UNDERWATER TOY

Abstract

A submersible toy whose density is less than water, and whose design and construction allow the toy to glide forward, when released underwater, at a slight upward angle as the toy rises to the surface of the water. The toy includes a single wing, slidable along a channel within the body, that produces variations in movement of the toy depending on the selected position of the wing relative to the body of the toy.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to beach and pool toys, and particularly to a submersible toy whose density is less than that of water, and whose design and construction allow the toy, upon release under water, to glide forward underwater at a slight upward angle as the toy rises to the surface of the water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,622 discloses an underwater toy that includes a body and a pair of wings fixedly attached to the body behind the center of gravity of the toy. The disclosure of that patent is incorporated herein by reference. The wings of that device are shaped and oriented to resist vertical movement while providing little resistance to forward movement, thus allowing the toy, once released under water, to rise gradually toward the surface.

Another underwater toy allows each of a pair of wings to be separately manipulated in order to change and control the direction in which the toy travels once it is released under water.

The device of the instant invention provides a unique and simple submersible toy construction that incorporates a single, adjustable wing. Variations in movement of the toy may be selected depending on the chosen positioning of the wing relative to the body of the toy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the figure, each identical or nearly identical component illustrated is typically represented by a single numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure, nor is every component of each embodiment of the invention shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention. In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an underwater toy according to the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view as seen from the right side of the toy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 depicts the single wing of the toy.

FIG. 5 illustrates the placement of the wing within the body of the toy.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the toy taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of half of the toy, showing the cross-section of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C show the wing in three of the possible positions that may be selected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An underwater toy 10 according to the instant invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Wing 12 is slidably enclosed between the top half 14 and bottom half 16 of body 18, as explained below, and extends outwardly from each side of body 18. FIG. 3 provides a side view of the underwater toy 10, showing wing 12 extending from the body 18 and continuing beyond the rear of body 18.

Turning to FIG. 4, wing 12 has an arcuate slot 20 therethrough with a plurality of paired notches 22 therein, as described below. FIG. 5 illustrates the position of wing 12 within toy body 18, as well as the position of channel 19 within which wing 12 may slide to various positions

FIG. 6 depicts in cross-section the top half 14 and bottom half 16 of toy body 18. Pin member 24, comprised of bottom member 26 and cap 28, extends through the body of the toy perpendicular to and through channel 19, and through slot 20 in wing 12. Cap 28 is force-fit or otherwise affixed to bottom member 26 to form the pin member 24 during assembly of the underwater toy. Pin member 24 is slightly large in diameter than the width of slot 20 (except at the pairs of notches 22).

FIG. 7 again depicts the wing 12 disposed between the top half 14 and the bottom half 16 of body 18. As discussed above, the wing 12 is confined within the body 18 by a flat, curved channel 19 formed between the two halves 14 and 16 and extending across body 18 (see FIG. 5). Pin member 24 extends perpendicularly through body 18 and wing 12.

As shown in FIGS. 8-A to 8-C, wing 12 may be slid to the left or the right, as wing 12 and slot 20 are moved in relation to pin member 24. As wing 12 slides past pin member 24, pairs of notches 22 in slot 20 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) cooperate with pin 24 to temporarily hold wing 12 in a fixed position (here any one of five positions) corresponding to each pair of notches. Because wing 12 is made of somewhat flexible plastic, slot 20 may expand and contract in width in order to slide along pin member 24 and engage with the pin member at one of the pairs of notches 22.

When the wing 12 is positioned off-center with regard to pin member 24, the toy will move to the right or left as it ascends in the water, the amount of swerve being selectable by adjusting the position of the wing within the toy body.

Body 18 of the underwater toy is preferably made of molded foam. Wing 12 is made of die-cut plastic, and the bottom member 26 and cap 28 of pin member 24 preferable are made of molded plastic.

Those skilled in the art may readily recognize various alterations, modifications, and improvements. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting.

From the description of at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the results and/or one of more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are mean to be exemplary and the actual parameters, dimensions, materials and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings of the present invention is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. It is therefore to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, with the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. The present invention is directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An underwater toy having a density less than water, comprising: a body having a left side and a right side and a flat channel extending through the body between the two sides;a wing member slidably disposed in said channel and extending out from said body on both sides, said wing being selectively moveable away from the body on either side.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the channel and the wing are of an arcuate shape.

3. The toy of claim 2 wherein the toy further comprises a pin member extending through the body and through the channel in a direction perpendicular to the channel, and wherein the wing includes an arcuate slot through which the pin member extends and relative to which the wing may be moved to different positions along the slot.

4. The toy of claim 4, wherein the slot further comprises a plurality of paired notches spaced apart, one notch of each pair being located opposite the other on the opposing sides of the slot, each of which pairs of notches engages with the pin to temporarily hold the wing in a selected position on the pin member.