Lightweight Flying Discs Using Resilient Foam and Composite Rims
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flying discs made of hard, non-resilient materials are difficult for younger players to throw long distances and can pose safety risks due to their weight and rigidity, making them challenging to catch and potentially dangerous.
Innovation Solution
Designing lightweight flying discs with adjustable dimensions and using resilient materials, such as foam, to enhance rigidity and flight capabilities, while incorporating different rim profiles and thicknesses for varied flight characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional hard, non-resilient materials are used for flying discs, then flight stability and distance are improved, but safety risks and difficulty to catch increase due to weight and rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from hard, non-resilient plastic to soft, resilient materials with specific durometer ratings (40-90 Shore A). This material parameter change reduces the harmful effects of weight and rigidity while maintaining flight performance through optimized dimensional parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material construction combining soft resilient material for the flight plate with harder material for the rim. This composite approach provides both the safety benefits of soft material and the flight stability of harder material, resolving the contradiction between safety and performance
2Ease of operation
If lightweight materials are used for flying discs, then ease of catching and safety are improved, but flight stability and distance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes dimensional parameters (increased thickness, modified rim dimensions) to compensate for the lower density of soft materials. This maintains flight stability while preserving the ease of catching and safety benefits of lightweight construction
Solution Approach 2:
The composite construction with harder rim material provides the structural integrity needed for stable flight, while the soft flight plate maintains lightweight characteristics for easy catching
3Speed
If hard, non-resilient materials are used for flying discs, then flight distance and stability are improved, but ease of manufacture and adaptability for different skill levels deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables adaptability by varying material durometer and dimensional parameters to create different disc types optimized for various skill levels, while maintaining effective flight distance through proper parameter optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The soft material construction allows the same basic disc design to serve multiple functions and skill levels by adjusting specific parameters, making the product line universally applicable across beginner to advanced players
Data Source
AI summary
Lightweight flying discs for playing flying disc games and sports, such as Frisbee™ golf and ultimate Frisbee™, for example, are provided. The discs comprise a flight plate portion and a rim portion surrounding the flight plate portion. At least the flight plate portion is formed from a lightweight and resilient material. The lightweight material can be a foam, including a polyurethane foam, for example.