Patent ID: 6412418
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: F42B

Abstract:
An aerial fireworks product comprising:a launcher including a tube adapted to be disposed in an upright condition, said tube having upper and lower ends and a continuous, annular sidewall extending between said ends to define an elongated, internal launching chamber within the tube, said upper end of the tube being open; and a self-propelled aerial pyrotechnic device having no fins and adapted for launching from said launcher, said device including, a body at an upper end of the device including a collection of ignitable incendiary display materials and an engine containing a charge for propelling the device when the charge is ignited, said engine being attached to and traveling with the collection of ignitable incendiary materials when the device is being propelled by the engine, stabilizing structure secured to the body and projecting therefrom at a lower end of the device for supporting the body above the lower end of the tube when the device is placed in the launch chamber with the upper end of the device up and the lower end of the device down, and for stabilizing the device during flight after launching from the tube, said stabilizing structure including a plurality of fixed legs projecting downwardly from the body beyond the lower end of the engine, said legs being fixed against outward movement both before and during flight so that the transverse cross-sectional width of the device remains constant at all times, and a fuse secured to and leading from said engine, said tube having an internal diameter that exceeds the maximum transverse cross-sectional width of the device and a height that causes at least the legs, the engine, and the collection of ignitable, incendiary materials of the device to be surrounded by the wall of the tube when the device is contained within the launch chamber and topresent a generally annular space between the body and the sidewall, said fuse having a length that exceeds the distance between its point of securement to the engine and the open upper end of the tube when the device is contained within the launch chamber whereby to cause the fuse to extend through said annular space and out the open upper end of the tube when the device is loaded into and contained within the tube in preparation for launching.