US 4,249,334 A · Toy hovercraft apparatus

Abstract

A toy hovercraft apparatus and which includes a toy hovercraft and a launcher therefor. The hovercraft comprises a frame having an outwardly flaring skirt with a downwardly projecting peripheral lip to form an air chamber therebeneath. A motor, e.g., an electric motor, supported centrally of the skirt, rotates a fan located in an upper portion of the chamber to draw in air through inlets and create a pressurized air cushion in the chamber, which, in turn, causes the hovercraft to float or hover over a floor, or other surface. One or more relatively small rechargeable batteries are also carried on the frame and connected to the electric motor for powering the motor and the batteries may be periodically recharged. The hovercraft is preferably round and is constructed so that the weight is symetrically distributed which permits the torque created by the fan to cause rapid rotation of the hovercraft in a level horizontal plane without imparting horizontal motion to the hovercraft. The launcher includes a base for receiving the hovercraft and a manually actuable ejector mechanism for imparting horizontal thrust to the hovercraft to cause it to travel in a generally horizontal path. The hovercraft has no means for imparting motion to itself or changing the direction of motion, but will travel in a generally horizontal path or change direction in response to forces external to the hovercraft which are imparted to the hovercraft. The launcher also includes a source of electrical power and a recharging mechanism which can be coupled to the hovercraft for recharging the batteries in the hovercraft.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A toy hovercraft apparatus comprising:

(a) a toy hovercraft adapted to be supported on a self-generated air cushion for generally horizontal movement over a floor or other surface, said toy hovercraft comprising:
(1) a frame,
(2) means on the frame defining a downwardly open air chamber, said chamber defining means having top wall means and peripheral side wall means extending generally downwardly from said top wall means, and
(3) means mounted on said frame and in communication with said air chamber to introduce air into said chamber, and
(b) a launcher for said hovercraft comprising:
(1) a base,
(2) means on said base for generally maintaining said hovercraft in a ready position prior to launching,
(3) launching means associated with said base capable of imparting force to said hovercraft to cause it to move in a generally horizontal direction, and
(4) control means for selectively causing said launching means to impart said movement to said hovercraft.

6 more elements

A self contained toy hovercraft for self-supported generally horizontal unguided movement over a floor or other surface, said hovercraft comprising:

(a) a somewhat circular disk-like member.
(b) a downwardly projecting lip at or in proximity to the prephery of said disk-like member forming a downwardly opening air chamber,
(c) an upwardly extending housing at or in proximity to the center of said disk-like member,
(d) fan means communicating with said air chamber for introducing air into said chamber so that an air cushion can be created under said disk-like member which supports said hovercraft above said floor or other supporting surface, and
(e) electric motor means in said housing for powering said fan means so that said hovercraft will remain above said floor or other supporting surface when said fan means is operating,
(f) battery retaining means associated with said housing to receive a battery for powering said electric motor means, and
(g) recharging means operatively associated with said housing for receiving an electrical conductor carrying an electric current and which recharging means permits operative connection between said electrical conductor and a battery during recharging thereof.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Toy hovercraft apparatus

Life of this patent

Toy hovercraft apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26