Patent ID: 6732725
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: F41B

Abstract:
A launching apparatus, comprising:(a) an elongated substantially cylindrical launch tube having a hollow interior and an open end for receiving and inserting a canister into the interior of the tube, (b) first and second walls, said first wall being fixedly disposed in said hollow interior remote to the open end, said second wall being disposed for movement within said tube between a first position proximate to said first wall and a second position proximate to the open end of said tube; (c) means disposed between said first and second walls for forcing the second wall towards the open end of the tube, and (d) means for releasably restraining the second wall in said first position, said means for releasably restraining including a retention member adapted to seat against the second wall and restrain the second wall in the first position and be released from seated engagement and release the second wall for movement to said second position, an actuator rod, and means for mounting the actuator rod between a second wall engaging position corresponding to the first position and a second wall releasing position, said means for mounting comprising (1) a pivot pin, the pivot pin mounting the actuator rod for rotation about its axis, (2) a stop member which positions the actuator rod such that the axis of the actuator rod and the tube are substantially aligned and the retention member is in the wall engaging position, and (3) means for biasing the retention member into the wall engaging position, and said means for biasing comprising a spring member disposed in the tube and connected to the medial portion of the actuator rod and to the tube, the spring being disposed between the pin and the retention member end of the rod.