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US 5,423,706 AGranted
Toy aircraft glider with rotating and folding wings
OwnerGeorge W. Chaseinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toy aircraft glider for launching by a slingshot, having two-axis wing retraction for improved launch height and wing stability, internally-mounted wing deployment springs for improved toy life, the ability to eject smaller toys while airborne to enhance toy enjoyment, sound effects and remote control steering.
Claims8
A toy aircraft glider, comprising:
- a fuselage having a longitudinal axis and a tail at one end;
- a wing protruding from said fuselage along an axis generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and having a tip distal said fuselage;
- a first hinge connected to said wing proximate said fuselage for folding said wing from said perpendicular axis in a plane containing said perpendicular axis and generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;
- a first spring means contained within the bounds of said first hinge for urging said wing to rotate about said first hinge, said wing tip being urged toward said perpendicular axis:
- a second hinge joining said first hinge to said fuselage, for rotating said wing about said perpendicular axis;
- and
- a second spring means contained within the bounds of said fuselage for urging said wing to rotate about said second hinge, said wing tip being urged away from said tail.
4 more elements
A toy aircraft glider which may be launched from a hand held slingshot in the fashion of a toy rocket, comprising:
- a fuselage having a longitudinal axis, a nose defining a first end, a tail defining a second end and a cockpit proximate said nose;
- first and second wings protruding from opposing sides of said fuselage along an axis generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, each of said wings having a proximal end proximate said fuselage, a distal end distal said fuselage, and a generally planar surface bounded by a leading edge and an opposed trailing edge;
- a horizontal stabilizer protruding from both sides of said fuselage proximate said tail along an axis generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, having a generally planar surface bounded by a leading edge and an opposed trailing edge;
- a vertical stabilizer protruding from fuselage proximate said tail along an axis generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and generally perpendicular to said horizontal stabilizer, having a generally planar surface bounded by a leading edge and an opposed trailing edge;
- first and second hinges connected to the proximal ends of said first and second wings, respectively, which allow said wings to fold relative to said fuselage;
- first and second springs associated with said first and second hinges, respectively, and contained within said first and second hinges, respectively, that urge said first and second wings, respectively, toward said generally perpendicular axis;
- a pin connected to said first and second wings and retained by said fuselage, allowing said first and second wings to rotate about said generally perpendicular axis;
- a third spring contained within said fuselage and associated with said pin that urges said first and second wings so that said leading edges are proximate said nose and said trailing edges are distal said nose;
- a pilot figure in said cockpit having a parachute;
- a fourth spring urging said pilot figure from said cockpit;
- and
- a triggering means connected to said pin which releasably retains said pilot figure in said cockpit until said first and second wings are aligned along said generally perpendicular axis and said leading edges are proximate said nose whereby said first and second hinges and said pin allow said first and second wings to be rotated and folded back toward said tail so that said distal ends of said first and second wings may be urged together against said tail to reduce drag and facilitate launching of said toy aircraft from said hand held slingshot in the fashion of a toy rocket, said first, second and third springs urge said first and second wings toward said generally perpendicular axis and said leading edges toward said nose so that said toy aircraft may fly like a toy glider, and said triggering means may allow said fourth spring to eject said pilot figure from said cockpit.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.