Abstract:
The invention discloses colorful wind indicator toys and kites having an improved mechanism for securing a hollow rotatable rod containing mechanisms for various rotatable wind collecting parts of the wind indicators and kites. More specifically, it is proposed that a snap lock be used instead of a disk type structure to secure certain hollow rotatable rods onto the frames of wind indicator toys, thereby preventing rods from disengaging and flying away from the structure during high winds.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention discloses a snap lock to secure the attachments of movable parts to a wind wheel and kites. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the past, there have been a number of inventions relating to amusement devices based on wind power. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,583,881 (J. Heberling) discloses a pinwheel having a relatively rigid metal center, flexible non-metallic blades fastened to the center, with each of the blades being individual and being cut as a blank separate from the remaining blades, a portion of each of the blades being curved over the metal center. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,669,748 (G. G. Greger) discloses a pin wheel having a wheel made from a blank provided with curved slits to form a plurality of tapering blades. The wheel has its central portion mounted on the pin with the blade tips brought together on the pin in spaced relation to the central portion of the wheel blank. A baffle on the pin rests against the edges of the gathered tip portions. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,691 (Chiu) discloses a sphere and rod construction toy which comprises generally spherical construction members having threaded openings provided thereon and rod members having extensible and contractible screw members provided at each end thereof. Five threaded openings are disposed at both the upper and lower hemispheres of the spherical members. One of the five threaded openings is disposed along a central vertical axis whereas the other four at an angle of 45 degree from the axis. Four to eight threaded openings are disposed along the equator of the spherical members. Each end of the rod member has an extensible and contractible screw and a screw fastening device. A variety of patterns, models, and objects can be constructed by using the spherical and rod construction members. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,346 (Cho) discloses a kite including a lightweight sheet material and a support structure. The sheet material is secured to the support structure. The support structure has at least one end thereof provided with a threaded profile. A threaded fastener is rotatably positionable on the support member to thereby balance the weight of the kite. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,673 (Kwok et al.) discloses a wind direction indicator having a rotatable wind vane and a support for connection to the mast of a yacht. The vane is connected to the support by means of a gimbal mechanism and a stabilizing weight is connected to the gimbal mechanism diametrically opposite the vane. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,406 (Coffey) discloses a wind direction device for attachment to a boat shroud for indicating the direction of the wind relative to the direction of travel of the boat. The device includes several wraps of adhesive tape around a boat shroud to form an upwardly facing shoulder at a midpoint of the shroud of the boat, a bearing resting on the shoulder and having a hold through which is received the shroud, which bearing as a slit in one side and is sufficiently flexible and resilient so that the size of the slit can be varied to position the bearing around the shroud and retain the bearing on the shroud. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,358 (Galloway et al.) discloses an apparent wind direction indicator having a masthead device for sailboats. These marks can be adjusted with greater compass accuracy to allow several settings in each quadrant creating a series of reference points enabling one to more accurately determine the apparent wind angle from a center point and thus optimize sail trim, heading and boat speed. 
     U.S. Pat. 2,086,361 (W. B. Kaszas) discloses an airplane kite with a fan wheel mounted on an extended part of the kite. 
     U.S. Pat. 6,206,747 (Skwarek) discloses a colorful wind indicator which comprises a tail section for catching wind, a front section for indicating the direction of the wind, a tail mounting section for mounting the tail section, a joinder for joining the tail mounting section with the front section and a pole upon which the assembly rotates. The device taught by this patent (herein incorporated by reference) further comprises two disk type structures, with one of the disk type structures being positioned at a proximal end of said hollow rod closest to said pivot doll, and the other disk type structure being positioned at a distal end of the hollow rod farthest away from said pivot doll, with the disk type structures having a plurality of holes around the circumference of each disk type structure. The wind wheel further comprises vanes for catching the wind, with the vanes having a frame which had projections which fit into the disk type structures. In one embodiment, the ends of the projections are bulbous, and fit into appropriately grooved disk type structures. 
     The hollow rod, to which the disk type structures holding the wind vanes is attached, and which is fitted over and can rotate about a rigid piece, is secured by the use of a cap. However, sometimes this cap can come off, whereupon the hollow rod can fall off of the rigid piece. Without the hollow rod which holds, by means of the disk type structures the wind vanes, the wind wheel is rendered less useful and less ornamental. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The proposed invention solves these problem by using a snap lock at the end of the rigid piece. More specifically, it is proposed that a groove be circumferentially positioned near the distal end of the rigid piece. A locking mechanism shaped like a washer but having inner structures which securely snap into the groove is placed over the distal end of the rigid piece. The inner structures fit securely into the groove, insuring that the rotatable structures already positioned on or over the rigid piece do not fall off or are not blown off of the kite or the wind wheel. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the snap lock has an integrally connected inner circular catch section which is fitted over the rigid piece, whereupon the inner circular catch section “snaps” into the groove positioned on the rigid piece. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the snap lock mechanism has an integrally connected sectional catch section which is fitted over the rigid piece, whereupon the inner sectional catch sections “snap” into the groove positioned on the rigid piece. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wind wheel; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ground stake; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective of the hollow doll; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective of the support for the back the section of the wind wheel; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the vane; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross view of another embodiment of the front section of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the hub lock; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the hub lock; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bulbous headed structure. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the cylindrical headed structure; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the cylindrical structure of the prior art; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an airplane kite; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a wind wheel; 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hub lock; 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the rigid piece; 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the locking mechanism; 
     FIG. 19 is another perspective of the locking mechanism. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-19, a wind indicator toy  1  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a ground stake  2 , preferably having a pointed end  3 , which can be pushed into the ground. An extension piece  4  can be attached to the top  5  of the ground stake  2  with the ground stake  2  and the extension piece  4  preferably having a male  6  and female  7  connector. At the top  8  of the extension piece  4  or at the top of the ground stake  2 , there should be a pivot doll  9 . The pivot doll  9  has a hole  10  drilled through its center  11  so that the pivot doll  9  can rotate atop the top of the stake  2  or the extension piece  4 . The hole is not drilled completely through the pivot doll  9  at the end  12  of the pivot doll  9  so that the pivot doll does not slip down the stake  2 . 
     Attached to the pivot doll  9  is a front section  13  which holds a directional indicator  14 . The directional indicator  14  is a flexible piece of material  50 , tightly stretched and supported by a frame  15 . The flat piece of material can be in the shape of a bird  16 , a dolphin  17 , a fish  18 , or any other identifiable form. The material  50  used can be nylon, silk, plastic, paper, cloth, or any other type of material which is flexible and durable. It is preferred that the material used be nylon. It is also preferred that the material  50  be made of, or dyed, with bright colors, making it more eye catching. 
     The frame  15  on which the material is shaped is made out of nylon, wood, or any other sturdy, flexible material. Additional flexible material can be added to outside of the frame to complete the image of the animal or object being portrayed. The frame  15  extends around the periphery or circumference of the material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two projections  30  and  31  at the end  32  of the frame  15 . These two projections  30   31 , which are preferably positioned close to each other, fit into holes  33  and  34  found on the pivot doll  9 . These two projections reside in the same vertical plane. 
     In an alternative version of the invention, as shown in FIG. 8, a framing structure can also, or alternatively be positioned inside  300  the shaped material, wherein a pocket  301  is formed. Projections  302  emanating from that pocket  301  fit into openings into the pivot doll  9 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a rigid piece  22 , perpendicular and attached to the doll, supports a hollow rod  70  which supports at least one, and preferably several, wind catching tail(s)  23 . The hollow rod  70  is kept from sliding off the rigid piece  22  by means of a locking mechanism  950  shaped like a washer but having an inner structure  951 . The inner structure snaps securely into a groove  952  at the distal end  953  of the rigid piece  22 . The inner structure  951  fits securely into the groove, insuring that the rotatable structures do not fall off of the kite or the wind wheel. The hollow rod  70  thus rotates freely about the rigid piece  22 . This hollow rod  70  has at least one, and preferably two disk type hub locks  308  and  309  having central holes  390  through which the rigid piece  22  fits. The hub locks may be positioned at the proximal and distal ends of the rigid piece. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism  950  has an integrally connected inner circular section  954  which is fitted over the rigid piece  22 , whereupon the inner circular section  954  “snaps” into the groove  952  positioned on the rigid piece  22 . 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism  950  has integrally connected inner sections  955  which is fitted over the rigid piece  22 , whereupon the inner sections  955  “snap” into the groove  952  positioned on the rigid piece  22 . 
     This means for securing the hollow rod  70  is an improvement over the prior art. The use of the locking mechanism should prevent the hollow rod assembly from being blown off the wind wheel in high winds. 
     The two disk type hub locks  308  and  309  preferably have a “top” section  310  and a “bottom” section  311 . In one embodiment of the invention, the top section  310  comprises a disk having prongs  312 , preferably three prongs  312 , usually pin shaped, projecting perpendicularly to the plane of the body  313  of the top section  310 . The prongs extend downward from the underside  395  of the top section  312 . The bottom section  311  has holes  314  which correspond with the prongs  312 . The holes are only large enough to allow for the prongs  312  to fit tightly in the holes  314  of the bottom section  310 . Alternatively, prongs  904  may extend from the bottom section  900  to fit into holes  901  positioned in the underside  902  of said top section  903 . 
     The bottom section  310  has openings  315  positioned around the circumference  316  of the hub lock  308 ,  309 . These openings  315  lead into large headed grooves  317 . 
     The back section  20  of the wind wheel serves to capture the wind and thus rotates the entire top structure  21 . In order to do this, at least one vane  80 , and preferably numerous vanes, in the form of tail-like structures, are affixed to the back section  20 , preferably attached to the two disk type structures hub like structures  308  and  309 . The vane  80  comprises a piece of flexible material  60 , tightly stretched and usually supported by a frame  40 . The piece of material can be in the shape of a tail, fin or any other identifiable form. The material  60  used can be nylon, silk, plastic, paper, cloth, or any other type of material which is flexible and durable. It is preferred that the material used be nylon. It is also preferred that the material be made of, or dyed, with bright colors, making it more eye catching. 
     The frame  40  on which the material is shaped is made out of nylon, wood, or any other sturdy, flexible material. Additional flexible material can be added to outside of the frame to complete the image of the animal or object being portrayed. The frame  40  extends around the periphery or circumference of the material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are at least one, and preferably two projections  60  and  61  at the ends  62 ,  63  of the frame  40  of the vanes  80 . These two projections  60  and  61  fit into holes openings around the circumference  316  of hub locks  308  and  309 . More specifically, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention, one projection fits into the one of the plurality of opening  315  of one of the hub locks  308 ,  309 , and the other projection fits into one of the plurality of openings  320  of one of the other hub locks  308 ,  309 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a bulbous  360  or cylindrical  361  head or structure is positioned at the end of the projections, fitting into the large headed grooves  316 . 
     To insert the vanes, the top section  310  and the bottom section  311  of the hub locks  308  and  309  are separated. The projection  60 ,  61  of the vane is inserted in the appropriate slot, with the bulbous head  360  of the projection fitting into the head of the large headed grooves  317 . 
     It should be noted that the holes or large headed grooves in the two disk type structures into which the two projections of the vains  80  do not have to be in alignment. Indeed, it may be preferable that the two projections  60 ,  61  at the ends  62 ,  63  of the frame  40  of the vains  80  not lie in the same plane with each other in relation to the plane of the hollow rod  70 , thereby twisting the vane  80 . This in turn allows the vain to catch the wind, and permits the hollow rod  70  about the rigid piece  22  to rotate and to direct the entire top structure  21 . 
     It is preferred that the front section have a main supporting rod  200  which makes up part of the frame structure. This gives the device strength, and durability. This supporting rod may be an integral part of the frame of the structure. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism  950  is used to secure an airplane propeller  960  onto a hub  500  which rotates on a hollow tube around an extension piece. 
     Some wind wheels have a body  500 , usually in the shape of an animal or bird, wherein a center stick  501  has, on each side, two hubs  502 ,  503  on each side  504 ,  505  of the body  500 . The center stick goes through the pivot doll atop the extension piece. The hub locks can be used to hold the projections, and the vanes, in place. In this type of wind wheel, the vanes may be in the shape of wings, frog legs, or any other form. In these structures, a similar arrangement for the locking mechanism may be used to secure the hollow rods about the rigid piece. 
     It can not be overemphasized that the purpose of the locking mechanism does not prevent free movement of the hollow rods about the rigid piece. The locking mechanism does prevent the hollow tube from flying off of the rigid piece while rotating or during windy days. 
     Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be protected otherwise than as specifically described.