Model rocket-glider

Claim 2

A model rocket comprising a body tube, a solid fuel motor having a propellant charge and a blow-out charge mounted in the lower end of the body tube, a first nose cone frictionally engaged in the upper end of the body tube, a second nose cone slidably disposed within the body tube and wings affixed to the body tube, said wings having a hinged elevator formed in the trailing edge thereof, said second nose cone being propelable toward the upper end of the body tube by the ignition of the blow-out charge in said motor after the propellant charge has exhausted, whereby said second nose cone ejects the first nose cone while the rocket is in flight and becomes engaged in the position occupied by the first nose cone, further including means for maintaining said elevator parallel to the horizontal plane of the wings prior to ignition of said blow-out charge and resilient means for biasing said elevator at a predetermined up-angle relative to the top horizontal plane of the wings subsequent to the ignition of said blow-out charge thereby causing the rocket to assume a glider configuration.

Claim 3

The model rocket of claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining the elevator parallel to the horizontal plane of the wings comprises an L-shaped member, the shorter arm of which member protrudes through a slot formed in the body tube and is in abutting relationship with the second nose cone disposed within the body tube and the end of the longer arm of which member is secured to the elevator.

Claim 4

The model rocket of claim 1 wherein the predetermined up-angle at which the elevator is biased does not exceed about 22°.

Claim 5

The model rocket of claim 1 further including means for recovering the first nose cone after it has been ejected.

Claim 6

A model rocket comprising a body tube, a solid fuel motor having a propellant charge and a blow-out charge mounted in the lower end of the body tube, a first nose cone frictionally engaged in the upper end of the body tube, wings and a vertical stabilizer affixed to the body tube including means for converting the rocket to a glider while in flight, said means comprising: a. a rod, the top end of which is secured to and coaxial with the underside of the first nose cone and the bottom end of which is secured to and coaxial with the upper end of a seat block; b. a second nose cone slidably disposed within the body tube, the tip of the nose cone in abutting relationship with the bottom end of the seat block; c. a hinged elevator in the trailing edge of the wings including resilient means for biasing said elevator at a predetermined up-angle relative to the top horizontal plane of the wings; and d. elevator restraining means secured to the elevator and cooperative with the second nose cone whereby the elevator is maintained parallel to the horizontal plane of the wings when the rocket is in vertical flight; whereby when the propellant charge in said motor is exhausted and the rocket has attained its maximum altitude, a blow-out charge in said motor ignites, propelling the second nose cone toward the forward end of the body tube which second nose cone ejects the first nose cone and associated rod and seat block from the body tube while simultaneously disassociating from the elevator restraining means, the elevator becoming biased at said predetermined angle, the second nose cone becoming engaged in the position occupied by the ejected first nose cone causing the rocket to assume a glider configuration.

Claim 7

A model rocket comprising a body tube, a solid fuel motor having a propellant charge and a blow-out charge mounted in the lower end of the body tube, a first nose cone frictionally engaged in the upper end of the body tube, wings and a vertical stabilizer affixed to the body tube including means for converting the rocket to a glider while in flight, said means comprising: a. a rod, the top end of which is secured to and coaxial with the underside of the first nose cone and the bottom end of which is secured to and coaxial with the upper end of a seat block; b. a second nose cone slidably disposed within the body tube, the tip of the nose cone in abutting relationship with the bottom end of the seat block; c. a hinged elevator in the trailing edge of the wings including resilient means for biasing said elevator at a predetermined up-angle relative to the top horizontal plane of the wings; and d. elevator restraining means secured to the elevator and cooperative with the second nose cone whereby the elevator is maintained parallel to the horizontal plane of the wings when the rocket is in vertical flight; whereby when the propellant charge in said motor is exhausted and the rocket has attained its maximum altitude, a blow-out charge in said motor ignites, propelling the second nose cone toward the forward end of the body tube which second nose cone ejects the first nose cone and associated rod and seat block from the body tube while simultaneously disassociating from the elevator restraining means, the elevator becoming biased at said predetermined angle, the second nose cone becoming engaged in the position occupied by the ejected first nose cone causing the rocket to assume a glider configuration.

Claim 8

The model rocket of claim 5 wherein the resilient means for biasing the elevator at a predetermined up-angle relative to the top horizontal plane of the wings comprises an elastic band which is passed through an aperture formed in the vertical stabilizer, the ends of said elastic band being secured to the elevator.

Claim 9

The model rocket of claim 5 wherein the predetermined up-angle at which the elevator is biased does not exceed about 22°.

Claim 10

The model rocket of claim 5 wherein the elevator restraining means comprises an L-shaped member, the shorter arm of which member protrudes through a slot formed in the body tube and is in abutting relationship with the second nose cone disposed within the body tube and the end of the longer arm of which member is secured to the elevator.

Claim 11

The model rocket of claim 5 wherein the bottom end of the seat block has a depression formed therein which depression is configured to engage therein the tip of the second nose cone.

Claim 12

The model rocket of claim 5 further including means for recovering the ejected first nose cone and associated rod and seat block.