Granted Patent B1

US 12,617,520 · App. 19/282,432 · Granted May 5, 2026

Inventor: Dwight Funk (Las Vegas, NV)

B64C3/56B64C3/187B64C3/26B64U30/10

Abstract

Claims (44)

1 . A collapsible wing comprising:

a plurality of ribs, each of the ribs including a leading rib end portion, a central rib portion, and a trailing rib end portion;

a connector, the connector being connected to the leading rib end portion of each of the ribs, the connector being elongated;

a plurality of pivot arms, each of the pivot arms being positioned parallel and pivotably coupled to a trailing rib end portion of a respective one of the ribs in a scissor orientation, each of the pivot arms being selectively movable between an unlocked position in which each of the pivot arms is out of alignment with its respective trailing rib portion and a locked position in which each of the pivot arms is in alignment with its respective trailing rib portion; and

a cover panel, the cover panel being positioned to surround the connector, the ribs, and the pivot arms, the cover panel comprising flexible material, the cover panel including:

a first panel edge, the first panel edge being coupled to the trailing rib end portion of each of the ribs; and

a second panel edge, the second panel edge being coupled to each of the pivot arms, such that, upon movement of the pivot arms from the unlocked position to the locked position, the second panel edge is moved immediately adjacent the first panel edge and the cover panel is stretched taut around the ribs and the connector.

2 . The collapsible wing of claim 1 , wherein the cover panel comprises synthetic fibers of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).

3 . The collapsible wing of claim 2 , wherein:

the cover panel includes a first cover rod and a second cover rod;

the first cover rod is positioned at and extends along the first panel edge;

each of the trailing rib end portions includes a rib end opening through which the first cover rod passes to couple the first cover rod to each of the ribs;

the second cover rod is positioned at and extends along the second panel edge; and

each of the pivot arms includes a pivot arm opening through which the second cover rod passes to couple the second cover rod to each of the pivot arms.

4 . The collapsible wing of claim 3 , wherein:

each of the trailing rib end portions and each of the pivot arms have the same profile such that each of the pivot arms completely overlaps its respective trailing rib end portion when in the locked position;

each of the pivot arms includes a pivot arm recess to receive the first cover rod when in the locked position; and

each of the trailing rib end portions includes a rib end recess to receive the second cover rod when in the locked position.

5 . The collapsible wing of claim 4 , further comprising a lock rod, wherein each of the trailing rib end portions and each of the pivot arms includes a lock opening configured to be aligned for insertion of the lock rod to retain the pivot arms in the locked position and the cover panel taut.

6 . The collapsible wing of claim 5 , wherein the connector is an elongated foam structure having a cross-sectional profile matching a cross-sectional profile of each of the leading rib end portions that tapers from a flat rear surface to a rounded front surface.

7 . The collapsible wing of claim 6 , wherein the elongated foam structure includes a plurality of foam structure sections, each positioned between and attached to a respective pair of the ribs.

8 . The collapsible wing of claim 7 , wherein:

each of the ribs is flat and elongated;

each of the ribs includes a curved upper edge and a straight lower edge to shape the cover panel in a desired aerodynamic shape; and

each of the ribs is oriented vertically on its straight lower edge.

9 . The collapsible wing of claim 8 , wherein each of the ribs comprises carbon fiber material.

10 . The collapsible wing of claim 1 , wherein:

the cover panel includes a first cover rod and a second cover rod;

the first cover rod is positioned at and extends along the first panel edge;

each of the trailing rib end portions includes a rib end opening through which the first cover rod passes to couple the first cover rod to each of the ribs;

the second cover rod is positioned at and extends along the second panel edge; and

each of the pivot arms includes a pivot arm opening through which the second cover rod passes to couple the second cover rod to each of the pivot arms.

11 . The collapsible wing of claim 10 , wherein:

each of the trailing rib end portions and each of the pivot arms have the same profile such that each of the pivot arms completely overlaps its respective trailing rib end portion when in the locked position;

each of the pivot arms includes a pivot arm recess to receive the first cover rod when in the locked position; and

each of the trailing rib end portions includes a rib end recess to receive the second cover rod when in the locked position.

12 . The collapsible wing of claim 1 , further comprising a lock rod, wherein each of the trailing rib end portions and each of the pivot arms includes a lock opening configured to be aligned for insertion of the lock rod to retain the pivot arms in the locked position and the cover panel taut.

13 . The collapsible wing of claim 1 , wherein the connector is an elongated foam structure having a cross-sectional profile matching a cross-sectional profile of each of the leading rib end portions that tapers from a flat rear surface to a rounded front surface.

14 . The collapsible wing of claim 13 , wherein the elongated foam structure includes a plurality of foam structure sections, each positioned between and attached to a respective pair of the ribs.

15 . The collapsible wing of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the ribs is flat and elongated;

each of the ribs includes a curved upper edge and a straight lower edge to shape the cover panel in a desired aerodynamic shape; and

each of the ribs is oriented vertically on its straight lower edge.

16 . The collapsible wing of claim 1 , wherein each of the ribs comprises carbon fiber material.

References Cited (17)