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US 11,806,637 B2Granted
Transforming toy rocket
OwnerSean Michael Frawleyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A propeller-driven rocket has a body that is divided into multiple pieces. During the launch and climb, the body reaction to the torque of the propeller keeps the body panels pressed into their initial orientation. At the apex of flight, or a predetermined time from launch, the propeller reverses direction for short period of time. This reverses the forces on the body panels, causing them to release outward. The body panels are hinged such that they may form a rotor for an auto-rotating, controlled descent.
Claims16
A rocket comprising:
- a propeller;
- a base assembly supporting the propeller;
- a motor in the base assembly, the motor operable to turn the propeller to provide a force to propel the rocket;
- a nosepiece connected to the base assembly with an elongated connector;
- a plurality of body pieces disposed between the nosepiece and the base assembly, the plurality of body pieces movable between a first position, with each of the plurality of body pieces disposed adjacent the elongated connector to form a rocket-shape, and a second position, with each of the plurality of body pieces disposed at an angle away from the nosepiece;
- and
- a fin extending outward from each of the plurality of body pieces, wherein each fin is configured to cause the rocket to rotate during descent when the plurality of body pieces are in the second position, wherein
- the motor turns in a first direction, creating the force to propel the rocket, the first direction maintaining the plurality of body pieces in the first position;
- and
- the motor turns in a second direction to provide torque to permit the plurality of body pieces to deploy into the second position.
7 more elements
A rocket comprising:
- a propeller;
- a base assembly supporting the propeller;
- a motor in the base assembly, the motor operable to turn the propeller to provide a force to propel the rocket;
- a nosepiece connected to the base assembly with an elongated connector;
- a plurality of body pieces disposed between the nosepiece and the base assembly, the plurality of body pieces movable between a first position, with each of the plurality of body pieces disposed adjacent the elongated connector to form a rocket-shape, and a second position, with each of the plurality of body pieces disposed at an angle away from the nosepiece;
- a hinge connecting each of the plurality of body pieces to the nosepiece;
- a fin extending outward from each of the plurality of body pieces, wherein each fin is configured to cause the rocket to rotate during descent when the plurality of body pieces are in the second position;
- a battery providing power to the motor;
- a body piece retainer having a plurality of slots for retaining the plurality of body pieces in the first position when the motor turns in a first direction, the body piece retainer movable to release the plurality of body pieces when the motor moves in a second direction, permitting the plurality of body pieces to move to the second position;
- and
- a circuit board having a launch button to begin launch of the rocket, the circuit board further including a processor programmed to run the motor in the first direction for a first period of time and then run the motor in the second direction for a second period of time.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.