Over the years, projectile launching toys have proven to be a very popular type of toy. Not surprisingly, practitioners in the art have provided a variety of such toys utilizing various apparatus for launching projectiles. Such launching apparatus have included the use of stored energy within a spring acting directly upon the projectile, and the use of pressurized air acting upon the projectile, which is either derived from a pressurized reservoir or from a spring-driven pump that pneumatically compresses air within a compression chamber. The common factor of such projectile launching toys is to impart sufficient energy to the projectile to achieve successful launch.
Examples of projectile launching toys may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,818,264; 2,321,076; 2,708,430; 2,725,869; 3,774,586; 4,137,666; 4,732,136; 4,841,655; 4,848,307; 5,156,137; 5,186,156; 5,224,464; 5,284,274; 5,343,850; 5,373,832; 5,381,928; 5,415,151; 5,529,050; 5,553,598; 5,653,215; 5,711,285; 5,803,060; 5,901,693; 5,975,068; 6,055,910; 6,067,975; 6,076,513; 6,250,294; 6,698,414; and 6,904,901; U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2002/0193045; and 2005/0183708; and Foreign Application Nos. GB 1,452,806; and GB 2,148,137, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.
The projectile launching toy 10 may include a plurality of pneumatic projectile launchers 14, a trigger assembly 16, and a handle portion 18. Each pneumatic projectile launcher 14 is attached to the handle portion 18, and is adapted to selectively launch a projectile 20. The trigger assembly 16 is operatively coupled to each of the plurality of projectile launchers, and is adapted to enable a user to selectively launch (a) each of the projectile launchers independently; or (b) more than one of the projectile launchers simultaneously. The handle portion is adapted to attach the projectile launching toy to the action
Each projectile launcher's housing 22 may further include a conduit 28c, such as a nozzle 29, that separates and defines the fluid channel between the launch chamber from the compression chamber. The conduit 28c may direct air being forced from the compression chamber by the compressor 24 into the launch chamber, and/or into projectile 20 itself. For example, as shown in
As indicated above, each projectile launcher's compressor 24 is adapted to reciprocate within the compression chamber, thereby compressing the air occupying the compression chamber, and pneumatically launching projectile 20 from the launch chamber. The compressor 24, which may include a plunger or any other suitable structure, includes a first end 24a positioned within the compression chamber, and a second end 24b positioned outside of the compression chamber. The first end 24a may engage the housing's second inner portion 28b so as to form a substantially air-tight seal. For example, the first end may include a piston 31 having an o-ring 32 that provides a substantially air-tight seal with inner portion 28b, such that moving the compressor: (a) from the uncocked position (
The compressor's second end 24b is positioned outside of the compression chamber, and thus may be user accessible for selectively moving the compressor between the cocked position and the uncocked position. For example, as can be seen in
Each projectile launcher's compressor 24 may further include a receiver 40 for receiving a retaining mechanism 26, whereby the compressor is retained by the retaining mechanism in the cocked position. For example, as shown in
Each projectile launcher's biasing mechanism 25 is adapted to urge the compressor towards the uncocked position. As shown in
Each projectile launcher's retaining mechanism 26 is adapted to releasably secure the compressor in the cocked position. For example, as shown in
Each projectile launcher's retaining mechanism 26 may include one or more guides for restricting the relative motion of the retainer 42. For example, as shown in
Each projectile launcher's retaining mechanism 26 may be adapted to automatically engage the projectile launcher's receiver 40 when the compressor 24 is in the cocked position. For example, as shown in
The projectile launching toy's trigger assembly 16 is operatively coupled to each of the plurality of projectile launchers, and is adapted to enable a user to selectively launch (a) each of the projectile launchers independently; or (b) more than one of the projectile launchers simultaneously. As shown in
Each of the plurality of individual triggers 54 may correspond to one of the plurality of pneumatic projectile launchers 14, and may be adapted to enable a user to selectively launch a projectile from the corresponding pneumatic projectile launcher independently of the other pneumatic projectile launchers. For example, each individual trigger 54 may be adapted to release the retaining mechanism 26 of the corresponding pneumatic projectile launcher 14. As shown in
The master trigger 56 may be adapted to enable a user to selectively launch a projectile from more than one of the pneumatic projectile launchers 14 simultaneously. For example, the master trigger 56 may be adapted to simultaneously release the retaining mechanisms 26 of each the plurality of pneumatic projectile launchers 14, such that any projectile launcher that is “cocked” launches a projectile from its launch chamber. As shown in
The projectile launching toy's handle portion 18 is adapted to attach the projectile launching toy to the action
Each pneumatic projectile launcher's projectile 20 may have a size and shape that complements the size and shape of its corresponding launch chamber. Each projectile may therefore be inserted into the launch chamber in a relatively snug manner, so as to enable pneumatic launching of the projectile. The projectiles 20 may be made of foam, rubber or any other suitable material. As shown in
The projectile launching toy may have a plurality of differently sized and shaped pneumatic projectile launchers 14, each having projectiles 20 with a corresponding shape and size. Thus, the projectile launching toy may be analogous to a “gear pod” having different weapons, missiles, tools, or other projectiles launched from each projectile launcher. For example, a first projectile launcher may be adapted to fire a missile, a second projectile launcher may be adapted to fire a grappling hook, a third projectile launcher may be adapted to fire a cannonball, and a fourth projectile launcher may be adapted to fire a bola. Any number of projectile launchers may be used.
Some projectile launching toys may include one or more non-pneumatic projectile launchers instead of or in addition to the pneumatic projectile launchers. For example, some projectile launching toys may include: (a) one or more mechanical projectile launchers adapted to selectively fire projectiles with a spring, a rubber band, or some other type of mechanical device; (b) one or more cap actuated projectile launchers; and/or (c) one or more water guns. The master trigger for these projectile launching toys may be adapted to selectively actuate some or all of the non-pneumatic and/or pneumatic projectile launchers simultaneously.
The projectile launching toys disclosed herein may be fabricated from any suitable material, or combination of materials, such as plastic, foamed plastic, wood, cardboard, pressed paper, metal, or the like. A suitable material may be selected to provide a desirable combination of weight, strength, durability, cost, manufacturability, appearance, safety, and the like. Suitable plastics may include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), or the like. Suitable foamed plastics may include expanded or extruded polystyrene, expanded or extruded polypropylene, EVA foam, or the like.
An exemplary projectile launching toy adapted to launch one or more projectiles includes: (A) a plurality of pneumatic projectile launchers; (B) a plurality of individual triggers, each corresponding to one of the plurality of launchers, wherein each of the launchers is adapted to launch a projectile loaded in the launcher in response to actuation of the corresponding individual trigger; and (C) a master trigger, wherein the plurality of launchers are adapted to launch projectiles in response to actuation of the master trigger.
Another exemplary projectile launching toy adapted to launch one or more projectiles includes: (A) first, second and third triggers; (B) a first pneumatic projectile launcher adapted to launch a projectile in response to actuation of the first trigger and not in response to actuation of the second trigger; and (C) a second pneumatic projectile launcher adapted to launch a projectile in response to actuation of the second trigger and not in response to actuation of the first trigger; wherein the first and second launchers are adapted to launch projectiles in response to actuation of the third trigger.
Another exemplary projectile launching toy adapted to launch one or more projectiles includes: (A) a plurality of projectile launchers each adapted to be loaded with a projectile, wherein each launcher includes a launching mechanism selectively movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein moving the launcher from the second position to the first position causes the launcher pneumatically to launch a projectile loaded in the launcher; (B) a plurality of individual triggers, each corresponding to one of the plurality of launchers, and each adapted to cause only the launching mechanism of the corresponding launcher to move from the second position to the first position when actuated; and (C) a master trigger adapted to cause the launching mechanisms of each of the launchers to move from the second position to the first position when actuated.
Another exemplary projectile launching toy adapted to launch one or more projectiles includes: (A) a plurality of projectile launchers, each including (i) a housing including a launch tube adapted to receive a projectile, (ii) a launching mechanism selectively movable between a first position and a second position, and adapted to pneumatically launch a projectile loaded in the launch tube when moved from the second position to the first position, (iii) a biasing mechanism adapted to urge the piston towards the first position, and (iv) a retaining mechanism adapted to releasably secure the launching mechanism in the second position; (B) a plurality of release mechanisms, each corresponding to one of the plurality of launchers, and each adapted to selectively release only the retaining mechanism of the corresponding projectile launcher; and (C) a master release mechanism adapted to simultaneously release the retaining mechanisms from all of the plurality of projectile launchers.
It is believed that this disclosure encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been described in its best mode, numerous variations are contemplated. All novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the described and/or illustrated elements, features, functions, and properties should be recognized as being included within the scope of this disclosure. Applicant reserves the right to claim one or more of the inventions in any application related to this disclosure. Where the disclosure or claims recite “a,” “a first,” or “another” element, or the equivalent thereof, they should be interpreted to include one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/733,055 entitled “Projectile Launching Toy,” filed Nov. 2, 2005, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/735,055 entitled “Projectile Launching Toy,” filed Nov. 8, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/765,474 entitled “Projectile Launching Toy,” filed Feb. 2, 2006, the complete disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60733055 | Nov 2005 | US | |
60735055 | Nov 2005 | US | |
60765474 | Feb 2006 | US |