Abstract: Process and apparatus providing the automatic locking of the wings of a wing-operated flying toy, wherein a locking device associated with the operating mechanism is applied, under the effect of elastic pressure, against a notch or slot of the circular disk of the draw crank of the operating mechanism, so that when an elastic band attains its normal power under the effect of torsional moment, the locking device is unable to engage or hold its position in the notch or slot; whereas when the power has almost attained its lowest value at the moment when the elastic band is almost completely untwisted, the locking device is able to engage and maintain itself in the slit causing the wing operating mechanism to lock and prevent movement of the wings.

Abstract: A flying toy which can move through the air by flapping its wings which consists of a body having at least one opening, at least one flexible wing connected to the body which can flap to move the flying toy through the air, and an elastic band for storing power for flapping the at least one flexible wing. The toy also includes an activation assembly connected to the elastic band for activating the flapping of the at least one flexible wing by the elastic band. The at least one oscillating wing base is secured to the at least one flexible wing through the at least one opening. The toy also includes a wind-up assembly for winding the elastic band and a latching assembly for neutralizing the activation assembly before the flying toy is released to fly. The latching assembly is constructed and arranged such that activation of the flying toy to cause flight can be accomplished using only one hand.