Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
51
COLLAPSIBLE DISC TOY
This invention relates to aerial toys, and more
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specifically to a collapsible disc-like toy which, when
thrown with a spinning motion is aerodynamically shaped
to sail.
Such devices in the past have been generally disc-
shaped devices which are rigid in structure, such as the
whistling scaling toy disclosed in United States Patent
Number 3,959,916, the aerial toy disclosed in United States
Patent Number 3,852,910 and the toy hat disclosed in United
States Patent Number 3,571,311, but are cumbersome to carry
when not in use.
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Early ring type devices were known to be flexible.
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For example, the play ring shown in United States Patent
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~: ~l Number 1,593,453 is an early embodiment of a flexible toy
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ring device. A circular disc like projectile manufactured
of flexible material, but stuffed, is disclosed in United
States Patent Number 3,026,110. Additionally, there is
shown in United States Patent Number 4,115,946 a flexible
disc device which utilizes a plurality of spaced individual
weights around the peripheral edge thereof to achieve the
desired results.
The foregoing flexible style devices, while being col-
lapsible, are expensive to manufacture and utilize a
~;cr~ plurality of parts which complicate their structure and
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",l manufacturing procedure.
Additionally, known devices have been found to be subject
, to wear and tear to a degree greater than that desired. Thus,
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; 1; in the flexible disc device of patent number 4,115,946, it
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; ~ can be seen that tearing the hem 18 will permit the weighted
materials to drop out of the structure thus rendering the
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~ device useless.
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It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to
provide a collapsible disc toy which is simple to manufacture,
utilizes a minimum of elements, and is economical to manu-
facture.
Them objects of the present invention are achieved by a
~;!',i~ structure, one embodiment of which includes a flexible, one-
¦ piece ring defining a generally circular opening and a sheet
member rigidly secured to the ring for closing the circular
opening and formed`of a flexible material.
A more complete understanding of the present invention
~!r` ~ may be had from the following detailed description thereof
particularly when read in the light of the accompanying
drawings wherein:
i~t~ FIG. 1 is a top view of collapsible disc toy structured
~` ~ according to the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevational view through the
plane 2-2 of FIG. 1.
As noted above, this invention~relates to c~ollapsible
disc-like toy devices.
Referring now to FIGS. l and 2, there is illustrated a
collapsible disc toy generally designated as 10 and comprised
;~ of a ring element 12 and a sheet member 14.
Ring element 12 comprises a flexible, one-piece ring,
the inner edge 16 of which defines a generally circular
opening. Ring 12 includes a generally circular element 18
and a radially inwardly extending shoulder 20 disposed around
the inner edge of the circular element.
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~-f'~t Ring 12 is manufactured from molded plastic material
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' ~ which is flexible and which may be resilient. It has been
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found that suitable materials are moldable PVC and plastisol
however other suitable materials may be utilized.
The sheet member 14 is rigidly secured to ring 12 along
the inner edge of ring 12, such as to close the opening de-
fined by ring 12.
Sheet member 14 is a generally circular sheet which is
provided with a plurality of holes 24 formed around its peri-
phery. The purpose of holes 24 is to permit a rigid bond
between sheet member 14 and ring 12 such as to preclude
separation thereof during use. More specifically, during the
manufacture of toy 10, sheet member 14 is placed within the
opening of a circular mold device such that the peripheral
edge 26 thereof extends within the mold cavity. Thereafter,
the sheet member 14 is clamped in that position and plastic
injected into the mold cavity. The plastic passes through
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holes 24 and sets up around the edge of sheet member 14, such
as to cause a secure, fixed bond between the material of the
sheet and the plastic of the ring.
Although many materials may be suitable for use as the
~ sheet material, it has been found that nylon is particularly
$3~ useful.
Referring specifically to FIG. 2 it can be seen that
sheet member 14 is dimensioned such as to cause a concave
surface 28 on its underside and a convex surface 30 on its
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. ,3 upper side. Th~s occurs when the toy is thrown with a spin-
ning motion. The configuration of the shee-t 14 during flight,
. . . 7
~~ therefore, establishes an aerodynamic flow of air across its
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surface such as to permit it to sail in the manner well known
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3 to "frisbee" players.
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It thus can be seen that the dimension of the surface of
sheet rnember 14 when measured diametrically across ring 12
from inner edge 16 to inner edge 16 is a greater dimension than
the corresponding diameter of the ring. Such dimensioning per-
mits the aforesaid aerodynamic effect and enhances the recrea-
tional value of the toy.
As will be recognized by those skilled in these arts, the
.~ structure of the present invention is advan-tageous in that it
comprises two elements, is manufactured through the use of an
injected molding process thus permittlng high volume, low cost
manufacture, and is an aerodynamically sound but fully flexible
element, such as to improve its safety characteristics and thus
reduce likelihood of injury during use.
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