Abstract:
A radio controlled aerial disc capable of flight in any direction when airborne. The invention provides upper and lower body portions which form a disc shaped housing when connected. Within the housing there is a servo motor and drive assembly coupled to a quadripartite blade to provide lift and motion to the aerial disc. A servo control mechanism and a rear prop assembly are also components of the invention for controlling the movement of the aerial disc. A receiver mounted on the aerial disc provides a method of receiving signals from a remote transmitter to control the movement of the aerial disc.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a completion application of a co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/100,198 entitled “Radio Controlled Disc” filed Sep. 14, 1998, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention concerns remote controlled flying objects, for surveillance or recreational purposes. More particularly, the present invention concerns aerial disc-shaped objects controlled by a radio frequency device. 
     The present invention, as detailed below, provides an aerially propelled disc-shaped object that is controlled by a radio frequency device. 
     As is known to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, the recreational and non-recreational market for remotely controlled aerially propelled objects currently is void of disc-shaped objects. The present invention provides a disc-shaped object that is able to be aerially propelled and variably controlled by way of a hand-held radio or transmitter device. The present invention, thus, provides an object that fills the void of disc-shaped objects in the recreational and nonrecreational market of aerially propelled remote controlled objects that possess the maneuverability of axially revolving in mid-air. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore, the purpose of the present invention to cure those deficiencies outlined above by providing a remote controlled aerial disc capable of movement in any direction, when airborne. Thus, in accordance with the present invention there is provided an aerial disc-shaped object comprising: 
     a) a framework comprising: an upper body, a lower body, the upper body being connected to the lower body, the bodies cooperating to define a housing; 
     b) an automatic feedback control system disposed on the framework; 
     c) a servo motor assembly mounted on the lower body for control of mechanical motion, the servo motor assembly having a steering mount; 
     d) a tiltable steering assembly mounted on the servo motor by the steering mount; 
     e) a servo rear prop assembly, mounted on the lower body to enable aerial control; 
     f) a belt adjustor assembly mounted on the lower body for controlling the spinning of the frame; 
     g) a rotatable main quadripartite blade assembly connected to the servo motor and extending into the upper body; and 
     h) a receiver and remote transmitter system for receiving signals from a transmitter for remotely controlling the object. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1A is a top view of a radio controlled disc in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of a radio controlled disc in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a side view of a belt adjustor assembly; 
     FIG. 2B is a rear view of a belt adjustor assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a servo motor assembly; 
     FIG. 4A is a top view of a steering block assembly; 
     FIG. 4B is a top view of a gear pulley and drive belt of the steering block assembly; 
     FIG. 4C is a view of a steering arms connection mechanism; 
     FIG. 4D is a side view of the steering block assembly; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rear propeller assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B the aerially propelled object  10  which is preferably disc-shaped, generally, comprises a preferred disc shaped framework conposed of a lower body  32  and an upper body  30  which cooperate to define a housing  14 . The object further includes an automatic feedback control system  16  for importing signals for mechanical motion to the object  10  which is disposed on the framework  12 . The object further includes a servo motor assembly  18  for control of mechanical motion. The object also includes a tiltable steering block assembly  20  that enables directional changes of the object  10  when in aerial motion. The object also contains a servo rear prop assembly  22  to enable aerial control and maneuverability, such as lessening counter spinning of the object  10 . The rear prop assembly  22  includes a right rear cover  34  and a left rear cover  36  which encloses the prop assembly. The object also includes a tiltable belt adjustor assembly  26  for controlling the spinning of the framework  12  by way of the servo rear prop assembly  22 . Further the object includes a rotatable main quadripartite blade assembly  27  which rotates to both lift and impart aerial motion to the object  10 . Finally, the object includes a receiver system  28  for receiving signals from a transmitter (not shown), remotely controlled and operated by a user from a remote location, for remotely controlling the object  10 . 
     With more particularity and with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B the upper body  30  attaches to the lower body  32  by any suitable means, such as by any type of fastening or locking mechanism or friction fit or gluing. The upper body  30  is an arcuate member having a first side  31  and a second side  33 . The first side  31  is a convex side defining a top outside portion, and the second side  33  is the concave side functioning as the top inside portion of the present invention. Similar to the upper body  30 , the lower body  32  is also an arcuate member having a first side  38  and a second side  40 . The first side  38  is the convex side functioning as the bottom outside portion, and the second side  40  is the concave side a bottom inside portion of the housing. The upper body  30  encloses a plurality of members, as described below, and is mounted to the lower body  32  and attaches thereto. 
     Generally, the servo motor assembly denoted in FIG. 18 attaches to the second side  40  of the lower body  32 . The steering block assembly  20  mounts upwardly to the servo motor assembly  18  by way of a steering mount  42 . Moreover, the main quadripartite blade  27  extends above the steering block assembly  20  and beyond the lower body region into upper body region. Additionally, the belt adjustor assembly  26  and the servo rear prop assembly  22  are attached to the second side  40  of the lower body  32 , the belt adjustor assembly  26  being positioned between the servo motor assembly  18  and the servo rear prop assembly  22 . 
     The servo motor assembly  18  attaches to the second side  40  center of the lower. As is known to those having ordinary skill in the art to which the said subject matter pertains, a servo motor assembly  18  is the motor assembly be it electric, hydraulic, thermal-combustion, or any other type of motor, that serves as the final control element in an automatic feedback control system for mechanical motion, and receives power from an amplifier element and drives the load with a linear or rotary motion. Further such a motor assembly includes a starter system or assembly  44  which is positioned proximate a motor (here denoted at  48 ) and includes a starter  44   a , a starter gear  44   b , and a starter linkage  44   c . The starter system  44  may be, but is not limited to, a manual starter assembly, an on board battery starter assembly, or the like, as is known to those skilled in the art. 
     With more particularity, the servo motor assembly  18  hereof comprises a plurality of main members and is secured in the center portion of the lower body  32 , by at least one and, preferably, two or more motor mounts  50 . Each mount extends perpendicularly from the bottom plane of the lower body  32 , and is positioned such that the right and obtusely angled vertical inclines, preferably angled at about 81° and 90° from the motor mounts  50 , face the front and the rear, respectively. 
     The motor  48  is secured by the motor mounts  50  by way of two “tap thru” holes  52  in each mount  50  that allow attachments to the cylindrical motor  48  which, in turn, connects to an exhaust assembly  54  from the frontal left half portion, curving around the front of the motor  48 , then passing past the motor mounts  50 . Proximate the rear dorsal portion of the motor  48 , the motor  48  connects to a drive gear  58 , and likewise to a drive gear side  60 . The drive gear  58  has a ruffled inside diameter and is secured to the drive gear side  60  by any suitable means such as threaded fasteners or the like, where an upward attachment is made to a universal swivel  62 . 
     The steering mount  42  is secured in position by the two motor mounts  50 , also, where the steering mount  42  provides an attachment to the starter bracket  64 , at a first end thereof. The opposite end of the starter bracket  64  connects to and provides support for the rear of the motor assembly  18 . As shown, from the vertical attachment to the steering mount  42 , the starter bracket  64  declines downwardly at an angle, and, at the base of the motor mounts  50  curves back upwardly obtusely, preferably, at an angle greater than 130 degrees relative to a horizontal axis. Thus, the starter bracket  64  connects obtusely, from the declined angle of origin, to the rear portion of the motor assembly  18 . 
     The steering mount  42  also supports a lower steering bracket  66 . The lower steering bracket  66  comprises a plurality of servos  67 , four of which are shown. The bracket  66  is connected anteriorly, posteriorly, and bilaterally to a plurality of first or small steering arms  68   a ,  68   b ,  68   c , and  68   d  that are, each, respectively linked to a respective second or large steering arm  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c , and  70   d  by a connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism comprises a bushing  72  connected to an arm pivot pin  74 , and a C-clip  76 . Each set of steering arms are, respectively, positioned anteriorly, posteriorly, and bilaterally. The lower steering bracket  66  is, also, connected to an upper pulley bracket  78 , which supports a plurality of rod locks  80  (two of which are shown). The rod locks  80  respectively, attach to the associated gear pulleys  82  and gear pulley sides  84  to which the drive belt  86  is strapped and which further connects to the belt adjuster assembly  26 , and finally to the rear prop assembly  22 . 
     The universal swivel  62  is upwardly connected to the rotating spindle  87 , which anteriorly, posteriorly, and laterally attaches to the pivot rods  88  that link to the respective steering swivels  90 , joining the nearer end of the four large steering arms  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c ,  70   d , opposite to the respective small steering arms  68   a ,  68   b ,  68   c ,  68   d . The universal swivel  62  serves in the steering of the object  10  by way of the steering arms  68   a-d  and  70   a-d.    
     The pivot rods  88  are pressed into the rotating spindle  87 , and a facial thrust bearing (not shown) is pressed into the spindle so that the assembly can rotate to prevent wedging. 
     The upper steering bracket  91  links the main symmetrical quadripartite blade  27  to the rotating spindle  87 . 
     A belt adjustor assembly  26  such as that shown on FIG. 2, as known to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, is a pulley assembly employed to lessen the counter spinning of the object  10 . The drive belt  86  is strapped to the gear pulley  82 , the belt adjuster assembly  26 , and finally to the rear prop assembly  22 . 
     The belt adjustor assembly  26  comprises a plurality of main members, and is mounted onto the lower body  32 . The belt adjuster assembly  26  is positioned posteriorly between the motor assembly and the rear prop assembly  22 . Specifically, the adjuster assembly  26  is mounted onto the lower body  32  by way of pivot arm locks  94 , at the location where the anterior portion of each pivot arm lock  94  is attached to an adjustor bracket  96  and the posterior portion of each arm lock  94  is attached to the swivel arm  98 . The swivel arm  98  in turn, provides support to a pulley rod  100  oppositely rotating pulley discs  99 . A means for rotating the rear prop may be any suitable means and is, preferably, cable drives. 
     The rear prop assembly  22  is mounted to the rear portion of the lower body  32  with a servo side mount box  110  which, in turn, connects to a servo  112 . The servo side mount box  110  may be mounted onto the housing by any suitable means. The servo  112  links to the pulley  114  through a pair of connecting rods  116  and  118 . Posteriorly interconnected to the pulley  114 , the pivot arm  120  serves to apply pressure upon the rear prop assembly  22  to enable aerial control, including lessening counter spinning of the object  10 . Moreover, a pitch rod  122  connects to the pulley  114  oppositely from the servo side. The blade arms  124  of the assembly  22  connect to the pulley  114  by way of the pitch rod  122 . 
     As known to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, the control mechanism of the present invention may be any suitable means, but preferably is a nine channel radio-controlled system, including a seventy-two MHz operating system providing a five mile range for controllability. Specifically, the control system preferably comprises the hand-held radio transmitter (not shown) providing the user with the ability to control and maneuver the present invention when it is in flight. Moreover, the control system preferably comprises an on-board radio controlled receiver which receives the signals from the accompanying hand-held transmitter. Although not depicted in the drawings, the control system described above may be of the similar kind to those that are commercially available. Additionally, the position of the on-board radio controlled receiver may be at any efficient or convenient location within the present invention, by any suitably means. 
     The present invention, thus, provides a new type of device that may be used both as a recreational and surveillance item. Uniquely, this present invention possesses the aerial characteristics that no other similar device of its size possesses. That is, the present invention possesses the ability to continuously revolve throughout the x, y, and z axes. Thus, the present invention fills the void of devices having such aerial characteristics.