BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a flying toy, which cannot only be shot away, but rather can also without concern be caught by the player himself or by companions.
2. Related Art of the Invention
Flying toys are known in many diverse embodiments. There are known for example balloons which are blown up and are provided with a propeller. By the air emitted from an opening in the balloon the balloon is driven into the atmosphere.
Other known flying toys, such as for example toy airplanes, are shot using a rubber band. Here, for safety reasons, care must always be taken that no person or easily damaged objects are hit.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a safe easy to operate flying toy which is fun to play with, protects against injury, and which cannot only be shot into the air, but rather can also without concern be caught by the player himself or by companions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has surprisingly been found that the above objects can be accomplished by a flying toy comprising an inflated elongate body formed of an elastic material such as a balloon or rubber hose and a ring-shaped ballast part fit over said inflated elongate flexible body, dividing the body into a long segment and a short segment. This flying toy has flight characteristics of an arrow—the ballast part acts like an arrow head and the elongate part acts like the shaft of the arrow. However, unlike an arrow, when the flying toy impacts a solid object or a person, the short segment of the inflated elongate flexible body acts as a bumper, cushioning the blow and preventing injury.
The flying toy may be enhanced or modified, such as by providing a separate impact minimizing cap on the front end of the toy, by providing a jacket material over and protecting said elongate flexible body, by providing self-adhesive decorations, or by providing self-adhesive wings or fins. This simple toy will provide hours of safe fun.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described in greater detail in the following on the basis of an illustrative embodiment, wherein there is shown:
FIG. 1 a flying body,
FIG. 2 illustrates the process of launching the flying object,
FIG. 3 a flying body with a decorative ballast part and a trailing tail,
FIG. 4 a flying body with the elongate body and a rubber draw spring,
FIG. 5 a flying body with a protective jacket and decoration,
FIG. 6 a flying body with a protective jacket and decoration,
FIG. 7 a front part of a flying body,
FIG. 8 an impact minimizer and the ballast part made as a single piece,
FIG. 9 an impact minimizer and the ballast part made as a single piece,
FIG. 10 a flying body shortly after impact,
FIG. 11 a flying body with decorative material and a protective jacket, and
FIG. 12 self-adhesive stickers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIG. 1 a flying body, of which the elongate inflatable body (2) is comprised of an inflatable rubber balloon hose and on its ends is tied in a knot. The ballast part (3) is here in the form of a ring shaped foam rubber, which serves as weight and is slid over the balloon until a part of the inflated balloon projects from the front and serves as impact minimizer (4). The safety impact minimizer (4) is here formed by the front part of the elongate inflatable body. The ring shaped safety impact minimizer (4) is dimensioned, that it easy jams on the inflated balloon.
As shown in FIG. 2, the flying toy is taken into one hand and at least one finger or other elongate object is pressed into the back part of the balloon, so that an over-pressurization exists in the balloon. Upon the sudden opening of the balloon holding hand the balloon shuts in the predetermined direction. The other players can for example catch the balloon and shut it back. FIG. 2 shows how by pressing in of the back part of the flying body (1) with a finger/hand (18) the tension is increased, which can cause the flying object to enter a flight path following the release of the hand (17).
A further embodiment envisions that the elongate balloon is only partially inflated and the non-inflated part is used as rubber draw string for shutting away the flying toy.
Besides a ring shaped weight part it is possible to use the cap-like ballast part (3). FIG. 3 shows the inventive flying body (1) as described in FIGS. 1 and 2, however with a decorative ballast part (3) and a trailing tail (19). Here the ballast part (3) is equipped with an impact minimizer (4) in that between the soft and flexible front area of the weight part or ballast part (3) with impact minimizer (4) and the balloon body an air cushion is provided, and therewith similar to an airbag, upon impact by controlled escape of the air through pre-provided air holes or slits during pressing in of the front part of the cap provide a soft safe impact. In order to make possible a long as possible play enjoyment for each balloon it is provided, to provide the inflated balloon with a pre-made protective jacket or a sheet with self-adhesive strips to make a self-produced protective jacket partially or completely to provide for the balloon. The protective sheet can include slits in the rear area in order to produce sounds during flight.
FIG. 4 shows the inventive flying body (1) in which the elongate body (2) and the impact minimizer (4) are comprised of one not completely inflated elongated balloon and the front non-inflated part of the balloon is used as a rubber draw spring (5) for shooting away of the flying body. The ballast part (3) is here in the form a ring-shaped foam rubber part.
FIGS. 5 and 6 shows an inventive flying body (1), of which the elongate body (2) is comprised of a elongate balloon, which is provided with a protective jacket and decoration. The protective jacket (8) has in the back area flight noise producing slits. In the front are the ballast part (3) and the impact minimizer (4) are produced as a single piece. Between the soft impact front (10/4) and the inner balloon (2) an airbag like air chamber is provided.
FIG. 7 shows a front part of a flying body, comprised of an elongate balloon, of which the not inflated, front part is used as rubber draw spring (5) and the front inflated part as safety impact minimizer (4). The ballast part (3) is in the form of a foam plastic ring.
FIG. 8 shows an impact minimizer (4) and the ballast part (3) made as a single piece. The ballast part (3) has on the inside an abutment or stop (12) for the elongate flying body (2), so that between the soft impact front (10/4) and the body (2) an air filled chamber (20) results, from which during impact air can escape upon impact through air holes or as the case may be slits (16) in controlled manner and therewith ensure a soft impact.
FIG. 9 shows FIG. 8 however with pressed in front soft part following the impact of the flight body (indented). FIG. 10 shows a flying body (2) shortly after impact, when as a result of the spring back forces the material of the impact minimizer (4) has again assumed its starting shape.
FIG. 11 shows a flying body, provided with decorative material and a protective jacket, which is comprised of a flat sheet with self adhesive strips and is wound about the balloon part.
The flying toy is a component for the self or individual design of flying fantasy figures, animals or technical flight devices with corresponding additional elements. FIG. 12 shows a possible embodiment of self-adhesive stickers, which belong to the self-construction components.
It is also contemplated, to produce the inflatable body from segments of an endless thin rubber hose or sheet hose, of which the ends are knotted or welded.
On the basis of the lack of danger the flying toy can also be used in a closed space as a game or amusement article.
Patent Application
20050191929
