Flyable model rocket

Abstract

A model rocket is provided by the use of a printer to print markings on a substrate so as to enable a user to separate the various components of the model rocket from the substrate. The user can then assemble these substrate pieces in order to create a flyable model rocket. The opportunity is provided for the model rocket enthusiast to interactively participate in the design aspects of the model rocket activity, suitable for use in an educational environment, such as a classroom. The model rockets may be combined with readily commercially available model rocket engines, and optionally engine tubes and other components. Furthermore, according to one implementation, the model rocket may be viewed on a computer display prior to constructing the model rocket. Estimates may also be determined by a computer for the anticipated flight of the model rocket.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flyable model rocket, comprising: 
 a nose cone formed of a printed substrate; and    a tail assembly formed of a printed substrate and removably directly mated to said nose cone;    wherein said tail assembly is adapted to be mounted to a model rocket engine.    
     
     
         2 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said tail assembly fits into said nose cone.  
     
     
         3 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 1 , wherein said nose cone is formed with three mating slots and said tail assembly is formed with three tail assembly fins extending to interface with said mating slots.  
     
     
         4 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 3 , further comprising a stiffener for each of said tail assembly fins.  
     
     
         5 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 4 , wherein said stiffener is located in each of said tail assembly fins.  
     
     
         6 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 1 , wherein said printed substrate is selected from the group of paper and card stock.  
     
     
         7 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 1 , wherein said printed substrate is selected from the group of thin plastic sheets, embossed stock, synthetic stock and adhesive-backed stock.  
     
     
         8 . A flyable model rocket, comprising: 
 a nose cone formed of three substrate pieces, wherein a first substrate piece of said nose cone forms a nose cone fin at a location where said first substrate piece of said nose cone meets a second substrate piece of said nose cone; and    a tail assembly formed of three substrate pieces, wherein a first substrate piece of said tail assembly forms a tail assembly fin at a location where said first substrate piece of said tail assembly meets a second substrate piece of said nose cone.    
     
     
         9 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 8 , wherein said tail assembly fin is coupled with said nose cone fin.  
     
     
         10 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 8 , further comprising an engine tube fixedly mounted to said tail assembly such that said substrate pieces of said tail assembly extend along a portion of a circumference of said engine tube.  
     
     
         11 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 10 , further comprising a stiffener located in each of said tail assembly fins, wherein said stiffener has an engine retention tab extending inward within said tail assembly and located to inhibit said engine tube from travelling through said tail assembly.  
     
     
         12 . A flyable model rocket, comprising: 
 a nose cone formed of a printed substrate; and    a tail assembly formed of a printed substrate and fixedly directly mated to said nose cone;    wherein said tail assembly is adapted to be mounted to a model rocket engine.    
     
     
         13 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 12 , wherein said printed substrate is selected from the group of paper and card stock.  
     
     
         14 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 12 , wherein said printed substrate is selected from the group of thin plastic sheets, embossed stock, synthetic stock and adhesive-backed stock.  
     
     
         15 . A flyable model rocket, comprising: 
 a nose cone formed of at least one substrate piece;    a fuselage mounted to said nose cone; and    a tail assembly fixedly mounted to said fuselage and formed of at least two substrate pieces, wherein a first substrate piece of said tail assembly and a second substrate piece of said tail assembly form a tail assembly fin at a location where said first substrate piece of said tail assembly meets said second substrate piece of said tail assembly.    
     
     
         16 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 15 , further comprising a fuselage fin on said fuselage.  
     
     
         17 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 15 , wherein said nose cone, fuselage and tail assembly are configured to aerodynamically guide said model rocket and withstand a flight powered by a model rocket engine.  
     
     
         18 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 17 , wherein said nose cone is removably mounted to said fuselage and coupled to said fuselage by a tether.  
     
     
         19 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 18 , wherein said nose cone is adapted to be detached from said fuselage near an apogee of a flight to enable a tumbling descent of said flyable model rocket.  
     
     
         20 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 15 , wherein said fuselage is formed of at least one substrate piece.  
     
     
         21 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one substrate piece of said fuselage is folded.  
     
     
         22 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a recovery device coupled to said model rocket and selected from the group of a streamer, a parachute and rotating blades;    wherein said nose cone is adapted to be detached from said fuselage near an apogee of a flight to enable deployment of said recovery device and a controlled descent of said flyable model rocket by the use of said recovery device.    
     
     
         23 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 15 , further comprising a shifting means to shift at least one of the group of the center of pressure and the center of gravity of the flyable model rocket near an apogee of a flight to enable a glider descent of said flyable model rocket.  
     
     
         24 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 15 , further comprising an engine tube fixedly mounted to said tail assembly such that said substrate pieces of said tail assembly extend along a portion of a circumference of said engine tube.  
     
     
         25 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 24 , further comprising a stiffener for each of said tail assembly fins.  
     
     
         26 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 25 , further comprising a stiffener located in each of said tail assembly fins, wherein said stiffener has an engine retention tab extending inward within said tail assembly and located to inhibit said engine tube from travelling through said tail assembly.  
     
     
         27 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 15 , wherein said nose cone is formed of three substrate pieces and said tail assembly has three tail assembly fins.  
     
     
         28 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 15 , wherein said nose cone is formed of four substrate pieces and said tail assembly has four tail assembly fins.  
     
     
         29 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 15 , wherein said substrate pieces are selected from the group of paper and card stock.  
     
     
         30 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 15 , wherein said substrate pieces are selected from the group of thin plastic sheets, embossed stock, synthetic stock and adhesive-backed stock.  
     
     
         31 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 15 , wherein said nose cone is fixedly mounted to said fuselage.  
     
     
         32 . A flyable model rocket, comprising: 
 a fuselage formed of at least one printed substrate piece; and    a tail assembly fixedly mounted to said fuselage and formed of at least two substrate pieces, wherein a first substrate piece of said tail assembly and a second substrate piece of said tail assembly form a tail assembly fin at a location where said first substrate piece of said tail assembly meets said second substrate piece of said tail assembly.    
     
     
         33 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 32 , further comprising a nose cone mounted to said fuselage.  
     
     
         34 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 32 , wherein said nose cone is manufactured from a material selected from the group of wood, plastic or fiberglass.  
     
     
         35 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 34 , wherein said nose cone is removably mounted to said fuselage.  
     
     
         36 . A flyable model rocket, comprising: 
 a nose cone formed of at least two substrate pieces, wherein a first substrate piece of said nose cone forms a nose cone fin at a location where said first substrate piece of said nose cone meets a second substrate piece of said nose cone;    a fuselage mounted to said nose cone; and    a tail assembly formed of at least two substrate pieces, wherein a first substrate piece of said tail assembly forms a tail assembly fin at a location where said first substrate piece of said tail assembly meets a second substrate piece of said tail assembly.    
     
     
         37 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 36 , further comprising a fuselage fin integral to said fuselage.  
     
     
         38 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 36 , wherein said nose cone, fuselage and tail assembly are configured to aerodynamically guide said model rocket and withstand a flight powered by a model rocket engine.  
     
     
         39 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 36 , wherein said fuselage is formed of at least one substrate piece.  
     
     
         40 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 39 , wherein said at least one substrate piece of said fuselage is folded.  
     
     
         41 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 36 , wherein said nose cone is removably mounted to said fuselage and coupled to said fuselage by a tether.  
     
     
         42 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 41 , wherein said nose cone is adapted to be detached from said fuselage near an apogee of a flight to enable a tumbling descent of said flyable model rocket.  
     
     
         43 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 a recovery device coupled to said model rocket and selected from the group of a streamer, a parachute and rotating blades;    wherein said nose cone is adapted to be detached from said fuselage near an apogee of a flight to enable deployment of said recovery device and a controlled descent of said flyable model rocket by the use of said recovery device.    
     
     
         44 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 36 , further comprising a shifting means to shift at least one of the group of the center of pressure and the center of gravity of the flyable model rocket near an apogee of a flight to enable a glider descent of said flyable model rocket.  
     
     
         45 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 36 , further comprising an engine tube fixedly mounted to said tail assembly such that said substrate pieces of said tail assembly extend along a portion of a circumference of said engine tube.  
     
     
         46 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 45 , further comprising a stiffener located in each of said tail assembly fins, wherein said stiffener has an engine retention tab extending inward within said tail assembly and located to inhibit said engine tube from travelling through said tail assembly.  
     
     
         47 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 36 , wherein said nose cone is formed of three substrate pieces and said tail assembly has three tail assembly fins.  
     
     
         48 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 36 , wherein said nose cone is formed of four substrate pieces and said tail assembly has four tail assembly fins.  
     
     
         49 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 36 , wherein said nose cone is fixedly mounted to said fuselage.  
     
     
         50 . A method for constructing a flyable model rocket, comprising the steps of: 
 instructing a printer to print a model rocket structural housing on a substrate;    separating said structural housing from a remainder of said substrate; and    assembling said structural housing;    wherein said structural housing is configured to aerodynamically guide said model rocket and withstand a flight powered by a model rocket engine.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said separating step is performed by cutting of said substrate by a user of the model rocket.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said assembling step includes assembling a structural housing having a nose cone removably mounted directly to a tail assembly having a plurality of tail assembly fins.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising the step of providing a stiffener for each of said tail assembly fins.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising the steps of: 
 mounting an engine tube to said tail assembly of said structural housing; and    locating a stiffener in each of said tail assembly fins, wherein said stiffener has an engine retention tab extending inward within said tail assembly and is located to inhibit said engine tube from travelling through said tail assembly during said flight.    
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said assembling step includes assembling a structural housing having a fuselage mounted directly to a tail assembly and a nose cone removably mounted to said fuselage.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising the step of mounting an engine tube to said tail assembly of said structural housing.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising the step of locating a stiffener in each of said tail assembly fins, wherein said stiffener has an engine retention tab extending inward within said tail assembly and located to inhibit said engine from travelling through said tail assembly during said flight.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said assembling step includes assembling a structural housing with said fuselage having a non-cylindrical cross-section.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising, before said instructing step, the step of receiving instructions specifying characteristics of said model rocket.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising the step of displaying said model rocket on a computer display.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising the step of determining estimated parameters of said flight by the use of a computer.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising the step of determining estimated parameters of said flight by the use of a computer, wherein said estimated parameters include at least one of a center of pressure of said model rocket and a center of gravity of said model rocket.  
     
     
         63 . A computer readable medium holding computer-executable steps for a method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving instructions specifying characteristics of a flyable model rocket; and    instructing a printer to print a model rocket structural housing on a substrate;    wherein said structural housing is configured to aerodynamically guide said flyable model rocket and withstand a flight powered by a model rocket engine.    
     
     
         64 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print on a paper substrate.  
     
     
         65 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print on a substrate selected from the group of paper and card stock.  
     
     
         66 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print on a substrate selected from the group of thin plastic sheets, embossed stock, synthetic stock and adhesive-backed stock.  
     
     
         67 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said method further comprises the step of displaying said model rocket on a computer display.  
     
     
         68 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said receiving step includes receiving characteristics including a fin sweep angle.  
     
     
         69 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said receiving step includes receiving characteristics including a color intensity level.  
     
     
         70 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said method further comprises the step of determining estimated parameters of said flight by the use of a computer.  
     
     
         71 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said method further comprises the step of determining estimated parameters of said flight by the use of a computer, wherein said estimated parameters include at least one of a center of pressure of said model rocket and a center of gravity of said model rocket.  
     
     
         72 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print a structural housing including components for a nose cone.  
     
     
         73 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print a structural housing including components for a fuselage.  
     
     
         74 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print a structural housing including components for a fuselage with a non-cylindrical cross-section.  
     
     
         75 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print a structural housing including components for: 
 a nose cone formed of less than three substrate pieces;    a fuselage; and    a tail assembly formed of less than three substrate pieces and having at least one tail assembly fin, wherein a first substrate piece of said tail assembly and a second substrate piece of said tail assembly are adapted to form said at least one tail assembly fin.    
     
     
         76 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print a structural housing including components for: 
 a nose cone formed of three substrate pieces;    a fuselage; and    a tail assembly formed of three substrate pieces and having three tail assembly fins, wherein a first substrate piece of said tail assembly and a second substrate piece of said tail assembly are adapted to form one of said tail assembly fins.    
     
     
         77 . The computer readable medium of  claim 63 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print a structural housing including components for: 
 a nose cone formed of four substrate pieces, wherein a first substrate piece of said nose cone forms a nose cone fin;    a fuselage; and    a tail assembly formed of four substrate pieces and having four fin assembly fins, wherein a first substrate piece of said tail assembly and a second substrate piece of said tail assembly are adapted to form one of said tail assembly fins.    
     
     
         78 . A computer readable medium holding computer-executable steps for instructing a printer to print a model rocket structural housing on a substrate, such that said structural housing is configured to aerodynamically guide said model rocket and withstand a flight powered by a model rocket engine.  
     
     
         79 . The computer readable medium of  claim 78 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print on a paper substrate.  
     
     
         80 . The computer readable medium of  claim 78 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print on a substrate selected from the group of paper and card stock.  
     
     
         81 . The computer readable medium of  claim 78 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print on a substrate selected from the group of thin plastic sheets, embossed stock, synthetic stock and adhesive-backed stock.  
     
     
         82 . The computer readable medium of  claim 78 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print a structural housing including components for a nose cone adapted to be removably mounted directly to a tail assembly.  
     
     
         83 . The computer readable medium of  claim 78 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print a structural housing including components for a fuselage adapted to be mounted directly to a tail assembly and a nose cone removably mounted to said fuselage.  
     
     
         84 . The computer readable medium of  claim 83 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print a structural housing including components for a fuselage having a non-cylindrical cross-section.  
     
     
         85 . The computer readable medium of  claim 78 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print a structural housing including components for: 
 a nose cone formed of three substrate pieces;    a fuselage, adapted to be removably mounted to said nose cone; and    a tail assembly adapted to be fixedly mounted to said fuselage and formed of three substrate pieces, wherein a first substrate piece of said tail assembly and a second substrate piece of said tail assembly are adapted to form a tail assembly fin at a location where said first substrate piece of said tail assembly meets said second substrate piece of said tail assembly.    
     
     
         86 . The computer readable medium of  claim 78 , wherein said instructing step includes instructions to cause said printer to print a structural housing including components for: 
 a nose cone formed of four substrate pieces, wherein a first substrate piece of said nose cone is adapted to form a nose cone fin at a location where said first substrate piece of said nose cone meets a second substrate piece of said nose cone;    a fuselage, adapted to be removably mounted to said nose cone; and    a tail assembly formed of four substrate pieces and having four fin assembly fins, wherein a first substrate piece of said tail assembly and a second substrate piece of said tail assembly are adapted to form one of said tail assembly fins at a location where said first substrate piece of said tail assembly meets said second substrate piece of said tail assembly.    
     
     
         87 . A flyable model rocket assembly kit, comprising: 
 a substrate capable of accepting ink; and    software holding computer-executable steps for instructing a printer to print a model rocket structural housing on said substrate;    wherein said structural housing can be configured to aerodynamically guide said model rocket and withstand a flight powered by a model rocket engine.    
     
     
         88 . The flyable model rocket assembly kit of  claim 87 , further comprising ballast to be mounted in said structural housing to locate a center of gravity of the model rocket ahead of a center of pressure occurring during said flight.  
     
     
         89 . The flyable model rocket assembly kit of  claim 87 , wherein said software is configured to instruct a printer to print a structural housing comprising: 
 a nose cone formed of three substrate pieces;    a fuselage; and    a tail assembly formed of three substrate pieces, wherein a first substrate piece of said tail assembly and a second substrate piece of said tail assembly adapted to form a tail assembly fin.    
     
     
         90 . The flyable model rocket assembly kit of  claim 89 , further comprising: 
 an engine tube to be mounted in said tail assembly; and    a stiffener for each of said tail assembly fins.    
     
     
         91 . The flyable model rocket assembly kit of  claim 90 , wherein said stiffener has an engine retention tab for extending inward within said tail assembly and inhibiting said engine from travelling through said tail assembly.  
     
     
         92 . The flyable model rocket assembly kit of  claim 87 , wherein said software is configured to instruct a printer to print a structural housing comprising: 
 a nose cone formed of four substrate pieces, wherein a first substrate piece of said nose cone forms a nose cone fin;    a fuselage; and    a tail assembly formed of four substrate pieces and having four fin assembly fins, wherein a first substrate piece of said tail assembly and a second substrate piece of said tail assembly are adapted to form one of said tail assembly fins.    
     
     
         93 . The flyable model rocket assembly kit of  claim 91 , further comprising: 
 an engine tube to be mounted in said tail assembly; and    a stiffener for each of said tail assembly fins.    
     
     
         94 . The flyable model rocket assembly kit of  claim 93 , wherein said stiffener has an engine retention tab for extending inward within said tail assembly and inhibiting said engine from travelling through said tail assembly.  
     
     
         95 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 87 , wherein said substrate is selected from the group of paper and card stock.  
     
     
         96 . The flyable model rocket of  claim 87 , wherein said substrate is selected from the group of thin plastic sheets, embossed stock, synthetic stock and adhesive-backed stock.