Abstract:
An expandable toy space shuttle that employs a detachable cabin which allows a telescoping inner fuselage to extend from inside of the main fuselage thereby doubling the interior volume of the toy space shuttle. The toy can be customized to individual missions by the use of different inner fuselages of different sizes, different cabins, and different main fuselages all of which fit together and work with each other.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application for Patent No. 61/204,066 filed on Dec. 30, 2008 for “Expanding space shuttle and toys” by Thomas Jay Zeek. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention pertains to toy space shuttles, specifically to a method of enabling a toy space shuttle to expand and further to have interchangeable fuselages and cabins thereby providing tremendous flexibility in the size and functionality of the toy space shuttle. It works in most cases by the cabin detaching from the fuselage and an inner fuselage telescoping out from the main fuselage while the inner fuselage stays attached to the back of the cabin. 
         [0005]    Toys and toy play sets work well when the parts perform multiple functions, and the parts are interchangeable to create various configurations that do different things. Toys that are intended to emulate space travel and especially toy versions of the current U.S. space shuttle have been limited in their function due to the inherent outward simplicity of rockets, lunar landing craft, and the space shuttle. A toy space shuttle that can be configured in different ways is desirable, especially if it will do things that would be fun and interesting in real life. 
         [0006]    One of the problems facing any spacecraft program is predicting exactly how the spacecraft will be used over its thirty year life span. Cost concerns demand a copy exactly type of program where all of the space ships are made exactly or nearly exactly the same. Having more than one kind of space shuttle in no way reduces the cost or difficulty of making any one of them work, so only one kind of space shuttle at a time is practical but that severely limits the number of tasks that the space ship can be used for, and worst of all it requires that all of the space ships have to be big enough to handle the biggest job any of them will face in their thirty years of service, since they will all be the same size. 
         [0007]    Another very big problem with manned space ships is the need to carry empty space into outer space. The space shuttle has to be big enough to carry not only all of the equipment that will be used on the biggest mission of its career, but enough empty space for the astronauts to use that equipment and to move around inside. That need for large volume means the need for large surface area, which adds tremendous weight and which makes the space shuttle weaker, so that a thicker heavier hull is needed for strength, which adds even more weight, more cost, and further restricts the shuttles usefulness. 
         [0008]    What is needed is a sort of pop up camper type of solution that obviates the need to carry empty space into outer space, and which makes the space shuttle more adaptable to different missions, and which reduces the weight and expense attendant to a one size fits all and oversized space shuttle. It is the object of the current invention to incorporate the attributes of a good space shuttle into a toy with interchangeable parts that can create various configurations to do different things. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The current invention is a model of a spacecraft that saves tremendous weight and fuel by having a changeable size and by obviating the need to carry empty space into outer space. It works by having a detachable cabin section that can fit different fuselages and by having an inner fuselage to telescope out of the main fuselage. Different inner fuselages of different lengths and with different features can be used for different missions or they can be left out entirely, and different cabins and outer fuselages can be used for different missions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is of the most fundamental embodiment of the invention. A cabin  20  is attached at the joint  14  to an eight inch fuselage  30 . The seven inch inner fuselage  40  is hidden inside. The fuselage  30  has replicas of rocket engines  80  on its back end. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is of the same toy space shuttle as  FIG. 1  but with the joint  14  having opened and the seven inch inner fuselage  40  starting to slide out of the eight inch fuselage  30 . The seven inch inner fuselage  40  is still attached to the back of the cabin  20 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is of the same toy space shuttle seen in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2  with the seven inch inner fuselage  40  now fully extended. The inner fuselage has cargo bay doors  50 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is of basically the same shuttle configuration as  FIG. 1  but with an added one and a half inch outer fuselage  31 . 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show the same  7  person cabin  20  and eight inch fuselage  30  with different inner fuselages  45  and  46 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows the cabin  20  attached to a six inch fuselage  33  with a three inch tail section  60  attached to the fuselage, and a five inch inner fuselage hidden inside. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  shows the space shuttle of  FIG. 7  with the five inch inner fuselage  41  having telescoped out from the six inch fuselage  33   
           [0017]      FIG. 9  shows the cabin  20  attached to a four inch fuselage  32  with a three inch tail section  60  and there is a three inch inner fuselage inside of the four inch fuselage. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  shows the same four inch fuselage  32  and tail section  60  as are shown in  FIG. 9  but with a smaller cabin  21  and the three inch inner fuselage  42  extended. It has small cargo bay doors  51 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  shows how a toy space station could be configured using this invention. The cabin  20  is attached to a ten inch long space station  70  which is in turn attached to the three inch tail section  60 . Two five inch inner fuselages are hidden inside. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  shows the cabin  20  and tail section  60  detaching from the space station  70 . The inner fuselages  44  can be seen but have not yet started to come out. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  shows the space station  70  in orbit over the earth and the inner fuselages  44  are fully extended. The cabin  20  and the tail section  60  have come together and are headed back to earth. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  shows a ten inch fuselage  35  with alternative methods of expandability. Its sides are partially open. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 15 and 16  show two of the telescoping inner fuselages by their self. The five inch inner fuselage  41  has no cargo doors. 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  shows a much smaller version of the toy space shuttle of this invention consisting of a two person mini cabin  22  and a four inch mini fuselage  36  and a three inch mini inner fuselage  49  is starting to slide out. It is like a Mini Cooper® space shuttle. 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  shows a top view of the cabin  20  to show how the sectional view in  FIG. 19  is made. 
           [0026]      FIG. 19  shows a side sectional view of the cabin  20 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 20  shows a top view of a six inch fuselage  34  with tail section and wings to show how the sectional view in  FIG. 21  is made. The rocket engines  80  have been left out of this picture. 
           [0028]      FIG. 21  shows a partial side view of the six inch fuselage  34  partly in section to show the fitting ring  105 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 22  shows a side view of a five inch inner fuselage  41  to illustrate the protrusions   91  that grip the inside of the cabins or any other fuselage equipped with the concavities  92 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    This invention is a toy version of an improved design for a space shuttle. 
         [0031]    The most basic embodiment of the toy of this invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , &amp;  3 . In this embodiment it consists of a seven person cabin  20 , an eight inch fuselage  30 , and a seven inch inner fuselage  40 . The wings  63  and tail rudder  62  and rocket engines  80  are integral parts of the fuselage  30 . 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 1  the toy is shown compact as it would be on the launch pad and during reentry. The cabin  20  is joined to the eight inch fuselage  30  at the joint  14 . The inner fuselage  40  is inside of the eight inch fuselage  30 . It protrudes slightly out of the fuselage  30  and is attached to the inside of the back of the cabin  20  by means of three protrusions  91  fitting into corresponding concavities  92  so that it will remain attached when the eight inch fuselage  30  is pulled away from the cabin. The protrusions  91  are shown in  FIG. 22  and the concavities  92  are shown in  FIG. 19 , and both are described in paragraph 0054 below. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows the seven inch inner fuselage  40  beginning to telescope out of the eight inch fuselage  30  as a real shuttle would do when it gets into outer space. The fitting ring  105  is now visible as is the larger protrusion  93  on the left side. These fit inside of the back of the cabin  20  and hold it in place until the cabin and fuselage are pulled apart. They are described in detail in paragraph 0053. 
         [0034]    The cargo bay doors  50  are a part of the inner fuselage  40  to protect the outer fuselage from the structural problems they would pose to it and so future missions can use a different inner fuselage when cargo bay doors are not necessary. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows the toy with the inner fuselage  40  having telescoped fully from the outer fuselage  30  and still attached to the back of the cabin  20  the way a real space shuttle would be in outer space. This method of making a space shuttle also provides windows  52  which are not present on the current U.S. space shuttle. The inner fuselage  40  is the color of aluminum because in the real version the inner fuselage is not designed for the stress of reentry. 
         [0036]    By expanding in this way a space shuttle can create its own empty space for astronauts to live and work in without the expense of carrying that empty space all of the way from the surface of the earth. Different inner fuselages of different lengths can be used to customize the size of the shuttle for each mission, or different inner fuselages with different equipment can be used, all with the same cabin and outer fuselage. 
         [0037]    This design also makes a safer space shuttle for reentry because if the fuselage or wings are damaged the cabin can detach and deploy parachutes and make a splash down. 
         [0038]    The toy might have no more pieces than are shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , &amp;  3 , or it can have any number of additional interchangeable pieces that can be included in a larger set or collected individually over time. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows how the joint  14  allows the shuttle shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , or any other configuration of this invention to be extended by adding a fuselage extender, in this case a one and a half inch fuselage  31 . The one and a half inch fuselage  31  uses the same fitting ring  105  as most other outer fuselages and tail sections in this invention at its front end and the inside of its back end is the same as the inside of the cabin  20  shown in  FIG. 19  so it can accept the front of the next fuselage or tail section. The four inch fuselage  32  in  FIG. 10  and the six inch fuselage  33  in  FIG. 8  have the same attributes and can be used in the same way. This configuration can use the same seven inch inner fuselage  40  as the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  or it can have a longer or shorter inner fuselage or no inner fuselage at all. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  shows how the telescoping inner fuselage can be used to make a weaponized space shuttle. When the inner fuselage  45  is extended the side doors  55  open and have missiles  57  already attached. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  shows a space shuttle with a stairway  58  that folds up and acts as a door in the side of the fuselage  46 . 
         [0042]    Other specialized inner fuselages might include a lunar landing fuselage that comes out completely and detaches from the cabin, allowing the cabin to rejoin the outer fuselage for their return to earth, or an inner fuselage with rocket engines to travel to a different place. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10  show how different cabins  20  and  21  and a separate tail section  60  can be used to make different configurations of this toy.  FIG. 10  uses a three person cabin  21 . 
         [0044]      FIGS. 11 ,  12 , and  13  show how a toy space station can be configured using this invention. 
         [0045]      FIG. 11  shows the cabin  20  and tail section  60  attached to the space station  70  as a real shuttle would be when attached to its rockets on a launch pad. 
         [0046]      FIG. 12  shows the cabin  20  and tail section  60  detaching from the space station  70  as a real shuttle would do in outer space. The inner fuselages  44  can be seen but have not yet started to come out. The space station  70  has rectangular windows  54 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 13  shows the space station  70  in orbit over the earth and the inner fuselages  44  are fully extended. The cabin  20  and the tail section  60  have come together and are headed back to earth. 
         [0048]      FIG. 14  shows alternative methods of making the toy of this invention expandable. It is a fold out fuselage  35  that has fold out sides  65  and a telescoping top  53 . The fold out sides  65  have canvas  56  to create extra room when the sides  65  are opened. The fold out sides  65  are only half open in this picture. The fuselage  35  shown here needs a tail section  60  added but another version can be made with an integrated tail section. In either case an inner fuselage can be added for more expandability. These methods of expandability can also be employed by an inner fuselage after it slides out. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 15 and 16  show inner fuselages by themselves. 
         [0050]      FIG. 17  shows a toy mini space shuttle that models what would be about a four meter long space shuttle in real life, or about six meters when fully extended. It has a two person mini cabin  22 , a mini fuselage  36 , and a mini inner fuselage  49 , and it uses a mini fitting ring  106  in the same way that the other cabins, tail sections, and fuselages of this invention use the normal fitting ring  105 , which will be described below. 
         [0051]      FIG. 18  shows a top view of the cabin  20  to show how the sectional view in  FIG. 19  is made. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 19 ,  20 ,  21 , and  22  show one method for fitting the pieces of this invention together.  FIG. 19  is a side sectional view of the cabin  20  that shows the parts that fit the various fuselages and tail sections of this invention. 
         [0053]    The back edge  100  of the cabin, which is also present on many of the fuselages butts into the front edge  104  of the fuselage or tail section that is being attached, creating the visible line of the joint  14  where the parts come together. The fitting ring  105  which is on the front end of the fuselage or tail section goes into the back of the cabin and the larger protrusions  93  which are on the sides of the fitting ring  105  fit into the larger concavities  94 . The larger concavities  94  and the larger protrusions  93  are both shaped like part of a cylinder, one convex and the other concave. The larger concavities  94  are designed and placed so they will hold the front edge  104  of the fuselage tight against the back edge  100  of the cabin. The larger concavities  94  are slightly longer than the larger protrusions  93  to avoid the need for a perfect fit. The inner bevel  101  around the back edge  100  of the cabin helps to guide the fitting ring  105  into place. The larger protrusions  93  can be seen in top view on each side of the fitting ring  105  in  FIG. 20 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 22  shows the protrusions  91  that fit into the concavities  92  that are shown in  FIG. 19 . There are three protrusions  91  spaced about evenly around the outside of the five inch inner fuselage  41  near each end as with any other inner fuselage of this invention. The protrusions  91  and the concavities  92  are both shaped like part of a cylinder, one convex and the other concave. The concavities  92  are designed and placed to hold the inner fuselage tightly against the back wall  96  of the cabin to prevent any wobbling when the outer fuselage is pulled away. The second inner bevel  102  helps to guide the inner fuselage into place, and reduces the size of the inside of the cabin to fit the inner fuselage. 
         [0055]    When the outer fuselage is attached to the back of the cabin there is still space for the protrusions  91  between the front of the fitting ring  105  and the second inner bevel  102  so the inner fuselage does not have to be stuck at all, but can be removed freely as would be desirable in the case of the lunar landing inner fuselage described in paragraph  0042  or the space station shown in  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , and  13 . 
         [0056]    The protrusions  91  also prevent the inner fuselage from slipping completely into the outer fuselage by bumping into the fitting ring  105 , and they prevent the inner fuselage from slipping completely out of the outer fuselage by the same means. 
         [0057]    The port hole  98  is a hole in the back wall  96  for astronauts to go through. 
         [0058]    The toy can be made of any ordinary toy making plastic, preferably plastic that can be colored easily and which will accept decals, paint, or ink, and which is tough and durable because it is intended to be an action toy. Harder plastics such as polystyrene are also suitable for versions of the toy that are intended for display. It is shown in white but it can be made in any color desired, and may also have stickers, paint, or ink added for adornment such as the American flag, racing stripes, and the name of the space ship e.g. USS Enterprise. It can also have electric lights or any other additional gadgets that are desirable. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 14 
                 joint 
               
               
                 20 
                 7 person cabin 
               
               
                 21 
                 3 person cabin 
               
               
                 22 
                 2 person mini cabin 
               
               
                 30 
                 eight inch fuselage with tail section 
               
               
                 31 
                 one and a half inch fuselage 
               
               
                 32 
                 four inch fuselage 
               
               
                 33 
                 six inch fuselage 
               
               
                 34 
                 six inch fuselage with tail section 
               
               
                 35 
                 fold out fuselage 
               
               
                 36 
                 mini fuselage 
               
               
                 40 
                 seven inch inner fuselage 
               
               
                 41 
                 five inch inner fuselage 
               
               
                 42 
                 three inch inner fuselage 
               
               
                 44 
                 inner fuselage w/closed ends 
               
               
                 45 
                 inner fuselage w/side doors 
               
               
                 46 
                 inner fuselage w/stairway 
               
               
                 49 
                 mini inner fuselage 
               
               
                 50 
                 cargo bay doors 
               
               
                 51 
                 small cargo bay doors 
               
               
                 52 
                 window 
               
               
                 53 
                 telescoping top 
               
               
                 54 
                 rectangular window 
               
               
                 55 
                 side door 
               
               
                 56 
                 canvas 
               
               
                 57 
                 missile 
               
               
                 58 
                 stairway 
               
               
                 60 
                 tail section 
               
               
                 62 
                 tail rudder 
               
               
                 63 
                 large wing 
               
               
                 65 
                 fold out side 
               
               
                 70 
                 space station 
               
               
                 80 
                 rocket engine 
               
               
                 91 
                 protrusion 
               
               
                 92 
                 concavity 
               
               
                 93 
                 larger protrusion 
               
               
                 94 
                 larger concavity 
               
               
                 96 
                 back wall 
               
               
                 98 
                 port hole 
               
               
                 100 
                 back edge 
               
               
                 101 
                 inner bevel 
               
               
                 102 
                 second inner bevel 
               
               
                 104 
                 front edge 
               
               
                 105 
                 fitting ring