MAGNETIC MISSILE AND NOVEL SYSTEM OF USE

This invention relates to a magnetic missile and a novel system using such magnetic missile.

The following Patents show a disk shaped magnetic missile having a central aperture:

O.S. Patent 3,176989 PCT Application WO 85/00528 Magnetic materials say, for the purposes of this application, be divided into "hard" and "soft" magnets.

"Hard magnets" have a remnant flux so that they act as magnets in the absence of any exterior inducing magnetizing force. "Soft magnets" only act as such in the presence of an external magnetizing force (usually a hard magnet). Accordingly, "magnetic material" herein includes both hard and soft magnets. The preferred magnetic material for use herein has multiple north and south poles on one side only of a sheet. It will be noted that although this is a "hard" magnet, the effect of this magnetism is relatively weak on the opposite side of the sheet from the side with the poles. It is also noted that when two of such sheets have their "pole" sides juxtaposed, the sheets will first shift slightly relative to each other, if like poles are opposite, they will attract.

The missiles mentioned in the preceding Patent and PCT Application have been thrown at a magnetic games target and have not been adapted for use with a launching device such as a bow and captured arrow.

In games where the magnetic pissiles are thrown at a target it has been found the average person lacks the skill to get a large percentage of missiles to successfully adhere to the magnetic target resulting in disinterest and the ultimate commercial failure* of the game.

I have also discovered when magnetic missiles with conventional magnetic pole patterns (north pole one side, south pole the other side) sire adapted to a launching device, they are relatively inaffective. When the missile is designed with sufficient magnetism to effectively adhere after its launch to a magnetic target, the same magnetic force co-operating with the magnetic launching surface causes excessive impedance of the missile during launching resulting in an unstable flight and consequently a low rate of adherence to target.

2- I have found that these disadvantages may be overcome by using a flexible disk shaped magnetic missile (with or without a central aperture) with multiple permanent alternating north and south poles induced on one side while the other side of weak renmant magnetism from the magnetized side has a relatively thin flat plastic cover layer. This pole arrangement allows the missile to be magnetically customized whereby the side to adhere to the target (side with north and south poles) will have optimal holding power while the other side has negligible holding power. The missile is used in combination with a launching device having a head with a forwardly facing flat launching surface of hard magnetic material for holding the missile till it is launched by an acceleration element such as an elastic string or band, spring, flexible bow and arrow or compressed air. The hard magnetic material on the launching surface is customized to provide sufficient co-operative magnetism between it and the missile to prevent the missile from falling off while positioning the launching device for missile launch but not to unnecessarily impede the missile on take off. The missile when propelled from the - 3 ,097225 launching surface is intended to attach to a target in a devised orientation. By " desired orientation" is meant, with correct side facing the target and approximately parallel thereto.

The target may be printed or painted with any target indicia desired such as bull's eye. Besides the standard rigid targets of ferrite material, I have found targets of reappliable, reuseable, flexible sheeting adapted to attach to a surface of magnetic material works very effectively in combination with the inventive missile and launching device offering additional benefits. For example a relatively thin target of non-magnetic flexible static cling vinyl may be applied to a magnetic surface.

This arrangement works effectively but will depend on how smooth and clean the magnetic surface is. The least amount of coverage i.e. paint on the surface the better the results. The vinyl target is water proof, can be crumpled and reused without damage and when the static cling becomes less effective the target backing can be moistened and reapplied for game play.

Another target is made of lilce missile material with the exception both sides have multiple north and sotith poles permanently induced. The target is preferably attached to a magnetic surface for use. The target surface and magnetic missile must display sufficient magnetic attraction to cooperate and support the missile on the attached target.

The inventive missile in combination with a launching device and suitable target provides a simple novel and effective game with a high rate of adherence of missile to target for the average person.

In another aspect of the invention the centrally apertured missile is combined with a toy bow and captured arrow, which when propelled from the arrow head is intended to attach to a target.

In accord with the toy bow there is provided a substantially rigid bow frame (preferably of moulded plastic) including upper and lower nipples or anchors, adapted to support a bow string extending vertically between them. The frame defines a rearwardly open space midway between said upper and lower standards to allow reciprocal movement of an arrow shank therein. A forward member joins said upper and lower nipples and defines an approximately centrally located aperture dimensioned and oriented to slidably receive an arrow shank. An elastomeric bow string joins said upper and lower standards. An arrow has a head and a shank and an aperture in the rear of said shank, through which the bow string passes. There is a forwardly facing surface on said head of hard magnetic material.

In a preferred aspect of the toy bow, the frame provides stops above and below the arrow which each extend downwardly from adjacent an anchor and curve forwardly to a location near the aperture, to provide above and below the arrow an interruption to bowstring forward travel, forward of its neutral position in the path from each post to the central aperture. The presence of this stop lengthens the bowstring path from the anchor to the central aperture but more importantly reduces the resilient extension of the elastomer over its entire length in its excursion forwardly of the elastomer's neutral position and prevents the string on the arrow . - 6 - fitting adjacent thereto striking the central portion of the bow and/or damaging the fitting. If it were not for this stop the bow would have to be made of much larger dimensions to avoid such striking and damage. The presence of these stops therefore contributes to the compactness of the bow construction. The stop may be provided by a different frame structure but the design outlined above is preferred.

The terms "upward" and "downward" in the specification and claims herein, and associated formatives, refer to the normal attitude in which a bow is held with the string vertical. The terms are not however used in a limiting sense and in fact the "upper" member mnay be the lower or the two members horisontally disposed relative to each other.

The terms "forwardly" and "rearwardly" herein respectively refer to the intended direction of missile flight from the bow and to the opposite direction.

In drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a side view of the bow and arrow.

Figure 2 is a view of a central extent of the bow loolcing forwardly, and with the arrow omitted.

Figure 3 is a view of the rearward portion of the arrow, looking in the direction for insertion of the bow string.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the elastomeric bow string.

Figure 5 is a front view of the target, Figure 6 is a sectional view of the inventive missile.

Figure 7 is a front view of a missile, and Figure 8 is a side view of the bow and arrow partially in section.

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the arrow head magnetic launching surface and attached missile.

Figure 10 is a section along the lines 10-10 of figure 3.

Figure 11 bottom view of a section of magnetic material of which the missile is fabricated and its magnetic poles, Figure 12 end view of a section of magnetic material of which the missile is fabricated and its magnetic poles.

In the drawings the substantially rigid frame, preferably of moulded plastic defines upper and lower anchors or nipples 10 and 12 and a central member 11 joining the upper standards. The central member may be joined to each of the upper and lower standards 10 by spaced arms 14 and 16 for rigidity. Midway along the central member it is apertured at 20 and oriented to allow forward and rearward sliding on an arrow shank 30. In the preferred embodiment shown the aperture 20 is made larger than the arrow shank requires and the aperture is provided for low friction, with forward and rearward nylon bushings 22 which are glued or otherwise attached to the aperture walls and which are centrally apertured to slidably receive the arrow shank. The bushings may of course be eliminated if the whole bow is made of nylon. The frame defines a space 31 rearward of aperture 20 into which the rearward extent of the arrow projects and may be grasped.

Elastomeric hose 24 is provided to stretchably fit over the upper and lower nipples 10 and 12. The hose may be held in place in any desired manner, with adhesive or binding. However it is found that this tubing will usually remain on the anchor by its friction only, if dimensioned to be distended when installed on the anchors. The hose should be taut in neutral position.

The bow, which is preferably cast as a one piece plastic member is preferably cast with a laterally projecting thumb piece 26 shaped to receive the thumb of the user on the hand holding the bow, while the other hand draws back the arrow and bow string. Preferably the bow, other than the thumb piece is made symmetrical about median vertical plane so that the bow may be inverted when desired to accommodate a right or a left hand user.

The arrow comprises a one piece moulded shank 30 and head 32. The head is shaped to define a flat forwardly facing surface 34 having the peripheral contour of the missile.

When the bow string 24 is released, in the act of caxising the arrow to propel a missile, the bow string tends to strike extents of the frame members 16 on each side of the elbows 50. To avoid consequent deflection of the bow string 24 possibly stinging the hands or arms of the user, and possible jamming of the arrow in its bearings the extents of the members 16 about and on each side of the elbow 50 are as shown in Figure 10 shaped to form flat surfaces 52 facing the expected incidence direction of the bow string 24. Thus deflections of bow string 24 off flat surface 52 tend to remain close to the plane of symnetry of the bow. As stated in the introduction, stops are preferably placed on the frame, above and below the arrow position to act as stops to bow string travel of its neutral position, (which is the solid line attitude of Figure 10 and to allow the bow to be made more compactly. In the preferred embodiment these stops are embodied by the outer surfaces of elbow 50, which contact the bow string in its travel forward of neutral position and prevent the rear arrow fitting from striking central extent 11 of the bow. A flat magnetic disk 36 having the peripheral contour of the missile is attached, preferably by adhesive 38' to surface 34.

If the disk 36 has a stronger and a weaker magnetic side the stronger side will preferably face forward. (The disk 36 is usually circular but need not have the central aperture desirable on the missile). The arrow is provided with a tail piece 38 shaped to frictionally receive the rear end of the shank and exteriorly shaped to be grasped by the user's fingers. The tail piece is provided with an eye 39 to receive bow string 24. It is possible, if desired to provide positive attachment of the tail piece 38 to shank 30. However it is found in practice that a frictional connection of tail piece 38 to shank 30 is sufficient. If desired, the rearward end of the shank may be slightly enlarged, and the tail piece given a conplementary shape so that the shank may be received in the tail piece with a snap action. Similarly the anchors 10 and 12 may be made bulbous to assist the retention of elastomeric string 24 but this is not usually required.

Missile 40 is fabricated from magnetic sheeting 56. The lined patterns of magnetization 54 emanating from the north poles 52 and south poles 53 illustrate how one side is optmally magnetized while the side with the laminated plastic layer 55 exhibits neglibable magnetic power.

• w >,' ; /Vi *i$f ivty, S&ty- ,119 The missile 40 is preferably an annular ring having a central aperture 42. The missile 40 preferably has a magnetized layer 46 and a plastic cover layer 44 on the side of weaker magnetism.

The target 48 may be of any magnetic flexible material or of relatively thin non-magnetic sheeting of static cling vinyl used in conjunction with a magnetic surface and printed with any target indicia desired such as a bull's eye. In construction the disk 36 is glued on the surface 34 of the arrow head. Then the shank with head attached is first threaded rearwardly through the frame aperture 20. Thereafter the tail piece 38 may first be assembled to the shank and the elastomer "bow string" 24 threaded through the shank eye 38. Alternatively the elastomer 24 could be threaded through the tail piece eye 39 before attachment of the shank to the tail piece. Thereafter the elastomer is attached to the upper and lower anchors and 12.

To use the toy, the target is mounted to face the user.

A missile 40 is attached to the magnetic arrow head.

The missile's plastic coated side 44 is attached to the magnetic surface of the arrow head. With the hard magnet materials used on both these members, the material magnetic forces through the plastic layer are sufficient to hold the missile on the arrow head but weak enough that the missile is easily released when the arrow is released by the fingers.

In use then, with the missile 40 attached to the arrow head 32 the arrow is aimed at the target, the arrow shank is drawn back, extending the bow string 24 and released.

The missile 40 leaves the arrow head and strikes the target, either flatly or obliquely and attaches thereto.

The user's score or location on the target may then be read through aperture 42.

The missile may be of any size or shape which will magnetically attach to the arrow head and target and may be larger or smaller than the arrow head. Multiple missiles may be attached to the arrow head.

The magnetic material used for the missile and the magnetic surface of the arrow head is of strotium ferrite with a binder of synthetic rubber having multiple north and south poles magnetized on one side of the sheeting.

The hard magnetic material for the target is of like materials but with both sides having multiple north and south poles permanently induced. For these materials I prefer to use that sold under the Trade Mark ULTRA-MAG by Flex Mag Industrial Inc of 4480 Lake Forest Drive, Suite 304, Cincinati, Ohio.

The non-magnetic target material is a flexible static cling vinyl preferably about .7 millimeters thick. For this material I prefer to use that sold by Flex Con Canada Ltd, 5939 Wallace Street, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L42 1Z8.

The magnetizing of the flexible magnetic material is accomplished by one of two methods:

Electrical The magnet is passed over a fixture with wires located at the required pole spacing and magnetized by discharging capacitors through the wire which causes a magnetic field to be induced around the wires. This then aligns the magnetic domains in the ferrite particles along the wire path.

Permanent Magnets A fixture is assembled with rare earth permanent magnets located at the required pole spacing. Between each permanent is located a metal plate which transfers the magnetic field to the magnet as it passes across the fixture.

- 16 property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows :

1. A magnetic missile comprising a flexible Disk, permanent north and south magnetic poles induced on one side and said side's remnant magnetism on the other side.

2. A missile as claimed in claim 1 wherein said missile has a central aperture.

3. In combination with the missile as claimed in claim 1, a means for launching said missiles comprising a head, a forwardly facing flat launching surface on said head of hard magnetic material, said side of remnant magnetism of said missiles and said surface having sufficient magnetic attraction to cooperate and cause such attachment and support of at least one of said missiles on said surface when said surface position is perpendicular.

4. In combination with the missile as claimed in claim 2 said means for launching said missiles.

5. Missile and means for launching missiles as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for launching said missiles have a primary element of acceleration comprising compressed air.

6. Missile and means for launching missiles as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for launching said missiles have a second element of acceleration comprising a flexible bow with arrow.