Aerial toy

Aug. 29, 1961

C. F. GLADEN

AERIAL TOY

2,997,809

Filed April 13, 1959

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2997809A_D0001.tif" />

C. F. GLADEN

AERIAL.TOY

Aug. 29, 1961

Filed April 13, 1959

2,997,809

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2997809A_D0002.tif" />

/RTTORfVEYS

United States Patent Office

2,997,809

Patented Aug. 29, 1961

2,997,809 AERIAL TOY

Carl F. Gladen, 3573 Old Kawkawlin Road, Bay City, Mich.

Filed Apr. 13,1959, Ser. No. 805,895 2 Claims. (CI. 46—86)

This invention relates to- an aerial toy and more particularly to a toy of the kind simulating a satellite carrying and launching rocket and having a parachute associated with the rocket body automatically discharged therefrom when the rocket reaches its maximum height and launches the satellite so as to permit the rocket body to float gently to the earth.

Toys of the kind to which the invention pertains have been devised heretofore and currently are enjoying considerable popularity due to the widespread interest in government rocket and missile programs. Many of the known toys make use of combustible fuels and are somewhat dangerous for use by children. Other known toys are so complex in their construction that it is difficult for childern to operate them and, in addition, the complexity of the toys makes them fairly expensive.

An object of this invention is to provide an aerial toy of the rocket type which is relatively harmless to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy of the kind described which is simple in construction, economical and easy to use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rocket type aerial toy of the satellite carrying type which simulates the action of satellite carrying missiles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a toy having a rocket-like body carrying its own parachute and provided with simplified means for controlling the parachute so that it enables the body to be returned gently to earth from the maximum height attained by the body, but does not interfere with the body’s attaining such height.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and in readiness for launching;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of a parachute shroud forming part of the invention and illustrating the manner in which it is conditioned for storage within the rocket body;

FIGURE 4 is a rear end elevational view of the rocket body;

FIGURE 5 is a reduced, isometric view illustrating the action of the rocket at the peak of its travel after launching; and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the rocket body and its parachute illustrating the manner in which the rocket body is returned to the ground.

A toy formed in accordance with the invention comprises a rocket-like device designated generally by the reference character 1 and includes a hollow, tubular body 2 which is open at one end and closed at the other end by means of a transverse end wall 3. The body member 2 forms a cylinder 4 in which a piston 5 is mounted for reciprocating movements towards and away from the end wall 3. The piston 5 has a fairly snug, sliding fit with the wall of the cylinder 4 so as to be affected by differential air pressures on opposite sides of the piston as will be pointed out hereinafter.

A force transmitting compression spring 6 is mounted in the cylinder 4 adjacent to its closed end and it reacts between the wall 3 and the adjacent side of the piston 5 so as to exert a force on the latter tending to move it towards the open end of the body 2. Means designated generally by the reference character 7 is provided for effecting movements of the piston 5 and comprises a preferably cylindrical rod 8 extending through an opening 9 in the rear wall 3 and also passing through an opening 10 formed in the piston 5. The inner end 11 of the rod 8 is bent to bear against the face of the piston 5 so as to prevent withdrawal of the rod 8 from the opening 10. The other end of the rod 8 is provided with a knob 12 by means of which the rod 8 may be extended from the cylinder 4. Actuation of the apparatus 7 in a direction to extend the rod 8 from the cylinder 4 causes the piston 5 to move toward the end wall 3 of the body 2, thereby compressing the spring 6 between the wall and the piston 5.

Releasable holding means 13 is provided for latching the piston 5 in its cocked position shown in FIGURE 2. The latching means comprises an annulus or disk 14 having an opening (not shown) therein of such size as normally to enable the rod 8 to slide freely relatively to the disk, but the opening in the disk is small enough to permit its edges to bind on the rod 8 when the disk is canted and prevent relative movement between the disk and the rod. In the disclosed embodiment, the rear wall 3 is provided with a rearwardly projecting tang 15 which is capable of engaging the disk at a point near its periphery and canting the latter so as to disable the spring 6 from moving the piston 5 from its cocked position towards the open end of the body 2.

When the piston 5 is in its cocked position, the majority of the cylinder 4 is available for storage of other parts of the toy. One of the parts adapted for removable storage within the rocket body 2 is a parachute shroud 16 formed of a suitable substance such as cloth or a thin, flexible plastic material. In blank form the shroud 16 may be substantially circular in shape and at selected points about its periphery are secured corresponding ends of shroud lines 17, the other ends of the lines converging at a central point 18 to which is connected one end of an attaching line 19. The other end of the attaching line 19 may be provided with a loop that is adapted to receive the bent over end 11 of the operating rod 8 so as removably to secure the parachute to the body.

Another part adapted for removable storage within the cylinder 4 is a spherical ball 20 which, in the present instance, simulates a satellite. The size of the ball 20 is such it freely fits within the cylinder 4 and is readily removed therefrom.

At the free end of the body 2 is a closure member which forms a nose cone 21 having an annular portion 22 adapted snugly to fit within the open end of the body 2. The extent to which the part 22 is inserted within the body 2 is controlled by an annular shoulder 23 located intermediate the ends of the nose cone. From the shoulder 23, the cone 21 tapers as at 24 to a nose piece 25 having a rubber or similar tip 26. The purpose of the tip 26 is twofold in that it weights the nose cone 21 so that it falls tip first and cushions the landing shock so as to avoid injuring the nose cone.

In order to simulate the appearance of a rocket, as well as to provide flight stability for the toy, the body 2 is equipped with fins or vanes 27 near its rear end. Other vanes or fins 28 are located near the open end of the body 2. The latter fins assist in lending flight stability to the toy, but their principal function is to serve as a part of the means for launching the toy. The remainder of the launching means may take various forms, one of Which is shown in FIGURE 1 as comprising a handle member 29 haying a heavy rubber band 30 secured thereto, the

2,997,809 other end of the rubber band being adapted to receive one of the fins 28 in the manner indicated.

To condition the apparatus for operation, and assuming the satellite and the nose cone are separated from the body 2, the body is held in such position that its open end faces the ground and the operating rod 8 is pulled so as to extend it from the rear end of the body 2. As the rod 8 is withdrawn from the body 2, the piston 5 will be moved towards the wall 3 compressing the spring 6 between itself and the wall. The disk 14 will permit the rod 8 to slide through it, but will be located by gravity, adjacent to the wall 3. When the rod 8 has been withdrawn the desired extent, the knob 12 may be released whereupon the rod will tend to be retracted into the body member by the force of the spring 6. Initial retraction of the rod 8 into the body member, as long as the open end of the latter is held downwardly, will cause the disk 14 to be canted on the rod 8 by means of the tang 15 so that the disk exerts a binding force on the rod 8 and maintains the latter in extended position relatively to the body 2. When the locking disk 14 is in binding condition, the piston 5 will be maintained in its cocked position thereby enabling the user to have a free hand for use in loading the rocket body.

Preparatory to loading the rocket the parachute shroud 16, which is at all times connected by the lines 18 and 19 to the rod 8, is grasped at its center so that its peripheral edge hangs downwardly. At this time, a rigid rod 31 may be placed within the shroud 16 as indicated in FIGURE 3. The upper end of the shroud 16 then may be folded over the remainder of the shroud, as is indicated in FIGURE 2, and the shroud lines 17 looped and placed alongside the shroud 16 as also is indicated in FIGURE 2. Then the folded shroud and shroud lines, together with the rod 31, may be inserted in the body 2. The rod 31 facilitates the insertion of the parachute in the body in such manner as to assure the parachute’s opening and also serves another function which will be pointed out subsequently.

When the parachute is in plact within the body 2, the satellite 20 may be placed atop the parachute and within the body. Thereafter, the nose cone 21 may be fitted to the open end of the body and the toy is then ready for launching.

To launch the toy, one end of the rubber band 30 is hooked over one of the fins 28 as is indicated in FIGURE 1. The user then holds the handle 29 in one hand and grasps tht knob 12 with the other hand and aims the toy upwardly while moving his hands apart. As the hands move apart the rubber band is stretched and a force is exerted on the rod 8 tending to extend it from the body member 2. The extending force exerted on the rod 8 is sufficient to loosen the locking disk 14 on the rod and, since the toy is aimed upwardly, the disk 14 is capable of sliding downwardly towards the knob 12 as is indicated in FIGURE 1. When the rubber band 30 has been stretched to the desired extent, the user releases the knob 12 whereupon the toy is propelled upwardly.

As the toy moves upwardly through the air, the spring 6 exerts its force on the piston 5 to move the latter towards the open end of the body. The spring 6 is of such capacity as to exert a net force on the piston 5 tending to move it towards the open end of the body, but a restraining force is exerted on the spring to prevent its moving the piston 5 rapidly. The restraining force is created by a differential in air pressures on opposite sides of the piston 5. As the piston moves towards the open end of the body, there is a reduction in air pressure between the piston and tht rear wall of the cylinder. The reduction in air pressure causes air to enter the cylinder 4 through the opening 9, but the size of the opening 9 is so related to the size of the rod 8 that only a limited amount of air is capable of entering the chamber. That is, the cylinder portion behind the piston is starved for air since the opening 9 is not large enough to admit all the air that would be necessary to permit the spring to move the piston forwardly at its full speed. Accordingly, the spring 6 is capable of moving the piston 5 relatively slowly as compared with the speed at which it could move the 5 piston if there were no restrictions on the amount of air which could be drawn into the cylinder 4 through the rear wall 3, also, in addition to the air pressure differential there is a restraining force due to the inertia in launching. The size of the opening 9 may vary, but it should be only a little greater than the size of the rod 8. For example, the area of the opening 9 may be about onefourth larger than the cross-sectional area of the rod 8.

The capacity of the spring 6 and the size of the opening 9 should be so selected that when the rocket ap15 proaches its maximum height, the piston 5 will exert a force on the rod 31 which will be transmitted to the satellite 20 and the nose cone 21 to eject first the nose cone 21, then the satellite 20 and finally the parachute 16. The nose cone and the satellite will fall away from the 20 rocket body 2 in a manner simulating the separation of successive stages of a rocket and the parachute will blossom as the body 2 begins to fall and support the body so as to permit it to float down gently to the ground. The nose cone 21 and the satellite 20 also will fall to the 25 ground, as will the rod 31. When all the parts have returned to the ground, they may be reassembled and launched over and over again to provide considerable amusement for children at economical cost and in perfect safety.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred form of the invention but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.