Toys that launch projectiles are a common source of entertainment, including launchers that pick up an object and then release the object. For example, tabletop bowling games have utilized a toy figure with a hand that lifts a bowling ball using movable jaws, magnets, or spring mechanisms. The ball may be released by mechanisms such as mechanical triggers, electrical circuits, pull cords, or by the movement of the arm such as in a catapulting action. Other examples of launching toys include baseball pitching games, basketball throwing toys, disk launchers, and toy vehicles, which have also included motorized or pneumatic-actuated launching. Some launching toys have also included a mechanism such as a feed tube or magazine for supplying the balls or projectiles.
Yet, there continues to be a need for unique features in toy launchers to increase interest and enhance creative play.
In some embodiments, a toy includes a main body, an arm having a first end pivotably coupled to the main body, a magazine coupled to the main body, and a plurality of disks. Each disk has a face, where the disks are configured to be stacked face to face in the magazine, and where each disk has a recess in its face and an engagement element near an edge of the disk. A second end of the arm comprises a retractable extension that is configured to be insertable into the recess in the disk, such that the arm is capable of receiving the disk. A protrusion on the magazine engages the engagement element in the disk, causing the disk to rotate around the retractable extension as the arm removes the disk from the magazine. A mechanism in the arm causes the retractable extension to protrude from the arm when the arm is adjacent to the magazine, and the mechanism causes the extension to retract to release the disk when the arm is pivoted away from the magazine.
In certain embodiments, the magazine includes a plate onto which the disks are stacked, where the plate is spring-biased such that the plate advances the disks out of the magazine. The magazine may include a cylindrical housing in which the plate is located and a front opening from which the disks are removed, where the protrusion on the magazine is near the front opening.
In some embodiments the engagement element is configured as a tooth. The plurality of disks may be configured as ninja stars.
In some embodiments the mechanism in the arm includes a lever coupled to the retractable extension and a rod coupled to the lever. The rod rotates the lever when the arm is pivoted away from the magazine, causing the lever to retract the extension.
In certain embodiments the toy includes an actuation element on the main body, the actuation element being configured to pivot the arm when actuated. The actuation element may move the arm from an initial position to a pivoted position, where the second end of the arm is adjacent to the magazine in the initial position and is forward of the main body in the pivoted position. The actuation element may be spring-biased to return the arm from a pivoted position to an initial position. The spring-bias of the actuation element may also be configured to enable the actuation element to be actuated a plurality of times in rapid succession.
In other embodiments, a toy includes a magazine having a front opening and a protrusion near the front opening; a movable arm having a launching end and a mechanism; and a plurality of disks. The launching end of the arm is configured to move adjacent to the front opening of the magazine. Each disk has a face, where the disks are configured to be stacked face to face in the magazine, and where each disk has a recess in its face and an engagement element near an edge of the disk. The launching end of the arm includes a retractable extension that is configured to be insertable into the recess in the disk, such that the arm is capable of receiving the disk. The protrusion on the magazine engages the engagement element in the disk, causing the disk to rotate around the retractable extension as the arm removes the disk from the magazine. A mechanism in the arm causes the retractable extension to protrude from the arm when the arm is adjacent to the magazine, and the mechanism causes the extension to retract to release the disk when the arm is moved away from the magazine.
In certain embodiments, the magazine includes a plate onto which the disks are stacked, wherein the plate is spring-biased such that the plate advances the disks out of the magazine.
In some embodiments the engagement element is configured as a tooth. The plurality of disks may be configured as ninja stars.
In some embodiments the mechanism in the arm includes a lever coupled to the retractable extension, and a rod coupled to the lever, such that the rod rotates the lever when the arm is moved away from the magazine, causing the lever to retract the extension.
In some embodiments the toy may include an actuation element coupled to the arm, the actuation element being configured to move the arm when actuated. The actuation element may move the arm from an initial position to a launched position, where the launching end of the arm is adjacent to the magazine in the initial position and is away from the magazine in the launched position. The actuation element may be spring-biased to return the arm from a launched position to an initial position. The spring-bias of the actuation element may be configured to enable the actuation element to be actuated a plurality of times in rapid succession.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
This disclosure relates to toys that are able to release a projectile. An arm has an extension that engages a disk stored in a magazine on the toy, and removes the disk from the magazine as the arm moves away from the magazine. As the disk is removed, a lip on the magazine contacts the disk, causing the disk to rotate. The extension on the arm retracts to release the disk, and the resulting spinning action of the disk adds new play value to the user. A plurality of disks is stored in the magazine, so that the user may repeatedly launch disks in rapid succession. Although the drawings herein shall be shown in relation to a toy figure, the concepts are applicable to other types of objects such as animals, robots, or vehicles.
In other embodiments when the arm 110 has a movement other than pivoting, the actuation element 140 moves the arm 110 from an initial position to a launched position. For example, in one embodiment the launching end 116 of the arm 110 is adjacent to the magazine 120 in the initial position and is away from the magazine 120 in the launched position. The actuation element 140 may be spring-biased to return the arm 110 from the launched position to the initial position. Furthermore, the spring-bias of the actuation element 140 may be configured to enable the actuation element 140 to be actuated a plurality of times in rapid succession.
In yet other embodiments where the arm 110 is coupled to a separate part of the toy 100 than the magazine 120—such as, instead of both the arm 110 and the magazine 120 both being mounted to the main body 111—the actuation element 140 may be coupled to the arm 110 and configured to move the arm 110 when actuated. For example, for an arm 110 that is movably coupled to a wall of a spaceship and the magazine 120 mounted on a console of the spaceship, the actuation element 140 may be a push button that is mechanically or electrically coupled to the arm 110 to initiate movement of the arm 110.
Returning to
While the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/877,716 filed on Sep. 13, 2013, and entitled “Projectile Launching Figure,” which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
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