TOY LAUNCHER AND SYSTEM THEREFOR
A toy launching system for launching a toy projectile, the toy launching system having a hand portion shaped to fit over a user's hand with a palm side and an opposite back side corresponding to the user's hand, the hand portion further including a hand launch structure fixed relative to the back side of the hand portion and the hand launch structure having a forward side and a reward side wherein the forward side faces the associated user's knuckles, the forward side having a launch opening shaped to receive a rear end of a projectile, the launching system further including a fluid reservoir in fluid connection with the hand launch structure and a fluid actuator fixed relative to the palm side of the hand portion, the fluid actuator controlling a fluid flow between the fluid reservoir and the hand launch structure to launch the projectile.
This application claims priority to provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/913,521 filed on Dec. 9, 2013, which is incorporated by reference herein.
The invention of this application relates to toy launchers and toy launching systems and, more particularly to a hand mounted toy launcher that has been found to work particularly well with foam projectiles and a toy launching system that can power the hand launcher and other projectile launchers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFoam projectile launchers are known in the industry and have been used by kids for many years. They come in many forms and can look like real guns, futuristic guns or even unique shapes and configurations.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCEU.S. Pat. No. 5,515,837 to Nin et al discloses a launch structure for a projectile and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. Published application Pub. No. 2011/0041821 to Brown et al discloses a launch structure for a projectile and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. U.S. Pat. No. 7,882,829 to Witzigreuter discloses a projectile launcher and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. U.S. Pat. No. 7,537,001 to Ma discloses a toy gun for launching a dart and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. Published application Pub. No. 2012/0125307 to Brooks et al discloses a launch structure for a projectile and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. U.S. Pat. No. 8,057,309 to Mead et al discloses a launch structure for a projectile and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,878 to Moore et al discloses a launch structure for a projectile and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,140 to Griffin discloses a launch structure for a projectile and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. Published application Pub. No. 2006/0046877 to Gajda, Jr. discloses foam projectiles and is incorporated by reference for showing the same.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention of this application relates to toy projectiles and toy projectile systems.
More particularly, the invention relates to a toy projectile system or device that includes a hand projectile launcher
According to one set of aspects of the present invention, provided is a shoulder mounted projectile launcher and a system for the same.
According to another set of aspects of the present invention, provided is a hand mounted launcher that is built into a glove or hand structure that can be worn on the user's hand.
More particularly, the toy launcher of this embodiment includes a glove or hand portion that is shaped to fit over a user's hand and can include an air bladder positioned near the palm of the glove. The launcher further includes a launch structure shaped to receive a toy projectile wherein compressing the bladder causes the toy projectile to be launched.
A toy launcher according to one aspect of the invention of this application includes a launch structure that is positioned on the back of the hand.
A toy launcher according to another aspect of the present invention includes a launcher structure that is positioned between the middle finger and ring finger of the user.
A toy launcher according to yet another aspect of the present invention includes a glove structure wherein the ends of the fingers of the glove are removed.
According to yet other aspects of the invention of this application, provided is toy launcher comprising a glove that is shaped to fit over a user's hand, the glove including a fluid bladder positioned near the palm of the glove, a launch structure on the back of the glove and a fluid line extending therebetween such that the launch structure is in fluid communication with the bladder. As a result, compression of the bladder directs the fluid flow from the bladder into the launch structure and launches the projectile. Further, the launch structure is shaped to receive one or more desired toy projectiles or class of projectiles.
According to even yet other aspects of the invention of this application, provided is toy launcher comprising a hand portion that is strap like that is shaped to fit over a user's hand and which includes at least one finger sheath to align the strap relative to the hand.
According to another set of aspects of the present invention, provided is a body pack that can be vest like and which can have a number of features.
According to one aspect, the body pack can include an air supply and the air supply can power one or more launchers including the glove launcher described above.
According to another aspect, the body pack can include a shoulder launching system and this shoulder launching system can shoot different projectiles than the glove launcher.
According to yet another aspect, the body pack can include an air manifold so that it can power multiple projectile launchers.
According to other aspects, the body pack can include a wide range of storage locations for projectile and/or other supplies.
According to even yet another aspect, the body pack can be a backpack having shoulder straps and/or a waist belt.
According to yet other aspects, the system can include a water features such as a water cannon in combination with the projectile launcher.
These and other objects, aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the Detailed Description of the invention set forth below taken together with the drawings which will be described in the next section.
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the same,
Glove or hand portion 12 can be any configuration to partially or fully cover a user's hand (right and/or left). In a first set of embodiments discussed in this application, hand portion 12 is a glove-like hand portion that can include a wide range of features and configurations wherein the glove versions of the invention of this application are not to be limited to a particular type or style of glove. This can include full thumb and finger sheaths (not shown) or partial finger and/or thumb sheaths as is shown in the figures of this application. Further, it can include a wide range of elastics, fabrics, meshes, stretch fabrics and/or other materials to create a wide range of looks and/or functions and/or fits for the glove on a range of hands. As will be discussed more below, it can also include designs that are essentially a strap configuration configured to extend about the user's hand and maintain the hand launcher in position for use.
In greater detail, glove 12 of toy launcher 10 can include thumb sheath 40, and finger sheaths 41-44. Thumb sheath 40 and/or finger sheaths 41-44 can be partial sheaths, full sheaths and/or combinations thereof. As will be discussed more below in relation to other embodiments, the sheaths disclosed in this application include a wide range of finger engaging structures. Glove 12 can be made from a wide variety of materials including, but not limited to, leather, faux leather, plastics and other materials known in the glove art. While the toy launcher and the glove are shown to be a right handed glove, the invention could be a left handed glove and/or a combination of right and left handed glove launchers.
Glove 12 can further include a wrist band 50 that can be an elastic wrist band to help maintain the glove on the user's hand. Further, elastics and other materials can be utilized to help make the glove fit on a wide range of hands to help reduce the sizes needed for production. With respect to glove designs, any color and/or material design could be used for the glove portion of the invention of this application including, but not limited to, a black glove, camouflaged patterns, greys, tans and other colors and patterns used in the military arts and used by police forces. Further, bright colors could also be used without detracting from the invention of this application.
In the embodiments shown, the toy launcher includes bladder 30 positioned at or near a palm portion 32 of glove or hand portion 12 to allow the user to squeeze the bladder and produce a fluid flow F in a fluid line 60. In a preferred embodiment, bladder 30 is an air bladder and fluid line 60 is an air line joined between bladder 30 and hand launcher 20. In greater detail, fluid line 60 extends between a first end 62 and a second end 64. First end is in fluid connection with bladder 30 and second end is in fluid connection with launcher 20 wherein a fluid flow F can be created that is transmitted from bladder 30 to launcher 20. In operation, the user uses their finger(s) to depress bladder 30 in palm portion 32. Depressing bladder 30 creates a fluid pressure in bladder 30 that is directed into first end 62 of line 60 as fluid flow F. Line 60 directs fluid flow F toward second end 64 where fluid flow F is directed to and enters launcher 20. Then, fluid flow F can energize a projectile 70 in launcher 20 to launch the projectile outwardly from the launcher. When bladder 30 is released, Fluid flow reverses, as is shown in
Projectile 70 can be any projectile configuration known in the art including, but not limited to foam darts of all sizes and having any one of a number of projectile ends or tip configurations 72. The preferred projectile shown in the figures is a miniaturized foam dart design that is better sized for the launcher of this application, but a particular size is not required. The preferred foam dart of this application has a length 74 and a diameter 76 wherein length 74 is between about 1.0 and 2.25 inches and diameter 76 is between about 0.25 and 0.75 inches. In yet another embodiment, length 74 is between about 1.375 and 1.875 inches and diameter 76 is between about 0.375 and 0.625 inches. In operation, the user can load the projectile into launcher 20 by pushing projectile 70 into opening 78 and, then, merely squeezing their hand to compress bladder 30, which directs the air to launcher 20 by way of line 60 to launch dart 70.
Line 60 can be any fluid line known in the art capable of directing a fluid flow. This can include, but is not limited to a flexible plastic fluid line connected between the bladder and the launcher. Yet further, line 60 can be joined to launcher 10 by any fastening system known in the art that includes merely joined ends 62 and 64 to bladder 30 and launcher 20, respectively. Yet even further, line 60 could be an internal line and/or an external line and/or variations thereof. Yet further, glove or hand portion 12 can include one or more retention sleeves to help secure line 60 relative to glove 12 in a low profile configuration. As is shown, launcher 10 includes a glove portion 12 that includes a first retention sleeve 80 and a second retention sleeve 82. This arrangement can control the position of the line, to prevent it from being damage, to prevent it from getting kinked and/or to improve the overall look of the toy. Again, line 60 can be formed from any tubular material known in the art including flexible plastic tubing. In yet other embodiments (not shown), line 60 can be integrally formed into the glove itself (not shown). Further yet, the line could be completely encapsulated by the glove to prevent it from being visible during use. Further, while only two retention sleeves are shown, one or more sleeves could be utilized. Or, other attaching methods could be employed to secure line 60 relative to the glove without detracting from the invention of this application.
Bladder 30 can come in many forms and can include an air bladder concealed within the glove by a palm patch 90. As with sleeves 80 & 82, patch 90 can be joined to the glove by any method known in the art including, but not limited to, stitching 92 and adhesives (not shown). Further patch 90 and sleeves 80 & 82 can be formed by similar materials as glove 12 and in a similar design even though that is not required. For example, sleeves 80 & 82 are similar to the material forming the glove while palm patch 90 is formed by a different material color. Further, patch 90 can be formed out of a softer or more pliable material to increase the transfer of energy to the bladder and reduce the force required to compress bladder 30 and produce the necessary fluid flow F to launch projectile 70.
Launcher 20 can be any launcher configuration known in the art including those used in the well known NERF® toys. Launcher 20 includes a projectile holder 100 positioned on the back of the hand. Holder can come in a wide range of shapes and sizes including, but not limited to, the cylindrical holder shown. By including the cylindrical holder show, the launcher can be accurately aimed. Holder 100 includes a holder front end 102 and an opposite holder rear end 104. Holder front end 102 includes launcher opening 78 shaped to receive a projectile rear end 106 of projectile 70. Projectile 70 has a projectile tip 72 that have any one of a number of configurations, including the one shown in the drawings. Holder rear end 104 that can be configured to receive line 60 in order to communicate fluid flow F into the launcher when the bladder is compressed. In the embodiment shown, second end 64 of line 60 is in fluid connection with holder 100.
Launch structure 20 can be joined to glove 12 by any method known in the art. As is shown, launch structure 20 can include a mounting arrangement 110 that can increase the durability of the device and/or create a distinctive look for the toy. This also can include the use of bright and/or distinguishing colors. Further toy 10 can include an aiming device or sight 116 to help aim the toy and at a desired target. While sight 116 is shown as a single front sight, the toy of this application could include a more traditional front and back sight arrangement (not shown). Further, as is discussed in greater detail below, toy launcher 10 could further include a multi-sight configuration that include sight components on different components including, but not limited to, one sight component (such as a front sight) on holder 100 and a second sight component (such as a rear sight) on a different component. As is shown, the launcher can be generally centered on the back of the hand. This can include, but is not limited to, a launcher that is position near the middle finger or between the middle finger and the ring finger. In yet other embodiments, toy 10 can include more than one launcher (not shown).
In operation, the user first positions glove portion 12 on his or her hand. Once the glove on the user's hand, the user positions rear end 106 of projectile 70 into projectile holder 100 by way of opening 78. Then, the user can use their hand and sight 116 to aim the projectile launcher at a desired target. Then, a squeeze of the hand will launch projectile 70 toward the target by way of the fluid flow. By positioning the launcher on the outside or back of the hand, launcher 20 does not interfere with squeezing the bladder. In addition, this positioning increases the ability to aim the toy at the desired target. Once bladder 30 is release, fluid flow F is reversed thereby drawing air back into the bladder by way of opening 78.
Toy launcher 10 can further include a forearm band 120 that can include sight or aiming device 122. Further, forearm band 120 can include one or more projectile loops 130 to hold extra projectiles 70. Forearm band 120 can be any band including, but not limited to, an elastic band that can stretch over the user's hand. In another embodiment, the band can include a fastening system, such as a hook and loop style fastening system (not shown) to wrap the band about the user's forearm.
With reference to
Line 220 can be long enough to connect to a manifold 230 and allow a free range of movement of the user's arm and hand. As is shown, pack 210 can include multiple outlets or manifold 230a and 230b to allow more than one device to be joined thereto or to allow glove to be a left and/or right handed glove. Yet even further, pack 210 can include one or more extensions 232a and 232b that be used to join devices, such as glove 200, to the pack's air system. Again, glove 200 could include “female” fittings wherein fittings 238a and 238b could be configured to secure the air supply directly to line connection 222 to direct a fluid flow from pack 210 to glove 200.
According to yet other embodiments, lines 232a and/or 232b could even be joined to a wide range of hand held guns (not shown) to provide the fluid flow needed to operate the projectile fired from the hand held toy guns. The hand held gun(s) can be any hand held toy gun arrangement known in the art including, but not limited to pistols, ray guns, rifles, shotguns and launchers. Further, the launchers discussed above and below could be any launchers known in the art without detracting from the invention of this application. These include launchers that shoot foam projectiles such as foam bullets and foam rockets. Yet even further, while it is preferred that air be used in the system, the system could also operate with pressurized water to provide both the fluid energy to launch the projectiles and/or to provide a water gun feature to the system wherein it is even contemplated that the system would include both air and water fluid systems as will be discussed more below.
Pack 210 can be a wide range of pack devices without detracting from the invention of this application. This can include, but is not limited to, a vest and a back pack. For the back pack shown, pack 210 can include a waist belt 240 and can include shoulder straps 242 and 244. Belt 240 and straps 242 and 244 can be used to secure the pack to the back of a user. These securing devices can also be adjustable to allow the pack to be used on a wide range of users. Further, pack 210, belt 240 and straps 242 & 244 could come in a wide range of configurations and utilize any pack arrangement known in the art without detracting from invention of this application.
Pack 210 can further include an air reservoir 250 to store an air or fluid supply and a pump 252 to create a pressure in reservoir 250. Pump system 252 can be any pump system known in the pump art that pressurizes the reservoir. Then, this pressurized air can be directed to any of a number of launching systems including the gloves discussed above. Pump system 252 can be pressurized by a pump similar to that of a chemical sprayer or a bicycle pump. In yet another embodiment, the pump can be a bladder style pump 256 to reduce the amount of hard objects on the pack. As is shown, pump 256 could be positioned on the side of the pack toward the bottom wherein it is easy to reach by the user when the vest is in an operating condition on their back.
Pack 210 can further include its own launchers. For example, pack 210 can include one or more shoulder launchers 260 that can also be supplied by the air in reservoir 250. Further, the fluid supply can be directed to the shoulder launcher by way of line 262 or by way of an internal line (not shown). The launching of the projectile (not shown) from shoulder launcher 260 can be controlled by a trigger similar to the gloves discussed above. This can include, but is not limited to; a trigger 264 positioned on the pack itself wherein the user can reach up and engage trigger 264 to selectively launch the shoulder projectile. In yet another embodiment (not shown), a hand held trigger could be utilized.
Pack 210 can further include a wide range of storage devices. While not shown, these can include, but are not limited to, projectile storage and general pocket storage for a wide range of tools and equipment such as a compass, pocket knives and flashlights. Essentially, any pack feature could be utilized in the pack of this application without detracting from the invention of this application.
Yet even further, pack 210 can include electrical devices such as an electric pump (not shown), an electric shoulder laser pointer 270 to help aim the shoulder launcher. This can further include sound effects and the like to help make the system more realistic.
As can be appreciated, lines 232 can run along the user's arms and can include arm bands (not shown) to help maintain the orientation of lines 410 along the user's arms. Further, the shoulder straps of pack 210 can include projectile/dart holders (not shown). Yet even further, air/fluid reservoir 250 could be a hard walled container having a wide variety of shapes including multiple reservoirs and shapes configured to create a contoured fit with the user's back. Reservoir 250 could be one large air reservoir that could be charged by a single pump and/or separated reservoirs (not shown) that could be charged by separate pumps. Yet even further, one reservoir could be filled with air while another could be filled with water. Obviously, the two reservoirs do not need to be side-by-side and could be over-and-under or inner and outer to balance the system. In these embodiments, the pump system could charge both reservoirs directly or could charge both indirectly. For example only, the pump system could charge the air reservoir and the air reservoir could then charge the water reservoir. Yet further, the system could include one or more gauges 270 to help monitor the level of the charge. This can include a pressure meter to monitor the amount of pressure in the system and/or a fluid meter to monitor the fluid level for a system that includes the use of water. For systems that include the use of water, one glove launcher could be a projectile launcher while the other glove launcher could be a water cannon (not shown). The pack 210 could further include pads (not shown) to make the system more comfortable on the user's back.
According to yet other sets of embodiments, and as is noted above, the glove or hand portion of the invention of this application can come in a wide range of configuration without detracting from the invention of this application. These can include the wide range of glove-like structures referenced above having full and/or partial finger and/or thumb sheaths. Yet further, the hand portion of the invention of this application can include strap-like configuration that can have little or no finger/thumb sheaths. With reference to
This set of embodiments can utilize any embodiments discussed above wherein a full discussion is not provided in the interest of brevity. But, as is discussed in greater detail above, wherein like reference numbers are being used for like items discussed in greater detail above, hand portion 300 can include one or more finger sheaths 320 that can be one or more partial or full finger sheaths, tips or even rings. While not shown, it also could include a thumb ring or sheath. Hand portion 300 also can be made from a wide variety of materials including, but not limited to, leather, faux leather, plastics and other materials known in the glove art and can be right and/or left handed in configuration. Further, strap portion 310 can be formed from an elastic material or material portion to help maintain the hand portion on the user's hand. Further, elastics and other materials can be utilized to help make the device fit on a wide range of hands to help reduce the sizes needed for production. Further, securing systems, such as VELCRO® could be used to assist in securing the hand portion of the invention of this application for any of the embodiments. As with the other embodiments, any color and/or material design could be used for the hand portion of the invention of this application including, but not limited to, a black glove, camouflaged patterns, greys, tans and other colors and patterns used in the military arts and used by police forces. Further, bright colors could also be used without detracting from the invention of this application.
As with the embodiments describe above, hand portion includes bladder 30 positioned near a palm portion 32 to allow the user to squeeze the bladder and produce the fluid flow F discussed above in fluid line 60. Fluid line 60 still extends between first end 62 and second end 64, but can extend beyond edge 302 of hand portion 300. As with the other embodiments, in operation, the user uses their finger(s) to depress bladder 30 in palm portion 32. Depressing bladder 30 creates a fluid pressure in bladder 30 that is directed into first end 62 of line 60 as fluid flow F. Line 60 directs fluid flow F toward second end 64 where fluid flow F is directed to and enters launcher 20. Then, fluid flow F can energize a projectile 70 in launcher 20 to launch the projectile outwardly from the launcher. Functionally, the operation is the same, but the hand portion is only modified to streamline and/or minimize the hand portion wherein this set of embodiments is primarily intended to show alternative configuration that are covered and/or contemplated for the invention of this application. As can be appreciated, retention sleeves 80 and/or 82 could be modified to fit within the reduced hand portion and/or eliminated.
While considerable emphasis has been placed on the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that other embodiments, and equivalences thereof, can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments described above can be combined to form yet other embodiments of the invention of this application. Accordingly, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.
Claims
1. A toy hand launching system for launching a toy projectile, the toy launching system comprising a hand portion that is shaped to fit over at least a portion of an associated user's hand that includes an associated palm and back hand sections of the associated user's hand, the hand portion having a palm side positionable over the associated palm section and an opposite back side positionable over the associated back hand section of the associated user's hand, the hand portion further including a launch structure fixed relative to the back side of the hand portion, the launch structure having a forward side and a reward side, the forward side facing the associated user's knuckles and the rearward side facing the associated user's wrist, the forward side having a launch opening shaped to receive a rear end of an associated projectile such that that a forward side of the projectile faces toward the associated user's knuckles, the hand portion further including a fluid reservoir in fluid connection with the launch structure and a fluid reservoir actuator fixed relative to the palm side of the hand portion, the fluid actuator controlling a fluid flow between the fluid reservoir and the launch structure to launch the projectile when the associate user squeezed their hand closed.
2. The toy launching system of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir includes a bladder positioned relative to the palm side of the hand portion and the hand portion further includes a fluid line extending between the bladder and the launch structure for the fluid connection, and wherein the compression of the bladder directs the fluid flow into the launch structure to launch the projectile.
3. The toy launching system of claim 2, wherein the fluid line includes an external line portion between the bladder and the launch structure, the hand portion further including at least one retention sleeve to at least partially secure the external line relative to the hand portion.
4. The toy launching system of claim 3, wherein the hand portion is formed by at least one fabric section and the launcher is fixed relative to the at least one fabric sections, the launcher structure being a rigid structure.
5. The toy launching system of claim 4, wherein the at least one fabric section includes a palm patch, the bladder being positioned below the palm patch.
6. The toy launching system of claim 4, wherein the at least one fabric section includes elastic fabric sections such that the hand portion has a form fitting configuration about the associated user's hand.
7. The toy launching system of claim 6, wherein the at least one fabric section further includes a palm patch, the bladder being positioned below the palm patch.
8. The toy launching system of claim 7, wherein the hand portion further includes at least one finger sheath corresponding to at least one finger of the associated user's hand.
9. The toy launching system of claim 8, wherein the at least one finger sheath includes a middle sheath and a ring finger sheath, the launch opening being near at least one of the middle finger and ring finger sheaths.
10. The toy launching system of claim 9, wherein the launch opening is generally between the middle finger sheath and the ring finger sheath.
11. The toy launching system of claim 1, wherein the hand portion further includes at least one finger sheath corresponding to at least one finger of the associated user's hand.
12. The toy launching system of claim 11, wherein the at least one finger sheath includes a middle sheath and a ring finger sheath, the launch opening being near at least one of the middle finger and ring finger sheaths.
13. The toy launching system of claim 12, wherein the launch opening is generally between the middle finger sheath and the ring finger sheath.
14. The toy launching system of claim 1, further comprising a separate pack portion and the pack portion being selectively securable to the associated user's body, the pack portion including the fluid reservoir, the pack portion further including a pump to pressurize the fluid reservoir, the fluid actuator including a trigger fixed relative to the hand portion.
15. The toy launching system of claim 14, wherein the trigger is fixed relative to the palm side of the hand portion.
16. The toy launching system of claim 14, wherein the separate pack portion is a separate back pack portion.
17. The toy launching system of claim 16, wherein the launch structure is a hand launch structure, the separate back pack portion includes a pack launch structure in addition to the hand launch structure.
18. The toy launching system of claim 17, wherein the back pack portion further includes a manifold having at least a first and a second outlet, the first outlet being in fluid connection with the hand launch structure and the second outlet being in fluid connection with the pack launch structure, the back pack portion further includes a pack trigger for the pack launch structure.
19. The toy launching system of claim 18, wherein the associated projectile is a first projectile and the hand launch structure configured to launch the first projectile, the system further including a second projectile and the pack launch structure configured to launch the second projectile.
20. The toy launching system of claim 14, further including a pack line creating a fluid connection between the fluid reservoir and the hand launch structure.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 7, 2014
Publication Date: Jun 11, 2015
Inventor: Rudy D. Rodich (Aurora, OH)
Application Number: 14/562,739
