Throwing Toy Fin Adjustment Ring and Flight Timer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional throwing toys with individually adjustable fins struggle to maintain a consistent spiral motion due to difficulty in adjusting all fins to a common angle of attack, and lack features for monitoring flight time, which affects performance and play value.
Innovation Solution
A throwing toy with a fin mounting portion that allows simultaneous adjustment of fins to a common aerodynamic angle of attack via a rotatable adjustment ring and includes an internal electronic timer to measure flight time, ensuring consistent spiral motion and enhanced play experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fins are individually adjustable, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in adjusting all fins to a common angle of attack
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fin adjustment operations into a single unified operation. By connecting all fins to a common adjustment mechanism (adjustment ring with holes), the user can adjust all fins to the same angle of attack simultaneously by rotating the adjustment ring once, rather than adjusting each fin separately. This merging of operations resolves the contradiction by maintaining individual adjustability while dramatically improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment ring serves as a universal mechanism that controls all fins simultaneously. This single component performs the function of adjusting multiple fins to a common angle, making the system more versatile and easier to operate. The universality of the adjustment mechanism allows one operation to achieve what previously required multiple separate operations.
2Productivity
If multiple fins are adjusted simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to the adjustment mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into simple, discrete components: an adjustment ring with holes, fins with flanges, and pivot points. This segmentation allows for quick assembly and adjustment while keeping each component simple. The modular nature of the segmented design enables simultaneous fin adjustment without requiring a complex integrated mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment ring acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user's single rotational input and the multiple fins that need adjustment. This intermediary component translates one rotational motion into simultaneous angular adjustments of all fins, achieving high productivity through a relatively simple mediating structure rather than a complex direct control system.
3Measurement precision
If a timer is added to measure flight time, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The throwing toy measures its own flight time using an integrated timer that starts when the toy is thrown and stops when it is caught or lands. This self-service measurement capability provides precise flight time data without requiring external timing devices or complex observation systems. The toy autonomously performs the measurement function, adding precision while minimizing the complexity increase through self-contained implementation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables quicker and accurate adjustment of fins for optimal performance, providing a consistent spiral motion and allowing users to track and improve their flight times, enhancing play value and marketability.
Implementation Method 1
The fins are configured to be rotated simultaneously together to present a plurality of aerodynamic surfaces oriented with the same aerodynamic angle of attack, to cause the toy to rotate about the longitudinal throwing axis when the throwing toy is thrown
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and method of adjusting the angle of attack to the longitudinal axis of a plurality of aerodynamic surfaces on a high performance throwing toy which affect the performance of such toy and to also provide a means of measuring such performance by recording the time the toy is airborne during flight.