PROJECTILE LAUNCHER AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME
A toy projectile launcher configured to launch projectiles therefrom. The toy projectile launcher having: a housing; a handle portion rotatably received within the housing; a trigger mechanism located in the handle portion, wherein a portion of the projectile launcher in the housing is configured to be transitioned from a first position to a second position as the handle portion rotates with respect to the housing from a first position and a second position.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/054,036 filed Sep. 23, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
BACKGROUNDVarious embodiments of the present invention relate to a toy projectile launcher or dart launching mechanism and a method of operating the same.
Darts or toy projectiles have been used in toy guns, blasters or other toys to provide an enhanced play factor to the toy blasters or toys. Children and/or adults desire to play with projectile launchers that can launch projectiles.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a toy projectile launcher that utilizes a new way to play. It is also desirable to provide a toy projectile launcher that is cocked and loaded in a new manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, a toy is provided. The toy having: a housing; a handle portion rotatably received within the housing; a trigger mechanism, wherein the projectile launcher is configured to be positioned or “cocked” into a firing state by having the housing portion traverse from a first position to a second position by moving along a curved surface of the handle portion.
A toy projectile launcher configured to launch projectiles therefrom. The toy projectile launcher having: a housing; a handle portion rotatably received within the housing; a trigger mechanism located in the handle portion, wherein a portion of the projectile launcher in the housing is configured to be transitioned from a first position to a second position as the handle portion rotates with respect to the housing from a first position and a second position.
A toy having: a housing; a handle portion rotatably mounted to the housing for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the handle portion between the first position and the second position causes a rack to move from a first position to a second position and, wherein movement of the rack from the first position to the second position causes a spring located in a cylinder of the housing to be compressed by a piston operatively coupled to the rack; a trigger mechanism located in the handle portion, wherein actuation of the trigger mechanism releases the rack from the second position and causes a dart to be launched from the toy.
A method of launching a dart from a toy, the method including the steps of: rotatably mounting a handle portion to a housing for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the handle portion between the first position and the second position causes a rack to move from a first position to a second position and, wherein movement of the rack from the first position to the second position causes a spring located in a cylinder of the housing to be compressed by a piston operatively coupled to the rack; and actuating a trigger mechanism located in the handle portion, wherein actuation of the trigger mechanism releases the rack from the second position and causes the dart to be launched from the toy.
These and/or other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Although the drawings represent varied embodiments and features of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to illustrate and explain exemplary embodiments the present invention. The exemplification set forth herein illustrates several aspects of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring now to the FIGS., a toy, toy gun, toy blaster or apparatus 10 for launching a toy projectile or dart 12 constructed in accordance with various non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. In one embodiment, the toy projectile or dart 12 is similar to those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/838,900 filed Mar. 15, 2013 as well as PCT application PCT/US14/28092 filed Mar. 14, 2014, the entire contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. The toy blaster or apparatus 10 can be referred to alternatively as a toy gun or launching device 10.
Apparatus 10, hereinafter referred to as toy 10, has a main housing 14. In one embodiment, housing 14 comprises a pair of housing portions 16 and 18 (see
Toy 10 includes a handle portion 22 rotatably secured to the housing 14 for movement between a first position 24 illustrated in
Movement of the handle portion 22 from the first position 24 to the second position 26 causes a first gear 36 of the gear train 34 to rotate counter clockwise with respect to the view illustrated in
Fourth gear 42 is operatively coupled to or engaged with a rack 44 such that as fourth gear 42 rotates in a clockwise direction, rack 44 moves in the direction of arrow 46 due to the teeth of gear 42 engaging the teeth of rack 44. Rack 44 is mounted in the housing 14 for movement between a first position 48 illustrated in
As the rack 44 is moved from its first position 48 to its second position 50, a spring 52 located in a cylinder 54 is compressed by a piston 56 operatively coupled or secured to rack 44. Once rack 44 reaches its second position 50, a locking member 58 engages a slot or feature 70 located on a surface of rack 44 in order to retain rack 44 in its second position 50 and thus retain spring 52 in a compressed state.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
It being understood that in one embodiment, movable shuttle or safety mechanism 90 has an opening that aligns with nozzle opening 76 and an opening of the dart cylinder 88 when the movable shuttle or safety mechanism 90 is in the first position and the opening of the movable shuttle or safety mechanism 90 does not align with nozzle opening 76 and the opening of the dart cylinder 88 when the movable shuttle or safety mechanism 90 is in the second position.
Accordingly, movable shuttle or safety mechanism 90 prevents compressed air from being provided to dart cylinder 88 unless a properly sized dart 12 is received within dart cylinder 88. For example, if the rack 44 is in the second position 50 and the trigger is released and the movable shuttle or safety mechanism 90 is in the second position, the compressed air from cylinder 54 will simply be released into housing 14 instead of dart cylinder 88.
Once dart 12 is received within dart cylinder 88, a movable member 96 having a portion located in an opening 98 of the dart cylinder 88 is moved downwardly in the direction of arrow 100 (see
As such, movement of member 96 in the directions of arrows 100 and 84 causes movement of safety mechanism or movable shuttle 90 in the direction of arrows 100 and 84 (see
In one embodiment, toy 10 is contemplated for use with a target 104. Target 104 may have a surface material 106 suitable for adhesion with a tip material 108 of dart 12. Toy 10 may also be configured with a pair of shield members 110 rotatably and pivotally mounted to the housing 14 for rotational movement in the direction of arrows 112 and movement between a stowed position 114 (see at least
In one embodiment and in order to allow rotational movement of the shield members 110 in the direction of arrows 112. A portion of the shield members 110 is secured to a shaft 120 rotatably received in housing 14 and secured to disk member 122 rotatably received in housing 14. Disk member 122 is capably of being rotated and retained in a plurality of positions via a movable arm member 124, which is resilient for movement towards and away from disk member 122 and engages features 126 of disk member 122 as it is rotated in order to retain the shield members 110 in various positions with respect to housing 14.
Referring back now to the trigger mechanism 78, as trigger 80 is actuated, the fourth gear 42 is pushed upwardly in the direction of arrow 128 on shaft 130 so that the teeth of gear 42 do not engage the teeth of rack 44. In one embodiment, this is achieved by movement of locking member 58 upward in the direction of arrow 84. In one embodiment, gear 42 is spring biased in a direction opposite to that of arrow 128 via a spring 132 located on shaft 130. This movement or disengagement of gear 42 from rack 44 allows the gear train 34 to be decoupled from the rack 44 as the rack 44 moves from its second position to its first position due to spring 52. Accordingly, the gear train 34 does not have to be back driven during this movement of the rack 44 (e.g., second position to first position) and therefore allows piston 56 to force a sufficient amount of air from nozzle opening 76 in order to launch the dart 12 from the toy 10.
Referring now to at least
Toy 10 includes a mechanism that determines when the toy 10 is “cocked” (e.g., rack 44 is in its second position 50) and ready to launch a dart 12. The mechanism is activated when an extended tab portion 140 extends from housing 14 when the rack 44 is in its second position 50.
Handle portion 22 has a release mechanism 142, that retains the handle portion 22 in either the first position 24 or the second position 26 with respect to the housing 14. The release mechanism has a button 144 which when actuated allows handle portion 22 to rotate in the direction of arrow 28 with respect to housing 14. In one embodiment, actuation of button 144 disengages a tab member 146 from handle portion 22 such that it can be rotated from its first position 24 to its second position 26 wherein rack 44 is moved in the direction of arrow 46 until handle portion 22 is locked into is second position 26 and actuation of button 144 is required to rotate handle portion 22 from its second position 26 to its first position 24.
Accordingly and in order to “cock” or charge the toy 10 so a projectile 12 can be fired therefrom. Handle portion 22 must be rotated from its first position 24 to its second position 26, wherein rack 44 is moved in the direction of arrow 46. Thereafter and in order to release rack 44 and fire the projectile 12 from toy 10, button 144 will need to be actuated and handle portion 22 must be rotated from its second position 26 to its first position 24.
Button 144 of release mechanism 142 is also spring biased forward in the direction of arrow 148 by a spring 152. Once a user depresses button 144 in a direction opposite to arrow 148 in order to overcome the biasing force of spring 152, linking members 154 of the release mechanism 142 are retracted into the housing of the handle portion 22 via rotational or pivotal movement of member 156. This causes tab members 146 located at the ends of the linking members 154 to be drawn into the housing of the handle portion 22. Once drawn into the housing the tab members 146 no longer engage complimentary features or openings in the housing 14. This allows the handle portion 22 to now be able to be rotated between the first portion 24 and the second position 26. Once the button 144 is released, the tab members 146 will again protrude from the housing of the handle portion 22 and at least one of the tab members 146 engages a complimentary opening or feature in the housing 14 in order to retain the handle portion 22 in either the first or second position.
As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,”—and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. In addition, it is noted that the terms “bottom” and “top” are used herein, unless otherwise noted, merely for convenience of description, and are not limited to any one position or spatial orientation.
The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention.
Claims
1. A toy projectile launcher configured to launch projectiles, comprising:
- a housing;
- a handle portion rotatably coupled to the housing; and
- a trigger mechanism located in the handle portion, wherein a portion of the projectile launcher in the housing transitions from a first position to a second position as the handle portion rotates with respect to the housing from a first position and a second position.
2. The toy projectile launcher as in claim 1, wherein the an outer periphery of the handle portion includes several teeth and the teeth engage and activate a gear train in the housing as the handle portion is rotated from the first position to the second position.
3. The toy projectile launcher as in claim 2, wherein the gear train includes several gears and one of the gears engages a rack such that as the one of the gears rotates due to rotation of the handle portion, the rack moves linearly from a first position to a second position.
4. The toy projectile launcher as in claim 3, wherein movement of the rack from its first position to its second position causes a spring located in a cylinder of the housing to be compressed by a piston operatively coupled to the rack.
5. The toy projectile launcher as in claim 4, further comprising:
- a locking member configured to retain the rack in the second position.
6. The toy projectile launcher as in claim 5, wherein the locking member is operatively coupled to the trigger mechanism.
7. The toy projectile launcher as in claim 6, wherein the locking member engages a slot located on a surface of the rack in order to retain the rack in its second position.
8. The toy projectile launcher as in claim 6, wherein the trigger mechanism includes a trigger, which when actuated causes a tab member to move upwardly from the handle portion and contact the locking member and disengage the locking member from the rack in order to allow the rack to move from its second position to its first position due to the spring located in a cylinder of the housing, wherein movement of the rack from its second position to its first position causes compressed air to be forced out of a nozzle opening of the cylinder.
9. The toy projectile launcher as in claim 1, further comprising:
- a release mechanism configured to retain the handle portion in either the first or second position with respect to the housing and wherein the release mechanism further comprises a button which when actuated allows the handle portion to rotate with respect to the housing.
10. A toy, comprising:
- a housing;
- a handle portion rotatably mounted to the housing for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the handle portion between the first position and the second position causes a rack to move from a first position to a second position and, wherein movement of the rack from the first position to the second position causes a spring located in a cylinder of the housing to be compressed by a piston operatively coupled to the rack; and
- a trigger mechanism located in the handle portion, wherein actuation of the trigger mechanism releases the rack from the second position and causes a dart to be launched from the toy.
11. The toy as in claim 10, wherein the an outer periphery of the handle portion includes several teeth and the teeth engage and activate a gear train operatively coupled to the rack as the handle portion is rotated from the first position to the second position.
12. The toy as in claim 11, wherein movement of the rack from the first position to the second position causes a spring located in a cylinder of the housing to be compressed by a piston operatively coupled to the rack.
13. The toy as in claim 12, further comprising:
- a locking member configured to retain the rack in the second position, wherein the locking member is operatively coupled to the trigger mechanism; and
- a release mechanism configured to retain the handle portion in either the first or second position with respect to the housing and wherein the release mechanism further comprises a button which when actuated allows the handle portion to rotate with respect to the housing.
14. The toy as in claim 10, wherein movement of the rack from the first position to the second position causes a spring located in a cylinder of the housing to be compressed by a piston operatively coupled to the rack.
15. The toy as in claim 10, further comprising:
- a locking member configured to retain the rack in the second position, wherein the locking member is operatively coupled to the trigger mechanism; and
- a release mechanism configured to retain the handle portion in either the first or second position with respect to the housing and wherein the release mechanism further comprises a button which when actuated allows the handle portion to rotate with respect to the housing.
16. The toy projectile launcher as in claim 15, wherein the locking member engages a slot located on a surface of the rack in order to retain the rack in its second position.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 23, 2015
Publication Date: Mar 24, 2016
Inventor: Chun Wing Wong (Hunghom)
Application Number: 14/862,796