Patent Publication Number: US-7713105-B2

Title: Launching device for a flying toy

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/972,819 filed on Sep. 17, 2007 entitled “Launching Device for a Flying Toy,” which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in full in this application for all purposes. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a launching device, and more specifically to launching devices for flying toys. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Flying toys come in many different shapes and sizes. Some flying toys may be formed to resemble birds, bats, butterflies or other real or imaginary creatures. Other flying toys may be formed to resemble man-made devices, such as planes, gliders, space ships and the like. The flight of such toys may be generated by various mechanical and electrical components, including springs, levers, wings and motors. Some flying toys require assistance from a user to initiate flight, and other flying toys may initiate flight without the assistance of a user. Flying toys in the later category may initiate flight from various locations, including but not limited to locations on the ground and locations on or associated with elevated surfaces. 
   Flying toys that are capable at least in part of initiating their own flight may benefit from the assistance of a launching device. A properly configured launching device can substantially improve the flight characteristics of the corresponding flying toy by providing mechanical assistance during the launch of the flying toy. Launching devices may also significantly improve the play value of a flying toy by incorporating characteristics that are consistent with the theme of the corresponding flying toy. For example, a flying toy that is formed to resemble a bird can benefit from a launching device that is formed to resemble a perch. 
   Despite substantial success in the market place on the part of flying toys, there remains a continuing need for more interesting and exciting flying toys and for launching devices that enhance the flying capabilities as well as the play value of such toys. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a launching device for a flying toy. The launching device facilitates the transition of the flying toy from a resting state to a flying state. The launching device may include elements for holding one or more parts of the flying toy in a retracted position while the flying toy is in a resting state and for releasing the parts when the flying toy launches into a flying state. According to the invention, the launching device includes a launch-assist mechanism that provides a force to facilitate the launch of the flying toy. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIGS. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a flying toy and launching device in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the flying toy and launching device of  FIG. 1  in the resting state. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the flying toy and a first embodiment of a launching device of in the launching state. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the flying toy and launching device of  FIG. 1  in the flying state. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment for the transitioning of the flying toy from a resting state to a flying state. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another launching device in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a launching device in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a partially exploded view of the launching device of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a rear view of a final exemplary embodiment of a launching device in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a front view of a final exemplary embodiment of a launching device in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  further illustrates features of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a final exemplary embodiment of a launching device coupled to a flying toy. 
       FIG. 13  further illustrates features of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 14  is a process flowchart for the final exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1  thru  4  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a flying toy  100  and a launching device  110  in accordance with the present invention. As an overview,  FIG. 1  illustrates the flying toy  100  and the launching device  110  separated from each other.  FIG. 2  illustrates the flying toy  100  and the launching device  110  joined in a resting state.  FIG. 3  illustrates the flying toy  100  and the launching device  110  in a launching state.  FIG. 4  illustrates the flying toy  100  and the launching device  110  in a flying state. 
   The flying toy  100  may be formed to resemble various flying creatures, such as a bird, bat, butterfly or the like or various man-made flying devices, such as a plane, a glider or the like or other non-flying objects such as an action figure, a Barbie® doll or the like. For purposes of illustration, the flying toy  100  is shown to resemble a bat. The flying toy  100  has a matching launching device  110  to facilitate the launch of the flying toy  100 . Returning to  FIG. 1 , the launching device  110  includes a housing  120  for housing various mechanical and electrical components (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). These mechanical and electrical components may facilitate in the launching of the flying toy  100  and may perform various supporting functions to enhance the play value of the flying toy  100 . 
   The supporting functions may include various sound, light and motion effects. The sound, light and motion effects may correspond to the theme of the flying toy. For example, for the bat embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1  thru  4 , the launching device may produce bat-like screeching sounds. The supporting functions of the launching device  110  may also include automatic sensing functions for automatically triggering the flight of the flying toy  100 . For example, the launching device  110  may house a motion sensor, sound sensor, light sensor or other sensor that triggers the flight of the flying toy  100 . In this example, a person entering a room or opening a closet door may trigger flight of the flying toy. 
   The launching device  110  may include a bracket  130  for mounting the launching device to various surfaces. The bracket  130  may be an angle bracket with thru-holes for various connectors, such as nails or screws. The bracket  130  may also be a mounting clamp with a shape configured to mount the launching device  110  on a chair. Alternatively, the bracket  130  may be formed as a multi-purpose bracket by incorporating an angle bracket and a mounting clamp. Other standard mounting elements are also possible. 
   The launching device  110  may include a support bar  140  that is configured to match a linking element  170  located on the flying toy  100  in order to provide gravity support to the flying toy  100  while it is in a resting position as shown in  FIG. 2 . The support bar  140  may include, for example, a substantially cylindrical rod having a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of a matching semicircular linking element  170  located on the flying toy  100 . The linking element  170  may be formed, for example, as the feet or as other parts of the flying toy  100  that are consistent with the theme of the flying toy  100 . The support bar  140  and linking element  170  of one exemplary embodiment are discussed in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 5  below. 
   The launching device may provide power to devices within the flying toy to enhance play value while keeping the weight of the flying toy as light as possible. As shown in  FIG. 2 , support bar  140  may include electrical contacts coupled to an electrical source, such as a battery, located within launching device  110 . Matching electrical contacts are also located in linking element  170  so that when flying toy  100  is in the resting position, power is provided from the electrical source through support bar  140  and through linking element  170  to a to light source or other device requiring power. The light source may include light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are positioned in the eyes or on other places located on flying toy  100 . 
   In the resting position shown in  FIG. 2 , the flying toy may include retractable wings  160  and the launching device may include one or more holding elements  150  for holding the wings  160  or other portions of the flying toy  100  in a temporarily fixed configuration. The holding elements  150  may transition from a closed to an open configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , to permit the retractable wings  160  to extend and open. Once the retractable wings  160  are extended and opened, they are free to facilitate the flight of the flying toy by, for example, flapping in a bird-like motion or, in the case of fixed position wings, by providing an air foil for gliding. In this embodiment, after the holding elements  150  release the wings  160 , the flying toy  100  is propelled away from the launching device  110  by the launching device  110  as set forth below in further detail in  FIG. 6 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment for transitioning of the flying toy  100  from a resting state to a flying state. In this embodiment, the resting state corresponds to the flying toy  100  being in a substantially vertical position with the semicircular linking element  170  of the flying toy  100  engaging the support bar  140  to provide gravity support for the flying toy  100 . This substantially vertical position in this example is consistent with a bat that sleeps hanging upside down from its feet. In other embodiments, the resting state may be in a substantially vertical position so that the flying toy is in an upright position, such as a bird on a perch. The resting state may also be in a substantially horizontal or angled position. 
   Returning to  FIG. 5 , as the flying toy  100  pivots about the support bar  140  in an upward direction to a substantially horizontal position, the open portion of the linking element  170  rotates upward and gravity releases the flying toy  100  from the support bar  140 . Once released from the support bar  140 , the flying toy  100  is free to fly. This flight may be achieved with the aid of various mechanical and electrical components, including springs, levers, wings and motors. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates another launching device  600  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. Launching device  600  provides a launching force that helps propel the corresponding flying toy away from the launching device  600  and toward a substantially horizontal flight position to facilitate flight. The launching device  600  may include a housing  610 , a mounting bracket  620  and a support bar  630  similar to those described with reference to  FIGS. 1  thru  4 . In addition, the launching device  600  may include an extension  640  extending from the housing  610  and supporting or forming part of a launch-assist mechanism  650 . The launch-assist mechanism  650  is configured to move quickly from a first position (as shown with solid lines) to a second position (as shown with dashed lines) in order to providing a launching force to help propel a flying toy into flight. 
   The launch-assist mechanism  650  may include various mechanical or electrical components capable of providing a force sufficient to at least partially lift and propel a flying toy. In one embodiment, the launch-assist mechanism  650  may include a spring-loaded lever that may be released through the press of a button by a user. This button may be located on launching device  600 . Thus, after a user presses this button, launch assist-mechanism  650  is engaged, lifts the flying toy  100  into a substantially vertical position and propels the flying toy  100  away from the launching device  110  such that the flying toy  100  is ready to automatic flight. This automatic flight may be initiated by the release of the holding elements and/ or the triggering of the launch-assist mechanism or by other means. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of a launching device  700  that includes a launch-assist mechanism  740 . The launching device  700  may include a housing  710 , holding elements  720  and a support bar  750  similar to those described with reference to  FIGS. 1  thru  4 . Support bar  750  may be configured to rotate such that the flying toy is rotated up into a substantially vertical position as set forth in  FIG. 5  or into some other flight ready position. In addition, the launching device  700  may include one or more electrical or mechanical buttons  730  for accepting a user input to trigger the launch of the corresponding flying toy. 
   When a user presses or otherwise manipulates one or more of the buttons  730 , the launch-assist mechanism  740  is released and moves quickly to a second position and in doing so provides a force for assisting the launch of the flying toy. One of buttons  730  may be configured to release holding element  720  so that the wings of the flying toy are placed in the open, flying position. Alternatively, the pressing of one of buttons  730  may rotate the support bar  750  such that the flying toy is placed in a flight ready position. One of buttons  730  may also initiate a two-step process. For example, the first step may be rotating of support bar  750  to place the flying toy in the flight ready position, and the second step may be engaging launching mechanism  740  to project the flying toy away from the launching device. The press of one of buttons  730  may also cause a chain reaction that includes (i) engaging a launching mechanism that pushes the flying toy both up and out away from the launching device and (ii) releasing holding elements  720  which then causes the wings to open far enough to engage an automatic wing flapping mechanism within the flying toy. 
     FIG. 8  illustrates a partially exploded view of the launching device  700  of  FIG. 7 . The launch-assist mechanism may include a spring-loaded lever  820  and various mechanical parts to hold and release the spring-loaded lever  820 . Also, the holding elements  720  may pivot about an axle or hinge  800  and may be activated by various mechanical parts, for example part  810 , that operate to hold and release the holding elements  720 . Both holding elements  720  and spring-loaded lever  820  may be released by a user pressing one or more buttons located on the launching device. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates a rear view of a final exemplary embodiment of a launching device  900 . An upper housing  902  and a lower housing  904  include various mechanical and electrical components. As above, these components may facilitate in the launching of a flying toy and may perform various supporting functions to enhance the play value of the flying toy and launching device. Located on this back side of upper housing  902  are a battery door  906  and a switch  908 . Battery door  906  allows a user to access and change one or more batteries which are providing power to various electronics located in housings  902  and  904 . Switch  908  is a mode switch, and in this example, switch  908  is a three-position slider switch allowing for three modes of play, “off”, “try-me” and “play”. In the “off” mode, the electronic components within the housings  902  and  904  are disabled. In the “try-me” mode, certain features are be enabled. For example, the launching device may produce sounds associated with the character of the flying device or blinking lights may be enabled. In the “play” position, the launching device enters the normal operation mode as discussed below. 
     FIG. 10  illustrates a front view of a final exemplary embodiment of launching device  900 . Upper housing  902  includes an electronics button  910 , a release button  912 , a speaker area  914 , a locator element  916  and a release element  917 . In this example, electronics button  910  is enabled when the flying toy is properly attached to launching device  900 . When enabled and pressed by a user, electronics button  910  turns on sounds and light effects. These effects may occur for a predetermined period of time, in a random way or in a sequenced way as desired for entertaining a user. In one example, the sounds may be random bat screeches and the light effects may be light-piped into the flying toy so that the flying toy&#39;s eyes are illuminated. A sleep-mode is optional during normal operation so that sound and light effects are off for a random amount of time (e.g., two to 10 minutes) and then automatically turned on as if the toy has awakened. Thus, the sleep-mode allows the combined launching device and flying toy to replicate the actions of a live animal or of a toy with motion, infrared or other input sensors for triggering responsive sounds and lights. 
   The other button on the front of upper housing  902  is release button  912 , which releases a spring (not shown) for launching the flying toy off launching device  900 . In this example, speaker area  914  is located between buttons  910  and  912  and outputs the sounds for the sound effects. Speaker area  914  may be located anywhere on upper housing  902  or lower housing  904 . Also, any commercially available sound producing electronics may be used within launching device  900  to produce the desired sound effects. 
   Turning now to the last features indicated on upper housing  902 , locator element  916  is used to assist with holding the flying device in a resting position against launching device  900 . Locator element  916  may be a pin, rib or other element that is able to engage with a matching element on the flying toy. Some flying devices contain an elastic band that is wound and then released to provide a force for flapping the flying device&#39;s wings. If this type of flying device is used, then the winding arm may include a matching hole that engages with locator pin  916  so that the elastic band is held in a wound position until launching takes place. In an alternative embodiment, the wound elastic band may be coupled to the flying device&#39;s wings in a way so that the elastic band is held in the wound position when the wings are held in a folded position. The wings are placed in a folded position by rotating the top of each wing up to the tail area. The next feature on upper housing  902  is release element  917  located directly below locator pin  916  and used to propel the flying device away from launching device  900 . For example, release element  917  may strike the edge of the winding arm on the flying toy to throw it away from launching device  900 . 
   Lower housing  904  includes a locator rib  918 , a detection button  920 , a light source  922 , and an insertion end  934 . To secure the flying device to launching device  900 , second locator element  918  may be utilized. In this example, locator element  918  is a rib element that engages with a slot in the flying toy to assist with holding the flying toy on launching device  900  in a resting position. This is an optional element. In an alternative embodiment, three or more locator elements are used (not shown). Below locator element  918  is detection button  920  which detects whether the flying toy is properly attached to launching device  900 . If the flying toy is properly attached, then detection button  920  is depressed in a way that enables the electronic effects of launching device  900 . Light source  922  is located below detection button  920  on top of lower housing  904  and provides a light source that may be light-piped up through the flying toy to illuminate features on the flying toy such as the flying toy&#39;s eyes. The flying toy may contain a clear plastic tube with an opening on the body of the toy for receiving light from light source  922 . The tube may then branch off to provide an opening for illumination near each eye area of the toy. 
   In this embodiment of the invention, a base  930  is utilized for placing launching device  900  in an upright, resting position. Base  930  includes a hole  932  for inserting insertion end  934  of lower housing  904 . When launching device  900  is properly placed in base  930 , the flying toy may be placed in its resting position in the launching device via, for example, locator pin  916 , locator rib  918  and gravitation force (shown below in  FIG. 12 ). 
   Turning now to  FIG. 11 , features of  FIG. 10  will be described in greater detail. Locator pin  916  is shown between wing catch tabs  940  and on top of hammer reset arm  942 . Wing catch tabs  940  are used to hold the wings of the flying toy in a folded or resting position which may also hold the elastic band within the flying toy in a wound position. Hammer reset arm  942  provides the user with a means for loading the launching device. The user pulls back on reset arm  942  to compress the launching spring and hold it in a compressed position so that it may later be release via compression of the release button to propel release hammer  917  forward. Thus reset arm  942  and release hammer  917  are mechanically linked, and this link may be located inside upper housing  902 , as set forth in  FIG. 11 , or externally (not shown). Also, a larger spring may be utilized within upper housing  902  to reduce the locking force. If a larger spring is used, upper housing  902  may extend outward where release hammer  917  is located (not shown) to accommodate the size of the larger spring. When release hammer  917  is propelled forward, it pushes or launches the flying toy away from launching device  900  which causes the wings to be released from wing catch tabs  940  so that the elastic band is allowed to unwind and provide the force to flap the wings of the flying toy. Thus, with the press of a single button, the flying toy is propelled away from launching device  900 , flaps its wings and flies away. 
     FIG. 12  illustrates the final exemplary embodiment of launching device  900  coupled to a flying toy  950 . The launching device  900  and flying toy  950  are in the resting position, and lower housing  904  is coupled to base  930  in the upright position discussed above. In this example, flying toy  950  is a bat, but as set forth above, other toys may be used such as birds, dolls, animals, fanciful characters and the like. Flying toy  950  includes a semi-rigid wing frame  952 , a flexible wing material  954 , a head and body portion  960  and eyes  962 . Tab  940 , located on upper housing  902 , holds a piece of frame  952  so that frame  952  and wing material  954  are held in a folded or resting position. Again, in one example, this also holds the elastic band inside flying toy  950  in a wound position. In this resting position, all locating elements on housings  902  and  904  are lined up and engaged with flying toy  950 , and the detection button is properly engaged so that the electronic features are enabled. 
   Light from the light source in lower housing  904  is light-piped through bat body and head  960  to illuminate eyes  962 . Thus, there is no need to include electronics and power devices within flying toy  950 . Both sounds and light is provided by launching device  900  so that flying toy  950  appears to be producing both effects. This provides the desired entertainment value without heavy components located in flying device  950  so that the lighter flying device  950  may fly better and longer. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 13 , features of  FIG. 12  will be described in greater detail. In this  FIG. 13 , both hammer reset arm  942  and release hammer  917  are in the loaded positions. Flying toy  950  is engaged with locator rib  918  and the locator pin. A portion of wing semi-rigid support structure  952  is held in the folded position by rib  940 , which also holds flexible wing material  954  in the folded position. 
     FIG. 14  is a process flowchart for the final exemplary embodiment of the present invention. At step  970 , the user pulls back the reset arm to compress the spring and hold it in the compressed position. If a base is being used with the launching device, referred to as a perch in this example, then at step  972 , the perch is placed in the base so that it remains in an upright position. At step  974 , the user winds up the flying toy, referred to as a bat in this example, and places the bat on the perch. As described above, this is done by placing the bat onto the perch&#39;s locator elements. At step  976 , the user folds up the bat&#39;s wings and locks the wings in the perch using the perch&#39;s wing tabs. When the user is ready to launch the bat, the user takes the perch out of the base at step  978  and then points the head of the bat in the direction of desired flight by aiming the lower housing of the perch. At step  980 , the user presses the release button which releases the loaded spring within the perch providing a force to the perch&#39;s release hammer. The release hammer ejects the bat away from the perch which disengages the bat&#39;s wings from the perch&#39;s ribs and causes the wings to flap. The bat then flies away from the user. Thus, unlike the prior embodiment, a two-step maneuver is not needed to launch the flying toy. In this embodiment, only the release hammer provides a single force to launch the flying toy into the flying mode of operation. 
   Although the apparatuses of this invention have been depicted with certain embodiments of wings, bars, buttons, pins, hammers, ribs, switches and the like, other various of these play features are possible. For instance, flapping fins or other protrusions along with parachute configurations may be used instead of wings on the flying toy. Furthermore, the support bar may be square or otherwise unsmooth to facilitate rotation of the flying toy. In other variations, user input mechanisms may not be in the form of buttons. For example, a sliding mechanism, lever or the like may be used. Other play features and decorations may be applied to both the launching device and the flying toy. 
   While the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present subject matter covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.