# US 10,307,667 B2 · Remote-control flying craft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,667 B2 - Document ID: US10307667B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/627,310 - Filed: 2017-06-19 - Published: 2018-01-11 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-05 - Assignees: QFO Labs, Inc. - Applicants: QFO Labs, Inc. - Inventors: John Paul Condon; James Edward Fairman; Bradley Dean Pedersen; Thomas Edward KraMer; Scott Andrew Melanson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307667B2 ## CPC - A63F 13/235: using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet - A63F 13/00: Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions - A63F 13/245: specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels - A63F 13/837: Shooting of targets - A63H 13/00: Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole - A63H 17/00: Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; {(convertible into other toys A63H33/003); Cranes, winches or the like;} Accessories therefor (traffic games with figures moved by players A63F9/14) - A63H 17/32: Acoustical or optical signalling devices - A63H 27/12: {Helicopters (A63H27/04 takes precedence); Flying tops} - A63H 30/04: using wireless transmission - B64U 10/14: with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters - B64U 30/26: Ducted or shrouded rotors - G05D 1/0033: {by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle} - A63H 27/00: Toy aircraft; Other flying toys (toys with parachutes A63H33/20) - A63H 33/26: Magnetic or electric toys (electric drives A63H29/22 {; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068}) - A63H 2200/00: Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls - B64C 2203/00: Flying model aircraft, flying toy aircraft - B64U 20/77: the body being formed integrally with wings or rotor supports - B64U 20/83: Electronic components structurally integrated with aircraft elements, e.g. circuit boards carrying loads - B64U 60/50: with landing legs - B64U 2101/05: for sports or gaming, e.g. drone racing - B64U 2201/20: Remote controls - F21L 4/027: {the light sources being a LED} - F21V 23/0435: {activated by remote control means} - F41G 1/36: with infrared light source - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - F21L: LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F41G: WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING (optical aspects thereof G02B) ## Abstract A hovering remote-control flying craft having a molded frame assembly includes a plurality of arms extending from a center body with an electric motor and corresponding propeller on each arm. In various embodiments, the motor and propeller are mounted downward-facing at a distal portion of each arm with a motor cover over the motor. The center body can be formed of a two-piece molded structure that sandwiches a circuit board to provide structural support for the frame. The circuit board can include a plurality of tabs that facilitate mounting of wire connectors, and can also provide antennas and emitters for both IR and RF communications. In some embodiments, a removable safety ring protects the propellers from lateral contact. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hovering flying craft adapted to be controlled by remote control, the craft comprising: a frame assembly including a center body having at least three arms extending outwardly from the center body and at least three legs extending downwardly from the center body; at least three motor assemblies that each include an electromechanical motor and at least one corresponding propeller operably mounted downwardly-facing, with at least one motor assembly operably mounted at a distal portion of each of the at least three arms; a circuit board assembly operably mounted to the center body and configured to control the craft in response to radio frequency signals; and a replaceable rechargeable battery insertable into a battery compartment defined in the center body and operably connectable to electrically power the circuit board assembly and the at least three motor assemblies. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The craft of claim 1, wherein the circuit board assembly is positioned and secured in the center body to provide structural support for the arms of the frame assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The craft of claim 1, wherein the circuit board assembly includes a printed board having a plurality of tabs that extend outwardly from a central surface structure adapted to support circuit board assembly components, including a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a microcontroller, and a radio. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The craft of claim 3, wherein the plurality of tabs includes a tab having a power connector for the rechargeable battery, and a tab having a radio frequency antenna for the radio. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The craft of claim 1, further comprising at least one multi-color LED operably connected to the circuit board assembly and configured to display a selectable color. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The craft of claim 1, further comprising a removable safety assembly mountable to and extending from the distal portion of the arms and configured to protect the propellers from lateral contact. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The craft of claim 1, wherein each of the motor assemblies include a motor cover that is configured to secure the motor to the arm by a snap fit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The craft of claim 1, wherein the arms are formed of an injectable molded plastic having a durometer value greater than 70 Shore D and the legs are formed of an injectable molded plastic having a durometer value less than 60 Shore D. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The craft of claim 1, wherein the center body is formed of a two-piece structure that sandwiches the circuit board assembly to provide structural support for the frame assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The craft of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least three motor assemblies includes a second propeller operably mounted upwardly-facing, in addition to the at least one propeller operably mounted downwardly-facing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The craft of claim 1, wherein the center body is formed of a top member having the at least three arms extending outwardly from the center body and a bottom member having the at least three legs extending downwardly from the center body, and wherein the battery compartment is located between the top member and the bottom member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The craft of claim 11, wherein the circuit board assembly is positioned and secured in the center body to provide structural support for the top member and the arms of the frame assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The craft of claim 1, wherein the at least three motor assemblies further include a fourth motor assembly that includes at least one propeller operably mounted downwardly-facing. ### Claim 14 A hovering flying craft adapted to be controlled by remote control, the craft comprising: at least three means for rotating that each include at least one corresponding propeller operably mounted downwardly-facing; means for holding the at least three means for rotating, wherein the means for holding further includes at least three legs extending downwardly from the means for holding; means for controlling the craft in response to radio frequency signals, wherein the means for controlling is operably mounted to the means for holding the at least three means for rotating; and means for powering the at least three means for rotating, wherein the means for powering is insertable into a compartment defined in the means for holding and is operably connectable to supply electrical power to means for controlling and the at least three means for rotating. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The craft of claim 14, wherein the means for holding is formed of an injectable molded plastic having a durometer value greater than 70 Shore D and the legs are formed of an injectable molded plastic having a durometer value less than 60 Shore D. ### Claim 16 A hovering flying craft adapted to be controlled by remote control, the craft comprising: a frame assembly including a center body having at least three arms extending outwardly from the center body and at least three legs extending downwardly from the center body; at least three motor assemblies that each include an electromechanical motor and at least one corresponding propeller operably mounted downwardly-facing, with at least one motor assembly operably mounted at a distal portion of each of the at least three arms; a circuit board assembly operably mounted to the center body and configured to control the craft in response to radio frequency signals; a replaceable rechargeable battery insertable into a battery compartment defined in the center body and operably connectable to electrically power the circuit board assembly and the at least three motor assemblies; at least one multi-color LED operably connected to the circuit board assembly and configured to display a selectable color; and a removable safety assembly mountable to and extending from a distal portion of each one of the at least three arms and configured to protect the propellers from lateral contact, wherein the circuit board assembly is positioned and secured in the center body to provide structural support for the arms of the frame assembly, wherein the circuit board assembly includes a printed board having a plurality of tabs that extend outwardly from a central surface structure adapted to support circuit board assembly components, including a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a microcontroller, and a radio, wherein the plurality of tabs include a tab having a power connector for the rechargeable battery, a tab having a radio frequency antenna for the radio, wherein each of the motor assemblies include a motor cover that is configured to secure the motor to the arm by a snap fit, wherein the arms are formed of an injectable molded plastic having a durometer value greater than 70 Shore D and the legs are formed of an injectable molded plastic having a durometer value less than 60 Shore D, wherein the center body is formed of a two-piece structure that sandwiches the circuit board assembly to provide structural support for the frame assembly, and wherein at least one of the at least three motor assemblies includes a second propeller operably mounted upwardly-facing, in addition to the at least one propeller operably mounted downwardly-facing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The craft of claim 16, wherein the center body is formed of a top member having the at least three arms extending outwardly from the center body and a bottom member having the at least three legs extending downwardly from the center body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The craft of claim 16, wherein the center body is formed of a top member having the at least three arms extending outwardly from the center body and a bottom member having the at least three legs extending downwardly from the center body, and wherein the battery compartment is defined between the top member and the bottom member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The craft of claim 1, wherein the at least three motor assemblies further include a fourth motor assembly that includes at least one propeller operably mounted downwardly-facing.