however, requires considerable strength, coordination and skill. The thrower must launch the boomerang with the proper combination of forward and rotational momentum, using the muscles of his arm, hand, leg and torso, in order to obtain the desired aerodynamic effect. Boomerangs have thus achieved limited popularity as toys, due to the difficulties in throwing them and the danger that a misguided boomerang will strike a participant or bystander. Light-weight and very small boomerangs cannot generally be thrown with sufficient momentum to make them fly in a circuit.




Other flying toys known in the art, such as the Frisbee and other toys based on propellers, parachutes and flying rings, also rely on a combination of forward and rotational momentum to develop lift. Such toys do not generally have the characteristic of the boomerang of being able to return accurately to the point from which they were thrown.




European Patent Application EP071319 describes apparatus for launching a boomerang or other, similar article. A holder has a continuous slot for receiving the boomerang, with a narrow end into which the vertex is inserted and a wide end for the wings. A striker strikes the vertex through an opening in the narrow end of the holder, thus propelling the boomerang forward. A stop at one of the sides of the wide end of the holder engages and restrains the tip of one of the wings, causing the boomerang to rotate around that tip as it moves forward out of the holder.




The boomerang launcher described in this European application suffers from a number of drawbacks: (1) Because of its fixed, partly closed mechanical structure, it is capable of accepting and launching boomerangs only of a very limited range of sizes and wing angles. (2) It includes a large number of different parts, including several moving parts, which increase its cost and decrease its reliability. (3) The slot into which the boomerang must be inserted restrains the boomerang at multiple points along its length, so that a part of the energy imparted by the striker is wasted in freeing the boomerang from the launcher. (4) Further energy is wasted when the wing tip engages the stop, since force is exerted at this point on the boomerang in a direction more or less opposite to the desired flight direction. Only the other, unrestrained wing has forward momentum and can develop the lift necessary for the boomerang to fly. (5) Because the striker exerts a sudden, percussive force on the boomerang, the launcher cannot be used with boomerangs that are particularly small and flexible.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of some aspects of the present invention to provide improved apparatus and methods for launching of boomerangs and other flying toys.




It is a further object of some aspects of the present invention to provide boomerangs and launchers that can be produced simply and inexpensively, with a minimal number of separate parts.




There is therefore provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a launcher for a flying object, such as a boomerang, having a body that includes a plurality of wings, the launcher including:




a stop, against which the object rests at a point on its body; and




a moving member, which engages one of the wings of the object so as to impart forward motion thereto, such that the object is propelled forward from the launcher with a rotational motion about the stop.




Preferably, the moving member includes a resilient element, which is pulled back and then released in order to impart the forward motion to the wing.




Further preferably, the launcher includes a generally planar base on which the object is placed before launching, wherein the stop and the moving element protrude from the base, wherein the base, stop and moving member are most preferably made from a single sheet of material, which is folded to form the stop and moving member.




There is further provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a launcher for a flying object, such as a boomerang, the launcher including:




a sheet of resilient material, defining a plane on which the object rests before launching; and




a moving member, formed by folding a portion of the sheet, which engages the object and which is pulled back and then released so as to impart forward motion to the object.




Preferably, along with the forward motion, the moving member imparts to the object rotational motion in the plane of the sheet.




Preferably, the sheet is partially cut and is folded to form the moving member so that when the member is pulled back and released, it bends about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the sheet. Further preferably, the moving member includes an extension of the sheet, which is folded over itself and is then folded out of the plane and fixed to the sheet so as to form an angle of approximately 90° thereto. Most preferably, the launcher includes substantially no functional elements that are not a part of the sheet of resilient material.




There is also provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a flying toy, preferably a boomerang, including a substantially flat sheet of material, which is cut to form a plurality of wings joined at a vertex, wherein one or more of the wings are folded to produce lift flaps.




There is additionally provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for producing a flying toy, such as a boomerang, from a substantially flat sheet of material, including:




cutting the material to form a plurality of wings joined at a vertex; and




folding one or more of the wings to form lift flaps.




There is moreover provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for producing a launcher for a flying object, including:




cutting a sheet of resilient material so as to define a planar portion on which the object rests before launching and a movable portion; and




preparing one or more folds in the sheet, along which the movable portion of the sheet is folded to produce a moving member, which engages the object and which is pulled back and then released so as to impart forward motion to the object.




Preferably, the sheet is cut so that when the portion is folded, the moving member bends about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the sheet when the member is pulled back and released.




There is furthermore provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for launching a flying object, such as a boomerang, having a body that includes a plurality of wings, the method including:




resting the object against a stop at a point on the body of the object; and




bringing a moving member into engagement with one of the wings of the object so as to impart forward motion thereto, such that the object is launched with a rotational motion about the stop.




Preferably, bringing the moving member into engagement with the one of the wings includes pulling back and releasing a resilient element.




The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings in which:











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a schematic top view of a boomerang and a launcher, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a schematic top view showing stages in the launching of the boomerang of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a schematic, pictorial view of the boomerang and launcher of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is a schematic top view of a sheet of material that is cut for assembly of a boomerang launcher therefrom, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 5

is a schematic top view of the launcher assembled from the material of

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 6

is a schematic, pictorial view of the launcher shown in

FIG. 5

;





FIG. 7

is a schematic top view showing details of a boomerang, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 8 and 9

are schematic side views of the boomerang of

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 10

is a schematic, pictorial view of the boomerang of

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 11

is a schematic top view of a sheet of material that is cut for production of boomerangs therefrom, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and





FIG. 12

is a schematic top view of a sheet of material that is cut for production of boomerangs and launchers therefrom, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Reference is now made to

FIGS. 1

,


2


and


3


, which schematically illustrate a boomerang


21


and a boomerang launcher


20


, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2

are top views, while

FIG. 3

is an isometric, pictorial view. In

FIG. 2

, boomerang


21


is shown in successive positions during launch thereof, represented by outlines


21




a,




21




b


and


21




c.






Boomerang


21


comprises a single body made up of wings


31


, which are joined at a vertex


28


. The preferred structure and method of producing the boomerang are described further hereinbelow. Launcher


20


comprises a generally flat sheet


22


, on whose surface boomerang


21


rests before launching. A stop


23


(or optionally, two or more stops) and a moving member


25


protrude upward from sheet


22


. Prior to launching, a tip


26


of one of wings


31


rests against moving member


25


, and the boomerang body rests against stop


23


at a point


27


. It is noted that the position of the boomerang relative to the launcher is not fixed, and tip


26


can be moved along to various positions along member


25


, thereby varying an angle


18


defined between the wing and the member and altering the flight characteristics of the boomerang. It is further noted that the illustrated structure of launcher


20


is capable of accommodating boomerangs of different sizes, shapes and vertex angles, unlike the launcher described in the above-mentioned European Patent Application EP071319. Boomerang


21


can even be launched in a reverse orientation, i.e., with vertex


28


pointing outward, rather than toward stop


23


.




The parts of launcher


20


are preferably constructed by suitably cutting and folding a single sheet of resilient material. A preferred implementation of this type of construction is shown below in

FIGS. 4

,


5


and


6


. Alternatively, the launcher may be assembled from multiple pieces and/or types of material, or may be molded, preferably from a suitable plastic, as is known in the art. Optionally, the launcher includes a handle


24


. In the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 3

, moving member


25


comprises protrusions


29


and is anchored to sheet


22


and preferably to handle


24


so as to provide mechanical strength when the member is bent in order to launch the boomerang.




To launch boomerang


21


, a user places it on the surface of sheet


22


, and rests it against stop


23


at the desired point


27


. The position of the boomerang may be varied to create a longer or shorter lever arm between tip


26


and point


27


. The desired elevation, azimuth and tilt for launch are selected, as illustrated by arrows A, B and C, respectively, in FIG.


3


. Grasping handle


24


, preferably between the thumb and forefinger, the user pulls back a tip


32


of member


25


, as shown in

FIG. 2

, and then releases it suddenly. Member


25


springs back and imparts a forward momentum to tip


26


. As tip


26


begins to move forward, the boomerang simultaneously acquires a rotational motion about point


27


on stop


23


. The rotational and forward motion of the boomerang are imparted, as well, to an opposite wing tip


30


.




Thus, unlike the launcher shown in the above-mentioned EP071319 patent application, tip


30


is not restrained in any way, and substantially all forces exerted by launcher


20


on boomerang


21


are in the direction of desired motion. Member


25


contacts boomerang


21


at a point along wing


31


, rather than at the vertex of the boomerang as in EP071319. Therefore, the boomerang moves off the launcher efficiently, at high speed, with both of wings


31


contributing to generate a strong aerodynamic lift.





FIGS. 4

,


5


and


6


illustrate a boomerang launcher


40


, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Launcher


40


is functionally equivalent to launcher


20


, described hereinabove, and parts of launcher


40


are labeled in the figures with the same reference numerals as are used for the parts of launcher


20


that perform similar functions. Launcher


40


has the additional advantage, however, that it is entirely made out of a single sheet of resilient material, preferably a plastic, such as polypropylene, which is suitably cut and folded.





FIG. 4

shows sheet


22


as it is cut to shape and prepared for folding. Movable member


25


is made from a long, protruding extension


33


, which is partly cut away from the remainder of sheet


22


. As shown in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, extension


33


is folded over along a line corresponding to tip


32


of member


25


, and is then folded up by 90° (out of the plane of the page). A slot at the end of extension


33


engages a corresponding slot on sheet


22


, so the member


25


is anchored firmly in place. In this configuration, the curved extension


33


provides mechanical strength and resilience. When member


25


is pulled back (downward in the perspective of FIGS.


5


and


6


), it bends about an axis perpendicular to the plane of sheet


22


, and then snaps back when released to propel the boomerang forward.




In the configuration shown in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, launcher


40


is most suitable for use by right-handed people, who can grasp handle


24


in their left hand and use their right hand to launch the boomerang. A launcher that is convenient for left-handed people can be produced simply by reversing the directions of the folds of extension


33


and stop


23


. When boomerang


21


is launched from this “left-handed” launcher, the orientation of wing tips


26


and


30


will be reversed relative to the orientation shown in FIG.


1


. This reversal may alter the flight characteristics of the boomerang.




Reference is now made to

FIGS. 7

,


8


,


9


and


10


, which are schematic illustrations showing details of boomerang


21


, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7

is a top view.

FIGS. 8 and 9

are side views, wherein

FIG. 8

shows the boomerang as seen from a point adjacent to wing tip


26


, and

FIG. 9

, from a point adjacent to wing tip


30


.

FIG. 10

is an isometric, pictorial representation.




Boomerang


21


is preferably made from a flat piece of flexible, resilient material, such as polypropylene or Teslin (produced by PPG, of Pittsburgh, Penn.), which is preferably coated with a laminate on one or both sides. The sheet is bent at folds


36


and


37


, preferably longitudinally and downwards by a small angle as shown in the figures, in order to produce lift flaps


34


and


35


, which give the boomerang a desired degree of aerodynamic lift as it flies. A cut


38


is preferably made in the adjoining wing, so as to enable flap


34


to be folded cleanly and evenly. Flaps


34


and


35


may be adjusted to substantially any desired angle, up or down relative to the plane of wings


31


, to vary the aerodynamic properties of the boomerang. The flaps obviate the need encountered in boomerangs known in the art for the wings to have a curved or variable cross section or volume for aerodynamic purposes.





FIG. 11

is a schematic top view of a sheet


50


of the material from which a plurality of boomerangs


21


are made, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The boomerangs are preferably stamped out of sheet


50


by a suitable die, as is known in the art, enabling simple, low-cost mass-production. Most preferably, folds


36


and


37


are prepared by applying pressure and/or heat along the corresponding lines on sheet


50


while stamping out the boomerangs or beforehand. Typically, one or both surfaces of the boomerangs are printed with a desired image before stamping. Thus, substantially all of the processes involved in producing boomerang


21


(and likewise, launchers


20


and


40


) can be carried out using standard equipment and techniques, well known in the printing industry.





FIG. 12

is a schematic top view of a sheet


60


of material from which a plurality of boomerangs


21


and launchers


40


are made, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Both the boomerang and the launcher are thus produced from the same sheet of material, in a single process. This embodiment is particularly convenient in terms of packaging and distribution, since it enables a complete kit of one or more boomerangs and one or more launchers to be contained together on the single sheet


60


.




To summarize, boomerangs and launchers in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention can be produced simply and inexpensively and are easy and safe to use, requiring no special skill. They require very little storage space or packaging volume, and can even be distributed as an insert in a publication. The boomerangs can be made in substantially any desired size and from any suitable material, including light, relatively flimsy materials, of a type that cannot readily be thrown by hand or propelled using launchers known in the art, such as that described in the above-mentioned European Patent Application EP071319. Compare to launchers known in the art, launchers


20


and


40


propel boomerangs with high speed and efficiency, with minimal mechanical shock to the boomerang.




Although preferred embodiments are described hereinabove with reference to a boomerang of a given shape and dimensions, it will be understood that launchers


20


and


40


are suitable substantially without change for launching boomerangs having different sizes, shapes and wing angles, unlike launchers known in the art. Launchers


20


and


40


may be used, as well, for launching flying toys of different designs, such as “boomerangs” having three or more wings. With straightforward modifications, launchers suitable for propelling a variety of other sorts of flying objects may likewise be produced in accordance with the principles of the present invention. It will thus be appreciated that the preferred embodiments described above are cited by way of example, and the full scope of the invention is limited only by the claims.



Claims
  • 1. A launcher for a flying object, comprising:a sheet of resilient material, defining a plane on which the object rests before launching; and a moving member, formed by folding a portion of the sheet, which engages the object and which is pulled back and then released so as to impart forward motion to the object.
  • 2. A launcher according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is partially cut and is folded to form the moving member so that when the member is pulled back and released, it bends about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the sheet.
  • 3. A launcher according to claim 2, wherein the moving member comprises an extension of the sheet, which is folded over itself and is then folded out of the plane and fixed to the sheet so as to form an angle of approximately 90° thereto.
  • 4. A launcher according to claim 1, wherein along with the forward motion, the moving member imparts to the object rotational motion in the plane of the sheet.
  • 5. A launcher according to claim 4, wherein the flying object comprises a boomerang.
  • 6. A launcher according to claim 4, wherein the launcher comprises substantially no functional elements that are not a part of the sheet of resilient material.
  • 7. A launcher according to claim 2, wherein the sheet of material is further cut to produce the flying object that is to be launched by the launcher.
  • 8. A launcher according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is molded to form the moving member.
  • 9. A launcher for a flying object having a body that includes a plurality of wings, the launcher comprising:a stop, against which the object rests at a point on its body; a moving member, which engages one of the wings of the object so as to impart forward motion thereto, such that the object is propelled forward from the launcher with a rotational motion about the stop; and a generally planar base on which the object is placed before launching, wherein the stop and the moving element protrude from the base, wherein the base, stop and moving member are made from a single sheet of material, which is folded to form the stop and moving member, and wherein the sheet is partially cut to define the base, stop and moving member before folding the sheet to form the stop and moving member.
  • 10. A launcher according to claim 9, wherein the sheet of material is further cut to produce the flying object that is to be launched by the launcher.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
124788 Jun 1998 IL
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/IL99/00297 WO 00
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO99/64118 12/16/1999 WO A
US Referenced Citations (6)
Number Name Date Kind
510936 Renear Dec 1893 A
906206 Dawes et al. Dec 1908 A
925445 Bartlett Jun 1909 A
930711 Wohlmeyer Aug 1909 A
1399537 Bayliss Dec 1921 A
3881729 Block et al. May 1975 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
0 017 319 Feb 1983 EP