Abstract:
A toy launcher that can launch multiple consecutive devices into a spin is described. The toy launcher includes a housing adapted to receive an item to be launched. The housing includes a bunching mechanism to force the item from the launcher. Additionally, a protrusion is positioned in front of the launching mechanism such that art item launched from the launching mechanism engages with the protrusion, forcing the item into a spin as it exits the launcher.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     This is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/540,458, filed on Sep. 28, 2011, and entitled, “Launcher.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     (1) Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a toy launcher and, more particularly, to a toy launcher that can launch multiple consecutive items into a spin about an axis. 
     (2) Description of Related Art 
     Toy launchers have long been known in the art. Toy launchers are typically formed to launch an item aerially or upon a ground surface. By way of example, many launchers shoot items or aerial items into the air. Alternatively, other launchers are formed to launch a vehicle or other item upon a surface. 
     While such launchers “shoot” an item, they do not spin an item. More specifically, such launchers do not spin a non-spherically shaped item (e.g., a cylindrically-shaped item) about an axis. 
     Thus, a continuing need exists for a toy launcher that can launch into a spin a series of consecutive non-spherically shaped items. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
     A toy launcher that can launch multiple consecutive devices into a spin is described. The toy launcher includes a housing adapted to receive an item to be launched. The housing includes a launching mechanism to force the item from the launcher. Additionally, a protrusion is positioned in front of the launching mechanism such that as the item is forced from the launcher, a first end of the item catches with the protrusion to allow a second end of the item to speed forward and into a spin, thereby causing the item to be launched from the launcher while spinning about a short axis of the item. 
     In another aspect, the housing includes art upper tray and a bottom tray. Further, the bottom tray can be formed to include channels that receive raised edges of the item to be launched. 
     In yet another aspect, the launching mechanism includes a trigger handle that is operably connected with a compression lever, such that upon use of the trigger handle, the compression lever squeezes the item to be launched to force the item from the launcher. 
     Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming and using the invention described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where: 
         FIG. 1A  is an illustration of a launcher with an item being positioned therein; 
         FIG. 1B  is a rear-view illustration of the launcher, showing the item as being positioned into the launcher; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of a launcher, showing the item as being launched into a spin from the launcher; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view illustration of the launcher, showing each of the corresponding components that collectively form the launcher; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration depicting a process by which the launcher can be opened to un-jam an item positioned therein; 
         FIG. 5  is a left, cross-sectional view of the launcher; 
         FIG. 6  is an elevated, right-rear interior view of the launcher; 
         FIG. 7  is an elevated, right-front interior view of the launcher; 
         FIG. 8  is an elevated, left-rear interior view of the launcher; 
         FIG. 9A  is an elevated, front-left view of the launcher; and 
         FIG. 9B  is an elevated, bottom-left view of the launcher. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     The present invention relates to a toy launcher and, more particularly, to a toy launcher that can launch multiple consecutive devices into a spin. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. 
     The reader&#39;s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of ail such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is only one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
     Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6. 
     Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object. 
     (1) Description  
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , the present invention is directed to a launcher  100  that can launch multiple consecutive items  102  into a spin. In one aspect and as illustrated, the launcher  100  is formed to launch non-spherically shaped items  102  into a spin. It should be noted that although the item  102  is later depicted as a cylinder for illustrative purposes, it is not intended to be limited thereto. Instead, the item  102  is any suitably-shaped item that can be launched from the launcher such that it is forced into a spin to rotate around the short axis  106  of the item  102 .  FIG. 1B  is a rear-view illustration of the launcher  100 , showing a series of items  102 ′ and  102 ″ being loaded into the launcher  100 . Thus, once the items  102  are loaded into the launcher  100 , they can be launched therefrom and forced into a spin. 
     While a barrel-shaped item or cylinder may have a round shape at its top or bottom edges, the launcher  100  does not simply spin the item to rotate about the circular peripheral edge. Instead and as shown in  FIG. 2 , the launcher  100  forces the item  102  lengthwise from the launcher  100 , with one edge of the item catching a protrusion  200  in a bottom tray  26  to force the item  102  into the spin  202 . As can be understood by one skilled in the art, there are many ways in which to design the launching mechanism of the launcher to force the item  102  from the launcher  100 . In one aspect, the launcher  100  includes a trigger handle  36  that, when pulled back, forces a compression lever (depicted as element  14  in  FIG. 3 ) to squeeze the item  102  and force the item  102  from the launcher  100 . In this aspect, the compression lever actually pinches the item  102  against a bottom surface (e.g., bottom tray  26 ) of the launcher (such as a flat or ramp shaped surface) to squeeze the item  102  from the launcher  100 . For example, the compression lever pinches the item against the bottom surface  26 , which squeezes it out of the launcher  100 . As it leaves the launcher  100 , a first end  204  of the item  102  catches with the protrusion  200  to allow a second end  206  of the item to speed forward and into the spin  202 . In another aspect, the launcher includes a kick-out item to essentially “flick” the item from the launcher. 
     For further understanding,  FIG. 3  is an exploded-view illustration of the launcher  100 , showing each of the corresponding components that collectively form the launcher  100 . As noted above, there are several techniques by which a launcher  100  according to the present invention can be formed. Thus, the specific aspect as shown in  FIG. 3  is but one non-limiting example of a launcher  100  according to the present invention. As shown, the launcher  100  includes the following components: 
       1 . Handle left 
       2 . Handle right 
       3 . Left lock 
       4 . Support part 
       5 . Friction part 
       6 . Gear cover 
       7 . Safety lock housing 
       8 . Safety lock release rod 
       9 . Safety lock 
       10 . Scope 
       11 . Lower light clear cover 
       12 . Trigger lever gear 
       13 . Compression lever gear 
       14 . Compression lever 
       15 . Launcher tip 
       16 . Light emitting diode (LED) cover 
       17 . LED 
       18 . Printed circuit board (PCB) 
       19 . PCB 
       20 . Micro switch 
       21 . LED 
       22 . Light cover 
       23 . Battery compartment 
       24 . LED top cover 
       25 . Shaft 
       26 . Bottom tray 
       27 . Upper tray 
       28 . Clear cover 
       29 . Left pull trigger lever 
       30 . Battery compartment cover 
       31 . Nut cover 
       32 . Right lock 
       33 . Support part 
       34 . Cover 
       35 . Right pull trigger lever 
       36 . Trigger handle 
     As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the various components listed above are connected with one another using any suitable technique, such as being glued, screwed, etc., as the case may be and as applicable to the launcher  100  as depicted. 
     In operation, a user loads the items into a compartment that is formed between the upper tray  27  and lower tray  26 . The items come to rest with a safety lock  9  that prevents the items from being launched from the launcher  100  when the launcher  100  is not positioned upon a ground surface. In other words, the safety lock  9  is positioned in the path of the items to prevent them from being launched from the launcher  100 . The mechanism of the safety lock  9  is described in further detail below with respect to  FIG. 5 . 
     Once the item is loaded in the launcher  100  and the safety lock  9  is released, a user can launch the item from the launcher  100  using a trigger mechanism. Thus, the item includes a trigger mechanism that is connected with a compression lever  14  to force the item from the launcher  100 . As a non-limiting example, the trigger mechanism includes a trigger handle  36  that is pivotally connected with the upper tray via the left and right pull trigger levers  29  and  30 , respectively. At least one of the poll trigger levers, such as the left pull trigger lever  29 , is connected to a trigger lever gear  32 , which is engagingly connected with a compression lever gear  13 . The compression lever gear  13  is connected with the compression lever  14 , such that as a user pulls hack the trigger handle  36 , the gears (trigger lever gear  12  and compression lever gear  13 ) cause the compression lever  14  to rotate downward and squeeze the item. Optionally, a launcher tip  15  (e.g., rubber tip) can be connected with the compression lever  14  to provide a pliable surface that compresses against the item to force the item from the launcher  100 . Alternatively, the item can be formed such that the compression lever  14  alone (without the tip  15 ) operates to force the item from the launcher  100  (i.e., the tip is integrally formed as a single piece of plastic with the compression lever  14 ). 
     Various lights and electronic components can be included to provide visual effects to a user when operating the launcher  100 . For example, batteries can be contained in the battery compartment  23  to power the various LED&#39;s  17  and  21 , all of which can be operated via a micro switch  20  that is connected with the PCB&#39;s  18  and  19 . 
     It should also be noted that the upper tray  27  is pivotally connected with the lower tray  26  to allow a user to separate the trays and access the compartment formed therebetween. The trays  26  and  27  are locked together using the left and right locks  3  and  32 , respectively. As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the left and right locks  3  and  32  are pulled out (shown in Step  1 ), the upper tray  27  is allowed to be pivoted up and away from the bottom tray  26  (show in Step  2 ). This is desirable if the items become jammed within the compartment. Thus, by unlocking and separating the trays  26  and  27 , a user can un-jam the launcher. As shown in Step  3 , after the upper tray  27  is snapped back onto the bottom tray  26 , the locks  3  and  32  can be positioned back into place to lock the trays together. 
       FIG. 5  provides a left, cross-sectional interior view of the launcher  100 . As mentioned above, the launcher  100  includes a safety lock  9  positioned in the path of the items to prevent them from being launched from the launcher  100 . A safety lock release rod  8  is connected with the safety lock  9 . When the launcher  100  is positioned upon a ground surface, the safety lock release rod  8  is forced upwards, which causes the safety lock  9  to pivot downwards and open the release path from the launcher  100 . 
     For further understanding of the interior functions of the launcher  100 ,  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  9  provide an elevated, right-rear interior view, an elevated, right-front interior view, and an elevated, left-rear interior view of the launcher  100 , respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the left pull trigger lever  29  is connected to a trigger lever gear  12 . Thus, pulling back the left pull trigger lever  29  causes the trigger lever gear  12  to rotate, which in turn rotates the compression lever gear  13 . Rotation of the compression lever gear  13  causes the attached compression lever  14  to rotate downward and squeeze the item between the launcher tip  15  and the bottom tray  26 . In this example, the bottom tray  26  includes a ramp-shaped feature  600 . The ramp-shaped feature  600  serves to hold the item from rolling out of the launcher  100  when the launcher is positioned on a ground surface (as the safety lock  9  is moved out of the item&#39;s path in that circumstance). The ramp-shaped feature  600  also acts as a compression surface against which the item is compressed by the launcher tip  15 . Thus, as the launcher tip  15  is forced downward, it squeezes the item between the launcher tip  15  and ramp-shaped feature  600  until the item is essentially squeezed (forced) from the launcher  100 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , as the item leaves the launcher  100 , one side of the item comes into contact with the protrusion  200  in the bottom fray  26  to force the item into the spin. It should be understood that the protrusion  200  can also be formed in the upper tray and hung in the path of the exiting item. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the actual component holding the protrusion  200  within the path of the item as the use of the bottom tray  26  is merely one non-limiting example by which a protrusion  200  can be appropriately positioned. 
     It should also be noted that the launcher  100  can be formed to direct the items into contact with the launcher tip  15  and, in doing so, prevent the items from rotating laterally or out of alignment with the tip  15  as they are maintained within the launcher  100 . As a non-limiting example and as shown in  FIG. 7 , the bottom tray  26  can include channels  700 ′ and  700 ″ that are coordinated to receive raised edges  702 ′ and  702 ″ of the item  102 . In this non-limiting example, the channels  700 ′ and  700 ″ are separated by a ridge  704  which helps to guide the item  102  and prevent the item from coming out of alignment when it is within the launcher  100 . 
     Finally and for further illustration,  FIG. 9A  is an elevated, front-left view of the launcher  100  and  FIG. 9B  is an elevated, bottom-left view of the launcher  100 .