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US4844304A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Toy capable of flight

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-12-03
•
Granted: 1989-07-04
•
Expires: 2007-12-03
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Abstract

Abstract A toy, designed for throwing, has an elongated, flexible tubular body with a weight at its forward end encased in an impact-absorbing jacket and a conical, flared tail element providing both a grip for the user and an air-foil type direction stabilizer during flight.

Inventors

  • 👤 Trent A. Lenderink

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 01:51
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H33/00; A63H33/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 81 words
A toy having an elongated flexible tubular body of elastic material, a weight inserted in and secured to the forward end of said body said weight constituting a substantial portion of the weight of the toy; said body having a tail end, insert means mounted in said tail end, said insert means being conical and imparting a conical shape to the exterior surface of said tail end whereby said tail end is of progressively increasing diameter toward the toy's rear end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 81 words
A toy having an elongated flexible tubular body of elastic material, a weight inserted in and secured to the forward end of said body said weight constituting a substantial portion of the weight of the toy; said body having a tail end, insert means mounted in said tail end, said insert means being conical and imparting a conical shape to the exterior surface of said tail end whereby said tail end is of progressively increasing diameter toward the toy's rear end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
A toy as described in claim 1 wherein said forward end is encased in a resilient jacket.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A toy as described in claim 2 wherein said insert means for the tail end is a rigid molded plastic shell bonded to said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A toy as described in claim 3 wherein said body is sufficiently flexible to be bent through an arc of approximately 180° during the acceleration period initiating its flight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A toy as described in claim 2 wherein a space is provided between the forward end of said weight and the inner face of said jacket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
A toy as described in claim 1 wherein said weight is a wooden plug.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 45 words
A toy as described in claim 6 wherein said forward end is encased in a resilient jacket, a space being provided between the end of said plug and the inner face of said jacket to provide increased cushioning when the toy impacts against an object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
A toy as described in claim 1 wherein the weight is a metal plug.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
A toy as described in claim 1 wherein said weight constitutes a major and dominant portion of the energy of the toy after it has been accelerated to flight speed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
A toy as described in claim 1 wherein said body is encased in a flexible outer skin having a bright coloring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
A toy as described in claim 10 wherein said coloring includes a material which fluoresces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 93 words
The method of causing the toy described in claim 1 to traverse a flight trajectory including the steps of grasping the conical tail end of the body between the thumb and forefinger, and simultaneously grasping the forward end of the toy stretching the toy's body by increasing the distance between the ends thereof to provide tension between its ends, releasing the forward end of the toy and allowing the forward end to double back on itself and as the doubled back loop formed thereby approaches said tail end thereof releasing said tail end.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1424674A Cited
US1768944A Cited
US1957713A Cited
US3746334A Cited
US3965882A Cited
DE2507950A1 Cited
US4324220A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-07-03 1993-01-02 1993-07-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-07-03 1997-01-02 1997-07-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-07-03 2001-01-02 2001-07-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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