Mechanical flying toy

Abstract

A flying toy includes a chassis, a rotor and an elastic rope. The chassis has a first mass includes a first pair of wings extending therefrom. The rotor is rotatably connected to the chassis. The rotor has a second mass larger than the first mass of the chassis, and the rotor includes a second pair of wings extending therefrom. The elastic rope is positioned in the chassis and configured to pivotably couple the chassis to the rotor. The elastic rope is operative to impart a torque to the rotor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flying toy, comprising:
 a chassis having a first mass, the chassis including a first pair of wings extending therefrom;   a rotor having a second mass larger than the first mass of the chassis, the rotor being rotatably connected to the chassis, the rotor including a second pair of wings extending therefrom;   an elastic rope positioned in the chassis and configured to pivotably couple the chassis to the rotor and operative to impart a torque to the rotor.   
     
     
         2 . The flying toy of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic rope is a rubber band. 
     
     
         3 . The flying toy of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis includes a first hook, the rotor includes a second hook, and the elastic rope is coupled to the first hook at a first end thereof and coupled to the second hook at a second end thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The flying toy of  claim 1 , wherein the second mass is at least twice as large as the first mass. 
     
     
         5 . The flying toy of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor includes a light emitting diode. 
     
     
         6 . The flying toy of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor includes:
 a head;   a neck;   a first spar extending from a first side of the neck configured to support a first wing of the second pair of wings; and   a second spar extending from a second side of the neck configured to support a second wing of the second pair of wings   
     
     
         7 . The flying toy of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis has a first length and the rotor has a second length that is shorter than the first length, the first and second lengths defining a total length. 
     
     
         8 . The flying toy of  claim 7 , further including a center of mass positioned within the rotor, the center of mass being located within a first quarter of the total length. 
     
     
         9 . The flying toy of  claim 1 , wherein each wing of the first and second pairs of wings comprises a paper sheet, a plastic sheet, or a thin plate. 
     
     
         10 . The flying toy of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis includes a first longitudinal spar spaced apart from a second longitudinal spar thereby defining a gap therebetween; and
 wherein the elastic rope is positioned in the gap.   
     
     
         11 . The flying toy of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the second mass to the first mass is at least five to one (5:1), respectively. 
     
     
         12 . A mechanical flying toy comprising:
 a chassis including:
 a first longitudinal spar and a second longitudinal spar spaced apart from the first longitudinal spar thereby defining a gap therebetween; and 
 a first pair of wings, each wing of the first pair of wings extending from either the first or second longitudinal spar; 
   a rotor rotatably connected to the chassis, the rotor including:
 a second pair of wings; 
 a first lateral spar extending from a first side of the rotor configured to support a first wing of the second pair of wings; and 
 a second lateral spar extending from a second side of the rotor configured to support a second wing of the second pair of wings; and 
   an elastic rope positioned in the gap of the chassis and configured to maintain the rotor rotatably connected to the chassis;   wherein a center of mass of the flying toy is located within the rotor.   
     
     
         13 . The flying toy of  claim 12 , wherein a total length of the flying toy is measured between a leading edge of the rotor and a trailing edge of a tail of the chassis, wherein the center of mass is located within the first quarter of the total length. 
     
     
         14 . The flying toy of  claim 12 , wherein the chassis has a first mass and the rotor has a second mass larger than the first mass of the chassis. 
     
     
         15 . The flying toy of  claim 14 , wherein the second mass is at least twice as large as the first mass. 
     
     
         16 . The flying toy of  claim 12 , wherein the rotor includes a light emitting diode and a battery configured to power the light emitting diode, and wherein the chassis and rotor, when coupled together, resemble an insect, bug, bird, or flying object. 
     
     
         17 . The flying toy of  claim 12 , wherein the chassis includes:
 a first hook extending forward from an aft end of the chassis and into the gap; and   a receptacle disposed at a forward end of the chassis; and   wherein the rotor includes a second hook having a shaft configured to be received by the receptacle, the second hook extending aft and into the gap, the second hook and shaft freely rotatable within the receptacle;   wherein the elastic rope is coupled to the first hook and the second hook.   
     
     
         18 . The flying toy of  claim 12 , wherein the rotor includes a first rotor mass and a second rotor mass smaller than the first rotor mass, the first rotor mass disposed forward of the second rotor mass. 
     
     
         19 . The flying toy of  claim 19 , wherein the rotor has a rotor length and the chassis has a chassis length larger than the rotor length. 
     
     
         20 . A flying toy comprising:
 a chassis having a first length and a first mass, the chassis including:
 a first longitudinal spar and a second longitudinal spar spaced apart from the first longitudinal spar thereby defining a gap therebetween, 
 a first pair of wings, each wing of the first pair of wings extending from either the first or second longitudinal spar; 
 a first hook extending forward from an aft end of the chassis and into the gap; and 
 a receptacle disposed at a forward end of the chassis; 
   a rotor operatively coupled to the chassis, the rotor having a second length and a second mass, the rotor including:
 a second pair of wings; 
 a first lateral spar extending from a first side of the rotor configured to support a first wing of the second pair of wings; and 
 a second lateral spar extending from a second side of the rotor configured to support a second wing of the second pair of wings; 
 a light, and a battery in electrical communication therewith; and 
 a second hook having a shaft configured to be received by the receptacle, the second hook extending aft and into the gap, the hook freely rotatable within the receptacle about the shaft; and 
   an elastic rope positioned in the gap of the chassis and coupled to the first and second hooks;   wherein a center of mass of the flying toy is located within the rotor;   wherein the first length is larger than the second length; and   wherein the second mass is larger than the first mass.