Patent Publication Number: US-6217404-B1

Title: Toy airplane

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a toy airplane and, more particularly, to an assembled toy airplane, which can fly back to the original position where it has been launched by hand. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During the growth of a child, toys are indispensable companions. In addition to providing a presentation way of emotions and feelings, toys also have training effects such as role playing, development of bodily functions, concordance of hands and eyes, and so on. Therefore, giving a good safety toy to a child can create much added value. 
     It is an easy game for almost every child to fold a paper airplane for play. However, the probability that the paper airplane can fly successfully is small. Even if the paper airplane can fly successfully, it is difficult to control its flying direction and path. On the other hand, although the flying direction and path of a remote-control airplane can be controlled, much space is needed so that it can not be played indoors. Moreover, a remote-control airplane is very expensive. 
     Accordingly, the present invention proposes a toy airplane, which has both the advantages of the above two toy airplanes and overcomes their drawbacks. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a toy airplane, which can turn a round and fly back to the original position where it has been launched by hand. Moreover, the present invention does not need large place for play so that it can be played indoors. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy airplane having the characteristics of low price, safety, and fun. 
     According to the present invention, a pair of wing slots and a pair of tail slots are respectively disposed at the middle section and rear section of a foldable fuselage. The wing slot forms a specific curve, and the tail slot is matched with the wing slot to tilt a proper angle. A wing and a tail can exactly penetrate through the wing slots and the tail slots, respectively. Notches are respectively disposed at the front edges and rear edges of the central lines of the wing and the tail. A central fixing plate having a balance weight groove and a first retaining groove is installed in the foldable fuselage and is fastened in the two notches of the wing via the first retaining groove so that the central line of the wing is fixed at the center of the foldable fuselage. The balance weight groove is provided to install a balance weight block. A tail fin is installed in the rear section of the foldable fuselage and is fastened in the two notches of the tail via a second retaining groove of the tail fin so that the central line of the tail is fixed at the center of the foldable fuselage. A plurality of adhesive sheets are pasted at unstuck positions at one side of the foldable fuselage to exactly fix the central fixing plate, the tail, and other components installed in the foldable fuselage. 
     The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a view showing a wing of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the present view; 
     FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the flight of a toy airplane of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is characterized in that the curve of a wing is matched with the tilting angle of a tail so that a toy airplane has a certain flying direction and path to fly back to the original position where it has been launched by hand. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a toy airplane  10  comprises a foldable fuselage  12 , a wing  14 , a tail  16 , a central fixing plate  18 , a tail fin  20 , and a plurality of adhesive sheets  22 . A balance weight block  24  (not shown) is also installed in the foldable fuselage  12  to provide a proper weight. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the foldable fuselage is the main body of a toy airplane. A preset fold  26  is situated at the central line of the foldable fuselage  12  to facilitate its folding. A pair of symmetric wing slots  28  and a pair of symmetric tail slots  30  are respectively disposed at the middle section and the rear section of two sheets of the foldable fuselage  12 . The wing slot  28  forms a specific curve. The width and length of the wing slots  28  are matched with a wing so that the wing can exactly penetrate through the wing slots  28  and forms the same curve. The tail slots  30  are provided for the penetration of a tail and are matched with the wing slots  28  to tilt a proper angle. The tilting angle is preferred to be 7°. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the wing  14  is a symmetric angular plate. The length of central line of the wing  14  is the same as that of the wing slot  28  so that the wing  14  can exactly penetrate through the wing slots  28 . Notches  32  are respectively disposed at the front edge and the rear edge of the central line of the wing  14 . The length of central line of the tail  16  is the same as that of the tail slot  30  so that the tail  16  can exactly penetrate through the tail slots  30 . Notches  34  are respectively disposed at the front edge and the rear edge of the central line of the tail  16 . After the foldable fuselage  12  is folded, the folded fuselage  12  forms a V shape when viewed from head to tail because of resiliency of material. This V shape will fix the wing  14  and the tail  16  on a plane perpendicular to the fuselage  12  so that the wing  14  and the tail  16  will not wag. 
     A balance weight groove  36  and a first retaining groove  38  are formed at one side of the central fixing plate  18 . The central fixing plate  18  is installed in the front section of the foldable fuselage  12 , that is, in the front section of the two sheets of the foldable fuselage  12  . The central fixing plate  18  is fastened in the two notches  32  of the wing  14  via the first retaining groove  38  so that the central line of the wing  14  can be fixed at the center of the foldable fuselage  12 . The balance of the two ends of the wing  14  can thus be achieved. The balance weight groove  36  of the central fixing plate  18  is situated in the front nose of the foldable fuselage  12 . A metal balance weight block  24  is placed in the balance weight groove  36 . The weight of the balance weight block  24  can be varied according to the size of the airplane. The balance weight block  24  provides a proper weight required for the flight of the toy airplane. 
     A second retaining groove  40  is disposed at a proper position at one side of the tail fin  20 . The tail fin  20  is installed in the rear section of the two sheets of the foldable fuselage  12 . The tail fin  20  is fastened in the two notches of the tail  16  via the second retaining groove  40  so that the central line of the tail  16  can be fixed at the center of the foldable fuselage  12 . A plurality of adhesive sheets  22  are pasted at unstuck positions at one side of the foldable fuselage  12  to exactly fix the two sheets of the foldable fuselage  12 , the central fixing plate  18 , the tail  14 , and other components installed in the foldable fuselage  12 . In other words, the adhesive sheets  22  are mainly used to paste the foldable fuselage  12  and are pasted at the head and the tail end of the foldable fuselage  12  to let the foldable fuselage  12  grip the central fixing plate  18  and the tail fin  20 . Thereby the foldable fuselage  12  will be dovetailed to reduce the air friction during flight. As shown in FIG. 4, the middle section of the foldable fuselage  12  below the wing  14  maintains the original V shape to fix the wing  14 , the tail  16  on a plane perpendicular to the foldable fuselage  12  so that they will not be easily displaced due to impact. 
     The adhesive sheet  22  can be a sticker or an adhesive tape. 
     Because the wing forms a specific curve along with the wing slots, the tail tilts a proper angle, and the balance weight block is used to provide a proper weight, the principles of hydrodynamics are fully exploited to keep the airplane flying on a plane. Moreover, because the steering wing lets the airplane revolve and the tail balances the airplane so that the airplane will not flip, when we launch the toy airplane  10  by hand, the toy airplane  10  will turn a round and fly back to the original position where it has been launched, as shown in FIG.  5 . The flying direction and path of the toy airplane  10  can thus be controlled. More fun and teaching effect can be achieved to draw the attention of children. Moreover, large space is not needed so that the toy airplane of the present invention can be played indoors. 
     Additionally, the present invention is made of pearled sheets so that the characteristics of low price and safety can also be achieved. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.