FLYING DISK WITH PERIODIC EDGE PROTRUSIONS
A flying disk has periodic edge protrusions on the edge of the flying disk. These protrusions may be elongate and extend along the direction of the axis of the disk.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/259,957 filed Nov. 10, 2009, entitled FLYING DISK WITH PERIODIC EDGE PROTRUSIONS by T. Buker.
BACKGROUNDFlying disks rely upon lift generated by their air-foil cross-sectional shape and upon the stabilizing effects of their angular momentum. The flight distance or velocity depends almost entirely upon the arm strength and skill of the person throwing the flying disk. The present invention relates to improvements that enhance the flight distance and/or stability for a given initial velocity.
SUMMARYThe flight distance and/or stability of a flying disk is enhanced by providing periodic edge protrusions on the edge of the flying disk. These protrusions may be elongate and extend along the axis of the disk for the entire width of the flying disk edge. The edge protrusions may be of a suitable spacing, size and shape, in accordance with examples provided in the detailed description below.
So that the manner in which the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be appreciated that certain well known processes are not discussed herein in order to not obscure the invention.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring now to
Periodic protrusions 130 are formed in the edge surface 115 and extend out from the edge surface 115 in a generally radial direction by a height D. In the embodiment of
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Other suitable periodic protrusions of different shapes may be employed to carry out the invention.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
Claims
1. A flying disk comprising:
- a generally circular body;
- an axially extending edge at the periphery of said body;
- plural protrusions periodically spaced along a circumferential direction on said edge.
2. The flying disk of claim 1 wherein each of said plural protrusions extends in a radial direction from said edge.
3. The flying disk of claim 1 wherein said plural protrusions are generally elongate and each extends along an axial direction.
4. The flying disk of claim 1 wherein said plural protrusions are separated by periodic gaps between successive ones of said protrusions.
5. The flying disk of claim 1 wherein each of said protrusions has a width W and a depth D, wherein W and D are each within 1%-10% of the diameter of said flying disk.
6. The flying disk of claim 5 wherein said protrusions are separated by periodic gaps between successive ones of said protrusions, each of said gaps having a gap length similar to said width W.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 10, 2010
Publication Date: May 26, 2011
Inventor: Terence Marshal Buker (Ventura, CA)
Application Number: 12/943,753
International Classification: A63H 27/00 (20060101);