Patent Application
20240310142
In general, the present invention relates to toy projectile launchers that project foam balls, foam rockets, and foam aircraft into flight. More particularly, the present invention relates to the structure of toy projectile launchers and the interface between the launcher and the toy projectile being launched.
Toy projectile launchers have a long history and have designs that depend primarily on the type of toy projectile being launched. For example, a toy bow and arrow would typically use a string to launch an arrow into flight. A toy dart gun would typically use a compressed spring to launch a toy dart into flight. If the toy projectile is made of lightweight foam, such as a foam ball or a foam rocket, pneumatics are typically used to launch the projectile into flight. The foam projectile is typically positioned at the end of a tube. A piston is then moved in the tube to create pneumatic pressure. The pneumatic pressure forces the foam projectile out of the tube with enough velocity for the foam projectile to take flight.
In the toy industry, it is not unusual for different pneumatic launchers to be customized to the sizes and shapes of different projectiles. For instance, most pneumatic launchers that are designed to launch balls have launch tubes that are designed to hold projectile balls of a particular diameter. The projectile balls are launched from inside the launch tube. A slight obstruction is disposed inside the launch tube. The projectile ball presses against the obstruction as the launcher is activated and pneumatic forces build in the launch tube. Once the pneumatic pressure reaches a specific value, the projectile ball is displaced past the obstruction and the pneumatic pressure is released. This launches the projectile ball into flight.
A slightly different dynamic is utilized to launch a foam rocket or a foam aircraft. Due to the size and shapes of the projectiles, the projectiles are launched from the outside of the launch tube. The toy rocket or toy aircraft has a channel formed into its body that enables the toy rocket or the toy aircraft to slide around the launch tube. The channel in the projectile is long and significant friction exists between the channel and the narrow launch tube. When the pneumatic launcher is activated, pressure builds in the narrow launch tube until the frictional forces are overcome and the projectile rapidly launches away from the narrow launch tube.
Due to the different loading and launching dynamics that are used to launch foam balls and foam rockets, toy pneumatic launchers are typically designed to launch only one of the two types of projectiles. That is, toy pneumatic launchers are designed to either launch foam balls from inside the launch tube or launch foam rockets from outside the launch tube. Prior art attempts to create a pneumatic launcher that can launch both types of projectiles has resulted in compromised design where the foam balls are undersized for the launcher and/or the foam rockets are oversized for the launcher. Both undersized foam balls and oversized foam rockets can be dangerous since they either fly too slow or fly fast enough to cause harm.
A need therefore exists for an improved pneumatic launcher that is specifically designed to launch both foam balls and foam rockets/aircraft, without having to compromise on the size and shape of the projectiles. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below.
The present invention is a projectile launcher that can be selectively configured to either launch toy ball projectiles or launch toy rocket projectiles. The projectile launcher is a pneumatic launcher that has a main tube. The main tube terminates at a first end with a launch head. A slide tube engages the main tube in a telescoping manner. The relative movement of the slide tube and the main tube creates a change of air pressure within the main tube that displaces air through the launch head.
The projectile launcher is normally configured to launch toy ball projectiles. However, by adding a launch adapter to the launch head, the projectile launcher can be configured to launch toy rocket projectiles. The launch adapter has an elongated launch tube and a base. The base is selectively attachable to the launch head. This concentrically aligns the elongated launch tube with the main tube.
A toy rocket projectile can be paced over the elongated launch tube with a friction fit. By moving the slide tube relative to the main tube, the air pressure within the main tube can be increased. This increase in air pressure is shared with the elongated launch tube. Once the air pressure overcomes the friction retention forces, the toy rocket launcher will launch into flight. The launch adapter can then be removed, and the projectile launcher again used to launch toy ball projectiles.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Although the present invention toy projectile launching system can be embodied in many ways, only one exemplary embodiment of the present is illustrated and described. The exemplary embodiment has been selected in order to set forth one of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated embodiment, however, is merely exemplary and should not be considered a limitation when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.
Referring to
The toy projectile launching system 10 includes a main tube 14. The main tube 14 has a first end 16 and a constant inner diameter that extends along its length. The inner diameter is slightly larger than the first diameter D1 of the toy ball projectiles 12. The first end 16 of the main tube 14 is open, wherein the first end 16 of the main tube 14 terminates with a launch head 18.
The launch head 18 defines an exit port 21 through which the toy ball projectiles 12 can be launched. A restriction ring 20 is disposed in the exit port 21. The restriction ring 20 has an inner diameter that is slightly smaller than the first diameter D1 of the toy ball projectile 12. A collar 22 encircles the exit port 21. The collar 22 is internally provided with a mechanical coupling 23, such as threads or the bayonet coupling that is illustrated. Accordingly, in order for any toy ball projectile 12 to pass into or out of the main tube 14, the toy ball projectile 12 must pass through the restriction ring 20 and the collar 22 within the launch head 18.
A rocket launch adapter 24 is provided. The rocket launch adapter 24 has an elongated launch tube 26 with an outer diameter D3. The outer diameter D3 is the same as, or close to, the diameter D2 of the bore opening 19 in the toy rocket projectile 13. The outer diameter D3 is also smaller than either the inner diameter of the main tube 14 and the inner diameter of the restriction ring 20, Furthermore, when the elongated launch tube 26 is at least as long as the bore opening 19 in the toy rocket projectile 13. The elongated launch tube 26 extends into a base 28. The base 28 has a diameter that fits within the collar 22 of the launch head 18. A flange coupling 30 radially extends from the base 28. The flange coupling 30 is either a threaded connector or a bayonet connector that can selectively engage the mechanical coupling 23 formed into the collar 22. Once the rocket launcher adapter 24 is attached to the launch head 18, the elongated launch tube 26 is concentrically aligned with the main tube 14 and any air exiting the launch head 18 from the main tube 14 is directed through the elongated launch tube 26.
Referring to
The slide tube 40 has a first end 42 and an opposite second end 44. The first end 42 is open and receives the second end 32 of the main tube 14. The opposite second end 44 of the slide tube 40 is sealed closed by an end cap 48. A second pump handle 46 is affixed to the slide tube 40 near its open first end 42. Accordingly, the second pump handle 46 is affixed to the slide tube 40 near its first end 42 and the end cap 48 is affixed to the slide tube 40 at its second end 44. This creates a slide subassembly 50. The slide subassembly 50 can reciprocally slide along the main tube 14. As the slide subassembly 50 is retracted, air is drawn through the main tube 14 and into the slide tube 40 through vent holes 36 in the stop 34 of the main tube 14. As the slide subassembly 50 is advanced over the main tube 14, the slide subassembly 50 displaces air into the main tube 14 through the vent holes 36, therein increasing the air pressure within the main tube 14. The slide subassembly 50 can be moved relative the main tube 14 by grasping and moving the first pump handle 33 and the second pump handle 46.
Referring to
Referring to
The elongated launch tube 26 is advanced into the bore opening 19 of the toy rocket projectile 13. Friction retains the toy rocket projectile 13 in place. To fire a toy rocket projectile 13, the slide subassembly 50 is manually retracted and advanced using the first pump handle 33 and the second pump handle 46. This movement displaces air out of the main tube 14 and into the elongated launch tube 26. The toy rocket projectile 13 blocks the elongated launch tube 26. The air pressure in the main tube 14 increases behind the blockage as the slide subassembly 50 is advanced. The pressure increases until it is sufficient to overcome the friction and forces the toy rocket projectile 13 into flight.
It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention that is illustrated and described is merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to that embodiment. For instance, the length, width and shape of the launch assembly can be changed to accommodate different sized projectiles. The shape and appearance of the handles are a matter of design choice. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
