US20100203800A1

US20100203800A1 - Underwater toy device

Info

Publication number: US20100203800A1
Application number: US12/219,564
Authority: US
Inventors: John Friend
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-07-24
Filing date: 2008-07-24
Publication date: 2010-08-12

Abstract

An underwater toy device utilizing a base portion having an extending wings and tail. An elevator is also included in the invention and is capable of fitting in anyone of a number of slots located in the base portion in the tail. In this manner, the underwater toy device follows various paths within a body of water.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel and useful underwater toy device.
Persons engaged in water activities such as swimming and wadding often play water games or amuse themselves with sporting equipment and toys. For example, watercraft, balls, floats, and the like are used by such persons. Additionally, persons in a water environment often delight in retrieving objects which are capable of going beneath the surface of the water and returning to the surface again.
An underwater toy device which possesses the capability of following particular path beneath the water through an adjustment mechanism would be a notable advance in the field of toys and sporting goods.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful underwater toy device is herein provided.
The device of the present invention is utilized having a general airplane design which includes a base portion, a wing extending from the base portion, and a tail separating from the wing and also extending from the base portion. Such wing may be fashioned with an aileron tab or out railing edge twist to stabilize the underwater movement of the toy of the present invention. The invention includes a rudder and an elevator composed of a flattened piece. At least a first slot and a second slot are located in the base portion at the vicinity of the tail. The first and second slots extend along distinct first and second axes, respectively. In other words, the first slot is not parallel to the second slot, but each slot is sized to hold the elevator in place. The device also includes a propeller and means for rotating the propeller in its underwater travel. The device of the present invention may be formed of any suitable material that has buoyancy which permits the device of the present invention to float. That is to say, the density of the material used in the present invention is somewhat less than the density of water. For example, high density polyethylene maybe employed to form the device of the present invention.
The means for turning the propeller of the present invention may include an elastomeric strip or band which is stretched between the base portion and the propeller. The elastomeric strip may be tensioned by twisting the same such that, upon release, the elastomeric strip turns the propeller. Such elastomeric strip may be fastened to the external structure of the base portion or lie within a recess of the base portion.
Another embodiment of the present invention utilizes a base portion, wing, and tail but includes an elevator that possesses a slot. The slot is employed to at least partially encompass the tail and is held at a particular orientation relative to the tail by a support located on the tail. The support interacts with the elevator to fix such elevator in a particular orientation, as heretofore described. The support may include a plurality of posts located on the exterior of the tail which interacts with recesses or apertures in the elevator such that a mating occurs. In addition, a support may take the form of a series of channels that are mounted on the exterior of the tail which interacts with flanges on the elevator. The flanges and recesses of the elevator heretofore described may lie along the slot of the elevator. Further, a shaft may be employed with the elevator to allow rotation between the plurality of posts, or plurality of channels used in support of the elevator.
Moreover, any of the embodiment of the present invention may also be employed a tab which is removably fixed to the wing of the present invention to serve as aileron.
By adjusting the location of the elevator, and the wing tab or rudder, the device of the present invention may be directed through the water and follow enumerable paths.
It may be apparent that a novel and useful underwater toy device has been described.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an underwater toy device which is useable by a person in or near the body of water and which follows a path pre-determined by the user of the device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an underwater toy device which may be adjusted in its motion in the body of water by the use of an elevator having multiple orientations.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an underwater toy device that is self propelled and is capable of floating to the surface after traveling through the body of water.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an underwater toy device which may be propelled through the body of water and assume a design similar to that of a particular airplane.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an underwater toy device which is easy to use and provides amusement to its user.
The invention possesses other objects and advantages as specially as concerns particular characterizes and features hereof which will become apparent as the specification continues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the tail section of an embodiment of the present invention showing a rudder structure.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the feature depicted in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating the use of a wing tab

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the tail section of another embodiment of the present invention showing orientation of an elevator in phantom.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an elevator usable with the support structure depicted in FIG. 6

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the tail section of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of an elevator usable with a support structure illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a rudder utilizable with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a body of water showing various paths of travel of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a body of water showing various of paths of the device of the present invention.

For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which should be taken in conjunction with the above described drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of the present invention will evolve from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be referenced to the prior described drawings.
An embodiment of the invention as a whole is depicted in the drawings by reference character 10 followed by an upper case letter to denote the same. With reference to FIG. 1, it may be seen that the underwater toy device 10A is shown. Device 10 generally resembles a toy airplane. In this regard, underwater device 10 possesses a base 12 which mimics a fuselage of an airplane. Wing 14 extends from base portion 12 as well as a tail 16. Device 10A further includes a propeller 18 and means 20 for rotating propeller 18. Wing 14 may possess a drooping trailing edge 19 to counteract any “p” forces generated by propeller 18. Means 20 is depicted in FIG. 1 as including a pin 22 fixed to base portion 12 and a hook 24 which lies adjacent cap 26. Cap 26 is also fastened or fixed to base portion 12. Means 20, is shown as a tensioned elastomeric strip or band 28 which extends between pin 22 and hook 24. Hook 24 interconnects with propeller 18 such that the rotation of propeller 18 twist or tensions strip 28. Release of the propeller 18 will cause it to turn in the direction opposite to the initial twisting of strip 28.
Most importantly, device 10A is formed with slots 30, 32, and 34. Slot 30 extends through body portion 12 while slot 34 is formed in tail 16 Slot 32 lies at the juncture of tail 16 and body portion 12. Elevator 36 is a flattened piece which is capable of frictionally moving into any of the slots 30, 32, or 34 and being held therewithin by in frictional engagement. Directional arrows 38 indicate that the movement of elevator 36 into any of the slots 30, 32, and 34, FIGS. 1 and 2. The selection of anyone of the slots, 30, 32, or 34 will cause device 10A to move in any particular direction within a body of water, which will be further discussed hereinafter. Needless to say, slot 30 will tend to move device 10 downwardly while slot 34 will tend to move device 10 upwardly. Slot 32 occupied by elevator 36 will generally allow device 10 to move forward in a level manner. Elevator 36 is shown in slot 32 on FIG. 2.
Turning now to FIG. 3, it may be observed that another embodiment of 10B of the device of the present invention is shown. Although FIG. 3 only depicts the rear portion of embodiment 10B, it should be understood that the forward components shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are the same as that for embodiment 10B. However, embodiment 10B includes a body portion 10 having a recess 42 for strip 28, therein. Slots 44, 46, and 48 in tail 50 allow the frictional engagement of elevator 36 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. Rudder 52 is also illustrated in FIG. 3 at the rear portion of tail 50, rudder 52 is rotatably fixed to tail 50 via axle 54 which lies along axis 56. It should also be realized that slots 44,46, and 48 extend along axes 58, 60, and 62 respectively. Axes 58, 60, and 62 are non-parallel relative to one another. The same non-parallel relationship exist with respect to slots 30, 32, and 34 of embodiment 10A of FIGS. 1 and 2. Needless to say, rudder 52 allows device 10B to move to the left or right depending on the orientation of the rudder. FIG. 4 indicates that rudder 52 has swung outwardly and, thus, will direct device 10B to the right when moved through a body of water.
Referring now to FIG. 5, it may be seen that another embodiment of 10C of the present invention is shown. Embodiment 10C includes a propeller 64, a body portion 66. Means 68 is also depicted as rotating propeller 64 and includes the same structure as shown in FIG. 3 with respect to embodiment to 10B. Slots 70, 72, and 74 are employed to hold elevator 36, FIGS. 1 and 2. Tail 76 has been moved forward on the elevator region of device 10C defined by slots 70, 72, and 74. Wing 78 includes the provision of a tab 80 which may be moved upwardly and downwardly shown by directional arrows 82. The upward and downward position of tab 80 is also depicted in phantom, in part, in FIG. 5. Thus, tab 80 serves as an aileron to bank device 10C to provide the right or left, as the case may be. For example, in the upward position tab 80 will bank device 10C to the left, while in the downward position device 10C banks to the right. It should also be noted that embodiment 10C includes other features of an aesthtic design nature which is easily adapted to any of the device of the present invention.
FIGS. 6-10 depict further embodiments of the device of the present invention in which the rear portion of the device has been altered structurally. It should be noted that with any of the embodiments 10D, 10E, or 10F the forward portion would be similar to that shown in the prior described drawings. Turning to FIGS. 6 and 7, it may be observed that a tail portion 84 is illustrated in which posts 86, 88, and 90 are extended from one side of tail 84. It should be realized that similar posts may be found on the other side of tail 94 in a mirror image format. Elevator 92, FIG. 7. is formed with a slot 94 which fits, into tail 84. Recesses or apertures 96 and 98 fit into the aforementioned posts when elevator 92 lies against tail 84. Specifically, recess 96 would engage anyone of post 86, 88, and 90 shown in FIG. 6. A shaft 100 may be placed through elevator 92 to allow rotation of elevator 92 between anyone of the posts shown in FIG. 6. Elevator 92 is depicted in phantom as being oriented with respect to tail 84 in FIG. 6, in this regard. Thus, elevator 92, of embodiment 10B, maybe adjusted to pre-determined the flight path of embodiment 10D in a water environment.
Turning to FIGS. 8 and 9, embodiment 10E of device of the present invention is depicted. Embodiment 10E includes a tail 102, having an aperture 104 through the surface thereof. Aperture 104 lie adjacent includes bosses 106, 108, and 110 which are each capable of frictionally holding elevator 112, FIG. 9. Again elevator 112 includes a slot 114 which fits around tail 102 after passing partially into aperture 104, Elevator 112 is illustrated in a generally horizontal position with respect to boss 108 in FIG. 8, although elevator 112 may fit against any one of the bosses depicted therein.
Turning to FIG. 10, another embodiment 10F of the present invention is shown in which a tail 120 is illustrated and includes a rudder 122. Tail 120 possesses a cutout 124 having recesses 126 and 128. Rudder 122 is formed with protuberances 130 and 132 which snap into recesses 126 and 128. Also, rudder 122 is capable of rotating left or right about axis 134 to determine the direction of flight of embodiment 10F.
Looking now at FIGS. 11, and 12, it may be seen, schematically, that device 10A-F may move in body of water 136. Directional arrows 138, 140, and 142 would determine by the position of any of the elevators heretofore described such as elevator 136. Directional arrows 144 indicate a sharp movement of any the devices of the present invention in a circular path. FIG. 12, shows body of water 136 from a different angle (plainview) in which arrows 146, 148, and 150 indicate the position of any of the rudders heretofore described, such as rudder 152. Again, the placement of rudder 152 to the left can be viewed from above of any of the devices 10A-10F would move such device to the left along arrow 146 and visa versa with respect to arrow 150. Circular arrows 152 show a circular path of any of the devices of the present invention when any of the rudders are severely deflected to the left or right. Of course, combination paths may take place much as a curving flight downwardly into the right, upwardly to the left, straight and back (a loop-d-loop) and the like. In any case, the user of any of the devices of underwater toy 10A-F is capable of pre-determining the path of its movements while such devices are propelled by exemplar propeller 18 and rotating means 20.
While in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

Claims

1. an underwater toy device including a base portion, a wing extending from the base portion, and a tail removed from the wing and extending from the base portion, comprising:

a. an elevator, said elevator comprising a flattened piece;

b. a first slot and a second slot located in the vicinity of the tail, said first and second slots extending along first and second axes, respectively said first slot lying aim a non-parallel position relative to said second slot, said first and second slots being sized to hold said elevator;

c. a propeller; and,

d. means for rotating said propeller,

2. The device of claim 1 in which said means for rotating said propeller comprises a tensioned elastomeric strip held by the base portion and connected to said propeller.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the base portion includes a recess and said tensioned elastomeric strip lies within said recess.

4. The device of claim 1 in which said first and second slots are sized to removably hold said elevator.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the tail includes a rudder rotatably herd thereto.

6. The device of claim 5 in which the wing further includes a lab removably first thereto.

7. An underwater toy device including a base portion, a wing extending from the base portion;

comprising

a. an elevator said elevator including a slot, said a lot of least partially encompassing the tail; and,

b. a support located on the tail, said support interacting with said elevator to fix the orientation of said elevator.

8. The device of claim 7 in which said support comprises at least a first post and a second post and said elevator includes at least one aperture for selectively mating with said first and second posts.

9. The device of claim 7 in which said support comprises a first channel and a second channel and said elevator includes a flange for selectively mating with said first and second posts.

10. The device of claim 8 which further comprises a shaft, said elevator rotating about said shaft.

11. The device of claim 10 in which said means for rotating said propeller comprises a tensioned elastomeric strip held by the base portion and connected to said propeller.

12. The device of claim 11 in which the base portion includes a recess and said tensioned elastomeric strip lies within said recess.

13. The device of claim 9 in which said means for rotating said propeller comprises a tensioned elastomeric strip held by the base portion and connected to said propeller.

14. The device of claim 13 in which the base portion includes a recess and said tensioned elastomeric strip lies within said recess.