HAND HELD PROJECTILE LAUNCHER WITH LIGHT SOURCE

Abstract

A hand held projectile launcher comprises an elongated handle having a gripping portion at a first end and a projectile holding unit at a second end. The projectile holding unit is sized and shaped to releasably receive a projectile. A light source is provided on a surface of the projectile holding unit that contacts or is exposed to the projectile, and a light switch is optionally provided on the gripping portion and is capable of controlling operation of the light source. When the light switch is activated, the light source directs light onto a projectile held in the projectile holding unit. The projectile may include a phosphorescent or similar component so that it becomes luminescent when charged by the light source.

Description

PRIORITY

The present application claims the benefit of domestic priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/416,739 filed on Nov. 3, 2017, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

For as long as there have been items to throw, people and their pets have been playing fetch. The game of fetch involves the act of launching a projectile, such as a ball, and the subsequent retrieval by a companion, or pet, animal. This activity provides entertainment and exercise for both the animal and its owner.

By using a phosphorescent projectile, the fetching activity can be performed during twilight hours and in darkness as the light emitting phosphorescent projectile once launched can be more easily located by the owner or pet. However, phosphorescent projectiles, such as glow balls, require charging prior to use by brief exposure to a light source. After exposure the phosphorescent projectile can remain glowing for hours.

Recently, it has become common to use a hand held launcher for launching the projectile. An example of a hand held ball launcher is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,829, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The ball launcher includes a half-spherical structure on its end that can engage and pick up a ball. This allows a user to pick up a ball without having to touch it and to easily launch the ball with a reduced amount of effort.

The necessary and repetitive action of charging the phosphorescent projectile can be inconvenient. The ball must be stowed in a location where it can be exposed to light. Thus, a pet owner may be prevented from stowing the ball and launcher in an otherwise convenient location such as a cupboard or the trunk of an automobile. This drawback with existing projectile launchers means that should the fetching activity take place a long distance from the pet owners property, then the projectile charging activity has to be performed using a separate mobile light source such as a torch which is yet another item for the owner to remember prior to each outing.

Accordingly, there is a need for a projectile launcher that overcomes the above shortcomings and provides a convenient way for both effective projectile launching and charging phosphorescent projectiles.

SUMMARY

The present invention satisfies these needs. In one aspect of the invention, a hand held projectile launcher comprises a built-in light source for use in charging a chargably luminescent projectile.

In another aspect of the invention, a hand held projectile launcher comprises an elongated handle having a gripping portion at a first end and a projectile holding unit at a second end, the projectile holding unit being sized and shaped to releasably receive a projectile; a light source on a surface of the projectile holding unit that contacts or is exposed to the projectile when the projectile is held in the projectile holding unit; and a light control switch capable of controlling operation of the light source, whereby when the light switch is activated, the light source directs light onto a projectile held in the projectile holding unit.

In another aspect of the invention, a hand held projectile launcher comprises an elongated handle having a gripping portion at a first end and a projectile holding unit at a second end, the projectile holding unit being sized and shaped to releasably receive a projectile; a light source on a surface of the projectile holding unit that contacts or is exposed to the projectile; and a chargably luminescent projectile releasably receivable within the projectile holding unit, whereby when the light switch is activated, the light source directs light onto the chargably luminescent projectile when held in the projectile holding unit.

In another aspect of the invention, a method of playing fetch comprises providing an elongated handle having a projectile holding unit and a gripping portion; inserting a projectile into the projectile holding unit; activating a light control switch to cause a light source to direct light onto the projectile; gripping the gripping portion; and launching the projectile.

DRAWINGS

These features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings which illustrate exemplary features of the invention. However, it is to be understood that each of the features can be used in the invention in general, not merely in the context of the particular drawings, and the invention includes any combination of these features, where:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a version of a projectile launcher according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the projective launcher of FIG. 1 in use;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view from the rear of the projectile launcher of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a hand held projectile launcher. In particular, the invention relates to hand held projectile launcher with a built-in light source. Although the invention is illustrated and described in the context of being useful for charging a phosphorescent projectile, the present invention can be used in other ways, as would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the present invention should not be limited just to the examples and embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1 shows a hand held projectile launcher 100 according to one version of the invention. The projectile launcher includes an elongated handle 105. The elongated handle 105 has a first end 110 with a gripping portion 115. The gripping portion 115 may include indentations 120 for receiving the fingers of a user. Alternatively, the gripping portion 115 may be smooth and/or may include a sleeve of rubber or the like to facilitate comfortable and secure gripping. The elongated handle 105 further includes a second end 125 with a projectile holding unit 130 sized and shaped to hold a desired projectile. The projectile holding unit 130 has a surface 135 that contacts or is exposed to the projectile when the projectile is held in the projectile holding unit 130.

In the version shown, the projectile holding unit 130 is sized and shaped to hold a ball 140, such as a tennis ball or the like, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The projectile holding unit 130 in this version has a concave inner face 145 and a convex outer face 150. The concave inner face 145 is cup shaped and serves as the surface 135 that contacts or is exposed to the projectile which in this case is the ball 140. The concave inner face 145 is sized and shaped so that the ball 140 is held within the concave inner face 145 until a throwing motion causes the ball to be released from the concave inner face 145, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,829 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The projectile launcher 100 is constructed from a lightweight, flexible material such as polypropylene or other suitable plastic. The concave inner face 145 of the projectile holding unit 130 may alternatively be sized and shaped to take the form of a recess suitable for retaining a projectile of any shape and then release the projective when the projectile launcher 100 is swung by a user. The concave inner face of the projectile holding unit 130 can thus be molded to form any 3D shape with regular or irregular dimensions.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the projectile launcher 100 of the invention is equipped with a light source 155. In the version shown, the light source 155 is located in the projectile holding unit 130 on the surface 135 that contacts or is exposed to the projectile in such a way that the light is projected onto a projectile held in the projectile holding unit 130. The light source 155 may comprise one or more incandescent or fluorescent bulbs and/or one or more light emitting diodes (LED's) or any other source of illumination, such as a laser. The projectile launcher 100 may also include a light control switch 160. In the version shown, the light control switch 160 is located on the gripping portion 115 of the elongated handle 105 at a suitable position for depression, sliding or other movement by the user's finger or thumb. The light control switch 160 may be positioned so that it is easily reachable by a finger of a hand that is gripping the gripping portion. The light control switch 160 is connected by electrical wiring or the like running either internally or externally along the longitudinal axis of the elongated handle 105 to a wiring housing unit 165 located on the projectile holding unit 130. The wiring housing unit 165 is in communication with the light source 155 on the surface 135 that is in contact with or exposed to the projectile when the projectile is held in the projectile holding unit 130.

In one particular version of the invention, the projectile launcher 100 may be used to launch a projectile that is itself luminescent or glow-in-the-dark. For example, the projectile may be chargably luminescent. By chargably luminescent it is meant that the projectile includes a material that may be charged by exposure to light or other energy so that when charged it emits more light than when it is not charged. In one version, the chargably luminescent projectile may be a phosphorescent or pearlescent projectile that is capable of being charged and then becoming luminescent for a period of time. Examples of such projectiles can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,445,551 in which phosphorescent pigments are inserted into a ball and U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,732 in which an outer fabric of a tennis ball is impregnated with a phosphorescent component, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. When a phosphorescent projectile is engaged with the projectile holding unit 130 it is maintained in close proximity and in a position so that it is exposed to the light source 155 when the light control switch 160 when it is activated. When so activated, the light source 155 directs light onto the projectile and charges the projectile.

It is contemplated that engagement of the light control switch 160 by a user is necessary for only short periods of time. In one version, engagement of the light control switch for less than about 30 seconds is sufficient to transfer light energy from the light source 155 resulting in illumination of the phosphorescent projectile. In this manner the power of the energy source is conserved.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, an embodiment of the projectile launcher 100 is shown which comprises a battery port 170 provided in the base of the gripping portion 115 of the elongate handle 105 for securement of a disposable or rechargeable battery to provide power to the light source 155. A recharging port 175, such as a USB connector is provided as means for recharging the battery power source. It is contemplated that the battery and recharging ports may be located on the base or any part of the elongated handle 105. The battery port 170 and recharging port 175 of the version shown in FIG. 3 can be replaced with any other suitable powering mechanism. For example, the recharging port 170 could be removed and a conventional disposable battery or batteries, such as flashlight batteries, could be used. In another version, a rechargeable or disposable battery or batteries could be housed in proximity to the light source 155. In yet another version, the recharging mechanism could be of a different type, such as a conductive or an inductive charging system or the like.

Alternatively, in another version, the light switch may be omitted, may be provided at a different position on the hand held projectile launcher 100, or may be provided remotely. For example, in one version, the light source 155 may be continuously activated. In another version, the light switch 160 may be a switch that is responsive to something other than manual operation by the user. For example, the light switch 160 may cause activation of the light source 155 in response to movement of the hand held projectile launcher or in response to contact of a projectile within the projectile holding unit 130. In yet another version, the light switch may be located separate from the hand held projectile launcher 100 and may communicate with the light source remotely, such as by RF or infrared communication. The light switch 160 may remain in the on or off position until manually or otherwise moved into the other position, or the light switch 160 may be placed in the on or off position and then automatically switch to the other position after a predetermine amount of time. In yet another version, the light switch 160 is normally in the off position and is only in the on position when being touched or moved to the on position. As soon as the touch or force is removed, the light switch 160 returns to the off position.

The projectile launcher 100 in accordance with the present invention may be used as follows. The projectile launcher 100 is held by a user grasping the gripping portion 115. A phosphorescent projectile, such as a phosphorescent ball 140 is held within the projectile holding unit 130. The user presses the light control switch 160 to provide an electrical current to the light source 155 to thereby charge the phosphorescent projectile. The charged phosphorescent projectile may then be launched so that it is illuminated in flight and when it lands. In this way, fetch can be played in dim light or in the dark and the illuminated projectile can be more easily found by the pet and/or by the user.

The projectile launcher 100 with built-in light source 155 of the present invention provides a means for pet owners to conveniently and rapidly charge and launch phosphorescent or otherwise glow-in-the-dark projectiles during play activities with companion animals.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with regard to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible, and alterations, permutations and equivalents of the version shown will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. For example, the cooperating components may be reversed or provided in additional or fewer number. Also, the various features of the versions herein can be combined in various ways to provide additional versions of the present invention. Furthermore, certain terminology has been used for the purposes of descriptive clarity, and not to limit the present invention. Therefore, any appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein and should include all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hand held projectile launcher comprising:

an elongated handle having a gripping portion at a first end and a projectile holding unit at a second end, the projectile holding unit being sized and shaped to releasably receive a projectile,

a light source on a surface of the projectile holding unit that contacts or is exposed to the projectile when the projectile is held in the projectile holding unit, and

a light control switch capable of controlling operation of the light source,

whereby when the light switch is activated, the light source directs light onto a projectile held in the projectile holding unit.

2. A hand held projectile launcher according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the projectile holding unit is concave.

3. A hand held projectile launcher according to claim 1, wherein the light control switch is on the gripping portion.

4. A hand held projectile launcher according to claim 1, wherein the projectile holding unit is sized and shaped to releasably receive a ball.

5. A hand held projectile launcher according to claim 1, wherein the projectile holding unit is sized and shaped to releasably receive a tennis ball.

6. A hand held projectile launcher according to claim 1, wherein the gripping portion comprises indentations for receiving the fingers of a user.

7. A hand held projectile launcher according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises one or more incandescent or fluorescent bulbs and/or one or more light emitting diodes.

8. A hand held projectile launcher according to claim 1, further comprising a battery port and a recharging port.

9. A hand held projectile launcher comprising:

an elongated handle having a gripping portion at a first end and a projectile holding unit at a second end, the projectile holding unit being sized and shaped to releasably receive a projectile,

a light source on a surface of the projectile holding unit that contacts or is exposed to the projectile, and

a chargably luminescent projectile releasably receivable within the projectile holding unit,

whereby when the light switch is activated, the light source directs light onto the chargably luminescent projectile when held in the projectile holding unit.

10. A hand held projectile launcher according to claim 9, wherein the surface of the projectile holding unit is concave.

11. A hand held projectile launcher according to claim 9, wherein the chargably luminescent projectile comprises a ball.

12. A hand held projectile launcher according to claim 9, wherein the chargably luminescent projectile comprises a phosphorescent component.

13. A hand held projectile launcher according to claim 9, further comprising a light control switch on the gripping portion capable of controlling operation of the light source.

14. A method of playing fetch, the method comprising:

providing an elongated handle having a projectile holding unit and a gripping portion;

inserting a projectile into the projectile holding unit;

gripping the gripping portion;

activating a light source to direct light onto the projectile; and

launching the projectile.

15. A method according to claim 14 comprising activating a light control switch to cause the activation of the light source.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the light control switch is located on the gripping portion.

17. A method according to claim 14 wherein the projectile is chargably luminescent.

18. A method according to claim 14 wherein the light source is located on the projectile holding unit.