Recreational underwater throwing sports equipment and its usage

Abstract

Safer throwing toys for swimming pools are available. One throwing toy comprises an elongated body with a hemispherical nose and a parabolic tail extending from the hemispherical nose to a flat end, and several tail fins extending away from the elongated body and positioned close to the flat end. Another throwing toy has the overall conductive shape of a V2 rocket and tail fins, but has an opening in the longitudinal direction and slits on both sides to provide elasticity and safety in the event of impact with a person's teeth or face.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hand-thrown toy torpedo suitable for recreation in water areas such as swimming pools.

Background Art

[0002] Solid rubber or plastic torpedo-type throwing play equipment intended for hand-throwing into the water of swimming pools has existed since the 1990s. Poolaris(TM), an early toy of this type, was sold for a short period of time at Walmart stores. Subsequently, a similar product named Toypedo(TM), for which a patent was obtained (Patent Document 1) (Warner 1996), was sold by Swimways(TM), a company headquartered in Norfolk, West Virginia. These products were usually sold together with swimming pool supplies and water play toys. Later, Swimways replaced it with the 25th Anniversary Edition Toypedo (Table 1), a hourglass-shaped throwing play equipment with a new design, but its production was terminated within one year.

[0003] Improved underwater throwing toys are described in Patent Document 2 (Silverglate, 2006), including throwing toys with three fins used in combination with a handheld device for launching the toy. Further improved throwing toys for underwater use, incorporating various adjustable tails or fins, are described in Patent Document 3 (Warner, 1996). There are also hollow throwing toys, such as the Sharkpedo(R), which are filled with water through openings at the front and rear. Additionally, hollow torpedo-shaped objects like the Toypedo Hydro from Swimways (now a division of Spinmaster Inc.) are filled with water via a hose through a filling pin, similar to how a soccer ball or basketball is inflated. These toy torpedoes are summarized in Table 1.

[0004] Hydrodynamic tests have revealed that, in the case of submarines, "the ideal shape is one in which the diameter changes continuously along the length, with an elliptical bow and a parabolic stern" (Joubert 2004). A typical implementation of this design is the 1950s US Navy Albacore submarine. The US Navy discontinued the use of this hydrodynamically optimal teardrop hull shape (Joubert 2004) due to the complexity of its construction and the impracticality of its irregular internal volume. An implementation of this shape related to toy torpedoes is the original Toypedo® by Swimways Inc., whose shape is almost identical to that of the classic V2 rocket of World War II. The original Toypedo(R) ceased production around 2015, but recently, the Underwater Torpedo League has introduced the manufacture of similar toy torpedoes of the exact same size and shape, which are now sold through Amazon.com. Amazon.com also sells Torpedo STRIKE and Josket torpedoes, which are made from the same materials, shape, and weight as the original Toypedo(R) and Underwater Torpedo League products. These, and earlier toy torpedoes, are made from hard materials, and newer models are made from even harder materials than earlier products. See Table 1 for an overview of the characteristics of conventional passive motion toys and experimental torpedoes. While the initial models had a Shore A durometer hardness between 70 and 80, the latest toy torpedo and Torpedo STRIKE products from Underwater Torpedo League, sold on Amazon, have a hardness of 87 durometers, which is equivalent to the durometer hardness of an ice hockey puck.

[0005] Existing toy throwing devices are typically advertised as being able to travel up to 9 meters (30 feet) through water. However, experiments have shown that the rapid movement of these throwing devices is limited to the first 5 meters (16 feet) from where they are thrown. Beyond that distance, even the best current hand-throwing devices weighing less than 400 grams wobble downwards in a slow, weak manner, making them unsuitable for sports or catch. There are certainly hand-propelled throwing devices that can travel further. For example, the Toypedo Hydro is a large throwing device weighing 1.6 kilograms, and its mass helps it have the momentum to travel longer distances. However, the greater the mass, the more difficult it becomes to aim the throwing device quickly in a competitive sports environment, and the greater force generated increases the risk of injury. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 5514023 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 7052357 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 6699091 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a safer, hand-thrown, recreational underwater throwing sport or torpedo. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This disclosure describes throwing props for a water sports type game that can be played, for example, in a swimming pool. In one application of this game, one person throws one or more props with the intention of hitting or touching the other person, and the other person dodges to avoid being hit or touched by each prop. Players can take turns throwing and dodging, and a score can be kept by counting the number of times each prop hits or touches each player.

[0009] In some examples, the Disclosure describes throwing devices for being thrown into water with the hand or with one hand, the throwing devices comprising an elongated body having a hemispherical nose and a parabolic tail extending from the hemispherical nose to a flat end, and a plurality of tail fins extending away from the elongated body and positioned close to the flat end.

[0010] In some cases, the outer surface of the parabolic tail generally tapers according to the following equation. Y=5.7X 2 +0X-3.2 In this, Y is the length from the vertex of the paraboloid defining the parabolic tail, and X is the distance from the median of the paraboloid. In a further example, the elongated body is solid, and the hemispherical nose contains a channel extending through it, the channel being oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, and a bumper is formed between the tip of the hemispherical nose and the channel.

[0011] In a further example, the elongated body is hollow and comprises a first section and a second section that is removably fixed to the first section, the first section forming at least 15 percent of the elongated body, and the first section and the second section, when removably fixed to each other, integrate to form an internal space within the elongated body.

[0012] In a further example, the elongated body is hollow and includes an internal space and a hole located at the flat end that is in fluid communication with the internal space.

[0013] The disclosure further describes a method for filling the throwing device with water, which includes holding the throwing device in water with the flat end of the throwing device facing the water surface and swinging the throwing device vertically in water.

[0014] The disclosure further describes a method of using the throwing object in a game played in a body of water, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a first player at a predetermined distance from a second player in the body of water; the first player throwing the throwing object at the second player in the water; and the second player dodging or attempting to dodge the throwing object thrown by the first player.

[0015] This disclosure describes structural improvements to make the classic V2 rocket-shaped structure of the original Toypedo(R) safer. This disclosure describes a double-nose V2 rocket-shaped throwing weapon that embodies one of such improvements. In another embodiment, the nose has long side walls that can bend outward from the body, allowing the forward nose to buckle and mitigate the impact when the throwing weapon hits another person.

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described merely as examples in relation to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1A] This is a side view of a recreational underwater throwing exercise device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1B] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 1A. [Figure 1C] This is a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 1A. [Figure 2] It is a side view of the recreational underwater throwing sports implement according to the second embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a rear perspective view of the recreational underwater throwing sports implement of Figure 2. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of Figure 2. [Figure 5] It is a side view of the recreational underwater throwing sports implement according to the third embodiment. [Figure 6] It is an exploded perspective view of the recreational underwater throwing sports implement of Figure 5. [Figure 7A] It is a top view of various examples of 3D-printed plastic shell prototypes of the recreational underwater throwing sports implement. [Figure 7B] It is a top view of various examples of 3D-printed plastic shell prototypes of the recreational underwater throwing sports implement. [Figure 7C] It is a top view of various examples of 3D-printed plastic shell prototypes of the recreational underwater throwing sports implement. [Figure 7D] It is a top view of various examples of 3D-printed plastic shell prototypes of the recreational underwater throwing sports implement. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing an example of the recreational underwater throwing sports implement having the "improved ideal shape" overlaid on an example of the recreational underwater throwing sports implement having the "ideal shape". [Figure 9] It is an explanatory diagram of an example of a torpedo avoidance game played using any of the recreational underwater throwing sports implements shown in Figures 1 to 6. [Figure 10] It is an explanatory diagram showing the multiplayer version of the torpedo avoidance game of Figure 9. [Figure 11] It is an explanatory diagram showing a throwing method for making the recreational underwater throwing sports implement shown in Figure 7B leap above the water surface. [Figure 12] It is a perspective view of a throwing sports implement according to another example embodiment. [Figure 13] It is a top view of the throwing sports implement of Figure 12. [Figure 14] It is a side view of the throwing sports implement of Figure 12. [Figure 15] Figure 12 is a front view of the throwing sports equipment. [Figure 16] Figure 12 is a rear view of the throwing sports equipment. [Figure 17] This figure is similar to Figure 13. [Figure 17A] This is a diagram along the line 17A-17A in Figure 17. [Figure 17B] This is a diagram along the line 17B-17B in Figure 17. [Figure 17C] This is a diagram along the line 17C-17C in Figure 17. [Figure 17D] This is a diagram along the line 17D-17D in Figure 17. [Figure 18] This figure is similar to Figure 14. [Figure 18A] This is a diagram along the line 18A-18A in Figure 18. [Figure 18B] This is a diagram along the line 18B-18B in Figure 18. [Figure 18C] This is a diagram along the line 18C-18C in Figure 18. [Figure 19] This figure is similar to Figure 13. [Figure 19A] This diagram is along the line 19A-19A in Figure 19. [Figure 19B] This diagram shows the line along 19B-19B in Figure 19. [Figure 19C] This diagram is along the line 19C-19C in Figure 19. [Figure 20] This is a perspective view of a throwing sports device according to another example embodiment. [Figure 21] Figure 20 is a side view of the throwing sports equipment. [Figure 22] Figure 20 is a top view of a throwing sports device. [Figure 23] Figure 20 is a front view of the throwing sports equipment. [Figure 24] Figure 20 is a front view of the throwing sports equipment. [Figure 25] This figure is similar to Figure 21. [Figure 25A] This is a diagram along the line 25A-25A in Figure 25. [Figure 25B]This is a diagram along the line 25B-25B in Figure 25. [Figure 25C] This is a diagram along the line 25C-25C in Figure 25. [Figure 25D] This is a diagram along the line 25D-25D in Figure 25. [Figure 26] This figure is similar to Figure 22. [Figure 26A] This is a diagram along the line 26A-26A in Figure 26. [Figure 26B] This is a diagram along the line 26B-26B in Figure 26. [Figure 26C] This is a diagram along the line 26C-26C in Figure 26. [Figure 27] This figure is similar to Figure 21. [Figure 27A] This is a diagram along the line 27A-27A in Figure 27. [Figure 27B] This is a diagram along the line 27B-27B in Figure 27. [Figure 27C] This is a diagram along the line 27C-27C in Figure 27. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] The novel features that are considered to be characteristic of the present invention, along with their further objectives and advantages, will be better understood by examining the following description and accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention in an illustrative manner only.

[0019] However, it should be clearly understood that these drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to define the scope of the invention. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, all features described herein can be combined in any combination with any of the above embodiments. In the drawings, similar reference numerals indicate similar elements.

[0020] One aspect of the present disclosure is a recreational underwater throwing sport or torpedo that, when thrown into the water, poses no danger even if thrown with the intention of actually hitting another person. The throwing sport is capable of being thrown into the water as part of a game and / or sport, is capable of moving at a speed sufficient to make the game / sport challenging, and is capable of being controlled during play.

[0021] The recreational underwater throwing exercise equipment 10 generally includes an elongated body 12 and several tail fins 14 extending from the elongated body 12.

[0022] In known toy torpedoes, the features of the throwing weapon were optimized hydrodynamically and therefore included features such as a pointed nose and tail. However, a hard, pointed nose tends to be dangerous if the object is thrown with force and hits another player, especially if it hits the face, mouth, or eyes. In torpedo avoidance type games, it has become clear that throwing weapons with a hemispherical nose and a parabolic body shape offer the best compromise between safety and the speed of the throwing weapon. Thus, as best seen in Figures 1 to 6, the elongated body 12 has a hemispherical nose 16 with a tip 15 and a parabolic tail 18 extending from the hemispherical nose 16 to a flat end 20. In some applications, the hemispherical nose 16 can have a diameter of 3.5–5.5 cm, preferably about 4.5 cm.

[0023] The parabolic tail portion 18 can be a paraboloid whose outer surface tapers or narrows as it extends from the hemispherical nose portion 16. In some applications, the outer surface of the parabolic tail portion 18 generally tapers according to the following equation. Y=5.7X 2 +0X-3.2 In this, Y is the length from the vertex of the paraboloid that defines the parabolic tail, and X is the distance from the median of the paraboloid.

[0024] The drag coefficient of a hemispherical nose structure is generally understood to be six times greater than that of a more pointed, elliptical nose (Joubert document, page 41) (Joubert 2004). To compensate for the drag of the hemispherical nose, the tail section was designed to be a perfect parabolic shape, asymptotically approaching a hemisphere at the nose. This parabolic fuselage shape helps compensate for the initial resistance at the nose by reducing the water pressure and flow along the rear of the torpedo. In effect, this regulates the water flow along the length of the fuselage, assisting in pushing the device forward.

[0025] As shown in Table 1, based on direct measurements of material hardness, all existing toy torpedoes manufactured using solid rubber or solid plastic have a hardness of at least 70 durometers. In fact, material hardness has tended to increase over the years. The newest toy torpedoes include those manufactured by Underwater Torpedo League (UTL), which copy the V2 rocket shape of Warner's original Toypedo from 1996, and the Torpedo STRIKE®, which has the exact same shape and is intended for a team sport similar to underwater rugby. Both UTL torpedoes and Torpedo STRIKE products have a hardness of approximately 87 durometers, which is equivalent to the hardness of an ice hockey puck. The official torpedoes and Torpedo STRIKE(R) products of the Underwater Torpedo League are all exact physical copies of the shape of the now-discontinued original Toypedo, with a hardness of 79 durometers. The rationale for using such a hard material for the UTL Torpedo League is believed to be its suitability for a rugby-like sport in which players compete underwater to grab torpedoes from each other's hands. Even all versions of Swimways' Toypedo have a hardness of 79-88 durometers (see Table 1).

[0026] In this application, the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 is thrown with the intention of actually hitting another person. Therefore, the hardness of the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 is 70 durometers or less, preferably 65 durometers or less, and more preferably 60 durometers.

[0027] To determine the preferred hardness of the recreational underwater throwing toy 10, prototype toy torpedoes were made from rubber with hardness values ​​of 49, 55, 60, 65, and 70 durometers and tested (see Table 1). The feel in the hand during gameplay and the performance when immersed in water were found to be the same for all hardness values ​​tested. However, the most significant difference between prototypes with different rubber hardnesses was observed when the nose of the prototype torpedo was struck against a person's forehead by hand. With the 49 durometer toy torpedo, it was tolerable if it hit or lightly struck the forehead, and the likelihood of developing a bump on the forehead from underwater play with the 49 durometer torpedo was very low. However, with the 70 durometer toy torpedo, it was found to be very painful if it hit or struck the forehead, and it could certainly cause a bump on the head or even a broken tooth during underwater play. It has been found that toy torpedoes made from solid rubber or solid plastic materials with a hardness of less than 60 durometers function just as well as those made from harder materials.

[0028] Furthermore, the recreational underwater throwing exercise equipment 10 can be made solid (see, for example, Figures 1A-1C) or hollow (see, for example, Figures 3-6).

[0029] Figures 1A-1C illustrate further safety features in a solid application of the recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10. The illustrated recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10 incorporates a channel 17 extending from one side to the other near the tip 15 of the hemispherical nose 16. It is shown that the channel 17 extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10 and has an elliptical cross-section. In alternative applications, the cross-section of the channel 17 can be a different shape, such as a rectangle. The channel 17 is located 2-5 millimeters behind the tip 15 of the hemispherical nose 16, passes through the hemispherical nose 16, and has dimensions of approximately 3-5 millimeters in height and approximately 10-20 millimeters in length. In a preferred embodiment, the channel 17 is located 4 millimeters behind the tip 15 of the hemispherical nose portion 16, and the channel 17 has dimensions of approximately 4 millimeters in height and approximately 15 millimeters in length. In other applications, the channel 17 may be positioned at a different distance from the tip 15 and may have different dimensions.

[0030] A channel 17 positioned in the hemispherical nose portion 16 creates a kind of "bumper" 19 at the tip 15 of the recreational underwater throwing aerodynamic device 10. Using a harder material may render the bumper less effective because the harder material does not flex as much. However, in applications where the recreational underwater throwing aerodynamic device 10 is made of rubber with a durometer of 65 or less, the introduction of the channel 17 just behind the tip 15 allows for compression (e.g., several millimeters) of the bumper 19 on the hemispherical nose portion 16 when the recreational underwater throwing aerodynamic device 10 hits a person or object in the water. The presence of a flexible bumper 19 helps prevent injuries to teeth, eyes, or face when the recreational underwater throwing aerodynamic device 10 is thrown towards a person.

[0031] Hollow, water-filled toy torpedoes are well-known; for example, Swimways' Toypedo Hydro has a hollow cavity that is filled with water through an inflation nozzle, which seals the cavity in a similar way to how a ball is inflated with air. Another water-filled toy torpedo is the Sharkpedo®, which has openings at the head and tail (nose and tail) so that water can easily fill the device as air escapes. However, these water-filled underwater throwing toys are heavy, weighing over 1 kilogram. They are very difficult to handle when used in a one-on-one goal-scoring game and can cause injury if thrown by another player. Current underwater throwing toys have openings at the front and back so that they can be easily filled and emptied. However, this is inefficient for the purpose here because the sudden force when throwing tends to push the water out of the hole at the back of the object. When throwing an object like the Sharkpedo(R), the acceleration causes water to be expelled from the tail end, wasting much of the kinetic energy that would normally push a solid device through water forward.

[0032] Accordingly, Figures 2-4 show embodiments of a recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10 having a hollow internal space 22 and a single opening or hole 24 that fluidly communicates with the internal space 22, positioned within the diameter of a flat end 20. In an alternative embodiment, the hole 24 can be positioned between the tail fins 14. Furthermore, the diameter of the hole can be 8-16 mm. In the illustrated embodiment, the diameter of the hole is approximately 10 mm.

[0033] Figures 5 and 6 show another embodiment of a recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10, comprising a first section 26 and a second section 28 that can be removably fixed to the first section 26. The first section 26 and the second section 28, when removably fixed, integrate to form an internal space 22 within an elongated body 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the first section 26 includes a threaded portion 30 and the second section 28 includes a corresponding threaded portion 32 so that these sections can be removably fixed. When the threaded portion 30 of the first section 26 and the corresponding threaded portion 32 of the second section 28 are functionally coupled to each other, the first section 26 and the second section 28 are removably fixed to form an elongated body 12 with the internal space 22. In another application, the first section 26 and the second section 28 may have different coupling structures for removably fixing the first section 26 and the second section 28 together. For example, the first and second sections 26 and 28 may each have a corresponding snap-fit ​​function or be sized to frictionally engage with each other. In other applications, the first section 26 and the second section 28 may be releasably coupled using magnets. Where the first section 26 and the second section 28 have a snap-fit ​​function, magnets, or frictional engagement, the coupling may be configured such that the first section 26 and the second section 28 separate (or loosen) when the recreational underwater throwing exercise equipment 10 collides with another object with sufficient force.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the seam 34 between sections 26 and 28 is positioned laterally along the elongated body 12 at approximately the midpoint. In this embodiment, the first section 26 forms approximately half of the elongated body 12 and includes a hemispherical nose 16, while the second section 26 forms the remaining approximately half of the elongated body 12 and includes a flat end 20. In other applications, the first section 26 may form 15 percent or more of the elongated body 12, and the second section 28 may form the remaining portion of the elongated body 12. In this regard, the seam 34 can be positioned laterally along the elongated body 12 at another location, for example, where the hemispherical nose 16 intersects with the parabolic tail 18. In alternative applications, the seam 34 can be positioned longitudinally along the elongated body 12, or at an angle that is not perpendicular or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body 12.

[0035] In this embodiment, the first section 26 and the second section 28 are held in water, and water can be filled into the recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10 by twisting the threaded portion 30 and the corresponding threaded portion 32 together. The water can be drained from the recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10 by rotating and separating the first section 26 and the second section 28 accordingly.

[0036] In some applications, the first section 26 and the second section 28 can be made from the same material with the same or similar hardness levels. In other applications, the first section 26 and the second section 28 can be made from different materials that may have different hardness levels. For example, for further safety purposes, the first section 26 can be made from a material with a lower hardness level (i.e., softer) than the second section 28.

[0037] Some of the advantages of the recreational underwater throwing exercise equipment 10 include the fact that the plastic parts can be manufactured inexpensively, that it is lightweight when empty, and that it is very easy to fill and drain water (further explanation follows).

[0038] The embodiments of the recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10 shown in Figures 1-6 each further have four tail fins 14 extending away from the elongated body 12, positioned near the flat end 20. In particular, each of the tail fins extends to no more than 20 percent of the length of the elongated body 12, and each of the tail fins 14 is positioned at least 0.5 cm from the flat end 20. In the illustrated embodiments, the tail fins 14 are positioned "straight," i.e., parallel to the longitudinal axis of the recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10. In other applications, the recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10 may have a different number of tail fins 14, and the tail fins 14 may be positioned "spiral" around the elongated body 12. In yet another application, the tail fins 14 may be positioned 0.25 cm–0.75 cm from the flat end 20. The flat end portion 20 may have a circumference of 1 to 2 cm, preferably about 1.4 cm.

[0039] The recreational underwater throwing sports equipment 10 of this disclosure has a length in the range of about 10-40 cm, more preferably in the range of 18-26 cm, and a length-to-width ratio of about 4-6, more preferably 4.5-5.5. Preferably they have a mass of about 50-500 grams, more preferably 250-350 grams. experiment

[0040] To evaluate the ability of the recreational underwater throwing aerodynamic device 10 to move through water via manual propulsion, 3D printed molds of hollow plastic were created. Figures 7A–7D show four torpedoes with different shapes that were manufactured for testing. The body of the embodiment in Figure 7A has an ellipsoidal shape, while the bodies of the embodiments in Figures 7B, 7C, and 7D have a hemispherical-parabolic shape. The four torpedoes manufactured were three-dimensional prototypes of hollow rigid plastic manufactured with a 3D printer, and were 25 centimeters in length.

[0041] In this specification, the ellipsoidal shape in Figure 7A is also referred to as the “improved ideal shape.” A toy torpedo with the “ideal shape” is described in Warner (U.S. Patent No. 5,514,023) (Warner 1996), and this shape was manufactured as a toy torpedo by Swimways in the United States, and is referred to as the original Toypedo. This “ideal shape” was improved to the current “improved ideal shape” by incorporating a planar cutout at the tail end. This planar cutout at the tail end provided a flat surface for placing a finger behind the tail fin. In particular, the tip of the nose of the torpedo with the “ideal shape” was also flattened. Figure 8 shows the outline of the prototype described above as the “improved ideal shape,” with an example of a toy torpedo with the “ideal shape” of a submarine or torpedo (Joubert 2004) superimposed on it. The dimensions of the prototype shown in Figure 7A are shown in Table 2 below.

[0042] [Table 1]

[0043] The embodiments shown in Figures 7B-7D each have a hemispherical nose section with a maximum diameter of 4.4 cm, and the equation for the silhouette of the parabolic surface of the shaft is given by Y = 5.7X, where Y is the length in cm from the vertex of the paraboloid and X is the distance in cm from the center line of the paraboloid. 2The value becomes +0X-3.2. The flat end of the toy torpedo is a plane 3.2 centimeters above the apex, and the asymptotic sphere at the nose end is located Y=23 centimeters from the tail. The embodiment shown in Figure 7B has five short spiral fins, the embodiment shown in Figure 7C has four short straight fins, and the embodiment shown in Figure 7D has four long straight fins.

[0044] The prototypes in Figures 7A-7D were tested alongside the original Toypedo, which has the "ideal shape," while the solid rubber prototype has the "improved ideal shape" as described above.

[0045] Initially, the underwater performance of the hollow shell prototype was tested by injecting a semi-solid gel through a 10mm hole in the tail. The improved ideal-shaped prototype filled with gel performed adequately, but due to the porous nature of the 3D-printed shell, the gel dissolved and eventually decomposed when the device was stored underwater. Subsequently, it was determined that the performance of the water-filled prototype was within acceptable limits.

[0046] Generally speaking, it was predicted that less streamlined hemispherical-parabolic designs would be less efficient than more streamlined elliptical toy torpedoes. Another prediction was that, in the case of hemispherical structures, the passive distance traveled when hand-thrown into the water would not be as long as that of the original Toypedo, which conformed to the improved ideal shape described above, or to the ideal shape according to Joubert (Joubert 2004) and Warner (Warner 1996).

[0047] The tests were conducted by throwing an improved ideal shape, a hemispherical-parabolic version, an original Toypedo (with the ideal shape) of similar size and mass of approximately 290 grams, and other existing toy torpedoes into a swimming pool with a constant depth of 4 feet. See Tables 3 and 4. The toy torpedoes were hand-thrown using approximately 75% of the maximum throwing force and released from the hand within 1 foot (30 cm) of the water surface. It was found that throws using the stronger 100% force caused the torpedoes to deviate significantly from their course. The reason for using hand-throwing in this test is that the actual and intended use of this recreational underwater throwing sport 10 is hand-thrown, and therefore this experiment also aimed to study the performance of torpedoes used by human hands.

[0048] The distance traveled was measured from the wall of the swimming pool, i.e., from the point where the thrower's back foot was placed, to the point where the torpedo hit the bottom. Each torpedo was thrown once in a random order, and the distance was recorded. This process was repeated, and the results, average distance traveled, and variability of distance traveled are shown in Table 3.

[0049] [Table 2]

[0050] Regarding average distance traveled, no statistically significant differences were found among these throwable torpedoes. The fact that no differences in distance were detected may be due to the structure and shape of these toy torpedoes, all designed to be efficient in their respective usage scenarios. However, the original Toypedo, with its ideal body shape and large fins, showed the greatest variability in distance traveled. This variability may be due to the difficulty in handling and throwing toy torpedoes with pointed tails and greatly exaggerated tail fins. This conclusion is supported by the results of the toy torpedo with the second-worst reproducibility, namely a 3D-printed hemispherical-parabolic torpedo with a long tail fin extending 34 percent of the body length (Figure 7D) (see attached Table 4). Based on this study, it was found that, in terms of ease of handling and better reproducibility of throwing distance (smaller variance or standard deviation), recreational underwater throwable torpedoes for hand-throwing in water perform better when they have shorter, smaller tail fins that extend over less than 20% of the hull length.

[0051] Surprisingly, there was no statistically significant difference in the average distance traveled among the tested devices. In addition, hemispherical-parabolic projectiles / torpedoes followed conventional straight, downward-curving trajectories (see Table 4).

[0052] In contrast, the improved ideal shape prototype consistently exhibited a distinctive upward pitching motion. A hollow plastic or solid rubber toy torpedo with a hemispherical nose implies a larger impact area upon hitting another person, and therefore safer than the elliptical or pointed nose shapes of conventional toy torpedoes. Importantly and surprisingly, this additional safety feature is not at the expense of reduced performance compared to the original Toypedo with its ideal shape. Based on the empirical experimental data summarized in Tables 3 and 4, the theoretical discrepancies with the optimal hydrodynamics for distance and velocity during pool use were not statistically apparent.

[0053] Furthermore, during this study, it was unexpectedly discovered that the throwing sports device 10 with the hole 24 could be filled with water in a short time by pointing its tail upwards and shaking it up and down in the water. Conversely, it was also possible to easily empty the water from the hollow recreational underwater throwing sports device 10 with the hole 24 by pointing its tail downwards and shaking it above the water.

[0054] Accordingly, this disclosure provides a method for filling a recreational underwater throwing sport 10 with water, the method comprising the steps of holding the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 in the water with its flat end 20 facing the water surface, and shaking the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 vertically in the water. The shaking can be performed for 35 seconds or less for the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 to be filled with water. With more vigorous shaking, the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 can be filled with water within 30 seconds.

[0055] The disclosure also provides a method for draining water from a recreational underwater throwing sport 10 in a similar manner, the method comprising the steps of holding the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 with its flat end 20 facing downwards outside the water, and shaking the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 vertically. To drain water from the recreational underwater throwing sport 10, the shaking should be performed for 35 seconds or less. With more vigorous shaking, water can be drained from the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 within 30 seconds. The ease and speed of filling and draining were surprising, as it had been predicted that the hole 24 would be too small to allow for rapid passage of water due to the single opening and the viscosity of water. Only after performing the procedure described above did shaking the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 generate an energetic pumping action to fill and empty it, and it was found that the single opening / hole 24 is practical for draining and filling. In addition, having a single opening / hole 24 prevents water loss due to acceleration during throwing. The suitability of the 3D printed prototype of the hard shell with 24 holes (10 mm in diameter) in the tail section was surprising, especially in terms of ease of filling and emptying, as well as performance in water. This hollow recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10 made of rigid plastic can be manufactured inexpensively by injection molding or blow molding, and the hollow recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10 has the commercial advantage of being lighter and easier to ship and transport than the solid version.

[0056] Figures 9-11 illustrate how the recreational underwater throwing sports equipment 10 can be used in recreational activities such as torpedo avoidance games. Figure 9 shows a thrower 100, a dodger 102, the recreational underwater throwing sports equipment 10, a weighted strap 104 at the bottom indicating a zone that the dodger 102 must not enter, a weighted or fastening 106 at the top for holding the strap 104 to the deck of the swimming pool 108, and the water surface 110. The dashed line 112 represents the path taken by the recreational underwater throwing sports equipment 10. This "torpedo avoidance" game may include an attacking player 100 throwing one or more recreational underwater throwing sports equipment 10 at an opposing player 102, and the opposing player 102 attempting to avoid or dodge the recreational underwater throwing sports equipment 10 so as not to be hit or touched by it. This torpedo avoidance game can be played in shallow water 3-4 feet (90-120 centimeters) deep, making it easier to jump over or dodge the recreational underwater throwing game equipment 10. In some cases, the thrower 100 must be at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from the targeting player 102 (the dodger). In addition, the dodger 102 must not leave the area between two vertical markers 104 along the wall of the swimming pool 108 that demarcate the game's play zone during the game. Without a proper zone for play, the game would become a less interesting game of tag. The markers 104 along the wall of the swimming pool 108 make this torpedo avoidance game a practical throw / dodge game. The two vertical markers 104 can each be a 1-inch (2.5 cm) wide strap. A weight 114 of at least 2 ounces (60 grams) can be attached to the lower end of each strap 104. Each strap 104 must be long enough so that the other end of the strap 104 extends above the water surface 110 to allow for clamping in place or holding with weights 106 on the deck of the swimming pool 108. The markers 104 can be long enough to reach at least 3 feet below the water surface 110.A particularly fun version of the torpedo avoidance game might be a game in which thrower 100 starts with three recreational underwater throwing game tools 10 and then throws them one by one towards dodging person 102 within an area defined by markers 104 along the wall of a swimming pool 108. Three quick throws in succession add fun and activity for dodging person 102.

[0057] Figure 10 is an illustration of a multiplayer version of the torpedo avoidance game of Figure 9 for three or more players, showing two throwers 100, dodgers 102 wearing goggles, a recreational underwater throwing toy 10, and the water surface 110. Weighted straps 104 are placed on the side walls of the pool deck 108, and these straps 104 indicate the positions where the throwers 100 must stay apart from each other and the zones where the dodgers 102 must stay during play. In this type of application, the dodgers 102 cannot leave the defined area between the throwers 100, who are spaced about 12 feet (4 meters) apart. The recreational underwater throwing toy 10 is thrown from one player 100 on one side of the area toward the other player 100, but each time with the aim of hitting the dodger 102 in the center.

[0058] Figure 11 shows how a person 100 standing in a swimming pool throws an improved, ideally shaped aquatic throwing exercise device 10 (for example, Figure 7A) with their hand 116 from just above the water surface 110 at a slightly downward angle toward the water surface 110. The dashed line 112 shows the trajectory of the motion produced by this method, namely the motion of the aquatic throwing exercise device 10 bouncing up from the water surface in a manner similar to that of a dolphin leaping.

[0059] A variety of methods can be used to throw the recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10. One method involves grasping the area around the tail fin 14 of the elongated body 12, placing fingers on the flat end 20, and flicking it into the water with the fingers fully extended. The recreational underwater throwing exercise device 10, propelled in this manner, follows its own path through the water, consistently tilting upward towards the surface, and then slowing down to settle on the bottom.

[0060] Another way to throw this improved “ideal shape” recreational underwater throwing toy 10 is to hold the tail end of the recreational underwater throwing toy 10 in the shape of a pot handle and throw the recreational underwater throwing toy 10 into the water at a slightly downward angle. This method first propels the recreational underwater throwing toy 10 downward in the water, and then throws the recreational underwater throwing toy 10 out of the water like a dolphin leaping out of the water. The additional velocity generated from throwing the recreational underwater throwing toy 10 into the water amplifies the upward pitch of the device, causing it to initially descend into the water but then leap out of the water like a dolphin, as shown in Figure 11. This behavior provides a fun effect for people who are simply playing catch with a toy torpedo in the shallow part of a swimming pool.

[0061] There are three factors that cause this upward pitching behavior: (i) net buoyancy, i.e., it floats; (ii) the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 will pitch upward when moving through water if its overall density is greater than that of water, but the density of its nose is lower than that of its tail; and (iii) the appropriate angle of the tail fin or the curvature of the body of the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 acts like a rudder, maneuvering the throwing sport upward in its forward motion. However, none of these apply. For solid objects such as rubber torpedoes, there have been previous descriptions of approaches using the curvature of the throwing sport body (PCT / CA2021 / 051021). Approaches that use the shape of the fin or body to derive the curvature of the motion path require that the throwing sport is correctly positioned around its long axis so that the fin creates a predictable path during the throw. Precisely positioning the steering fin to point upwards, downwards, left, or right is extremely difficult for players to achieve during a competitive game.

[0062] The remarkable and consistent upward motion, or positive pitching, of the solid rubber toy torpedo prototypes of the same shape, including the rotating hollow shell, reveals a fourth method (iv) for directing the recreational underwater throwing toy 10 upward, a useful feature in a two-player game described by Vieth (Vieth 2022) (PCT / CA2021 / 051021). The upward pitching of the solid rubber toy torpedo prototypes occurs independently of their rotational position when thrown into the water.

[0063] The torpedo's rapid movement occurs upon impact with the water's surface, causing such a violent upward pitch that the toy torpedo leaps out of the water like a dolphin. In other words, even if you initially throw a solid rubber toy torpedo prototype at a slight angle of about 10 degrees downward from horizontal, the projectile will curve and move upward before eventually slowing down and settling at the bottom of the pool.

[0064] To test whether there is a relationship between upward ascent, i.e., positive pitching, and fins that induce a spiral, or whether positive pitching is due to an artificial distribution of weight or density along a solid rubber torpedo, another torpedo was manufactured with five fins oriented in a direction coinciding with the torpedo's long axis, i.e., fins that are not angled with respect to the torpedo's long axis and do not induce a spiral (see Table 4). Underwater tests using a projectile design with straight fins resulted in a trajectory that was generally the same as that of conventional toy torpedoes, descending. Therefore, the upward, dolphin-like bouncing phenomenon of a solid rubber torpedo with a distinctive combination of five angled tail fins, an improved ideal shape for the nose, and a flat tail is neither due to an artificial distribution of weight or density, nor is it due to the effect of the rudder type.

[0065] The dolphin-like bounce is a useful feature when playing catch in the water or when standing in a shallow pool, as this bounce keeps the recreational underwater throwing sport 10 close to the water surface during play.

[0066] Figures 12-19C show further embodiments of a throwing sports device, with the overall size shown as 200.

[0067] This throwing weapon has a nose 204, a body 202 extending therefrom, and four fins 206.

[0068] The body has a longitudinal axis AA and a tail section 208 in a plane perpendicular to this axis, and is a paraboloid that extends from the nose to the tail and tapers from the nose to the tail according to the following equation. Y = 5.7X² + 0X - 3.2 In this regard, Y is the length (in centimeters) from the vertex of the parabola that defines the tail of the parabola. X is the distance (in centimeters) from the center line of the parabola.

[0069] The nose section 204 includes a dome section 210, a bumper section 212, and a bridge section 214.

[0070] The dome section 210 is a hemispherical portion having a diameter equal to the maximum diameter of the fuselage 202, to which the fuselage 202 extends.

[0071] The bumper portion 212 is a hemispherical arc-shaped portion, and this hemisphere has a diameter X. Y is the distance from the tail to the tip of the dome section. Y = 5.7X² + 0X - 3.2

[0072] The innermost surface of the bumper portion 212 has a plane 216 located on the sides of two recesses 218, the recesses 218 being cylindrical portions having a diameter of approximately 80% of the diameter of the hemisphere and sharing a common origin with the hemisphere, and the plane 216 being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis AA of the body and located at a distance from the origin equal to approximately 75% of the radius of the hemisphere.

[0073] The dome portion 210 is connected to the bumper portion 212 by a bridge portion 214, and the bridge portion 214 defines a pair of troughs 222 in combination with the recesses.

[0074] In this embodiment, the troughs terminate at the fuselage and bridge sections, and each trough has a saddle shape 224 in combination with the dome.

[0075] The fins 206 are arranged radially and at equal intervals around the body 202. The outermost edge 226 of each fin defines a line that substantially coincides with the junction of the body 202 and the snout 204. The fins 206 extend to about 18% of the length of the throwing device and terminate about 50.2 mm before the tail. The leading edge of each fin is positioned at an angle of about 45° to the axis, and the trailing edge is positioned at an angle of about 40.5° to the axis. Each fin is about 40 mm thick.

[0076] The throwing weapon has a mass of approximately 290 grams and a hardness of approximately 69 durometers.

[0077] The length of the throwing weapon is approximately 2512.6 mm from the tip of the bumper to the flat end of the tail.

[0078] Another embodiment is shown in Figures 20-27C. The throwing device 300 has a longitudinal axis LL, a nose 302, a tail 304, a body 306, and a number of fins 308.

[0079] The nose portion 302 has a peripheral portion 310 and a central portion 312.

[0080] The surrounding portion 310 has a bridge 314 and a pair of legs 316 that extend from the bridge 314 to the fuselage 306 and form an arch. The legs 316 have an inner concave surface 318 facing each other and an outer convex surface 320 facing opposite directions. The bridge 314 has a flat surface 322 facing the fuselage portion 306 and a hemispherical surface 324 facing the opposite direction.

[0081] The surrounding portion 310 straddles the central portion 312 at a distance, and the central portion 312 has a marginal wall 328 having opposite main convex surfaces 326, each having a tombstone shape with a generally semicircular top, and a pair of side surfaces 330 extending between the opposite convex surfaces 326 and joined by a transition portion 332, the convex surfaces 326 of the central portion 312 facing toward the concave surfaces 318 of the legs 316, and the transition portion 332 of the marginal wall 328 is generally toroidal in shape.

[0082] The tail section 304 is roughly frustoconical in shape and terminates at the plane 334.

[0083] The body 306 extends from the nose 302 to the tail 304 and has an annular surface 336.

[0084] The surface 336 of the fuselage 306, the side 330 of the edge wall 328, and the convex surface 320 of the leg 316 correspond to a conceptual spindle-shaped contour 338 that extends from the hemispherical surface 324 to the end surface 334 of the tail, and tapers more abruptly near the end of the tail.

[0085] The fins 308 are arranged radially at intervals around the body 306 and tail 304, bridging the body 306 and tail 304. Each fin 308 terminates before the tail end 334 and has a leading edge 340 that extends outward from the axis at an acute angle α toward the tail, and a trailing edge 342 positioned at an angle β with respect to the axis.

[0086] The throwing sports equipment 300 shown as an example has the following characteristics:

[0087] [Table 3]

[0088] Those skilled in the art will easily understand that the above structure creates a double nose structure, and as a result, the nose collapses slightly to mitigate the impact pressure when the throwing weapon hits an object.

[0089] While specific embodiments of the double nose structure have been shown and described here, it is clear that modifications are possible in terms of shape, geometry, and constituent materials.

[0090] Therefore, it is clear that the present invention provides useful improvements to throwing equipment suitable for sports, and to methods for throwing and catching in water. The present invention provides structures and apparatus that fully satisfy the purposes, objectives, and advantages set forth herein. Thus, while specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art will understand that alternatives, modifications, and changes thereto may be suggested, and that this specification is intended to encompass all such alternatives, modifications, and changes that fall within the accompanying claims.

[0091] Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, unless otherwise specified, the words “encompassing” and “including,” and variations thereof, as used in the description and claims herein are not intended to exclude other additives, ingredients, integers, or steps. Moreover, the present invention disclosed exemplary herein may be adequately carried out even if there are no elements not specifically disclosed herein.

[0092] In addition, when words like "substantially" or "essentially" are used with adjectives or adverbs, they are intended to broaden the range of a particular characteristic; for example, "substantially planar" means indicating a characteristic related to a plane, nearly planar, and / or planar element.

[0093] Furthermore, the use of the terms "he," "his," and "his" does not specifically refer to men, and can easily be reinterpreted as "she," "her," and "hers," respectively.

[0094] Furthermore, while this discussion deals with prior art known to the inventor, it does not acknowledge that all the technologies discussed are citable to this application.

[0095] [Table 4]

[0096] [Table 5] [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 10. Water throwing sports equipment for recreation 12. Long, slender body 14. Tail fin 15 Tip 16. Hemispherical nose 17 channels 18 Parabolic tail 19 Bumper 20 Flat end 22 Interior space 24 holes 26 Section 1 28 Section 2 30 Screw part 32 Screw part 34 seams 100 throwers, players 102 The person who dodges, the player, the one who avoids 104 Straps, Vertical Markers, Markers 106 Fasteners, weights 108 Swimming pools, pool decks 110 Water surface 112 Dashed line 116 hands 202 Fuselage 204 Nose 206 fins 208 Tail 210 Dome section 212 Bumper section 214 Bridge section 216 plane 218 recess 222 Trough 224 Saddle Shape 226 Outermost edge 300 throwing sports equipment 302 Nose 304 Tail 306 Torso, fuselage part 308 fins 310 Surrounding area 312 Center part 314 Bridge 316 legs 318 Internal concave surface 320 External convex surface 322 plane 324 hemisphere 326 Principal convex surface, convex surface 328 Veranda wall 330 Side view 332 Transition part 334 Plane, end face, tail end 336 Annular surface 338 Spindle-shaped outline 340 Leading edge 342 Trailing edge

Claims

1. A throwing game device for throwing into water, A slender body having a hemispherical nose and a parabolic tail extending from the hemispherical nose to a flat end, Multiple tail fins positioned near the flat end extending away from the elongated body, A throwing sporting item encompassing [a specific type of throwing object].

2. The throwing sports device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tail fins extends to no more than 20% of the length of the elongated body, and each of the plurality of tail fins is positioned at least 0.5 cm away from the flat end.

3. The throwing sports device according to claim 2, wherein the outer surface of the parabolic tail portion tapers from the hemispherical nose portion.

4. The outer surface of the parabolic tail portion is generally given by formula, Y=5.7X ２ +0X-3.2 It tapers down accordingly, In this, Y is the length from the vertex of the paraboloid that defines the parabolic tail, and X is the distance from the median of the paraboloid. The throwing sports device according to claim 3.

5. The throwing sports device according to claim 3, wherein the hardness of the elongated body is 69 durometers or less.

6. The throwing sports device according to claim 5, wherein the hemispherical nose portion includes a channel extending through it, the channel being oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, and a bumper being formed between the tip of the hemispherical nose portion and the channel.

7. The throwing exercise device according to claim 6, wherein the channel is positioned 4 millimeters behind the tip of the hemispherical nose portion, and the channel is approximately 4 millimeters high and 15 millimeters long.

8. The throwing sports device according to claim 3, wherein the elongated body is hollow and comprises a first section and a second section that is removably fixed to the first section, the first section forming at least 15 percent of the elongated body, and the first section and the second section, when removably fixed to each other, integrate to form an internal space within the elongated body.

9. The throwing sports device according to claim 8, wherein the first section includes a threaded portion, the second section includes a corresponding threaded portion, and when the threaded portions of the first section and the second section are functionally coupled, the first section and the second section are releasably fixed together to form the elongated body with the internal space.

10. The throwing aerodynamic device according to claim 8, wherein the first section forms roughly half of the elongated body and includes the hemispherical nose, and the second section includes the tail fin and the flat end.

11. The throwing sports device according to claim 8, wherein the first section and the second section are loosely joined to each other and separate in response to impact.

12. The aforementioned elongated body is further, Interior space and, A hole is provided at or near the flat end, which is in fluid communication with the internal space, A throwing sports device according to claim 3, comprising the above.

13. The throwing sports device according to claim 12, wherein the hole is positioned at the flat end.

14. The throwing sports device according to claim 12, wherein the hole has a diameter of 8 mm to 16 mm.

15. A method for filling a throwing sports device with water according to claim 12, In the water, the throwing device is held with its flat end facing the water surface, The throwing motion is performed by swinging the aforementioned throwing device vertically in the water, A method of including.

16. A throwing device for throwing into water, comprising a longitudinal axis, a nose, a tail, a body, and multiple fins, In that regard, The aforementioned nose portion has a peripheral portion and a central portion. The surrounding portion has a bridge and a pair of legs that extend from the bridge to the fuselage and form an arch. The aforementioned legs have inner surfaces facing each other and outer convex surfaces facing opposite directions. The surrounding portion spans the central portion at a distance, and the central portion has main surfaces facing opposite directions and edge walls having a pair of sides extending between the oppositely facing main surfaces and joined by a transition portion, and the main surfaces of the central portion face the legs. The body extends from the nose to the tail and has an annular surface, The surface of the fuselage, the side of the central portion, and the convex surface of the legs correspond to a conceptual spindle-shaped contour that extends from the bridge to the tail and tapers more sharply near the tail. The fins are arranged radially around the body and tail at intervals, bridging the body and tail. A throwing sporting item.

17. The bridge has a hemispherical plane that faces away from the fuselage portion, The aforementioned two opposing main surfaces are convex, and generally each has the shape of a tombstone with a semicircular top. The leg has a concave inner surface, The convex surface of the central portion faces the concave surface of the leg, The transition portion of the edge wall is generally toroidal in shape. The aforementioned tail section is generally frustoconical in shape and terminates on a plane. The throwing sports device according to claim 16.

18. The throwing sports device according to claim 17, wherein each fin terminates in front of the tail and has a leading edge that extends outward from the axis at an acute angle toward the nose, and a trailing edge that is positioned at a certain angle with respect to the axis.

19. The throwing sports device according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of fins include a pair of fins spaced apart in the direction of the legs and a pair of fins spaced apart within the width of the central portion.

20. A throwing sports device according to claim 19, having a length of approximately 25 cm, a mass of approximately 290 grams, and a material hardness of less than approximately 69 durometers.

21. When expressed as a percentage of the total length, Table 1 A throwing sports device according to claim 20, having dimensions close to those of the specified object.

22. A throwing sports device made from solid rubber, according to any one of claims 3, 6, 16, 17, 20, and 21.

23. The throwing sports equipment according to claim 21, wherein when the throwing sports equipment is thrown into the water and hits a person, the surrounding portion sufficiently absorbs the impact, thereby preventing injury to the mouth or face.

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