US5045011A — Flying balloon toy

Claim 1

Independent Claim 122 words

A flying balloon toy for use with an inflatable balloon of the type having a constricted neck portion that terminates at one end in an inflation aperture and at the other end in an imperforate sidewall, the toy comprising: a rigid aerodynamic body, formed of a stiff, lightweight material, that is intended to rotate about a rotational axis when thrown by a user, and means for holding the balloon in readily removable engagement in a central portion of said aerodynamic body when the balloon is inflated, said holding means comprising an opening formed in said body and having sides for engaging the balloon, extends above and below said central portion to provide aerodynamic stability to the toy when thrown by a user.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 122 words

A flying balloon toy for use with an inflatable balloon of the type having a constricted neck portion that terminates at one end in an inflation aperture and at the other end in an imperforate sidewall, the toy comprising: a rigid aerodynamic body, formed of a stiff, lightweight material, that is intended to rotate about a rotational axis when thrown by a user, and means for holding the balloon in readily removable engagement in a central portion of said aerodynamic body when the balloon is inflated, said holding means comprising an opening formed in said body and having sides for engaging the balloon, extends above and below said central portion to provide aerodynamic stability to the toy when thrown by a user.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

The toy of claim 1, wherein said axial bore is axially aligned with the rotational axis of said body such that the balloon will be axially aligned with the rotational axis of said body.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The toy of claim 2, further comprising contracting means for contracting said axial bore in response to contraction of the balloon.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 56 words

The toy of claim 3, wherein said contracting means comprises said aerodynamic body being formed into a first member and a second member, said first and second members having first portions pivotally attached to each other and second portions biased to move together to thereby contract said axial bore in response to contraction of the balloon.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 130 words

A flying balloon toy comprising: an inflatable balloon of the type having a constricted neck portion terminating at one end in an inflation aperture and at the other end in an imperforate expandable side wall; an aerodynamic body having a V-shaped planar configuration formed of two outwardly projecting wings joined together at a vertex that is intended to rotate about a rotational axis located at said vertex when thrown by a user; and means for holding said balloon in readily removable engagement in a central portion at said vertex of said aerodynamic body when said balloon is inflated, said holding means comprising an opening having sides for frictionally engaging said balloon, wherein said balloon projects above and below said central portion to provide aerodynamic stability to the toy when airborne.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 130 words

A flying balloon toy comprising: an inflatable balloon of the type having a constricted neck portion terminating at one end in an inflation aperture and at the other end in an imperforate expandable side wall; an aerodynamic body having a V-shaped planar configuration formed of two outwardly projecting wings joined together at a vertex that is intended to rotate about a rotational axis located at said vertex when thrown by a user; and means for holding said balloon in readily removable engagement in a central portion at said vertex of said aerodynamic body when said balloon is inflated, said holding means comprising an opening having sides for frictionally engaging said balloon, wherein said balloon projects above and below said central portion to provide aerodynamic stability to the toy when airborne.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The toy of claim 5, wherein said opening is axially aligned with the rotational axis of said body.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 13 words

The toy of claim 6, wherein said balloon is inflated with a gas.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 14 words

The toy of claim 7, wherein said gas is lighter than the ambient atmosphere.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 132 words

A flying balloon toy comprising: an inflatable balloon of the type having a constricted neck portion terminating at one end in an inflation aperture and at the other end in an imperforate expandable side wall; a planar, disc-shaped aerodynamic body having a plurality of wings projecting outward from a central hub that is intended to rotate about a rotational axis located at said central hub when thrown by a user; and means for holding said balloon in readily removable engagement with said central hub when said balloon is inflated, said holding means comprising an opening in said hub having sides to frictionally engage said balloon when said balloon is inflated, wherein said balloon extends above and below said central hub to provide aerodynamic stability to the toy when thrown by a user.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 132 words

A flying balloon toy comprising: an inflatable balloon of the type having a constricted neck portion terminating at one end in an inflation aperture and at the other end in an imperforate expandable side wall; a planar, disc-shaped aerodynamic body having a plurality of wings projecting outward from a central hub that is intended to rotate about a rotational axis located at said central hub when thrown by a user; and means for holding said balloon in readily removable engagement with said central hub when said balloon is inflated, said holding means comprising an opening in said hub having sides to frictionally engage said balloon when said balloon is inflated, wherein said balloon extends above and below said central hub to provide aerodynamic stability to the toy when thrown by a user.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The toy of claim 9, wherein said opening is axially aligned with the rotational axis of said body in said hub.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 13 words

The toy of claim 10, wherein said balloon is inflated with a gas.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The toy of claim 11, wherein said gas is lighter than the ambient atmosphere.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 130 words

A flying balloon toy comprising: an inflatable balloon of the type having a constricted neck portion terminating at one end in an inflation aperture and at the other end in an imperforate inflatable side wall; an aerodynamic disk-shaped body having a substantially concave lower surface that is intended to rotate about a rotational axis located at the center point of said disk-shaped body when thrown by a user; and means for holding said balloon in engagement at the center point of said aerodynamic body when said balloon is inflated, said holding means comprising an opening formed in said disk-shaped body having sides to frictionally engage said balloon, wherein said balloon extends above and below the center point to provide aerodynamic stability to the toy when thrown by a user .

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 130 words

A flying balloon toy comprising: an inflatable balloon of the type having a constricted neck portion terminating at one end in an inflation aperture and at the other end in an imperforate inflatable side wall; an aerodynamic disk-shaped body having a substantially concave lower surface that is intended to rotate about a rotational axis located at the center point of said disk-shaped body when thrown by a user; and means for holding said balloon in engagement at the center point of said aerodynamic body when said balloon is inflated, said holding means comprising an opening formed in said disk-shaped body having sides to frictionally engage said balloon, wherein said balloon extends above and below the center point to provide aerodynamic stability to the toy when thrown by a user .

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

The toy of claim 13, wherein said opening is axially aligned with the rotational axis of said disk-shaped body.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 13 words

The toy of claim 14, wherein said balloon is inflated with a gas.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

The toy of claim 15, wherein said gas is lighter than the ambient atmosphere.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-09-02	1995-03-04	1995-09-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-09-02	1999-03-04	1999-09-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-09-02	2003-03-04	2003-09-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Flying balloon toy

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag