Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6695728
-
Patent Number
6,695,728
-
Date Filed
Monday, February 10, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 24, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 473 570
- 473 613
- 473 575
- 473 576
- 473 585
- 473 586
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A throwing toy having a rotational counter includes a football-shaped body and a tail assembly connected to the football-shaped body. The tail assembly includes a cylindrical body rotationally fixed to the football-shaped body, a rotational counter mounted within the cylindrical body, with the rotational counter having a first part rotationally fixed to the cylindrical body and a second part rotational with respect to the first part, the rotational counter arranged to provide visual indicia indicative of the number of rotations of the first part relative to the second part, and an elongate rod having a central axis. A first end of the elongate rod is operatively fixed to the second part of the rotational counter, and at least one tail fin is mounted to a second end of the elongate rod, the tail fin causing the elongate rod and the second part of the rotational counter to rotate relative to the first part of the rotational counter when the throwing toy is thrown through the air.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a throwing toy having a football-shaped body and a rotating tail that extends outwardly from the football-shaped body.
Throwing toys having football-shaped bodies and rearwardly extending tail sections have been commercially marketed more than one year prior to the filing date of this patent. For example, a throwing toy marketed under the trademark Vortex® had a football-shaped body and a tail section fixed to the football-shaped body that extends rearwardly from the football-shaped body. The tail section included three tail fins, each of which was positioned radially about the tail section.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,198 to Grimm discloses a tossable game ball having a football-shaped body and a tail section that is mounted to and extends rearwardly from the football-shaped body. The tail section has three tail fins. The tail section is fixed to the football-shaped body so that, when the game ball is thrown, the football-shaped body and the tail section rotate together at the same rate of rotation.
A throwing toy similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,419 to Rappaport, et al. was marketed under the trademark Vortex® Mega Spin™ football by OddzOn, Inc. more than one year prior to the filing date of this patent. The throwing toy disclosed in the Rappaport, et al. patent has a football-shaped body and a tail section coupled to the football-shaped body. The tail section is rotatable relative to the football-shaped body so that, when the toy is thrown, the football-shaped body rotates while the tail section does not rotate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, a throwing toy having a rotational counter includes a football-shaped body and a tail assembly connected to the football-shaped body. The tail assembly includes a cylindrical body rotationally fixed to the football-shaped body, a rotational counter mounted within the cylindrical body, with the rotational counter having a first part rotationally fixed to the cylindrical body and a second part rotational with respect to the first part, the rotational counter arranged to provide visual indicia indicative of the number of rotations of the first part relative to the second part, and an elongate rod having a central axis. A first end of the elongate rod is operatively fixed to the second part of the rotational counter, and at least one tail fin is mounted to a second end of the elongate rod, the tail fin causing the elongate rod and the second part of the rotational counter to rotate relative to the first part of the rotational counter when the throwing toy is thrown through the air.
In further accordance with an aspect, the cylindrical body may include a forward part and a rearward part, and the rearward part may includes an aperture with the elongate rod extending through the aperture. A window may be provided wherein the visual indicia is viewable through the window, and the rearward part and the forward part may be suitably joined along an interface with the counter received within a seat formed within the cylindrical body. The rotational counter may include a reset button, and the forward part of the elongate rod may be secured within an aperture in the second part of the rotational counter.
A plurality of tail fins may be mounted to the second end of the elongate rod, and each of the tail fins may include a trailing edge having an angled surface. The cylindrical body may be provided with a cup-shaped forward end sized to receive a trailing end of the football-shaped body, and the elongate rod may have a circular cross-section.
In another aspect, a throwing toy comprises a football-shaped body, and a tail assembly connected to the football-shaped body and having a tail section mounted for rotation relative to the football-shaped body. The tail assembly comprises a cylindrical body rotationally fixed to the football-shaped body, a rotational counter mounted within the cylindrical body, the rotational counter having a first part rotationally fixed to the cylindrical body and a second part rotational with respect to the first part, the rotational counter arranged to provide visual indicia indicative of the number of rotations of the first part relative to the second part, an elongate rod having a central axis, a first end of the elongate rod operatively fixed to the second part of the rotational counter, and a tail fin assembly mounted to a second end of the elongate rod. The tail fin assembly causes the elongate rod and the second part of the rotational counter to rotate relative to the first part of the rotational counter when the throwing toy is thrown through the air.
In another aspect, a throwing toy comprises a football-shaped body and a tail assembly connected to the football-shaped body and having a tail section mounted for rotation relative to the football-shaped body. The tail assembly comprises a cylindrical body rotationally fixed to the football-shaped body, a rotational counter mounted within the cylindrical body, the rotational counter having a first part rotationally fixed to the cylindrical body and a second part rotational with respect to the first part, the rotational counter arranged to provide visual indicia indicative of the number of rotations of the first part relative to the second part, an elongate rod having a central axis, a first end of the elongate rod operatively fixed to the second part of the rotational counter, and a plurality of tail fins formed on a rearward portion of the elongate rod, the tail fins sized and shaped to cause the elongate rod and the second part of the rotational counter to rotate relative to the first part of the rotational counter when the throwing toy is thrown through the air.
The features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a side view of an embodiment of a throwing toy in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2
a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the football shaped body in cross-section;
FIG. 3
is an exploded view, partly in perspective, of the throwing toy in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is an end view taken along line
4
—
4
of
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 5
is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a throwing toy similar to the throwing toy of
FIG. 1
but illustrating the rotational counter disposed within the football-shaped body; and
FIG. 6
is a side elevational view of a throwing toy according to any of the preceding embodiments shown traveling through the air along a trajectory and illustrating one possible manner of correlating the distance traveled to the number of rotations of the tail section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1
is a side view of an embodiment of a throwing toy
10
in accordance with the invention. Referring to
FIG. 1
, the throwing toy
10
may be provided with a football-shaped body
12
and a tail assembly
14
that is coupled to the football-shaped body
12
. The football-shaped body
12
may be provided with a length of about six inches to allow it to be gripped by one's hand prior to throwing the toy
10
.
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 3
, the tail assembly
14
may include a cylindrical body
15
formed of a forward tubular section
16
and rearward tubular section
18
. The tail assembly
14
may also include an elongate rod
20
having ends
22
,
24
. A rear tail section
26
is preferably mounted to the end
24
, with the rear tail section
26
preferably including one or more fins
28
. A rotational counter
30
is disposed within the cylindrical body
15
, with the rotational counter
30
including indicia
32
, such as numbers or other suitable indicia. The end
22
of the elongate rod
20
is connected to the rotational counter
30
as will be explained in greater detail below.
The tail section
30
may include a plurality of tail fins
28
, which may be triangular in shape, and which may be connected to a central part
34
of the tail section
30
at points radially spaced about the central part
34
. For example, referring to
FIG. 4
, if three tail fins
28
a
,
28
b
,
28
c
are utilized, the tail fins
28
a
,
28
b
,
28
c
may be spaced radially 120° apart. The tail fins
28
a
,
28
b
,
28
c
may be connected to the tube
22
, such as by adhesive, or the tail fins
28
a
,
28
b
,
28
c
may be integrally formed with the central part
34
of the tail section
26
. Still other forms of construction may be contemplated.
Referring still to
FIGS. 1 and 3
, the forward tubular section
16
and the rearward tubular section
18
may each comprise a cylindrical bearing tube, such that together the sections
16
and
18
define a cylindrical cavity
40
. The cylindrical cavity is suitably sized to receive the rotational counter
30
, and may include suitable stops and/or supports (not shown) to enable the rotational counter
30
to be suitably secured within the cylindrical body
15
. The rearward tubular section
18
may be provided with a central bore
42
(
FIG. 1
) through which the elongate rod
20
passes, and the diameter of the central bore
42
may be selected so as to allow the elongate rod
20
to freely rotate relative to the rearward tubular section
18
and the cylindrical body
15
.
The body
15
is preferably provided with a window
44
, with the indicia
32
on the counter
30
preferably being viewable through the window
44
. In the disclosed example, the window
44
is formed by cooperating notches
46
and
48
, with the notch
46
formed in the forward tubular section
16
and the notch
48
formed in the rearward tubular section
18
. Accordingly, when the sections
16
and
18
are joined along an interface
50
as shown in
FIG. 1
, the notches
46
,
48
form the window
44
. The interface
50
may take a variety of forms, with the interface
50
formed by adhesively mating the edges of the sections
16
and
18
. Alternatively, the section
16
may be formed of a slightly greater diameter so as to receive the section
18
therein, or vice-versa. Other suitable forms for joining the sections
16
and
18
may be used.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, the tail fins
28
a
,
28
b
,
28
c
are spaced radially about the central part
34
of the tail section
26
. Each of the tail fins
28
a
,
28
b
,
28
c
may form a planar or substantially planar wing surface
52
. Each of the tail fins
28
a
,
28
b
, and
28
c
also may be provided with an angled aileron or wing
54
a
,
54
b
,
54
c
, respectively, such that the wings
54
a
,
54
b
,
54
c
may, in the disclosed example, assist in imparting rotation R to the tail section
26
and hence the rod
20
relative to the football-shaped body
12
when the throwing toy
10
is proceeding through the air along a path of trajectory.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, the football-shaped body
12
may be provided with an inner core
12
a
, which may comprise a foam-type material, and an outer cover
12
b
, which may comprise a rubber-like material that resists abrasion when the throwing toy
10
lands on the ground and that allows the football-shaped body
12
to be easily gripped for throwing purposes. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,807,198 and 6,010,419, which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose materials that could be utilized for the football-shaped body
12
. The particular materials that are used in the football-shaped body
12
are not considered important to the invention. The outer layer
12
b
may be formed over the inner core
12
a
. Although one method of construction is described, other methods could be utilized.
The forward tubular section
16
may include a cup-shaped end
36
, which is preferably sized in complementary fashion to receive the rearward portion
38
of the football-shaped body
12
, such that the forward tubular section
16
and the football-shaped body
12
may be suitably joined by an adhesive.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the rotational counter
30
, which may be conventional and which may be obtained from a plurality of commercial sources, includes a first part
64
and a second part
66
. As would be known, relative rotation between the first and second parts
64
,
66
causes the visible indicia
32
(in the preferred form numerical indicia) to change in increments indicative of complete or partial relative rotations between the first and second parts
64
,
66
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, the first part
64
is arranged to be rotationally fixed to the section
16
of the cylindrical body
15
, and hence the first part
64
will be rotationally fixed relative to the body
12
. The second part
66
is arranged to be rotationally fixed to the elongate rod
20
, and hence the second part will be rotationally fixed relative to the tail section
26
. The end
24
of the rod
20
may be suitably secured to a receiving aperture
68
in the second part
66
. For example, the end
24
maybe secured to the receiving aperture by gluing or bonding, by a press fit or a swaged connection, by a friction or interference fit which may include a knurled cylindrical connection, or by any other suitable mechanical connection. Additionally, one of skill in the art will appreciate that suitable spacers, washer, etc., may be provided as needed in order to reduce friction at appropriate points in the tail assembly
14
.
Referring again to
FIGS. 1
,
3
and
4
, the wings
54
a-c
of the tail fins
28
on the tail section
26
may each be mounted on their respective fins
28
a-c
at an angle so that when the throwing toy
10
is thrown through the air, the impact of the air against the tail fins
28
will cause the tail section
26
to rotate in the direction R (viewing
FIG. 4
) The wings may of course be oriented at varying angles relative to the fins
28
so as to increase or decrease the rate of rotation, or to change the direction of rotation of the tail section
26
relative to the body
12
.
The throwing toy
10
may be assembled by forming the tail assembly
14
and securing the football-shaped body
12
to the tail assembly
14
using an appropriate adhesive. Alternatively, if formed according to the example of
FIG. 5
, the throwing toy
10
may be assembled by forming the tail assembly
14
and then forming the football-shaped body
12
about the tail assembly
14
.
The tail assembly
14
may be formed by placing the rotational counter
30
in the section
16
with a reset button
31
for the counter
30
engaged in the notch
46
. A seat
47
may be formed in the cylindrical body
15
, such as by cooperating protrusions
47
a
and
47
b
in the sections
16
,
18
, respectively (FIG.
1
). The end
24
of the rod
20
is placed through the aperture
42
in the section
18
, and then the end
24
of the rod
20
is suitably secured to the second part
66
of the counter
30
as outlined above. The section
18
is then suitably secured to the section
16
, such that the counter
30
is disposed in the cavity
40
, with the indicia
32
visible through the window
44
.
A coating of adhesive may be applied to appropriate surfaces on the sections
16
and
18
, and adhesive may also be applied in order to suitably secure the first part
64
of the counter
30
to the section
16
, with care being taken not to inadvertently glue the moveable indicia or to otherwise interrupt the relative rotation between the first and second parts
64
and
66
of the counter
30
. When the adhesive dries, the cylindrical body
15
will be fixed to the football-shaped body
12
, and the tail section
26
will be freely rotatable with respect to the football-shaped body
12
.
FIG. 5
illustrates another exemplary form for the throwing toy
10
in which at least a portion of the cylindrical body
15
and/or the forward section
16
extend forwardly into the football-shaped body
12
. Unless specifically mentioned herein, the remaining components of the throwing toy
10
may be the same or substantially similar to those components discussed in detail with respect to the first disclosed example. The rotational counter
30
is disposed forwardly relative to the position shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3
and, in the disclosed example, is shown inside the football-shaped body
12
, which construction may offer additional protection for the rotational counter
30
. The seat
47
may be appropriately located within the cylindrical body
15
so as to conveniently place the rotational counter
30
forward enough to a desired position. The section
18
of the cylindrical body
15
may be sized as necessary, and the length of the elongate rod
20
may be lengthened as necessary so as to extend forwardly far enough into the football-shaped body
12
to engage the rotational counter
30
in a manner substantially similar to that discussed above with respect to the first disclosed example. Preferably, the football-shaped body
12
is provided with a recessed window
49
, which may include a plurality of angled walls
51
a
,
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
which may generally converge toward the rotational counter
30
so as to reveal the indicia
32
.
Referring now to
FIG. 6
, in accordance with the disclosed example(s), the size and angle of the wings
54
a-c
may be adjusted. It will be understood that, as an alternative, the tail fins
28
a-c
may be angled. As the size and/or angle of the wings
54
a-c
, respectively, are increased, the tail section
26
will be made to rotate at a rotational rate that is greater than the rotational rate of the football-shaped body
12
. After the throwing toy
10
has been thrown along a trajectory from a starting point to an end point, a user may then conveniently convert the number of rotations indicated by the counter
30
into a distance measurement, either by using the number of rotations as a basis for comparison between successive throws or by comparing the number of rotations to an actual distance measured between the starting point and the end point. The angle of the wings
54
a
-
54
c
may be pre-set at a predetermined angle such that the tail section
26
undergoes a single revolution for a predetermined distance. For example, the angle of the wings
54
a
-
54
c
may be pre-set so that the tail section
26
rotates a single revolution as the throwing toy travels three (3) feet, such that the rotational counter indicates the distance traveled in yards. The precise angle required would depend on the sizes of the various components, and would be within the skill of those familiar with the art using available scientific principles.
In use, the throwing toy
10
is gripped by placing one's hand on the football-shaped body
12
, and the toy
10
is thrown through the air in the same manner that a football would be thrown. Preferably, upon release of the throwing toy
10
, the football-shaped body
12
may rotate little or not at all, as the tail section
26
rotates more readily (i.e., the tail section
26
has a substantially lower rotational moment of inertia). The football-shaped body
12
and the cylindrical body
15
are fixed relative to each other and thus tend not to rotate as the tail section
26
rotates. In any event, as the toy
10
travels through the air, the force of the air on the tail fins causes the tail section
26
to rotate relative to the body
12
, as described above.
It should be appreciated that numerous changes could be made while still utilizing the invention. For example, various features, such as the wings
54
a-c
could be omitted, and the tail section
26
could be modified, such as by angling the fins
28
a-c
with respect to an axis of the central section
34
. Also, instead of providing substantially planar tail fins, non-planar tail fins could be provided to cause the tail section
26
to rotate. The construction of the football-shaped body
12
and the tail assembly
14
could be changed, and the manner in which the tail assembly
14
is mounted to the football-shaped body
12
could be changed. Other details of construction could be utilized, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,807,198 and 6,010,419, which are incorporated by reference herein.
Numerous additional modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. This description is to be construed as illustrative only, and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details of the structure and method may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.
Claims
- 1. A throwing toy, comprising:a football-shaped body; and a tail assembly connected to the football-shaped body, the tail assembly comprising: a cylindrical body rotationally fixed to the football-shaped body; a rotational counter mounted within the cylindrical body, the rotational counter having a first part rotationally fixed to the cylindrical body and a second part rotational with respect to the first part, the rotational counter arranged to provide visual indicia indicative of the number of rotations of the first part relative to the second part; an elongate rod having a central axis, a first end of the elongate rod operatively fixed to the second part of the rotational counter; and at least one tail fin mounted to a second end of the elongate rod, the tail fin causing the elongate rod and the second part of the rotational counter to rotate relative to the first part of the rotational counter when the throwing toy is thrown through the air.
- 2. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body includes a forward part and a rearward part.
- 3. The throwing toy of claim 2, wherein the rearward part includes an aperture, and wherein the elongate rod extends through the aperture.
- 4. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body includes a window, and wherein the visual indicia is viewable through the window.
- 5. The throwing toy of claim 2, wherein the rearward part and the forward part are joined along an interface.
- 6. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the rotational counter includes a reset button.
- 7. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the forward part of the elongate rod is secured within an aperture in the second part of the rotational counter.
- 8. The throwing toy of claim 1, including a plurality of tail fins mounted to the second end of the elongate rod.
- 9. The throwing toy of claim 8, wherein each of the tail fins includes a trailing edge having an angled surface.
- 10. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body includes a cup-shaped forward end sized to receive a trailing end of the football-shaped body.
- 11. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the elongate rod has a circular cross-section.
- 12. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body defines an internal cavity, and wherein the rotational counter is cylindrical and sized for insertion into the cylindrical cavity.
- 13. The throwing toy of claim 1, wherein the tail fin is sized and shaped so that in response to throwing the throwing toy the football-shaped body rotates at a first rate and the elongate rod rotates at a second rate.
- 14. The throwing toy of claim 13, wherein the second rate is greater than the first rate.
- 15. A throwing toy, comprising:a football-shaped body; and a tail assembly connected to the football-shaped body and having a tail section mounted for rotation relative to the football-shaped body, the tail assembly comprising: a cylindrical body rotationally fixed to the football-shaped body; a rotational counter mounted within the cylindrical body, the rotational counter having a first part rotationally fixed to the cylindrical body and a second part rotational with respect to the first part, the rotational counter arranged to provide visual indicia indicative of the number of rotations of the first part relative to the second part; an elongate rod having a central axis, a first end of the elongate rod operatively fixed to the second part of the rotational counter; and a tail fin assembly mounted to a second end of the elongate rod, the tail fin assembly causing the elongate rod and the second part of the rotational counter to rotate relative to the first part of the rotational counter when the throwing toy is thrown through the air.
- 16. The throwing toy of claim 15, wherein the cylindrical body includes a forward part and a rearward part, at least one of the forward part and the rearward part forming a cavity sized to receive the rotational counter.
- 17. The throwing toy of claim 15, wherein the rotational counter includes a first part rotationally fixed to the football-shaped body and a second part rotationally fixed to the tail section.
- 18. The throwing toy of claim 16, wherein the rotational counter is a mechanical counter.
- 19. The throwing toy of claim 15, wherein the cylindrical body includes a window, the visual indicia viewable through the window, and wherein the rearward part and the forward part are joined along an interface.
- 20. The throwing toy of claim 16, wherein the forward part of the elongate rod is secured within an aperture in the second part of the rotational counter.
- 21. The throwing toy of claim 15, wherein the tail fin assembly includes a plurality of tail fins extending radially from a central section.
- 22. The throwing toy of claim 21, wherein each of the tail fins includes a trailing edge having an angled wing.
- 23. The throwing toy of claim 15, wherein the cylindrical body includes a cup-shaped forward end sized to receive a trailing end of the football-shaped body.
- 24. The throwing toy of claim 15, wherein the elongate rod has a circular cross-section, and wherein the cylindrical body defines an internal seat sized to receive the rotational counter.
- 25. The throwing toy of claim 15, wherein the tail fin assembly is sized so that in response to throwing the throwing toy the football-shaped body rotates at a first rate and the elongate rod rotates at a second rate greater than the first rate.
- 26. A throwing toy, comprising:a football-shaped body; and a tail assembly connected to the football-shaped body and having a tail section mounted for rotation relative to the football-shaped body, the tail assembly comprising: a cylindrical body rotationally fixed to the football-shaped body; a rotational counter mounted within the cylindrical body, the rotational counter having a first part rotationally fixed to the cylindrical body and a second part rotational with respect to the first part, the rotational counter arranged to provide visual indicia indicative of the number of rotations of the first part relative to the second part; an elongate rod having a central axis, a first end of the elongate rod operatively fixed to the second part of the rotational counter; and a plurality of tail fins formed on a rearward portion of the elongate rod, the tail fins sized and shaped to cause the elongate rod and the second part of the rotational counter to rotate relative to the first part of the rotational counter when the throwing toy is thrown through the air.
US Referenced Citations (8)