Abstract:
An aerial fireworks product has an exploding part that produces desired sights and sounds upon reaching an appropriate height above the ground, and a non-exploding part that returns to earth following the explosion. An air brake as part of the device is integrated into the structure in such a manner that it provides little or no in-flight drag during launching of the device. However, upon explosion, the brake bursts out into petals or flaps that remain secured to the non-exploding part so as to create additional air drag to retard the descent of the non-exploding part. In its preferred form, the brake is in the nature of a paper collar secured to the stabilizing base of the product yet positioned in close proximity to the exploding part so as to burst into the air drag-creating configuration upon denotation of the exploding part.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to fireworks and, more particularly, to an aerial product having a built-in air brake that only deploys upon detonation of the product so as to create an air drag as the non-exploding part of the product returns to earth, thereby making the descent gentler than would otherwise be the case. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some aerial fireworks products have a significant amount of non-exploding structure that returns to earth by gravity after the exploding part has detonated. See, for example, the products disclosed in my co-pending applications Ser. No. 09/482,579 filed Jan. 13, 2000 titled “Aerial Fireworks Product” and Ser. No. 09/751,853 filed Dec. 29, 2000 titled “Aerial Fireworks Product having Synthetic Resinous Stabilizing Base.” 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a simple, yet effective way of increasing the air drag on the non-exploding part of the product as it returns to earth so as to make the descent more gentle, while avoiding increased drag during launching of the device. The improvement is particularly well-suited for products of the type disclosed in my two earlier referenced applications, but is not limited to those particular types of products. 
     The present invention provides an air brake in the nature of a collar disposed in close proximity to the exploding part of the product, yet secured to the non-exploding part. The collar and exploding part are configured to provide an essentially streamlined exterior without significant air drag prior to detonation of the exploding part so as to avoid adversely affecting the flight characteristics of the product. When the exploding part detonates, the collar ruptures under the force of the explosion to produce petal or flap-like residue that remains attached to the non-exploding part to catch the air during descent and create increased drag. In its preferred form, the collar is constructed from built-up layers of paper sheets that are glued together to produce a wall thickness of approximately 0.040 inches. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1-10 illustrate one type of aerial device with which the present invention can be used, wherein FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a launch tube and aerial device in the ready-to-launch mode; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the aerial device showing the body and stablizing base as two separate parts prior to assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the stabilizing base; 
     FIG. 4 is an opposite side elevational view of the base; 
     FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the base taken substantially along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a top end elevational view of the stabiling base; 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom end elevational view of the stabilizing base; 
     FIG. 8 is a transverse cross sectional view through the base taken substantially along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 9 is a transverse cross sectional view through the base taken substantially along line  9 — 9  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 10 is a transverse cross sectional view through the base taken substantially along line  10 — 10  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 11 is an elevational view of an aerial pyrotechnic device similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 1-10 with an added air brake collar in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view thereof revealing details of construction; 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the air brake collar and upper end of the stabilizing base; and 
     FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the device following denotation of the exploding part and illustrating the air drag residue presented by the collar following such explosion. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. While the drawings illustrate and the specification describes certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. There is no intent to limit the principles of the present invention to the particular disclosed embodiments. As but one example, the present invention has been illustrated in connection with an aerial device in which the exploding part utilizes a pair of stacked balls. However, the principles of the present invention apply just as well to a device utilizing only one ball, for example, or a device in which the exploding part is shaped like a cylindrical cannister having a pointed nose cone. 
     One embodiment of an aerial pyrotechnic product is broadly denoted by the numeral  10  and includes two primary components, i.e., a launcher  12  and a self-propelled aerial device  14  adapted for use with launcher  12 . Launcher  12  includes an upright tube  16  having an open upper end  18  and a closed lower end  20 . A base  22  is secured to lower end  20  and is adapted to rest on a supporting flat surface in such a manner that tube  16  is disposed in an upright, essentially vertical disposition. Base  22  closes off the lower end of tube  16  and effectively defines a floor of the tube. In the disclosed embodiment, the tube  16  is preferably constructed of a plastic material but may be constructed from other acceptable materials such as, for example, paste board as well understood by those skilled in the art. 
     Aerial device  14  includes a body  24  and a stabilizing base  26 . Body  24  comprises an incendiary portion and an engine portion, the incendiary portion including a pair of stacked balls  28  and  30  that produce a pyrotechnic display when ignited, in the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings. The engine portion comprises a generally cylindrical engine  32  projecting downwardly from the bottom ball  30 . Engine  32  contains a charge of propellant that, when ignited, provides lift for device  14  so as to render it self-propelled in nature. A long fuse  34  (FIG.  1 ), having a length that exceeds the total length of the device, is secured at point  36  to the bottom of engine  32 . 
     Stabilizing base  26  comprises a framework having three equal length, substantially identical, longitudinally extending legs  38 ,  40  and  42 . Legs  38 ,  40  and  42  are spaced around the axis of symmetry  41  of the device at equal 120° degree intervals and are all spaced the same radial distance outwardly from such axis of symmetry. Generally speaking, legs  38 ,  40  and  42  are rectangular in overall cross sectional configuration as may be seen viewing FIGS. 8,  9  and  10 , although the innermost surfaces of the legs may be provided with draft angles to facilitate manufacturing base  26  using an injection molding technique. The longitudinal axes of legs  38 ,  40  and  42  all extend parallel to the axis of symmetry  41 . 
     The framework of base  26  further includes strut structure broadly denoted by the numeral  43  that interconnects legs  38 ,  40  and  42  with one another to retain them in their symmetrically disposed positions. Such strut structure  43  includes a ring  44  that covers and interconnects the uppermost ends of legs  38 ,  40  and  42 . Additionally, strut structure  43  includes at least a pair of generally triangular strut units  46  and  48  spaced below ring  44  along the length of the legs. Strut units  46  and  48  are identical to one another, each having three horizontal struts  50 ,  52 , and  54  that lie in a common horizontal plane and fixedly interconnect legs  38 ,  40  and  42 . 
     Strut structure  43  also includes a lowermost spider  56  comprising three horizontal spokes  58 ,  60  and  62  that diverge from a central hub  64  to join with respective legs  38 ,  40  and  42 . A tip-over projection or button  66  projects down from hub  64  beyond and below the legs  38 ,  40  and  42  to prevent stabilizing base  26  from being self-supporting in the event a user attempts to stand the base on a lower supporting surface outside of launch tube  16 . In the preferred embodiment, stabilizing base  26  is integrally molded from a synthetic resinous material such as polyvinyl chloride. 
     At the upper end of stabilizing base  26 , an elongated receiving socket  68  is defined by the proximal interior surfaces of legs  38 ,  40  and  42 , as well as by a hole  70  in ring  44 . Socket  68  receives engine  32  of body  24  as illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper strut unit  46  serving as a stop to limit the extent of insertion of engine  32 . A layer of adhesive  72  along the length of engine  32  bonds the latter to legs  38 ,  40  and  42 . The upper end of socket  68  may be slightly enlarged relative to the lower region thereof so as to accommodate engines  32  that may have upper portions of a larger diameter than lower portions. Preferably, the stop provided by upper strut unit  46  and the length of engine  32  are such that engine  32  is not fully received within socket  68  but instead projects a short distance upwardly therebeyond as illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     When the aerial device  14  is inserted into launch tube  16  with body  24  disposed upwardly, the tip-over button  66  engages base  22 . However, the interior diameter of launch tube  16  is preferably only slightly greater than the maximum cross sectional width of aerial device  14  such that device  14  is retained by tube  16  in an essentially vertical orientation. Preferably, the internal diameter of the tube  16  exceeds the maximum transverse cross sectional width of the device  14  by an amount that is approximately double the thickness of fuse  34 . This provides ample clearance for fuse  36  when device  14  is within tube  16  and fuse  34  is directed up along side device  14  and up over the upper edge of launch tube  16 . A notch  74  in the outer periphery of ring  44  helps retain and locate fuse  34 . 
     In a preferred embodiment launch tube  16  is somewhat taller than the overall length of aerial device  14  such that device  14  is completely received within tube  16  prior to launch and during ignition of fuse  34 . Although tube may be somewhat shorter than illustrated, it should be at least as tall as necessary to partially surround the upper ball  28  of body  24 . 
     FIGS. 11-14 illustrate one embodiment of the present air brake invention utilized in connection with a product of the type disclosed in FIGS. 1-10. In FIGS. 1-14, the aerial product  100  may be broadly described as having an exploding part  102  and a non-exploding part  104 . The exploding part  102  comprises the two stacked balls  106  and  108 , while the non-exploding part  104  comprises the base  110 , the engine  112  that is integrally joined to lower ball  108 , and the air brake  114 . 
     As illustrated particularly in FIGS. 12 and 13, the base  110  has an upstanding, annular wall  116  at its upper end that is integral with ring  118 . Wall  116  has a slightly reduced outer diameter relative to that of ring  118  so as to present an upwardly facing, annular ledge  120  at the base of wall  116 . Wall  116  circumscribes engine  112  in radially spaced relation thereto and terminates below lower ball  108  in spaced relationship therewith so as to define a gap  122  between the upper extremity of wall  116  and the lower extremity of ball  108 . 
     Air brake  114 , in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a collar  124  that surrounds wall  116  and rests on ledge  120 . Collar  124  is bonded to the outer extremity of wall  116  by a layer of glue or the like  126 . The upper end of collar  124  extends upwardly beyond wall  116  across gap  122  and into wedging engagement with the lower ball  108  slightly below its point of maximum diameter. The upper end of collar  124  is circular and thus makes contacting, mating engagement with the corresponding circular periphery of ball  108 . In the illustrated embodiment, the upper end of collar  124  is not bonded to ball  108 , but it is within the concepts of the present invention to provide a layer of glue at that location if desired. 
     In a preferred embodiment, collar  124  is constructed from built-up layers of paper sheets that are glued together to form a type of pasteboard or paperboard material. For ease of manufacturing, collar  124  may be constructed from a spiral wound tube or a convolute wound tube that is cut to length at several places along its length so as to produce multiple collars from one long tube. One preferred embodiment of collar  124  has a wall thickness of approximately 0.040 inches and a height of 1.625 inches. Another embodiment has the same wall thickness, but a height of 3.50 inches. A preferred internal diameter for collar  124  is approximately 1.50 inches. 
     It will be noted that the manner in which collar  124  tightly engages the lower circular periphery of ball  108  affords a streamline effect for product  100 . In other words, there is virtually nothing about the collar  124  that provides an air drag as product  100  is propelled through the air by engine  112 . 
     However, following denotation of exploding part  102 , collar  124  takes on a much different appearance due to bursting by lower ball  108  when exploding part  102  is denotated. As illustrated in FIG. 14, when collar  124  bursts, it tends to form petals or flaps  128  that become disconnected in part from one another yet remain attached to wall  116  of base  110 . The exact configuration of the collar residue from the explosion varies from product-to-product, i.e. some residue may present more flaps or petals than others, but in any event the loose pieces produce much more air drag surfaces than the intact collar. 
     Consequently, as the non-exploding part  104  starts its descent following explosion, the flaps  128  catch the air rushing by and flutter or flap as part  104  descends by gravity. Such action creates an air drag, with the result that part  104  tends to become disposed in a horizontal orientation and spin about an upright axis transverse to its axis of symmetry  130 , retarding its descent. 
     Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above, it is to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     The inventor hereby state(s) his intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of his invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.