US4037358A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Model airplane drive and control system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-10-31
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Granted: 1977-07-26
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Expires: 1995-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A toy or model airplane including a drive and attitude control system for simulating actual aircraft maneuvers including taxiing, take-off, climb, descent, turns and landing. The system includes a toy airplane suspended by a tether from a moveable platform magnetically fixed or coupled to the lower surface of a false ceiling. A drive vehicle supported on the upper surface of the false ceiling is magnetically coupled to the lower platform to provide forward velocity to the platform and the tethered toy airplane. The moveable suspended platform includes a drive motor which is coupled to the airplane tether to allow raising or lowering the tether airplane for altitude change simulation. The toy airplane fuselage houses additional drive motors for simulating attitude changes including roll and pitch maneuvers. In an alternate embodiment, the tethered airplane may be supported from a track-like mechanism coupled to a conventional ceiling. The system includes a control console for providing power to the various drive motors to achieve actual flight simulation of the toy airplane.
Inventors
- 👤 Phillip Rosenbaum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:24
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H27/00; A63H27/04; A63H30/00; A63H30/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A model aircraft control and propulsion system comprising: a model aircraft; means for providing a pathway for moving a vehicle, said means being attachable to a room ceiling; a vehicle moveably coupled to said ceiling vehicle support means; tethering means connected to said moveable vehicle and said aircraft; means for controlling the movement of said vehicle; power supply connected to said means for controlling movement of said vehicle; motor means for propelling said vehicle connected to said vehicle and said power means; means connected to said moveable vehicle for positionably moving said tether vertically to a particular vertical position relative to said ceiling; and means in said aircraft for changing the flight attitude of said aircraft relative to said tethering means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A model aircraft control and propulsion system comprising: a model aircraft; means for providing a pathway for moving a vehicle, said means being attachable to a room ceiling; a vehicle moveably coupled to said ceiling vehicle support means; tethering means connected to said moveable vehicle and said aircraft; means for controlling the movement of said vehicle; power supply connected to said means for controlling movement of said vehicle; motor means for propelling said vehicle connected to said vehicle and said power means; means connected to said moveable vehicle for positionably moving said tether vertically to a particular vertical position relative to said ceiling; and means in said aircraft for changing the flight attitude of said aircraft relative to said tethering means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
Aircraft control device, as in claim 1, wherein: said aircraft includes first and second rotatable fuselage portions, a center fuselage portion rotatably coupled to said first and second portions and the means in said aircraft for rotating the moveable portions of said fuselage relative to said center portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
A model aircraft flight control simulator comprising: a rigid non-magnetically responsive planar member; a model aircraft, said model aircraft having a fuselage having a rotatable portion; an electrical power supply; a first controllable, moveable vehicle moveable about said upper surface of said rigid planar member coupled to said power source, said moveable vehicle having a magnetic field coupling means disposed therein; a second moveable vehicle mountable beneath said first vehicle and coupled to the lower surface of said rigid planar member, said second vehicle having a means for generating a magnetic field of opposite polarities to said magnetic field of said first vehicle; a tether connected to said second vehicle and said aircraft; means connected to said tether and said second vehicle for moving said tether and said aircraft in an upward and downward motion; and a flight control signal means connected to said power source and said second vehicle for controlling the elevation of said tether and the movement and direction of said first vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
166 words
A model aircraft flight control simulator comprising: a rigid non-magnetically responsive planar member; a model aircraft, said model aircraft having a fuselage having a rotatable portion; an electrical power supply; a first controllable, moveable vehicle moveable about said upper surface of said rigid planar member coupled to said power source, said moveable vehicle having a magnetic field coupling means disposed therein; a second moveable vehicle mountable beneath said first vehicle and coupled to the lower surface of said rigid planar member, said second vehicle having a means for generating a magnetic field of opposite polarities to said magnetic field of said first vehicle; a tether connected to said second vehicle and said aircraft; means connected to said tether and said second vehicle for moving said tether and said aircraft in an upward and downward motion; and a flight control signal means connected to said power source and said second vehicle for controlling the elevation of said tether and the movement and direction of said first vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
122 words
A model aircraft maneuvering system comprising: an aircraft body, said body including a fixed center portion and relatively moveable wing and tail sections; a planar member suspended above the floor of a conventional room; a drive vehicle supported on the upper surface of said planar surface, said drive vehicle including a permanent magnet; a moveable platform supported on the lower surface of said planar member, said moveable platform including a permanent magnet for magnetically coupling to said drive vehicle through said planar member; a tether cord connected to said aircraft body and said moveable platform; and, means connected to said moveable platform and said tether for moving said tether vertically to a particular position for controlling the altitude of said aircraft body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
A model aircraft maneuvering system comprising: an aircraft body, said body including a fixed center portion and relatively moveable wing and tail sections; a planar member suspended above the floor of a conventional room; a drive vehicle supported on the upper surface of said planar surface, said drive vehicle including a permanent magnet; a moveable platform supported on the lower surface of said planar member, said moveable platform including a permanent magnet for magnetically coupling to said drive vehicle through said planar member; a tether cord connected to said aircraft body and said moveable platform; and, means connected to said moveable platform and said tether for moving said tether vertically to a particular position for controlling the altitude of said aircraft body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A model aircraft control system, as in claim 4, including: a roll simulating means connected to said aircraft body for moving the tail and wing sections of said aircraft body relative to a fixed center portion to simulate banking and roll maneuvers of said aircraft body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A model aircraft system, as in claim 4, including: an aircraft pitch control means connected to said aircraft body for changing said pitch attitude of said aircraft body relative to said tether.
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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) | 1980-07-25 | 1981-01-24 | 1981-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-25 | 1985-01-24 | 1985-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-25 | 1989-01-24 | 1989-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |