Patent Publication Number: US-2013237118-A1

Title: Local Product Distribution

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is in the technical area of toys and games, and pertains more particularly to a use of plastic flying disks for delivery of such as CD cases with music CDs at concerts. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It is a common practice at concerts to throw CD cases containing CDs of the performing artist&#39;s music into the crowd as part of a marketing process. At most concerts, however, the audience is quite extensive, and the CD cases thrown are accessible only by people up close to the stage or origin point. Further, CD cases are hard and have sharp corners, and this practice can be dangerous. This sort of delivery to a crowd isn&#39;t limited to CD cases, however, and is used at, for example, some basketball games in the NBA to deliver pizzas and some other sorts of products to people in attendance. Sometimes large sling shots are used. This practice can also be hazardous. 
     What is clearly needed is a delivery mechanism and process that has both greater reach and less danger to members of an audience. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment of the present invention a flying disk device is provided, comprising a substantially circular, thin-walled body having a dome structure providing curvature to provide lift as the body passes through air, and defining an interior volume, a latching structure joined to an inner wall of the body at a central location within the interior volume, and two or more flexible retainer clips joined to the latching structure in a spaced pattern to retain an article within the interior volume. 
     Also in one embodiment the pattern is a rectangular pattern and the spacing is to hold a CD case. In an alternative embodiment the pattern and spacing are to retain a thumb drive. In another alternative the pattern and spacing are to retain a book or pamphlet. 
     In one embodiment the flying disk further comprises a flexible bumper element around the periphery of the disk. In some cases the thin-walled body and the latching structure are molded from a polymer material in a single molding operation. In other cases the thin-walled body and the latching structure are separately manufactured, and the two are joined by adhesive material. 
     In another aspect of the invention a method for delivering an article to persons in an audience is provided, comprising the steps of (a) providing a latching structure having two or more flexible retainer clips spaced in a pattern to retain the article; (b) joining the latching structure to an inner wall of a body of a flying disk defining an inner volume at a central location within the interior volume; (c) inserting the article into the latching structure; and (d) sailing the flying disk carrying the article over an audience. 
     In one embodiment of the method the pattern is a rectangular pattern and the spacing is to hold a CD case. In another embodiment the pattern and spacing are to retain a thumb drive. In another embodiment the pattern and spacing are to retain a book or pamphlet. 
     In one embodiment there is further a step for providing a flexible bumper element around the periphery of the disk. In some cases the thin-walled body and the latching structure are molded from a polymer material in a single molding operation. In some other cases the thin-walled body and the latching structure are separately manufactured, and the two are joined by adhesive material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  is a top view of a flying disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1   b  is a cross-section view of the flying disk device of  FIG. 1  taken along the section line  1   b - 1   b  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2  is a view from below of a flying disk according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1   a  is a top view of a flying disk device  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 1   b  is a cross-section view of the flying disk device of  FIG. 1  taken along the section line  1   b - 1   b  in  FIG. 1 . Flying disk devices are generally very well known in the art, and are used as toys in which a player grasps the flying disk by the rim with one hand and throws the device with the curved side up. As the device moves through the air the wing-like curvature creates lift, and the device may sail for a considerable distance with momentum provided by the energy put into the original throw. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1   b,  the flying disk device in an embodiment of the present invention in this example has a latching structure  104  comprising two or more flexible retaining clips  105 . Clips  105  are provided spaced such that a CD case  102  with a CD  103  therein may be inserted in a manner that flexes the clips enough that the case may pass, and the clips then spring back to normal position, holding the CD case in place within the flying disk. 
     In practice, one may load a number of such flying disks with CD cases, and sail the flying disks out into an audience at a concert, delivering CD cases with CDs inside at a greater distance than would be possible by just throwing the CD cases. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, in addition to structure  104  providing clips  105 , a rubber-like bumper element  106  is added to the flying disk to make collisions less damaging than might be the case without the bumper element. In this embodiment element  106  may be made of a rubber-like material, in some cases sponge material, in a ring such that the ring may be stretched over the outer edge of the body  101  of disk  100  and snapped into place. In an alternative embodiment a bumper element may be provided on the disk in manufacture. 
     In one embodiment latching structure  104  may be molded separately from body  101  of the flying disk, and may be joined to a commercially-available flying disk using an adhesive material. In another embodiment the latching structure may be molded as an integral part in the original manufacture of the flying disk. In yet another embodiment a separately-molded latching structure may be joined to the flying disk with fasteners or in other convention manner. 
       FIG. 2  is a view from below of a flying disk according to an embodiment of the present invention illustrating a latching structure  104  having four clips  105  equally spaced around the perimeter of the latching structure. The position of a CD case  102  is shown in dotted outline. It will be apparent to a skilled person that at least two clips  105  are required, and four may be preferred for more secure retention of a CD case. 
     Delivery of CD cases is but one use of a flying disk in an embodiment of the present invention. Such a unique flying disk may also be used to distribute thumb drives having video or audio material recorded hereon. In the case of a thumb drive the latching retainer will be provided appropriate to the size and shape of the thumb drive. Retaining structure may also be provided for small books or pamphlets, and for a variety of other products that one might wish to distribute in this manner.