Illuminated flying disk having balanced housing for split circuitry

#This invention teaches a novel illuminated flying toy disk, typically used in recreational games.

#Numerous illuminated flying disks are known in the art, but none offer the novel, symmetrically opposed housings which significantly improve the flying characteristics of the disk over existing illuminated disks found in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,834 to Samuel, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,212 to Li, teach centrifugally actuated illumination devices for flying toys, but the exposed, unaerodynamic configuration of the associated hardware of each illumination device alters the flight associated hardware of each illumination device alters the flight characteristics of the disk. Furthermore, the associated illumination hardware of Samuel is distributed toward the center of the disk. The present invention has recessed, aerodynamically shaped housings to cover the control circuitry and power supply which are located at the outer edges of the disk. Placing the housings at the outer edge of the disk promotes stablity during the disks flight. These special aerodynamic housings account for the exceptional flying characteristics of the present invention when same is set in rotational motion.

#U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,614 to Harrington, U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,523 to Michael, U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,753 to Hiner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,723 to Strawick, U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,031 to Psyras, U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,229 to Lehman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,324 to Miller et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,839 to Sampietro, U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,895 to LaBrecque, U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,616 to Gudgel, U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,538 to Moffitt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,196 to Kutnyak, U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,917 to Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,570 to Beltran, U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,160 to Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,850 to O'Riley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,553 to Rodarte, U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,428 to Wield, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,749 to Petko, U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,699 to Plambeck et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,441 to Novinsky, and U.S. Pat. No. DES 312,103 to Lenox all describe illuminated flying toys, but have the components and power sources of same located at the disk's center, or distribute the weight of the illumination hardware between the disk's center and the disk's outer edge, which alter the aerodynamics of the disk's flight when set in rotational motion. The present invention locates the power source and control circuitry on the outside edges of the disk's underside, which greatly improves the disk's stability during flight. U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,575 to Gould teaches a system of illuminating a saucer-like toy, but relies on chemiluminescence rather than ordinary, easily available batteries to illuminate the saucer.

#A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a bottom exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1;

#While the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail, preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated.

#Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention 10. The invention 10 consists of disk 20, having top 30, perimeter 50, and lip 60. On the outside surface 65 of lip 60 is first light emitter 80 in first recess 70, and second light emitter 100, in second recess 90. Disk 20 is aerodynamically shaped to provide lift when set in rotary motion by a user. In the preferred embodiment of the invention 10, disk 20 is preferably made of soft, resilient plastic, but could be made of other materials, such as hard plastic or hard synthetic rubber.

#FIG. 2 shows a bottom exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the invention 10. The invention 10 consists of disk 20, having top 30, underside 40, perimeter 50, and lip 60. Lip 60 has inside surface 55, and outside surface 65. Also disposed on disk 20 are switch housing 110 and battery housing 280. The switch housing 110 and battery housing 280 have an areodynamic configuration and are disposed on opposing sides of the disk 20, making the disk 20 more stable during flight than other flying disks which have a weight placed in the center of the disk. The switch housing 110 and battery housing 280 may further have a rounded configuration and are small in size when compared to overall dimensions of the disk 20, which reduce aerodynamic drag and improve the flying characteristics of the disk 20. Battery housing 280 has battery housing cover 290, which has access 300, with living hinge 310, and spring conductor 395. Battery housing cover 290 may also have a simple slide-in cover (not shown) which can be removed and replaced to facilitate changing worn batteries. Battery housing cover 290 also has battery housing extension 295, which abuts inside surface 55 of lip 60 of disk 20, and prevents moisture from damaging control circuitry 405 by seeping onto components 415. Also seen in FIG. 2 are battery circuit board 350, battery circuit board supports 380, first battery 390 and second battery 400, first light emitter 80, battery housing posts 330, and battery housing post receptacles 340. First battery 390 and second battery 400, may but need not be, A-76 1.5 volt batteries. Light emitters 80 and 100 may be of standard size T-13/4" LEDS. Battery circuit board 350 has positive contact 360 and negative contact 370.