A toy having a housing and a projectile launcher capable of moving between a first stowed position within the housing and a second deployed position extending from the housing. The toy further including a trigger mechanism for launching at least one projectile from the projectile launcher; and a selector mechanism for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the trigger mechanism will launch only a single projectile from the projectile launcher when the selector mechanism is in the first position and the trigger mechanism is actuated and wherein the trigger mechanism will launch at least two projectiles from the projectile launcher when the selector mechanism is in the second position and the trigger mechanism is actuated.

BACKGROUND

Various embodiments disclosed herein are related to a toy, and more particularly to a toy for launching objects.

Toys for launching objects are popular with children, however, many such toys are similar in that an object is loaded into the toy, and whether by actuating a trigger or some other device, the object is released or otherwise projected from the toy.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a toy for launching objects that also provides additional entertainment and stimulation to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a toy having a housing and a projectile launcher capable of moving between a first stowed position within the housing and a second deployed position extending from the housing. The toy further including a trigger mechanism for launching at least one projectile from the projectile launcher; and a selector mechanism for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the trigger mechanism will launch only a single projectile from the projectile launcher when the selector mechanism is in the first position and the trigger mechanism is actuated and wherein the trigger mechanism will launch at least two projectiles from the projectile launcher when the selector mechanism is in the second position and the trigger mechanism is actuated.

In another embodiment, a hand held toy for launching projectiles is provided. The hand held toy having: a housing having a forward end and a rearward end; a projectile launcher capable of moving between a first stowed position within the housing and a second deployed position extending from the housing; a trigger mechanism for launching at least one projectile from the projectile launcher; a selector mechanism configured for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the trigger mechanism will launch only a single projectile from the projectile launcher when the selector mechanism is in the first position and the trigger mechanism is actuated and wherein the trigger mechanism will launch at least two projectiles from the projectile launcher when the selector mechanism is in the second position and the trigger mechanism is actuated; an actuation button for moving the projectile launcher from the first stowed position to the second deployed position; and a reward handle slidably mounted to the rearward end of the housing for movement between an extracted position and an un-extracted position, wherein movement of the reward handle from the un-extracted position to the extracted position when the projectile launcher is in the second deployed position will cause the projectile launcher to be moved into the first stowed position.

In another embodiment, a method of selecting launching configurations of a toy projectile launcher is provided, the method including the steps of: sliding a selector mechanism of the toy projectile launcher between a first position and a second position, wherein the selector mechanism couples at least two members of a trigger mechanism together when the selector mechanism is in the second position such that movement of the one of the members will cause movement of the other one of the members and actuation of a button of the trigger mechanism will move one of the at least two members; and wherein the selector mechanism isolates the at least two members from each other when the selector mechanism is in the first position such that movement of the button of the trigger mechanism will only move one of the at least two members.

The detailed description explains various embodiments of the present invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the attached FIGS., a toy10constructed in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment is illustrated. As will be discussed herein, the toy has various embodiments, configuration or combinations wherein various embodiments according to the present invention can be implemented.

As shown in the attached FIGS., toy10includes a main housing12having a first end portion14and a second end portion16. Associated with the first end portion is a forward handle or grip18and associated with the second end portion is reward handle or grip20. In one non-limiting embodiment, handle20is pivotally secured to the toy. Forward handle or grip18allows a user to grip the toy with one hand and pull on the rearward handle or grip with an opposite hand, which as will be discussed below allows a user to stow a projectile launcher in the main housing12. Still further, main housing12has a strap11configured to releasably secure the main housing the arm or wrist of a user that is gripping forward handle or grip18. In addition, the lower portion of the housing may be contoured or configured to facilitate securement of the housing to a user's arm.

Received within the housing is a projectile launcher22. The projectile launcher is movably secured to the housing for movement between a first stowed position (FIGS. 1 and 5B) and a second deployed position (FIGS. 2,3and4) wherein the projectile launcher is positioned above a receiving area24of the housing.

Referring now toFIGS. 7 and 8, the projectile launcher includes a trigger mechanism26for launching at least one projectile28from the projectile launcher. In one non-limiting embodiment, the projectile is a dart with a suction cup at a forward end. The projectile launcher also comprises a selector mechanism30for movement between a first position (FIG. 8) and a second position (FIG. 7). In an exemplary embodiment, the projectile launcher will launch only one projectile when the selector mechanism is in the first position and the trigger mechanism is actuated. In one non-limiting embodiment the center projectile will be the only one launched when the trigger mechanism is actuated and the selector mechanism is in the first position. Of course, other projectiles may be the only one launched when the selector mechanism is in the first position.

When the selector mechanism is moved to the second position (FIG. 7) and the trigger mechanism is actuated by movement of button or buttons disposed on the sides of the projectile launcher inwardly, the trigger mechanism will cause at least two projectiles to be simultaneously launched from the projectile launcher. In one embodiment, the projectile launcher will launch three projectiles simultaneously from the projectile launcher when the trigger mechanism is actuated and the selector mechanism is in the second position. Of course, other numbers of projectiles may be launched when selector mechanism is in the second position and the trigger mechanism is actuated.

As illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8and in one embodiment, the trigger mechanism includes a pair of push buttons30each being disposed on a side of the projectile launcher. Each push button is biased outwardly from the projectile launcher by a spring32. Each push button further comprises a rack portion34configured to engage and rotate a gear36of a gear train38, which in turn rotates a shaft40in the direction of arrow42. Shaft40has a plurality of protrusions44and rotation of the shaft in the direction of arrow42will cause at least one of the plurality of protrusions44to engage one of a plurality of members46,53and55of the trigger mechanism when the push buttons are depressed inwardly towards the projectile launcher. Each of the plurality of members46,53and55of the trigger mechanism are configured for upward and downward movement with respect to a housing of the projectile launcher in order to engage and release projectiles inserted into the projectile launcher. In one embodiment, the plurality of members46,53and55are spring biased into a first or upward position with respect to the housing such that projectiles may be releasbly retained by features coupled to the plurality of members46,53and55. In other words, insertion of a projectile into the projectile housing will ultimately cause a hook portion of the projectile to push down the feature of one of the plurality of members46,53and55against the biasing force until the hook portion is engaged by the feature (e.g., springs back up due to biasing force) and then the hook portion of the projectile is released as the feature is pushed downwardly against the biasing force by the trigger mechanism. Thus, projectiles can be inserted into the projectile launcher so that a launching spring of the projectile launcher is compressed and held in a compressed state until the projectile is released and subsequently launched from the projectile launcher.

In one embodiment, the rack portions of the pair of push buttons are disposed in parallel planes such that one rack is above the other and each are configured to engage a gear coupled to gear36such that gear36is rotated when at least one of the pair of push buttons is pushed into the projectile launcher and the associated rack rotates gear36and ultimately rotates shaft40in the direction of arrow42. Accordingly and in this embodiment, only one of the push buttons needs to be depressed to rotate gear36and shaft40to launch projectiles from the projectile launcher.

Member46has a pair of portions47spring biased upwardly in a direction opposite to the rotational movement of arrow42and each portion47is configured to slidably receive a shaft member as will be discussed below. Of course, member46with a single portion47is also contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. Portion or portions47of member46are coupled to or comprise a feature also spring biased upwardly to engage a hook portion on the end of a projectile as it is inserted into the central portion of the projectile launcher. When the selector mechanism is in the first position (FIG. 8) only portion or portions47of the member46will be depressed downwardly by the rotational movement of shaft40and an associated feature of the portion47no longer engages the hook portion of the projectile and a spring (not shown) that is compressed when the projectile is inserted into the projectile launcher is released thus launching the projectile from the projectile launcher. Therefore, a single projectile is launched when the selector mechanism is in the first position and the button or buttons30are depressed.

Referring now toFIGS. 7 and 8and when the selector mechanism is slid in the direction of arrow48by manipulating a button50that protrudes through an opening52in the projectile launcher, a shaft portion54is received within portions47as well as portions49and51of members53and55, which are disposed on either side of member46. Thus, portions47of member46are now coupled to portions49and51of members53and55. As illustrated, shaft portion54is coupled to button50such that movement of the same will cause movement of the shaft portion. Also shown in at leastFIG. 6is that the upper surface of the projectile launcher has features depicting the number of projectiles that will be launched when button30is depressed.

Members53and55and their associated portions49and51are similar to member46in that they are spring biased upwardly to engage a feature or hook of projectiles inserted into the projectile launcher and downward movement of the members53and55will cause the projectiles to be launched from the projectile launcher as the biasing force of compressed springs will be released and the projectiles will be launched from the projectile launcher. The interconnection of member46and members53and55via shaft54allows all three projectiles to be launched by a single depression of button30. This is achieved by sliding shaft54into engagement of each of the members46,53and55such that as member46is depressed by one of the plurality of protrusions each of the members are depressed downwardly and all three projectiles are launched. Alternatively and if member53or55is depressed by another protrusion44and shaft portion54is engaged by portions47,49and51(e.g., selector mechanism in the second position) movement of anyone of the portions will cause a complimentary movement of the other portions such that all projectiles of launcher22are launched simultaneously. In one non-limiting embodiment, the protrusions44of shaft40are off set from each other such that one of them is configured to engage a surface47′ of portion47and another one of them is configured to engage a surface51′ of portion51. Of course, other configurations are contemplated.

Of course, exemplary embodiments of the present invention contemplate more or less than three projectiles being launched when the selector mechanism is in the second position. Accordingly, movement of the selector mechanism allows a user to choose from a single shot device to a multiple shot device and vice versa.

Accordingly and when the selector mechanism is in the second position actuation or depression of the trigger mechanism will cause three projectiles to be released from the projectile launcher. Therefore, a user of the toy can easily select from one of two projectile launching options in order to provide for enhanced play.

In order to stow the projectile launcher within the housing the housing has a pair of deployable doors56each being pivotally secured to the housing for movement between a closed position (FIG. 1) and an open position (FIGS. 2-6).

In addition and in order to provide further extended play, each of the pair of deployable doors56has a launcher mechanism58for launching a projectile28. In one embodiment, projectile28is of a standard configuration that can be launched from launcher58or projectile launcher22.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2-5B, the projectile launcher is mounted to the housing by a pair of arms60each being pivotally and slidably mounted to the housing at one end while being pivotally mounted to the projectile launcher at the other end. At least one of the pair of arms is spring biased into the second position by a spring62.

In order to maintain the projectile launcher in the second position a latch64secures one of the pair of arms to the housing to maintain the projectile launcher in the deployed position. In one embodiment, latch64is spring biased downwardly to engage an edge portion of one of the pair of arm members. To transition the projectile launcher from the second position to the first position or stowed position, the reward handle, which is secured to a frame59slidably mounted to the housing is pulled from the housing from an un-extracted position to an extracted position such that frame59is slid in the direction of arrow61and the pair of arms60are pivoted downwardly and the projectile launcher is stowed in the housing. Frame59further comprises a pair of members63each being connected to the rearward handle at one end and a wall portion65of the frame at the other end.

As frame59is pulled in the direction of arrow61wall portion65pushes up latch62and arm member60is no longer secured to the housing. In addition, wall portion65also pivots or pushes the arm member60that was previously secured to the housing downward such that the projectile launcher may assume the stowed position. Furthermore and as the arm members are pivoted downwardly, a tab or feature67of one of the pair of arm members depresses a spring biased catch69downwardly such that a base70can now slide in the direction of arrow61. In one embodiment, base70is spring biased in a direction opposite to arrow61. As illustrated, base70is slidably received within members63and the pair of arms60are pivotally secured to the base thus allowing for pivotal and slidable securement of the pair of arms60to the housing.

As the projectile launcher22moves in the direction of arrow61and into a cavity71of the housing a latch (not shown) engages a catch73of the projectile launcher. This will retain the projectile launcher in the cavity until an actuation button74is depressed. Once in the stowed position, the pair of deployable doors are pivoted into the closed position and the projectile launcher is retained within the housing (FIG. 1). Depression of button74disengages catch73and allows the projectile launcher and arms60to slide forward and extend upwardly due to the biasing forces acting upon the projectile launcher. At the same time the pair of deployable doors, if closed, will pivot open due to the movement of the projectile launcher from the stowed position to the deployed position.

In order to deploy the projectile launcher, actuation button74is depressed and the latch engaging catch73releases the same and releases the spring biasing force against the base as well as spring62such that the projectile launcher moves from the first position to the second position and the pair of deployable doors are pivoted open.

In addition, other features include a LED lamp or another equivalent device76that is illuminated when button74is depressed to provide addition effects to the toy. Still further, the toy may have sound effects that are played when button74is depressed. Also, a deployable sighting device78is pivotally mounted to the projectile launcher for movement between a deployed position (FIGS. 2-5) and a stowed position (FIGS. 5A-5B). In one implementation, the sighting device78spring biased into the deployed position and the movement of the projectile launcher from the deployed positioned to the stowed position causes the sighting device to be contacted by the housing and moved into the stowed position.

Accordingly, a hand held toy is provided wherein a user can deploy and subsequently stow a selectable projectile launcher that can launch one or a plurality of projectiles through manipulation of a single button. Still further and in one embodiment, the hand held toy also has a pair of deployable door members each having a projectile launcher for independently launching other projectiles.