Abstract:
This invention is a toy projectile launcher that launches projectiles. The launcher includes a housing having an entrance and an exit in communication therewith to define a channel, a pair of flywheels supported by the housing and positioned about and in communication with the channel, and a pump handle for rotating the flywheels such that a projectile entering the channel may be engaged by the rotating flywheels and impelled through the channel and out through the exit.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to toy projectile launchers, and more particularly to a dual flywheel powered toy projectile launcher. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Toy projectile launchers are well known in the art. These toys are suitably made for children and use harmless foam projectiles that are launched through the air. These launches may employ various spring loaded mechanism, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,285, which includes a pair of spring loaded launch tubes to separately launch projectiles. Other mechanisms such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,326 employs compressed air. In addition thereto, flywheels or launching wheels have further been incorporated in these toys, such as the launching wheels disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,967 or those employed in any self-pitching machine device. 
     In addition thereto, launching toys have developed various means for loading and firing multiple projectiles. For example: U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,152 discloses a toy gun that fires multiple projectiles with a single cycle of an actuation device, which is arranged to engage a spring that moves a reciprocating piston that fires the projectiles; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,285 mentioned above includes two launch tubes that separately launch projectiles. 
     Furthermore, the energy or power supplied by these toys to launch the projectiles is limited by the launching mechanisms. Launchers that utilize spring loaded mechanisms, pressurized air mechanisms and even some battery operated launching wheel mechanisms include a predetermined supply of energy. For instance, in a spring loaded mechanism the total amount of energy capable of being supplied to launch the projectile is determined from the spring, or in a battery operated launcher the total amount of energy is determined from the total output from the battery. A need therefore exists to provide projectile launchers that permit the user to control the amount of energy being supplied to launch the projectile. The user may then achieve a higher performance, meaning the user may launch the projectiles further then in a launcher that supplies a limited amount of energy. 
     In one such attempt, U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,321 discloses a ball launching device utilizing a self-propelled launching wheel to launch balls. As opposed to the above methods of supplying energy to the launching wheel, the &#39;321 patent uses a hand pump to spin the launching wheel. As such, the users ability to repeat the spinning of the launching wheel at a faster rate will increase the launching velocity of the balls. As such a person with greater strength is capable of obtaining a higher or increase performance. However, the need still exists for improvements thereon. For instance, while the launching wheel may build up energy from repeated pumping, the energy drains quickly, since there is no means for storing this energy. Also, the incorporation of a single launching wheel will expel its energy quicker, then multiple wheels. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toy projectile launcher having a housing that supports a handle, a launch channel, and a pump handle. The launch channel has an entrance and an exit, which permits a projectile to enter and exit therethrough. The projectile launcher includes a pair of flywheels that are in communication with and separately positioned on either side of the launch channel. The pump handle is slidably connected to the housing and is in communication with the pair of flywheels such that when the pump handle is moved inwardly the flywheels rotate. In addition, the projectile launcher includes a means for preventing a projectile positioned in the entrance opening from entering the launch channel and thus being launched, as well as including a triggering means for releasing the preventing means. As such, when a projectile is loaded in the entrance opening, a user gripping the handle must press the triggering means to move the projectile from the entrance opening to the launch channel. If the user has sufficiently rotated the flywheels, then the flywheels will engage the projectile entering the launch channel and impel it out of the exit opening. 
     Various shapes of projectiles are plausible, for instance the present invention includes a dart, glider and sphere. Because these darts have different shapes, the launch channel has an internal shape similar thereto, to permit the projectile to travel therethrough substantially unobstructed. In addition, the contour of the flywheels is substantially the same as the tip of the projectile, in order to adequately grip the tip of the projectile and launch it through the channel. 
     When the body of the projectile is larger than the tip, as in the glider, the flywheels further include grooves that permit the body of the projectile to travel therethrough substantially friction free. In yet other embodiment of the present invention, when the projectile launcher includes spheres, the launch channel may be pivotably attached to the housing, which permits the launched spheres to have a curved trajectory. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a projectile launcher that launches darts; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the projectile launcher from FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 a  is a partial cross-sectional view of the projectile launcher from FIG. 1, illustrating the various components of the triggering means; 
     FIG. 3 b  is a cross-sectional top view of the projectile launcher from FIG. 1 showing a dart prior to being engaged by the flywheels; 
     FIG. 3 c  is a front view of the projectile launcher from FIG. 1 showing the contour of the flywheels and the tip of the dart; 
     FIG. 4 a  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a projectile launcher that launches gliders; 
     FIG. 4 b  is a partial cross-sectional view of the projectile launcher from FIG. 4 a  equipped with grooves in the flywheels to permit the substantially frictionless passage of gliders; 
     FIG. 5 a  is a cross-sectional top view of the projectile launcher from FIG. 4, showing the glider prior to being engaged by the flywheels; 
     FIG. 5 b  is a front view of the projectile launcher from FIG. 4 showing the grooves and contour of the flywheels that are configured to match the profile of the tip of the glider and permit the wings to travel therethrough substantially friction free; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a projectile launcher that launches spheres; 
     FIG. 7 a  is a top view of the projectile launcher from FIG. 6 with a pivotal launch channel that is pivoted to the left, which permits a sphere exiting therethrough to have a right curved trajectory; 
     FIG. 7 b  is a top view of the projectile launcher from FIG. 6 showing the pivotal launch channel positioned in the center, which permits a sphere exiting therethrough to have a straight trajectory; and 
     FIG. 7 c  is a top view of the projectile launcher from FIG. 6 showing the pivotal launch channel positioned to the right, which permits a sphere exiting therethrough to have a left curved trajectory. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated. 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, a projectile launcher in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown and generally referenced to as  10 . The projectile launcher  10  includes a housing  12  that supports a launch channel  14  having a entrance opening  16  and an exit opening  18 , through which foam darts  20  may be loaded and projected therethrough. The housing  12  may also support clips  24  for storing or holding extra darts  20 . Multiple darts may be loaded or stacked in a chute  26  that is in communication with the entrance opening  16 , providing a means for rapid or repeated firing of subsequent darts  20 . A handle  28  at one end of the projectile launcher  10  permits a user to hold and angle the projectile launcher  10  in a desired direction. As described in greater detail below, the projectile launcher  10  includes a pair of flywheels (not shown) housed in apertures  32 , which are separately positioned on either side of and in communication with the launch channel  14 . If a dart  20  is released into the launch channel  14  while the flywheels are rotating, the dart  20  is projected or launched through the exit  18 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, the projectile launcher  10  has a shaft  34  that accommodates a slidable pump handle  36  which is in communication with the flywheels  46 , such that by sliding the pump handle  36  inwardly (towards the other handle  28 ) the flywheels  46  will rotate and energize. In greater detail, the pump handle  36  has a rack  38  that is in engagement with a slider gear  40 . When the pump handle  36  is moved inwardly, the rack  38  will move the slider gear  40  such that it engages a transfer gear  42 . Continued movement of the pump handle  36  inwardly causes the slider gear  40  to rotate the transfer gear  42 , which will rotate a combo gear  44  that is in communication with the pair of flywheels  46  separately located in the apertures  32 . As such, the rotation of the transfer gear  42  rotates and energizes the flywheels  46 . When the pump handle  36  is moved away from the handle  26  (defined as moving outwardly), the rack  38  moves the slider gear  40  into an idle position, such that the slider gear  40  is no longer in engagement with the transfer gear  42 . Moving the pump handle  36  inwardly and outwardly repeatedly keeps the flywheels  46  rotating such that the energy being stored is greater to or equal to the energy being expelled, thus maximizing the energy which will be transferred to the dart  20 , when the dart is moved from the entrance opening  16  to the launch channel  14 . 
     The projectile launcher  10  further has the means to prevent a dart  20  from entering the launch channel  14 ; this will prevent the dart  20  from launching until the user has sufficiently energized the flywheels  46 . When the flywheels  46  are sufficiently energized or rotating, the user may release the preventing means by pressing a trigger means  30  located on the handle  28 . By pressing the trigger means  30 , the user will release the preventing means and cause a dart  20  positioned in the entrance opening  16  to move into the launch channel  14 , which will then be engaged by the rotating flywheels  46  and launched out of the exit opening  18 . 
     The trigger means  30  includes a trigger  48  that is pivotally attached to the housing  12  and is outwardly biased by a return spring  50 . A hammer  52  also attached to the trigger  48  will move outwardly when the trigger  48  is pressed inwardly. Upon releasing the trigger  48 , the return spring  50  will bias the trigger  48  outwardly, returning the hammer  52  to its initial position. The hammer  52  is attached to a retaining arm  54  that initially prevents the dart  20  from entering the launch channel  14 . However, when the hammer  52  moves outwardly, it pushes the retaining arm  54 . The retaining arm  54  being positioned in a guide slot  56  will be guided downwardly away from the dart  20  when pushed by the hammer  52 . As such, the dart  20  will be free to enter the launch channel  14 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 a  through  3   c , it is shown that when the trigger means  30  is pressed, the hammer  52  pushes the retaining arm  54  within the guide slot  56  away from the dart  20 . As such, a dart  20  may move from the entrance opening  16  to the launch channel  14 . In order to make sure the flywheels  46  engage the first dart  20 , the hammer  52  also pushes the dart  20  forwards into the flywheels  46 . When the hammer  52  pushes the dart  20  forwards, the top portion  53  of the hammer  52  also moves under a subsequent dart  21  positioned above the dart  20 , preventing the subsequent dart  21  from entering the entrance opening  16  and being launched by the projectile launcher  10 . However, when the trigger means  30  is released the hammer  52  resets and the subsequent dart  21  moves into position, such that if the flywheels  46  have been sufficiently energized, a user may fire the subsequent dart  21  or multiple darts without having to re-pump or re-energize the flywheels  46 . 
     From a top view (FIG. 3 b ) it is shown that the dart  20  has moved such that the tip  58  of the dart  20  has engaged the rotating flywheels  46 . The flywheels  46  further include a contour  47  that is configured to match the shape of the tip  58 , shown in FIG. 3 c . The dart  20  also includes a body  59  that is smaller than the tip  58  such that the body  59  of the dart  20  passes through the flywheels  46  substantially friction free. The contour  47  of the flywheels  46  is such that the flywheels  46  will sufficiently grip only the tip  58  of the dart  20 , therefore launching the dart  20  through the launch channel  14 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b , in another embodiment of the present invention, a projectile launcher  60  may be similarly configured but equipped to receive gliders  62 . A launch channel  64  would include a wider opening so the wings  63  and tail of the glider  62  will not be obstructed. It is further noted that the flywheels  68  are rotated and energized in the manner stated above. Turning to FIGS. 4 b  and  5   a  and  5   b , it is shown that the flywheels  68  include grooves  66  that permit the passage of the wings  63  through the flywheels  68  substantially friction free. In addition, the contour  69  of the flywheels  68  is configured such that the flywheels  68  engage the tip  65  of the gliders  62 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, in yet another embodiment of the present invention, a projectile launcher  70  is equipped to launch spheres  72 . The projectile launcher  70  includes a launch channel  74  that includes an entrance and an exit opening  76  and  78 , respectively. Multiple spheres  72  may be loaded through a chute  80  that is in communication with the entrance opening  76  and additional spheres  72  may be stored in clips  82  located on the projectile launcher  70 . A pair of flywheels  86  is supported in apertures  88 , which are located on either side of and are in communication with the launch channel  74 . A handle  90  is also provided with a triggering means  92 , which when pressed moves a sphere  72  or allows it to move from the entrance opening  76  to the launch channel  74 , such that when the flywheels  86  are rotating (in a manner similar to the aforementioned embodiments) the sphere  72  may be projected out of the exit opening  76 . In addition, when the triggering means  92  is pressed a second or subsequent sphere is prevented from entering the entrance opening  76  until the triggering means  92  is released and pressed again. It should also be noted, that the contour of the flywheels  86  are configured to the shape of the spheres  72  such that when the sphere  72  is dropped or moved into position the flywheels  86  engage and impel the spheres  72 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7 a  to  7   c , the projectile launcher  70  includes a launch channel  95  that may be pivotably connected to the projectile launcher  70 . As shown in FIGS. 7 a  to  7   c , the pivotable launch channel  95  may pivot either to the left (FIG. 7 a ) or to the right (FIG. 7 c ). The flywheels  86  spinning at the same rate will always launch a sphere in a straight direction, indicated by arrow  97 . But if the pivotable launch channel  95  is pivoted to the left, the sphere  72  will come into contact with the right wall  96   a  of the launch channel  95 , which will impart a right spin on the sphere, such that when the sphere  72  exits, the trajectory of the sphere  72  will curve to the right. Consistent thereto, if the pivotable launch channel  95  is pivoted to the right, the sphere  72  will come into contact with the left wall  96   b  of the launch channel  95 , which will impart a left spin on the sphere, such that when the sphere  72  exists, the trajectory of the sphere  72  will curve to the left. Also, when the launch channel  95  is pivoted to the center, the trajectory of the sphere  72  exiting the launch channel  95  will be straight, as the sphere should exist substantially unobstructed. 
     From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.