Promotional Item

Abstract

A promotional item ( 10 ) includes a central member ( 12 ) having one or more receiving features ( 14, 16 ) adapted to removable secure one or more substantially rectangular card-like objects ( 18 ), such as business cards, credit cards, baseball cards, and the like. In an embodiment, the flying promotional item ( 10 ) comprises an aircraft ( 10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 ) in which the central member ( 12 ) forms a fuselage and the cards or card-like objects ( 18 ) form aerodynamic surfaces for providing aerodynamic capability to the promotional item ( 10 ). Thus, the one or more card-like objects ( 18 ) provide a plurality of independent functional uses. An instrument ( 22 ), such as a pen, pencil or stylus, made be disposed within the aircraft such that the tip ( 24 ) of the instrument ( 22 ) may be accessible by removing a nose section ( 20 ) or tail section ( 26 ) of the aircraft from the fuselage ( 12 ).

1 . A promotional item comprising a central member ( 12 ) having one or more receiving features ( 14 ,  16 ) capable of securing one or more substantially rectangular card-like objects ( 18 ) having a substantially rectangular shape at locations that causes said promotional item to resemble an aircraft ( 10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600 ,  700 ) that may or may not be capable of aerodynamic flight.  
   
   
       2 . The item according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more substantially rectangular card-like objects ( 18 ) have a dimension of approximately 85.60 millimeters by approximately 53.98 millimeters (approximately 3.370 inches by approximately 2.125 inches).  
   
   
       3 . The item according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more substantially rectangular card-like objects ( 18 ) have a dimension of approximately 3.5 inches by approximately 2.0 inches (approximately 89 millimeters by approximately 51 millimeters).  
   
   
       4 . The item according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more substantially rectangular card-like objects ( 18 ) have a thickness of approximately 0.76 millimeters.  
   
   
       5 . The item according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more substantially rectangular card-like objects ( 18 ) provide a plurality of independent functional uses.  
   
   
       6 . The item according to  claim 5 , wherein one of said plurality of independent functional uses of said one or more substantially rectangular card-like objects ( 18 ) comprises an aerodynamic surface for providing aerodynamic capability to said promotional item ( 10 ).  
   
   
       7 . The item according to  claim 5 , wherein one of said plurality of independent functional uses of said one or more substantially rectangular card-like objects ( 18 ) comprises one of business cards, baseball cards, playing cards, credit cards, photographs, or the like.  
   
   
       8 . The item according to  claim 1 , further comprising an instrument ( 22 ) at least partially disposed within said central member ( 12 ).  
   
   
       9 . The item according to  claim 8 , wherein said instrument ( 22 ) comprises a writing instrument ( 22 ) having a tip ( 24 ) situated within a removable cap ( 26 ) of said item ( 10 ).  
   
   
       10 . The item according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said central member ( 12 ) and said one or more substantially rectangular card-like objects includes an exterior surface with promotional information thereon.  
   
   
       11 . The item according to  claim 1 , wherein said aircraft ( 10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600 ,  700 ) further includes a vertical stabilizer section ( 26 ).  
   
   
       12 . The item according to  claim 11 , wherein said vertical stabilizer section ( 26 ) comprise one or more substantially rectangular card-like objects ( 18 ).  
   
   
       13 . The item according to  claim 11 , wherein said vertical stabilizer section ( 26 ) comprises a single substantially rectangular card-like object ( 18 ) having a “V” shaped configuration.  
   
   
       14 . The item according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more receiving features ( 14 ,  16 ) comprises one or more slots ( 14 ,  16 ) formed in said central member ( 12 ).  
   
   
       15 . The item according to  claim 14 , wherein said one or more slots ( 14 ,  16 ) are shaped to impart a cambered profile to said one or more substantially rectangular card-like objects ( 18 ), thereby enhancing a stiffness and aerodynamic property of said one or more substantially rectangular card-like objects ( 18 ).