Patent Application
20050006532
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to rotating members, and more particularly to propeller systems for kites.
2. Description of the Related Art
Aircraft kites such as kites in the shape of airplanes, spacecraft, and fanciful flying animals have been made by others. However, there are substantial disadvantages to making aircraft kites that have propellers as they may require excessive packaging space for shipping and storing, and/or they may be complicated and difficult to assemble and disassemble. What is needed is a propeller system that is easy to assemble and disassemble, and may be packaged in a relatively small package for shipping, storage and display.
In one embodiment, a propeller system of the present invention includes a rotating member including one or more blade portions configured to couple to each other, a support portion, and an axle portion configured to couple to the rotating member and the support portion.
In another embodiment, the invention is a propeller system including one or more blade portions, including an aperture, configured to couple to each other, a support portion including a support aperture, an axle portion configured to extend through said aperture of said one or more blade portions and said support aperture to couple them, and a base portion configured to couple to said support portion.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a review of the following specification and accompanying drawings.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized.
A novelty of the present invention is shown in
Blade portions 24 are typically 4.0-10.0 inches long, by 0.5-2.0 inches wide, by 0.5-2.0 inches in height with a hub that is about 0.25-1.0 inches in diameter. Axle portion 34 is typically 1.0-4.0 inches in length and 0.03-0.5 inches in diameter. It will be appreciated, however, that other dimensions may be utilized, as desired.
Support portion 28 is also configured to couple to base portion 40, such that base portion 40 supports support portion 28. Support portion 28 is typically 5.0-10.0 inches in length, when flat, and typically snaps together with base portion 40. Base portion 40 is typically 0.25-1.0 inches in height with a diameter of 2.0-8.0 inches. It will be appreciated, however, that other dimensions may be utilized, as desired.
Propeller system 20 also includes support portion 28 which includes support aperture 30 and connection portion 32. Aperture 26 and support aperture 30 are configured to allow axle portion 34 to extend through to rotationally couple rotating member 22 and support portion 28. Connection portion 32 is configured to couple to base portion 40 at connection portion 42 of base portion 40. Base portion 40 is typically configured to also couple to a novelty, such as a kite model, and the like.
Propeller system 20 further includes axle portion 34, which typically includes rod 36 and at least one retaining member 38. Retaining member 38 may form an interference fit with rod 36, and may be removable to allow rod 36 to extend through apertures 30 and 26, for easy assembly and disassembly. Retaining member 38 may then be reconnected to rod 36 to secure rotating member 22 to support portion 28. Retaining members 38 are typically made of a soft, plastic or rubber-like material and are typically 0.25-1.0 inches in length.
Interlocking portions 50 typically couple together by an interference fit or friction fit, but many other configurations may be utilized such that blade portions generally resemble a propeller. Blade portions may also fit together loosely, such that the force of the wind when the kite is in flight may cause the interlocking portions of the blade portions to interact with each other, and/or exert force upon each other, to cause them to rotate, and thereby resemble a propeller system of an aircraft. Although two blade portions are shown, it will be appreciated that more could be used to generally resemble a propeller of an aircraft. It will be noted that blade portions 24 can be formed in generally the same shape and be rotated to interlock together. Furthermore, more than one set of blade portions 24 per axle may be used to simulate different types of propellers for aircraft, and the like. Furthermore, a novelty may include numerous propeller systems, as desired.
Interlocking portions typically include extending portions 52, alternating with flat portions 54. An extending portion 52 typically will correspond to a flat portion 54 of another blade portion, such that the two blade portions will interlock. With this configuration, the blade portions may couple to each other to form a propeller-like structure.
All parts of propeller system 20 are typically made from plastic or rubber, but may be made from other materials including ceramic, fabric, or other materials.
Connection portions 32 and 42 may be configured to snap together to form an interference fit, but other configurations for connecting support portion 28 to base portion 40 may be used as desired. Apertures 26 and 30 are configured to have a diameter larger than rod 36 such that rotating member 22 will rotate freely with relatively low forces acting upon it, such as a summer breeze.
It will be appreciated that all portions of propeller system 20 are easily assembled and disassembled. When disassembled, all portions of propeller system 20 will readily fit into a relatively small package, thereby saving packaging, shipping, storage and shelf space.
Blade portions 24 are typically 6.0 to 10.0 inches in length and 0.25 to 1 inch in height. Rod 36 is typically 1.0 to 3.0 inches in length and retaining members 38 are typically 0.25 to 0.75 inches in length. Support portion 28 is typically 5.0 to 10.0 inches in length. Base portion 40 is typically 4.0 to 6.0 inches in diameter. It will be appreciated that other dimensions for all portions can be used as desired.
Retaining members 38 are typically made of a soft, rubber-like compound, but may be made from other materials including plastic.
Blade portions 24 are typically configured to look like the blades of an aircraft propeller, but may be formed to look like other items.
All parts of propeller system 20 may be made inexpensively and relatively small in size to reduce the size of the package when disassembled for shipping, storage, and when displayed on a retail store shelf.
While the present invention has been described with regards to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept.
