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Inventor of Frisbee dies, aged 90 | Inventor of Frisbee dies, aged 90 |
(10 minutes later) | |
The US man who invented the Frisbee, one of the world's most popular toys, has died at his home in Utah aged 90. | |
Walter Frederick Morrison conceived and developed his aerodynamic plastic disc in the 1950s. | Walter Frederick Morrison conceived and developed his aerodynamic plastic disc in the 1950s. |
Over the next four decades, hundreds of millions of the toys have been sold worldwide. | Over the next four decades, hundreds of millions of the toys have been sold worldwide. |
Frisbee historian Phil Kennedy said Mr Morrison and his future wife, Lu, got the idea from playing with a metal cake pan on the beach in California. | Frisbee historian Phil Kennedy said Mr Morrison and his future wife, Lu, got the idea from playing with a metal cake pan on the beach in California. |
Mr Morrison went on to invent his plastic flying disc in the mid-1950s, calling it the Pluto Platter and selling them at local fairs. | Mr Morrison went on to invent his plastic flying disc in the mid-1950s, calling it the Pluto Platter and selling them at local fairs. |
The platter's novel aerodynamic shape allowed it to hover briefly or travel surprisingly long distances, kept aloft by its rotation. | The platter's novel aerodynamic shape allowed it to hover briefly or travel surprisingly long distances, kept aloft by its rotation. |
In 1957 Mr Morrison sold the rights to the California firm Wham-O, which discovered that youngsters were calling the toy a "frisbie" after the name of a well-known pie. The company changed the spelling to avoid trademark infringement and the Frisbee was born. | In 1957 Mr Morrison sold the rights to the California firm Wham-O, which discovered that youngsters were calling the toy a "frisbie" after the name of a well-known pie. The company changed the spelling to avoid trademark infringement and the Frisbee was born. |
Household object | Household object |
Mr Morrison's son, Walt, told the Associated Press that his father had suffered from cancer, and that "old age had caught up" with him. | Mr Morrison's son, Walt, told the Associated Press that his father had suffered from cancer, and that "old age had caught up" with him. |
"He was a nice guy. He helped a lot of people. He was an entrepreneur. He was always looking for something to do," he added. | "He was a nice guy. He helped a lot of people. He was an entrepreneur. He was always looking for something to do," he added. |
Lawyer Kay McIff, who represented Mr Morrison in a royalties case, said: "That simple little toy has permeated every continent in every country. As many homes have Frisbees as any other device ever invented. | Lawyer Kay McIff, who represented Mr Morrison in a royalties case, said: "That simple little toy has permeated every continent in every country. As many homes have Frisbees as any other device ever invented. |
"How would you get through your youth without learning to throw a Frisbee?" | "How would you get through your youth without learning to throw a Frisbee?" |
Mr Morrison, who died at his home in Monroe, on Tuesday, is survived by three children. | Mr Morrison, who died at his home in Monroe, on Tuesday, is survived by three children. |
Walt Morrison said the family is planning to hold a memorial service on Saturday at the Cowboy Corral in Elsinore, Utah. | Walt Morrison said the family is planning to hold a memorial service on Saturday at the Cowboy Corral in Elsinore, Utah. |