Toy disc and method
A disc spinning device centrally located/secured to a flexible soft flying disc encouraging/facilitating spinning a disc on one's finger for technique/amusement. While spinning a disc on one's finger can be difficult, the disc spinning device has recessed dimple(s) to place one's finger(s), greatly improving disc spin with less friction than surrounding flexible soft flyer disc material. A fingernail may damage desired flexible soft disc material. Utilizing more durable material in the disc spinning device reduces wear and improved disc spinning capabilities with less friction. The disc spinning device located around central disc axis area offers more safety features than previous relatively hard plastic flying discs by allowing the softer flexible molded disc preferred material composite to compress when being hit by or catching of disc. The disc spinning device offers faster and easier/unique disc spins giving user more advanced disc spin(s) for technique/easier disc spin play.
This application is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/369,099 filed Feb. 15, 2003, and fully incorporated herein by reference thereto as if fully repeated verbatim immediately hereafter. This application is also a continuation-in-part application of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 11/404,222 filed Apr. 15, 2006, and fully incorporated herein by reference thereto as if fully repeated verbatim immediately hereafter. Patent application Ser. No. 11/404,422 is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/369,099, filed Feb. 15, 2003. Benefit of the Feb. 15, 2003 filing date and the Apr. 15, 2006 filing date is hereby claimed.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the present invention are related to a toy. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide an improved toy disc, and a method for spinning toy disc on one's finger tip.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe application of flying-disc projectiles has been widely accepted, both as an active leisure pastime and as a recreational sport. Such conventional devices developed for these purposes were generally fabricated from a rigid material, such as plastic. An inherent disadvantage of those devices was that when hurled through the air, the devices became a dangerous flying implement. For example, if a game participant failed to catch the device, bodily injury could occur from facial impact. Furthermore, an unwary bystander could accidentally be struck in the head or elsewhere because of an errant flight trajectory. Such prior art devices had limited use indoors due to windows, mirrors, table, lamps and other fragile household articles being exposed to damage or breakage.
Previous attempts to provide resiliently yieldable flying saucers typically resulted in planar discs which did not possess ideal aerodynamic characteristics due to insufficient surface curvature or airfoil design. Consequently, the planar discs were deficient in flight duration and stability, glide performance and hovering ability. Such planar devices did not allow easy spinning on a tip of a finger for amusement purposes.
Therefore, what is needed and what has been invented is various embodiments of an improved toy disc which does not possess the deficiencies of prior art discs. What is further needed and what has been invented is a soft, pliant and flexible disc adaptable for use as an aerodynamic toy and/or for spinning on a finger tip. The spongy, elastic consistency of the disc structure provides for relatively harmless cushioned impact upon hitting an object or person.
SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the present invention provide an improved toy disc having a bottom structure and an upstanding edge connected to and circumscribing the bottom structure to form a recess. The toy disc additionally includes a central assembly for providing recreational feature, such as allowing the disc to be spun on one or more fingers.
Embodiments of the present invention further provide a method for spinning a toy disc. The method includes providing a toy disc having an upstanding edge connected to a bottom structure, and a central assembly disposed in the bottom structure; and spinning the toy disc on a finger tip.
These provisions, together with the various ancillary provisions and features which will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the following description proceeds, are attained by the methods and assemblies of the present invention.
In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment of the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts, and/or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.
Referring in detail now to the drawings wherein similar parts of various embodiments of the invention are represented by like reference numbers, there are seen various embodiments a toy disc, generally illustrated as 10. The toy disc 10 has a bottom-flight structure 14 and an upstanding edge 18 (a curved saucer-like contour edge) integrally coupled to the bottom-flight structure 14. For various embodiments of the invention, the upstanding edge 18 is generally thicker than the bottom-flight structure 14. In
For various embodiments of the invention, the bottom-flight structure 14 and the upstanding edge 18 form a circular recess 20 having the bottom-flight structure 14 with a centrally disposed opening [or recess], generally illustrated as 22. In one embodiment and as best shown in
In various embodiments of the invention, the toy disc 10 includes a stabilizing member, generally illustrated as 38 having various embodiments for improving the flight dynamics of the toy disc 10. The stabilizing member 38 may be made from any suitable material, such as a resilient synthetic molded material composite.
In
In various other embodiments of the invention and as best shown in
Practice of various embodiments of the present invention employs a disc-shaped toy, preferably a flexible flying disc-shaped toy formed of a resilient synthetic molded material composite (e.g., foam rubber) which may be molded in an integral, saucer-like configuration. The resilient molded material composite provides a cushioning effect when the disc-shaped toy is thrown and caught; thus, making it safe and easier to catch. Embodiments of the disc-shaped toy provide an aerial projectile having aerodynamic flight characteristics which makes it suitable for use as an aerial toy. An edge of the disc-shaped toy possesses a sufficient thickness for providing greater durability and stability in flight, as well as being easier to catch.
Practice of additional embodiments of the disc-shaped toy employs a recessed and/or raised and recessed area concentrically positioned on its associated concave bottom to provide a central location for receiving a finger upon which the toy disc may be spun for enjoyment and amusement by any person. The toy disc may have a skin or fabric covering upon which decorative patterns and other indicia may be imprinted for enabling the toy disc to be used as an advertising novelty. The skin or fabric may be water resistant and possess buoyant characteristics that allow the toy disc to be used in water sports or as a pool toy. The buoyant characteristics of the toy disc are such that when the toy disc is floating in water, a portion of the toy disc extends above the water. The stabilizing ring, or smaller plastic inner disc, enclosed on the underside of the toy disc offers advanced flight stabilizing characteristics and maintains the cushion aspects of the outer disc.
Referring now in detail to
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It is to be understood that for all embodiments of the invention the material (plastic or metal) selected for the central assembly 100 can be of elastic consistency while simultaneously providing the necessary rigidity and firmness for shape retention and improved durability over softer flexible disc material 142. As previously indicated, the material 142 may be any suitable material which serves the purposes of the present invention.
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There is seen another embodiment of the invention in
It should also be noted that the disc spinning device/central assembly 100 of this invention can be applicable for purposes other than those described herein. The above cited embodiments are exemplary; and while embodiments have described the invention with specific implementation thereof, other modifications and changes might be made in the embodiments as set forth and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, it should be understood that all material shown and described in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Practice of various embodiments of the invention provide the central assembly 100 molded or attached to a flexible flying disc and concerns a throwing projectile designed for improved spinning of the central assembly 100 on one's finger offering an easier spin because of less friction and is designed for cushioned impact. The device creates the ability to easily perform difficult disc spinning techniques: (1) spinning the inverted disc upon one's finger to spinning the disc on the other hand in a normal fashion with easy transitioning; (2) implementing unique gyroscopic disc effects with the disc; and (3) transitioning of the disc from inverted disc to a normal disc position.
Practice of further embodiments provide the central assembly 100 wherein the top and bottom surface area can be reduced with an anchoring element located within the soft disc material to help stabilize and secure the central assembly 100 within the flexible flying disc material. In compendium, the subject matter of this invention is directed to a central assembly 100 that in the preferred embodiment is attached, molded or as those skilled in the art secured at or near the disc axis of a flexible flying disc. The flexible flying disc material in the preferred embodiment is formed of a resilient synthetic material such as foam rubber. The resilient flexible flying disc material in the preferred embodiment is molded in a saucer-like curved contour having flight characteristics. The thickness of the outer edge of the flexible flying disc allows for increased durability and increased cushion-impact benefits protecting the user from the denser material used in the central assembly 100.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “a specific embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and not necessarily in all its embodiments. Therefore, the respective appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in a specific embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics of any specific embodiment of the present invention may be combined in any suitable manner with one or more other embodiments. It is to be understood that other variations and modifications of the embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated herein are possible in light of the teachings herein and are to be considered as part of the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Additionally, any arrows in the drawings/figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically noted. Furthermore, the term “or” as used herein is generally intended to mean “and/or” unless otherwise indicated. Combinations of components or steps will also be considered as being noted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the ability to separate or combine is unclear.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the foregoing description of the illustrated embodiments of the present invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Therefore, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to the particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of the embodiments of the invention will be employed without the corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used in following claims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A toy disc comprising a bottom-flight structure having a central assembly and a thickness, and an upstanding edge integrally coupled to the bottom-flight structure and having a thickness greater than the thickness of the bottom-flight structure.
2. The toy disc of claim 1 wherein said central assembly comprises a first coupling member and a second coupling member, at least one of which has a recess for receiving the tip of a finger.
3. The toy disc of claim 1 wherein said central assembly comprises a body having a pair of spaced end flanges and an intermediate flange.
4. The toy disc of claim 3 wherein at least one of said spaced end flanges has a recess for receiving the tip of a finger.
5. The toy disc of claim 2 wherein said first coupling member comprises a first support member and at least one arcuate wall.
6. The toy disc of claim 2 wherein said second coupling member comprises a second support member and at least one pair of spaced arcuate walls.
7. The toy disc of claim 5 wherein said second coupling member comprises a second support member and at least one pair of spaced arcuate walls, said arcuate wall of said first coupling member mates with said spaced arcuate walls of said second coupling member.
8. A method for spinning a toy disc comprising providing a toy disc comprising a bottom-flight structure having a central assembly which includes at least one recess, and spinning the toy disc on a finger tip.
9. A method for spinning a toy disc comprising providing a toy disc comprising a bottom-flight structure having a central assembly which includes a first recess on one side and a second recess on the other side, disposing a finger in the first and second recess, and spinning the toy disc on both finger tips.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 10, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 9, 2009
Inventor: Steve Stark (Champlin, MN)
Application Number: 12/283,167
International Classification: A63H 27/00 (20060101);