Flying Shark

Abstract

A neutrally buoyant flying toy has a tail fin assembly and a movable weight element that are configured such that the toy moves forward and can be steered left and right by controlled motion of the tail fin, and such that the toy ascends or descends by controlled motion of the weight element. Most preferably, the toy is configured as a fish and is remote controlled.

1 . A flying toy, comprising:
 a body portion configured to be inflatable by a lighter-than-air gas to thereby form an inflated and compressible body portion;   a tail assembly comprising a base plate to which an actuator is coupled, wherein the actuator is further coupled to a moving surface;   wherein the actuator is configured to move the moving surface at variable and different angles relative to a forward directional axis of the toy to thereby provide propulsion and control over lateral and forward propulsion to the toy; and   wherein the tail assembly and the body portion are configured such that when the body portion is coupled to the tail assembly, the body portion has sufficient rigidity for propulsion by the moving surface when the toy is inflated with the lighter-than-air gas.   
     
     
         2 . The flying toy of  claim 1  wherein the body portion comprises a polymeric film and wherein the inflated and compressible body portion is configured as an animal or a toy character. 
     
     
         3 . The flying toy of  claim 1  wherein the body portion further comprises at least one stabilizing air foil. 
     
     
         4 . The flying toy of  claim 1  further comprising a second actuator coupled to the body portion via a guide element that extends in a parallel or perpendicular direction relative to the forward directional axis, and wherein the second actuator is configured to allow movement of a weight element by the second actuator in parallel or perpendicular direction relative to the forward directional axis. 
     
     
         5 . The flying toy of  claim 4  wherein the weight element and guide element are coupled to the body portion such that the movement of the weight element changes pitch of the toy while the toy is flying to thereby allow for controlled ascent or descent of the flying toy. 
     
     
         6 . The flying toy of  claim 4  wherein at least a portion of the weight element is removable. 
     
     
         7 . The flying toy of  claim 1  wherein each of the body portion and the tail assembly comprise an anchor, and wherein an elastic element is coupled to the respective anchors such that the elastic element provides a compressive force to the body portion. 
     
     
         8 . The flying toy of  claim 7  wherein the compressive force is sufficiently strong to compensate for partial loss of rigidity due to leaking of the lighter-than-air gas. 
     
     
         9 . The flying toy of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is controllable by a remote control system. 
     
     
         10 . The flying toy of  claim 1  further comprising a remote control system configured to remotely control the variable and different angles. 
     
     
         11 . A method of assembling and operating a remote controlled flying toy, comprising:
 coupling a body portion to a tail assembly that includes a base plate to which an actuator is coupled, wherein the actuator is further coupled to a moving surface;   inflating the body portion with a lighter-than-air gas to thereby form an inflated and compressible body portion;   using a remote control to move the moving surface at variable and different angles relative to a forward directional axis of the toy to thereby propel and laterally steer the toy; and   wherein the tail assembly and the body portion are configured such that when the body portion is coupled to the tail assembly, the body portion has sufficient rigidity for propulsion by the moving surface when the toy is inflated with the lighter-than-air gas.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the body portion comprises a polymeric film and wherein the inflated and compressible body portion is configured as an animal or a toy character. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the body portion further comprises at least one stabilizing air foil. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising a step of using the remote control to control a second actuator that is coupled to the body portion via a guide element that extends in a parallel or perpendicular direction relative to the forward directional axis, and wherein the second actuator is configured to allow movement of a weight element by the second actuator in parallel or perpendicular direction relative to the forward directional axis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the weight element and guide element are coupled to the body portion such that the movement of the weight element changes pitch of the toy while the toy is flying to thereby allow for controlled ascent or descent of the flying toy. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein at least a portion of the weight element is removable. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein each of the body portion and the tail assembly comprise an anchor, and further comprising a step of coupling an elastic element to the respective anchors such that the elastic element provides a compressive force to the body portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the compressive force is sufficiently strong to compensate for partial loss of rigidity due to leaking of the lighter-than-air gas. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the remote control comprises an infrared remote control. 
     
     
         20 . A kit comprising the flying toy of  claim 1  and a remote control.