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US 6,280,280 B1Granted
Jumping toy vehicle
AssigneeRobert K. Vicino
InventorsRobert K. Vicino, Steven D. Stackable, Larry Love
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remotely controllable toy surface vehicle has the capability of deploying wings on command and to attain flight in the absence of any air interactive propulsion mechanism. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the fixed wings are first pitched to keep the vehicle on the ground or water until a takeoff velocity is reached; after which the pitch of the wings is remotely adjusted for takeoff and flight.
Claims14
A vehicle operable over a support surface which comprises:
- propulsion means interacting with said support surface, said propulsion means being empowered to impart upon said vehicle, a given surface velocity;
- means interactable with ambient air for lifting said vehicle at said given surface velocity and causing said vehicle to be temporarily airborne in the absence of any air propulsion means;
- and
- wherein said means for lifting comprises a variable geometry wing including a foldable and deployable airfoil, and means for remotely deploying said airfoil when said given surface velocity has been reached;
- and
- wherein said airfoil comprises:
- two leading edge booms each rotatively connected to a central pivot point;
- at least one membrane secured to said booms;
- and
- means for resiliently biasing said means for deploying toward an extended state.
7 more elements
A vehicle operable over a support surface which comprises:
- an airfoil shaped, dimensioned, and positionable to lift said vehicle above said support surface when said vehicle attains a given lift-off speed;
- and
- means for keeping said airfoil in a folded, non-lifting configuration to keep said vehicle in supported contact with said surface beyond said lift-off speed;
- means for unfolding said airfoil when said vehicle attains a ground velocity in excess of said lift-off speed and for causing said vehicle to be temporarily airborne in the absence of any air-interactive propulsion means;
- wherein said airfoil comprises a variable geometry wing including a foldable and deployable wing;
- and
- means for remotely deploying said wing.
4 more elements
A vehicle operable over a support surface which comprises:
- a foldable airfoil shaped, dimensioned and positionable to create a lifting force sufficient to raise said vehicle above said support surface when said vehicle attains a given lift-off speed;
- means for holding said airfoil in a folded and non-lifting position;
- means for unfolding said airfoil into a lifting position;
- and
- means, interacting with said support surface, for imparting upon said vehicle a velocity in excess of said lift-off speed.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.