Abstract:
A projectile and a compact carrying and launching case in combination. The projectile includes foldable wings which when unfolded resemble a plane. The compact carrying and launching case includes a two piece housing that is pivotally attached to each other about a hinge/launching mechanism. When closed, the two piece housing encloses the plane in its folded position. When opened, the hinge/launching mechanism can be pulled to a cocked position and then released forcibly moves the projectile such that it releases from the launching mechanism and is capable of flying.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a toy composed of a projectile and a compact case used for storing the projectile and for launching the projectile into the air. The projectile of the invention has wings which are folded together when stored in the compact case but which unfold when the compact case is opened. 
         [0002]    Devices are known for launching projectiles such as toy planes shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,410. However, these devices require long tubes and require the user to whip the tube quickly in order to launch the projectile. This type of launcher prevents accuracy or the ability to aim the projectile. There is thus a need to provide for other types of projectiles and compact cases that can be used for launching the projectile. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    One or more of the embodiments provided in the present invention relates to a projectile and a compact carrying and launching case in combination. The combination includes the projectile, which is defined by a main body having a pair of wings separately extending from either side of the main body. Each of the wings are inwardly foldable about the main body and are symmetrically disposed about the main body, wherein when the wings are in a position for flying, the wings extend substantially outwardly. The pair of wings being also inwardly foldable about the main body to a collapsible position. In addition, a front nose section is secured to the centered main body. The compact carrying and launching case is defined to include a housing having two sections. A hinge mechanism is pivotally attaching the two sections about a top edge, such that the two sections are capable of opening and closing. The housing forms an interior hollow region when closed and is capable of holding the projectile while the pair of wings are in the collapsible position. When the two sections are pivoted to an opened position, the pair of wings are capable of moving to the flying position. The hinge mechanism further includes a launching mechanism releasably secured to the front nose section of the projectile. The launching mechanism has a handle for moving the projectile to a cocked position, which when released forcibly permits the release of the projectile from the launching mechanism and the wings being in the flying position causes the projectile to fly. 
         [0004]    In other embodiments, the projectile is made of a resilient material such that the wings have a tendency to move to a substantially outward position. In addition, the main body is further defined as an inverted V-shaped body capable of folding about a center line. Further embodiments may provide for a front nose which has a magnet used in combination with a magnetic element defined by the launching mechanism to magnetically secure the projectile to the launching mechanism. 
         [0005]    In yet other embodiments, the two sections of the housing each are defined to have a backside wall having an edge that terminates into an outwardly extending side wall. The sidewall extends around a section of a periphery of the backside wall terminating at edges about a top portion defined of the backside wall, wherein the edges of the sidewall about the top portion include attachments to pivotally secure the two sections to a hinge. 
         [0006]    In yet still further embodiments, the launching mechanism may includes a groove positioned in the hinge between its edges. A barrel is positioned within the groove, and includes a bore positioned in the barrel through a front end to a rear end such that an opening defined in the rear end of the barrel extends to the front end. The barrel further includes a slot extending along a topside of the barrel from the front end towards the rear end. The slot however terminates at a terminating edge near the rear end, such that the slot does not extend into the rear end. A spring is positioned in the bore of the barrel against the rear end. A rod is also provided and includes an upturned front end extending through the slot and includes a rear tip. The rear tip is sized to slide through the opening in the rear end of the barrel and is further secured to a handle, while the upturned front end is magnetically attached to the front nose. The handle when pulled back compresses the spring until the unturned front end of the rod comes in contact with the terminating edge of the slot thereby pulling the projectile back to the cocked position and when the handle is released the spring forces the unturned front end of the rod back towards the front end of the barrel such that the projectile is capable of magnetically releasing from the upturned end launching the projectile. 
         [0007]    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. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the projectile, launching mechanism, and compact case in accordance to one or more embodiments of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the compact case hinge, launching mechanism and components of the projectile; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3A-3M  illustrate in various views the opening of the compact case and unfolding of the projectile; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrates in various views the launching of the projectile from the compact case shown in perspective views; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrates in various views the launching of the projectile from the compact case shown in side views; and 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrates in various views the projectile sitting at a half release position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    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 the embodiments illustrated. 
         [0016]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is provided a projectile  100  and a compact case  200  used for storing and launcher the projectile  100 . As shown the projectile has a shape and design as a plane, however, various shapes and styles may be used without deviating from the spirit and scope of one or more of the embodiments presented herein. 
         [0017]    The projectile  100  is composed of a main body  105  with wings  110 . The main body  105  may include an inverted V-shaped body design. As explained below this may help with the folding of the projectile  100  when being stored. The wings  110  may also include end tips  112  turned to extend upwardly from the end of the wings  110 . A front nose  115  is secured to a front section  107  of the main body  105 . The front nose  115  includes an annular ring  120  vertically aligned with an U-shaped attachment  125  extending horizontally from the front side of the annular ring  120 , while a short tail  130  extends from a rear side of the annular ring  120 . The short tail  130  is used to secure the front nose  115  to the main body  105 . Secured to the tip  127  of the U-shaped attachment  125  is a nose cone  135 , typically made of a foam to help reduce the effect of an impact upon a surface or the ground during or after flight. A magnet  140  may further be provided and is inserted into the annular ring  120 . The projectile is preferably constructed with a polyoxymethylene (commonly referred to as POM and also known as acetal, polyacetal or polyformaldehyde). This allows the projectile to be folded within the compact case when it is closed, but will automatically unfold into the specific shape or style designated when the compact case is opened. 
         [0018]    The compact case  200  in comprised of a housing sectioned into two sections  210 ,  212 . Each housing section includes a backside wall  215  having an edge that terminates into an outwardly extending side wall  217 . The sidewall  217  will extend around the peripheries of a base  220 , two sides  222  and a portion of a top  225  of the backside wall  215 . The terminating edges  227  of the sidewall  217  about the top  225  of the backside wall  215  includes pins  230  or male extensions. The pins  230  are aligned to received openings  235  or female receivers on a two ends  247  on a hinge  240 . It being known that the male/female connection can be reversed without deviating from the invention. 
         [0019]    The hinge permits a full 180 degree pivot of the two sections  210  and  212  allowing the sections to close completely and open to a position that the two backside walls  215  touch. The hinge  240  is defined to have a groove  245  positioned between the two ends  247  that incorporate the openings  235 . The groove  245  is sized to accommodate a barrel  250 . 
         [0020]    The barrel  250  is bored through from the front end  257  to the rear end  259  of the barrel, such that an opening  252  is defined in the rear end  259 . The barrel  250  further includes a slot  255  extending along the top of the barrel  250 . The slot is opened in the front end  257  of the barrel and extends towards the rear end  259  of the barrel  250 . However the slot  255  does not extend into the rear end  259  as the slot terminates at a terminating edge  260  prior to the rear end  259 . A compression spring  265  is positioned in the bore of the barrel  250  against the rear end  259 . A rod  270  is provided with an upturned front end  275  and a rear tip  277 . The rod  270  is sized such that the rear tip  277  is able to slide through the opening  252  in the rear end  259  of the barrel  250  and be secured to a handle  280 . The handle  280  is used to pull the rod  270  through the bore until the upturned front end  275  comes in contact with the terminating edge  260 . The upturned front end  275  as it approaches the terminating edge  260  will begin to compress the spring  265 . When the handle  280  is released, the spring  265  forces the upturned front end  275  of the rod  270  towards the front end  257  of the barrel  250 . 
         [0021]    To attached the projectile  100  to the launcher mechanism  300  in the compact case  200 , the upturned front end  275  of the rod  270  is magnetically attached to the magnet  140  in the front nose  115 . 
         [0022]    Once assembled and the projectile  100  is attached to the launcher mechanism, the compact case  200  can be closed, shown in  FIG. 3   a . As viewed from  FIGS. 3A to 3M , the compact case  200  can be opened. As it is opening, the two sections  210 ,  212  are separated about the bottom edge  220  and pivoted about the hinge  250 . The sides are pivoted until the two backside walls  215  are touching ( FIG. 3M ). As illustrated, when closed the sidewall  217  extending from the backside wall  215  creates a pocket for storing the folded projectile. During the opening of the compact case  200 , the projectile  100  is unfolded and yet remains secured to the launcher mechanism. When launching the projectile, (illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-4D ;  5 A- 5 D; and  6 A- 6 C), the projectile  100  is pulled back along the launcher mechanism  300 . By holding the handle  280 , the user pulls the rod  270  compression the spring  265  between the upturned end  275  and the rear end  259  of the barrel  250 . The user releases the handle  280 , FIG.  4 C/ 5 C, and the compression spring returns the rod  270  back to its original position and the projectile  100  quickly releases from its magnetic attraction to the upturned end. 
         [0023]    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.