Patent Application
20060046877
The present disclosure relates generally to foam projectiles and, more particularly, to foam darts having a foam exterior cylinder and an interior cylinder that is integrally formed with a suction cup and a method of testing the same.
Darts for use with toys such as toy guns, toy bows, and the like, are know in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,156 discloses an air operated toy gun adapted to propel a projectile. The projectile has a shaft with an enlarged head at a forward end of the shaft. A rearward end of the shaft rests at a rearward end of a barrel at a section of a passageway having a reduced diameter relative to the more forward portion of the passageway. The rearward end of the shaft has a circular transverse cross section of a diameter which yields a snug and generally airtight fit within the reduced diameter section. Another reduced diameter section of the passageway serves to prevent the rearward end of the shaft from exiting a rearward opening of the barrel.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,729 discloses a projectile launcher for launching projectiles. The projectiles are of conventional construction and they preferably each include a generally cylindrical body portion and a suction cup tip portion. Each of the body portions has a rearwardly opening tubular recess formed therein which is adapted to be received over a receiving tube, and each of the cylindrical portions is dimensioned to be received in a launching chamber.
In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a toy projectile is disclosed. The toy projectile includes a generally tubular first cylinder having an inner surface and an outer surface, and an integral second cylinder having a first end and a generally tubular second end having an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface of the second end of the second cylinder contacts the inner surface of the first cylinder.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a toy projectile is disclosed. The toy projectile includes an inner cylinder, and a tip portion integrally formed with the inner cylinder and disposed at a first end of the inner cylinder.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a toy projectile is disclosed. The toy projectile includes a generally cylindrical outer cylinder having a first end and a second end, and an insert at least partially disposed in the outer cylinder. The insert includes a suction cup at a first end and an elongate cylindrical section at a second end. The elongate cylindrical section has a generally constant outer diameter from the first end to the second end of the outer cylinder, when the outer cylinder and the insert are engaged.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of safety testing a toy projectile is disclosed. The method includes providing an inner cylinder having disposed thereon an outer cylinder, the inner and outer cylinder having first and second ends, and fixedly attaching one of the first and second ends of the toy projectile. The method further includes pulling the other of the first and second ends of the toy projectile to a specified force, and separating the outer cylinder into at least two pieces, such that a first portion of the outer cylinder remains attached to the inner cylinder and a second portion of the outer cylinder is detached from the inner cylinder.
These and other aspects and features of the disclosure will be more readily understood upon reading the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth in the appended claims. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.
It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph.
Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to
The outer cylinder 22, as seen in
The inner cylinder 24, as seen in
A flange 46 may be disposed proximate intersection of 40 and 44, and may be adapted to engage the front edge 34 of the outer cylinder 22 when the outer cylinder 22 is disposed on the inner cylinder 24. More specifically, as seen in
As such, the inner and outer cylinders 24, 22 in combination and separately are sized and/or shaped to meet safety specification, such as for example, chocking hazard specifications set by one or more domestic and international governmental agencies. For example, one of the testing methods, as partially shown in
The projectile 20 referenced throughout and the parts thereof may also include variations and/or additions. For example, the outer cylinder 22 may be constructed from a number of materials, including but not limited to, plastic, rubber, fabric, composites, and/or a combination thereof. The shape and size of the projectile 20, including the inner and outer cylinders 24, 22 may also vary depending on the application and structure of the toy (not shown) launching the projectile 20. The inner and outer cylinders 24, 22 may have a generally triangular, square, rectangular, or odd shaped cross-section, and may include additional and/or alternate features. For example, the projectile 20 may include fins (not shown) protruding from the back end of the outer cylinder 22, or may include a rod or post (not shown) extending from the rear portion 44. The rear portion 44 may also have a solid or otherwise filled cavity 54. The inner and outer cylinders 24, 22 may also be reversed, as seen in
In operation, the toy projectile 20 may be used as a projectile being shot or propelled from a toy, such as a toy gun, toy bow, and the like (not shown). The user may connect the inner and outer cylinders 24, 22 of the projectile 20 by sliding the outer cylinder 22 over the inner cylinder 24 and, more specifically, by sliding the outer cylinder 22 over the inner cylinder 24 such that the inner surface 26 of the outer cylinder abuts an outer surface 56 at the inner cylinder 24 and the front end 30 of the outer cylinder engages the annular groove 52. In the connected position, the inner surface 26 of the outer cylinder may abut a majority of the outer surface 56 of the inner cylinder 24 and, as in this exemplary embodiment, the inner surface 26 of the outer cylinder may abut the entire outer surface 56 of the inner cylinder 24. In the connected position, the front surface 34 of the outer cylinder 22 may also abut the rear surface 48 of the flange 46.
While the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to be limiting of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes, additions or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
