Patent Publication Number: US-8978633-B2

Title: Toy projectile launching apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/289,748 filed Dec. 23, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus is disclosed for launching a toy projectile(s). The apparatus may be configured to store one or more returnable projectiles, and may function to impart a spin in the projectiles during launch so that the projectile may be induced to travel away from and then back towards the launch point. 
     REFERENCE TO RELATED ART 
     The boomerang is an ancient weapon of war and hunting that may be best known for its ability to change direction in flight and return to the thrower. Over time, this direction changing feature of the boomerang has aided its evolution from use as a weapon into a children&#39;s plaything. 
     Boomerangs are produced in a variety of shapes and sizes. One traditional form of boomerang is essentially a rotating wing shaped from a single flat curved blade. Other boomerang designs include the “fast catch” variety, which usually have three or more symmetrical wings (in the platform view), and “long distance” boomerangs, which are shaped similar to a question mark. 
     Boomerang throwing techniques can differ from person to person, and depending on the desired result. However, known prior art boomerangs are all thrown by hand. According, it would be advantageous to have an apparatus that may store and successively launch multiple boomerangs or similar projectiles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A toy apparatus may include a projectile and a housing or launcher. The projectile may include one or more wing or blade portions that each may have end, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The housing or launcher of the apparatus may include a grip, a trigger, and a projectile support platform. A projectile launch key may be positioned on the projectile support platform. This projectile launch key may be dimensioned to removably receive the end of the wing of the projectile and also engage the trailing edge of the wing. Moreover, the projectile launch key may be coupled to the trigger so that the pulling or retraction of the trigger may result in the rotation of the projectile launch key through an arc of between 90 and 80 degrees upon retraction of the trigger. 
     The projectile launch key may take a variety of forms. For example, the projectile launch key may include a rotatable base having a wall that extends at least partially around the parameter of the base and is dimensioned to engage the end and trailing edge of a wing or blade of a projectile. As shown herein, the projectile launch key may include a rotatable base having a retainer wall dimensioned to engage the end of a wing or blade of a projectile, and a pin dimensioned to engage the trailing edge of a wing or blade. To that end, the trailing edge of the wing of the projectile may include a notched portion that may be engaged by the pin of the projectile launch key and aid in the stable launch of the projectile. 
     The housing may also include a magazine that is dimensioned to retain a plurality of projectiles and may be configured to cooperate with the trigger to dispense or load projectiles onto the projectile launch key. The magazine, for example, may include a top face, a bottom face that may be spaced from the projectile support platform, and an aperture that extends through the magazine between the top and bottom faces. 
     To assist in dispensing or loading of projectiles, the magazine may also include a first floor plate and a second floor plate. The plates may be positioned proximate the bottom face of the magazine, with the second floor plate being positioned between the first floor plate and the projectile support platform. The first floor plate may be coupled to the trigger and configured to rotate upon retraction of the trigger to aid in ejecting a projectile from the magazine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will be made below to a number of figures in which like referenced numerals refer to like parts throughout and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a planar left-side view of an embodiment of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a planar front view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a planar rear view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a planar top or overhead view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  in which the upper plate of the magazine is visible proximate an end of the aperture of the magazine; 
         FIG. 5  is a planar bottom or underside view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is perspective view—from the upper left side—of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 , which shows the key of the launch platform; 
         FIG. 7  is a planar top or overhead view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  in which the upper plate of the magazine is retracted, but shown in phantom, and the lower plate is visible proximate an end of the aperture of the magazine; 
         FIG. 8  is a planar top or overhead view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  showing an embodiment of a projectile positioned in the key of the launch platform; 
         FIG. 9  is a planar top or overhead view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  showing the projectile of  FIG. 8  starting to launch; 
         FIG. 10  is a planar top or overhead view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  showing the projectile of  FIG. 8  being urged around the launch platform during a launch; and 
         FIG. 11  is a planar top or overhead view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  showing the launch of the projectile of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     Additional figures and photographs are attached hereto as Appendix A1-A23 which is incorporated into this application in its entirety by reference. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-11 , an apparatus  10  for a launching returnable toy projectile(s)  12  may include a housing having a grip  14  having a trigger  16 , a launch or support platform  18  that is mounted to the grip  14  and includes a rotatable launch key  20 , and a magazine or projectile storage portion  22  that is secured to the grip  14  and positioned over the launch platform  18  for retaining and selectively ejecting the projectile(s)  12  to be launched. The embodiment(s) for the apparatus  10  disclosed herein may be constructed from molded plastic using known techniques. However, it will be appreciated that other materials such as metal, metal alloys, composite materials, and combinations of the foregoing may also be used in the construction of the apparatus  10  or its constituent parts. 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1-11 , the grip  14  of the apparatus  10  may include a pistol grip style handle  24 . The trigger  16  may extend the longitudinal length of the handle  24  and be fitted for reciprocal movement into and out of a recess or space (not shown) defined in the handle  24 . The trigger  16  may also be biased by springs (not shown) or the like so that it normally extends outwardly from grip  14 . As will be described further infra, pulling the trigger  16  may operate to eject a projectile  12  from the magazine  22  and rotate the launch  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 ,  6 - 11 , the magazine or projectile storage portion  22  of the apparatus  10  may include a body  26  for retaining several projectiles  12 , a first or upper floor plate  28  (see  FIG. 4 ), and a second or lower floor plate  30  (see  FIG. 7 ). The body  26 , for example, may include an aperture  32  that extends substantially vertically the length of body  26  and is dimensioned to conform to the shape of a projectile  12 . Therefore, as shown in the displayed embodiment, the aperture  32  may have a depth sufficient to retain several stacked projectiles  12  and a shape that may include a first, second and third arm that conform to the three symmetrical wings of a three wing or bladed fast catch boomerang style projectile  12 . It will however be appreciated that the aperture  20  may be dimensioned to conform to a variety of different returnable projectiles  12 , including one or more single wing or bladed projectiles, one or more four wing or bladed projectiles, or any combination of one, three or four bladed projectiles. Additionally, or alternatively, the magazine  22  may be removably secured to the grip  14  so that it may be interchanged with magazines  22  holding a different type of projectile  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-11 , a projectile may be loaded into the magazine  22  through an open end  34  or top of the aperture  32  of the body  26 . It will be appreciated, however, that a removable cap, lid or other structure (not shown) may be provided to cover the open end  34  to limit the ability of projectiles  12  to fall out—as might occur during active play by youths. 
     Referring now to FIGS.  4  and  8 - 11 , the projectiles  12  may be supported within the aperture  32  of the magazine  22  by the first  28  and a second  30  floor plates. More specifically, each plate  28 ,  30  may include an aperture  36 ,  38  dimensioned to conform to the shape of the projectile  12 . The plates  28 ,  30  may also be positioned on or proximate an end  40  of the aperture  32  opposite the open end  34  bottom and function as a (full or partial) support floor for the projectile  12 . More specifically, the plates  28 ,  30  may be positioned relative to each other so that their apertures  36 ,  38  are in axial alignment, and relative to the aperture  32  of the body  26  so that a portion of each plate (e.g., an edge portion of each aperture  36 ,  38 ) extends at least partially across the end  40  of the aperture  32  of the body  26 . 
     Still referring to FIGS.  4  and  8 - 11 , the upper plate  28  may be rotatably mounted to the body  26  and coupled to the trigger  16 . For example, the plate  28  and trigger  16  may be mechanically connected by a simple arrangement of gears. It will, however, be appreciated that any mechanical or non-mechanical assembly, including gears, springs, tension means, etc., and other coupling systems known in the art may be used to couple movement of the trigger  16  with a corresponding rotation of the plate  28 . Thus, in operation, pulling of the trigger  16  may cause the plate  28  to rotate and retract that portion of the plate  28  that extends across the bottom end  40  of the aperture  32  of the body  26 . Stated differently, the plate  28  may rotate so that the aperture  36  of the plate  28  moves into axial alignment with the aperture  32  of the body  26 . This movement of the plate  28  allows a projectile  12  in the aperture  32  of the body  26  to descend onto the lower plate  30 . The release of the trigger  16  returns the plate  28  to its initial state during which the plate  28  may engage the projectile  12  (which now rests on the lower plate  30 ) to urge the projectile off and through the aperture of the lower plate  30  so that the projectile  12  may descend into the key  20  of the launch platform  18 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-11 , the launch platform may include a planar surface that may be substantially parallel to the lower plate  30  of the magazine  22 . As each projectile  12  is ejected from the magazine  22  it may fall a short distance onto the launch platform  18  coming to rest in the launch key  20 . The key  20  is coupled to the trigger  16 . For example, the key  20  and trigger  16  may be mechanically connected together by a simple arrangement of gears. It will, however, be appreciated that any mechanical or non-mechanical assembly, including gears, springs, tension means, etc., and other coupling systems known in the art may be used to couple movement of the trigger  16  with a corresponding rotation of the key  20 . 
     As shown, the key  20  may be positioned at a central point of the launch platform  18 . It will however be appreciated that the key should be located a distance from a backside  42  of the platform  18  sufficient to allow a projectile  12  to rotate completely around the platform  18  during launch as will be described further below. The launch key  20  may include a base  41 , and a retainer wall  42  and a pin  44  that extend from the base  41 . The wall  42  may be dimensioned to engage and removably retain an end or apex of an wing of a projectile  12 . The vertically extending pin may be positioned on the key  20  so that it may engage a trailing edge of the wing of the projectile  12  that is engaged by the retainer wall  42 . A notch  46  may be included in the trailing edge of the wing of the projectile that may be engaged by the pin  44  to assist in the engagement of the projectile  12  by the key  20 . 
     In operation, a user loads a projectile into the aperture  32  so that it rests upon the upper plate  28 , which functions as the floor of the magazine  22 . A user may then pull the trigger, causing the plate  32  to retract out of position and allow the projectile  12  to descend so that it rests on the lower plate  30  of the magazine  22 . Then, upon release of the trigger  16 , the upper plate  28  (in returning to its unretracted original state) urges the projectile  12  off the lower plate  30  and into the key  20  of the launch platform  18 . Pulling the trigger  16  again may result in the rapid rotation of the launch key  20  through an arc of about 450 degrees (although any greater (e.g., 810 degrees) or lesser (e.g., 90 degrees) predetermined angle of rotation may be used depending on the needs of the user). The projectile  12  is likewise urged through this rotation by operation/rotation of the key  20 . For example, in the disclosed embodiment, the retainer wall  42  and pin  44  may engage the projectile, allowing it to be propelled and then launched by rotation of the key  20 . More specifically, the rotation of the key  20  has the effect of inducing speed, forward momentum and rotation on the projectile  12  causing it to travel outward from the housing/launcher. The shape of the projectile  12 , and/or the orientation at which the apparatus  10  is held during launch (e.g., an angle of attack between 0 and positive 60 degrees relative to the horizon) may also aid in the return of the projectile to at or near the point of launch. 
     Having thus described an embodiment of the apparatus, various other embodiments will become apparent to those of skill in the art that do not depart from the skill of the claims.