Flying toy

Claim 2

An annular flying toy having an inner perimeter defining a central circular opening, an outer perimeter, a substantially constant toy width defined by the radial distance between the inner perimeter and outer perimeter and, an imaginary planar frame of reference passing through and substantially parallel to the toy, the toy comprising: a. an annular skirt constituting the toy outer perimeter, the skirt having a lower edge passing through said planar frame of reference and an upper edge located above said planar frame of reference; b. a ring aligned concentrically with the annular skirt and having an inner edge that constitutes the toy inner perimeter and an outer edge that merges with the annular skirt upper edge at an annular ridge above said planar frame of reference said annular ridge being the highest portion of the toy above said reference plane and located nearer to the toy outer perimeter than to the toy inner perimeter; and, c. a deflector surface formed by a portion of the ring, the deflector surface being inclined downwardly from said annular ridge and inwardly towards the central circular opening of the toy and said planar frame of reference, wherein when the toy is caused to spin about its axis and travel through the air, an air stream flowing over the toy''s leading edge will be deflected by the deflector surface downwardly into the central circular opening and thereafter directed beneath the toy''s trailing edge to assist in supporting the trailing edge in flight.

Claim 3

The structure according to claim 1, wherein; the ring and skirt are integrally formed with a series of radially extending strengthening ribs and at least one circular strengthening rib so that the ring thickness can be made relatively thin and the object therefore made relatively lightweight.

Claim 4

The structure according to claim 1, wherein; the skirt is substantially vertically oriented; the ring is integrally formed with a horizontal planar section between the deflector surface and the skirt; and the central opening is circular.

Claim 5

An annular flying toy having an inner perimeter defining a central circular opening, an outer perimeter, a substantially constant toy width defined by the radial distance between the inner perimeter and outer perimeter, and, an imaginary planar frame of reference passing through and substantially parrallel to the toy, the toy comprising: a. an annular skirt constituting the toy outer perimeter, the skirt having a lower edge passing through said planar frame of reference and an upper edge located above said planar frame of reference; b. a ring aligned concentrically with the annular skirt and having an inner edge that constitutes the toy inner perimeter and an outer edge that merges with the annular skirt Upper edge at an annular ridge above said planar frame of reference, said annular ridge being the highest portion of the toy above said reference plane and located nearer to the toy outer perimeter than to the toy inner perimeter; and, c. a deflector surface formed by a portion of the ring, the deflector surface being inclined downwardly from said annular ridge and inwardly towards the central circular opening of the toy and said planar frame of reference; d. wherein the width of the toy is not greater than one-half the radius of the toy, and, the ratio of the toy width to the toy height at the annular ridge is within the range of from 1: 1/16 to 1: 1/2, wherein, when the toy is caused to spin about its axis and travel through the air, an air stream flowing over the toy''s leading edge will be deflected by the deflector surface downwardly into the central circular opening and thereafter directed beneath the toy''s trailing edge to assist in supporting the trailing edge in flight.

Claim 6

An annular flying toy having an inner perimeter defining a central circular opening, an outer perimeter, a substantially constant toy width defined by the radial distance between the inner perimeter and outer perimeter, and, an imaginary planar frame of reference passing through and substantially parrallel to the toy, the toy comprising: a. an annular skirt constituting the toy outer perimeter, the skirt having a lower edge passing through said planar frame of reference and an upper edge located above said planar frame of reference; b. a ring aligned concentrically with the annular skirt and having an inner edge that constitutes the toy inner perimeter and an outer edge that merges with the annular skirt Upper edge at an annular ridge above said planar frame of reference, said annular ridge being the highest portion of the toy above said reference plane and located nearer to the toy outer perimeter than to the toy inner perimeter; and, c. a deflector surface formed by a portion of the ring, the deflector surface being inclined downwardly from said annular ridge and inwardly towards the central circular opening of the toy and said planar frame of reference; d. wherein the width of the toy is not greater than one-half the radius of the toy, and, the ratio of the toy width to the toy height at the annular ridge is within the range of from 1: 1/16 to 1: 1/2, wherein, when the toy is caused to spin about its axis and travel through the air, an air stream flowing over the toy''s leading edge will be deflected by the deflector surface downwardly into the central circular opening and thereafter directed beneath the toy''s trailing edge to assist in supporting the trailing edge in flight.

Claim 7

The structure according to claim 4, wherein: the skirt is substantially vertically oriented; the ring is integrally formed with a horizontal planar section between the deflector surface and skirt; and, the central opening is circular.