US3885343A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy airplane of foldable sheet material and launching means for and method of making same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-06-28
•
Granted: 1975-05-27
•
Expires: 1993-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A toy airplane of foldable sheet material which is constructed to glide through the air with a horizontal velocity component after being released in the air above a predetermined starting velocity. A wing and body section of the airplane may be constructed of two separate sheets of foldable sheet material, with one of the sheets forming a substantial part of the body section extending through a slot in the other sheet which forms a substantial portion of the wing section. The sheets forming the wing and body sections are clamped in position with respect to one another by paper staples extending through the sheets. One preferred embodiment of the airplane includes a launching hook securely attached to the sheets forming the wing and body section, which launching hook is also formed of a sheet of foldable sheet material clamped into position by the staples connecting the wing and body sections to one another. Another preferred embodiment includes a holding mechanism including a rubber band or cut-out detents for detachably holding a rocket engine in position under the airplane wing and body section. An improved plastic launching device is provided which includes a relatively rigid portion formed of either folded together and stapled foldable sheet material preferred or a solid plastic bar, each of these rigid members having holes at opposite ends thereof for accommodating endless rubber bands. The method of constructing the airplane includes the cutting out of the various pattern parts from the foldable sheet material, including the cutting of the slot, forming of crease lines along the desired fold lines for the airplane configuration, folding the flat sheets into the desired airplane configuration, and stapling the respective sheets together. The airplane can also be in kit form.
Inventors
- 👤 Irvin L Fields
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:13
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H27/00; A63H27/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A toy airplane comprising: a plurality of sheets of normally flat sheet material folded into an airplane configuration having a body section and a wing section, and launch accommodating means fixedly connected with said wing and body section, both of said body section and said wing section being substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to a longitudinal airplane axis, said body section and wing section being constructed so as to fly through the air upon being released in the air above a predetermined starting velocity, wherein a first of said sheets includes a slot through which a portion of a second of said sheets protrudes in the assembled condition of the airplane, wherein said launch accommodating means is engageable with launching means for accelerating said airplane to above said predetermined starting velocity, and wherein said launch accommodating means includes a third sheet of normally flat sheet material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A toy airplane comprising: a plurality of sheets of normally flat sheet material folded into an airplane configuration having a body section and a wing section, and launch accommodating means fixedly connected with said wing and body section, both of said body section and said wing section being substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to a longitudinal airplane axis, said body section and wing section being constructed so as to fly through the air upon being released in the air above a predetermined starting velocity, wherein a first of said sheets includes a slot through which a portion of a second of said sheets protrudes in the assembled condition of the airplane, wherein said launch accommodating means is engageable with launching means for accelerating said airplane to above said predetermined starting velocity, and wherein said launch accommodating means includes a third sheet of normally flat sheet material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A toy airplane according to claim 1, further comprising clamping means for holding said wing section in position with respect to said body section, wherein said clamping means includes fastener means protruding through portions of said first and second sheets to clamp said first and second sheets together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toy airplane according to claim 2, wherein said first sheet forms substantially the entire wing section and said second sheet forms substantially the entire body section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A toy airplane according to claim 1, wherein said launch accommodating means is a hook means which is temporarily abuttingly engageable with resilient means of a launching means during launching operations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A toy airplane according to claim 3, wherein said launch accommodating means is a hook means which is temperarily abuttingly engageable with resilient means of a launching means during launching operations, and Wherein said fastener means also protrude through said third sheet to clamp said third sheet to said first and second sheets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A toy airplane according to claim 3, wherein said launch accommodating means is a holder for a rocket fuel cylinder which travels with said wing and body section, said third sheet being attached by fastener means protruding through said third sheet and at least one of said first and second sheets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A toy airplane according to claim 1, wherein said launch accommodating means is a holder for a rocket fuel cylinder which travels with said wing and body section, said third sheet being attached by fastener means protruding through said third sheet and at least one of said first and second sheets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A toy airplane according to claim 4, further comprising launching means having resilient means engageable with said hook means, wherein said launching means includes a relatively rigid part constructed of plastic and a relatively resilient part, said resilient part being directly and abuttingly releaseably engageable with said hook means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toy airplane according to claim 8, wherein said relatively rigid part is formed of a solid piece of rigid non-folded plastic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toy airplane according to claim 8, wherein said relatively rigid part is formed of a single sheet of normally flat flexible sheet material folded into a rigid rod-like part.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A toy airplane according to claim 10, wherein the folds of said rigid rod-like part are fastened together by paper staples.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
118 words
A toy airplane comprising: at least one sheet of normally flat sheet material folded into an airplane configuration having a body section and a wing section, both of said body section and said wing section being substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to a longitudinal airplane axis, said body section and wing section being constructed so as to fly through the air upon being released in the air above a predetermined starting velocity, and launch accommodating means fixedly connected with said wing and body section, said launch accommodating means being operatively engageable with launching means for accelerating said airplane to above said predetermined starting velocity, wherein said launch accommodating means includes a further sheet of normally flat sheet material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
118 words
A toy airplane comprising: at least one sheet of normally flat sheet material folded into an airplane configuration having a body section and a wing section, both of said body section and said wing section being substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to a longitudinal airplane axis, said body section and wing section being constructed so as to fly through the air upon being released in the air above a predetermined starting velocity, and launch accommodating means fixedly connected with said wing and body section, said launch accommodating means being operatively engageable with launching means for accelerating said airplane to above said predetermined starting velocity, wherein said launch accommodating means includes a further sheet of normally flat sheet material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A toy airplane according to claim 12, wherein said launch accommodating means is a hook means which is temporarily abuttingly engageable with resilient means of a launching means during launching operations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
A toy airplane according to claim 13, wherein said hook means is formed by a single sheet of normally flat sheet material which is folded into a hook configuration extending downwardly from said wing and body section, portions of the sheet which form said hook configuration being clamped to at least one other sheet which forms said wing and body sections.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A toy airplane according to claim 14, wherein said sheet forming said hook configuration is clamped to said at least one other sheet by paper staples.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toy airplane according to claim 15, wherein said sheets are formed of synthetic resinous material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
A toy airplane according to claim 12, wherein said launch accommodating means is a holder for a rocket fuel cylinder which travels with said airplane, said holder being formed by a single sheet of normally flat sheet material extending across one side of said cylinder and clamped to at least one other sheet which forms said wing and body sections.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A toy airplane according to claim 17, wherein said single sheet forming said holder is clamped to said at least one other sheet by paper staples.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
83 words
A toy airplane according to claim 17, wherein one of said sheet forming said holder and a sheet forming part of said airplane configuration as well as a side of said holder opposite said sheet forming said holder is provided with slotted and bent portions protruding into said holder space for abuttingly engaging an upper end of a rocket fuel cylinder, whereBy propelling forces are transferred to said airplane configuration form said rocket fuel cylinder by way of said slotted and bent portions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
144 words
A toy airplane according to claim 17, wherein said holder is dimensioned slightly larger than said rocket fuel cylinder in the radial direction, wherein abutment means are provided in said holder for engaging a forward end of a rocket fuel cylinder, and wherein said holder has substantially smooth walls rearwardly of said abutment means such that said rocket fuel cylinder can be freely moved into and out of said holder from the rear end thereof, whereby said fuel cylinder is held in place during upwardly directed flight of said airplane only when said fuel cylinder is propelling said airplane with propelling forces being transmitted through said abutment means such that, after exhaustion of the fuel in said fuel cylinder, said fuel cylinder falls freely out of said holder thereby lightening the airplane and minimizing adverse aerodynamic effects of said fuel cylinder on the airplane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A toy airplane according to claim 13, wherein said hook means is an injection molded plastic piece having flat portions clamped to at least one sheet which forms said wing and body section.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toy airplane according to claim 21, wherein said hook means is clamped to said at least one sheet by paper staples.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
68 words
A built-it-yourself toy airplane kit comprising: at least one sheet of flat material with pre-marked fold lines and cut-outs for forming a flyable airplane configuration having a wing and body section, launch accommodating means which are attachable to said airplane configuration, and launching means which are engageable with said launch accommodating means to launch said airplane configuration and launch accommodating means into the air above a predetermined velocity.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
68 words
A built-it-yourself toy airplane kit comprising: at least one sheet of flat material with pre-marked fold lines and cut-outs for forming a flyable airplane configuration having a wing and body section, launch accommodating means which are attachable to said airplane configuration, and launching means which are engageable with said launch accommodating means to launch said airplane configuration and launch accommodating means into the air above a predetermined velocity.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
A toy airplane kit according to claim 23, wherein said at least one flat sheet includes a first sheet for forming substantially the entire wing section and a second sheet for forming substantially the entire body section, and wherein said first sheet includes a slot through which portions of said second sheet are to be inserted in the assembled condition of the airplane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A toy airplane kit according to claim 24, wherein said launch accommodating means is a hook means which is temporarily abuttingly engageable with resilient means of a launching means during launching operations.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toy airplane kit according to claim 24, wherein said sheets are formed of synthetic resinous material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
A toy airplane kit according to claim 23, wherein said launch accommodating means is a hook means which is temporarily abuttingly engageable with resilient means of a launching means during launching operations.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
61 words
A toy airplane kit according to claim 23, wherein said launch accommodating means is a holder for a rocket fuel cylinder which travels with said airplane, said holder being formed by a single sheet of normally flat sheet material extending across one side of said cylinder and clamped to at least one other sheet which forms said wing and body sections.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toy airplane according to claim 12, wherein said launch accommodating means includes a forward reactive member engageable with a forward end of a rocket fuel cylinder.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
102 words
A toy airplane according to claim 29, further comprising a rocket clamp formed of a rod-like member loosely clamped between flat sheet portions of said airplane configuration and including a rocket cylinder engaging portion for holding the rear part of said rocket cylinder away from said airplane to prevent exhaust gases from said rocket cylinder from burning rear portions of the airplane configuration, said rocket clamp being configured such that both said rocket cylinder and rocket clamp automatically fall from the airplane in response to aerodynamic and gravity forces when said rocket cylinder ceases applying propelling forces against said forward reactive member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
74 words
A toy airplane according to claim 30, further comprising a launch stand including a block portion engageable with the underside of one of said rocket cylinder and said airplane and adjustable leg portions fixed to said block portion, said leg portions including lower portions insertable into the ground to rigidly and angularly adjustably position the block portion, whereby said block portion can hold the airplane and rocket arrangement in position for rocket launching thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
A toy airplane according to claim 12, wherein said launch accommodating means is a hook means which is temporarily abuttingly engageable with resilient means of a launching means during launching operations.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
49 words
A toy airplane according to claim 32, further comprising launching means having resilient means engageable with said hook means, wherein said launching means includes a relatively rigid part constructed of plastic and a relatively resilient part, said resilient part being directly and abuttingly releaseably engageable with said hook means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toy airplane according to claim 33, wherein said relatively rigid part is formed of a solid piece of rigid non-folded plastic.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |