How the Modern Frisbee Design Works
A 1967 patent describing the specific aerodynamic shape and raised ribs that allow a plastic disc to fly straight and steady.
Original patent title: “Flying saucer”
A 1967 patent describing the specific aerodynamic shape and raised ribs that allow a plastic disc to fly straight and steady. Granted to Wham O Manufacturing Co in 1967 with 2 claims and 137 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent defines the geometry of a flying disc, specifically focusing on the transition from a flat center to a curved rim. It describes an upper convex surface and a lower concave surface that create lift during flight. A critical feature is the inclusion of 'air flow spoiling means,' which are concentric raised ribs on the top surface. These ribs disrupt the airflow to prevent the disc from stalling or wobbling, ensuring a more stable flight path.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover discs without the specific concentric raised ribs on the top surface.
- Does not cover non-circular aerodynamic toys.
- Does not cover discs that lack the defined downward curvature from the central area to the rim.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The invention uses 'spoiling'—intentionally disrupting smooth airflow with ribs—to actually improve stability, effectively using turbulence to keep the disc from flipping over.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Wham-O Frisbee
Professional Ultimate Frisbee discs
Recreational plastic flying discs
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent solidified the design of the modern Frisbee, turning a simple toy into a stable piece of sports equipment. It allowed Wham-O to standardize the manufacturing of the disc, which became a staple of American outdoor recreation and eventually led to organized sports like Ultimate Frisbee.
Filed
November 1, 1965
Granted
December 26, 1967
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Wham-O remains the primary entity associated with the Frisbee brand, though various sports equipment manufacturers now produce high-performance discs for Ultimate and disc golf that refine these original aerodynamic principles.
Market impact
This patent helped define the plastic flying disc market for decades, providing a clear design standard that enabled mass production. It effectively turned a noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → item into a reliable piece of sporting equipment, fostering the growth of disc-based sports globally.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent defines the geometry of a flying disc, specifically focusing on the transition from a flat center to a curved rim. It describes an upper convex surface and a lower concave surface that create lift during flight. A critical feature is the inclusion of 'air flow spoiling means,' which are concentric raised ribs on the top surface. These ribs disrupt the airflow to prevent the disc from stalling or wobbling, ensuring a more stable flight path.
The clever bit
The invention uses 'spoiling'—intentionally disrupting smooth airflow with ribs—to actually improve stability, effectively using turbulence to keep the disc from flipping over.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover discs without the specific concentric raised ribs on the top surface.
- Does not cover non-circular aerodynamic toys.
- Does not cover discs that lack the defined downward curvature from the central area to the rim.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
1/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$66K – $211K
Midpoint $132K · expired or expiring · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
1 independent claim · 0 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
2 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Headrick, E. E. (1967). How the Modern Frisbee Design Works (U.S. Patent No. 3,359,678). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3359678/frisbee-flying-disc
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the Modern Frisbee Design Works cover?
A 1967 patent describing the specific aerodynamic shape and raised ribs that allow a plastic disc to fly straight and steady.
Who owns patent US 3359678?
Wham O Manufacturing Co owns this patent, granted in 1967.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 3359678 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 137 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent solidified the design of the modern Frisbee, turning a simple toy into a stable piece of sports equipment. It allowed Wham-O to standardize the manufacturing of the disc, which became a staple of American outdoor recreation and eventually led to organized sports like Ultimate Frisbee.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover discs without the specific concentric raised ribs on the top surface.
Patent monitoring