Abstract: A canister system for a folding aircraft may include a canister housing and a launch mechanism powered by one or more compression springs. A hand-operated drive mechanism may rotate a plurality of threaded rods to drive the launch mechanism from a released position to a cocked position, in which mechanical energy is stored in the springs. A latch mechanism may capture the launch mechanism in the cocked position. The canister may include a housing for receiving and storing the aircraft when the launch mechanism is in the cocked position. A trigger mechanism may release the latch mechanism, permitting the energy stored in the compressed springs to drive the launch mechanism toward the released position and propel the aircraft from the housing at launch velocity.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a toy airplane having a configured body. A leaf spring made of a layered flexible stainless steel bistable spring band is positioned below a pair of wings. Secured on either side of the body is a fuselage section that has a head portion and an elongated member extending from the head portion. The wings along with the leaf spring is configured to be bent and positioned into at least one configuration which because of the nature of the leaf spring are maintained in the at least one configuration until re-positioned.

Abstract: A method and aircraft system are provided for determining an optimal gliding speed that maximizes gliding distance of the aircraft upon engine failure, and comprises calculating the optimal gliding speed from a speed polar curve, true airspeed, heading, and vertical wind speed. The polar curve may be constructed with consideration of the aircraft center of gravity and weight. The calculated gliding speed, which may be restricted to a threshold, is provided to the pilot and optionally to an autopilot. The method is repeated periodically, or if the wind vertical or horizontal velocities exceed a threshold for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A projectile and a compact carrying and launching case in combination. The projectile includes foldable wings which when unfolded resemble a plane. The compact carrying and launching case includes a two piece housing that is pivotally attached to each other about a hinge/launching mechanism. When closed, the two piece housing encloses the plane in its folded position. When opened, the hinge/launching mechanism can be pulled to a cocked position and then released forcibly moves the projectile such that it releases from the launching mechanism and is capable of flying.

Abstract: A projectile and a compact carrying and launching case in combination. The projectile includes foldable wings which when unfolded resemble a plane. The compact carrying and launching case includes a two piece housing that is pivotally attached to each other about a hinge/launching mechanism. When closed, the two piece housing encloses the plane in its folded position. When opened, the hinge/launching mechanism can be pulled to a cocked position and then released forcibly moves the projectile such that it releases from the launching mechanism and is capable of flying.

Abstract: A pneumatic manual air pump powered car racing game presents a housing which serves as a powering station from which a race car is propelled down a race track. A pump handle is manipulated to pressurize an air chamber with substantial pressure, which is released to discharge the race car from its starting position at the housing end of the race track to the distal end of the race track. A race car's starting position refers to the releasably yet hermetically sealed male to female junction between the housing and race car. A signal is comprised at the distal end of the race track to indicate a conclusive race by a triggering device, including a mechanical or electronic device for alerting a player that the race car has reached the end of the track. A race is arranged by two or more users with multiple devices by setting up a parallel series of race tracks.

Abstract: A playset includes a launching device and one or more accessory toys. The launching device includes a launch tube and a bellows system operable to generate a flow of air through the launch tube. The accessory toys may include vehicles such as air-launched vehicles and surface-launched vehicles. Each accessory toy may include a port that receives the launch tube. In use, an accessory toy is mounted onto the launch tube and the bellows is compressed, causing the air to propel the vehicle into the air or along a surface. In another embodiment, the launch tube may include and interference assembly that selectively prohibits the mounting of an accessory toy onto the launch tube, or prevents the launching of accessory toys already mounted onto the tube. The launching device may further be incorporated into a carrying case or a transport vehicle toy.

Abstract: Self-leveling legs are used to accommodate landing a ducted fan hovercraft on a sloped surface such as a roof-top. These legs move to accommodate a variation of slope within their range of motion irrespective to the azimuth of the vehicle body. The configuration and operation of the landing legs allow the hovercraft to land in a stable fashion with the hovercraft vehicle body maintained in a vertical orientation. The basic kinematics of the present invention is the displacement of one landing leg upwards is connected by a horizontal member to the opposite leg and displaces it downwards, and visa-versa. Planar surface contact is accomplished by the unique curvature of the legs and the splay of the legs from the vehicle body.

Abstract: A method for making an affordable toy glider and launcher with intrinsic cross-sectional strength and extended useful life, each made from a sheet of corrugated paperboard. The sheets have a patterned layout of a complete set of glider and launcher parts that are printed on a printable side of the corrugated paperboard. All parts are precut and retained in place. The central body (fuselage) has two mirror imaged sides foldable along scored guide lines to form a three sided “U” shaped structure. A nose pack with coin weights used for balance, is placed at the nose section between the sides. A wing and stabilizer cutouts are inserted in slots with tabs used to center and fix the cutouts in place. Included is a pistol grip launcher which is universal in its use for launching all types of toy gliders.

Abstract: A submersible projectile includes an elongate body. The elongate body has an axial forward end and an axial rearward end and a peripheral surface. The elongate body has a generally elliptical cross-section along substantially all of the axial length of the elongate body. A plurality of fins project from the elongate body near the axial rearward end of the body wherein the fins are spaced about the peripheral surface.

Abstract: An airfoil launching system having a rod with a structure attached to a first end of the rod. A pusher holds a ring airfoil and has a sufficient coefficient of friction that the ring airfoil will generally rotate with the pusher and is rotatably and slidably mounted on the rod. Propulsive force is provided by resilient bands connected to the structure outward from the rod and to the pusher outward from the central aperture of the pusher. A grip attached to the pusher is utilized to draw the pusher toward the second end of the rod, thereby stretching and energizing the resilient bands, and also to rotate the pusher and, consequently, the airfoil.

Abstract: An airfoil launching system having a rod with a structure attached to a first end of the rod. A pusher holds a ring airfoil and has a sufficient coefficient of friction that the ring airfoil will generally rotate with the pusher and is rotatably and slidably mounted on the rod. Propulsive force is provided by resilient bands connected to the structure outward from the rod and to the pusher outward from the central aperture of the pusher. A string guide is rotatably attached to the rod and has apertures through which generally non-resilient cords, the first ends of which are attached to the pusher outward from the central aperture, pass. The second ends of the generally non-resilient cords are connected to each other, preferably with a pliable grip.

Abstract: The projectile toy includes an elongate projectile member having a body portion connected to a nose portion. The body portion has a rigidifying structure, and the nose portion is made of a unrigidified foam. A hook device is connected to the body portion near the nose portion. An elastomeric tether for engaging the hook device can be stretched and released causing the projectile member to launch with the nose portion in front.

Abstract: A device for launching a flying structure having a nose end and a tail end, having a cradle member having a first and a second end, a nose engagement member having a first and second end, a tail engagement member, and means for propelling the flying structure. The cradle member retains the flying structure prior to its launch. The second end of the nose engagement member is pivotably attached to the first end of the cradle member. The nose engagement member releasably engages the nose of the flying structure prior to launch. The tail engagement member releasably engages the tail of the flying structure prior to launch and is attached to the second end of the cradle member. When the means for propelling the flying structure is an elastic cord, the cord is attached to both the first end of the nose engagement member and to a stationary object such that the cord supplies motive force to propel the flying structure after the cord is stretched.

Abstract: A new high performance rubberband launched toy autogiro is described. Using lightweight rigid materials, this device ascends at high velocity to over 100 feet, then unfolds its wings and begins a spinning slow-speed descent lasting 15 seconds or more. Minimal skill is needed to launch this toy, and depending on the force used to launch it, short or long times aloft can be achieved. Under thermal updraft conditions, descent time can extend to over a minute.

Abstract: Improved toy glider having folding wings and incorporating improved release mechanisms which increase the initial height achievable by the glider by preventing early transition of the folding wings from a launch configuration to a glide configuration.The improved glider may advantageously include a long ribbon-like tail wrapped around the glider to prevent biased wings from transitioning from a launch to a glide configuration. When the glider changes attitude in a manner indicating a change from an upward to a downward flight path, a weight is released from a support and the released weight unwraps the tail. Once the tail is unwrapped, the wings transition from a launch configuration to a glide configuration.

Abstract: A toy speedboat apparatus is given that glides on a water surface. Three planing surfaces are arranged to give stable, repeatable coasting runs. The drag is independent of velocity and the planing surface angle relative to the water surface is optimized to give minimum drag. A propelling means converts stored energy to give a high speed initial velocity producing long gliding runs in excess of 100 feet.

Abstract: An improved toy glider having folding wings is retained in a launch configuration during launch by at least one wrappable retaining member. The at least one wrappable retaining member is wrapped around the glider during launch and prevents early deployment of the wings, and, after the glider is launched, becomes unwrapped from around the glider so as to allow deployment of the wings. The improved glider may advantageously include multiple long ribbon-like tails/streamers wrapped around the glider to prevent biased wings from transitioning from a launch to a glide configuration. After launch, the tails/streamers unwrap, and the wings transition from a launch configuration to a glide configuration.

Abstract: A flight control apparatus (10, 210, 310 or 410) for use in a model airplane (50, 250, 350 or 450) is described. The apparatus includes a weight (20, 220, 320 or 420) and a resilient band (24, 224, 324 or 424). In the first three embodiments, the weight is mounted in a housing (12, 212 or 312) with the resilient band connected between the weight and the housing. In the fourth embodiment, the weight is mounted on the fuselage (452) of the airplane. The airplane is launched using a standard slingshot-like launching device (56). The resilient member (56A) is mounted around the extension (22, 222 or 422) of the weight in the first, second and fourth embodiments. In the third embodiment, the resilient member is mounted around a hook (354) on the head (350A) of the airplane. To launch, the user (100) holds the tail (60) of the airplane and pulls forward on the post (56B) of the launching device which pulls the weight of the apparatus to the forward most position.

Abstract: A toy flying glider system in which a toy flying glider is provided with a flat body including a nose section, a central body section with oppositely extending wings, each having spaced apart fins extending top and bottom, a tail section and a hook secured by a folded central body stiffener and a hand held launcher providing better gripping by a user and protection of vulnerable parts of the user's hand during launching.

Abstract: A toy helicopter device is disclosed which is capable of a projected nose up ascent and a helicopter nose down descent. The device has a streamlined two dimensional main body comprising a nose, stem, and tail portion. The tail portion is hingedly connected to two helicopter blades arranged adjacent and partially overlapping each other. Resilient means located in the gap between the tail and helicopter blades can be adjusted to control helicopter blade deployment early or late during the catapult projection. At a selected rotational velocity from the catapult, the spinning toy helicopter deploys the helicopter blades to approximately right angles to the main body and the device continues to rotate slowly to the ground. The launch angle relative to the ground is not significant in determining a successful deployment.

Abstract: A set of glider planes formed in the shape of actual fighter aircraft are provided. Each glider includes a flat front portion having the profile of a fighter aircraft and bearing a graphical depiction of the fighter aircraft. To improve the aerodynamics of the gliders, each glider includes a generally circular flat rear portion extending rearwardly from the front portion. The rear portion may include a graphic depiction of exhaust plumes. The glider is inexpensively constructed of a foam laminate material and is launchable by means of a common household elastic band. A launching base, configured in the shape of a miniature aircraft helmet, is provided. The launching base has a hollow cavity sized to mount securely over the left thumb of a child. An elastic band connects the launching base to the glider to provide a launching mechanism.

Abstract: A model airplane of the glider or sailplane type made of foamed plastics, comprising rigid stabilizing surfaces and wings and having the bottom side of the fuselage provided with a catapulting hook disposed in the vicinity of the center of gravity in a vertical plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the fuselage, and a sweptback wing profile with a large sweepback and decreasing in thickness and depth from the wing root at the fuselage to the tips of the wing, the connecting lines between the outermost points of the profile sections of the wings having an angle of wing setting .alpha. which increases, with regard to the longitudinal axis LA of the fuselage from wing roots to wing tips.

Abstract: An aerial toy of the glider type includes a planar body of generally C-shape provided with a central section bounded by two lateral sections. A single, continuous, substantially curved leading edge having a center nose encompasses the forwardmost portion of the entire body, between wing tips defined by the two lateral sections. The trailing edge of the central section is formed by a horizontal stabilizer and is located substantially forward of the trailing edges of the two lateral sections such that an enlarged relief area is provided rearwardly of the central section and intermediate the lateral sections. A vastly sustained flight time is achieved with this body construction, which presents a center of gravity that passes substantially through a point that is one-third the distance from the craft nose, along the overall longitudinal axis of the body, including the central and lateral sections.