US3589058A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy ground effect vehicle with adjustable stabilizing weight
Assignee: DEV DES AEROGLISSEURS MARINS F
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Filing: 1969-12-18
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1989-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A toy air cushion vehicle comprising a hull the lower portion of which carries a skirt bounding the air cushion space, an electrically driven lift fan having a substantially vertical axis, at least one propulsion unit mounted on the hull and comprising an electrically driven propeller, and at least one movable weight for balancing the vehicle on its air cushion both in the transverse and longitudinal directions. The skirt has parts subdividing the cushion space. The hull has a compartment with a door automatically closed by the lift fan through a pneumatic device. The propeller may be a flexible member maintaining its shape partly by centrifugal force and may have a torque limiter including a magnetic or friction coupling.
Inventors
- 👤 Ivan Pierre Andrew Labat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:42
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A toy air cushion vehicle comprising a hull, skirt means carried by said hull for bounding and defining an air cushion space below said hull, a lift fan having a substantially vertical axis, duct means affording communication between said lift fan and said air cushion space, electrical driving means for said lift fan, at least one propulsion unit mounted on said hull, said propulsion unit comprising a propeller and electrical driving means for said propeller, means comprising at least one movable weight for balancing said vehicle on an air cushion generated in said air cushion space by said lift fan, means mounting said weight on said vehicle for movement both in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the said vehicle to a selected fixed position in said vehicle to a selected fixed position in said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A toy air cushion vehicle comprising a hull, skirt means carried by said hull for bounding and defining an air cushion space below said hull, a lift fan having a substantially vertical axis, duct means affording communication between said lift fan and said air cushion space, electrical driving means for said lift fan, at least one propulsion unit mounted on said hull, said propulsion unit comprising a propeller and electrical driving means for said propeller, means comprising at least one movable weight for balancing said vehicle on an air cushion generated in said air cushion space by said lift fan, means mounting said weight on said vehicle for movement both in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the said vehicle to a selected fixed position in said vehicle to a selected fixed position in said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a horizontal rod, means supporting said rod for pivoting about a vertical axis, and said movable weight being slidably mounted on said rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 including control means for moving said movable weight to control the direction of motion of said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which said skirt means comprises a main skirt bounding the periphery of said air cushion space and secondary skirts which divide said air cushion space into compartments disposed between said duct means and said main skirt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 4 in which said secondary skirts are connected to said main skirt to afford mechanical support for said main skirt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 including wheels mounted beneath said hull and adapted to support said vehicle when said lift fan is inoperative.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 including at least one bellows, means connecting said bellows to said duct means whereby said bellows is extended when said fan is operative, said bellows being normally contracted when said fan is inoperative, said toy also including a movable component and an operative actuating connection between said bellows and said movable component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which said electrical driving means for said propeller of said propulsion unit is a reversible electric motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which said propeller of said propulsion unit is made from flexible material and is adapted to maintain its shape partly by centrifugal force when said electrical driving means of said propulsion unit is operating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which said propulsion unit includes a torque limiter interposed between said propeller and said electrical driving means of said propulsion unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 10 in which said electrical driving means of said propulsion unit has a drive shaft and said propeller has a hub and in which said torquE limiter comprises magnetically coupled washers one on said drive shaft and the other on said propeller hub.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which said electrical driving means of said propulsion unit has a drive shaft and in which there is an elastically deformable washer between said drive shaft and said propeller of said propulsion unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which said hull has a superstructure defining apertures constituting air inlets for said lift fan.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |