Patent US3731424A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3731424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy aircraft and control therefor
Assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
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Filing: 1971-10-28
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1991-10-28
Abstract
Abstract An amusement device which includes a craft, such as a model airplane, attached by a power cable and a tethering line to a control means which includes an upright generally hollow support pylon for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the pylon. The tethering line is threaded for free movement through the hollow pylon, extends from the top thereof for connection to the craft, and extends from the bottom thereof for manipulation whereby the flight of the craft may be controlled simply by pulling in or paying out the tethering line. In one embodiment of the invention a motor in the craft is connected through the power cable to battery type power means in the pylon. A switch for the power means is operatively associated with the tethering line and is actuated as a function of the amount of tension in the line. The motor is removably mounted in a recess on the exterior of the craft and a power plug is connected to the end of the power cable and is removably received in a socket on the craft. A reel type assembly is provided for paying out and reeling in the tethering line. The assembly has a single lever and control handle arrangement for controlling both the speed of the craft motor and the paying out and reeling in of the tethering line. Lost motion means is provided in the connection between the lever and the reel to prevent entanglement of the line on the reel during rapid paying out of the line. The reel itself has a double core to provide space between the cores for excess tethering line to further prevent entanglement thereof on the reel.
Inventors
- 👤 B Meyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:49
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H27/00; A63H27/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An amusement device, comprising, in combination: an upright support pylon having a vertical hollow portion extending substantially from top to bottom thereof; a tethering line disposed in the hollow portion of said pylon with an end portion extending from the bottom of the pylon for grasping and manipulation by an operator of the device and an end portion extending from the top of the pylon for connection to a craft such as a toy airplane, the tethering line being freely movable through the pylon so that the flight of the craft may be manipulated by pulling in or paying out the tethering line; a craft secured to said tethering line for tethered ''''flying'''' about the pylon; motor means on said craft; power means on said pylon; cable means operatively connecting the motor means and power means; and switch means for said power means, said switch means being operatively associated with said tethering line and actuated as a function of the amount of tension in the tethering line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
An amusement device, comprising, in combination: an upright support pylon having a vertical hollow portion extending substantially from top to bottom thereof; a tethering line disposed in the hollow portion of said pylon with an end portion extending from the bottom of the pylon for grasping and manipulation by an operator of the device and an end portion extending from the top of the pylon for connection to a craft such as a toy airplane, the tethering line being freely movable through the pylon so that the flight of the craft may be manipulated by pulling in or paying out the tethering line; a craft secured to said tethering line for tethered ''''flying'''' about the pylon; motor means on said craft; power means on said pylon; cable means operatively connecting the motor means and power means; and switch means for said power means, said switch means being operatively associated with said tethering line and actuated as a function of the amount of tension in the tethering line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The amusement device of claim 1 wherein said switch means is caused to be closed when there is tension in the tethering line and opened when the tension is released.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The amusement device of claim 2 wherein the relative lengths of said tethering line and said cable means are such that the outer limit of flight of said craft is determined by the length of said cable means whereby the switch means may be opened when the craft is at its outer limit of flight simply by releasing the tension in said tethering line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
An amusement device, comprising, in combination: a support pylon; a tethering line associated with said pylon and adapted to be payed out and pulled in relative to the pylon; a craft secured to said line for tethered ''''flying'''' about said pylon; power means on the pylon and operatively connected through cable means to said craft; and switch means to activate and deactivate said power means, said switch means being operatively associated with said tethering line and actuated as a function of the amount of tension in the tethering line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
An amusement device, comprising, in combination: a support pylon; a tethering line associated with said pylon and adapted to be payed out and pulled in relative to the pylon; a craft secured to said line for tethered ''''flying'''' about said pylon; power means on the pylon and operatively connected through cable means to said craft; and switch means to activate and deactivate said power means, said switch means being operatively associated with said tethering line and actuated as a function of the amount of tension in the tethering line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The amusement device of claim 4 wherein said switch means is caused to be closed when there is tension in the tethering line and opened when the tension is released.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The amusement device of claim 5 wherein the relative lengths of said tethering line and said cable means are such that the outer limit of flight of said craft is determined by the length of said cable means whereby the switch means may be opened when the craft is at its outer limit of flight simply by releasing the tension in said tethering line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
In an amusement device which includes a craft attached by means including a power cable to a control means including power means for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the control means, and motor means on said craft and operably connected to the control means thRough said cable, the improvement comprising: a power plug including contact means on the outer end of said power cable, and a socket on said craft for removably receiving the power plug.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
In an amusement device which includes a craft attached by means including a power cable to a control means including power means for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the control means, and motor means on said craft and operably connected to the control means thRough said cable, the improvement comprising: a power plug including contact means on the outer end of said power cable, and a socket on said craft for removably receiving the power plug.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The amusement device of claim 7 including contact means on said craft associated with said motor means for engaging the contact means on said power plug when the plug is positioned in said socket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
158 words
An amusement device comprising, in combination: a craft attached by means including a power cable and a tethering line to a control means, including power means, for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the control means, motor means on said craft and operably connected to the control means, said control means including an assembly for paying out and reeling in the tethering line, including a rotatably mounted reel and a control lever operably associated with the reel for rotating the reel by manual manipulation of the lever to pay out and reel in the tethering line, and said control means further including means to vary the speed of said motor means, including a manipulatable speed control handle mounted on the end of said control lever whereby both the speed of the motor means and the paying out and reeling in of the tethering line may be accomplished by grasping the handle and manipulating the handle and said lever.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
158 words
An amusement device comprising, in combination: a craft attached by means including a power cable and a tethering line to a control means, including power means, for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the control means, motor means on said craft and operably connected to the control means, said control means including an assembly for paying out and reeling in the tethering line, including a rotatably mounted reel and a control lever operably associated with the reel for rotating the reel by manual manipulation of the lever to pay out and reel in the tethering line, and said control means further including means to vary the speed of said motor means, including a manipulatable speed control handle mounted on the end of said control lever whereby both the speed of the motor means and the paying out and reeling in of the tethering line may be accomplished by grasping the handle and manipulating the handle and said lever.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The amusement device of claim 9 wherein said speed control handle is removably mounted on the end of said control lever.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
175 words
An amusement device, comprising, in combination: a craft attached by means including a tethering line to a control means for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the control means, said control means including an assembly for paying out and reeling in the tethering line, including a rotatably mounted reel on which the tethering line is wound, a control lever, and means operatively connecting the control lever to said rotatable reel so that movement of the lever in one direction permits the reel to rotate to pay out tethering line for said craft and movement of the lever in an opposite direction rotates the reel to wind the tethering line onto the reel, and said last named means includes lost motion means in the connection between the lever and the reel whereby movement of the lever in said one direction does not positively drive the reel but permits the craft to pull the tethering line from the reel due to the centrifugal force of the craft and thereby prevent entanglement of the line on the reel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
175 words
An amusement device, comprising, in combination: a craft attached by means including a tethering line to a control means for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the control means, said control means including an assembly for paying out and reeling in the tethering line, including a rotatably mounted reel on which the tethering line is wound, a control lever, and means operatively connecting the control lever to said rotatable reel so that movement of the lever in one direction permits the reel to rotate to pay out tethering line for said craft and movement of the lever in an opposite direction rotates the reel to wind the tethering line onto the reel, and said last named means includes lost motion means in the connection between the lever and the reel whereby movement of the lever in said one direction does not positively drive the reel but permits the craft to pull the tethering line from the reel due to the centrifugal force of the craft and thereby prevent entanglement of the line on the reel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The amusement device of claim 11 wherein said connecting means between the control lever and the reel comprises a gear train and said last named means comprises angularly positioned lug means on said lever and on a gear in said train thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
135 words
The amusement device of claim 12 wherein said connecting means between the control lever and the reel comprises a rotatably mounted shaft member on which said lever is fixed for rotation therewith, a disc member fixed to said shaft member for rotation therewith and including an axially protruding lug on said disc and spaced from said shaft member, a gear member mounted on said shaft member for rotation relative thereto but fixed axially thereof, said gear member having an axially protruding lug spaced from the shaft member and extending into the path of rotation of the lug on said disc member, and a second gear member fixed relative to said reel for rotation therewith about the axis of the reel, said second gear member being meshed with the gear member mounted on said shaft member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
138 words
In an amusement device which includes a craft attached by means including a tethering line to a control means for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the control means, said control means including an assembly for paying out and reeling in the tethering line, including a rotatably mounted reel on which the tethering line is wound, the improvement wherein said reel comprises an inner core on which the tethering line is anchored, an outer core superimpOsed over the inner core and of a larger diameter than the inner core so as to define space between the cores in which excess portions of the tethering line may be wound on the inner core, and means defining an aperture in the outer core through which the tethering line may extend from said inner core to the exterior of the reel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
138 words
In an amusement device which includes a craft attached by means including a tethering line to a control means for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the control means, said control means including an assembly for paying out and reeling in the tethering line, including a rotatably mounted reel on which the tethering line is wound, the improvement wherein said reel comprises an inner core on which the tethering line is anchored, an outer core superimpOsed over the inner core and of a larger diameter than the inner core so as to define space between the cores in which excess portions of the tethering line may be wound on the inner core, and means defining an aperture in the outer core through which the tethering line may extend from said inner core to the exterior of the reel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 words
The amusement device of claim 14 wherein said inner core and said outer core are fixed at adjacent ends thereof to one end disc portion of said reel for conjoint rotation, and including means removably mounting an opposite end disc portion of the reel to the opposite ends of said cores to provide access to said space between the cores to permit the tethering line to be anchored and wound onto the inner core.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The amusement device of claim 15 wherein said outer core comprises a cup-like shell fixed to said one end disc portion of the reel, and including a cup-like portion fixed to the opposite end disc portion of the reel and telescoped within the cup-like shell fixed to said one end disc portion of the reel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The amusement device of claim 16 wherein said cup-like shell on said one end disc portion and said cup-like portion on said opposite end disc are press fit together.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The amusement device of claim 16 wherein said aperture comprises a slot in the cup-like shell fixed to said one end disc portion opening at the end of the shell opposite the end fixed to the one disc portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The amusement device of claim 18 wherein said slot extends axially of said cup-like shell and has a length greater than the axial width of the cup-like portion on said opposite end disc.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
77 words
The amusement device of claim 15 including a rod fixed to the inner face of said opposite end disc and extending axially into the space between said cores whereby relative rotation of the end discs will cause said rod to engage the tethering line anchored to the inner core and extending through the aperture in the outer core and thereby wind the tethering line onto the inner core due to said relative rotation of the end discs.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
111 words
In an amusement device which includes a craft attached by means including a power cable to a control means including power means for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the control means, and motor means on said craft and operatively connected to the control means through said cable, the improvement comprising: means readily removably mounting said motor means in operating position on said craft to permit easy replacement of the motor means without dismantling the craft, and independent contact means on said craft and so positioned as to operatively connect the motor means to said power cable when the motor means is properly placed in said operating position on the craft.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
111 words
In an amusement device which includes a craft attached by means including a power cable to a control means including power means for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the control means, and motor means on said craft and operatively connected to the control means through said cable, the improvement comprising: means readily removably mounting said motor means in operating position on said craft to permit easy replacement of the motor means without dismantling the craft, and independent contact means on said craft and so positioned as to operatively connect the motor means to said power cable when the motor means is properly placed in said operating position on the craft.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
55 words
The amusement device of claim 21 wherein said craft comprises a toy airplane with a recess located in the nose thereof for receiving said motor means, and said motor means has a propellor mounted on the front thereof and exposed for rotation when the motor means is disposed in said recess in said operating position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
The amusement device of claim 21 wherein said craft has means defining a recess on the exterior thereof for receiving said motor means, and latch means to releasably hold the motor means in the recess in said operating position in connection with said contact means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
64 words
The amusement device of claim 21 including a power plug on the outer end of said power cable, the power plug having contact means for engaging the contact means on said craft, and a socket on said craft for removably receiving the power plug in position for engagement with the contact means on said craft when the power plug is seated in said socket.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
142 words
An amusement device comprising, in combination: a craft attached by means including a power cable and a tethering line to a control means, including power means for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the control means, motor means on said craft and operatively connected to the contrOl means, said control means including an assembly for paying out and pulling in the tethering line, including a control lever mounted for manual manipulation to pay out and pull in the tethering line, and said control means further including means to vary the speed of said motor means, including a manipulatable speed control means mounted on said control lever whereby both the speed of the motor means and the paying out and pulling in of the tethering line may be accomplished by grasping the control lever and manipulating the lever and said speed control means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
142 words
An amusement device comprising, in combination: a craft attached by means including a power cable and a tethering line to a control means, including power means for tethered ''''flying'''' of the craft about the control means, motor means on said craft and operatively connected to the contrOl means, said control means including an assembly for paying out and pulling in the tethering line, including a control lever mounted for manual manipulation to pay out and pull in the tethering line, and said control means further including means to vary the speed of said motor means, including a manipulatable speed control means mounted on said control lever whereby both the speed of the motor means and the paying out and pulling in of the tethering line may be accomplished by grasping the control lever and manipulating the lever and said speed control means.
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) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |