Throwable toy having spring assisted motion

Abstract

A throwable toy device consisting of a generally tube-shaped body having a baffle defined on one end of the body, wherein the baffle defines an opening therein restricting the flow of air through the tube-shaped body, thereby providing aerodynamic stability to the device. The body of the device also has a spring integral therewith which allows the compression of the body of the device. The device is propelled away from the thrower by holding the device in a compressed position with both hands and propelling the device away from the body of the thrower in a motion similar to a two-handed basketball pass, with a combination of the throwing force and the decompression of the spring determining the speed, distance and trajectory of the device.

1 . A throwable toy device comprising: 
 a. a body portion having an open distal end;    b. a spring mechanism integrated with said body which allows said body to be compressed and thereafter returned to its original shape; and    c. a baffle, disposed on a proximal end of said body opposite said open end, said baffle having an opening defined therein.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said body portion is generally in the shape of a hollow tube.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said hollow tube has a cross section having a shape consisting of one of a circle, a rectangle, a triangle, a trapezoid, a star, an oval, a pentagon, a hexagon and an octagon.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said spring mechanism consists of a coiled wire attached to said body portion.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said coiled wire generally has the same cross sectional shape as said body portion.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said body portion is composed of a material selected from a group consisting of nylon, kevlar, plastic, neoprene, cotton fabric and foam.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said body portion defines a lip around said open distal end.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said lip is composed of layered and/or stitched material.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said lip has a wire integral therewith to provide structural strength.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said baffle is composed of a material selected from a group consisting of nylon, kevlar, plastic, neoprene and plastic.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said baffle is gel-filled.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said opening in said baffle is generally of the same shape as the cross sectional shape of said body portion.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said body portion is composed of molded, semi-rigid foam and further wherein said spring mechanism consists of a corrugated area defined in said foam intermediate said distal and proximal ends of said body portion.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said baffle portion is composed of a molded, semi-rigid foam and is integral with aid body portion.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said baffle is attached to said body portion by sewing.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 2  further comprising a wire integral with said baffle portion providing structural rigidity thereto, said wire having the same general cross sectional shape as said body portion.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said body portion may be any color, or may be transparent and further wherein said body portion may be decorated with logos are other designs.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said proximal end of said body portion is heavier than said distal end of said body portion.  
   
   
       19 . A collapsible hollow object comprising: 
 a. a body portion, said body portion being generally tube-shaped and composed of a molded, rigid foam material, having openings on both ends thereof;    b. a corrugation in said rigid foam material defined in said body portion intermediate said open ends; and    c. a baffle, defined on one open end of said body portion, said baffle having an opening therein, said baffle generally restricting the airflow through said body portion.    
   
   
       20 . A collapsible hollow object comprising: 
 a. a body portion, said body portion being generally tube-shaped and composed of a flexible fabric material, having openings defined on both ends thereof;    b. a coiled spring device, attached to said body portion at one or more points; and    c. a baffle, defined on one open end of said body portion, said baffle having an opening therein, said baffle generally restricting the airflow through said body portion.