Floppy flying toy

Abstract

A hand-thrown flying device that is flexible and “compressible,” yet which regains a substantially planar shape for flight. The device may include a flexible airfoil and be configured for air passage between a top and bottom surface. The airfoil may define a central opening and/or a plurality of other macroscopic openings. The airfoil may include non-air porous and/or air porous material. A rim, annular or otherwise shaped, may be coupled to the airfoil. This rim may be non-tensed.

1 . A hand-thrown flying device, comprising: 
 an outer rim; and    a flexible airfoil disposed at least in part within said rim and capable of having a substantially planar shape, said airfoil configured to permit air passage;    wherein said rim and airfoil are configured to be folded over and compressible in three mutually orthogonal directions, yet capable of being readily unfolded to regain a substantially planar shape.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said airfoil defines a plurality of macroscopic air passage openings.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said airfoil defines a central opening.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said airfoil includes a peripheral band disposed about said central opening and wherein approximately ¼ to ½ of an inner rim of said band and said outer rim is given to said air passage openings.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said airfoil includes a peripheral band disposed about said central opening and said peripheral band is configured to define a plurality of peripherally disposed macroscopic air passage openings.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said air passage openings are of at least two different sizes.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said rim and airfoil regain said substantially planar shape in the presence of centrifugal force emanating from an axis perpendicular to the flight plane of said rim and airfoil.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said airfoil includes substantially non-air porous material.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said airfoil is formed from a molded material.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said outer rim is substantially annular in shape.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said airfoil includes an air porous material.  
     
     
         12 . A hand-thrown flying device, comprising: 
 a non-tensed outer rim; and    a flexible airfoil disposed at least in part within said rim and configured to permit air passage;    wherein said airfoil is substantially planar in flight.    
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said airfoil defines a central opening.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said airfoil include a peripheral band disposed about said central opening that defines a plurality of peripherally disposed macroscopic air passage openings.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said airfoil includes substantially non-air porous material.  
     
     
         16 . A hand-thrown flying device, comprising: 
 an outer rim; and    a flexible airfoil disposed at least in part within said rim, wherein said rim and said airfoil are configured such that in flight said rim and said airfoil are planarly disposed in substantially the same plane;    wherein said airfoil includes substantially non-air porous material.    
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said rim and airfoil are configured to be folded over and compressible in three mutually orthogonal directions, yet capable of being readily unfolded to regain a substantially planar shape.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said airfoil defines a plurality of macroscopic air passage openings.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said airfoil defines a central opening.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said airfoil defines a plurality of macroscopic peripherally disposed air passage openings.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said outer rim is substantially annular in shape.  
     
     
         22 . A hand-thrown flying device, comprising: 
 a flexible, non-tensed airfoil having a top surface and a bottom surface that is disposed in a substantially planar shape in flight and configured to permit air passage between said top surface and said bottom surface.    
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said rim and airfoil are configured to be folded over and compressible in three mutually orthogonal directions, yet capable of being readily unfolded to regain a substantially planar shape.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said airfoil defines a central opening.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said airfoil defines a plurality of macroscopic peripherally disposed air passage openings.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said airfoil includes substantially non-air porous material.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 22 , further comprising a non-tensed outer rim to which said airfoil is coupled.  
     
     
         28 . A hand-thrown flying device, comprising: 
 a flexible airfoil that is capable of being disposed in a substantially planar shape and that defines a plurality of macroscopic air passage openings.    
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein said airfoil includes substantially non-air porous material.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 28 , further comprising an outer rim to which said airfoil is coupled.