Aerodynamic flying toy

Abstract

The invention relates to an aerodynamic toy ( 1, 2 ) that has two concave portions ( 15 and 25 or 35 and 45 ), enabling the aerodynamic toy ( 1, 2 ) to be launched in any orientations. The aerodynamic flying toy has a central portion that is circular in form and circumscribed at its peripheral edge by a first annular flange curving upwardly laterally towards the centre of the central portion to form a first concave portion and by a second annular curving downwardly laterally towards the centre of the central portion ( 10 ) to form a second concave portion. The curved surface on the concave side of the annular flange of the aerodynamic flying toy can be further provided with a plurality of spaced apart ribs or ridges.

1 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) comprising a central portion ( 10 ) that is circular in form circumscribes at the peripheral edge by a first and a second annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) wherein
 the first annular flange ( 11 ) circumscribes the peripheral edge of the central portion ( 10 ) and curving upwardly laterally towards the centre of the central portion ( 10 ), terminating in a first rim ( 12 ), and with the inner surface of the first annular flange ( 11 ) and the central portion ( 10 ) forming a first concave portion ( 15 ) of the aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 );   the second annular flange ( 21 ) circumscribes the peripheral edge of the central portion ( 10 ) and curving downwardly laterally towards the centre of the central portion ( 10 ), terminating in a second rim ( 22 ) and with the inner surface of the second annular flange ( 21 ) and the central portion ( 10 ) forming a second concave portion ( 25 ) of the aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ); and   the central portion ( 10 ), the first and second annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) are a single unit of unitary construction manufactured integrally by injection moulding of plastic.   
     
     
         2 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as in  claim 1 , wherein each annular flange ( 11 ,  21 ) merges with the central portion ( 10 ), at the peripheral edge of the central portion ( 10 ), in a curved and smooth transitional manner. 
     
     
         3 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as in  claim 2 , wherein the area ( 13 ,  23 ) where the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) merge with the central portion ( 10 ) is a filleted joint. 
     
     
         4 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as in  claim 1 , wherein the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) merge with one another at the external circumference, providing a cross sectional profile for the combined annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) that yields an external convex surface that has a suitable aerodynamic shape. 
     
     
         5 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as in  claim 4 , wherein the shape of the cross sectional profile of annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ), excluding the central portion ( 10 ), resembles a wedding ring but with a wider flange or a tyre but with a narrower flange. 
     
     
         6 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as in  claim 4 , wherein the cross section profile of the combined annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) is the arc of the leading edge on the major axis of an ellipse. 
     
     
         7 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as in  claim 6 , wherein the ellipse may have varying eccentricity. 
     
     
         8 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as in  claim 1 , wherein the size of the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) is selected such that the aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) may be conveniently gripped by placing the fingers on the convex side of the annular flanges ( 11 ,  12 ) or on the rims ( 12 ,  22 ). 
     
     
         9 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as in  claim 1 , wherein the aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) is further provided with at least one spaced apart rib or ridge each ( 16 ,  26 ) between the rim ( 12 ) and the central portion ( 10 ) and between the rim ( 22 ) and the central portion ( 10 ) respectively, the rib or ridge ( 16 ,  26 ) run circumferentially around the aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) in planes parallel to the plane of the central portion ( 10 ). 
     
     
         10 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as in  claim 9 , wherein the widths of the or each rib or ridge ( 36 ,  46 ) is such that the circles formed by the loci of the free end of the or each rib or ridge ( 36 ,  46 ) has the same or greater radius than the circle formed by the loci of the rim ( 12  or  22 ). 
     
     
         11 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as in  claim 1 , wherein the convex side of the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) are provided with ridges to facilitate better frictional grip by the user. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as  claim 2 , wherein the convex side of the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) are provided with ridges to facilitate better frictional grip by the user. 
     
     
         14 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as  claim 3 , wherein the convex side of the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) are provided with ridges to facilitate better frictional grip by the user. 
     
     
         15 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as  claim 4 , wherein the convex side of the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) are provided with ridges to facilitate better frictional grip by the user. 
     
     
         16 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as  claim 5 , wherein the convex side of the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) are provided with ridges to facilitate better frictional grip by the user. 
     
     
         17 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as  claim 6 , wherein the convex side of the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) are provided with ridges to facilitate better frictional grip by the user. 
     
     
         18 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as  claim 7 , wherein the convex side of the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) are provided with ridges to facilitate better frictional grip by the user. 
     
     
         19 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as  claim 8 , wherein the convex side of the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) are provided with ridges to facilitate better frictional grip by the user. 
     
     
         20 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as  claim 9 , wherein the convex side of the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) are provided with ridges to facilitate better frictional grip by the user. 
     
     
         21 . An aerodynamic flying toy ( 1 ) as  claim 10 , wherein the convex side of the annular flanges ( 11 ,  21 ) are provided with ridges to facilitate better frictional grip by the user.