Rotorcraft with integrated light pipe support members

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015245516-A1
Application number	US-201414542503-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 14, 2014
Priority date	Aug 15, 2013
Publication date	Aug 27, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A radio controlled model rotorcraft implemented with features improving ease of flight and flight performance by increasing structural stability, increasing rotorcraft visibility and orientation awareness through the use of multifunctioning, configurable, and aesthetically pleasing components, while also increasing resistance to damage from crashes through use of impact and vibration absorbing components.

First claim

1 . An electronics compartment of a radio controlled model rotorcraft, comprising:
a circuit board; one or more components configured to rigidly couple to the circuit board; one or more locator members, wherein each locator member is configured to couple with at least one of the one or more components rigidly coupled to the circuit board; and a first cover at least partially forming a housing for at least partially enclosing the circuit board, the first cover comprising one or more upper receptacles, with each upper receptacle configured to receive, and thereby secure against movement in one or more directions, at least one of the one or more locator members; wherein the circuit board position is at least partially fixed when the one or more locator members are received by the upper receptacles of the first cover.

2 . The compartment of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board is positioned within the first cover and spaced apart from the first cover.

3 . The compartment of claim 1 , further comprising a base member configured to removably couple to the first cover for at least partially enclosing the circuit board.

4 . The compartment of claim 3 , wherein the circuit board is at least partially enclosed within the housing at least partially formed by the coupled first cover and base member, and wherein the circuit board is spaced apart from the first cover and base member.

5 . The compartment of claim 3 , wherein the base member further comprises one or more lower receptacles, with at least one lower receptacle configured to receive at least one of the one or more locator members.

6 . The compartment of claim 3 , wherein the base member further comprises one or more lower receptacles, with each lower receptacle configured to receive, and thereby secure against movement in one or more directions, at least one of the one or more locator members.

7 . The compartment of claim 5 , wherein the circuit board is received and at least partially enclosed within the housing formed by the coupled first cover and base member, and wherein the position of the circuit board relative to the housing is at least partially fixed by at least one of the one or more locator members, when at least one of the one or more locator members is received by an upper receptacle of the first cover and a lower receptacle of the base member.

8 . The compartment of claim 1 , wherein the locator members are elastically deformable.

9 . The compartment of claim 8 , wherein the locator members are configured to at least partially absorb vibration caused by operation of rotorcraft components spaced apart from the circuit board.

10 . The compartment of claim 8 , wherein one or more of the locator members comprises a continuous loop of material.

11 . The compartment of claim 3 , wherein one or more of the rigid couplings of the one or more light sources coupled to the circuit board is configured to at least partially support the circuit board.

12 . A compartment for receiving an electronic component of a radio controlled model rotorcraft, comprising:
a circuit board; one or more locator members; one or more light sources, wherein at least one light source is rigidly coupled to the circuit board, and wherein the at least one light source rigidly coupled to the circuit board is provided with one or more locator members removably coupled to the light source; and a center housing, configured to receive and at least partially enclose the circuit board; wherein the one or more locator members removably coupled to a light source are disposed at least partially within the center housing, and spaced apart from the circuit board; and wherein at least one of the rigid couplings of the one or more light sources is configured to at least partially support the circuit board, with the circuit board spaced apart from the center housing.

13 . The compartment of claim 12 , wherein the center housing comprises one or more receptacles, with at least one receptacle configured to receive at least one locator member.

14 . The compartment of claim 13 , wherein each receptacle is configured to receive, and thereby secure against movement in one or more directions, at least one of the one or more locator members.

15 . The compartment of claim 12 , wherein the center housing comprises:
a first cover; and a base member; wherein the first cover and base member are configured to removably couple to one another, at least partially forming a housing.

16 . The compartment of claim 15 , wherein the first cover further comprises one or more upper receptacles, with at least one upper receptacle configured to receive at least one locator member.

17 . The compartment of claim 15 , wherein the base member further comprises one or more lower receptacles, with at least one lower receptacle configured to receive at least one locator member.

18 . The compartment of claim 14 , wherein the locator members are composed of an elastically deformable material.

19 . The compartment of claim 14 wherein the locator members are configured to at least partially absorb vibration caused by operation of rotorcraft components spaced apart from the circuit board.

20 . The compartment of claim 14 , wherein one or more of the locator members comprises a continuous loop of material.

21 . A compartment for receiving an electronic component of a radio controlled model rotorcraft, comprising:
a center housing comprising:
a first cover; and
a base member;
wherein the first cover and base are configured to removably couple to one another; a circuit board at least partially enclosed within the center housing; and one or more light emitting diodes, each electrically coupled to the circuit board, wherein at least one light emitting diode is configured to electrically couple to the circuit board by a rigid coupling; wherein the center housing is configured to receive and at least partially enclose one or more of the light emitting diodes coupled to the circuit board by a rigid coupling; wherein the circuit board is at least partially supported within the housing by the at least one light emitting diode coupled to the circuit board by a rigid coupling; and wherein the circuit board is spaced apart from the inner surfaces of the center housing.

22 . The compartment of claim 21 , wherein the first cover comprises one or more upper receptacles for receiving one or more light emitting diodes.

23 . The compartment of claim 22 , wherein the base member comprises one or more lower receptacles for receiving the one or more light emitting diodes, with each lower receptacle disposed at a location corresponding to the location of an upper receptacle of the first cover.

24 . The compartment of claim 23 , further comprising one or more locator members, each configured to removably couple to a light emitting diode.

25 . The compartment of claim 24 , wherein the locator members are composed of a single loop of an elastically deformable material, configured to snugly fit around the light emitting diode.

26 . The compartment of claim 25 , wherein the inner surface of the locator member grips the light emitting diode, providing frictional resistance to removal of the locator member from the light emitting diode.

27 . A compartment for receiving an electronic component of a radio controlled model rotorcraft, comprising:
a center housing at least pa

Assignees

• Traxxas Lp

Inventors

• Christensen Casey Christen Jens
• Allmendinger Otto Karl
• Hohnholt Richard Douglas
• Poteet Kent
• Schmitz Scott Rollin Michael
• Blackwell Thomas

Classifications

• A63H27/12 Primary

  Helicopters (A63H27/04 takes precedence); Flying tops · CPC title

• F21V33/008

  Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes · CPC title

• H05K1/181

  associated with surface mounted components · CPC title

• B64C2201/00

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title