Material improvements including the addition of a third airfoil to recreational flying ring having primary and secondary airfoils

Abstract

This is the recreational flying ring of U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,996 having material improvements added and made primarily to mitigate the premature curving of the flight path as the ring inherently slows in forward speed at a faster rate than rotational velocity during the flight. The improved performance of the flying ring may permit it to be used on a Disc Golf Course or as a fun toy for young people if molded in soft integral skin foam.

1 ) I claim a counterbalancing airfoil  16  originally integrated into the nose of U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,996 relocated to an inboard position with respect to its previous outboard location thus reducing the difference in airflow velocities between lifting  13  and Counterbalancing Airfoil  16  due to the Rotational Component of Airflow velocity and thus mitigating the premature curving of the flight path as the ring inherently slows in forward speed at a faster rate than rotational velocity. 
     
     
         2 ) I claim a dual function spoiler  17  added to the Counterbalancing Airfoil  16 . The added spoiler has both spoiling and non-spoiling functions.
 A) Spoiling function: The spoiler  17  added to the Counterbalancing Airfoil spoils the airflow underneath the Counterbalancing Airfoil Surfaces  16  thus reducing its negative lift production at the front and rearward (leading and trailing) vicinities of the ring. Spoiled air flowing underneath the Counterbalancing airfoil reduces its negative lift production at its at the front and rear vicinities leaving more of the positive lift produced by the Lifting Airfoil available to keep the ring airborne.   B) Non-Spoiling function of the Spoiler  17  leaves the airflow relatively unspoiled as it flows underneath the Counterbalancing Airfoil Surfaces  16  near the right and left most vicinities of the ring and thus leaving its (negative) lift production intact as a counterbalancing lift to the (positive) lift production of the Lifting Airfoil primarily on the right most and left most vicinities of the ring.   C) I claim the Counterbalancing Airfoil also as a grip which contributes to putting the proper spin on the ring when released from the hand.   
     
     
         3 ) I claim a new nose  10  added to U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,996 with integrated helper airfoil  11  having a contour rising above the outer top flat  12  and located nearest the outside circumference of the ring and thus having highest angular velocity for any given RPM of the ring and thus greatest proportion of lift production due to the Rotational Component of Airflow Velocity and thus mitigating the premature curving of the flight path as the ring slows in forward speed at a faster rate than rotational velocity The third helper airfoil  11  also adds small amounts of positive lift to leading and trailing vicinities of the ring and rightward and leftward vicinities of the ring. 
     
     
         4 ) I claim as the preferred embodiment of the ring having Lifting  13  and Counterbalancing Airfoils  16  a thin profile thus reducing the aerodynamic drag thus reducing the rate at which the forward speed is rubbed off and thus mitigating the premature curving of the flight path since the ring slows in forward speed at a reduced rate with respect to rotational velocity thus allowing the ring to maintain an aerodynamically balanced condition for a longer period of time. 
     
     
         5 ) I claim the relocation of the inner Bottom Flat  15  of the Lifting Airfoil  13  of U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,996 to a position above the horizontal plane of the outer circumference mold parting line as the preferred embodiment of the ring. Offsetting the bottom flat  15  of the Lifting Airfoil above the outer circumference mold parting line reduces the weight and the amount of plastic required to mold the ring and thus the ring carries less inertia when thrown for added safety. Also the relocation of the bottom flat  15  above the mold parting line facilitates a flexing action and shock absorption properties upon impact, which is an added safety feature when thrown for recreation on a Disc Golf Course. 
     
     
         6 ) I claim the Aerodynamic Counterbalancing Process which enables the ring to fly a straight flight path and is its signature and defining process which identify the invention as unique.
 Namely, Airfoil Pair (Advancing Side)  13 & 16  and Airfoil Pair (Retreating Side) (not shown) are designed to produce equivalent Resultant Net Lift on both advancing and retreating sides of the spinning flying ring having higher velocity airflow passing over airfoil surfaces found on the advancing side and lesser velocity airflow passing over airfoil surfaces on found on the retreating side of the ring.   The Lifting and Counterbalancing Airfoils comprising the Airfoil Pair (Advancing Side)  13 & 16  produces upward (positive) lift and downward (negative) lift respectively.   And likewise the Lifting and Counterbalancing Airfoils comprising Airfoil Pair (Retreating Side) produces upward (positive lift) and downward (negative) lift respectively but of lesser magnitude since there is lesser velocity airflow occurring on the retreating side.   All of the greater aerodynamic (positive) lift produced by the Lifting Airfoil (Advancing Side)  13  and all of the greater aerodynamic (negative) lift produced by the Counterbalancing Airfoil (Advancing Side)  16  is then resolved into the Resultant Net Lift (Airfoil Pair Advancing Side)  13 & 16  as air flows over the entirety of both Lifting and Counterbalancing Airfoil Surfaces as both (Advance) as an Airfoil Pair from (Trailing Most Cross sectional) to (Leading Most Cross sectional).   All of the lesser aerodynamic (positive) lift produced by the Lifting Airfoil (Retreating Side) and all of the lesser aerodynamic (negative) lift produced by the Counterbalancing Airfoil (Retreating Side) is then resolved into the Resultant Net Lift (Airfoil Pair Retreating Side) as air flows over the entirety of both Lifting and Counterbalancing Airfoil Surfaces as both (Retreat) as an Airfoil Pair from (Leading Most Cross sectional) to (Trailing Most Cross sectional).   Comprised a of Lifting and Counterbalancing Airfoil working precisely in tandem, Airfoil Pairs located on opposite sides of the ring may be termed Aerodynamic Resolvers since they resolve the (positive lift) production of the Lifting Airfoil and (negative lift) Production of the Counterbalancing Airfoil into Resultant Net Lift Airfoil Pair (Advancing Side)  13 & 16  and Resultant Net Lift Airfoil Pair (retreating side).   The Resultant Net Lift Airfoil Pair (Advancing Side)  13 & 16  and Resultant Net Lift Airfoil Pair (Retreating Side) (not shown) are applied, with respect to the leading most and trailing most cross sectionals, from opposite sides of the ring as direction changing aerodynamic lift.   A straight flight path is produced when the Resultant Net Lift Airfoil Pair (Advancing Side)=Resultant Net Lift Airfoil Pair (Retreating Side) since direction changing aerodynamic lift originating and applied from the advancing side is equal to the direction changing aerodynamic lift originating and applied from the Retreating Side of the ring (Aerodynamically Balanced Condition).   The Lifting and Counterbalancing Airfoils are adjusted to accommodate the positive lift by the third Helper Airfoil  11  its structure integrated into beveled nose  10  of the ring above the outer mold part line and produces (positive) lift to help in the counterbalancing process, increase lift, and mitigates premature curving of the flight path as the ring inherently slows in forward speed at a faster rate than rotational velocity.   
     
     
         7 ) I claim the drawing of  FIG. 3A  anticipates a higher performance version of this design by extending the Lifting Airfoil all the way to the nose of the ring but as it extends over the top outer flat  12  thus creating a third airfoil structure equivalent to a ring having the third helper airfoil  11  integrated into the nose  10  of the ring  FIG. 3A   
     
     
         8 ) I claim the Prior Art  FIG. 1  but leaving the Counterbalancing Airfoil untouched in its original outboard location, its contour originating at the outer circumference nose of the ring, and then incorporating into its cross-section the Helper Airfoil  11  and Spoiler  17 . Extending the downward sloping outer surface of the Lifting Airfoil  13  over the Outer Flat  12  to the Nose  10  as shown in  FIG. 3B  creates a equivalent third Helper Airfoil near the Nose  10  whereas the Outer Flat  12  of Prior Art  FIG. 1  has no positive lift production.