Toy projectile launcher

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6523535
  • Patent Number
    6,523,535
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, March 21, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 25, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
This invention is a toy projectile launcher that launches projectiles. The launcher includes a housing having an entrance and an exit in communication therewith to define a channel, a pair of flywheels supported by the housing and positioned about and in communication with the channel, and a pump handle for rotating the flywheels such that a projectile entering the channel may be engaged by the rotating flywheels and impelled through the channel and out through the exit.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates generally to toy projectile launchers, and more particularly to a dual flywheel powered toy projectile launcher.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Toy projectile launchers are well known in the art. These toys are suitably made for children and use harmless foam projectiles that are launched through the air. These launches may employ various spring loaded mechanism, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,285, which includes a pair of spring loaded launch tubes to separately launch projectiles. Other mechanisms such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,326 employs compressed air. In addition thereto, flywheels or launching wheels have further been incorporated in these toys, such as the launching wheels disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,967 or those employed in any self-pitching machine device.




In addition thereto, launching toys have developed various means for loading and firing multiple projectiles. For example: U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,152 discloses a toy gun that fires multiple projectiles with a single cycle of an actuation device, which is arranged to engage a spring that moves a reciprocating piston that fires the projectiles; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,285 mentioned above includes two launch tubes that separately launch projectiles.




Furthermore, the energy or power supplied by these toys to launch the projectiles is limited by the launching mechanisms. Launchers that utilize spring loaded mechanisms, pressurized air mechanisms and even some battery operated launching wheel mechanisms include a predetermined supply of energy. For instance, in a spring loaded mechanism the total amount of energy capable of being supplied to launch the projectile is determined from the spring, or in a battery operated launcher the total amount of energy is determined from the total output from the battery. A need therefore exists to provide projectile launchers that permit the user to control the amount of energy being supplied to launch the projectile. The user may then achieve a higher performance, meaning the user may launch the projectiles further then in a launcher that supplies a limited amount of energy.




In one such attempt, U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,321 discloses a ball launching device utilizing a self-propelled launching wheel to launch balls. As opposed to the above methods of supplying energy to the launching wheel, the '321 patent uses a hand pump to spin the launching wheel. As such, the users ability to repeat the spinning of the launching wheel at a faster rate will increase the launching velocity of the balls. As such a person with greater strength is capable of obtaining a higher or increase performance. However, the need still exists for improvements thereon. For instance, while the launching wheel may build up energy from repeated pumping, the energy drains quickly, since there is no means for storing this energy. Also, the incorporation of a single launching wheel will expel its energy quicker, then multiple wheels.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toy projectile launcher having a housing that supports a handle, a launch channel, and a pump handle. The launch channel has an entrance and an exit, which permits a projectile to enter and exit therethrough. The projectile launcher includes a pair of flywheels that are in communication with and separately positioned on either side of the launch channel. The pump handle is slidably connected to the housing and is in communication with the pair of flywheels such that when the pump handle is moved inwardly the flywheels rotate. In addition, the projectile launcher includes a means for preventing a projectile positioned in the entrance opening from entering the launch channel and thus being launched, as well as including a triggering means for releasing the preventing means. As such, when a projectile is loaded in the entrance opening, a user gripping the handle must press the triggering means to move the projectile from the entrance opening to the launch channel. If the user has sufficiently rotated the flywheels, then the flywheels will engage the projectile entering the launch channel and impel it out of the exit opening.




Various shapes of projectiles are plausible, for instance the present invention includes a dart, glider and sphere. Because these darts have different shapes, the launch channel has an internal shape similar thereto, to permit the projectile to travel therethrough substantially unobstructed. In addition, the contour of the flywheels is substantially the same as the tip of the projectile, in order to adequately grip the tip of the projectile and launch it through the channel.




When the body of the projectile is larger than the tip, as in the glider, the flywheels further include grooves that permit the body of the projectile to travel therethrough substantially friction free. In yet other embodiment of the present invention, when the projectile launcher includes spheres, the launch channel may be pivotably attached to the housing, which permits the launched spheres to have a curved trajectory.




Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES




A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a projectile launcher that launches darts;





FIG. 2

is a partial cross-sectional view of the projectile launcher from

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3



a


is a partial cross-sectional view of the projectile launcher from

FIG. 1

, illustrating the various components of the triggering means;





FIG. 3



b


is a cross-sectional top view of the projectile launcher from

FIG. 1

showing a dart prior to being engaged by the flywheels;





FIG. 3



c


is a front view of the projectile launcher from

FIG. 1

showing the contour of the flywheels and the tip of the dart;





FIG. 4



a


is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a projectile launcher that launches gliders;





FIG. 4



b


is a partial cross-sectional view of the projectile launcher from

FIG. 4



a


equipped with grooves in the flywheels to permit the substantially frictionless passage of gliders;





FIG. 5



a


is a cross-sectional top view of the projectile launcher from

FIG. 4

, showing the glider prior to being engaged by the flywheels;





FIG. 5



b


is a front view of the projectile launcher from

FIG. 4

showing the grooves and contour of the flywheels that are configured to match the profile of the tip of the glider and permit the wings to travel therethrough substantially friction free;





FIG. 6

is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a projectile launcher that launches spheres;





FIG. 7



a


is a top view of the projectile launcher from

FIG. 6

with a pivotal launch channel that is pivoted to the left, which permits a sphere exiting therethrough to have a right curved trajectory;





FIG. 7



b


is a top view of the projectile launcher from

FIG. 6

showing the pivotal launch channel positioned in the center, which permits a sphere exiting therethrough to have a straight trajectory; and





FIG. 7



c


is a top view of the projectile launcher from

FIG. 6

showing the pivotal launch channel positioned to the right, which permits a sphere exiting therethrough to have a left curved trajectory.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated.




Referring first to

FIG. 1

, a projectile launcher in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown and generally referenced to as


10


. The projectile launcher


10


includes a housing


12


that supports a launch channel


14


having a entrance opening


16


and an exit opening


18


, through which foam darts


20


may be loaded and projected therethrough. The housing


12


may also support clips


24


for storing or holding extra darts


20


. Multiple darts may be loaded or stacked in a chute


26


that is in communication with the entrance opening


16


, providing a means for rapid or repeated firing of subsequent darts


20


. A handle


28


at one end of the projectile launcher


10


permits a user to hold and angle the projectile launcher


10


in a desired direction. As described in greater detail below, the projectile launcher


10


includes a pair of flywheels (not shown) housed in apertures


32


, which are separately positioned on either side of and in communication with the launch channel


14


. If a dart


20


is released into the launch channel


14


while the flywheels are rotating, the dart


20


is projected or launched through the exit


18


.




Referring now to

FIG. 2

, the projectile launcher


10


has a shaft


34


that accommodates a slidable pump handle


36


which is in communication with the flywheels


46


, such that by sliding the pump handle


36


inwardly (towards the other handle


28


) the flywheels


46


will rotate and energize. In greater detail, the pump handle


36


has a rack


38


that is in engagement with a slider gear


40


. When the pump handle


36


is moved inwardly, the rack


38


will move the slider gear


40


such that it engages a transfer gear


42


. Continued movement of the pump handle


36


inwardly causes the slider gear


40


to rotate the transfer gear


42


, which will rotate a combo gear


44


that is in communication with the pair of flywheels


46


separately located in the apertures


32


. As such, the rotation of the transfer gear


42


rotates and energizes the flywheels


46


. When the pump handle


36


is moved away from the handle


26


(defined as moving outwardly), the rack


38


moves the slider gear


40


into an idle position, such that the slider gear


40


is no longer in engagement with the transfer gear


42


. Moving the pump handle


36


inwardly and outwardly repeatedly keeps the flywheels


46


rotating such that the energy being stored is greater to or equal to the energy being expelled, thus maximizing the energy which will be transferred to the dart


20


, when the dart is moved from the entrance opening


16


to the launch channel


14


.




The projectile launcher


10


further has the means to prevent a dart


20


from entering the launch channel


14


; this will prevent the dart


20


from launching until the user has sufficiently energized the flywheels


46


. When the flywheels


46


are sufficiently energized or rotating, the user may release the preventing means by pressing a trigger means


30


located on the handle


28


. By pressing the trigger means


30


, the user will release the preventing means and cause a dart


20


positioned in the entrance opening


16


to move into the launch channel


14


, which will then be engaged by the rotating flywheels


46


and launched out of the exit opening


18


.




The trigger means


30


includes a trigger


48


that is pivotally attached to the housing


12


and is outwardly biased by a return spring


50


. A hammer


52


also attached to the trigger


48


will move outwardly when the trigger


48


is pressed inwardly. Upon releasing the trigger


48


, the return spring


50


will bias the trigger


48


outwardly, returning the hammer


52


to its initial position. The hammer


52


is attached to a retaining arm


54


that initially prevents the dart


20


from entering the launch channel


14


. However, when the hammer


52


moves outwardly, it pushes the retaining arm


54


. The retaining arm


54


being positioned in a guide slot


56


will be guided downwardly away from the dart


20


when pushed by the hammer


52


. As such, the dart


20


will be free to enter the launch channel


14


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 3



a


through


3




c


, it is shown that when the trigger means


30


is pressed, the hammer


52


pushes the retaining arm


54


within the guide slot


56


away from the dart


20


. As such, a dart


20


may move from the entrance opening


16


to the launch channel


14


. In order to make sure the flywheels


46


engage the first dart


20


, the hammer


52


also pushes the dart


20


forwards into the flywheels


46


. When the hammer


52


pushes the dart


20


forwards, the top portion


53


of the hammer


52


also moves under a subsequent dart


21


positioned above the dart


20


, preventing the subsequent dart


21


from entering the entrance opening


16


and being launched by the projectile launcher


10


. However, when the trigger means


30


is released the hammer


52


resets and the subsequent dart


21


moves into position, such that if the flywheels


46


have been sufficiently energized, a user may fire the subsequent dart


21


or multiple darts without having to re-pump or re-energize the flywheels


46


.




From a top view (

FIG. 3



b


) it is shown that the dart


20


has moved such that the tip


58


of the dart


20


has engaged the rotating flywheels


46


. The flywheels


46


further include a contour


47


that is configured to match the shape of the tip


58


, shown in

FIG. 3



c


. The dart


20


also includes a body


59


that is smaller than the tip


58


such that the body


59


of the dart


20


passes through the flywheels


46


substantially friction free. The contour


47


of the flywheels


46


is such that the flywheels


46


will sufficiently grip only the tip


58


of the dart


20


, therefore launching the dart


20


through the launch channel


14


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 4



a


and


4




b


, in another embodiment of the present invention, a projectile launcher


60


may be similarly configured but equipped to receive gliders


62


. A launch channel


64


would include a wider opening so the wings


63


and tail of the glider


62


will not be obstructed. It is further noted that the flywheels


68


are rotated and energized in the manner stated above. Turning to

FIGS. 4



b


and


5




a


and


5




b


, it is shown that the flywheels


68


include grooves


66


that permit the passage of the wings


63


through the flywheels


68


substantially friction free. In addition, the contour


69


of the flywheels


68


is configured such that the flywheels


68


engage the tip


65


of the gliders


62


.




Referring now to

FIG. 6

, in yet another embodiment of the present invention, a projectile launcher


70


is equipped to launch spheres


72


. The projectile launcher


70


includes a launch channel


74


that includes an entrance and an exit opening


76


and


78


, respectively. Multiple spheres


72


may be loaded through a chute


80


that is in communication with the entrance opening


76


and additional spheres


72


may be stored in clips


82


located on the projectile launcher


70


. A pair of flywheels


86


is supported in apertures


88


, which are located on either side of and are in communication with the launch channel


74


. A handle


90


is also provided with a triggering means


92


, which when pressed moves a sphere


72


or allows it to move from the entrance opening


76


to the launch channel


74


, such that when the flywheels


86


are rotating (in a manner similar to the aforementioned embodiments) the sphere


72


may be projected out of the exit opening


76


. In addition, when the triggering means


92


is pressed a second or subsequent sphere is prevented from entering the entrance opening


76


until the triggering means


92


is released and pressed again. It should also be noted, that the contour of the flywheels


86


are configured to the shape of the spheres


72


such that when the sphere


72


is dropped or moved into position the flywheels


86


engage and impel the spheres


72


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 7



a


to


7




c


, the projectile launcher


70


includes a launch channel


95


that may be pivotably connected to the projectile launcher


70


. As shown in

FIGS. 7



a


to


7




c


, the pivotable launch channel


95


may pivot either to the left (

FIG. 7



a


) or to the right (

FIG. 7



c


). The flywheels


86


spinning at the same rate will always launch a sphere in a straight direction, indicated by arrow


97


. But if the pivotable launch channel


95


is pivoted to the left, the sphere


72


will come into contact with the right wall


96




a


of the launch channel


95


, which will impart a right spin on the sphere, such that when the sphere


72


exits, the trajectory of the sphere


72


will curve to the right. Consistent thereto, if the pivotable launch channel


95


is pivoted to the right, the sphere


72


will come into contact with the left wall


96




b


of the launch channel


95


, which will impart a left spin on the sphere, such that when the sphere


72


exists, the trajectory of the sphere


72


will curve to the left. Also, when the launch channel


95


is pivoted to the center, the trajectory of the sphere


72


exiting the launch channel


95


will be straight, as the sphere should exist substantially unobstructed.




From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.



Claims
  • 1. A projectile launcher comprising:a housing supporting a hand grip and a launch channel, the launch channel having an entrance opening and an exit opening; at least one projectile positioned in the entrance opening, each projectile has a predetermined shape defined by a tip and a body; a preventing means for preventing said projectile positioned in the entrance opening from entering the launch channel; a pair of flywheels in communication with and separately positioned on either side of the launch channel, each flywheel includes a predetermined contour that permits the pair of flywheels to engage the tip of the projectile and further allows the body of the projectile to move past the flywheels substantially unengaged; a pump handle slidably connected to the housing, the pump handle is operably connected to the pair of flywheels such that when the pump handle is moved inwardly, the flywheels rotate to store energy; and a triggering means for releasing the preventing means, such that when the triggering means releases the preventing means, a projectile moves from the entrance opening to the launch channel and when the flywheels are rotating, the projectile is impelled out of the launch channel through the exit opening.
  • 2. The projectile launcher of claim 1, further comprising a chute mounted to the launcher and in communication with the entrance opening.
  • 3. The projectile launcher of claim 2, wherein the preventing means includes:a retaining arm positioned in the launch channel such that the retaining arm may prevent a projectile from entering the launch channel; and a guide slot defined in the launch channel for guiding the retaining arm away from a projectile positioned in the entrance opening, when the retaining arm is released by said triggering means.
  • 4. The projectile launcher of claim 3 wherein the triggering means includes:a trigger pivotally attached to the housing; a returning spring biasing the trigger outwardly; and a hammer secured to the trigger such that when the trigger is pressed inwardly, the hammer moves outwardly, the hammer is further attached to the retaining arm such that when the hammer moves outwardly, the retaining arm moves within the guide slot, the hammer also having a portion defined thereon which engages and moves a projectile positioned in the entrance opening to the launch channel.
  • 5. The projectile launcher of claim 4 wherein the projectile has a body shaped as a glider.
  • 6. The projectile launcher of claim 5 wherein the launch channel has a predetermined shape such that the glider may travel through the launch channel substantially unobstructed.
  • 7. The projectile launcher of claim 6 wherein the flywheels further include grooves sized to accommodate the shape of the glider, such that the body of the glider may travel substantially friction free through the flywheels.
  • 8. The projectile launcher of claim 1 further comprising:a slider gear having an idle position and an engaged position, wherein when the slider gear is in the engaged position, the slider gear is operably connected to the flywheels, and wherein said pump handle further includes an integrated rack that meshes with said slider gear, such that when said pump handle is initially moved inwardly, the slider gear moves to the engaged position and when said pump handle is continually moved inwardly therefrom, the slider gear further rotates such that the flywheels may rotate and energize, and when said pump handle is moved outwardly, the slider gear moves to the idle position.
  • 9. A projectile launcher comprising:a housing having an entrance in communication with an exit channel to define a channel; a hand-held grip supported by the housing; a projectile positioned at the entrance; a pair of flywheels supported by said housing and positioned on either side of the said channel, the pair of flywheels positioned to engage the projectile when said projectile enters the channel; a pump handle slidably connected to the housing, the pump handle is operably connected to the pair of flywheels such that when the pump handle is moved, the pair of flywheels rotate to store energy, wherein when a projectile enters the channel, the projectile is engaged by the pair of energized rotating flywheels and impelled through the channel and out through the exit; and a portion of the exit channel is pivotally attached to the housing such that when the exit channel is pivoted, a projectile impelled by the pair of flywheels will come into contact with one side of the exit channel imparting a spin on the projectile such that the projectile will have a curved trajectory.
  • 10. The projectile launcher of claim 9 wherein the means for rotating the flywheels includes:a slider gear having an idle position and an engaged position, wherein when the slider gear is in the engaged position, the slider gear is operably connected to the pair of flywheels; and a pump handle slidably connected to the housing, the pump handle having an integrated rack that meshes with said slider gear, such that when said pump handle is initially moved inwardly, the slider gear moves to the engaged position and when said pump handle is continually moved inwardly therefrom, the slider gear further rotates such that the pair of flywheels rotate, and when said pump handle is moved outwardly, the slider gear moves to the idle position.
  • 11. The projectile launcher of claim 10 further comprisinga preventing means for preventing a projectile positioned in the entrance from entering the channel; and a triggering means set to release the preventing means when triggered by a user, such that when the triggering means releases the preventing means, a projectile positioned in the entrance may move to the channel.
  • 12. The projectile launcher of claim 11 further comprising:a chute mounted to the housing in communication with the entrance for stacking multiple projectiles such that when a preceding projectile is launched, the subsequent projectile may move to the entrance, when the triggering means resets.
  • 13. The projectile launcher of claim 12, wherein each projectile has a predetermined shape defined by a tip and a body, and wherein the flywheels have a predetermined contour that is substantially the same as the predetermined shape of the tip such that the flywheels only engage the tip of the projectile and the body may move through the flywheels substantially friction free.
  • 14. A projectile launcher comprising:a housing having a launch channel, the launch channel having an entrance opening and an exit opening, the entrance opening sized to receive a projectile, the projectile includes a predetermined shape defined by a tip and a body; a pair of flywheels separately and rotatably connected on either side of the launch channel; a means for rotating the pair of flywheels; and each flywheel having a contour that permits the pair of flywheels to engage the tip of the projectile while allowing the body of the projectile to pass between the flywheels substantially friction free.
  • 15. The projectile launcher of claim 14 wherein the means for rotating each flywheel includes:a pump handle slidably connected to the housing; a slider gear having an idle position and an engaged position, wherein when the slider gear is in the engaged position, the slider gear is operably connected to each flywheel; and a rack connected to the pump handle, the rack is further meshed with said slider gear such that when said pump handle is initially slid inwardly, the slider gear moves to the engaged position and when said pump handle is continually slid inwardly therefrom, the slider gear further rotates such that the flywheels rotate, and when said pump handle is moved outwardly, the slider gear moves to the idle position.
  • 16. The projectile launcher of claim 15 further comprising a chute mounted to the housing in communication with the entrance opening for stacking multiple projectiles such that when a preceding projectile is launched, the subsequent projectile may move to the entrance opening.
  • 17. The projectile launcher of claim 14 further comprising:a preventing means for preventing a projectile positioned in the entrance opening from entering the launch channel; and a hand grip supported by the housing and having a triggering means for releasing the preventing means, such that when the triggering means releases the preventing means, a projectile positioned in the entrance opening moves to the launch channel and when the pair of flywheels are rotating, the tip of the projectile is engaged by the pair of flywheels and the projectile is impelled out of the launch channel through the exit opening.
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