Miniature flying disc

Abstract

The invention pertains to a miniature flying disc that is launched by the fingers of one hand. The launching operation involves a snapping of one finger of the hand against the thumb of the hand to launch the miniature flying disc, in which the peripheral rim of the disc is positioned between the finger and thumb before the finger is snapped. When the finger is snapped against the thumb, the snapping action causes the miniature flying disc to be launched in an aerodynamic trajectory.

Description

PRIORITY

[0001] This document claims priority from the provisional application filed on Dec. 11, 2001 with Ser. No. 60/339,292 and the same title.

DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to thrown objects, and more particularly relates to thrown rotating disc toys.

[0004] 2. Background Information

[0005] Thrown toys, including disc shaped thrown toys, have always been a popular pastime. A typical disc shaped thrown disc is generally circular and approximately the size of a plate or pie pan. Typically, these devices are made of plastic that has the desirable lightness and resiliency. Such a thrown disc is thrown using many muscle groups in the arm, hand, shoulder, and entire body. One throwing motion can be to grip the periphery of the flying disc in one hand and move that hand to a position on the opposite side of the body, while twisting the entire upper torso in that direction. An untwisting of the upper torso, combined with flipping the arm and hand forward and releasing the disc with the fingers, can result in a launching of a spinning disc that has increased range because of the aerodynamics of the spinning concave structure.

[0006] Another method of throwing the same disc is to grip the periphery of the disc in one hand and move that hand behind the thrower's back on the same side of the body. The disc is launched by rapidly hurling the arm straight forward, flipping the hand forward, and releasing the fingers simultaneously.

[0007] Either of these methods results in a flying disc that attains a generally horizontal flying attitude, and increased distance is achieved by the spinning nature of the flying disc. Both of these flying discs and methods for launching the flying discs utilize many muscles of the body to accomplish the throwing motion.

[0008] A desirable variation of these flying discs would be a flying disc that could be launched by snapping the fingers of one hand, without requiring the sue of muscles of the arm, wrist, shoulder, and body. Thus, the object of the invention is to provide a miniature flying disc that is configured for launching by one finger and one thumb of a hand, while the hand is basically in a stationary position.

[0009] Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a miniature flying disc of the invention. This miniature flying disc is designed to be launched into the air by the snapping of a person's fingers. The device includes a disc shaped central body portion that has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a peripheral lip that is contiguous with and depends from a periphery of the disc shaped central body portion. The upper surface is convex and the lower surface is concave. Together with the periphery, the upper and lower surfaces form an airfoil configured so that the miniature disc may be projected in an aerodynamic trajectory from a single stationary hand of a user by the use of the user's fingers in a snapping motion. The miniature flying disc of the invention is launched by positioning the peripheral lip between a thumb tip and a fingertip and then rapidly snapping the finger so that it moves from the thumb tip to a position on the base of the thumb, at the proximal end of the thumb. This causes the miniature flying disc to be propelled away from the user's stationary hand in an aerodynamic trajectory. The miniature disc of the invention can be from 1.25 to 1.75 inches in diameter.

[0011] The invention also includes a method of launching a miniature flying disc from a user's stationary hand, in which the miniature flying disc to be launched is configured as described above. The steps of the method include placing the peripheral lip of the miniature flying disc between a user's thumb tip and a user's finger, and then snapping the finger from the thumb tip to a position on the user's thumb opposite to the thumb tip, causing the miniature flying disc to be propelled away from the user's stationary hand.

[0012] The invention can also be described as a circular handheld finger flickable flying disc that is designed to be flipped into the air. This disc has a central body portion made of plastic, and a depending lip that forms a curvilinear airfoil. The lip is positioned around the periphery of the central body portion, which is generally circular, convex on the upper surface, and concave on the lower surface in shape.

[0013] Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a view of the miniature flying disc of the invention in a pre-launch position.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a view showing the user's hand after the flying disc has been launched.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the flying disc of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a side view of the miniature flying disc of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 5 is one view of the flying disc positioned in the user's hand in a pre-launch position.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a second view of the flying disc positioned in the user's hand in a pre-launch position.

[0020] FIG. 7 is an additional view of the flying disc positioned in the user's hand in a pre-launch position.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a view of the position of a user's hand after the flying disc has been launched.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0023] The miniature flying disc and the method for launching the miniature flying disc of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 1-8.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a person in a position to launch the miniature flying disc from his hand. In this position, the rim of the miniature flying disc is gripped between the tip of the thumb and a finger of a user's hand. From the position shown in FIG. 1, the user's finger is snapped so that it contacts the proximal end of the user's thumb, which is the end that is attached to the hand and which is most distant from the tip of the thumb. This is the same action as snapping a person's finger. During this snapping action, the miniature flying disc is launched from the fingers and flies in an aerodynamic trajectory (not tumbling) in the direction generally in a plane with the user's hand, elbow, and shoulder.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a person in position after a launch of a miniature flying disc.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred configuration of the miniature flying disc. The miniature flying disc of the invention is approximately 1.25 to 1.75 inches in diameter, with a convex top surface and a lower surface that is concave. The miniature flying disc includes a disc shaped central body portion and a peripheral lip that is continuous and depends from a periphery of the disc shaped central body portion.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a preferred configuration of the miniature flying disc 10. It includes a disc shaped central body portion 12, an upper surface 14, a lower surface 16, a peripheral lip 18, and a periphery 20. The periphery of the disc shaped body portion, together with the peripheral lip form an airfoil 22, which allows the miniature flying disc to be launched by the snapping of a person's finger and thumb into an aerodynamically stable trajectory.

[0028] The preferred material for the miniature flying disc is plastic. Any plastic that is sufficiently light, rigid, and resilient may be utilized. Likewise, a number of variations in the generally convex shape of the disc shaped central body portion may also be utilized, and such variations are within the scope of the invention.

[0029] The invention also includes a method of launching a miniature disc in which the miniature disc to be launched is of the approximate configuration described above. The method of launching starts with the step of placing the peripheral lip of the miniature flying disc between the user's thumb tip and one of the user's fingers. For this purpose, the middle finger is generally preferred, but some users may prefer the index or ring finger.

[0030] From a position with the peripheral lip of the miniature flying disc pinched between a user's fingertip and thumb tip, the fingers are snapped. This snapping motion causes the flying disc to be launched away from the user. For launching, the user's palm is generally facing upward, and away from the user's face. The snapping motion of the finger is the same motion as utilized when a person snaps his/her fingers to create a sound. Increased pressure is placed on the contact between the fingertip and the thumb, while simultaneously the thumb is moved to the side so that the finger snaps down and strikes the base of the thumb. The finger striking the base of the thumb is what causes a snapping sound. This base of the thumb could also be described as the proximal end of the thumb, or the end that is the most distant from the thumb tip.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows the miniature flying disc 10 of the invention in a proper position between a finger 24 of the user's hand and a thumb 26 of the user's hand.

[0032] FIG. 6 is another view of the miniature flying disc 10 of the invention in a position to be launched from the hand 28 of the user.

[0033] FIG. 7 is another view of the miniature flying disc 10 of the invention held in a launching position. In this position, the palm is pointed away from the user.

[0034] FIG. 8 shows the user's hand 28 in a post-launch position. This is the position the hand will be in immediately after the finger 24 and thumb 26 have been snapped, and the flying disc 10 has been launched. What is unusual and unexpected about such a method of launching is that the miniature flying disc 10 is not launched in a random or tumbling trajectory, but rather is launched in an aerodynamically stable and generally flat trajectory. Such a trajectory can be aimed by the user, and the miniature flying disc 10 and the method of launching the invention can be utilized to launch the miniature flying disc for accuracy. This characteristic can be utilized in games involving accuracy of thrown objects. Such games can be similar to flying disc golf, which is played using the larger flying discs that are thrown by arm, shoulder, and body muscle motions.

[0035] While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A miniature flying disc designed to flip into the air comprising:

a disc shaped central body portion, having an upper surface and a lower surface and a peripheral lip which is continuous with and depends from a periphery of said disc shaped central body portion, in which said upper surface is convex and said lower surface is concave, and together with said periphery form an airfoil configured so that said miniature flying disc may be propelled from a single stationary hand of a user, by use of the fingers of said user's hand.

2. The miniature flying disc of claim 1 wherein said miniature flying disc is launched by positioning said peripheral lip between a thumb tip and a finger and then rapidly snapping said finger from said thumb tip to a position on said user's proximal thumb, causing said miniature flying disc to be propelled away from said user's stationary hand.

3. The miniature flying disc as defined in claim 1, wherein said miniature flying disc has a diameter of approximately 1.75 inches or less.

4. The miniature flying disc as defined in claim 1, wherein said miniature flying disc has a diameter of approximately 1 inch to 1.75 inches.

5. The miniature flying disc as defined in claim 1, wherein said disc has a diameter of approximately 1.25 inches.

6. A method of launching a miniature flying disc from a user's stationary hand, in which said miniature flying disc comprises a disc shaped central body portion, having an upper surface and a lower surface and a peripheral lip which is continuous with and depends from a periphery of said disc shaped central body portion, in which said upper surface is convex and said lower surface is concave, and together with said periphery form curvilinear airfoil, said method comprising the steps of:

placing said peripheral lip of said miniature flying disc between a user's thumb tip and a user's finger; and

snapping said finger from said thumb tip to a position on said user's thumb proximal to said thumb tip, causing said miniature flying disc to be propelled away from said user's stationary hand.

7. A circular hand-held finger-flickable flying disc designed to flip it into the air comprising:

a) a central body portion, which is made of plastic; and

b) a curvilinear airfoil configured depending lip is positioned around the periphery of said central body portion whereby said flying disc is launched by positioning between the thumb and the fore- and middle finger and flip the fingers with the flying disc between them.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7, which has a maximum diameter of 1.75 inches.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8, which has a minimum diameter of 1 inch.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9, which has a preferred diameter of approximately 1.25 inches.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10, where the center of the flying disc is convex on one side and the flipside is concave.

12. The invention as defined in claim 10, where on the outer edge of the flying disc is a groove in compassing the flying disc.

13. A circular handheld finger flickable flying disc designed to flip into the air comprising a central body portion, having a periphery, which is made of plastic; and

a curvilinear airfoil configured so that a depending lip is positioned around the periphery of said central body portion whereby said flying disc is launched by positioning a portion of the disc between a thumb and a finger and compressing thumb and finger with the flying disc between them.

14. The flying disc as defined in claim 13, wherein said disc has a diameter less than 1.75 inches.

15. The flying disc as defined in claim 14, wherein said disc has a diameter greater than 1 inch.

16. The flying disc as defined in claim 15, wherein said disc has a diameter of approximately 1.25 inches.

17. The flying disc as defined in claim 15, wherein said center of the flying disc is convex on one side and the flipside in concave.

18. The flying disc as defined in claim 15, wherein said on the outer edge of the disc is a groove encompassing the flying disc.