Patent Application
20100216368
The present invention is directed a toy system that includes a hover toy and a source of air, which lifts and supports the hover toy by generating an air current against the hover toy, and more particularly, to a hover toy with which a user can emulate tricks and maneuvers that are employed in skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, or the like.
Skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding, have all become popular and diversified sports. One specialized area of these activities is extreme sports, in which the ability to perform has been extended beyond its original intent, such that a person is able to incorporate acrobatic jumps and other dangerous stunts in these sports. The risk and visual appeal is very attractive to young persons.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a hover toy system is provided. The hover toy system preferably includes a source of airflow and a hover toy preferably in a shape selected from the group consisting of a skateboard, surfboard, snowboard or other curved board. Preferably, the hover toy is less than about 6 inches in length. The hover toy system may also comprise a trick device positioned between an outflow of air from the source of air and a bottom of the hover toy. Preferably, the hover toy is comprised of a lightweight material.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of playing with a hover toy preferably selected from the group consisting of a surfboard, snowboard, and skateboard is provided. Preferably, the method comprises the steps of (a) providing a source of air; (b) providing a hover toy; and (c) using one or more digits of a hand to move the hover toy over the source of air. In one aspect of this embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of providing a trick device and positioning the trick device over the source of air to modify the flow of the source of air. In another aspect of this embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of providing a trick device and manipulating the hover toy at, around, or through the trick device.
The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which:
a is a side elevational view of a hover toy system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
b is a front plan view of a fan used in the hover toy system of
c is a side elevational view of the fan used in the hover toy system of
The present invention is preferably comprised of a hover toy, preferably composed from a Mylar composite, and a source of air, such as a complementary fan mechanism, which is used to provide sufficient lifting capacity to the hover toy, so that its relative position in space, while manipulated by an operator, may remain above the fan mechanism.
The hover toy may be in the shape of a curved form, that may be flexed or manipulated in order to provide different channels of air resistance, so that the operator may accomplish a variety of aerial feats. Preferably the hover toy includes a surface for contacting the source of air, preferably a flat surface, more preferably a board and even more preferably a curved board. The hover toy is capable of traveling on X, Y and Z planes, so long as the fan, or any other source of air, is able to provide the lifting capacity of the hover toy. The hover toy system will be described in detail below.
Referring now to
The hover toy system generally includes a source of air, such as an electrically powered fan, and a hover toy. The hover toy has a surface for contacting the air flow and is preferably an elongated board under about six inches in length, and preferably in the shape of a skateboard, snowboard, or surfboard. It could however be in the shape of other toys, such as a small bicycle, an aircraft, a watercraft or any other shape that can be manipulated by at least one digit of a hand over an airflow. In the case of the foregoing shapes, they may need to be mounted on a board or other flat surface to maximize the effects of the present invention.
The hover toy is preferably comprised of a lightweight material, so that the electrically powered fan can sustain the hover toy's relative position in space by generating a current of air against the hover toy's underside or flat surface, in addition to the added assistance and manipulation from an operator's hand or hands, in order to provide the outward appearance that the hover toy is levitating or hovering. This is preferably done so as part of an activity in which the operator may additionally interact between the hover toy and surrounding objects as part of this activity.
It will be appreciated that terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “above” and “side” used herein are merely for ease of description and refer to the orientation of the components as shown in the figures. It should be understood that any orientation of the components described herein is within the scope of the present invention.
Preferably, the present invention includes a housing 20 comprising a top portion 1, a bottom portion 2 connected to the top portion 1. The invention further includes an air grating assembly 3 formed from the top portion 1 or connected to it, a fan 4 disposed within an interior of the housing 20, a motor 5 disposed within the interior of the housing 20, a switch 6, and a hover toy 7. The housing 20 having the fan 4 disposed therein and/or the fan 4 itself may be referred to as “a source of air flow.”
In a preferred embodiment and referring to
In a preferred embodiment, the bottom portion 2 secures the motor 5 from moving and/or holds it in place. The bottom portion 2 has an interior 11 which allows for air circulation, as best shown in
In a preferred embodiment, and as best shown in
In a preferred embodiment, and as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the hover toy system 10 includes a motor 5. Preferably, the motor 5 is disposed within the housing 20, such as the interior of the top portion 1 and/or the interior of the bottom portion 2. The motor 5 is utilized in rotating the fan 4 in a direction to generate an air flow that is strong enough to lift the hover toy 7 above it. Additionally, the hover toy system further comprises a switch 6, best shown in
Referring now to
In a preferred embodiment, and as best shown in
In one embodiment, railings, ramps and copings may be added to the toy's top portion 1, or to the air grating 3, so that the operator might travel the hover toy between these different elements as part of an activity. These elements are also used in conjunction with a designed look to enhance the activity. For example, and as best shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the hover toy system operates as follows. Preferably, the user turns on the fan 4 via the switch 6. Preferably, the current (or air flow) from the fan 4 is directed in an upwards direction. Referring now to
The trick device can also be disposed outside of the flow of air and can rest on an object that is not the housing. The trick device can extend from the housing via a flexible wire and can be moved into and out of the air flow.
By employing structure and methods of the foregoing type, an improved plaything and play activity is achieved.
While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and elements described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
