Claims
- 1. A toy projectile system which comprises
(a) a projectile element having front and back end portions, (b) said back portion comprising a plurality of generally rearwardly extending, cantilevered leaf spring elements, (c) said projectile system further including a launcher defining a tubular passage having front and back portions and having an axis (d) the front portion of said tubular passage having an open end and having a cross sectional configuration suitable for slidably receiving at least portions of said projectile element, (e) the back portion of said tubular passage being convergently tapered in a front-to-back direction whereby, when a projectile element in loaded into said tubular passage in a front-to-back direction to a predetermined load position, said cantilevered leaf spring elements are resiliently displaced in a radially inward direction toward said axis and function to resiliently urge said projectile element in a back-to-front direction, (f) cooperating retention elements associated with said projectile element and said launcher for temporarily restraining said projectile in said load position, and (g) a displaceable element, operable when said projectile element is in said load position for displacing one of said retention elements to a position in which said projectile element is no longer restrained, (h) said projectile element being thereupon ejected from said launcher.
- 2. A toy projectile system according to claim 1, wherein
(a) said displaceable element comprises a shaft extending rearwardly from said projectile element, (b) said launcher having a through opening extending rearward from said convergently tapered back portion, (c) said shaft being received in said through opening and being engageable and forwardly displaceable when said projectile element is in said load position.
- 3. A toy projectile system according to claim 2, wherein
(a) said shaft extends completely through and projects rearwardly of said through opening when said projectile element is in said load position, (b) rearward extremities of said shaft being engageable and forwardly displaceable to effect launching of said projectile.
- 4. A toy projectile system according to claim 2, wherein
(a) at least one of said shaft and through opening is provided with an interference-forming portion operative, when said projectile element is in the load position, to frictionally retain said projectile element is said position until said shaft is forceably displaced forwardly at least a short distance from said load position.
- 5. A toy projectile system according to claim 4, wherein
(a) said interference-forming portion is in the form of an enlargement on said shaft and a recess in walls of said through opening, engaged when said projectile element is in said load position.
- 6. A toy projectile system according to claim 1, wherein
(a) said projectile element is formed of an acetal copolymer, and said launcher is formed of nylon.
- 7. A toy projectile system according to claim 1, wherein
(a) the front portion of said tubular passage having a cross sectional configuration suitable for the reception of at least part of the front portion of said projectile element when said projectile element is in said load position.
- 8. A toy projectile system according to claim 7, wherein
(a) said displaceable element comprises a shaft extending rearwardly from said projectile element, (b) said launcher having a through opening extending rearward from said convergently tapered back portion, (c) said shaft being received in said through opening and being engagable and forwardly displaceable when said projectile element is in said load position, (d) the length of said shaft being such, in relation to the length of said tubular passage that, when a projectile element is loaded into said launcher, said shaft is received in said through opening prior to said leaf spring elements being received in said convergently tapered tubular passage portion.
- 9. A toy projectile system according to claim 8, wherein
(a) said shaft is formed with an annular enlargement adapted for an interference fit within said through opening, (b) said through opening being formed with an annular groove of a size to receive said annular enlargement, (c) said annular enlargement being received in said annular groove when said projectile element is in said load position.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to pending application Ser. No. 09/379,829, filed Aug. 24, 1999 and assigned to the owner of this invention, Connector Set Limited Partnership.