Air swimming toy with driving device

Abstract

An air swimming toy includes a toy body, a driving device including an air propeller supported at a bottom side of the toy body for creating an air dynamic underneath the toy body, and a remote controller remotely controlling the driving device to operate the air propeller, wherein the air propeller is activated to rotate in order to control an altitude of the toy body via the air dynamic. In particular, when a controllable air pressure underneath the toy body is lesser than a surrounding air pressure, the toy body is elevated in the air, and when the controllable air pressure is higher than the surrounding air pressure, the toy body is dropped down in the air.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a remote controlled flying toy, and more particular to an air swimming toy, wherein a driving device of the air swimming toy is arranged for creating an air pressure difference underneath the toy body to control the altitude of the air swimming toy.

2. Description of Related Arts

A plurality of air-floating toys are known which are capable of self-floating in the air and propelling in the air via a remote control. In particular, the air-floating toys are driven by means of a wiggling motion. However, the conventional air-floating toy is hard to be controlled its direction and elevation. An improved air-floating toy generally comprises a toy body, a driving mechanism and a steering mechanism to control the altitude and the direction of the air-floating toy respectively via a remote controller.

The driving mechanism is affixed underneath the toy body to control the altitude thereof, wherein the driving mechanism comprises an elongated track member longitudinally affixed to the bottom side of the toy body and a weight member sildably coupled along the track member. When the weight member is controlled via the remote controller to slide toward the head of the toy body, the weight of the weight member is shifted frontwardly, so as to shift the center of mass of the toy body frontwardly. Therefore, the toy body is dropped downwardly to lower the altitude of the air-floating toy. Likewise, when the weight member is controlled via the remote controller to slide toward the tail of the toy body, the weight of the weight member is shifted rearwardly, so as to shift the center of mass of the toy body rearwardly. Therefore, the toy body is elevated upwardly to increase the altitude of the air-floating toy. However, the driving mechanism has several drawbacks.

The track member must be securely affixed to bottom side of the toy body. Preferably, a front end, a rear end, and a mid-portion of the track member are glued to the toy body to form a three-point support, such that the weight member can be controllably slid between the front and rear ends of the track member to select the shifting position of the weight member. However, the track member cannot be secured to the bottom side of the toy body. In other words, the track member can be easily detached from the toy body when the toy body is drastically dropped on the floor or by any strong impact. In addition, the weight of weight member keeps shifting between the front and rear ends of the track member, such that the sliding movement and the weight shifting force will cause the track member detaching from the toy body. Accordingly, if one point of the track member is disengaged with the toy body, the weight member will be misaligned to slide at the bottom side of the toy body. In worst case, if one of the front and rear ends of the track member is detached from the bottom side of the toy body, the weight member will not able to slide at the track member to control the altitude of the air-floating toy.

Furthermore, the weight member comprises a gear wheel powered by a battery to rotatably engage with a gear track along the track member. The gear wheel is actuated to rotate via a motor electrically connected to the battery. However, the actuation of the gear wheel requires relatively higher electrical power such that the weight member will run out of battery rapidly. An unavoidable noise will be generated during the actuation of the gear wheel.

The driving mechanism requires relatively larger installation space at the bottom side of the toy body. As it is mentioned above, the track member is longitudinally affixed to the bottom side of the toy body at a position that the front and rear ends of the track member are extended toward the head and tail of the toy body respectively. The length of the track member must be long enough in order for the weight member to slide therealong so as to shift the weight back and forth. In other words, the size of the driving mechanism cannot be minimized and the driving mechanism will destroy the aesthetic appearance of the toy body especially when the toy body floats in the air.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides an air swimming toy, wherein a driving device of the air swimming toy is arranged for creating an air dynamic underneath the toy body to control the altitude of the air swimming toy.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein an air pressure difference is created underneath the toy body by the driving device to control the altitude of the air swimming toy.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein the air pressure difference is created by an air propelling force to control the altitude of the air swimming toy.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein the driving device comprises an air propeller to create the air propelling force underneath the air swimming toy so as to control the altitude of the air swimming toy.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein the driving device is fixed at the bottom side of the toy body without any moving or sliding part along the toy body so as to prevent the driving device being detached from the toy body accidentally.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein the size of the driving device is relatively small to minimize the installation space at the toy body so as to keep the aesthetic appearance of the air swimming toy.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein only the air propeller is driven to create the air propelling force to minimize the noise from the driving device during operation.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, which does not require to alter the original structural design of the toy body, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the air swimming toy incorporating with the driving device.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy, wherein no expensive or complicated structure is required to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution for providing a stable and silent operation for the driving device to control the altitude of the air swimming toy.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by an air swimming toy which comprises:

a toy body arranged for being floated in the air;

a driving device comprising an air propeller supported at a bottom side of the toy body for creating an air dynamic underneath the toy body, and

a remote controller remotely controlling the driving device to operate the air propeller, wherein the air propeller is activated to rotate in order to control an altitude of the toy body via the air dynamic. Accordingly, when a controllable air pressure underneath the toy body is lesser than a surrounding air pressure, the toy body is elevated in the air, and when the controllable air pressure is higher than the surrounding air pressure, the toy body is dropped down in the air.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the present invention comprises a method of controlling an altitude of an air swimming toy, comprising the steps of:

(A) supporting an air propeller at a bottom side of a toy body for creating an air dynamic underneath said toy body, wherein the toy body is arranged for being floated in the air; and

(B) activating the air propeller to rotate in order to control an altitude of the toy body via the air dynamic.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air swimming toy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the driving device being supported underneath the toy body and being controlled by a remote controller.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the driving device of the air swimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the air propeller within the operative housing to create a difference between a controllable air pressure and a surrounding air pressure as the air dynamic underneath the toy body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, an air swimming toy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the air swimming toy comprises a toy body 10, a driving device 20, and a remote controller 30.

The toy body 10 comprises a floating body 11 and a tail body 12 movably coupled with the floating body 11, wherein the floating body 11 is filled with a particular gas, such as helium, in order to float in the air. In particular, the toy body 10 further comprises a valve 13 provided at the floating body 11 for filling the gas thereinto. The floating body 11 is made of high quality, durable nylon material that will stay inflated for a relatively long period of time, such as a week. The gas can be refilled to the floating body 11 via the valve 13 to inflate the floating body 11.

Accordingly, when the tail body 12 is moved in a wiggling motion, the toy body 10 will move forward slowly and smoothly as the swimming motion in the air. The tail body 12 is also formed as a steering member of the toy body 10 that when the tail body 12 is moved sidewardly, the toy body 10 will turn correspondingly.

The air swimming toy further comprises a steering device 40 provided at a connection between the floating body 11 and the tail body 12 to drive the tail body 12 to move in a wiggling motion. In other words, the steering device 40 not only forms a movable joint to connect the tail body 12 to the floating body 11 but also forms a propelling unit to drive and steering the toy body 10 forward.

The driving device 20 of the present invention is used for controlling an altitude of the toy body 10 but not the forward driving movement thereof. In other words, the driving device 20 of the present invention is arranged for controllably elevating the toy body 10 and for controllably dropping down the toy body 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the driving device 20 comprises an air propeller 21, an operative housing 22 and a motorized unit 23 located underneath the toy body 10.

The air propeller 21 is supported at a bottom side of the floating body 11 of the toy body 10 for creating an air dynamic underneath the toy body 10. The air dynamic at the bottom side of the toy body 10 will either create an upward elevating force to elevate the toy body 10 or create a downward dropping force to drop down the toy body 10. Accordingly, the air propeller 21 is activated to rotate in order to control an altitude of the toy body 10 via the air dynamic, i.e. the up and down movement of the toy body 10. The air propeller 21 comprises a plurality of airfoil-shaped blades for transmitting rotational motion into thrust. It is worth mentioning that the air propeller 21 is not arranged for propelling the toy body 10 forward but for controlling the altitude of the toy body 10. The air propelling terminology is old and well known for propelling an object forward. For example, an airship is propelled through the air using propellers or other thrust mechanisms to move the airship forward. A helicopter is propelled by rotary wing terminology to elevate the helicopter. However, none of the existing object incorporates with the air propeller 21 at the bottom side as the air swimming toy of the present invention in order to control the altitude of the air swimming toy.

The operative housing 22 is mounted at the bottom side of the floating body 11 of the toy body 10, wherein the air propeller 21 is housed in the operative housing 22 to create the air dynamic within the operative housing 22. In particular, the operative housing 22 is shaped in an aerodynamic configuration, wherein the operative housing 22 has an enlarged head portion 221 to receive the air propeller 21 therein, and an elongated tail portion 222 extended toward a tail portion of the toy body 10, i.e. the tail body of the toy body 10. The operative housing 22 further has a curved front surface 223 at the front side of the head portion 221 and a streamlined bottom surface 224 extended from the head portion 221 to the tail portion 222 for reducing an air drag of the operative housing 22.

The operative housing 22 further has a plurality of side air vents 225 formed at two sidewalls of the head portion 221 and a plurality of bottom air vents 226 formed at the bottom surface 224 at the head portion 221.

The motorized unit 23 is operatively connected to the air propeller 21 to drive the air propeller 21 to rotate for creating a controllable air pressure underneath the toy body 10 at the floating body 11 thereof, wherein the motorized unit 23 comprises a driving shaft 231 sidewardly extended with respect to the toy body 10 to couple with the air propeller 21. In particular, the air propeller 21 is coupled at the driving shaft 231 to be rotated at a direction with respect to a centerline of the toy body 10. Preferably, the rotational direction of the air propeller 21 is supported and aligned with the centerline of the toy body 10.

Accordingly, when the controllable air pressure is lesser than a surrounding air pressure, the toy body 10 is elevated in the air, and when the controllable air pressure is higher than the surrounding air pressure, the toy body 10 is dropped down in the air. It is worth mentioning that through the side air vents 225 and the bottom air vents 226, the air propeller 21 can create a difference between the controllable air pressure and the surrounding air pressure. As shown in FIG. 3, the air propeller 21 within the operative housing 22 is activated to create the controllable air pressure within the operative housing 22 in relation to the surrounding air pressure outside the operative housing 22.

According to the preferred embodiment, the motorized unit 23 is a DC motor and is controlled to generate a reversible rotating power to selectively drive the air propeller 21 between two opposite rotating directions. In other words, when the air propeller 21 is driven to rotate at a forward direction, the controllable air pressure will be reduced in the operative housing 22. When the air propeller 21 is driven to rotate at a backward or reversed direction, the controllable air pressure will be increased in the operative housing 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the driving device 20 further comprises a battery compartment 24 for replaceably receiving a battery thereat to electrically connect to the motorized unit 23 and to the air propeller 21. The battery compartment 24 is provided at the tail portion 222 of the operative housing 22. The driving device 20 further comprises a mounting platform 25 securely coupled at the bottom side of the toy body 10 via glue, double-sided adhering layer, hook and loop fasteners or the like. The mounting platform 25 provides a flat supporting surface that the motorized unit 23 is mounted at the front portion to support the air propeller 21 and the battery compartment 24 is provided at the rear portion of the mounting platform 25. The operative housing 22 is detachably coupled with the mounting platform 25 to enclose the air propeller 21, the motorized unit 23, and the battery compartment 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toy body 10 further comprises a covering layer 14 detachably coupled at the bottom side of the toy body to cover the driving device 20. Accordingly, the covering layer 14 is made of the same material and is configured to have matched color of the floating body 11 of the toy body 10 to hide the driving device 20, as shown in FIG. 1, so as to keep the aesthetic appearance of the toy body 10. It is worth mentioning that the operative housing 22 is relatively small comparing with the size of the toy body 10. Therefore, when the covering layer 14 is attached to the bottom side of the floating body 11 of the toy body 10, the driving device 20 will be hidden by the covering layer 14. Preferably, the covering layer 14 is detachably attached to the floating body 11 of the toy body 10 via hook and loop fastener, or other detachable fasteners. In addition, the covering layer 14 has a plurality of through slots 141 aligned with the side and bottom air vents 225, 226 of the operative housing 22 when the operative housing 22 is covered by the covering layer 14, such that when the air propeller 21 is operated, an interior of the operative housing 22 is communicated with an exterior thereof.

According to the preferred embodiment, the remote controller 30 is remotely controlling the driving device 20 to operate the air propeller 21. In particular, the remote controller 30 is wirelessly control the driving device 20 and the steering device 40. Therefore, the remote controller 30 is arranged to control the altitude of the toy body 10 via the driving device 20, and is arranged to control the steering and propelling of the toy body 10 via the steering device 40.

As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 30 comprises a handheld control 31 and a remote receiver 32 wirelessly connected to the handheld control 31, wherein the remote receiver 32 is housed in the operative housing 22 and is operatively linked to the motorized unit 23 to control an operation of the air propeller 31. Preferably, the handheld control 32 is wirelessly linked to the remote receiver 32 via radio frequency (RF) connection, Infrared (IF) connection or other wireless connections. Accordingly, the remote receiver 32 comprises a control circuit and a remote antenna electrically coupled thereto, wherein the motorized unit 23 is operatively coupled at the control circuit of the remote receiver 32. Therefore, when the remote receiver 32 receives a control signal from the handheld control 31, the motorized unit 23 is activated to control the operation of the air propeller 21. In addition, the steering device 40 is also operatively linked to the control circuit of the remote receiver 32, such that when the remote receiver 32 receives a control signal from the handheld control 31, the steering device 40 is activated to control the steering and propelling operation of air swimming toy.

The present invention further provides a method of controlling an altitude of the air swimming toy, comprising the following steps.

(1) Support the air propeller 21 at the bottom side of the toy body 10 for creating the air dynamic underneath the toy body 10. Accordingly, the toy body 10 is filled with the gas in order to float in the air.

According to the preferred embodiment, the mounting platform 25 is affixed to the bottom side of the floating body 11 of the toy body 10 such that the motorized unit 23 is coupled underneath the toy body 10 to support the air propeller 21 at the bottom side of the toy body 10.

The battery is placed at the battery compartment 24 to electrically connect to the motorized unit 23. Then, the operative housing 22 is coupled with the mounting platform 25 to enclose the motorized unit 23 and the air propeller 21 within the operative housing 22.

(2) Activate the air propeller 21 to rotate in order to control the altitude of the toy body 10 via the air dynamic.

Once the power of the motorized unit 23 is switched on, the air propeller 21 is activated to rotate when the remote receiver 32 receives the control signal from the handheld control 31. The air propeller 21 will start to rotate to create the air dynamic within the operative housing 22 for creating the controllable air pressure. Through the difference between the controllable air pressure and the surrounding air pressure, the toy body 10 will be selectively elevated at a predetermined height. It is worth mentioning that the toy body 10 will be elevated or dropped down gradually and slowly through the air dynamic.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An air swimming toy, comprising:

a toy body arranged for being floated in the air; and

a driving device which comprises an air propeller supported at a bottom side of said toy body for creating an air dynamic underneath said toy body; and

a remote controller remotely controlling said driving device to operate said air propeller, wherein said air propeller is activated to rotate in order to control an altitude of said toy body via said air dynamic.

2. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said toy body further comprises a motorized unit operatively connected to said air propeller to drive said air propeller to rotate for creating a controllable air pressure underneath said toy body, in such a manner that when said controllable air pressure is lesser than a surrounding air pressure, said toy body is elevated in the air, and when said controllable air pressure is higher than said surrounding air pressure, said toy body is dropped down in the air.

3. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 2, wherein said toy body further comprises an operative housing coupled at said bottom side of said toy body, wherein said air propeller is housed in said operative housing such that said air propeller is activated to create said controllable air pressure within said operative housing in relation to said surrounding air pressure outside said operative housing.

4. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 3, wherein said operative housing has a plurality of side air vents and a plurality of bottom air vents for enabling said air propeller to create a difference between said controllable air pressure and said surrounding air pressure.

5. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 2, wherein said motorized unit comprises a driving shaft sidewardly extended with respect to said toy body, wherein said air propeller is coupled at said driving shaft to be rotated at a direction with respect to a centerline of said toy body.

6. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 4, wherein said motorized unit comprises a driving shaft sidewardly extended with respect to said toy body, wherein said air propeller is coupled at said driving shaft to be rotated at a direction with respect to a centerline of said toy body.

7. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 2, wherein said motorized unit is a DC motor and is controlled to generate a reversible rotating power to selectively drive said air propeller between two opposite rotating directions.

8. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 6, wherein said motorized unit is a DC motor and is controlled to generate a reversible rotating power to selectively drive said air propeller between two opposite rotating directions.

9. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said remote controller comprises a handheld control and a remote receiver wirelessly connected to said handheld control to control an operation of said air propeller, wherein said driving device further comprises a battery compartment for replaceably receiving a battery thereat to electrically connect to said air propeller.

10. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 8, wherein said remote controller comprises a handheld control and a remote receiver wirelessly connected to said handheld control to control an operation of said air propeller, wherein said driving device further comprises a battery compartment for replaceably receiving a battery thereat to electrically connect to said air propeller.

11. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 3, wherein said operative housing is shaped in an aerodynamic configuration to have an enlarged head portion to receive said air propeller therein, an elongated tail portion extended toward a tail portion of said toy body, and a streamlined bottom surface extended from said head portion to said tail portion for reducing an air drag of said operative housing.

12. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 10, wherein said operative housing is shaped in an aerodynamic configuration to have an enlarged head portion to receive said air propeller therein, an elongated tail portion extended toward a tail portion of said toy body, and a streamlined bottom surface extended from said head portion to said tail portion for reducing an air drag of said operative housing.

13. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 4, wherein said toy body further comprises a covering layer detachably coupled at said bottom side of said toy body to cover said driving device, wherein said covering layer is made of the same material and is configured to have matched color of said toy body to hide said driving device, wherein said covering layer has a plurality of through slots aligned with said side and bottom air vents to communicate an interior of said operative housing with an exterior thereof.

14. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 12, wherein said toy body further comprises a covering layer detachably coupled at said bottom side of said toy body to cover said driving device, wherein said covering layer is made of the same material and is configured to have matched color of said toy body to hide said driving device, wherein said covering layer has a plurality of through slots aligned with said side and bottom air vents to communicate an interior of said operative housing with an exterior thereof.

15. A method of controlling an altitude of an air swimming toy, comprising the steps of:

(a) supporting an air propeller at a bottom side of a toy body for creating an air dynamic underneath said toy body, wherein said toy body is arranged for being floated in the air; and

(b) activating said air propeller to rotate in order to control an altitude of said toy body via said air dynamic.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein, in the step (a), an operative housing is coupled at said bottom side of said toy body, wherein said air propeller is housed in said operative housing such that said air propeller is activated to create a controllable air pressure within said operative housing in relation to a surrounding air pressure outside said operative housing.

17. The method, as recited in claim 16, wherein said operative housing has a plurality of side air vents and a plurality of bottom air vents for enabling said air propeller to create a difference between said controllable air pressure and said surrounding air pressure.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein, in the step (b), said air propeller is powered by a motorized unit which is a DC motor and is controlled to generate a reversible rotating power to selectively drive said air propeller between two opposite rotating directions.

19. The method, as recited in claim 15, wherein said air propeller is remotely controlled by a remote controller.

20. The method, as recited in claim 18, wherein said air propeller is remotely controlled by a remote controller.