Abstract:
This invention relates to a new and useful type of flying toy, game, and sport activity device. It is comprised essentially of a flying saucer or disk with a centrally located elastic cord attached to the middle of the saucer, at the center of its axis of rotation. The terminal end of elastic cord is typically attached to one end of a swivel, and the other end of the swivel is typically attached to a ribbon tail. There are many embodiments of the Flying Saucer with Tether disclosed in the specification. This Flying Saucer with Tether may be used for doing tricks and for a variety of group games and sporting activities.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention, entitled “Flying Saucer with Tether”, was devised and invented by Christian Marc Ruiz, and relates to a new and useful type of flying toy and game, that may be enjoyed by children and adults alike. This new and useful Flying Saucer with Tether, may also be used for a sports activity, similar to the manner that FRISBEE™ catching may be a sports activity. This “Flying Saucer with Tether” will hereinafter be referred to as a proper noun with the first letter of each word capitalized, throughout this specification and its appended claims.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a new and useful flying toy and game that may also be incorporated into a sports activity. The user of the toy may use it independently to do tricks with the toy, or the user may use it with one or more other players. These other players may or may not also have their own Flying Saucer with Tether, in the game. In other words, a multi-person game may be played with only one of the disclosed toy, or with a plurality of the disclosed toys. An independent user may also simultaneously use a plurality of the toys, to do a variety of tricks, somewhat similar to juggling or baton twirling.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 1.98  
         [0003]    Heretofore, toys that are flying saucers or flying disks may be described as FRISBEE™ like devices that are tossed or thrown back and forth between players. This activity may also be viewed as a sports activity because there may be considerable exercise involved. When tossing the flying disk, the disk must be held by the thrower, and when the disk is caught by another player, the disk&#39;s motion ceases when it is caught and grasped by this player. There are often misses and the flying disk is not caught by a participant in the game. This makes the game frustrating to some players, and makes the sports activity more a matter of chasing and picking-up missed disks.  
           [0004]    The inventor, Christian Marc Ruiz, has devised and invented a new and useful type of flying disk toy, game, and sports activity that does not have the aforementioned problems, and that uses a new and useful improvement on the existing flying disks.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In trying to solve the above-described toy and sporting industry problems with flying disks and the disadvantages with the flying disks currently available, and within the scope of this invention, the inventor, Christian Marc Ruiz, conceived, devised, invented, and engineered a new and useful means of effectively overcoming many of these problems and disadvantages. A flying disk may be more easily caught if it is either larger in size or has a grabbing means attached thereto. The optimal solution to this problem is to have a grabbing means attached to the flying saucer. The location of the grabbing means may be in a variety of places on the flying saucer. The inventor, Christian Marc Ruiz, determined that the optimal place to attach a grabbing means is at the center of the axis of rotation for the flying disk, when it is in motion. The inventor, Christian Marc Ruiz, also determined that the optimal grabbing device would be a ribbon or the like, that was connected to the center of the axis of rotation for the flying disk. A ribbon or the like was found to be a significant improvement in the art, but would function better, and with more control for the user of the flying saucer, if there was an elastic interface between the flying saucer and the aforementioned ribbon or the like. The inventor, Christian Marc Ruiz, also found that to avoid the possible tangling of the ribbon or its elastic interface cord, a swivel or the like should be attached at the interface between the ribbon and the cord, or alternatively between the flying saucer and the elastic cord.  
           [0006]    The inventor, Christian Marc Ruiz, also designed the present invention so that the user attempting to catch the Flying Saucer with Tether, will have two, rather than one chance to catch the device when it is tossed to a recipient; first, when the saucer is within reach and allowing the player to grab the saucer ( 1 ), and second, when the ribbon tail ( 10 ) is within reach and allowing the player to grab the long ribbon tail ( 10 ). The inventor also designed the Flying Saucer with Tether to allow the user to perform a great many new and impressive tricks that heretofore would not be possible with related toys. Such tricks as bouncing the saucer ( 1 ) like a yo-yo, while it is held by the ribbon tail ( 10 ), spinning and twirling the saucer ( 1 ) around one&#39;s body or around above one&#39;s body, while it is held by the ribbon tail ( 10 ), and returning the Flying Saucer with Tether to another player, without bringing the saucer ( 1 ) to a stop during the catch process—the saucer ( 1 ) may be returned to another player by catching the ribbon tail ( 10 ) and twirling it around and releasing it with momentum and direction towards the other player.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of the Flying Saucer with a Tether, and showing break-lines along the tether&#39;s tail.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the Flying Saucer with a Tether, and showing break-lines along the tether&#39;s tail.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the Flying Saucer with a Tether, the opposite view being a mirror image thereof.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 shows a sectional side view of the preferred embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether, the section taken through the center, and not showing the tether in the centrally located orifice.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 shows side view of the preferred embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether, the opposite view being a mirror image thereof.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 shows a side view of a first domed saucer embodiment of the Flying Saucer, and not showing the tether ( 12 ) portion of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 shows a side view of a second domed embodiment of the Flying Saucer, and not showing the tether ( 12 ) portion of the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 shows a side view of a first inverted dome saucer embodiment of the Flying Saucer, and not showing the tether portion of the invention. The dashed lines indicate where the centrally located inverted dome would be located behind the side wall of the saucer ( 1 ).  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 shows a side view of a second inverted dome saucer embodiment of the Flying Saucer, and not showing the tether ( 12 ) portion of the invention. The dashed lines indicate where the centrally located inverted dome would be located behind the side wall of the sauce ( 1 ).  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 12 shows a top view of a flattened disk embodiment of the Flying Saucer, and not showing the tether portion of the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 13 shows a top view of a torus embodiment of the Flying Saucer with a centrally located tether ring ( 11 ) held in place with four ring cords ( 13 ), and not showing the tether portion of the invention. The top view of the flattened torus embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would also be seen as FIG. 13.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 14 shows a tether embodiment being a restraint knot ( 5 ), followed by an elastic cord ( 4 ), followed by a first swivel connection knot ( 8 ), followed by a swivel ( 7 ), followed by a second swivel connection knot ( 8 ), followed by a second cord (being either elastic or non-elastic), followed by the ribbon tie ( 9 ), followed by the ribbon tail ( 10 ). The ribbon tail ( 10 ) is shown in this drawing figure, and in FIGS. 15 through 17, inclusive, as a shortened embodiment to allow the illustration to fit onto one page. A preferred embodiment of the ribbon tail ( 10 ) would be two to three or more times as long as that shown in this drawing figure, and in FIGS. 15 through 16, inclusive. A preferred embodiment of the bifurcated ribbon tail ( 10 ) would be three to four or more times as long as that shown in FIG. 17.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 15 shows a tether embodiment being a restraint knot ( 5 ), followed by an elastic cord ( 4 ), followed by the ribbon tie ( 9 ), followed by the ribbon tail ( 10 ).  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 16 shows a tether embodiment being a restraint clip ( 6 ), followed by a swivel ( 7 ), followed by a swivel connection knot ( 8 ), followed by an elastic cord ( 4 ), followed by a ribbon tie ( 9 ), followed by a ribbon tail ( 10 ). The restraint clip ( 6 ) is shown removed from the swivel ( 7 ), and with an arrow indicating how it may be used to effectively lock the tether ( 12 ) onto the saucer ( 1 ).  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 17 shows a ribbon tail ( 10 ) that is bifurcated. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    The Flying Saucer with Tether is comprised essentially of several elements, that are listed and described below.  
         [0025]    The saucer ( 1 ) is the main body of the Flying Saucer with Tether, and is intended to also refer to variant embodiments, such as a disk (FIGS. 1-7), a flat disk (FIG. 12), a saucer with a centrally located dome (FIGS. 8 and 9), a saucer with a centrally located inverted dome (FIGS. 10 and 11), a flattened torus (FIG. 13) with a centrally located tether restaint ring ( 11 ), a torus (FIG. 13) with a centrally located tether restraint ring ( 11 ), or a spoked wheel-like structure, similar to FIG. 13. The term saucer ( 1 ) is also intended to be broadly construed to include variations, combinations, and modifications on the saucer theme. The saucer ( 1 ) may be composed essentially of a material allowing it to glide or be aerodynamically viable as a flying toy. Such materials include polymeric materials, plastic, honeycomb materials and composites, honeycomb paper, honeycomb aluminum, paper, cardboard, balsa or other lightweight woods, or composite materials.  
         [0026]    The centrally located orifice ( 2 ) is the hole, orifice, slit, or the like, located on the saucer ( 1 ), and through the center, at the center of its axis of rotation. The centrally located orifice should be large enough to allow the elastic cord ( 4 ) to pass through it.  
         [0027]    The orifice gasket ( 3 ) is the ring gasket, washer, or the like, that is optionally fit around the centrally located orifice ( 2 ) to affect a smoother surface where the orifice ( 2 ) was cut out of the saucer ( 1 ). A smoother surface is desirable to protect the elastic cord ( 4 ) from being cut or frayed by a potentially rough or sharp surface at the centrally located orifice ( 2 ). The orifice gasket ( 3 ) or an equivalent structure, may be molded right onto the saucer ( 1 ), or may be affected by a localized thermal process, effectively smoothing-out the centrally located orifice ( 2 ).  
         [0028]    The elastic cord ( 4 ) is the elastic cord, bungee cord or the like, rubber cord or band, spring or spring loaded cord, or any sort of tether or cord that has elastic properties noticeable to a user of the toy disclosed herein. The term elastic cord ( 4 ) is also intended to be broadly construed to include variations, combinations, and modifications on the elastic cord theme, such as a cord that is elastic on only one end or in the middle section.  
         [0029]    The restraint knot ( 5 ) is the knot or the like that is used to restrain or hold the elastic cord ( 4 ) onto the saucer ( 1 ).  
         [0030]    The restraint clip ( 6 ) is the clip, cotter key, or the like that is used to restrain or hold the elastic cord ( 4 ) onto the saucer ( 1 ). The restraint clip ( 6 ) is an alternative to the use of a restraint knot ( 5 ). The restraint clip ( 6 ) is preferred to be removable, thereby allowing the user to remove the tether ( 12 ) portion from the saucer ( 1 ), or for replacing the tether ( 12 ) portion of the saucer ( 1 ), with a new or different type of tether ( 12 ).  
         [0031]    The swivel ( 7 ) is the swivel, pivot mechanism, or the like, that is attached at any desired point between the restraint know ( 5 ) or restraint clip ( 6 ), and the end of the ribbon tail ( 10 ). The optimal location for the swivel ( 7 ) is at the interface between the elastic cord ( 4 ) and the ribbon tie ( 9 ), as shown in the preferred embodiment in FIGS. 1-7. The elastic cord ( 4 ) is optimally attached to the swivel ( 7 ) with a swivel connection knot ( 8 ) from the terminal end of the elastic cord ( 4 ). The swivel ( 7 ) is preferred to be small, such as under three centimeters in length, and similar to those used in the fishing field. The swivel ( 7 ) may be composed essentially of metal, an alloy, a composite, or a polymeric material; a metal swivel ( 7 ) being preferred.  
         [0032]    The swivel connection knot ( 8 ) is the knot or the like used to connect or attach the elastic cord ( 4 ) to the swivel ( 7 ), as shown in FIG. 2. The elastic cord ( 4 ) is the structure that is knotted.  
         [0033]    The ribbon tie ( 9 ) is the one or more ties or the like, on the initial end of the ribbon tail ( 10 ), that may be used to tie or connect the ribbon tail ( 10 ) to the swivel ( 7 ), in preferred embodiments of the Flying Saucer with Tether, or to the elastic cord ( 4 ) in simple embodiments of the Flying Saucer with Tether. The ribbon tie ( 9 ) is composed essentially of a fabric material, and is typically attached to the ribbon tail ( 10 ) with stitches or by sewn means.  
         [0034]    The ribbon tail ( 10 ) is the fabric length of material that is attached to the elastic cord ( 4 ) or alternatively to the swivel ( 7 ). The means of attachment is optimally with the ribbon tie ( 9 ), but may be by some other means, such as a clip or the like. The ribbon tail may be of any desired shape, and may bifurcate into a plurality of tailetts or smaller tail-like structures. A preferred embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether, would have a ribbon tail with a long flat shape, as shown in FIGS. 1-7, and such that the ribbon tail is composed essentially of a lightweight fabric material, such as ripstop nylon. Lightweight fabric materials are also preferred because they may be obtained and used in the present invention in varying colors and patterns, including holographic, lenticular, and reflective surfaces, thereby making the Flying Saucer with Tether more interesting and attractive as a toy and game. The ribbon tail ( 10 ) is typically sewn along its perimeter to reinforce the structural integrity of the fabric material, and to afford it further protection from fraying.  
         [0035]    The tether restraint ring ( 11 ) is the ring, gasket, washer, torus, or the like, that is held in place at the center of the torus or the flattened torus embodiments of the saucer ( 1 ) with a plurality of polymeric, metallic, or composite lines, cords, wires, or the like, as shown in FIG. 13. The tether restraint ring ( 11 ) holds the elastic cord ( 4 ) in place after one end is paced through said ring ( 11 ), and is held in place with a restraint knot ( 5 ) or the like at one end of the elastic cord ( 4 ), and in much the same manner as the orifice gasket ( 3 ) holds the elastic cord ( 4 ) in place. The tether restraint ring ( 12 ) is intended to replace the orifice gasket ( 3 ) in the saucer ( 1 ) embodiments shaped like a torus, flattened torus, and a spoked wheel-like structure.  
         [0036]    The tether ( 12 ) is the set of elements of the present invention protruding from the centrally located orifice ( 2 ), and is comprised essentially of the elastic cord ( 4 ), the swivel ( 7 ) the ribbon tail ( 10 ), and their means of attachment, i.e., knots and ties.  
         [0037]    The ring cord ( 13 ) is the cord or the like that is used in the torus, flattened torus, and in some embodiments of the spoked wheel saucer ( 1 ), to hold a tether restraint ring ( 11 ) in place, as shown in FIG. 13. The ring cord ( 13 ) is preferred to be elastic, and a plurality of them are preferred to be used in the aforementioned embodiments, and placed equidistantly along the torus, flattened torus, or wheel. A preferred number of ring cords ( 13 ) would be four, although two or three would be excellent embodiments. Four or more ring cords ( 13 ) are preferred because the Flying Saucer with Tether would continue to function should one of the elastic cords ( 13 ) break.  
       Simple Embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether  
       [0038]    A simple embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether is comprised essentially of a saucer ( 1 ) with a centrally located orifice ( 2 ). A ribbon tail ( 10 ) is attached to the saucer ( 1 ) through the centrally located orifice ( 2 ), and may be attached through the use of a knot or the like, such as a ribbon tie ( 9 ) adapted to hold and attach the ribbon tail ( 10 ) to the saucer ( 1 ).  
       Preferred Embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether  
       [0039]    A preferred embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether, as shown in FIGS. 1-7, is comprised essentially of a saucer ( 1 ) with a centrally located orifice ( 2 ). An orifice gasket ( 3 ) is fit onto the orifice ( 2 ) and may be snapped on, pressure fit on, or glue fit on to the orifice ( 2 ). An elastic cord ( 4 ) is passed through the gasket ( 3 ) and one end of the elastic cord ( 4 ) is knotted on the inner end of the saucer ( 1 ), with a restraint knot ( 5 ). The opposite end of the elastic cord ( 4 ) is attached to one end of a swivel ( 7 ) with a swivel connection knot ( 8 ). The opposite end of the swivel ( 7 ) is connected to the ribbon tail ( 10 ) with the ribbon tie ( 9 ) knotted onto the swivel ( 7 ). The swivel ( 7 ) may be composed essentially of a metal, alloy, or of a durable plastic material, but is preferred to be metal. The ribbon tail ( 10 ) in the preferred embodiment is composed essentially of a lightweight fabric, such as ripstop nylon. The saucer ( 1 ) in a preferred embodiment is composed essentially of a lightweight polymeric material, such as polypropylene.  
       Modified Embodiments of the Flying Saucer with Tether  
       [0040]    There are a combinatorial number of variant or modified embodiments of the Flying Saucer with Tether. These are essentially comprised of the aforementioned embodiments with replacement of certain elements with alternative, but largely equivalent elements, or with the elimination of non-essential or optional elements, or with variant placement of the swivel ( 7 ), in the tether ( 12 ) portion of the invention.  
         [0041]    A first modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised essentially of the preferred embodiment or a modified embodiment, but with the orifice gasket ( 3 ) molded directly into the saucer ( 1 ), rather than being a separate element.  
         [0042]    A second modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised essentially of the preferred embodiment, but with the saucer ( 1 ) having a centrally located dome, and the centrally located orifice ( 2 ) would be located at the central axis of rotation, at the top of said dome. See FIGS. 8 and 9 for examples of the saucer ( 1 ) used in this embodiment.  
         [0043]    A third modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised essentially of the preferred embodiment, but with the saucer ( 1 ) having a centrally located inverted dome, and the centrally located orifice ( 2 ) would be located at the central axis of rotation, at the bottom of the inverted dome. See FIGS. 10 and 11 for examples of the saucer used in this embodiment.  
         [0044]    A third modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised essentially of the preferred embodiment, but with the saucer ( 1 ) being a flat disk embodiment. See FIG. 12 for an example of the saucer ( 1 ) used in this embodiment.  
         [0045]    A fourth modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised essentially of the preferred embodiment, but with the saucer ( 1 ) being a torus with a centrally located tether restraint ring ( 11 ). The tether restraint ring ( 11 ) would replace the need and use of an orifice gasket ( 3 ). The tether restraint ring ( 11 ) is held in place with a plurality of ring cords ( 13 ) extending from the torus to the tether restraint ring ( 11 ). The ring cords ( 13 ) are preferred to be elastic and looped through an orifice in the torus body, and also looped around the tether restraint ring ( 11 ). The preferred number of tether restraint rings ( 11 ) is four, although two or three ring cords ( 13 ) equidistantly located along the torus would also provide a good version of this embodiment. See FIG. 13 for an example of the saucer ( 1 ) used in this embodiment.  
         [0046]    A fifth modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised essentially of the fourth modified embodiment, described above, but with the saucer (I) being a flattened torus, rather than a torus. Also see FIG. 13 for an example of the saucer ( 1 ) used in this embodiment.  
         [0047]    A sixth modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised essentially of either the fourth or the fifth modified embodiments, described above, but with the plurality of ring cords ( 13 ) and the tether restraint ring ( 11 ) are molded into the embodiment of the polymeric or plastic saucer ( 1 ) device, during the manufacturing process. This spoked wheel-like embodiment reduces the manufacturing costs by eliminating some significant steps in labor and assembly, and reduces the breakage probabilities during rough and longterm use of the Flying Saucer with Tether. This also effectively causes the ring cords ( 13 ) to be composed essentially of the same material as the saucer ( 1 ), thereby causing the ring cords ( 13 ) to be non-elastic, unless the saucer ( 1 ) itself is composed essentially of an elastic or elastomeric material. See FIG. 13 for an example of how this embodiment may appear, except without the shown ring cord&#39;s ( 13 ) knots and the ring cord&#39;s ( 13 ) loops through the torus and about the tether ring ( 11 ).  
         [0048]    A seventh modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised essentially of any one of the aforementioned and described embodiments, but wherein the location of the swivel ( 7 ) varies along the length of the tether ( 12 ). A viable variant of the tether ( 12 ) would have the swivel ( 7 ) attached to the centrally located orifice ( 2 ), and attached to one end of the elastic cord ( 4 ) at the other end of the swivel ( 7 ). The other end of the elastic cord ( 4 ) is attached to a ribbon tail ( 10 ) with a ribbon tie ( 9 ) or the like.  
         [0049]    A eighth modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised essentially of one of the aforementioned and described embodiments, but wherein the location of the swivel ( 7 ) varies along the length of the tether ( 12 ). A second viable variant of the tether ( 12 ) would have the swivel ( 7 ) attached between two elastic cords ( 4 ), with one end of the first elastic cord ( 4 ) being attached to the centrally located orifice ( 2 ) with a restraint knot ( 5 ), and with one end of the second elastic cord ( 4 ) being attached to the ribbon tail ( 10 ) with the ribbon tie ( 9 ), or the like.  
         [0050]    An ninth modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised essentially of one of the aforementioned and described embodiments, but wherein there is no swivel ( 7 ) in the tether ( 12 ). The tether is comprised essentially of an elastic cord ( 4 ) attached at one end to the centrally located orifice ( 2 ) with a restraint knot ( 5 ) or the like, and attached at the other end to the ribbon tie ( 9 ), thereby incorporating the ribbon tail ( 10 ) onto the tether ( 12 ).  
         [0051]    A tenth modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised essentially of one of the aforementioned and described embodiments, but wherein there is no swivel ( 7 ) and no elastic cord ( 4 ) in the tether ( 12 ). The tether ( 12 ) is comprised essentially of a ribbon tail ( 10 ) attached to the centrally located orifice ( 2 ), with a restraint knot ( 5 ) or the like, tied from the ribbon tie ( 9 ) or the like.  
         [0052]    A eleventh modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised essentially of one of the aforementioned and described embodiments, but wherein the ribbon tail ( 10 ) is bifurcated into a plurality of tailetts, as shown in FIG. 17. Because the ribbon tail ( 10 ) causes some drag on the aerodynamics of the Flying Saucer with Tether, is best not to excees two or three ribbon tailetts in these embodiments.  
         [0053]    An twelfth modified embodiment of the Flying Saucer with Tether would be comprised of one of the aforementioned and described embodiments, but wherein there are a plurality of ribbon tails ( 10 ) attached to the swivel ( 7 ) or alternatively attached to the elastic cord ( 4 ), with the ribbon ties ( 9 ) or the like, knotted to the terminal end of the elastic cord ( 4 ), or knotted on the inside portion of the centrally located orifice ( 2 ).  
         [0054]    While I have shown and described in this disclosure and its appended drawing figures, and which are a part of and are incorporated into said disclosure, only selected embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto, but is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as known to one having skill in the art, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all such modifications, changes, eliminations, and hybrids, as are encompassed by the scope of the specification and the appended drawing figures and claims.