Levitating toy with an air-stream generator and a flying prop

This patent application is based on and claims benefits to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/001,540, filed Nov. 1, 2007.

This invention relates to a levitating or flying toy, either manual-powered or motor-driven. In particular, the present invention is related to a levitating toy equipped with a propeller for forcing an air stream.

Gadgets that seemingly defy gravity are generally fascinating. Levitating toys are such gadgets. It would be advantageous to provide a levitating toy that is simple and cost-effective.

The present invention is concerned with a levitating toy having an air stream generator to create an air stream in order to push a bowl-shaped flying body away from the generator.

The levitating toy, according to various embodiments of the present invention, comprises an air stream generator with a handle. The air stream generator includes a multi-blade propeller operatively coupled to an electric motor inside the air stream generator.

The main body of the air stream generator includes two shells, which accommodate the electric motor, a switch with push button, and an air duct with a protruding stud in the middle. Through the air duct, the air stream is designed to uplift a variety of flying bodies into the air. The shells can be made of plastic, for example. The electric motor can be a DC (direct-current) motor configured to receive a DC power source, such as an electric charger or at least one battery.

In accordance with the present invention, a bowl-shaped flying body made of light-weight material is configured to receive the air stream. The rim or side of the bowl-shaped flying body comprises a plurality of curved fins such that when the air stream acts upon curved fins, it exerts a revolving force on the fins, causing the flying body to spin. The bottom of the bowl-shaped flying body has a hole dimensioned to engage the protruding stud in the middle of the air duct outlet of the air stream generator when the bowl-shaped flying body rests on the air stream generator.

Thus, the first aspect of the present invention is a levitating toy comprising:

an air generating duct; and

a handle connected to the air duct, wherein the air duct comprises an air duct body having a first end and an opposing second end, and a propeller located inside the air duct body, the propeller coupled to a motor for rotational motion in order to provide an air stream through the first end, and wherein the handle is located on the second end of the air duct and comprises a battery compartment configured for storing one or more batteries for powering the motor, and a switch for controlling said powering, and wherein the air duct further comprises a cover on the first end of the air duct body, the cover comprising a stud centrally located on the cover.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stud is configured to receive a bowl-shaped flying body having a bottom section and a rim section, wherein the bottom section comprises a centrally located hole dimensioned to fit the stud on the air duct, and the rim section comprises a plurality of curved fins such that when the air stream is provided by the air duct, the air stream interacts with the curved fins, causing the bowl-shaped flying body to spin while moving the bowl-shaped flying body away from the first end of the air duct body.

The second aspect of the present invention is a bowl-shaped body, comprising:

a rim section; and

a bottom section connected to the rim section, wherein the rim section comprises a plurality of curved fins and the bottom section comprises a hole.

The third aspect of the present invention is a method of operating a flying toy, comprising:

providing an air duct comprising an air duct body having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end comprising a cover having a centrally located stud dimension to receive an object with a hole; and

locating a propeller in the air duct body, the propeller coupled to a motor such that when the motor is turned on, the propeller is caused to provide an air stream through the first end of the air duct around the stud and away from the first end of the air duct.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises: