Throwing toy

Abstract

The invention is generally directed to a throwing toy including: a main body having an elongated, ellipsoidal shape, a leading and trailing end; a fin mounting portion extending rearwardly from a generally tubular center portion, the center portion disposed between the main body and the fin mounting portion having at least one opening or orifice to permit airflow in a radial direction therethrough; a plurality of fins, each fin having a leading edge, a trailing edge, the leading edges of the fins being connected to a rotatable adjustment ring connected to the main body such that the rotatable adjustment ring is rotatable; and an axial tubular bore extending along the longitudinal throwing axis through the throwing toy from the leading edge of the main body through generally tubular center portion to the trailing end of the fin mounting portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A throwing toy having a leading end, and trailing end and a longitudinal throwing axis extending along a length of the throwing toy, comprising:
 a main body having an elongated, ellipsoidal shape, a leading end and a trailing end;   a generally tubular center portion disposed between the main body and a fin mounting portion, the generally tubular center portion having at least one opening or orifice to permit airflow radially therethrough;   the fin mounting portion having an exterior surface and being integrally connected to the trailing end of and extending rearwardly from the main body,   a plurality of fins mounted on the exterior surface of the fin mounting portion, each fin having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a common aerodynamic angle of attack relative to the longitudinal axis, the leading edges of the fins being connected to a rotatable adjustment ring;   the rotatable adjustment ring rotatably connected to the main body by a ratchet mechanism such that the rotatable adjustment ring is rotatable with respect to said main body; and   wherein the throwing toy comprises an axial tubular bore extending along the longitudinal throwing axis through the throwing toy from the leading edge of the main body through generally tubular center portion to the trailing end of the fin mounting portion.   
     
     
         2 . The throwing toy of  claim 1 , wherein said fin mounting portion comprises a generally tubular tail portion. 
     
     
         3 . The throwing toy of  claim 1 , wherein the leading edges of the plurality of fins are configured to be rotated simultaneously together relative to the fin mounting portion to present a plurality of aerodynamic surfaces oriented with the same aerodynamic angle of attack. 
     
     
         4 . The throwing toy of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fins can be rotated and set together at a desired aerodynamic angle of attack relative to the longitudinal throwing axis between maximum angles of attack on either side of the longitudinal throwing axis. 
     
     
         5 . The throwing toy of  claim 1 , wherein said rotatable adjustment ring extends radially outwardly from said fin mounting portion. 
     
     
         6 . The throwing toy of  claim 1 , wherein said rotatable adjustment ring comprises a plurality of holes around a perimeter of said rotatable adjustment ring, and each of said plurality of fins includes a flange extending from the leading edge of the fin that protrudes through a corresponding one of said plurality of holes in said rotatable adjustment ring, wherein when said rotatable adjustment ring is rotated about the longitudinal throwing axis of the throwing toy, the flanges protruding into said rotatable adjustment ring are caused to correspondingly be rotated and set the angle of all the fins to a new angle of attack, whereby when one fin is adjusted all fins are adjusted simultaneously. 
     
     
         7 . The throwing toy of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening or orifice in the generally tubular portion comprises a plurality of rectangular shaped openings. 
     
     
         8 . The throwing toy of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening or orifice in the generally tubular portion comprises a plurality of substantially round holes in the generally tubular portion. 
     
     
         9 . The throwing toy of  claim 1 , wherein the generally tubular portion further comprises a screen or mesh material covering the at least one opening or orifice, while still allowing airflow therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The throwing toy of  claim 1 , wherein the generally tubular portion further comprises at least one door or panel attached to optionally close at least one of the at least one opening or orifice in the generally tubular portion.