Abstract: A light-weight toy is attached to a player via a near-invisible fixed-length tether, typically using a low-tack adhesive at the ends of the tether. In especially preferred embodiments, the toy has a mechanism that creates an appearance of plausible possibility of flight without actually providing sufficient lift and/or propulsion for flight. Imaginary flight is achieved by manual lifting and moving the toy via the tether. Thus, the tether forms an integral part of the imaginary play for the player and is not used as an implement of a ‘magic trick’ for an audience.

Abstract: In example embodiments described herein, techniques are described for launching flying structures such as a plank wings or a gliders, canards, or any other flying structures. In some example embodiments, a rotational arrangement facilitates such launches. In operation, a rotational arrangement couples with the flying structure and is configured to allow a user to impart rotational movement to the flying structure. In imparting the rotational movement, the rotational mechanism allows an automatic variation of a radius of the associated radius of curvature.

Abstract: One or more ready-to-use near-invisible fixed-length tethers are provided on a carrier such that each tether can be removed from and reattached to the carrier without tangling. Most typically, such attachment is facilitated by modifying the ends of the tethers with a low tack adhesive and by winding the tether around a spool portion. Especially preferred low-tack adhesives provide adhesion of the tether ends to a user, the carrier, and the toy. In particularly preferred aspects, the tether is attached such that one end is removable while the other end remains attached such that the tether can be unwound from the spool by inverting the carrier.

Abstract: One or more ready-to-use near-invisible fixed-length tethers are provided on a carrier such that each tether can be removed from and reattached to the carrier without tangling. Most typically, such attachment is facilitated by modifying the ends of the tethers with a low tack adhesive and by winding the tether around a spool portion. Especially preferred low-tack adhesives provide adhesion of the tether ends to a user, the carrier, and the toy. In particularly preferred aspects, the tether is attached such that one end is removable while the other end remains attached such that the tether can be unwound from the spool by inverting the carrier.

Abstract: A flying bird decoy for attracting wildlife wherein flying bird decoys may be supported on each end of one or more rotatable rods or arms, with wings that selectively fold and flap up and down in life-like, actual flying, landing and take-off movements. The bird decoys simulate foraging, predatory or waterfowl birds and in one embodiment a pair of the bird decoys are mounted on the ends of a rod or arm(s) rotatably mounted on a pole or stake support, using throat mounts. In another embodiment the bird decoys are secured to the ends of the arm(s) at the head without the use of throat mounts, for flying in a circle on the arm(s) to attract the wildlife. In a further embodiment one or both of the bird decoys are configured to simulate one of the above bird groups and fly to generate rotation of the arm(s), with one wing folded and the other flapping to simulate injury or distress.

Abstract: A kite slider has a base frame and a flying device engaging with the base frame. The base frame has a hollow casing, a winding rod inserted through the hollow casing, and a connection rod connected to the winding rod and extending outward from the hollow casing. An end ring is disposed on the connection rod. A retainer device is connected to the hollow casing and a distal end of the winding rod. A distal ring is disposed on the winding rod. The hollow casing has a retaining notch. The flying device has a main frame, a pair of leaf blades connected to the main frame, a click frame connected to the leaf blades, and a hooking device disposed on the main frame. The click frame engages with the retaining notch of the hollow casing.

Abstract: Bird decoys for attracting predators, one of which decoys may be rotatably deployed on a rod with one wing folded, the other wing extended and both moving to simulate a wounded bird. Other embodiments include a mechanical flying bird supported on a rotating arm in a single bird flying configuration, a pair of mechanical flying birds deployed in tandem on a common rotating arm and a stacked flying bird configuration of four birds. A method for attracting predators using bird decoys which simulate dove, quail, crow, hawk, duck, geese or the like, and includes the steps of rotatably deploying a bird decoy with a folded wing on a rod or stake and causing the extended wing to flap and the folded wing to vibrate, thus simulating a wounded bird. The method also includes mounting one or more mechanical flying birds on a rotating arm or arms attached to an upright support for simulating circling of the various decoy birds in selected locations to attract predators.

Abstract: A novelty system of the present invention includes a novelty portion, ballast and a post portion; the post portion configured to support the novelty portion and ballast such that the post portion flexes.

Abstract: A simulated jet fan is mounted inside a flying toy to provide propulsion. A tether attached to a mounting plate and the flying toy directs the flying toy in a circular motion. In one embodiment, the simulated jet fan is an impeller enclosed in a housing. The impeller is attached to an electric motor powered by batteries. The flying toy includes air inlets coupled to an air intake of the fan, and exhaust ports direct air expelled from the fan toward a rear of the flying toy, providing propulsion. Wings may be attached to the toy to assist in “flying.” The attached wings may be fixed or moveable. In one embodiment, flapping wings powered by an electric motor are attached giving the flying toy additional propulsion and a pleasing nature.

Abstract: A model space vehicle having a fixed circular wing, streamlined fuselage, fins with booms attached thereto all efficiently configured to result in an article possessing suitable aerodynamic properties to enable it to glide smoothly through the air for a substantial period of time and substantial distance relative to its size and weight.

Abstract: A propeller aircraft for being powered by an operator moving the aircraft in a circular flight path on a tether, and adapted for emitting simulated realistic propeller and engine noises during flight. The aircraft includes an elongate fuselage carrying aerodynamic flight surfaces and at least one propeller assembly. The propeller assembly comprises a propeller shaft and a propeller hub having at least two propeller blades carried by and extending radially-outwardly from the propeller hub. The hub includes a bore therethrough for rotatably-mounting the hub on the propeller shaft. The bore is sufficiently larger in diameter than the shaft to permit axially-oscillating, non-concentric rotating motion of the propeller hub on the propeller shaft responsive to and proportional to the rate of movement of the aircraft through the air on the tether by the operator. An impact surface proximate the propeller shaft is provided for being impacted responsive to rotation of the propeller hub.

Abstract: An apparatus for flying a flying body imitating a raptor such as a hawk and an eagle to scare birds such as doves and crows to inhibit these birds from approaching. Concretely, the flying body is mounted to a hanging wire is adjusted in rotational speed and paying-out amount whereby a highly varying flying mode is realized, and a guide rail is constructed in a desired configuration to permit the flying body to be mounted to a self-propelled device housed in the guide rail or to a drive cable whereby the flying body is made to fly along the guide rail. Further, a power source of the apparatus is controlled by a timer or an illumination sensor, which acts to measure outdoor illumination, to enable the flying body to fly in conformity with a period of time, in which birds are active, so that the apparatus is made reasonable. In addition, a sensor is installed which senses approaching birds, and a sensing signal by the sensor permits the flying body to fly, so that it is possible to achieve power saving.

Abstract: An aerodynamic toy apparatus is mounted at one end on the side window of a motor vehicle and is manually manipulated from within the vehicle by a passenger in the back seat. A generally rectangular support member is configured at one end to be received on the window glass and has an aerodynamically shaped cup-like shroud portion at the opposed end positioned outwardly a distance from the vehicle. A retractable toy member connected to a pivot arm on the interior of the shroud is movable from a retracted position to an extended position to be acted upon by air currents as the vehicle moves and is manually manipulated by cables from the vehicle interior to simulate flying and other movements.

Abstract: A toy aircraft electrically powered through control lines attached to a control handle held by a ground controller is improved by provision of a break resistant connection of electrical transmission wires which also function as elevator control cables to a bellcrank arrangement on the airframe, by use of knife disconnect connectors for mechanically and electrically interconnecting the handle, the control wires and the airframe, by use of fatigue resistant flexible steel cable segment coupling the handle to the control wires, and scrape protecting skid elements on the wing for also holding the lines wrapped on the wing for storage.

Abstract: A toy game consists of a map hung beneath a ceiling or a pole, a model aircraft suspended from a map by flexible, plastic string, and a double remote control--one for flight control and another for altitude control. It is operated indoors or outdoors. The aircraft maneuvers including take-off, climb, descent, and landing are controlled by operators. The system consists of tracks in hanger going along the border of the map of the United States of America, an upper motor, a lower motor in fuselage of aircraft, wheels, wired-plastic string, a battery box, bulbs, electric wires and cables. The upper motor is used for propelling to simulate an aircraft flight with all features along border for locating states and cities. The lower motor is used to make altitude changes. The purpose of AIRPLANE FLYING GAME is to help memorizing the location of states and cities. It is an entertainment game but an educational toy as well.

Abstract: A kite includes a flat body portion which is formed from a thin sheet of a rigid lightweight material, such as styrofoam or balsa. The body portion may be formed in any desired shape which is symmetric about a vertical axis, such as a heart or a star. A slot is formed through the body portion and extends along a portion of such vertical axis. The slot is provided to releasably attach a forwardly extending keel portion to the body portion. The keel portion is formed from the same rigid lightweight material as the body portion. The keel portion includes a tab which is inserted through the slot to attach the keel portion to the body portion to form the kite. The keel portion further includes an aperture through which a string may be tied to the kite. One or more smaller slots may be formed through a lower region of the body portion to permit a tail to be secured to the kite.

Abstract: Several embodiments of remote controlled helicopters wherein the longitudinal position of the helicopter is controlled by means of a tether wire affixed to the rear of the helicopter. In some embodiments, the connection of the tether wire to the fuselage is such that at least a portion of the torque created on the fuselage by the rotation of the main rotor is absorbed by the tether wire.

Abstract: A display unit for point of sale advertising comprises a stationary object, such as a real or simulated flowering plant, mounted on a support, such as a flowerpot, and a flying object, such as a simulated butterfly, operated by driving apparatus so as to move in a randomly undulating and randomly reversible orbit around the plant, as would a real butterfly. The driving apparatus comprises an electric motor having a motor housing stationarily mounted on the flowerpot, a stator including a stationary field coil electrically energizable by alternating current mounted in the motor housing, and a rotor in the form of a bipolar permanent magnet rotatably mounted on an upright magnetizable metal shaft on the motor housing. The driving apparatus further comprises a thin resiliently flexible length of piano wire having its lower end mechanically connected to and rotatable by the permanent magnet rotor and having the simulated butterfly mechanically connected to its upper end.

Abstract: A toy for mounting a model airplane upon the window of a vehicle so that a child occupant thereof may play with the toy and simulate flight movements as the vehicle moves. A mounting platform is attached to the rear window of the vehicle via a plurality of suction cups. A rigid, preferably plastic stanchion operationally extends outwardly from the platform generally perpendicular to the window. A coupling assembly, preferably an elongated shaft, is rotatably coupled to the support stachion in spaced relation relative to the mounting platform. An elongated cable assembly terminates in a handle adapted to be disposed within the vehicle and grasped by the child an opposite end adapted to be removably attached to the coupling assembly to secure the model airplane.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus for displaying a model of a flying object in a flying condition. By the propulsion of powerless models of flying objects through a circular path under an external power source, the aerodynamic characteristics of the model of the flying object cause the model to be lifted into a flying condition. The apparatus is useful for observing the flight stability of a model of a flying object and as a promotional display for models of flying objects. A driving device is used to rotate the model through a flight path. A transparent hanging line connects the model to the propulsion device.

Abstract: A tethered flying disc toy having a conventional inverted saucer body and an elongated flexible tether attached to the body by an annular ball bearing providing full freedom of rotation of the disc relative to the tether. In another form, the tether line slides through a bore in an upwardly projecting shank of a plug inserted into the inner race of a ball bearing having an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the disc body so that the disc can move freely along the tether line while spinning.

Abstract: A chemiluminescent kite has a frame including at least one support member, and a cover sheet supported by the frame and adapted to catch the wind. At least one support member of the kite includes at least one self-contained source of chemiluminescent light. The source has an outer flexible container which transmits light and which contains both a first reactive composition and at least one inner breakable container. The inner container contains a second reactive composition which is adapted to react with the first reactive composition to provide chemiluminescent light. The cover sheet may be made of a translucent or transparent material so that the light is visible through the cover sheet. In addition, the cover sheet may be decorated with an opaque design.

Abstract: A device for the captive flight of a propeller-driven model airplane is disclosed. The device having a fixed arm with a pulley mounted on the free end thereof, a swingable arm with a motor mounted on the free end thereof, a cable attached to the motor and to the propeller via a transmission unit for transmitting power to the propeller, and a toric ring fixed with respect to the fixed arm. The cable is threaded over the pulley and through the toric ring between the motor and the airplane. As the motor is moved by the swingable arm with respect to the pulley and the toric ring, the effective length of the cable between the toric ring and the airplane is shortened or lengthened to control the trajectory of the airplane.