WATER ROCKET FIN ATTACHMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

A plastic sheet that can be formed into a cylinder or truncated cone and attached to a pressure vessel by use of integral self-adhesive tabs. The cylinder or truncated cone is then used as an extension and structure for the attachment of rocket fins.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE EFS-WEB

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In many water rocket systems the body of the rocket requires a plastic carbonated drink bottle that uses the addition of a nose cone and fins to achieve stable rocket flight. Many of the existing methods used to build water rockets are impractical, heavy, unreliable, time consuming, and ineffective. This fin attachment system is unique, practical, light weight, reliable, and effective.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one embodiment, a flat plastic sheet, of the appropriate dimensions, is used as an extension attached to a plastic carbonated drink bottle. This extension functions as an attachment point for application of fins on a plastic drink bottle. The flat plastic sheet is formed into a cylinder using high strength double sided adhesive tape on an overlapping seam. The cylinder is attached to a plastic drink bottle using tabs that are an integral part of the plastic sheet. High-strength double-sided adhesive tape strips are strategically applied to the tabs to allow the tabs to be bent away from the bottle for removal of the paper backing from the adhesive and adhered to the bottle. Once applied to the plastic drink bottle the cylinder provides an attachment point for the application of stabilizing fins. The cylinder positions the fins lower on the bottle than can be achieved without the cylinder, increasing their aerodynamic effectivity. The fin attachment system is resilient with minimal aerodynamic drag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the included figures the fin attachment system is shown as a flat sheet, formed into a cylinder, attached to a plastic bottle, and with fins and nose attached in a rocket configuration.

FIG. 1 is a flat sheet view of one embodiment of a fin attachment system.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a fin attachment system formed Into a cylinder.

FIG. 3 is a view of one embodiment of a fin attachment system attached to a plastic drink bottle

FIG. 4 is a view of one embodiment of the fin attachment system with fins and nose attached to a plastic bottle in a rocket configuration.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a rocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the fin attachment system (100). The fin attachment system consists of a transparent plastic sheet (1) including an adhesive strip (2) and multiple tabs (3) with adhesive (4). A water fill line (5) is pre-printed at the location shown. The width (6) is sized to match the circumference of a plastic drink bottle. The overlap (7) containing adhesive strip (2) is used for forming the plastic sheet (1) into a permanent cylinder to fit tightly around a plastic drink bottle. The fin target box (8) is used to properly align stabilizing fins.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the transparent plastic sheet (1) formed into a cylinder (200) held together by adhesive strip (2). When placed over a plastic drink bottle the cylinder (200) is attached using tabs (3) and adhesive (4). The water fill line (5) represents the recommended water amount for rocket flight. The fin target box (8) provides a target location for proper alignment of fin. Only one fin target box is visible. Any number of evenly spaced boxes can be preprinted on the plastic sheet (1) as required for stable rocket flight.

FIG. 3 is an assembly view of the plastic sheet (1) formed into a cylinder using an adhesive strip (2) and attached to plastic drink bottle (8) using tabs (3) and adhesive (4) to make the foundation for the rocket assembly (300) ready for attachment of a nose cone and fins.

FIG. 4 is an assembly view of a complete rocket (400). The rocket is assembled by attaching a plastic sheet (1) formed into a cylinder using an adhesive strip (2) and secured to a drink bottle (8) using tabs (3) with adhesive (4). Nose cone (9) is attached to the bottom of drink bottle (8) and fins (10) are attached to the plastic sheet (1) using adhesive (11).

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a complete rocket (400) showing, the plastic sheet (1) formed into a cylinder and attached to the plastic drink bottle (8). Fins (10) are attached to the plastic sheet (1) and the nose (9) is attached to the bottom of the bottle (8) which is now the top of the rocket.

Claims

1. A plastic water rocket fin attachment system consisting of a flat sheet of the appropriate dimensioned plastic with double sided adhesive placed in locations so that the sheet can be formed into a cylinder or truncated cone and then attached to a carbonated drink bottle using adhesive backed tabs, to provide an easy functional attachment point for rocket fins to achieve stable rocket flight.

2. A fin attachment system of claim 1 can be sized to be used on any appropriate plastic drink bottle.

3. A fin attachment system of claim 1 can be used on rockets with any form of propulsion systems including water, air, solid and liquid fuel systems.

4. A fin attachment system of claim 1 can use various size and shape adhesive tabs to attach to the plastic drink bottle.