Abstract:
The invention discloses colorful wind indicator toys and kites having an improved disk structure for securing various rotatable wind collecting parts of the wind indicators and kites.. More specifically, it is proposed that a hub lock be used instead of a disk type structure to secure the vanes of the wind indicator toys, therein “locking” the projections of the vanes into the hub lock, preventing the vanes or similar structures 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 locking disk 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. 5,811,673 (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. No. 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. 
     This disk type structure has become sort of a standard in the industry, as more and more kite and wind wheel manufacturers have sought to copy this design. 
     However, the use of the present disk does present certain challenges. During periods of high winds or high torque, the projections of the vanes may become disengaged from the disk type structure, causing the vanes to fly off in extremely high winds. Alternatively, if the disk is used to secure the parts of a kite, such as a propeller, wind forces may cause those parts to separate from the disk type structure, causing the kite to become unbalanced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The proposed invention solves these problems by using an improved disk structure. More specifically, it is proposed that a hub lock be used instead of the prior disk type structure to secure rotatable parts driven by the wind, therein “locking” the projections of these parts into the hub lock, preventing the vanes or similar structures from disengaging and flying away from the structure during high winds.. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the hub lock device is comprised of two interlocking sections. The “male” or top section has pin projections which fit into holes in the “female” or bottom section of the hub device. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the hub device is comprised of two sections wherein the two sections are attached by means of a resilient member. 
     This device may be used to connect various moving parts of the wind wheel to various shafts, thereby allowing for the free rotation of parts. Similarly, this device may also be used to allow for the connection of various parts of a variety of kites. 
    
    
     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; and 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hub lock. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-9, a wind indicator toy  1  shown in FIG. 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  20  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 . In a preferred embodiment, the hollow rod  70  slides over the rigid piece  22 . The hollow rod  70  is kept in place by means of a cap  71  which fits over the end of the rigid piece  22 . The hollow rod  70  preferably 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 fits. The hub locks may be positioned at the proximal and distal ends of the rigid piece. 
     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 where there are may be one or two hub locks used, when a vane has two projections. Alternatively, one disk type structure  381  taught in Skwarek may be used to hold the projection of the vane in place. Similarly, one of the projections does not have to be fitted into a hub lock, nor does that projection not entering a hub lock need to have a bulbous head. 
     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 . 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention, as shown in figure I 1 , the front section  303  of the wind wheel has a flexible material  304  stretched over a frame comprising several framing pieces  305 . The ends  306  of these framing pieces  305  fit into a circular hub lock  308 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the material  50  used to make up the fabric part of the structure is ripstop nylon, and the ground stake and extension piece is made out of fiberglass. It is also 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. 
     The hub locks may be used for a variety of wind wheels and kites. For instance, some kites  405  have propellers  400  or tails  401  that may rotate about an axis or support bar  403  of a kite. This same device can be used to hold the propellers or kite tails. 
     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. 
     There are alternative designs to the hub locks used in the present invention. In one embodiment of the invention, resilient members  370 , preferably two, having a grooved tongue  371  extend from and are integral with the top section  372  of a hub lock  373 . A bottom section  374  has ridges  375  which snap securely into the grooved tongue  371  when the top section  372  and the bottom section  374  are pushed together. Sides  376  are positioned perpendicularly to the grooved tongue  371  or to the ridge  375  to prevent the bottom section  374  and the top section  372  from disconnect during use. It is preferred that the resilient members be diametrically positioned from one another. 
     In another embodiment of the invention for the wind wheel one of the hub locks may be a one of the disk type structures as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,747. 
     There are many possible methods for securing the two sections of the hub lock together to prevent vanes and other wind movable parts which rotate about an axis from separating from the wind wheels or kites. 
     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.