Boomerang

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a boomerang, and in particular to a boomerang structure having airflow holes to facilitate smooth and stable flying and comprising inclined tabs extending in opposite directions to enhance buoyancy of the boomerang in the air.

2. The Related Art

A conventional boomerang comprises a V-shaped or trifurcate configuration. Such designs often cause instability of boomerang flying in the air, leading to undesired falling of the boomerang, especially when the flying boomerang encounters turbulences or blows. As a consequence, losing the boomerang is one of the major concerns of the boomerang players, which makes unpleasant experience of playing boomerang.

Taiwan Patent Application No. 91215848, filed by the present inventor, discloses a boomerang that allows for stable flying and enhanced floatation of the boomerang in the air. FIG. 1 of the attached drawings shows such a conventional boomerang. However, flying stability and floating cycle of the boomerang can be further improved and the present invention is aimed to further improve the boomerang structure in order to enhance flying stability and extend floating cycle of the boomerang.

An object of the present invention is to provide a boomerang featuring enhanced flying stability and extended flying time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a boomerang comprising a central disk from which wings radially extend, wherein airflow holes are defined in the central disk and the wings to allow airflow to pass therethrough for facilitating flying stability of the boomerang.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a boomerang comprising a central disk from which wings radially extend, wherein tabs that extend in opposite directions with an angle with respect to the central disk are formed for facilitating floatation of the boomerang and thus extending flying time.

To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a boomerang comprising a central disk comprised of concentric inner and outer rings that are connected by radially extending connection sections. Wings radially extend from an outer circumference of the outer ring, corresponding in position to the connection sections. The inner ring defines a central bore. Arc openings are formed between the inner and outer rings and delimited by the connection sections. Aligned openings are defined in each wing and the associated connection section. Tabs extend from edges of the openings in opposite directions and also incline in opposite directions. Further tabs are formed on and extend from an inner circumference of the outer ring. When the boomerang flies, the central bore, the arc openings, and other openings allow airflow to pass therethrough, while the tabs impose constraints to the airflow to induce stable and extended flying of the boomerang in the air.

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional boomerang;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a boomerang constructed in accordance with the present invention with an end weight detached from a wing of the boomerang;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the boomerang of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the boomerang held by a player's hand before the boomerang is thrown out;

FIG. 5 is a top plain view illustrating the operation of the boomerang when flying in the air; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a flying path of the boomerang in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 2 and 3 , a boomerang constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a central disk comprised of an inner ring 2 defining a central bore 21 and an outer ring 1 substantially concentric to and surrounding the inner ring 2 . A plurality of connection sections 4 connects between the inner and outer rings 2 , 1 . Preferably, the connection sections 4 are extended in a radial direction of the central disk and are spaced at a fixed angular interval in a circumferential direction. Arc openings 11 are thus defined between the inner and outer rings 2 , 1 and each delimited by adjacent connection sections 4 . Both the central bore 21 and the arc openings 11 serve as passages for airflow therethrough when the boomerang is flying.

A plurality of wings 3 extends from an outer circumference of the outer ring 1 in radial directions. In other words, an axis of each wing 3 coincides with a radius of the central disk. The wings 3 are equally spaced in the circumferential direction of the central disk. Preferably, the number of the wing 3 is identical to that of the connection sections 4 and each wing 3 aligns with each connection section 4 . However, it is apparent that the numbers of the wings 3 and the connection sections 4 are not necessary to agree with each other. In other words, there may be more or less wings 3 than the connection sections 4 . The wings 3 are arranged symmetric about a center axis of the central disk to maintain force balance and thus stable flying. Although symmetric arrangement of the connection sections 4 also helps maintaining force balance and flying stability, it is not necessary to be so.

A plurality of floatation enhancing tabs 5 A extends, preferably in a radial direction, from an inner circumference of the outer ring 1 . The tabs 5 A are arranged symmetric about a center axis of the central disk. This ensures balance of floating forces acting upon the tabs 5 A. In the embodiment, one tab 5 A is arranged between adjacent connection sections 4 . In other words, each tab 5 A extends from the inner circumference of the outer ring 1 into each arc opening 11 whereby airflow passing through the arc opening 11 during the flying of the boomerang provides buoyancy acting upon the tab 5 A.

It is apparent to those having ordinary skills to arrange more than one tab 5 A between the adjacent connection sections 4 or there may be no tab 5 A in some of the arc opening 11 .

The tabs 5 A are inclined upwards with respect to the central disk to guide airflow through the associated arc opening 11 . This enhances smooth and stable flying of the boomerang.

In each connection section 4 , an opening 41 is formed for airflow therethrough during the flying of the boomerang. Arranged immediately close to the opening 41 is a connection section associated tab 5 B, which extends from an edge of the opening 41 with a free end inclined upwards. The tab 5 B can be identical to the tab 5 A and preferably, the tabs 5 A and 5 B are spaced along the inner circumference of the outer ring 1 in an equally spaced manner.

In each wing 3 , an opening 31 is defined for airflow therethrough during the flying of the boomerang. Arranged immediately close to the opening 31 is a wing associated tab 5 C, which extends from an edge of the opening 31 in a direction opposite to the connection section associated tab 5 B and a free end of the wing associated tab 5 C inclines downwards. The wing associated tab 5 C can be identical to the connection section associated tab 5 B but extending and inclined in opposite directions. Both the tabs 5 B, 5 C help maintaining flying stability and smoothness, as well as enhancing floatation of the boomerang.

Preferably, the tabs 5 B and 5 C are aligned in an axis of the wing 3 . Although the wing associated tab 5 C can be formed at any position along the axis of the wing 3 , it is preferred and as illustrated in the drawings that the wing associated tab 5 C extends from an outer circumference of the outer ring 1 in a radial direction.

A weight block 6 is attached to an axial remote free end of each wing 3 , which increases rotation inertia when the boomerang is thrown and in turn enhancing flying stability.

The boomerang can be made of any suitable material, such as a thin plastic board, and is formed by any known techniques, such as cutting or stamping, to form the shape thereof.

Also referring to FIGS. 4–6 , to play the boomerang, a player holds the free end of one wing 3 by one hand with the central disk of the boomerang at an angle of around 30–45 degrees inclined with respect to the horizon. By throwing the boomerang at such an inclining angle, the boomerang rotates as indicated by arrows in FIG. 5 and moves forward as indicated by arrows of FIG. 6 to penetrate into the atmosphere, which induces floatation acting on the boomerang, making the boomerang ascending. During the forward movement, airflow passes through the central bore 21 , the arc openings 11 , as well as openings 31 , 41 defined in the wings 3 and the connection sections 4 , which helps providing a stable and balanced movement of the boomerang through the atmosphere and extending the time cycle when the boomerang maintains in the air.

When the boomerang reaches a highest or farthest point in the ascending path, the boomerang returns along a returning path in which the weight of the boomerang and the air pressure acting upon the boomerang make the boomerang descend, as indicated in FIG. 6 .

The boomerang of the present invention features balanced and stable flotation induced by airflow passing through the central bore 21 , the arc openings 11 , and the openings 31 , 41 defined in the wings 3 and the connection sections 4 , which is subject to constraints imposed by the tabs 5 A, 5 B, 5 C. Thus, a stable and extended flying of the boomerang can be realized. Undesired falling or fast descending of the boomerang caused by turbulences and blows or other factors occurring during the flying of the boomerang can be effectively eliminated.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.