The invention relates to toy flying discs.
Flying disc toys for throwing and catching have been around for many years, and the prior art describes flying discs used for throwing and catching and for games related to these type toys. The most commonly known flying disc is the FRISBEE invented by Headrick, U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,678. Many different games have been developed that use a flying disc, including “Disc Golf” and “Ultimate FRISBEE”.
Over the years different designs of the flying discs have been developed to produce better aerodynamic properties, lift and stability, with modifications related to an airfoil rim as noted in the flying disc described by Alder, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,737. There have been improvements in the flying disc to make the toys easier to both throw and catch.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a flying disc that will spray water when thrown.
The present invention relates to a flying disc that when filled with water and thrown with in the normal fashion consistent with flying discs will, by the centrifugal forces generated, propel water outward through openings in the lateral surface of the flying disc. This new invention is to be used at the swimming pool, lake, river or even the ocean. The toy can also be filled using a backyard hose and subsequently thrown for fun and enjoyment.
This new flying disc has a principal function to provide a toy that contains a reservoir such that that when the reservoir is filled with water and the disc is thrown in the usual fashion of flying discs water is propelled from the toy. In one embodiment the disc is hollow and made of unitary construction with a top convex surface and a bottom concave surface connected by an annular rim, the upper part of the rim connected to the top convex surface and the bottom part of the rim connected to the bottom convex surface. The disc has a central opening on the convex surface and a plurality of openings on the annular rim, which are preferably located above the midline between the top surface and the bottom surface. This toy, when filled with water and thrown, will, as a result of the centripetal forces generated, disperse and propel the water in a horizontal plane relative to the central axis of the flying disc.
The use and advantages of the invention are more particularly described below.
A flying disc as seen in
The space formed by the top surface 12, bottom surface 14 and annular rim 16 creates a reservoir in the hollow interior of the disc. It should be understood that alternative reservoir constructions are possible. A plurality of openings 20 are located circumferentially along the annular rim 16 and communicate with the reservoir. The openings 20 are preferably located above the midline of the annular rim in order to prevent water from leaking out of the invention when the reservoir is filled but before the toy is thrown. The openings 20 are of an appropriate size to allow the water to be sprayed 26 out of the flying disc when thrown and are spaced at an appropriate distance circumferentially around the annular rim 16 of the invention, and may be equidistant from each other. Although the opening may take the form of small holes on the order of a few millimeters, it will be understood that the openings may be formed with different shapes and/or moldings and/or larger to adjust the spray of water.
In this embodiment, a larger opening 18 is centrally located on the disc to allow the invention to be quickly filled with water 24.
The bottom of an embodiment of the toy is seen in
The invention may be made of plastic materials such as polypropylene, or more preferably polyethylene, most preferably with a density slightly less than that of water so as to allow the toy to float when used around swimming pools, lakes or rivers.
The invention may be thrown either empty without fluid in the inner cavity. When filled and throw, the toy preferably sprays water 24 in a planar horizontal direction. Ideally the disc will create a wide spray 26 of water and will also spray the users when they catch the disc at the conclusion of its flight.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing form the spirit or essential properties. An example of this would be to change the bottom surface 14 to either flat or slightly convex. Another example would be changing to position of the openings 20 or their form or size on the annular rim 16 or changing the size or the number of openings 18 on the top surface 12 of the invention. Additionally, alternative means for providing a reservoir could allow either the bottom surface or top surface as shown to be dispensed with.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4302901 | Psyras | Dec 1981 | A |
5277641 | Gable et al. | Jan 1994 | A |
5393256 | Mitchell et al. | Feb 1995 | A |
5882239 | Trichak | Mar 1999 | A |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20060148372 A1 | Jul 2006 | US |