Aerodynamically gliding ball

Abstract

An aerodynamic flying toy ball apparatus comprised of a plurality of semi-rigid uniformly shaped semicircular fins joined along, and angularly arranged radially around a longitudinal axis, balanced for aerodynamic gliding flight with slight up elevator to create a stable 3-D ball shaped glider capable of gliding and maneuvering (climbing, turning and looping) as a gliding airplane. The apparatus resembles a ball and can roll on the ground. The apparatus can be made from a variety of lightweight materials. Optional features include a small extra fin for holding and throwing the apparatus, provision for catapult launch, and semi-elliptical fins and/or holes in fins to optimize flight and rolling performance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of three or more uniformly shaped fins angularly spaced around and extending radially outward from a longitudinal axis which traverses from a front of said apparatus to a back of said apparatus, the apparatus comprised of rigid or semi-rigid material(s) providing (possessing) a high stiffness to weight ratio, said material thin to minimize drag and optimize flight performance and stability, said apparatus having:
 each uniformly shaped fin semi-circular with the same diameter equal to the length of said core longitudinal axis extending between the front and back of said apparatus, 
 a forward edges of said semi-circular fins thicker or denser to stiffen said apparatus for flight, throwing and impact resistance, and to achieve (impart) a required balance for sustained gliding flight with a center of gravity located between ⅕th and ⅙th of a length of said longitudinal axis forward of a midpoint of said longitudinal axis to provide stability during flight, and 
 the apparatus including (requiring to function as intended) the bending or curving of said semi-circular fins as is done on a paper or balsa glider, to act as flight controls or trim tabs to regulate pitch, roll and yaw for gliding or maneuvering as is done with existing airplane art, 
   whereby said toy, when thrown like a glider, will sustain gliding flight, and roll on a smooth level surface the apparatus lands on upon landing.   
     
     
         2 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material is cardstock, balsa wood, foam, plastic, or composite material. 
     
     
         3 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said uniformly shaped fins are arranged equiangularly about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cut hole(s) in said uniformly shaped fins to change a center of lift, said cut hole(s) centered forward of a center of said apparatus to ensure (bring about) stable flight balanced at said center, which coincides with said midpoint of said longitudinal axis, which may be combined with said semi-elliptical fins maintaining said midpoint of the longitudinal axis said constant distance above said level surface supporting said apparatus rolls upon, whereby said apparatus will not tend to stop rolling end over end at a certain attitude to minimize the apparatus potential energy, thus enabling said apparatus to roll farther on said smooth level surface more like a ball. 
     
     
         5 . A light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of three or more uniformly shaped fins angularly spaced around and extending radially outward from a longitudinal axis which traverses from a front of said apparatus to a back of said apparatus, the apparatus comprised of rigid or semi-rigid material(s) providing (possessing) a high stiffness to weight ratio, said material thin to minimize drag and optimize flight performance and stability, said apparatus having:
 each uniformly shaped fin semi-elliptical, having a minor (shorter) diameter coinciding with the apparatus longitudinal axis, and a major (longer) diameter perpendicular to the apparatus longitudinal axis such that when the apparatus rests on a level ground on 2 adjacent fin edges with the apparatus longitudinal axis level, the midpoint of the apparatus longitudinal axis is at a height above a ground (a level surface supporting the apparatus) equal to half the minor diameter, such that as the apparatus rolls along the fin edges, the midpoint of the apparatus longitudinal axis remains a constant distance (height) above the level surface, 
 a forward edges of said semi-circular or semi-elliptical fins thicker or denser to stiffen said apparatus for flight, throwing and impact resistance, and to achieve (impart) a required balance for sustained gliding flight with a center of gravity located between ⅕th and ⅙th of a length of said longitudinal axis forward of a midpoint of said longitudinal axis to provide stability during flight, and 
 the apparatus including (requiring to function as intended) the bending or curving of said semi-circular fins as is done on a paper or balsa glider, to act as flight controls or trim tabs to regulate pitch, roll and yaw for gliding or maneuvering as is done with existing airplane art, 
   whereby said toy, when thrown like a glider, will sustain gliding flight, and roll on a smooth level surface the apparatus lands on upon landing.   
     
     
         6 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material is cardstock, balsa wood, foam, plastic, or composite material. 
     
     
         7 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said uniformly shaped fins are arranged equiangularly about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a cut hole(s) in said uniformly shaped fins to change a center of lift, said cut hole(s) centered forward of a center of said apparatus to ensure (bring about) stable flight balanced at said center, which coincides with said midpoint of said longitudinal axis, which may be combined with said semi-elliptical fins maintaining said midpoint of the longitudinal axis said constant distance above said level surface supporting said apparatus rolls upon, whereby said apparatus will not tend to stop rolling end over end at a certain attitude to minimize the apparatus potential energy, thus enabling said apparatus to roll farther on said smooth level surface more like a ball. 
     
     
         9 . A light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus, comprising:
 six flight fins angularly spaced apart around and extending radially outward from a longitudinal axis which traverses from a front of said apparatus to a back of said apparatus, each flight fin having a uniformly shaped and uniformly sized flight fin profile, said flight fin profiles all consisting of a root diameter connecting the endpoints of a semi-circle, each said root diameter coincident with and having the same length as the apparatus longitudinal axis, the each flight fin profile semi-circle being an inherently flat planer curve which inherently defines an associated flight fin plane said semi-circle is located within, such that the flight fin planes intersect at the apparatus longitudinal axis, each said flight fin profile having a forward edge, consisting of the half of said semi-circle closer to said apparatus front, and a back edge, consisting of the half of said semi-circle closer to said apparatus back, a seventh grip fin smaller and distinct from the said flight fins, the apparatus comprised of rigid or semi-rigid material(s) providing (possessing) a high stiffness to weight ratio, said material thin to minimize drag and optimize flight performance and stability, said apparatus having:
 an intended glide attitude such that an apparatus left side shape and weight is a mirror image of an apparatus right side shape and weight reflected across a vertical bilateral symmetry plane containing the apparatus longitudinal axis, said bilateral symmetry plane to contain the optional grip fin below the apparatus longitudinal axis, said bilateral symmetry plane bisecting a 60° angle between a pair of two angularly adjacent top flight fin planes above the apparatus longitudinal axis, and bisecting a 60° angle between a pair of two angularly adjacent bottom flight fins below the apparatus longitudinal axis, 
 a remaining two flight fin planes, also called wing fin planes, either perpendicular to the bilateral symmetry plane such that all six said flight fin planes are equiangularly spaced, or two said wing fin planes bilaterally symmetrically angled a few degrees closer to said pair of top fins to provide wing dihedral to enhance flight roll stability, 
 said grip fin, extending down from the apparatus longitudinal axis within said bilateral symmetry plane, said grip fin with a forward edge aft of the two adjacent lower uniformly shaped and sized flight fin front edges to avoid contact with a level surface the apparatus rolls upon, said grip fin with a back edge at or forward of a center of gravity of the apparatus to minimize yaw fishtail oscillations due to throwing, and said grip fin with a bottom edge close to the longitudinal axis to minimize pitch oscillation due to throwing, 
 said flight fins having a fineness ratio defined as the respective root diameter or root length divided by the average thickness between opposite surfaces of the flight fin, the fineness ratio being high enough (roughly 30 or greater) to facilitate stable sustained gliding flight, the grip fin thickness being similar to or less than the average thickness of flight fins to optimize flight performance, 
 a combination of said center of gravity and an up-elevator trim for each of the two wing fins, the combination, whether within or near the ranges specified below, determined by flight test to be a combination capable of gliding flight, more specifically,
 said center of gravity located within said bilateral symmetry plane below the longitudinal axis to provide a pendulum to add roll stability during flight between 17% and 24% of a length of the longitudinal axis forward of a midpoint of the longitudinal axis, and 
 the up-elevator trim for the each said wing fin comprised of an elevator region of the wing fin curled or bent up slightly toward a top fin, the elevator region located between an elevator region back edge consisting of a portion of the wing fin back edge, and a forward elevator region boundary where the not bent or curled fin material thickness is centered at said wing fin profile plane, said forward elevator region boundary located a maximum distance from said wing fin back edge approximately between 6% and 12% of the length of the apparatus longitudinal axis, said elevator surface area curled or bent up such that the maximum distance said back edge of the elevator region is raised above said flat wing profile plane is located approximately 0.5% to 2.5% of the length of the longitudinal axis above said flat wing profile plane, 
 
 a forward edge of said flight fins and/or grip fin thicker or denser to stiffen the apparatus for flight, throwing and impact resistance, and to achieve a required balance (center of gravity location) for sustained gliding flight, and to locate said center of gravity far enough below the apparatus longitudinal axis to provide a pendulum effect to add roll stability for gliding flight, 
   whereby said toy, when thrown like a glider, will sustain gliding airplane flight, and roll upon landing on a level surface.   
     
     
         10 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material includes one or more of: bond or kent paper, cardstock, balsa wood, Expanded Polyolefin (EPO) foam, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) foam, Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) foam, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) foam KT board, ABS Plastic (providing localized strength and impact resistance), steel or copper (ballast), or lightweight composite material. 
     
     
         11 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the length of the apparatus longitudinal axis is 6″. 
     
     
         12 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a hook feature is included to permit a rubber band to be used to slingshot or catapult launch said apparatus, the hook feature very close to said apparatus longitudinal axis to minimize angular momentum imparted into said apparatus during launch which otherwise might destabilize or degrade flight performance. 
     
     
         13 . A light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of three or more flight fins angularly spaced apart around and extending radially outward from a longitudinal axis which traverses from a front of said apparatus to a back of said apparatus, each flight fin having a uniformly shaped and uniformly sized flight fin profile, said flight fin profiles all consisting of a root diameter connecting the endpoints of either a semi-circle or semi-ellipse such that said root diameter is either the minor (shorter) or major (longer) axis diameter of semi-ellipse, each said root diameter coincident with and having the same length as the apparatus longitudinal axis, each flight fin profile semi-circle or semi-ellipse being an inherently flat planer curve which inherently defines an associated flight fin plane said semi-circle or semi-ellipse is located within, such that the flight fin planes intersect at the apparatus longitudinal axis, each said flight fin profile having a forward edge, consisting of the half of said semi-circle or semi-ellipse closer to said apparatus front, and a back edge, consisting of the half of said semi-circle or semi-ellipse closer to said apparatus back, an option to include a single grip fin smaller and distinct from the said flight fins, the apparatus comprised of rigid or semi-rigid material(s) providing (possessing) a high stiffness to weight ratio, said material thin to minimize drag and optimize flight performance and stability, said apparatus having:
 the flight fin profile planes at least somewhat visually equally angularly spaced around the longitudinal axis, 
 the apparatus configured with either
 the flight fin profiles arranged equiangularly around the longitudinal axis, and a center of gravity at a neutral balance location determined by flight test such that the apparatus may glide some distance with all fins straight flat (no trim), either with a grip fin bisecting the angle between two flight fin planes, or without a grip fin present to facilitate locating the center of gravity on the apparatus longitudinal axis, thereby avoiding pendular roll stability to allow the apparatus limited gliding stability with no single preferred top side, or 
 a combination of said center of gravity and an up-elevator trim for an intended glide attitude, said combination determined by flight test to be a combination capable of stable gliding flight, specifically;
 said intended glide attitude such that an apparatus left side shape and weight is a mirror image of an apparatus right side shape and weight reflected across a vertical bilateral symmetry plane containing the apparatus longitudinal axis, said bilateral symmetry plane to contain the optional grip fin (if present) below the apparatus longitudinal axis, such that a mirror image pair of flight fins most nearly perpendicular to the bilateral symmetry plane is a pair of wing fins, 
 said center of gravity located within said bilateral symmetry plane on the longitudinal axis, or below the longitudinal axis to provide a pendulum to add roll stability during flight, in either case, between 17% and 24% of a length of the longitudinal axis forward of a midpoint of the longitudinal axis, and 
 the up-elevator trim modifying two wing fins, the up-elevator trim for the each said wing fin comprised of an elevator region of the wing fin curled or bent up slightly, the elevator region located between an elevator region back edge consisting of a portion of the wing fin back edge, and a forward elevator region boundary where the not bent or curled fin material thickness is centered at said wing fin profile plane, the elevator region area and bending not so large as to degrade flight performance as determined by flight testing, 
 
 
 said grip fin, extending down from the apparatus longitudinal axis within said bilateral symmetry plane, said grip fin with a forward edge aft of the two adjacent lower uniformly shaped and sized flight fin front edges to avoid contact with a level surface the apparatus rolls upon, said grip fin with a back edge at or forward of the center of gravity of the apparatus to minimize yaw fishtail oscillations due to throwing, and said grip fin with a bottom edge close to the longitudinal axis to minimize pitch oscillation due to throwing, 
 the flight fins having a fineness ratio defined as the fin root diameter divided by the average thickness between opposite surfaces of the flight fin, the fineness ratio being high enough (roughly 30 or greater) to facilitate stable sustained gliding flight, the grip fin thickness being similar to or less than the average thickness of flight fins to optimize flight performance, 
 a forward edge of flight fins and/or grip fin thicker or denser to stiffen the apparatus for flight, throwing and impact resistance, and to achieve a required balance (center of gravity location) for sustained gliding flight, and when up-elevator trim is included to locate the center of gravity far enough below the apparatus longitudinal axis to provide a pendulum effect to add roll stability for gliding flight, 
 all the flight fins uniformly optionally including an at least a one hole(s) in the forward part of the flight fin to reduce lift near the front of the apparatus such that the apparatus center of gravity required for a stable gliding flight is farther aft, such that the center of gravity can be located closer to or at the midpoint of the longitudinal axis, thereby facilitating rolling a greater distance on a level surface the apparatus lands upon, 
   whereby said toy, when thrown like a glider, will sustain gliding airplane flight, and roll upon landing on a level surface.   
     
     
         14 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material includes one or more of: bond or kent paper, cardstock, balsa wood, Expanded Polyolefin (EPO) foam, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) foam, Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) foam, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) foam KT board, ABS Plastic (providing localized strength and impact resistance), steel or copper (ballast), or lightweight composite material. 
     
     
         15 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said flight fins are arranged equiangularly about the apparatus longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the number of flight fins is even, whereby rolling performance on said surface is more optimal because the apparatus does not need to tilt significantly to be supported by differently oriented edges as it rolls end over end. 
     
     
         17 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the flight fin profiles are semi-elliptical with the root diameter being the minor ellipse diameter, such the span of each flight fin (the distance each fin extends away from the apparatus longitudinal axis) is greater than for semi-circular profiles of a root diameter of the same length, thereby improving flight glide and maneuvering performance due to higher aspect ratio lifting surfaces. 
     
     
         18 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the number of flight fins is even, and the said fin profile being semi-elliptical, the said semi-ellipse having a minor (shorter) diameter coinciding with the apparatus longitudinal axis, and a major (longer) diameter perpendicular to the apparatus longitudinal axis such that when the apparatus rests on a level ground on 2 adjacent fin edges with the apparatus longitudinal axis level, the midpoint of the apparatus longitudinal axis is at a height above a ground (a level surface supporting the apparatus) equal to half the minor diameter, such that as the apparatus rolls along the fin edges, the midpoint of the apparatus longitudinal axis remains a constant distance (height) above the level surface, which if combined with optional said holes configured to permit flight with said center of gravity at the midpoint of the apparatus longitudinal axis, ensures said center of gravity remains a constant distance above the surface the apparatus rolls on, whereby the apparatus will not tend to stop rolling end over end at a certain attitude to minimize potential energy, thus enabling it to roll far on a smooth level surface much like a round ball. 
     
     
         19 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a hook feature is included to permit a rubber band to be used to slingshot or catapult launch said apparatus, the hook feature very close to said apparatus longitudinal axis to minimize angular momentum imparted into said apparatus during launch which otherwise might destabilize or degrade flight performance. 
     
     
         20 . The light-weight aerodynamically flying gliding toy ball apparatus of  claim 13 , further wherein the number of said flight fins is the even number six, said flight fins are arranged equiangularly about the apparatus longitudinal axis, and optional said hole(s) in the forward part of the flight fins are included such the apparatus balances for flight with said center of gravity farther aft, perhaps at said midpoint of the longitudinal axis, thereby facilitating rolling a greater distance on a level surface the apparatus lands upon.