Having Adjustably Mounted Airfoil Patents (Class 446/66)
  • Patent number: 10858093
    Abstract: A thick airfoil shape that is to form a blade neck for blades, the blade neck connecting a blade root to a streamlined portion of the blade, and/or a blade cuff connecting a blade to the hub of an aircraft rotor. The thick airfoil shape has a leading edge and a trailing edge together with thick airfoil profiles for which the particular positions of points defining the maximum thickness of each airfoil profile make it possible to improve the aerodynamic behavior of the thick airfoil shapes and of the rotor during rotation of the rotor while the aircraft is advancing, for the blade both when it is advancing and when it is retreating. The thick airfoil shape also serves to reduce the vibration as generated by a wake from the rotor on a tail boom or a horizontal and/or vertical stabilizer of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: David Alfano, Damien Desvigne
  • Publication number: 20140220850
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: SWEET SPOT STUDIO, INC., SOUND MACHINE I.D.
    Inventors: Ryan Kratz, Jon Vanderbeek
  • Patent number: 8246414
    Abstract: The present invention provides an unconventional and proprietary radio control (RC) or infrared remote control (IR) toy model/airplane which can intentionally shift or change its center of gravity (COG) to different positions along the longitudinal centerline of the aircraft or fuselage. The incremental shifting or moving of the COG from front to rear or vice versa incrementally changes the “angle of attack” of the wing, thereby producing a variable range of viable flight attitudes and resultant terminal velocities (top speeds). Therefore, users can easily select an appropriate speed for the airplane to fly in limited indoor spaces or in larger outdoor areas. Additionally, the COG shifting of the present invention can be applied not only to RC and IR controlled toy models/aircrafts but may also be implemented into real aircrafts including manned and unmanned aircraft for civilian and/or military applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Top Notch Toys Ltd. Co.
    Inventor: Masaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8128451
    Abstract: A model airplane may include a fuselage, a wing rib removably attached at a top portion of the fuselage, and a wing having two wing sections. Each of the two wing sections may include an opening at an exterior end. The model airplane may also include a connecting member removably coupled with the fuselage alternatively either at the wing rib or at a side portion of the fuselage. The connecting member may be removably inserted into the opening of a wing section to couple the wing section with the fuselage. The connecting member may include a ferromagnetic material which is magnetically attracted to a ferromagnetic material included at an end of the opening within the wing section when the connecting member is inserted into the opening to couple the wing section with the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hobbico, Inc.
    Inventors: Miguel A. Frontera Castaner, Keh-Bing Sheng
  • Patent number: 7883392
    Abstract: A toy helicopter, in accordance with the present disclosure, includes a body having a longitudinal length and a main rotor. There is an element movable along the longitudinal length. The element allows a user to selectively adjust the location of the center of gravity of a toy helicopter by moving the element along the longitudinal length, thereby changing the velocity of the helicopter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Silverlit Toys Manufactory Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Jozef Magdalena Van de Rostyne, Kwok Leung Wong
  • Patent number: 7040571
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a single pull horn with a control arm that may be used to control the movement of a component of a remote or radio-controlled vehicle having a center line. The control arm includes a threaded rod as well as a base member. The base member is positionable on the side of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Du-Bro Products, Inc
    Inventor: James E. Broberg
  • Patent number: 6908360
    Abstract: The invention is a projectile plaything, namely a boomerang-like toy that, if properly thrown, will fly in an arcuate path and return to the area of its release. The plaything will be formed to imitate the shape of the United States Air Force B2 Bomber, aka the Stealth Bomber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Inventor: Steven L. Christensen
  • Patent number: 6764047
    Abstract: A plurality of spaced apart, flexible string hinges pivotally join an airfoil of a model airplane to its corresponding flight control element. Such string hinges are shown in use for pivotally joining an aileron to a wing, a rudder to a tail fin and an elevator or flap to a horizontal stabilizer to permit rolling, yawing, and pitching movement, respectively, of the airplane when in flight. In one embodiment, a plurality of string hinges are connected by means of conventional airplane glue between a series of spaced apart blind holes formed in a leading edge portion of an aileron and similarly spaced apart reinforcing ribs of a wing. In another embodiment, a plurality of string hinges extend between blind holes formed in a solid balsa aileron and holes formed through a trailing edge spar of a wing and are secured at opposite ends by glue or epoxy. Examples of string hinges used to pivotally join a rudder to a tail fin and an elevator to a horizontal stabilizer in a model airplane are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventors: Todd Scott Miller, Larry G. Barnes
  • Patent number: 6755376
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a control arm that may be used to control the movement of a component of a radio controlled vehicle having a center line. The control arm includes a threaded rod as well as first and second base members. The base members are positionable on opposing sides of the component. Each of the base members has a planar surface and an opposingly located raised section that has an outer surface that is partially spherical in shape. An opening is located in each of the base members which extends through the base members. Also provided are opposingly located locking members, each of the locking members has a cavity shaped to engage the spherical section of the clamping member and an internally threaded bore which coacts with the threaded rod. The coaction between the threaded portions creates a biasing force which urges the base members against the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: James Broberg
  • Patent number: 6702639
    Abstract: A main form of stick fuselage of a toy plane has a cruciform cross section. The stick fuselage is formed by plastic material and is integrally formed with a main wing support framing and a tail unit framing. Moreover, a propeller axle bearing, a landing gear framing, a dihedral bracket jointer, a rear rubber hook, and a tail skid may be integrally formed with the main form of stick fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventors: Yu-Chi Tsai, Ming-Hung Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6497600
    Abstract: An automatic pilot system for a model airplane comprising one or more flexible control elements. When installed on a vertical stabilizer of the airplane, a flexible control element acts as an automatic rudder which provides directional control for the airplane so that it takes off in a straight line at high speed and glides in a circular path of a predetermined radius at low speed. When installed on a horizontal stabilizer of the airplane, a flexible control element acts as an automatic elevator which provides a reduced angle of attack during take-off to minimize the aerodynamic drag, an increased angle of attack during gliding flight to make the flight slower and longer-lasting, and an even greater angle of attack during landing to make the landing even slower for safety. When installed on a wing of the airplane, a flexible control element acts as an automatic dihedral wing tip which provides increased lateral stability for the airplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventors: Alejandro Velasco Levy, Ildiko Palyka
  • Patent number: 6478650
    Abstract: A toy construction kit includes a number of members assembled together with an edge-and-slot engagement. A support member includes a neck and a panel, and a rotary member includes an orifice for receiving the neck of the support member and for rotatably securing the rotary member onto the support member. The panel includes two portions foldable relative to each other for engaging into the orifice of the rotary member, and a latch for locking the portions together after the portions are engaged through the orifice of the rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: 3E Enterprise Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia Hsiang Tsai
  • Patent number: 6478251
    Abstract: A flier structure including a fuselage extending from front side to rear side and a weight body connected with front end of the fuselage. A port wing and a starboard wing respectively leftward and rightward extend from the fuselage. A left tailfin and a right tailfin respectively extend from rear sides of the port wing and starboard wing. The bottoms of front edges of the port wing and starboard wing are respectively connected with a left and a right flow deflecting wings. The rear sides of the left and right flow deflecting wings are respectively spaced from the port wing and starboard wing by a predetermined distance. The left and right flow deflecting wings are respectively connected with the left and right sides of the fuselage. The disconnected portions between the left flow deflecting wing and port wing and the right flow deflecting wing and starboard wing respectively form two flow deflecting spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventor: Ming-Ta Wei
  • Patent number: 6280280
    Abstract: A remotely controllable toy surface vehicle has the capability of deploying wings on command and to attain flight in the absence of any air interactive propulsion mechanism. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the fixed wings are first pitched to keep the vehicle on the ground or water until a takeoff velocity is reached; after which the pitch of the wings is remotely adjusted for takeoff and flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventors: Robert K. Vicino, Steven D. Stackable, Larry Love
  • Patent number: 6048247
    Abstract: A main wing positioning and release system particularly adapted for use with a toy or model aircraft, includes a wing positioning bracket upon the axial centerline of the aircraft, the bracket having projecting elements directed upwardly from the centerline of the aircraft. The system also includes a wing release mechanism including a lower portion press-fittably securable to the upwardly projecting elements of the positioning bracket to provide proper positioning of the release mechanism relative to the aircraft fuselage, a rear area of the lower portion including a press fittable receiving recess, an upper surface of the lower portion of the release mechanism proportioned for complemental engagement of a lower surface of the main wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: SpinMaster Toys, Ltd
    Inventors: Charles D. Kownacki, Jeffrey G. Rehkemper, Ronnen Harary
  • Patent number: 5947785
    Abstract: A flying wing toy including a rigid planar body, a wing of flexible sheet material affixed to the body and preshaped with flexible leading and lateral edges and flexible, flanking stabilizers extending rearwardly, a propeller rotatably mounted to the front end of the body, and a manually actuated rotational drive unit comprising an elastic member mounted on the body and coupled to the propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Luc Bausch
  • Patent number: 5853312
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved model airplane for purposes of scientific education and competition. Model airplanes in the prior art are either bad at flying, or do not look like real airplanes; and all are short of a collision prevention device. By means of some special positioning adapters for fixing the wing section firmly to the body and by adding a collision buffer piece to the nose, the model airplane according to the present invention is not only good at flying, but also safe and durable to use. The model airplane according to this invention is, therefore, best suitable for the above-mentioned purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Lyon Aviation Engineering Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Danny H. Y. Li
  • Patent number: 5766055
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a model glider having position-variable wings wherein the installation angle of the main wings of the model glider can be freely adjusted within a certain limit by a user, thus providing optimum flight. The model glider according to the present invention includes a central frame constituting a central body of the model glider, auxiliary frames connected with the central frame on both sides of the central frame, a vertical tail mounted upward on the rear part of the central frame, horizontal tails mounted horizontally on both sides of the rear part of the auxiliary frames, main wings movably mounted on the auxiliary frames and connected to the central frame via the auxiliary frames, and an angle adjusting means to adjust the angle between the main wings and the central frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventors: Cho-kwon Kim, Kang-hee Hahn
  • Patent number: 5741168
    Abstract: A toy glider includes: a fuselage having a pair of bifurcated members folded from an elongated sheet to form a general triangular prism tapered forwardly, a nose member secured on a front head portion of the fuselage, a wing member cut out from a planar sheet to be a generally triangular shape and transversely inserted in a middle portion of the fuselage having a rear blade portion formed in a central rear portion of the wing member, a plurality of stabilizers each cut out from a planar sheet to be a generally semi-circular or triangular shape and horizontally inserted in a rear portion of the fuselage, and a rudder cut from a planar sheet to form a triangular shape and vertically secured on a tail portion of the fuselage, having a first stabilizer keeping a horizontal flying of the glider; a second stabilizer bending the rear blade portion of the wing member downwardly for a downward pitching for launching the glider downwardly; and a third glider upwardly bending a pair of tail flap portions of the fuselage
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Inventor: Ming-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 5383805
    Abstract: A toy glider includes: a fuselage, a telescopic nose member telescopically secured in a front portion of the fuselage for adjusting a gravity center of the glider in order to adjust a flying path such as a curvature radius when arcuately launched, and a self-biasing elevator attached to a tail portion of the fuselage for an automatic upward swinging of the elevator for automatically converting a horizontal flying to an upwardly climbing, thereby enabling an adjustment of a flying path of the glider for enriching a player's interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Inventor: Tzu-Jan J. Tsai
  • Patent number: 5324222
    Abstract: A novel rotating aerodynamic toy comprising a ultra-elastic gel airfoil which is suitable for launch in light or heavy wind conditions and capable of performing various aerodynamic effects including climb, stall, return, straight-line flight and other aerobatics. The ultra-elastic properties of the airfoil allow the airfoil to transform its aerodynamic profile at launch and while in flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Applied Elastomerics, Inc.
    Inventor: John Y. Chen
  • Patent number: 5271579
    Abstract: A recreational rocket (10) has a nose cone assembly (18,33) movable with respect to the main rocket body 12 between two limits. Each of a pair of fins (20) on the nose cone assembly (18,33) has a hinged aileron (22). The ailerons (22) are held in a straight path course by a limit bar (37) on body (12) when the nose cone assembly is at one limit. Plastic members (42) pull the ailerons (22) into glide mode position against the edges of stanchion plates (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Inventor: Nicholas J. De Luca
  • Patent number: 5213539
    Abstract: A returning flying ring toy (10) of modified triangular-ring planform and an improved airfoil comprising an abrupt transition (49) on the upper surface (15-46,48), near the trailing edge (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Inventor: Alan J. Adler
  • Patent number: 5026313
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventor: Brunhilde Meyer
  • Patent number: 5007875
    Abstract: A multiple configuration model aircraft kit which enables the purchaser to assemble a plurality of model aircraft configurations, uses a relatively small number of components. The components of the model aircraft kid comprise at least one wing or primary lifting surface, one stabilizer and one fuselage or two secondary plane surfaces, and connector means. One of the secondary plane surfaces may alternately function as a fuselage or as a flight surface. Releasable connecting means are used to join the components thereby providing a plurality of configurations. Twin secondary plane surfaces may be provided which may be used alternately as wing tip flight surface extensions, dual fuselages, or as other flight surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Inventor: Madhava Dasa
  • Patent number: 4957465
    Abstract: A model airplane or toy glider resembling a natural creature or of other design at least partially constructed of semi-rigid scoreable and foldable material such as polystyrene foam sheet, may contain one or more scored foldlines, the fold angle of the scored foldlines being aligned by angle setting members in specified relationship. A fuselage may be constructed having forward peninsulalike parts formed by a slot extending rearward from the front of the fuselage, the peninsulalike fuselage parts interlocking with a slotted wing and held together by an appropriately shaped nose weight. A fuselage may include a hoodlike part or may be of a specified complex three dimensional structure. A wing may have a central rearwardly extending portion, the portion having a pair of diagonally hinged control surfaces radiating from the central rearwardmost point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Inventor: Madhava Dasa
  • Patent number: 4915665
    Abstract: A model airplane which is readily constructed as either a low wing aircraft or as a high wing aircraft. The model airplane has a fuselage which is provided with a recess in the upper portion thereof and a recess in the lower portion thereof. The model airplane has a wing member which is positionable within either of the recesses. The model airplane has an insert member which is positionable within either of the recesses. Thus, the wing member and the insert member are interchangeable within the recesses to form either a high wing aircraft or a low wing aircraft. Thus, the model airplane can be readily convertible from a high wing aircraft to a low wing aircraft and vice-versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventor: Wong S. Ming
  • Patent number: 4915664
    Abstract: A toy glider designed for launching with a slingshot like device, the glider having automatically converging wings for creating a swept-back appearance and for reducing air resistance during launch. The wings automatically rotate forward to an extended or glide configuration after launch. Wings are automatically converged by means of a sliding launching hook, which is pulled forward by the slingshot like launcher. When pulled forward, the launching hook slides forward within a longitudinal central aperture between the inboard portion of the wings, simultaneously rotating the inboard portions of the wings forward. This rotates the outlying wings into a swept-back or converged configuration. A rubber band tends to rotate the wing back into an extended or glide configuration, so when the force applied by the rubber band is greater than the forces opposing it, as when the plane slows, the wings are rotated out into an extended or glide configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventor: Erik Bakker
  • Patent number: 4863412
    Abstract: A toy glider assembly is disclosed. The glider includes a fusilage, vertical stabilizer, and horizontal stabilizer. Wings are received in wing receiving members which are pivotably connected to a main wing support housing which in turn is pivotably connected to the fusilage. Pivoting the main wing support housing and the wing receiving members results in the wings being longitudinally aligned with the fusilage. A force imparting member is operative between the fusilage and the wing receiving members urging a force for emplacing the wings in their flight orientation with respect to the fusilage. A slignshot-like catapult serves to launch the glider assembly. In launching, the wings are held in longitudinal alignment with the fusilage and will open into flight orientation when the glider reaches its upper launch height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: BPA Inc.
    Inventor: Bozidar Mihalinec
  • Patent number: 4708682
    Abstract: A helicopter toy including a hollow body which forms an elongated conduit. A generally elongated planar tail member is secured to the body at one end of the body and is axially aligned with the body. The tail member also includes a generally planar flap secured thereto. The flap is generally horizontal and is arranged at any angle to the plane of the tail. A multi-bladed, boomerang-shaped propeller is rotatably secured to the body so that the body is suspended from the propeller. The toy may be thrown to describe a curved flight path, whereby the toy will return to the operator, or different flight patterns depending on the selected propeller. Air passes through the hollow body to continually keep the hollow body aligned with the path of flight of the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Schentrup
  • Patent number: 4531323
    Abstract: A hand propelled air glider type aerodynamic toy. The toy includes an elongated fuselage, a nosepiece which acts as a balance weight, a flat plastic or styrofoam member with an offset cutout which acts as the wings of the device, and a wing adjuster which secures the wing to the fuselage. The wing adjuster slidably accepts the fuselage to provide adjustments of the wing for different flight characteristics. The plastic fuselage passes through the cutout of the wing member thereby causing a slight upturn of the rear portion of the wing. The combination of the wing cutout and the angle of the wing construction with respect to the fuselage gives the device its aerodynamic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Inventor: Peter J. Henning
  • Patent number: 4458442
    Abstract: A hand launched glider of folded sheet material, having a basic fuselage with integral tail surfaces and a curved slot to hold a wing which is keyed to the fuselage to maintain alignment, the wing being adjustable fore and aft in the slot. The central fuselage and nose portion are reinforced by additional folded elements, one of the elements comprising a slidable locking member which secures the wing at any selected position in the slot. A spring clip on the nose secures the multiple elements in place, including the wing locking member, and also serves as ballast for balancing the glider. The wing and tail have adjustable control surfaces which, together with the wing position adjustment, provide a wide range of flight control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Inventor: Don W. McDaniel