US 12,071,228 B1
Drone with propeller guard configured as an airfoil
Simon Saito Haagen Nielsen, Beverly Hills, CA (US)
Assigned to Snap Inc., Santa Monica, CA (US)
Filed by Snap Inc., Santa Monica, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/814,117.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/825,463, filed on Mar. 28, 2019.
Int. Cl. B64C 27/20 (2023.01); B64C 11/00 (2006.01); B64C 11/18 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01)
CPC B64C 27/20 (2013.01) [B64C 11/001 (2013.01); B64C 11/18 (2013.01); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flight-capable drone comprising: a body; a plurality of propellers each coupled to and having a fixed rotational axis relative to the body, the plurality of propellers operably configured to enable flight along a flight path, wherein during the flight path the plurality of propellers are pitched forward at an angle relative to the flight path; and a plurality of propeller guards fixedly coupled to the body and having a least a part-annular extent, each one of the plurality of propeller guards positioned radially adjacent a tip of a corresponding one of the plurality of propellers to protect the corresponding propeller from contact, wherein the plurality of propeller guards are configured as an airfoil along at least a portion of the part-annular extent thereof to generate lift during flight along the flight path; wherein the airfoil defined by each of the plurality of propeller guards has a first portion with a first upper chamber that interfaces with the tip of the corresponding one of the plurality of propellers and a second opposing portion with a second upper chamber that is spaced across a chord line of the second portion from the tip of the corresponding one of the plurality of propellers: and wherein the airfoil defined by the plurality of propeller guards is configured such that, during the flight path, the first portion has a first center of pressure that is positioned forward of the tip of the corresponding one of the plurality of propellers and the second portion has a second center of pressure that is positioned rearward of the tip of the corresponding one of the plurality of propellers, wherein the upper chamber differs in shape from the lower chamber.