Propeller and Frame Assemblies for Toys

Abstract

A toy assembly is provided. The toy assembly may include a housing, a drive shaft mounted for rotation to the housing and defining an axis, a propeller with a central portion mounted for pivotal movement to the drive shaft, and two blades extending from the central portion to distal ends. The toy assembly may also include a circular safety ring extending about the drive shaft axis and secured to the distal ends, a motor secured to the housing and operably connected to the drive shaft, a power source in communication with the motor, a controller secured to the housing and configured to direct operation of the motor and power source, and a plurality of fins secured to the housing and extending away from the propeller. The toy assembly may further include a plurality of frame segments secured to the housing which may define an exo-skeletal frame. The exo-skeletal frame may define a region about the propeller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy assembly comprising:
 a housing;   a drive shaft mounted for rotation to the housing and defining an axis;   a propeller with a central portion mounted for pivotal movement to the drive shaft, and two blades extending from the central portion to distal ends;   a circular safety ring extending about the drive shaft axis and secured to the distal ends;   a motor secured to the housing and operably connected to the drive shaft;   a power source in communication with the motor;   a controller secured to the housing and configured to direct operation of the motor and power source; and   a plurality of fins secured to the housing and extending away from the propeller.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of frame segments secured to the housing and defining an upper portion having a length greater than a radius of the safety ring and extending along a first axis substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft axis, a mid-portion having a length greater than a height of the propeller and extending along a second axis substantially parallel to the drive shaft axis, and a lower portion extending along a third axis substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft axis, wherein the portions are arranged to form an exo-skeletal frame defining a region about the propeller. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of fins defines an adjustable flap portion to pivot outward of a plane defined by the at least one of the plurality of fins and in a direction opposite rotation of the propeller. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a toy character secured to the plurality of frame segments and external to the region defined by the exo-skeletal frame. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch in communication with the controller and secured to the housing to contact a surface, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to a signal received from the switch indicating contact with the surface. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor secured to the housing and in communication with the controller to detect a surface, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust or maintain a speed of the motor in response to receiving a signal from the at least one sensor indicating detection of the surface. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor secured to the housing and in communication with the controller to detect a surface, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust or maintain a speed of the motor in response to not receiving a signal from the at least one sensor indicating detection of the surface. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the circular safety ring defines at least first and second thickness portions of the circular safety ring such that the portion with a greater thickness is adjacent to the distal ends. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising two or more legs extending from the housing to support the assembly on an underlying surface. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one target secured to the housing and including a switch in communication with the controller, wherein the switch and the at least one target are arranged such that the switch sends a trigger signal to the controller when an object contacts the at least one target. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a media device in communication with the controller. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a launch mechanism biased to launch a projectile and in communication with the controller, and wherein the controller is further configured to send a launch signal to the launch mechanism to launch the projectile in response to the controller receiving the trigger signal. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to output a media signal to the media device in response to receiving the trigger signal. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to receiving the trigger signal. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 at least one sensor secured to the housing and in communication with the controller to detect a surface, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to receiving a signal indicating detection of the surface from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one sensor secured to the housing and in communication with the controller to detect a surface, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to not receiving a signal indicating detection of the surface from the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a charge inlet to receive a charge connector of a charge base, and wherein the charge inlet is electrically connected to a power supply electrically connected to the motor. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an exo-skeletal frame defining a region about the propeller. 
     
     
         19 . A toy entity comprising:
 a housing;   a power source secured to the housing;   a motor secured to the housing and in communication with the power source;   a controller secured to the housing and configured to direct operation of the motor and power source;   a drive shaft mounted for rotation to the housing and defining an axis;   a ball joint mounted to the drive shaft;   a propeller mount pivotally mounted to the ball joint;   two blades each extending outwardly from the propeller mount to distal ends;   a circular safety ring extending about the drive shaft axis and secured to the distal ends;   upper and lower gimbal portions secured to the propeller mount to pivotally retain the ball joint therebetween;   a transmission operably connected to the motor and drive shaft such that the drive shaft rotates independent of the housing;   a plurality of frame segments indicative of a hot air balloon-shaped region therebetween and each segment including an arc portion secured to a frame cap and a panel secured to the housing; and   a body secured to the housing external to the balloon-shaped region.   
     
     
         20 . The toy entity of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the panels defines an adjustable flap portion to pivot outward of a plane defined by the flap and in a direction opposite rotation of the propeller. 
     
     
         21 . The toy entity of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one panel defines at least one cutout to pass air therethrough. 
     
     
         22 . The toy entity of  claim 19 , further comprising a switch in communication with the controller and secured to the body to contact a surface, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to a signal received from the switch indicating contact with the surface. 
     
     
         23 . The toy entity of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one sensor secured to the body and in communication with the controller to detect a surface, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to the at least one sensor transmitting a signal indicating detection of the surface. 
     
     
         24 . The toy entity of  claim 19 , wherein the body is a basket or a character. 
     
     
         25 . The toy entity of  claim 19 , further comprising a charge inlet to receive a charge connector of a charge base, and wherein the charge inlet is electrically connected to a power supply electrically connected to the motor. 
     
     
         26 . A toy entity comprising:
 a propeller mount defining a shaft opening;   two or more blades extending outwardly from the propeller mount to distal ends;   a circular safety ring extending about the propeller mount and secured to the distal ends;   an upper gimbal housing secured to the propeller mount and defining a receiving cavity;   a lower gimbal housing secured to the propeller mount and defining an open slot in substantial registration with the shaft opening;   a ball joint including two pin extensions and sized to sit within the receiving cavity to pivot about a pin axis defined by the pin extensions and at least pivot about another axis perpendicular thereto; and   a housing;   a drive shaft mounted for rotation to the housing and supporting the ball joint;   a motor secured to the housing;   a transmission operably connected to the motor and the drive shaft such the drive shaft rotates independent of the housing;   a plurality of fins secured to the housing and extending away from the propeller mount;   at least one sensor to detect a surface; and   a controller secured to the housing and configured to direct operation of the motor and power source in response to receiving a signal from the at least one sensor indicating detection of the surface.   
     
     
         27 . The toy entity of  claim 26 , further comprising a switch in communication with the controller and secured to a lower portion of the housing to contact the surface, and wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to the controller receiving a signal from the switch indicating contact with the surface, adjust an output of the motor. 
     
     
         28 . The toy entity of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a frame cap;   a plurality of frame segments each having an arc portion secured to the frame cap, a panel portion secured to the housing, and an arm portion extending below the panels to form an exo-skeletal structure defining a balloon-shaped region within the structure arranged with the upper and lower gimbal housings such that circular safety ring is enclosed therein; and   a body secured to the arms outside of the balloon-shaped region.   
     
     
         29 . The entity of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 an umbrella frame cap;   a plurality of umbrella frame segments defining an upper frame segment portion secured to the umbrella frame cap and a lower frame segment portion;   a plurality of panels secured to the umbrella frame segments;   an umbrella ring secured to the lower frame segment portions and arranged with the umbrella frame segments to define an at least partially hemispherical region therebetween; and   an attachment shaft extending from the housing outside the hemispherical region to attach a body thereto.   
     
     
         30 . The toy entity of  claim 29 , further comprising a transmitter and receiver pair in communication with the controller and secured to the body to detect the surface, and wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to the controller receiving a signal from the receiver indicating detection of the surface, adjust an output of the motor. 
     
     
         31 . The toy entity of  claim 30 , wherein the circular safety ring defines at least first and second thickness portions of the circular safety ring such that the portion with a greater thickness is adjacent to the distal ends, and wherein each panel is oriented to influence air flow from the blades against the panels to direct counter rotation of the panels relative to a rotational direction of the blades. 
     
     
         32 . The toy entity of  claim 30 , wherein the propeller mount, the two or more blades, and the circular safety ring are arranged within the hemispherical region. 
     
     
         33 . A toy entity comprising:
 a housing;   a drive shaft mounted for rotation to the housing and defining an axis;   a propeller with a central portion mounted for pivotal movement to the drive shaft and two blades extending from the central portion to distal ends;   a circular safety ring extending about the drive shaft axis and secured to the distal ends;   a motor secured to the housing and operably connected to the drive shaft;   a power source in communication with the motor;   a plurality of fins secured to the housing and extending away from the propeller;   a frame cap; and   a plurality of frame segments each having an arc portion secured to the frame cap and a panel portion secured to the housing, wherein the frame segments form an exo-skeletal structure defining an at least partially prolate spheroidal region within the structure arranged with the propeller such that circular safety ring is enclosed therein.   
     
     
         34 . The toy entity of  claim 33 , further comprising at least one sensor in communication with a controller and secured to the housing to detect a surface, and wherein the controller is configured to, in response to the controller receiving a signal from the receiver indicating detection of the surface, adjust an output of the motor. 
     
     
         35 . The toy entity of  claim 33 , wherein the circular safety ring defines at least first and second thickness portions of the circular safety ring such that the portion with a greater thickness is adjacent to the distal ends, and wherein each panel is oriented to influence air flow from the blades against the panels to direct counter rotation of the panels relative to a rotational direction of the blades. 
     
     
         36 . The toy entity of  claim 33 , further comprising an orientation sensor in communication with a controller to identify a vertical or horizontal orientation of the toy entity, and wherein the controller is configured to output operating commands to the motor reflective of the vertical or horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         37 . The toy entity of  claim 33 , further comprising an orientation switch in communication with a controller having two settings which indicate vertical flight and horizontal flight, and wherein the controller is configured to output operating commands to the motor reflective of the vertical or horizontal flight setting. 
     
     
         38 . The toy entity of  claim 33 , further comprising a controller configured to deactivate the motor when the controller receives a voltage feedback from the motor indicating interference with rotation of the blades. 
     
     
         39 . The toy entity of  claim 33 , further comprising a controller configured to deactivate the motor when the controller receives an impact signal from an impact sensor indicating collision of the toy entity with an obstacle. 
     
     
         40 . The toy entity of  claim 33 , further comprising a charge inlet to receive a charge connector of a charge base, and wherein the charge inlet is electrically connected to a power supply electrically connected to the motor. 
     
     
         41 . The toy of  claim 40 , wherein a lower portion of the exo-skeletal structure is sized to receive a mount support of the charge base such that the toy entity is supported thereby.