Flying object

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a body portion (10) of a flying object (1), the body portion comprising a base layer (100) of polymeric foam and a first coating layer of a polyolefin film, and to a flying object (1) comprising said body portion (10). In one embodiment, the flying object (1) is a flying toy. The present disclosure makes available an improved body portion (10) and flying object (1) with lower weight and increased durability as compared to prior art.

Description

FLYING OBJECTTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a body portion of a flying object. In particular, the flying object of the present disclosure may be a flying toy.BACKGROUND

[0002] Flying objects such as fliers, Frisbees™, shuttlecocks, gyroscopic flying devices, throwing rings / discs, model airplanes, or drones are popular to use for recreational purposes.

[0003] To be able to fly, a flying object needs to be lightweight. Furthermore, the flying object needs to maintain its shape to maintain its aerodynamical properties during the flight and not deform mid-flight.

[0004] Polymeric foam, for instance a microcellular polymeric foam such as Microcellular Polypropylene (MPP), is a lightweight material which maintains its shape when cured. For this reason, polymeric foam maybe used for constructing a body portion of a flying object. However, for the body portion to be sufficiently lightweight to maintain good flying abilities it is desirable to have a polymeric foam which is as thin as possible to avoid adding weight to the body portion. However, a thin layer of polymeric foam may be brittle, which in turn affects the durability of the flying object.SUMMARY

[0005] One objective of the present disclosure is to make available an improved body portion of a flying object with lower weight and increased durability as compared to prior art.

[0006] One further objective of the present disclosure is to make available an improved flying object comprising a body portion with lower weight and increased durability as compared to prior art.

[0007] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc." are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element,apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

[0008] According to a first aspect, the present disclosure makes available a body portion of a flying object, the body portion comprising a base layer of polymeric foam and a first coating layer of a polyolefin film.

[0009] A body portion may be part of a body of the flying object. Alternatively, a body portion may make up the whole of the body of the flying object.

[0010] The polymeric foam may be a microcellular polymeric foam, for instanceMicrocellular Polypropylene (MPP) foam. Also other microcellular foams are contemplated, such as microcellular thermoplastic polyurethane. Also other polymeric foams are contemplated, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and expanded polystyrene (EPS).

[0011] Polymeric foams allow the provision of flying objects with good flying properties.

[0012] Polymeric foams are typically produced by introducing a gas into a molten polymer which causes the molten polymer to foam whereby voids are produced in the polymer. Due to the voids, the polymeric foam is lightweight after curing. The density of the polymeric foam may be adjusted by introducing more or less voids into the polymer, resulting in a lighter or heavier polymeric foam. During foaming, the polymer may be shaped in any desirable shape which is maintained after curing.

[0013] However, due to the voids in the polymeric foam, the polymeric foam may be brittle. By increasing the overall thickness of the polymeric foam, a more durable body portion may be achieved. However, the increase in thickness of the polymeric foam will also result in a heavier polymeric foam which will add weight to the body portion. The added weight may in turn have an adverse effect on the flying properties of the flying object.

[0014] Polyolefins are polymeric materials such as polyethylene or polythene, which are known to be waterproof and lightweight. A polyolefin film is a network of interlaced polyolefins, which are durable and resistant against tear. The polyolefin film maybe of any suitable type such as woven, spun-bonded, melt-blown, or flash- spun. The inventors of the present disclosure have realized that the durability of thepolymeric foam is improved by introducing a first coating layer of a polyolefin film onto the base layer of polymeric foam. Through providing the base layer with the first coating layer, the durability of the body portion can be significantly increased with a marginal increase of weight and thickness. In fact, by having a more durable body portion, a flying object maybe constructed from even thinner polymeric foam as compared to prior art. Consequently, a body portion with a lower weight may be obtained whereby the flying properties of the flying object are improved.

[0015] According to an embodiment of said first aspect, the flying object is a flying toy. The flying toy may be a flier. The flying toy may also be shuttlecock, a model airplane, gyroscopic flying device, throwing ring / disc, or drone.

[0016] Durable and lightweight body portions are especially desirable in flying toys, since flying toys may be small and may be intended for activities where they may be subjected to harsh treatment such as throwing, kicking, collisions, or similar.

[0017] According to an embodiment of said first aspect, the body portion is an artificial feather.

[0018] According to an embodiment of said first aspect, the base layer has a maximum thickness of 5 mm. As yet another alternative, the base layer may have a maximum thickness of 2 mm. In one preferred alternative, the base layer may have a maximum thickness of 1 mm.

[0019] According to an embodiment of said first aspect, the polyolefin film has a density in the range of 311 - 331 kg / nD and with advantage a density of 321 kg / nD.

[0020] According to an embodiment of said first aspect, the polymeric foam has a density in the range 85 - 95 kg / nD. The polymeric foam may with advantage have a density of 90 kg / nD. Alternatively, it may have a maximum density of 95 kg / nD.

[0021] At densities above 95 kg / m3, the trade-off between weight and durability maybe considered less advantageous for the body portion of a flying object since an excessively durable product will be obtained at a heavier weight.

[0022] A density in the range 85 - 95 kg / m3 may be associated with a Shore A hardness that is above or equal to 85 for providing a foaming rate of 10 times.

[0023] A foaming rate of 10 times may be preferred when fastening a coating layer to the base layer using adhesive.

[0024] According to an embodiment of said first aspect, the first coating layer is fixed to a first side of the base layer.

[0025] According to an embodiment of said first aspect, the base layer further comprises a second coating layer of a polyolefin film, the second coating layer being fixed to a second, opposite side of the base layer.

[0026] According to an embodiment of said first aspect, each coating layer is fixed to the base layer by a layer of adhesive.

[0027] According to other embodiments each coating layer may be fixed to the base layer through stitching or heat pressing.

[0028] The first and second coating layer may additionally be formed as a sleeve surrounding and attached to the base layer, for instance through stitching.

[0029] According to an embodiment of said first aspect, each coating layer has a maximum thickness of 0.7 mm and with advantage of 0.15 mm.

[0030] According to an embodiment of said first aspect, the base layer is 3 - 14 times thicker than the first coating layer or second coating layer.

[0031] According to an embodiment of said first aspect, the polyolefin film comprises flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers.

[0032] Flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers have been shown to be breathable, waterproof, and resistant against tearing. Furthermore, flashspun high- density polyethylene fibers may exhibit paper-like qualities, whereby colors are easily attached to their surface. Hence, a body portion of a flying object having an outer surface of flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers may be easily dyed without a need for additional surface treatments. This is especially desirable in the case of flying toys, which may be colorful.

[0033] According to an embodiment of said first aspect, the polymeric foam is a microcellular polymeric foam and with advantage a microcellular polypropylene foam.

[0034] According to a second aspect, the present disclosure makes available a flying object comprising the body portion of any previous embodiment.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Aspects and embodiments are now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0036] Fig. 1 shows a flying object according to the second aspect of the present disclosure.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a body portion of a flying object according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows a cross section of a material combination used to form a body portion according to an embodiment of the first aspect.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The aspects of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown.

[0040] These aspects may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limiting; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of all aspects of invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

[0041] Fig. 1 shows a flying object 1 according to the second aspect of the present disclosure. The flying object 1 may be a flying toy comprising a set of body portions 10, 12, and 14. In one embodiment, the body portions 10, 12, 14 may be a head 14 and an artificial feather 10 connected by a connecting part 12. The flying object 1 of fig. 1 is depicted as a shuttlecock, but the flying object 1 maybe of any suitable type such as a Frisbee™, gyroscopic flying devices, throwing rings / discs, model airplanes, or drones.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows the body portion 10 according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. In particular, fig. 2 shown an embodiment in which the body portion 10 maybe an artificial feather 10. In one embodiment, the artificial feather 10 may comprise four mutually parallel wings, each wing having a base layer 100 of polymeric foam, such as microcellular polypropylene (MPP), comprising a first 200 and second 300 coating layer of a polyolefin film. The first coating layer 200 maybefixed to a first side of the base layer 100 whereby the first coating layer 200 make up a first surface of the respective wing. The second coating layer 300 maybe fixed to a second side of the base layer 100 whereby the second coating layer 300 make up a second surface of the respective wing. The second side of the base layer 100 maybe opposite to the first side of the base layer 100. It should here be realized that the artificial feather may include more or fewer wings, such as five or three wings.

[0043] Fig. 3 shows a cross section of a material combination used to form the body portion 10 according to an embodiment of the first aspect. The material combination comprises a base layer 100 of polymeric foam, a first coating layer 200 of polyolefin film and optionally a second coating layer 300 of polyolefin film. Thus, the body portion 10 comprises a base layer 100 of polymeric foam and a first coating layer 200 of a polyolefin film, which may be fixed to the base layer 100 by a layer of adhesive 400. The body portion 10 may optionally also comprise a second coating layer 300 of a polyolefin film which may be fixed to the base layer 100 by a layer of adhesive 400. The base layer maybe 3 - 14 times thicker than the first 200 or second 300 coating layer.

[0044] As an alternative to using adhesive, the coating layers 200, 300 may be fixed to the base layer through stitching or heat pressing. The coating layers 200, 300 may additionally be formed as a sleeve surrounding and attached to the base layer 100, for instance through stitching.

[0045] The density of the polymeric foam may be in the range of 85 - 95 kg / rm. The density may with advantage be 90 kg / rm. In one embodiment, the polymeric foam may have a maximum density of 95 kg / m3. The density range of the polymeric foam maybe associated with a specific hardness, which maybe defined by the Shore A hardness scale.

[0046] A density in the range 85 - 95 kg / rm may be associated with a Shore A hardness that is above or equal to 85. This provides a foaming rate of ten times, which for MPP is termed MPP10.

[0047] A foaming rate of 10 times may be preferred when fastening the first coating layer to the polymeric foam using adhesive.

[0048] The base layer 100 may have a maximum thickness of 5 mm. In one preferred embodiment, the base layer 100 may have a thickness of 1 mm. A thickerbase layer 100 provides for a heavier and more durable body portion 10, 12, 14, while a thinner base layer 100 provides for a lighter but less durable body portion 10, 12, 14. As is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, different combinations of thickness and densities for the polymeric foam maybe realized to achieve a desired trade-off between durability and weight.

[0049] The first coating layer 200 or second coating layer 300 may have a maximum thickness of 0.7 mm. In one preferred embodiment, the first coating layer 200 or second coating layer 300 maybe 0.15 mm. The density of the polyolefin film maybe in a range of 311 - 331 kg / rm, with advantage of 321 kg / rm.

[0050] A body portion having a base layer made of a polymeric foam enables the provision of a flying object with excellent flying capability. However, polymeric foams are also problematic in that they may be too brittle. Through providing the base layer with a first and optionally also a second coating layer, the durability of the body portion can be significantly increased with a marginal increase of weight and thickness of the body portion. The use of the coating layers also allows the polymeric foam to be even thinner.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A body portion (10) of a flying object (i), the body portion comprising a base layer (100) of polymeric foam and a first coating layer (200) of a polyolefin film.

2. The body portion according to claim 1, wherein the flying object (1) is a flying toy.

3. The body portion according to claim 2, wherein the body portion (10) is an artificial feather.

4. The body portion according to any previous claim, wherein the base layer (100) has a maximum thickness of 5 mm and with advantage of 1 - 2 mm.

5. The body portion according to any previous claim, wherein the polyolefin film has a density in the range of 311 - 331 kg / rm, with advantage a density of 321 kg / rm.

6. The body portion according to any previous claim, wherein the polymeric foam has a density in the range 85 - 95 kg / rm, 53 - 67 kg / rm, 40 - 50 kg / rm, or 31 - 41 kg / m3.

7. The body portion according to any previous claim, wherein the first coating layer (200) is fixed to a first side of the base layer (100).

8. The body portion according to claim 7, further comprising a second coating layer (300) of a polyolefin film, the second coating layer (300) being fixed to a second, opposite side of the base layer (100).

9. The body portion according to any previous claim, wherein each coating layer is fixed to the base layer (100) by a layer of adhesive (400).

10. The body portion according to any previous claim, wherein each coating layer has a maximum thickness of 0.7 mm and with advantage of 0.15 mm.

11. The body portion according to any previous claim, wherein the base layer (100) is 3 - 14 times thicker than the first coating layer (200) or first coating layer (300).

12. The body portion according to any previous claim, wherein the polyolefin film comprises flash-spun high-density polyethylene fibers.

13. The body portion according to any previous claim, wherein the polymeric foam is a microcellular polypropylene foam.14- A flying object (1) comprising the body portion (10) of any previous claim.

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