Recreational water projectile and uses thereof

Abstract

There are provided safer hand launched swimming pool projectile toys. One projectile comprising an elongate body having a hemispherical nose and a paraboloid tail portion extending from the hemispherical nose to a flat end, and multiple tail fins extending away from the elongate body and positioned proximate the flat end. The other projectile having the overall body shape and tail fins of the V2 rocket, but having an opening across the length and slits down each side to provide safety due to springiness when it impacts the teeth or face of a person.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A projectile for throwing underwater by hand, the projectile comprising:
 an elongate body having a hemispherical nose and a paraboloid tail portion extending from the hemispherical nose to a flat end; and   multiple tail fins extending away from the elongate body and positioned proximate the flat end.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein each of the multiple tail fins extend 20 percent or less than a length of the elongate body, and each of the multiple tail fins is positioned at least 0.5 cm from the flat end. 
     
     
         3 . The projectile of  claim 2 , wherein an outer surface of the paraboloid tail portion tapers from the hemispherical nose. 
     
     
         4 . The projectile of  claim 3 , wherein the outer surface of the paraboloid tail portion tapers generally according to the equation: 
       
         
           
             
               Y 
               = 
               
                 
                   5.7 
                      
                   
                     X 
                     2 
                   
                 
                 + 
                 
                   0 
                   ⁢ 
                   X 
                 
                 - 
                 
                   3 
                   . 
                   2 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       wherein Y is a length from a vertex of a parabola defining the paraboloid tail portion, and X is a distance from a midline of the parabola. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile of  claim 3 , wherein the elongate body has a hardness of 69 durometer or less. 
     
     
         6 . The projectile of  claim 5 , wherein the hemispherical nose comprises a channel extending therethrough, orientated perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body, the channel creating a bumper between a tip of the hemispherical nose and the channel. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile of  claim 6 , wherein, the channel is positioned 4 millimeters behind the tip of the hemispherical nose, and the channel is about 4 millimeters in height and 15 millimeters long. 
     
     
         8 . The projectile of  claim 3 , wherein the elongate body is hollow and comprises a first section, and a second section releasably securable to the first section, the first section forming at least 15 percent of the elongate body, the first section and the second section collectively forming an interior space within the elongate body when releasably secured together. 
     
     
         9 . The projectile of  claim 8 , wherein the first section comprises a threaded portion and the second section comprises a corresponding threaded portion, wherein when the threaded portions of the first section and the second section are operatively coupled together, the second section is releasably secured to the first section to form the elongate body with the interior space therein. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile of  claim 8 , wherein the first section forms about half of the elongate body and includes the hemispherical nose, and the second section includes the tail fins and the flat end. 
     
     
         11 . The projectile of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second sections are loosely coupled together, such that they break apart upon impact. 
     
     
         12 . The projectile of  claim 3 , wherein the elongate body further comprises:
 an interior space, and   a hole positioned at or proximate the flat end in fluid communication with the interior space.   
     
     
         13 . The projectile of  claim 12 , wherein the hole is positioned in the flat end. 
     
     
         14 . The projectile of  claim 12 , wherein the hole has a diameter from 8 to 16 mm. 
     
     
         15 . A method of filling the projectile according to  claim 12  with water, the method comprising:
 holding the projectile under the water with the flat end of the projectile facing a top surface of the water; and 
 shaking the projectile vertically under the water. 
 
     
     
         16 . A projectile for throwing underwater by hand, the projectile comprising: a longitudinal axis; a nose; a tail; a body; and a plurality of fins, wherein:
 the nose has a peripheral portion and a central portion;   the peripheral portion has a bridge and a pair of legs that extend from the bridge to the body to form an arch;   the legs have interior surfaces that present towards one another and opposed exterior convex surfaces;   the central portion is straddled in spaced relation by the peripheral portion and has opposed major surfaces, an edge wall that extends between the opposed major surfaces and has a pair of side surfaces coupled by a transition portion, the major surfaces of the central portion presenting towards the legs;   the body extends from the nose to the tail and has an annular surface;   the surface of the body, the side surfaces of the central portion and the convex surfaces of the legs are coincident with a notional fusiform contour that extends from the bridge to the tail and that tapers more steeply adjacent the tail; and   the fins are radially spaced about and bridge the body and the tail.   
     
     
         17 . The projectile of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the bridge has a hemispherical surface that presents away from the body;   the opposed major surfaces are convex, each generally having the shape of a half round top headstone;   the legs have concave interior surfaces;   the convex surfaces of the central portion present towards the concave surfaces of the legs;   the transition portion of the edge wall is toroidal; and   the tail is generally frustoconical and terminates in a planar surface.   
     
     
         18 . The projectile of  claim 17  wherein each fin terminates short of the tail, has a leading edge that extends outwardly from the axis and towards the nose at an acute angle to the axis and a trailing edge disposed at an angle to the axis. 
     
     
         19 . The projectile of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of fins comprises a pair of fins spaced apart in the direction of the legs and a pair of fins spaced apart in the width of the central portion. 
     
     
         20 . The projectile of  claim 19 , having a length of about 25 cm, a mass of about 290 grams, a material hardness of less than about 69 durometers. 
     
     
         21 . The projectile of  claim 20 , having about the following dimensions expressed as a percentage of overall length: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   Body 
                   Length 
                   53 
                 
                     
                   Maximum diameter 
                   20 
                 
                     
                   Diameter at tail junction 
                   9 
                 
                     
                   Diameter at nose junction 
                   17 
                 
                   Tail 
                   Length 
                   13.6 
                 
                     
                   Minimum diameter 
                   2.6 
                 
                   Peripheral Portion 
                   Length 
                   33 
                 
                     
                   Leg thickness 
                   1.6 
                 
                   Central portion 
                   Maximum thickness 
                   11.5 
                 
                     
                   Length 
                   25.1 
                 
                   Fin 
                   Length 
                   26.7 
                 
                     
                   Thickness 
                   1.6 
                 
                     
                   Offset from tail end 
                   2.6 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         22 . The projectile of  claim 21 , made of solid rubber. 
     
     
         23 . The projectile of  claim 21 . wherein. if the projectile. thrown underwater, hits a person. the peripheral portion absorbs the impact sufficiently to avoid mouth or facial injury.