Patent Application
20160101368
This disclosure relates to propeller and frame assemblies for toy entities.
Toys may utilize various types of components to create propeller assemblies and structures to assist in generating lift for the toy. Various types of control systems may also be used to direct operation of the components. Improvements in electronics and mechanics continue to reduce the weight of the components and also provide additional packaging space to create new toy entities which improve flying play patterns and enjoyment for a user. Traditional flying toys have used multiple forms of manual or spring-launched gliders providing horizontal flight as well as manual or spring launched propeller toys for vertical flight. Toy helicopters in particular have benefited from the improvements in electronics and mechanics. A desire remains for non-helicopter style lightweight electric motorized vertical interactive flying toys that have safety elements and additional framework that defines a style but also provides more protection for both the toy and the user during close proximity interactive play that may include contact with the toy during flight. Flying toys such as these may become targets for projectiles or be directed through the air by physical pushing or other hand commands via sensors in communication with a controller.
A toy assembly includes a housing, a drive shaft mounted for rotation to the housing and defining an axis, a propeller with a central portion mounted for pivotal movement to the drive shaft, and two blades extending from the central portion to distal ends. The toy assembly also includes a circular safety ring extending about the drive shaft axis and secured to the distal ends, a motor secured to the housing and operably connected to the drive shaft, a power source in communication with the motor, a controller secured to the housing and configured to direct operation of the motor and power source, and a plurality of fins secured to the housing and extending away from the propeller. The toy assembly may further include a plurality of frame segments secured to the housing. Each of the plurality of frame segments may define an upper portion having a length greater than a radius of the safety ring and extending along a first axis substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft axis, a mid-portion having a length greater than a height of the propeller and extending along a second axis substantially parallel to the drive shaft axis, and a lower portion extending along a third axis substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft axis. The portions may be arranged to form an exo-skeletal frame defining a region about the propeller. At least one of the plurality of fins may define an adjustable flap portion to pivot outward of a plane defined by the at least one of the plurality of fins and in a direction opposite rotation of the propeller. A toy character may be secured to the plurality of frame segments and external to the region defined by the exo-skeletal frame. A switch may be in communication with the controller and secured to the housing to contact a surface. The controller may be configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to a signal received from the switch indicating contact with the surface. At least one sensor may be secured to the housing and in communication with the controller to detect a surface. The controller may be configured to adjust or maintain a speed of the motor in response to receiving a signal from the at least one sensor indicating detection of the surface. The controller may be configured to adjust or maintain a speed of the motor in response to not receiving a signal from the at least one sensor indicating detection of the surface. The circular safety ring may define at least first and second thickness portions of the circular safety ring such that the portion with a greater thickness is adjacent to the distal ends. Two or more legs may extend from the housing to support the assembly on an underlying surface. At least one target may be secured to the housing and include a switch in communication with the controller. The switch and the at least one target may be arranged such that the switch sends a trigger signal to the controller when an object contacts the at least one target. A media device may be in communication with the controller. A launch mechanism may be biased to launch a projectile and may be in communication with the controller. The controller may be further configured to send a launch signal to the launch mechanism to launch the projectile in response to the controller receiving the trigger signal. The controller may be further configured to output a media signal to the media device in response to receiving the trigger signal. The controller may be further configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to receiving the trigger signal. The assembly may also include a charge inlet to receive a charge connector of a charge base, and the charge inlet may be electrically connected to a power supply electrically connected to the motor.
A toy entity includes a housing, a power source secured to the housing, a motor secured to the housing and in communication with the power source, and a controller secured to the housing and configured to direct operation of the motor and power source. The toy entity also includes a drive shaft mounted for rotation to the housing and defining an axis, a ball joint mounted to the drive shaft, and a propeller mount pivotally mounted to the ball joint. Two blades each extend outwardly from the propeller mount to distal ends. A circular safety ring extends about the drive shaft axis and is secured to the distal ends. Upper and lower gimbal portions are secured to the propeller mount to pivotally retain the ball joint therebetween. A transmission is operably connected to the motor and drive shaft such that the drive shaft rotates independent of the housing. The toy entity also includes a plurality of frame segments indicative of a hot air balloon-shaped region therebetween and each segment includes an arc portion secured to a frame cap and a panel secured to the housing. A body is secured to the housing external to the balloon-shaped region. At least one of the panels may define an adjustable flap portion to pivot outward of a plane defined by the flap and in a direction opposite rotation of the propeller. The at least one panel may define at least one cutout to pass air therethrough. A switch may be in communication with the controller and secured to the body to contact a surface, and the controller may be configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to a signal received from the switch indicating contact with the surface. At least one sensor may be secured to the body and in communication with the controller to detect a surface, and the controller may be configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to the at least one sensor transmitting a signal indicating detection of the surface. The body may be a basket or a character. The toy entity may also include a charge inlet to receive a charge connector of a charge base, and the charge inlet is electrically connected to a power supply electrically connected to the motor.
A toy entity includes a propeller mount defining a shaft opening, two or more blades extending outwardly from the propeller mount to distal ends, and a circular safety ring extending about the propeller mount and secured to the distal ends. The toy entity also includes an upper gimbal housing secured to the propeller mount and defining a receiving cavity, a lower gimbal housing secured to the propeller mount and defining an open slot in substantial registration with the shaft opening, and a ball joint including two pin extensions and sized to sit within the receiving cavity to pivot about a pin axis defined by the pin extensions and at least pivot about another axis perpendicular thereto. The toy entity also includes a housing, a drive shaft mounted for rotation to the housing and supporting the ball joint, a motor secured to the housing, a transmission operably connected to the motor and the drive shaft such the drive shaft rotates independent of the housing, and a plurality of fins secured to the housing and extending away from the propeller mount. The toy entity also includes at least one sensor to detect a surface and a controller secured to the housing and configured to direct operation of the motor and power source in response to receiving a signal from the at least one sensor indicating detection of the surface. A switch may be in communication with the controller and secured to a lower portion of the housing to contact the surface, and the controller may be further configured to, in response to the controller receiving a signal from the switch indicating contact with the surface, adjust an output of the motor. The toy entity may include a frame cap, and a plurality of frame segments. The plurality of frame segments may each have an arc portion secured to the frame cap, a panel portion secured to the housing, and an arm portion extending below the panels to form an exo-skeletal structure defining a balloon-shaped region within the structure arranged with the upper and lower gimbal housings such that circular safety ring is enclosed therein. A body may be secured to the arms outside of the balloon-shaped region. The toy entity may include an umbrella frame cap, a plurality of umbrella frame segments defining an upper frame segment portion secured to the umbrella frame cap and a lower frame segment portion, a plurality of panels secured to the umbrella frame segments, an umbrella ring secured to the lower frame segment portions and arranged with the umbrella frame segments to define an at least partially hemispherical region therebetween, and an attachment shaft extending from the housing outside the hemispherical region to attach a body thereto. A transmitter and receiver pair may be in communication with the controller and secured to the body to detect the surface, and the controller may be further configured to, in response to the controller receiving a signal from the receiver indicating detection of the surface, adjust an output of the motor. The circular safety ring may define at least first and second thickness portions of the circular safety ring such that the portion with a greater thickness is adjacent to the distal ends, and each panel may be oriented to influence air flow from the blades against the panels to direct counter rotation of the panels relative to a rotational direction of the blades. The propeller mount, the two or more blades, and the circular safety ring may be arranged within the hemispherical region.
A toy entity includes a housing, a drive shaft mounted for rotation to the housing and defining an axis, a propeller with a central portion mounted for pivotal movement to the drive shaft and two blades extending from the central portion to distal ends, and a circular safety ring extending about the drive shaft axis and secured to the distal ends. A motor is secured to the housing and operably connected to the drive shaft. A power source is in communication with the motor. A plurality of fins is secured to the housing and extending away from the propeller. The toy entity also includes a frame cap and a plurality of frame segments. The plurality of frame segments each have an arc portion secured to the frame cap and a panel portion secured to the housing. The frame segments form an exo-skeletal structure defining an at least partially prolate spheroidal region within the structure arranged with the propeller such that circular safety ring is enclosed therein. At least one sensor may be in communication with a controller and secured to the housing to detect a surface, and the controller may be configured to, in response to the controller receiving a signal from the receiver indicating detection of the surface, adjust an output of the motor. The circular safety ring may at least define first and second thickness portions of the circular safety ring such that the portion with a greater thickness is adjacent to the distal ends. Each panel may be oriented to influence air flow from the blades against the panels to direct counter rotation of the panels relative to a rotational direction of the blades. An orientation sensor may be in communication with a controller to identify a vertical or horizontal orientation of the toy entity, and the controller may be configured to output operating commands to the motor reflective of the vertical or horizontal orientation. An orientation switch may be in communication with the controller and have two settings which indicate vertical flight and horizontal flight. The controller may be configured to output operating commands to the motor reflective of the vertical or horizontal flight setting. The controller may be configured to deactivate the motor when the controller receives a voltage feedback from the motor indicating interference with rotation of the blades. The controller may be configured to deactivate the motor when the controller receives an impact signal from an impact sensor indicating collision of the toy entity with an obstacle. The toy entity may include a charge inlet to receive a charge connector of a charge base, and the charge inlet may be electrically connected to a power supply electrically connected to the motor. A lower portion of the exo-skeletal structure may be sized to receive a mount support of the charge base such that the toy entity is supported thereby.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.
The gimbal assembly may include an upper gimbal housing 30 and a lower gimbal housing 32. The upper gimbal housing 30 may define a receiving cavity and a cutout 38. The lower gimbal housing 32 may define an open slot 39 in substantial registration with the shaft opening 18. The receiving cavity may be sized to receive at least a portion of a joint which may provide multiple pivot axes for the propeller 12. For example, a ball 40 may be secured to the drive shaft 44 and have two pin extensions 42. The pin extensions 42 may define a single pin axis parallel with at least two of the blades 22. The upper gimbal housing 30 and the lower gimbal housing 32 may be secured to the propeller mount 16 and may retain the ball 40 therein as shown in
The upper cap 66 of the motor assembly 60 may include a plurality of extensional supports 72 which may provide mounting locations for additional components. For example, a plurality of fins 74 may be secured to the extensional supports 72. The fins 74 may be spaced apart from one another and extend outward from the motor assembly 60 and the central axis 26. The fins 74 may have various shapes and/or forms to assist in stabilizing the propeller 12 by providing a counter-rotational force to the rotational force generated by the propeller 12. In this example, the motor assembly 60 and the fins 74 may rotate about the central axis 26 in a direction opposite that of the rotation of the propeller 12. The fins 74 may optionally include and/or define flaps 75 which may adjust outward relative to a plane defined by each fin 74 and in a direction opposite rotation of the propeller. Each flap 75 may be oriented to influence air flow from the propeller 12 and blades 22 against the fins 74 to direct counter rotation of the fins 74 relative to the propeller 12 and blades 22. The fins 74 may have various shapes and or forms. For example, a size of the fins 74 may influence counter rotation relative to the propeller according to an amount of air resistance the fins 74 provide. The fins 74 may also define one or more cutouts 76 to modify air resistance characteristics of the fins 74.
As mentioned above, the propeller 12 and motor assembly 60 may be used with various toy entities including flying toys. Safety features in addition to the safety ring 24 may also cooperate with the propeller 12 and the motor assembly 60. For example, a frame assembly may be secured to the motor assembly 60 and may be sized to enclose the propeller 12 therein. The frame assembly may have different sizes and shapes and form an exo-skeletal structure.
Optionally, one or more frame rings 92 may be secured to the frame segments 82 at various locations, such as the mid-frame portions 86 to provide additional structural rigidity for the frame assembly 80 and to assist in preventing a user from contacting the safety ring 24 and/or to assist in preventing the safety ring 24 from contacting an obstacle. In one example, a frame ring 92 may be positioned above a plane defined by the safety ring 24 and another frame ring 92 may be positioned below the plane defined by the safety ring 24. A circumference of the frame rings 92 may be greater than the circumference of the safety ring 24. Optionally, a lower attachment platform 94 and a lower attachment shaft 96 may be secured to the motor assembly 60 or the frame assembly 80. A body, such as one or more portions of a toy entity, may be secured to the lower attachment shaft 96 or other portion of the motor assembly 60 or the frame segments 82 as further described below.
The toy entity 200 may include two or more legs 206 extending from a portion of the motor assembly 60 or the fins 202 to support the toy entity 200 on an underlying surface. One or more targets 210 may be secured to a portion of the motor assembly 60 or the fins 202. One or more target switches (not shown) may be in communication with a controller (not shown). The controller may be configured to direct operation of the toy entity 200 and the components thereof. The one or more target switches may be arranged with a corresponding target 210 of the one or more targets 210 such that the switch sends a trigger signal to the controller when an object contacts the target 210. The controller may be configured to output a response signal or media signal, such as a visual or audio signal, in response to receiving the trigger signal. For example, the toy entity 200 may include one or more lights 216 and/or a speaker (not shown). The one or more lights 216 and the speaker may be in communication with the controller such that the controller may activate the one or more lights 216 and/or the speaker in response to receiving the trigger signal. In another example, the controller may access a memory (not shown) which may include one or more sets of software instructions which may direct operation of the toy entity 200. The one or more sets of software instructions may include play patterns to prompt interaction between a user and the toy entity 200. For example, a user may project a dart or other object toward the one or more targets 210. The controller may direct output of the response signals or may adjust a speed of the motor 62 in the event the user hits the target 210 with the dart or other object. It is contemplated that other play patterns are available. It is further contemplated that the toy entity 200 may include one or more sensors to detect a surface or object as described elsewhere herein.
The toy entity 200 may also include one or more launch mechanisms to launch projectiles. In one example, the toy entity may have one or more launch mechanisms 220. Each launch mechanism 220 may be configured to launch a projectile, such as a dart 222. The launch mechanism 220 may be in communication with the controller such that the controller may direct output of the launch mechanism 220. For example, the controller may be configured to send a launch signal to a switch (not shown) arranged with the launch mechanism 220 and the dart 222. Upon receipt of the launch signal, the switch may trigger release of the dart 222. Additionally, the controller may be configured to send a launch signal to trigger release of the dart 222 in response to receiving a trigger signal from one of the targets 210.
A toy hot air balloon is another example of a toy entity which may utilize the propeller assembly and the motor assembly 60 to achieve flight.
The balloon frame assembly 106 may include a plurality of balloon frame segments 112. Each balloon frame segment 112 may include an arc portion 114 with a panel 116 secured at a lower portion thereof. The panels 116 may be secured to the extensional supports 72 of the motor assembly 60. The panels 116 may include a panel flap 118 at a lower portion of the panel 116. The panel flaps 118 may extend from the panel 116 at an angle outward from a plane defined by the panel 116 and in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the propeller 12 to influence rotation of the balloon frame assembly 106 about the central axis 26. For example, each panel flap 118 may be oriented to influence air flow from the propeller 12 and blades 22 against the panels 116 to direct counter rotation of the panels 116 relative to the propeller 12 and blades 22. The panels 116 may have various shapes and or forms. For example, a size of the panels 116 may influence counter rotation relative to the propeller according to an amount of air resistance the panels 116 provide. The panels 116 may also define cutouts 119 of various shapes and sizes to modify air resistance of the panels 116. In this example, the motor assembly 60, the balloon frame assembly 106, and basket 108 may rotate about the central axis 26 in a direction opposite that of the rotation of the propeller 12 when under power.
One or more of the balloon frame segments 112 may also include an arm 120 extending from the arc portion 114 to the basket 108. In one example, the balloon frame assembly 106 may include four balloon frame segments 112 including the arms 120 and four balloon frame segments 112 without the arms 120. Upper portions of the balloon frame segments 112 may be secured to a balloon frame cap 122. The balloon frame segments 112 may be arranged to form an exo-skeletal structure about the propeller assembly and the motor assembly 60. The balloon frame segments 112 may define a hot air balloon-shaped region therewithin. The basket 108, or other types of bodies and characters, may be secured to the attachment shaft 96 such that the basket 108 is outside the hot air balloon-shaped region defined by the balloon frame segments 112. At least a portion of the hot air balloon-shaped region may have a circumference greater than a circumference of the safety ring 24.
Optionally, one or more balloon frame rings 126 may be secured to the balloon frame segments 112, such as at locations above and below a plane defined by the propeller 12. The balloon frame rings 126 may provide additional structural rigidity to the balloon frame assembly 106. The balloon frame rings 126 may further assist in preventing a user from contacting the propeller 12 including safety ring 24 and/or may further assist in preventing the safety ring 24 from contacting an obstacle. The balloon frame rings 126 may have an arc shape in between each of the balloon frame segments 112. A circumference of the balloon frame rings 126 may be greater than the circumference of the safety ring 24.
An umbrella with a character hanging therebelow is another example of a toy entity which may utilize the propeller assembly and the motor assembly 60 to achieve flight.
The umbrella frame assembly 132 may include a plurality of umbrella frame segments 136. Each umbrella frame segment 136 may include a panel 138. The panels 138 may be secured to the motor assembly 60 as well. The panels 138 may have various shapes and or forms. For example, a size of the panels 138 may influence counter rotation relative to the propeller 12 according to an amount of air resistance the panels 138 provide. The panels 138 may also define cutouts (not shown) of various shapes and sizes to modify air resistance of the panels 138. In this example, the motor assembly 60, the umbrella frame assembly 132, and the character 134 may rotate about the central axis 26 in a direction opposite that of the rotation of the propeller 12 when under power.
The umbrella frame segments 136 may be arranged to form an exo-skeletal structure about at least a portion of the propeller assembly and the motor assembly 60. An umbrella ring 140 may be secured to the umbrella frame segments 136 and arranged with the umbrella frame segments 136 to define a hemisphere-shaped region therebetween. The character 134, or other types of bodies and characters, may be secured to the attachment shaft 96 such that the character 134 is outside the hemisphere-shaped region defined by the umbrella frame segments 136. At least a portion of the hemisphere-shaped region may have a circumference greater than a circumference of the safety ring 24.
Various control systems may be available to assist in controlling flight of the toy entities described herein.
Alternatively, the switch 160 may send a signal, such as a control signal, to the power source 69 to output a decreased amount of power to the motor 62. As such, contact to the lower cap 110 may trigger an increase or decrease in the amount of power being directed to the motor 62 such that the propeller 12 may rotate at a higher speed and thus lift the balloon entity 100 away from the point of contact, or the propeller 12 may rotate at a lower speed and thus move toward the point of contact to, for example, initiate a landing sequence for the balloon entity 100. It is contemplated that this type of a control system with the switch 160 may be used in various embodiments of toy entities, propeller assemblies, and motor assemblies including those described herein. For example, the lower cap 68 of the motor assembly 60 may be mounted for translation to the motor housing. In this example, a switch, similar to switch 160, may be secured to the motor housing 64 and triggered when the lower cap 68 contacts a user, surface, or other obstacle.
Additionally, the controller 162 may direct operation of the motor 62 before, during, and after a triggering of the switch 160. For example, the controller may include instructions to direct various levels of power source 69 and/or motor 62 output under certain conditions or events. These instructions may be triggered based on one or more variables including time, a power level of the power source 69, the motor 62 on/off state, and/or a switch input to name a few.
In one example, the frame assembly 306 may include six frame segments 312. Upper portions of the frame segments 312 may be secured to a frame cap 323. The frame segments 312 may be arranged to form an exo-skeletal structure about the propeller assembly and the motor assembly 60. The frame segments 312 may define a prolate spheroidal-shaped region therewithin. At least a portion of the prolate spheroid-shaped region may have a circumference greater than a circumference of the safety ring 24. Optionally, one or more frame rings 326 may be secured to the frame segments 312, such as at locations above and below a plane defined by the propeller 12. The frame rings 326 may provide additional structural rigidity to the frame assembly 306. The frame rings 326 may further assist in preventing a user from contacting the propeller 12 including safety ring 24 and/or may further assist in preventing the safety ring 24 from contacting an obstacle. A circumference of the frame rings 326 may be greater than the circumference of the safety ring 24.
The toy entity 300 may include an orientation sensor (not shown) in communication with a controller (not shown) to identify a vertical or horizontal orientation of the toy entity 300. For example, a user may orient the toy entity 300 in a position similar to the position shown in
Each of the entities and supporting control systems described herein may operate with additional sensor and/or components according to desired operations and performance. For example, an impact sensor (not shown) may be implemented with one or more of the above described entities and control systems. The impact sensor may be in communication with the respective controller to detect entity impacts with objects and obstacles. The controller may be configured to deactivate the motor 62 upon receipt of an impact signal from the impact sensor. The controller may also be configured to deactivate the motor 62 when the controller receives a voltage feedback from the motor 62 indicating interference with rotation of one or more of the blades 22.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics can be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes can include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particular applications.
