US 8,011,993 B1 · Diving toy

Abstract

A diving toy that is comprised of a housing with a motor, battery and magnetic reed switch positioned inside the housing. A propeller is attached to an axle of the motor protruding through the rear end of the housing. A ballast is arranged inside the housing to provide positive buoyancy and a front end down attitude. A plurality of fins protrude from the housing surrounding the propeller for improving directional stability. A lever having one end rotatably mounted to the outside of the housing and another end provided with a magnet. When the toy is dropped or thrown front end first into a body of water, or when pushed in a downward motion from a submerged state, hydrodynamic forces rotate and then hold the lever and accordingly the magnet in a rearward position so long as there is downward motion, aligning the magnet adjacent to the reed switch, thereby actuating the reed switch to close a circuit between the battery and motor activating the motor, and forces generated by the spin of the propeller overcome the toys positive buoyancy propelling the toy in a continuous dive until it collides with a bottom of the body of water or another object stopping the dive, whereby gravity rotates the lever and magnet forward away from the reed switch to shut off the motor, the positive buoyant toy then floats to a surface of the body of water where it can be launched into another dive.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A diving toy, comprising:

(a) a housing having a predetermined orientation and positive buoyancy when placed in water;
(b) an electric motor in said housing;
(c) a propeller attached to said motor;
(d) a control system comprising a flow sensor means positioned outside said housing for sensing water flowing rearwardly over said housing at a predetermined velocity, and a switch means responsive to said flow sensor means, said switch means being constructed and arranged for switching on/off said motor under certain conditions;
(e) a battery in said housing to power said motor and the control system;
whereby when said diving toy is dropped or thrown into a body of water, or when pushed in a downward motion from a submerged state, hydrodynamic forces cause said flow sensor means to actuate said switch means to close a circuit between said battery and motor, thereby causing said motor to run and propel said toy in a dive;
and when said dive and hydrodynamic forces stop because said toy collides with a bottom of said body of water or another object, said flow sensor means causes said switch means to open said circuit, thereby turning off said motor, causing said toy to float to a surface of said body of water.

4 more elements

A diving toy, comprising:

(a) a housing having a predetermined orientation and positive buoyancy when placed in water, wherein said housing is elongated with a stream lined shape and well defined forward movement direction shaped extremities for reduced drag;
(b) an electric motor in said housing;
(c) a propeller attached to said motor;
(d) a control system comprising a magnetic reed switch placed inside said housing constructed and arranged for switching on/off said motor, and a lever having one end rotatably mounted to the outside of said housing and another end provided with a magnet for actuating said switch under certain conditions;
(e) a battery in said housing to power said motor and the control system;
(f) a ballast inside said housing for adjusting balance and said positive buoyancy;
(g) a plurality of fins protruding from said housing surrounding said propeller for improving directional stability;
whereby when said diving toy is dropped or thrown into a body of water, or when pushed in a downward motion from a submerged state, hydrodynamic forces rotate and then hold said lever and accordingly said magnet rearward actuating said switch to close a circuit between said battery and motor, thereby causing said motor to run and propel said toy in a dive;
and when said dive and hydrodynamic forces stop because said toy collides with a bottom of said body of water or another object, said lever and magnet rotate to a forward position due to gravity which causes said switch to open said circuit, thereby turning off said motor, causing said toy to float to a surface of said body of water.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Diving toy

Life of this patent

Diving toy

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18