Abstract:
The waterproof illuminated disc flyer is an illuminated and waterproof flying plastic disc. The disc has upper and lower disc members sealed together at the outer perimeter of the discs, and is illuminated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A pushbutton switch and a battery compartment are enclosed within a waterproof enclosure formed between the upper and lower discs. A battery cover having a thin depressible plastic membrane enables a user to toggle the switch from outside the waterproof interior. The upper surface of the flying disc has a centered dome having six spokes, each spoke having a LED extending from alternating opposite ends.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to aerial toys. More specifically, the invention is directed towards an illuminated and waterproof flying plastic disc. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Flying discs have been available on the market for a number of years. Aerodynamically designed, these discs when hurled properly can soar for extended distances. Requiring minimal physical exertion, these toys can be played with for hours on end, well into the evening hours. With ordinary flying discs, however, nighttime presents a challenge, not only in retrieving a misdirected toss, but also exposing the user to the risk of personal injury by being hit by a errant disc or by miscalculation when catching a firmly thrown disc. In response to the challenges of nighttime use and in the desire to provide a visually pleasing toy, lighted flying discs have been introduced to the marketplace. 
     U.S. Des. Pat. No. 260,786, issued to Chaklos in 1981, discloses the ornamental design for an illumination device for attaching to a toy flying saucer. Similarly, U.S. Des. Pat. No. 386,221, issued to Ybanez in 1997, discloses an ornamental design for an illuminated disc flyer showing a battery, battery holder, and electrical connections. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,720,018, issued to Peterson et al. in 1973, discloses a flying disc, which is illuminated for night flying. The ′018 patent includes a dome, within which a battery, switch and a single lamp is mounted. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,246, issued to Johnson et al. in 1974, discloses a “Frisbee®” type flying saucer having a plurality of regularly spaced lamps disposed proximate to the outer rim of the flying disc. The battery holder, lights, and electrical wiring is all embodied in a unitary structure having a central hub in which the battery holder is located, with a plurality of regularly spaced arms extending radially outward from the hub, the lights being located at the ends of the arms, and the electrical conductor extending along the arms. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,384, issued to Samuel in 1974, discloses a generally saucer-shaped body and at least one battery-powered audio or visual signaling device with a centrifugally actuated switch oriented to close and to energize the device when the device is rotating. 
     Although electrical means may provide the most variety in stimulating special effects for flying discs, there are alternative methods used to provide illumination in flying discs for nighttime use that do not require a waterproof enclosure for electronic circuitry. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,086,723, 4,207,702, 4,254,575, 5,083,799 and 5,882,239 all disclose chemiluminescent light sources for illuminating the toy without generating heat and without electronic components. 
     Although satisfying the functional requirement of remaining visible in the dark, these chemiluminescent flying discs do not offer the same visually stimulating lighting effects, such as flashing lights, either in a synchronized or random pattern. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a waterproof illuminated disc flyer solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The waterproof illuminated disc flyer is an illuminated and waterproof flying plastic disc. The disc includes a switch for turning on a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) powered by a battery held in place by a clip. In addition to providing enhanced appeal, the lights enable playing with the toy in the absence of light. Structurally, the upper outer surface of the disc has a centered dome with six internal spokes having LEDs at alternating opposite ends. The bottom surface is concave with a stepped configuration, sloping from the center to the outer edges with the outer edge projecting slightly outward to protect the lights. Because the disc is waterproof and floats, the toy may be used in or around bodies of water. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a flying disc which is illuminated so that the disc can be played with at night. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a waterproof illuminated flying disc that can float and be played with in or near the water without risk of loss or damage. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an illuminated flying disc in which all electronic components are sealed within the device. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated flying disc in which the lights are protected from damage. 
     It is still another object of the invention to provide an illuminated flying disc whose aerodynamic characteristics are not degraded by the electronics within. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waterproof illuminated disc flyer according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the waterproof illuminated disc flyer of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the waterproof illuminated disc flyer of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a section view drawn along lines  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a section view drawn along lines  5 — 5  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a section view drawn along lines  6 — 6  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 7A is a bottom view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of detail  7 B of FIG.  7 A. 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a second embodiment of the present invention having an integrated printed circuit board. 
     FIG. 9 is a representative schematic of the lighting circuit of the waterproof illuminated disc flyer of FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is a waterproof, illuminated flying disc designated generally as  100  in the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the flying disc  100  has LEDs  106   a-f  to facilitate nighttime use. The waterproof design enables the flying disc  100  to be used in or near the water without risk of damaging the electronic components sealed within. 
     As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a generally disc-shaped upper disc member  202  cooperatively engages and is sonic welded to a generally disc-shaped and concave lower disc member  214  at their respective peripheries  204  and  226 , forming a downwardly pointing rim. The upper disc member  202  has an upper surface, a lower surface, a centrally disposed dome  102  and six molded spokes  108   a-f  uniformly spaced extending radially outward from the dome  102  to the periphery  204 . The structural components of the flying disc  100  are constructed of molded plastic which are welded together to form a waterproof interior compartment and to provide positive buoyancy. 
     The lens of LED  104  extends upward through an aperture cut in the center of the dome  102  and additional LEDs  106   a-f  protrude outwards from the upper disc member  202  at alternating opposite ends of the molded spokes  108   a-f . The LED may be further sealed in place with a waterproof adhesive to prevent moisture from entering the flying disc  100 . Wire access passages  224  molded into the lower disc member  214  provide access to LEDs  106   a ,  106   c , and  106   e  on the periphery  204  of the flying disc  100 . 
     The lower disc member  214  has an inner periphery  228  surrounding an opening, which exposes a battery and switch compartment within the underside of dome  102 . The inner periphery  228  is sonic welded to the upper disc member  102  to guarantee a waterproof seal between the upper and lower disc members. 
     A circular battery compartment cover  218 , adapted to provide a snug fit within the opening in the lower disc member  214 , has an upper and lower surface formed of molded plastic. The cover  218  has a narrow ledge  230  on the periphery of its upper surface, which cooperatively engages a recess molded within the underside of the dome  102 . The ledge  230 , thicker than the central portion  222  of the cover  218 , has apertures to receive mounting screws  220 . The screws  220  are received by blind threaded recesses  402  in the underside of the dome  102  as shown in FIG.  4  and best shown in FIG. 7B. A rubber or other waterproofing gasket  216  placed within a recess  404  surrounding the underside perimeter of the dome  102  provides a waterproof seal between the battery cover  218  and the underside of the dome  102 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the top view of the illuminated flying disc. FIGS. 4-6 illustrate different section views of the flying disc  100 . The outer rim of the flying disc  100  is formed by interlocking peripheries  204 ,  226  of the upper and lower discs  202 ,  214 , and may be sonic welded or fastened by any other means known in the art for providing a waterproof seal between plastic components. A miniature push button switch  406 , supported by a seat molded in supporting walls  410  operates to supply an effective voltage to the LEDs. The pushbutton portion of switch  406  substantially abuts the interior surface of the thin center portion  222  of the battery cover  218 , whereby depressing the exterior portion of the battery cover  218  operates to toggle the pushbutton  406  from an operative to an inoperative state. 
     As best shown in FIG. 5, LED  104  protrudes through an aperture  412  molded or cut through the top of dome  102 . LEDs  106   a-f  mounted at the alternating ends of spokes  108   a-f  protrude from apertures cut or molded in the upper disc member  202 , and are held in place by the sloping surface of the lower disc member  214  once the two disc members  202 ,  214  are joined together. FIG. 5 further highlights the wire access channel  224  molded into the lower disc member  214  which provides access for electrical wire  510 , which carries an operative voltage to the terminals of LEDs  106   a ,  106   c , and  106   e  located on the periphery of the upper disc member  202 . The lower disc member is concave with a stepped configuration, sloping from the center to the outer rim. The outer rim of the flying disc  100  projects slightly outward beyond LEDs  106   a ,  106   c , and  106   e  in order to protect them from damage. The electrical connection of the LEDs and other electrical components will be described in the discussion of FIGS. 7A-9. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7B illustrates the battery supports  602  molded in the upper disc member for stabilizing a battery  706 , the battery accessed by removing battery cover  222 . FIG. 7B shows battery  706  and battery clip  704 . The battery clip  704  fits over battery supports  602  and is designed to provide a biasing surface abutting the battery  706 . The battery  706  is of the small, lithium variety commonly used in similar low power applications. 
     As shown in FIG. 7A, electrically conducting wire  510  interconnects LEDs  104 ,  106   a-f , battery  706 , and pushbutton  406 . Spokes  108   a ,  108   c , and  108   e  form a channel between the upper and lower disk members, providing access for wire  510  electrically connecting the terminals of LEDs  106   a ,  106   c , and  106   e  disposed the outer periphery of the flying disc  100 . 
     As previously disclosed, FIG. 7B illustrates the battery compartment underneath dome  102 , the compartment containing a battery  706  and pushbutton switch  406 . 
     One embodiment of the present invention  100  comprises a relatively simple electric circuit whereby the pushbutton switch  406  provides an operative voltage to the LEDs disposed on the flying disc  100 . The LEDs may be standard LEDs available in a variety of colors, high-intensity LEDs, flashing LEDs, or any combination of LEDs, incandescent lamps or other lighting devices known to those in the art for providing an esthetically pleasing visual effect. As shown in FIG.  8  and in greater detail in FIG. 9, a timing circuit  902  and lamp driver circuit  904  mounted on a printed circuit board  802  may be incorporated to achieve a more elaborate visual effect, e.g., flashing lights. Timer and lamp driver circuits have been well known in the art for years, and commonly include one-chip timers and lamp drivers. 
     Thus, the waterproof illuminated disc flyer  100 , in its most basic form, has a battery, pushbutton switch, and a plurality of LEDs mounted in a waterproof plastic enclosure, enabling the flying disc to be used after dark and in or near the water. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.