Patent Publication Number: US-10758833-B2

Title: Toy car launcher apparatus

Description:
PRIORITY CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application, No. 62/551,593 filed on Aug. 29, 2017. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to toy launcher apparatus, and more particularly, to a hand held single toy car launcher apparatus, a hand held launcher apparatus for two toy cars and a hand held launcher apparatus for ten toy cars as well as variations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Toy racing cars have been combined with a launching platform or ramp on which the vehicle is latched, the car being released by an unlatching mechanism to run down the ramp onto a playing surface. Miniature toy vehicles with very low friction axles are in play frequently launched or propelled over a track or floor surface by a launching device, with the very small vehicles being used in games and the like. Toy racing cars are known having toy vehicles and miniature racing assemblies where the vehicle is normally latched on an inclined ramp extending from the power launcher, with the released vehicle shooting down the ramp when the vehicle is launched. 
     Typical prior art toys of this type include sets of racing cars, track, remote control and launch modules. Moreover, providing mechanisms to propel a toy vehicle adds to the enjoyment of playing with a toy vehicle, often allowing the toy vehicle to travel faster and farther than if simply pushed by the child playing with the toy. These toys are popular not only due to the child&#39;s basic interest in racing cars, but also due to the action developed by such toys. 
     The experience is enhanced to the extent that the toy apparatus simulates an actual working mechanism. Thus, toy vehicles that exhibit movement, particularly rapid movement, without manual manipulation are extremely appealing to a child. Additional features include the child being provided with the ability to regulate or control various aspects of a toy vehicle by operating buttons, switches, levers, handles, and the like. 
     There is a need for a toy apparatus that embodies each of these features that children find attractive in hand held single toy car launcher apparatus, hand held launcher apparatus for combined toy cars and a hand held launcher apparatus for multiple toy cars as well as variations. 
     Earlier prior art patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,693,282; 4,267,661; 4,382,347; 4,479,326; 4,642,066. U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,282, issued to Adicks in 1972 and entitled “Toy Vehicle Launching Device With Safety Mechanism” purports to disclose a hand held toy vehicle launching device with a safety mechanism that includes a spring driven piston  16  and a safety device  30  that includes legs  32  and a cross bar  31  that is pushed upwards when the devise is placed on a surface. A release button  37  is positioned on a spring  46  and the spring is seated on the cross bar such that the button cannot be sufficiently depressed unless the cross bar is raised to compress the spring  46 . U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,661 issued to Hanson in 1981 and entitled “Multiple Vehicle Launcher” purports to disclose a hand held multiple toy vehicle launching device using rubber bands for stored energy developed when a car is loaded against the rubber band. Each vehicle includes a catch member  42  that is engaged by a latch member  36 . When the trigger  48  is pulled the latch member is bent out of the way and the vehicle launches. Although no safety mechanism is disclosed, the patent states that means may be included to prevent a launch unless the bottom portion  56  is placed on a surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,347 issued in 1983 to Murakami and entitled “Toy Tractor Assembly” purports to disclose a toy vehicle assembly that transforms itself and launches a small wheeled vehicle  60  by using a spring biased plunger  62 . Another early patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,326 entitled “Sparking Toy Vehicle And Launcher” issued to Kennedy and others in 1984 purports to disclose a toy launching devise that includes a power trigger  27  to power up a toy car flywheel  33  and an unlatching mechanism  26  which lifts the back end of the toy car to cause launch. 
     A newer patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,066 issued to Kennedy and others in 1987 and entitled “Toy Vehicle Launcher and Sound Generator” purports to disclose a toy vehicle launcher capable of launching two vehicles at the same time or launching them individually at different times. The launcher uses two spring-operated pistons and has a hexagonal magazine housing for up to twelve toy cars. U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,290 entitled “Wheeled Turbine-Powered Toy Vehicle and Launcher Apparatus” issued to Goldfarb and Everitt in 1983 purports to disclose a toy car launcher apparatus including a pusher  32  movable in a longitudinal slot  74  that is activated by a spring or rubber band  70 . The pusher has an L-shaped profile and is cocked by inserting a toy car. A manually operated latch  35  acts to release the pusher and toy car. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly summarized, the toy launcher apparatus includes a housing for storing a toy to be launched, an ejector mounted to the housing, the ejector being movable from a relaxed position to a cocked position by insertion of the toy to be launched into the housing, and the ejector being movable from the cocked position to the relaxed position in response to launch of the inserted toy, an extendible element mounted to the housing and to the ejector for providing energy to the ejector to launch the toy, a flex member mounted to the housing, the flex member enabled to move from a first position where the flex member prevents movement of the ejector from the relaxed position to the cocked position, to a second position where the flex member is deflected by the inserted toy to enable the ejector to move to the cocked position, and the flex member being able to deflect in response to the ejector moving from the cocked position to the relaxed position, and a trigger mechanism mounted to the housing to enable the resilient element to transfer the launch energy to the ejector. 
     The present invention also includes a method for making a toy launcher apparatus, the steps of the method including forming a housing having an opening for storing a properly configured toy to be launched, mounting an ejector to the housing, the ejector being movable from a relaxed position to a cocked position by an inserted properly configured toy, mounting an extendible element to the housing and to the ejector, mounting a flex member to the housing to prevent the ejector moving from the relaxed position to the cocked position, to deflect in response to engagement with the properly configured toy, and to deflect in response to engagement with the ejector when the ejector is moving from the cocked position to the relaxed position by the extendible element, mounting a trigger mechanism to the housing for releasing the ejector from the cocked position, and mounting a safety lock to the housing for preventing operation of the trigger mechanism when the launcher apparatus is not disposed on a surface. 
     The invention here, described below in connection with the illustrated embodiments, offers a combination that has good play value. The features and advantages of the present invention will be explained in, or become apparent from, the following summary and description of the preferred embodiments considered together with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, the accompanying drawings and detailed description illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, from which the invention, its structures, its construction and operation, its processes, and many related advantages may be readily understood and appreciated. 
         FIG. 1  is a front three-quarter isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a single toy car launcher apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is an upward looking isometric view of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 , with half of a housing removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear three-quarter isometric view of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a toy car shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of an upper base of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a lower base of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of an ejector of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of an underside of a flex member of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a trigger mechanism of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a safety latch of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the toy car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , in a relaxed configuration with the car removed. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIG. 11 , after the car has begun loading. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  in a fully cocked configuration. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 11-13  after a trigger mechanism has been actuated and the toy car has been launched. 
         FIG. 15  is a front three-quarter isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a toy car launcher apparatus for two toy cars with half of chamber and support housings removed. 
         FIG. 16  is an isometric view of the chamber housing of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIG. 15 , half way through a rotation after launch of one of the two toy cars. 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is an isometric view of an upper base of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 15-17 . 
         FIG. 19  is an isometric view of an ejector of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 15-17 . 
         FIG. 20  is an isometric view of a lower base of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 15-17 . 
         FIG. 21  is an isometric view of a flex member of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 15-17 . 
         FIG. 22  is a side elevation view of a portion of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 15-17 , illustrating the ejector and a launch spring at rest. 
         FIG. 23  is a side elevation view of a portion of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 15-17 , illustrating the ejector and the launch spring after the ejector has been pushed back by the insertion of the toy car. 
         FIG. 24  is a side elevation view of a portion of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 15-17 , illustrating the ejector and a launch spring in a fully cocked configuration. 
         FIG. 25  is an isometric view of a trigger mechanism of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 15-17 . 
         FIG. 26  is an isometric view of a trigger lock of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 15-17 . 
         FIG. 27  is a side elevation view of the trigger lock engaging a portion of the trigger mechanism of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 15-17 . 
         FIG. 28  is an isometric view of a safety latch of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 13-15 . 
         FIG. 29  is a side elevation view of the safety latch shown in  FIG. 28 . 
         FIG. 30  is a diagrammatic partial side elevation view of the ejector and a portion of the trigger mechanism illustrating the ejector in a cocked position. 
         FIG. 31  is a diagrammatic partial side elevation view of the ejector and the trigger portion of the mechanism illustrating the ejector being released. 
         FIG. 32  is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a toy car launcher apparatus for ten toy cars. 
         FIG. 33  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIG. 27 . 
         FIG. 34  is a front three-quarter isometric view of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 32 and 33 . 
         FIG. 35  is a partially broken away isometric view of a mold having eight upper and lower bases of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 32-34 . 
         FIG. 36  is an isometric view of an ejector of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 32-34 . 
         FIG. 37  is a broken away isometric view of a lower base of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIG. 35 . 
         FIG. 38  is an isometric view of a flex member of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 32-34 . 
         FIG. 39  is a side elevation view of a portion of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 32-34 , illustrating the ejector and a launch spring at rest. 
         FIG. 40  is a side elevation view of a portion of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 32-34 , illustrating the ejector and the launch spring after the ejector has been pushed back by the insertion of the toy car. 
         FIG. 41  is a side elevation view of a portion of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 32-34 , illustrating the ejector and a launch spring in a fully cocked configuration. 
         FIG. 42  is a diagrammatic partial side elevation view of the ejector and a portion of the trigger mechanism illustrating the ejector in a cocked position. 
         FIG. 43  is a diagrammatic partial side elevation view of the ejector and the trigger portion of the mechanism illustrating the ejector being released. 
         FIG. 44  is an isometric view of a trigger mechanism of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 32-34 . 
         FIG. 45  is an enlarged isometric view of a trigger lock and a safety latch of the car launcher apparatus shown in  FIGS. 32-34 . 
         FIG. 46  is a front three-quarter isometric view of another embodiment of a car launcher apparatus, this variation having ten upper and lower bases. 
         FIG. 47  is a flow diagram of a method for making a toy launcher apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments set forth in the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. Various modifications, equivalents, variations, and alternatives, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Any and all such modifications, variations, equivalents, and alternatives are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , there is illustrated an embodiment of the present invention in the form of a hand held toy launcher apparatus  10  including a chamber housing  12  for storing a toy to be launched, which the toy here is in the form of a car  14 . Mounted to the chamber housing  12  is a launcher mechanism including an upper base  16  to which may be mounted a structural member  18  that is able to deflect or flex when engaged by the toy car  14  as it is inserted or loaded into the chamber housing  12  by a user or an operator of the apparatus. The launcher mechanism also includes a lower base  20  mounted to the chamber housing, and mounted to the lower base  20  is an ejector  22  of the toy car that is movable between a relaxed or unbiased position as shown in  FIG. 11 , through an intermediate position when the toy car is being inserted as shown in  FIG. 12 , and a fully cocked position as shown in  FIG. 13 . A trigger mechanism  24  and a safety latch  26  are also mounted to the chamber housing  12  to release the ejector as shown in  FIG. 14  during which the ejector returns to the relaxed position and in the process of return deflects the structural or flex member  18 . 
     The chamber housing  12  includes a planar bottom wall  30 , and may have a slanted rear wall  32 , a sloping top wall  34 , two sidewalls  36 ,  38  and an open front  40 . The bottom wall  30  includes a small opening  42  to accommodate the safety latch  26 . The sidewalls  36 ,  38  include upper and lower grooves  44 ,  46  for mounting the upper and lower bases  16 ,  20 , respectively, and the top wall  34  includes a rearward opening  48  for the trigger mechanism  24 . The sloping top wall  34  may have an angle of about nine degrees relative to a horizontal reference such as the bottom wall  30 . The housing may be generally transparent as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
     The toy car  14 ,  FIG. 4 , may be configured as a racer with oversize wheels  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 . The oversize rear wheels  54 ,  56  are provided to engage portions of the flex member  18  so as to override a safety feature that prevents objects of non-conforming shapes from being able to cock the toy launcher apparatus. A rear portion  58  of the toy car  14  is loaded first into the car chamber through the open front  40  of the chamber housing and pushed rearward. 
     The upper base  16 ,  FIG. 5 , is mounted into the upper grooves  44  in the sidewalls  36 ,  38  of the chamber housing  12  and is fixed in the housing to form a ceiling for the car chamber. The upper base  16  includes two closely spaced, rearward located slots  60 ,  62 , two, more widely spaced openings  64 ,  66  forward of the rearward slots  60 ,  62 , and two upstanding flanges  68 ,  70  for mounting the flex member  18 . 
     The lower base  20 ,  FIG. 6 , is positioned into the lower grooves  46  formed in the chamber housing sidewalls  36 ,  38 . The lower base  20  is fixed in the housing and forms a floor of the car chamber. The lower base  20  may include a central slot  74  and two guides  76 ,  78  for supporting the ejector  22  as the ejector slides along the central slot  74  between the ejector&#39;s relaxed and cocked positions. A front launch spring connector  80 ,  FIG. 11 , is mounted to the lower base  20  and a rear launch spring connector  82  is mounted to the bottom of the ejector  22 . An extendible element which may taken the form of a launch spring  84  is mounted to the front connector  80  of the lower base and to the rear connector  82  of the ejector  22  and creates the energy or force to launch the toy car  14  after the launch spring  84  is extended. The lower base  20  may be mounted at an oblique angle or at a slant as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     The ejector  22 ,  FIG. 7 , may be generally L-shaped in profile with upper and lower flange portions  88 ,  90  and a vertical connecting cross member  92 . The ejector  22  is mounted to move along the central slot  74  of the lower base  20  with the cross member  92  in the slot and the upper flange  88  riding along the guides  76 ,  78  of the lower base  20  and the lower flange  90  being guided by a bottom surface  94 ,  FIG. 11 , of the lower base  20 . The lower flange  90  is guided by a bottom surface  94 ,  FIG. 11 , of the lower base  20 . Located toward the rear of the ejector  22  are a hook  96  and a tail  98 , the hook  96  extending rearward to engage the trigger mechanism  24 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , and the tail  98 ,  FIGS. 2 and 7 , extending downward to engage or abut the safety latch  26 . Extending upward from the tail  98  is a paddle  99  for making contact with the rear  58  of the toy car  14 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , as the user inserts and pushes the toy car to move the ejector from its relaxed position to its cocked position. 
     An important safety feature of the launcher apparatus  10  is that the apparatus is restricted to launch objects that have a proper configuration or shape such as the toy car  14 . Objects that have non-conforming configurations will not be allowed to launch. The flex member  18 ,  FIG. 8 , is the structure that serves the purpose of preventing objects having non-conforming configurations from being inserted or loaded into the launcher apparatus. The flex member  18  is mounted to the flanges  68 ,  70 ,  FIG. 5 , of the upper base  16  that allow the flex member to bend or deflect at a pivot axis  72  when the flex member is selectively engaged by the rear wheels  54 ,  56  of a toy car as the car is pushed into the chamber housing by the user. 
     The structural or flex member  18  has a bottom surface  102 ,  FIGS. 8 and 11 , which includes a pair of depending obstructions  104 ,  106  and laterally disposed depending tabs or protrusions  108 ,  110 . Each blocking member  104 ,  106  includes an abutment surface and a sloping surface, such as the abutment surface  112 ,  FIG. 11 , and the sloping surface  114 . The obstructions  104 .  106  extend through the rearward slots  60 ,  62  of the upper base such that the abutment surfaces  112  extend into the rearward path of the ejector and will prevent the ejector  22  from moving rearward beyond the obstructions  104 ,  106 , as is apparent from  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  shows that the paddle  99  of the ejector will engage the abutment surfaces  112  and be stopped if nothing more occurs. The sloping surfaces  114  will cause the paddle  99  of the ejector  22  to easily deflect or lift the flex member  18  as the ejector snaps back to the relaxed position during launch, as is apparent from  FIG. 14 . 
     The lateral tabs  108 ,  110  are positioned through the openings  64 ,  66  of the upper base forward of the obstructions  104 ,  106  and in the path of the rear wheels  54 ,  56  of the toy car  14 . When the toy is the car  14 , the oversized the rear wheels  54 ,  56  and the lateral tabs  108 ,  110  are configured to engage and cause the flex member  18  to deflect or bend upward as symbolized by an arrow  105 ,  FIG. 12 , as the car is pushed into the housing as shown by arrows  107 ,  109 . The upward deflection of the flex member moves the obstructions  104 ,  106  away from the rearward path of the ejector as the ejector is moved to the cocking position shown in  FIG. 13 . In this process the toy car  14  moves the ejector  22  from a relaxed position shown in  FIG. 11 , to an intermediate position shown in  FIG. 12 , and finally to the cocked position shown in  FIG. 13 , where the extended launch spring  84  is prepared to transfer the energy or launching force from itself to the ejector. 
     Should an attempt be made to insert an object that is not configured to conform to the geometry of the flex member, the lateral tabs  108 ,  106  will not be engaged and the obstructions  104 ,  106  will not be moved upward and out of the way. Because the lateral tabs  108 ,  110  are not engaged, the obstructions  104 ,  106  will remain in place and block or stop the ejector  22  from reaching the cocked position. 
     The trigger mechanism  24 ,  FIG. 9 , may include three integral parts, an activation pad  120  at the top, a descending panel  122  with a pair of guide arms  124 ,  126 , and an opening  127  with a lower lip  128  in the lower portion of the panel  122  for receiving the hook  96  of the ejector  22 . The activation pad  120  extends through the rear opening  48 ,  FIGS. 1, 3, 11 and 12 , of the top wall  34  of the housing  12 , and is movable generally in a down and up direction as indicated by an arrow  129 ,  FIG. 14 , such that when the user depresses the pad  120 , the opening  127  and the lower lip  128  in the lower part of the panel  122  move below the level of the hook  96  of the ejector  22  allowing the ejector to be released to launch the car  14  as indicated by arrows  123 ,  125  (provided that the safety latch  26  has been pivoted out of the way as will be explained below). Parallel arms (not shown) extend from the housing to embrace the guide arms  124 ,  126  of the trigger mechanism  24  to maintain stability of the trigger mechanism during operation. A return spring  130 ,  FIG. 11 , biases the trigger mechanism upwards once pressure is removed from the pad  120 . 
     The toy launcher apparatus  10  also includes the safety latch  26 ,  FIG. 10 , in the form of an arm  132  pivotally mounted around a middle portion  134 . A lower end  136  of the pivotal arm  132  extends through the opening  42 ,  FIG. 2 , in the bottom wall  30  of the housing  12 , and the upper end  138  of the arm  132  acts as a latch for abutting the tail  98  of the ejector  22 . A spring  140 ,  FIG. 11 , is mounted beneath the upper end  138  of the safety latch  26  so as to bias the upper end  138  to engage the ejector  22  when the ejector is in its cocked position. The safety latch  26  ensures that a launch of an inserted toy car does not occur when the launcher apparatus is not disposed firmly on a surface  150 ,  FIG. 13 , such as a table or floor. 
     When the housing is pressed down on the surface, the lower end  136  of the arm  132  is pivoted upward and the upper end  138  of the arm is pivoted downward resulting in the tail  96  of the ejector  22  being released. After the safety latch  26  disengages the ejector, the user may depress the pad  120  of the trigger mechanism  24  as depicted by an arrow  129 ,  FIG. 14 , to fully release the ejector  22 , the launch spring  84  and the toy car  14 , thereby allowing the toy car to be launched. However, when the launcher apparatus  10  is held in a user&#39;s hand the spring  140  biases the upper end  138  of the arm  132  into abutment with the tail  96  of the ejector  22  (when the ejector is cocked), and the safety latch  26  continues to engage the tail  96  even when the pad  120  of the trigger mechanism is  24  depressed. The safety latch  26  acts to prevent an inadvertent release of the cocked ejector and the toy car. 
     In the alternative, the housing need not be transparent, any color may be used for the housing material and/or suitable decals may cover the housing. Also, the walls may not be slanted but may be perpendicular to each other. Or, the upper wall of the housing may not be slanted or the slant may be at a different angle or even angled upward. Toys other than a car may be used with the launcher apparatus provide the toy is properly configured to operate the flex member. Any vehicle may be used that functions to roll or slide along a surface although a flying toy may also be used. The slant of the lower base may be adjusted to an upward angle to handle the flying toy, such as a toy rocket, an airplane or an action figure. Instead of the launch spring, a rubber band or a piston and cylinder may be used to power the toy car launch. 
     In operation of the launcher apparatus  10 , the user pushes a toy car into the housing, back end first as shown in  FIG. 12 , using the palm of the user&#39;s hand. The rear of the toy car presses against the ejector, which is in a relaxed position and pushes the ejector rearward causing the launch spring to be extended. When the hook of the ejector passes through the opening  127  in the trigger mechanism the ejector is restrained and is in a cocked position as shown in  FIG. 13 , where there is an abutment of the hook  96  against the lower lip  128 . During rearward movement of the toy car, the rear wheels of the toy car contact the lateral tabs of the flex member causing the flex member to deflect upward such that the obstructions are moved out of the path of the moving ejector as shown in  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 13  depicts the apparatus on a surface such that the safety latch has rotated and no longer abuts the ejector. The user may then depress the trigger pad causing the hook to disengage from the lower lip and allow the ejector to snap back to the relaxed position and impart launch energy to the toy car as depicted in  FIG. 14 . 
     The term ‘relaxed position’ is used here to mean that the launch spring  84  is at its minimum length for operation of the apparatus even though the spring may be in a slightly extended condition. The term ‘cocked position’ is used here to mean that the launch spring is at its maximum length for operation of the apparatus even when the launch spring may be able to extend further. 
     A variation of the inventive toy launcher apparatus is shown in  FIGS. 15-31 , where a two car, hand held toy launcher apparatus  200  is illustrated. The launcher apparatus  200  includes a rotational or flip chamber housing  202  designed to have duel toy or car chambers  204 ,  206  to store two toy cars  208 ,  210  and enable them to be launched in quick succession by the launcher apparatus  200 . The ability to accomplish two quick launches is achieved by flipping or rotating the chamber housing  202  through 180° along an axis  211 ,  FIGS. 15 and 16 , as depicted by an arrow  212  in  FIG. 16 , where the chamber housing  202  is shown about half way through a rotation. The car chamber  204  on the left of  FIG. 16  is absent a toy car because the car has been launched when the car chamber was in the position shown in  FIG. 15 . The car chamber  206  on the right still has a loaded toy car and is in the process of rotating into the launch position, where the car chamber  206  will occupy the lower location previously occupied by the car chamber  204 . 
     The launcher apparatus  200  also includes a support housing  214  for mounting the rotational chamber housing  202 , a trigger mechanism  216 , a trigger lock member  218 , a safety latch  220  and a rotational mechanism  222 . Each of the car chambers  204 ,  206  in the chamber housing  202 , like with the single, toy car launcher apparatus  10 , includes an upper base  230 , a lower base  232 , a flex member  234  and an ejector  236 . (To distinguish between the two car chambers  204  and  206  in the chamber housing, elements common to both are designated with the same number and a letter “A” or a letter “B”. The numbers with an “A” relate to elements in the car chamber  204  and the numbers with a “B” relate to elements in the car chamber  206 .) 
     The flip chamber housing  202 ,  FIGS. 16 and 17 , includes two sidewalls  240 ,  242 , an initial top wall  244 , an initial bottom wall  246 , a back wall  248  and two front openings  250 ,  252 , the front openings  250 ,  252  being used to receive cars to be launched in the same manner as with the toy launcher apparatus  10 , the palm of the user&#39;s hand. As disclosed above, it is to be understood that other properly configured toys may also be launched, if desired. The chamber housing  202  is divided into two adjacent, top-over-bottom car chambers, the lower chamber  204  aligned initially with a ramp  256 ,  FIG. 15 , of the support housing  214 . The upper chamber  206  is configured upside down when compared to the lower compartment  204 . Each chamber includes a launcher mechanism and each launcher mechanism includes the fixed upper base  230 ,  FIG. 18 , the upper base  230  having a long longitudinal slot  262 , a U-shaped bumper wall  264  and a spring connector  266  mounted to the bumper wall  264 . Bordering each of the sides of the slot  262  are two blocking ribs  270 ,  272 , that function to restrain the ejector  236  when the ejector  236  is in a cocked or biased configuration as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 17 . The back wall  248  of the chamber housing  202  includes two openings  274 ,  276  for releasing the ejectors  236 A and  236 B, respectively, as will be explained below. 
     The ejector  236 ,  FIG. 19 , is mounted to the upper base  230  to move along the slot  262  from a relaxed position shown in chamber  204  in  FIG. 16 , to a cocked position shown in both chambers in  FIG. 15 . The ejector  236  has an upside down, generally L-shape in profile with a wide top flange  280 , a more narrow bottom flange  282 , a cross member  284  connecting the top and bottom flanges, and a paddle  286  for making contact with the rear  58  of the inserted toy car. The top flange portion  280  includes a trailing or rear edge  288  for engaging end surfaces  290 ,  292 ,  FIG. 18 , of the blocking ribs  270 ,  276  when the ejector  236  is in the cocked position best shown in  FIGS. 17 and 30 . A spring connector  294  is mounted to the top flange  280 . The top flange  280  rides along the ribs  270 ,  272  as the ejector  236  is pushed rearward by the inserted car from the relaxed or unbiased position to the cocked or biased position. Simultaneously, the bottom flange  282  is guided by an underside  294 ,  FIG. 18 , of the upper base  230 . 
     The sequence of movement of the toy car and the ejector are shown in  FIGS. 22-24 .  24 . 
     A launch spring  296 , or other extendible element, is mounted at one end  298  to the spring connector  294  of the ejector  236  and at an opposite end  300  to the spring connector  266  of the upper base  230  such that when a toy car is inserted or loaded into a car chamber the ejector is moved from the relaxed position to the cocked position where the ejector becomes biased by stretching the launch spring  296 . The extended launch spring  296  provides the energy or force to cause a toy car launch when the launch spring  296  and the ejector  236  are released. When the ejector  236  is in the cocked position the trailing edge  288 ,  FIG. 30 , of the ejector engages the end surfaces  290 ,  292  of the blocking ribs  270 ,  272 , and because of the force exerted by the launch spring  296 , the ejector  236  tilts slightly as shown clearly in  FIGS. 17 and 30 , in that the paddle  286  pivots counterclockwise (as viewed in the bottom chamber  204  in  FIG. 17 ) because the upper flange also pivots counterclockwise and abuts or ‘digs in’ against the end surfaces  290 ,  292  of the ribs  270 ,  272 . Pushing the paddle  286 , as shown in  FIG. 31 , to a non-tilted position causes the ejector  236  to swing away from the end surfaces and be released as will be explained in more detail below. 
     The bumper wall  264 ,  FIG. 18 , acts as a stop for the ejector  236 . When the ejector  236  is released it snaps back to its relaxed position and the bumper wall  264  stops extended wings  302 ,  304  of the upper flange portion  280 . Resilient bands  306 ,  308  may be placed around the wings to further cushion the impact between the ejector  236  and the bumper wall  264 . 
     The lower base  232 ,  FIG. 20 , is fixed to each car chamber of the rotational chamber housing  202  and becomes the car chamber floor. A flex member  234  is mounted to each of the lower bases  232 . The lower base  232  includes a short center slot  310  located at a rearward portion  312  of the lower base, and two longer, laterally located slots  314 ,  316  are positioned slightly forward of the center slot  310 . 
     As with the launcher apparatus  10  disclosed in relation to  FIGS. 1-14 , the inventive launcher apparatus  200  also features an important safety component that restricts launchings only to those objects that have a proper configuration such as the toy car  14 . Objects that do not have conforming configurations will not allow the launcher apparatus to be cocked. Like the flex member  18 , the flex member  234 ,  FIG. 21 , is mounted to the lower base  232  to allow the flex member  234  to deflect or bend about an axis  317  in response to an engagement with an inserted toy. In a somewhat upside down arrangement from that of the flex member  18 , the flex member  234  has a top surface  319  from which extends protrusions  318 ,  320 . The protrusions  318 ,  320  extend through the lateral slots  314 ,  316  of the lower base  232 , and an obstruction  322  extends through the center slot  310 . The obstruction  322  includes a blocking surface  324  that extends into the path of the ejector  236  as it attempts to move from the relaxed position to the cocked position and will prevent the ejector from being cocked if nothing else happens. The obstruction  322  also includes a sloped surface  326  for allowing the ejector  236  to deflect the flex member when the ejector is snapped forward during launch, from the cocked position to the relaxed position. The protrusions  318 ,  320  extend in the path of the rear wheels  54 ,  56  of the toy car  14  and when contact is made, the rear wheels depress the protrusions and deflect the flex member  234  to move the obstruction  322  away from the path of the ejector. 
     When the user inserts the toy car  14  into a car chamber, the rear wheels  54 ,  56  of the car depress the protrusions  318 ,  320 , as mentioned, causing the flex member  234  to deflect the obstruction  322  out of the way of the ejector  236 . This allows the ejector to be pushed by the toy car to its cocked position. The sequence of movement of the flex member  234  is best shown in  FIGS. 22-24 . The relaxed position of the flex member  234 , as well as the ejector  234 , and the launch spring  296 , is shown in  FIG. 22 , the interaction between the toy car and the flex member  234  where the flex member is deflected as indicated by an arrow  323  is shown in  FIG. 23 , resulting in the obstruction  322  being moved out of the way of the ejector  236 , and the cocked position is shown in  FIG. 24 , where the flex member  234  has returned to its relaxed condition and the launch spring  296  is extended. 
     The configuration, the positions and the movement of the flex member is designed to operate when a properly configured toy is inserted for launch. If however, an attempt is made to insert an object that is not properly configured, the protrusions  318 ,  320  will not be depressed and the blocking surface  324  of the obstruction  322  of the flex member  234  will remain upright and prevent rearward movement of the ejector  236 . 
     The support housing  214 ,  FIG. 15 , includes the forward ramp  256  and a planar bottom wall  327  extending between the ramp  256  and a rearward upstanding handle  328 , as well as a stabilizing foot  329 . Mounted in the support housing  214  is the trigger mechanism  216  and below the trigger mechanism is the trigger lock  218 . Also mounted in the support housing is the safety latch  220  located forward of the trigger lock  218  and the rotational mechanism  222  which is mounted forward of the upstanding handle  328 . 
     After a car is launched from the car chamber occupying the lower position adjacent the ramp  256 , the user is able to operate the rotational mechanism  222  to reverse the locations of the car chambers such that the chamber from which a car was just launched is moved upward and a car loaded chamber is moved downward from the upper position to the lower position. Rotation of the chamber housing  202  is illustrated in  FIG. 16 , where the chamber housing is shown about half way from one position to another. The rotational mechanism  222 ,  FIGS. 15 and 17 , is mounted in the support housing  214  just to the rear of the chamber housing  202  and includes a pull lever  330  with a spring loaded pin  332 , a cylinder  334  with a helical groove  336  and a corresponding longitudinal groove  337 , and a connector  338  to the chamber housing  202 . When the pull lever  330  is pulled outward or rearward, the pin  332  moves along the helical groove  336  causing the cylinder  334  and the chamber housing  202  to rotate. The rotating cylinder  334  causes the chamber housing to rotate or flip 180° so as to first line up one of the car chambers and then the other car chamber. A return spring  340  is mounted at one end to the pull lever  330  and at the other end to the support housing  214 . A depending protrusion  342  on the underside of the pull lever  330  prevents the trigger lock  218  from engaging the trigger mechanism  216  when the pull lever  330  is in its inward or forward position as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
     The trigger mechanism  216  is mounted to the support housing  214  and includes a pivotal trigger arm  350 ,  FIGS. 17 and 25 , having a finger portion  352  located above a pivot connection  354  and protruding outside of the support housing to enable an operator to depress the finger portion  352 . A lower portion  356  of the arm  350  below the pivot connection  354  extends down the upstanding handle  328  of the support housing and divides into front and rear tabs  358 ,  360 . The tabs engage a generally horizontal link  362  of the trigger mechanism  216  around an opening  364  and a bar  366  so that when the finger portion  352  of the arm  350  is pressed by the user, the link  362  is pushed forward. The rearward tab  360  selectively engages the trigger lock  218 . The link  362  includes a nose portion  368  that extends forward into one of the two small openings  274 ,  276  in the back wall  248  of the chamber housing  202  that is aligned with the ramp  256 . The nose portion  368 ,  FIGS. 30 and 31 , is able to engage a back surface  370  of the paddle portion  286  of the ejector  236  and push the paddle portion  286  in a clockwise direction shown by arrows  372 ,  374  causing the leading edge  288  of the ejector  236  to pivot and disengage from the end surfaces  290 ,  292  of the upper base  230  causing the ejector to pivot and be released. With disengagement, the launch spring  296  and the ejector snap back from the cocked position to the relaxed position. A return spring  376 ,  FIG. 17 , is connected to the main housing and to the link  362  to bias the link  362  of the trigger mechanism  216  to the rear when pressure on the finger portion  352  is removed. 
     The trigger lock  218  is mounted to the support housing  214  and is biased upward by a torsion spring  380 ,  FIG. 17 , to engage the rear tab  360  of the lower portion  356  of the trigger arm  350 . The trigger lock includes guide arms  382 ,  384 ,  FIG. 26 , and a recess  386  for receiving the rearward tab  360  of the trigger arm  350  when the protrusion  342  is pulled away from the trigger lock. When the pull lever  330  is disposed inward, the protrusion  342  prevents the biasing spring  380  from lifting the trigger lock  218 . However, when the pull lever  330  is pulled outward to rotate the chamber housing  202 , the trigger lock  218  is able to move upward so that the recess  386 ,  FIG. 27 , receives the tab  360  to prevent rotation of the trigger arm  350  such that the nose portion  368  of the link  362  is unable to interfere with the rotation of the chamber housing  202 . Once rotation of the chamber housing is completed, the return spring  340  moves the pull lever  330  from the outward position to the inward position, and the protrusion  342  on the pull lever once again depresses the trigger lock  218  away from the bottom of the pivotal arm  356  of the trigger mechanism  214 . 
     The safety latch  220  includes the pivotal arm  390 ,  FIGS. 28 and 29 , mounted to the support housing  214 . An upper tab  392  at a rear end  394  of the arm  390  located above a pivotal connection  396  engages a protrusion  398 ,  FIG. 17 , on the link  362  of the trigger mechanism  216  and also prevents the trigger mechanism  216  from movement. Like the single toy launcher apparatus  10  described in detail above, unless the two-car launcher apparatus  200  is disposed on a flat surface  400 , such as a table or floor, a launch is prevented. The safety latch  220  is pivotally mounted to the support housing  214  and includes the rear end  394  and a front end  402  extending from the pivot connection  396  downward through an opening  404  in the bottom wall  324  of the support housing  214 . The front end  402  of the arm  390  may have a triangular shape. The rear end  394  extends upward toward the link  362 , which includes the protrusion  398  that engages the upper tab  392  unless the apparatus is set against the flat surface  400 . When set on the flat surface the pivotal arm  390  rotates away from engagement between the protrusion  398  and the tab  392 . 
     In operation of the launcher apparatus  200 , the user pushes a toy car into each of the two car chambers, back end first, using the palm of the user&#39;s hand. The rear of each car contacts and pushes the corresponding ejector in each car chamber rearward until the ejector abuts the end surfaces  290 ,  292  of the blocking ribs  270 ,  272  causing each ejector to tilt slightly. During rearward movement of the toy car, the rear wheels depress the protrusions  318 ,  320 , which are in the path of the rear wheels, causing the flex member  234  to deflect and move the obstruction  322  out of the path of the ejector. To launch, the user must place the support housing on a surface  400  to disengage the safety latch  220 . Thereafter, the trigger may be pulled. After the first launch the user may retract the pull lever  330  to cause the chamber housing to rotate 180° to align the second car chamber with the ramp. Again, the user must place the support housing on a surface and pull the trigger. 
     Another embodiment of the inventive launcher apparatus is described and shown in relation to  FIGS. 32-45 , where a multi-car, hand held launcher apparatus  500 ,  FIGS. 32-35 , includes a support housing  502 , a detachable toy car chamber housing or drum  504 , forward and rearward drum latches  505 ,  506 , a rotational mechanism  508 , a trigger mechanism  510 , a trigger lock  512  and a safety latch  514 , all analogous to the mechanisms of the launcher apparatus  10  and  200  described in great detail above (except for the drum latches). 
     The chamber housing or drum  504  is divided into eight toy or car chambers  516 ,  518 ,  520 ,  522 ,  524 ,  526 ,  528 ,  530 ,  FIGS. 33 and 34 , one every 45°, and includes an outer cylindrical wall  540 ,  FIGS. 32 and 34 , and an inner cylindrical wall  542 , the chamber housing for storing eight toy cars or other conforming toys. The outer wall  540  includes eight helical grooves and eight corresponding longitudinal grooves, each also spaced every 45°, the helical grooves being exemplified by the helical groove  544 ,  FIG. 32 , and the corresponding longitudinal groove being exemplified by the longitudinal groove  546 . The grooves may be used for rotation of the chamber housing as will be described in detail below. The chamber housing  504  includes a rear wall  548  with eight small trigger openings, exemplified by the small opening  550 , which are used to launch the toy cars in the same manner as shown and described in relation to  FIGS. 30 and 31 . The chamber housing  504  also includes a front wall  551 ,  FIG. 34 , with eight openings, exemplified by the opening  552  of the car chamber  516 , the toy car openings being used to load toy cars to be launched similar to the launcher apparatus  10  and just like the launcher apparatus  200 . 
     The operator may load the toy cars into the drum  504  while the drum is mounted to the support housing  502 , or in the alternative, when the drum is detached from the support housing  502 . The drum latches  505 ,  506  are spring loaded and engage recesses  554 ,  555 ,  FIG. 33 , in front and rear rings  556 ,  557  in the drum  504 . To detach the drum, the operator pushes the rear latch  506  rearwards and tilts the drum to free the drum from both of the latches  505 ,  506 . The operator may then set the drum on a flat surface, such a floor, front side up, and load toy cars into the car chambers. To reattach the drum  504  to the support housing  502 , the operator may align the drum with the support housing and the front latch  505  with and in the recess  554 , pull back on the rear latch  506  until the rear latch and the recess  555  are aligned and then release the rear latch. Or in the alternative, the drum may be pushed downward on slanted or beveled upper surfaces of the drum latches to bias the latches against their springs. When the operator pushes downward on the drum, the latches retract until they are aligned with their respective recesses allowing the latches to snap back into the recesses and reattach the drum to the support housing. 
     Each car chamber includes a launcher mechanism nearly identical to that described in detail above for the two-car launcher apparatus  200 . Each launcher mechanism includes an upper base, such as the upper base  560 ,  FIG. 35 , and each upper base has a longitudinal slot, such as the slot  562 , and a lower base, such as the lower base  564 . However, different from the launcher apparatus  200 , the eight upper and lower bases  560 ,  564  are molded as a single integral part  566 ,  FIG. 35 , a cost effective method for manufacturing the apparatus. Each upper base  560  includes a pair of bumper walls  570 ,  572 , and running along both sides of the slot  562  are two blocking ribs  574 ,  576 . The two ribs  574 ,  576  function to restrain an ejector  580 ,  FIG. 36 , when the ejector  580  is in its cocked position. A spring connector  582 ,  FIG. 35 , is formed on the front wall  551  of the integral part  566 . The lower base  564  is shown cutaway and enlarged in  FIG. 37  for clarity. 
     The ejector  580 ,  FIG. 36 , is mounted to the upper base  560  to move along the slot  562  from a relaxed or unbiased position shown in the upper chamber  522  of  FIG. 33 , to a cocked position shown in the lower chamber  530 . The ejector  580 , like the ejector  236 ,  FIG. 17 , has an upside down, approximate L-shape in profile with a wide top flange  590 , a more narrow bottom flange  592 , a cross member  594  connecting the top and bottom flanges  590 ,  592 , and a paddle  596  for making contact with an inserted toy car. The top flange  590  includes a trailing or rearward edge  598  for engaging end surfaces  600 ,  602 ,  FIG. 35 , of the blocking ribs  574 ,  576  when the ejector  580  is in its cocked position. A spring connector  604  is mounted to the top flange  590 . Like with the ejector  236 , the top flange  590  of the ejector  580  rides along the ribs  574 ,  576  as the ejector is pushed rearward by an inserted car. At the same time, the bottom flange  592  of the ejector is guided by an underside  606 ,  FIG. 37 , of the lower base  564 . 
     An extendible element in the form of a launch spring  610 ,  FIG. 36 , is mounted at one end to the spring connector  604  of the ejector  580  and at the opposite end to the spring connector  582 ,  FIG. 35 , on the front wall  551  such that when a car is inserted or loaded into a car chamber, the ejector  580  is moved from its relaxed position shown in  FIG. 39 , to its cocked position shown in  FIG. 41 , where the spring  610  is extended and the ejector abuts the end surfaces  600 ,  602  of the blocking ribs. An intermediate position is shown in  FIG. 40 . The stretched launch spring  610  provides the energy or force to cause a car launch when the launch spring  610  and the ejector  580  are released. When the ejector  580  is in its cocked position the force exerted by the launch spring  610  at the upper end of the ejector  580  causes the ejector to tilt slightly as shown in  FIGS. 41 and 42 . The paddle  596  pivots counterclockwise because the flange portion  590  also pivots counterclockwise and the trailing edge  598  abuts and ‘digs into’ the end surfaces  600 ,  602  of the blocking ribs  574 ,  576 . The movements of the toy car and the ejector  580  are the same as the movements of the toy car and ejector shown in  FIGS. 22-24 ; and the relationship of the ejector  580  and end surfaces  600 ,  602  of the blocking ribs  574 ,  576  is the same as the ejector and end surfaces shown and described in relation to  FIGS. 30 and 31 . 
     The bumper walls  570 ,  572 ,  FIG. 35 , are located adjacent to the front wall  551  such that when the ejector  580  is released and the launch spring  610  snaps back to its unbiased position, extended wings  620 ,  624 ,  FIG. 36 , of the upper flange  590  are stopped by the bumper walls  570 ,  572 . Resilient bands (not shown in  FIG. 36 , but identical to the bands  306 ,  308  shown in  FIG. 19 ) may be placed around the wings  620 ,  622  to further cushion the impact between the ejector and the bumper walls. 
     As with the first and the second described embodiments disclosed first in relation to  FIGS. 1-14 , and second in relation to  FIGS. 15-31 , the embodiment of the inventive launcher apparatus relating to  FIGS. 32-45 , also features an important safety component that restricts launching only to those toy objects that have a proper configuration, such as the toy car  14 . Objects that do not have conforming configurations will not be able to cock the launcher apparatus. Like the flex member  18 , and essentially identical to the flex member  234 , the flex member  630 ,  FIG. 38 , is mounted to the lower base  564 ,  FIGS. 35 and 37 , in a manner like the flex member  234 ,  FIG. 21 , is mounted to the lower base  232 ,  FIG. 20 . The flex member  630 ,  FIG. 38 , is configured just like the flex member  234  to allow the flex member  630  to deflect or bend about an axis  632  in response to engagement with an inserted toy, such as the toy car  14 . 
     Like the lower base  232 , the lower base  564 ,  FIG. 37 , includes a center slot  634  located in the rearward portion  636  of the lower base and two lateral slots  638 ,  640  slightly forward of the center slot  634 . The flex member  630  includes a top surface  642  from which extends protrusions  644 ,  646  that extend through the lateral slots  638 ,  640  where the protrusions  644 ,  646  are designed to be in the path of the rear wheels  54 ,  56  of the inserted toy car  14 . The flex member  630  also includes an obstruction  648  that extends through the center slot  634  of the lower base  564 . The obstruction includes a blocking surface  650  designed to be in the path of the ejector  580  for blocking the ejector from being cocked. The obstruction  648  also includes a sloped surface  652  for allowing the ejector to deflect the flex member when the ejector is snapped forward during launch of the toy car. When the user inserts the toy car  14  into a car chamber, the rear wheels  54 ,  56  of the car depress the protrusions  644 ,  646 ,  FIG. 40 , as indicated by an arrow  647 , causing the flex member  630  to deflect the obstruction  648  out of the ejector&#39;s path allowing the ejector to be pushed by the toy car to its cocked position as shown in  FIG. 41 . 
     As mentioned, the sequence of movements of the flex member  630  shown in  FIGS. 39-41 , are the same as the movements of the flex member  234  shown in  FIGS. 22-24 , where the relaxed position of the flex member  630 , as well as the ejector  580 , and the launch spring  610  is shown in  FIG. 39 , the interaction between the toy car and the flex member is shown in  FIG. 40 , where the flex member is deflected resulting in the obstruction  648  being moved out of the way of the ejector; and the cocked position shown in  FIG. 41 , where the flex member is returned to its relaxed condition. If however, an attempt is made to insert an object that is not properly configured, the obstruction of the flex member will remain upright and block rearward movement of the ejector. In the alternative a different toy may have parts spaced differently from the toy car  14 , and the flex member and lower base may be reconfigured to complement the different toy. 
     The support housing  502  includes a planar bottom wall  651 ,  FIGS. 32 and 33 , a slanted top wall  652 , a handgun style grip  654  at the rear or back end, a ramp  656  at the forward or front end and two sidewalls  658 ,  FIGS. 32, and 660 ,  FIG. 34 . 
     The rotational mechanism  508 ,  FIG. 33 , is mounted in the support housing  502  and includes a pull lever  670  connected to one end of an upper rod  672 , the other end of the upper rod  672  is connected to a depending link  674 , and the link  674  is connected to a lower rod  676 . At the forward end of the lower rod  676  is a spring-loaded pin  678  that is mounted to ride sequentially in the eight helical grooves and eight companion longitudinal grooves in the outer wall  540 . Hence, the rotational mechanism  508  also includes the eight helical grooves  544  and eight companion longitudinal grooves  546  in the outer wall  540 . When the pull lever  670  is extended outward by a user, the pin  678  rides in one of the helical grooves, such as the helical groove  544 ,  FIG. 32 , causing the pin to act as a cam to rotate the drum-like chamber housing 45°. When the pull lever  670  is released, a return spring  680 ,  FIG. 33 , causes the pull lever  670  to return forward which moves the pin  678  forward along the corresponding longitudinal groove  546 . Rotation of the chamber housing  504  moves the next toy car chamber into position aligned with and rearward of the ramp  656 . 
     The trigger mechanism  510  is mounted in the base housing  502  and includes a trigger pull  682 ,  FIGS. 33 and 44 , a slidable rod  684  having a nose portion  686 , and a return spring  688 . The nose portion  686 ,  FIGS. 42 and 43 , is located adjacent the back wall  548  of the chamber housing  504 . When the trigger pull  682  is activated, the nose portion  686  moves forward through the lowest opening  550  in the back wall  548  so as to bear against a surface  685 , also illustrated in  FIGS. 42 and 43 , of the paddle  596  of the ejector  580  and tip the tilted ejector  580  out of engagement with the end surfaces  600 ,  602  as shown in  FIGS. 42 and 43 , where arrows  687 ,  689  indicate the pivoting motion of the ejector. Tipping the ejector results in the release of the ejector, the launch spring  610 , and the toy car in the chamber  530  located adjacent the ramp  656 . The arrangement is just like that of the launcher apparatus  200  described in detail above and shown in  FIGS. 30 and 31 . 
     Forward of the grip portion  654  of the base housing  502  is a trigger lock  512 ,  FIGS. 33 and 45 , and a safety lock  514 . The trigger lock  512  includes a first rack  690  mounted in the support housing that is engaged with a second rack  692  of the safety lock  514  by way of a gear  694 . The trigger lock first rack  690  engages the trigger rod  684 ,  FIG. 44 , in a recess  696  forward of a bridge  697  causing the trigger rod to be immovable or locked. The first rack  690  is biased by a spring  698  into locking engagement with the trigger rod  684 . The second rack  692  of the safety lock includes a foot  700  projecting through an opening  702 ,  FIG. 33 , in the bottom wall  651  of the support housing. When the launcher apparatus  500  is placed or disposed on a surface  704 ,  FIG. 32 , such as a floor or table, the foot  700  of the second rack  692  is pushed upward into the support housing causing the gear  694  to rotate counter clockwise. Counter clockwise rotation of the gear  694  (as viewed in  FIG. 45 ) causes the first rack  690  of the trigger lock to move downward causing the first rack  690  to disengage from the trigger rod  684  and compress the return spring  698 . Downward movement of the first rack  690  results in the launcher apparatus  500  being in condition for activation of the trigger mechanism  508  to launch a toy car. Once the launcher apparatus is lifted off the surface, the return spring  698  biases the first rack  690  upward to lock the trigger rod  684  to prevent a potentially unwanted launch. The upward movement of the first rack also causes the gear to rotate clockwise which lowers the second rack  692 . 
     In the alternative, more or less than eight car chambers may be formed in the chamber housing. One example is a chamber housing having six storage chambers spaced every 60° mounted to the support housing, perhaps allowing for larger toys to be launched. Another launcher apparatus embodiment  710 ,  FIG. 46 , is illustrated where the drum  712  includes ten car chambers  714 ,  715 ,  716 ,  717 ,  718 ,  719 ,  720 ,  721 ,  722 ,  723 , one car chamber every 36°. The launcher apparatus  710  is detachable and the various elements are identical to the elements in the launcher apparatus  500 ,  FIG. 34 . There are ten helical grooves and ten corresponding longitudinal grooves in an outer surface  724  that operate like the grooves of the launcher apparatus  500 . Or, a differently configured chamber housing may be created such as one having a linear configuration (instead of the drum configuration) that is indexed with each launch. 
     In operation of the launcher apparatus  500 , the user may push a toy car into as many of the eight chambers as desired, back end first, using the palm of the user&#39;s hand. The rear of each car contacts and pushes the corresponding ejector in each chamber rearward until the ejector abuts the blocking ribs causing each ejector to be cocked and to tilt slightly as shown in  FIGS. 39-41 . During rearward movement of each toy car, the rear wheels of the car are configured to engage the protrusions and depress the flex member. Depressing or deflecting the flex member causes a blocking obstruction to deflect out of the way of the ejector&#39;s path. To launch, the user must place the support housing on a surface to disengage the safety latch thereby allowing the lowest of the toy cars in the chamber housing to be launched when the trigger is pulled. The user may then retract the pull lever to cause the chamber housing to rotate 45° to bring an adjacent chamber in line with the ramp. To launch a toy car again, the user must place the support housing on a surface and pull the trigger. 
     It is noted that throughout this detailed description, words such as “front” and “rear,” “forward” and “rearward,” “top” and “bottom,” and “upper” and “lower,” as well as similar positional or locational terms, refer to portions or elements of the toy apparatus as they are viewed in the drawings relative to other portions, or in relationship to the positions of the apparatus as it will typically be held and moved during play by a user, or to movements of elements based on the configurations illustrated. 
     The present invention also includes a method  750 ,  FIG. 41 , for making a toy launcher apparatus, the steps of the method including forming a housing  752  having an opening for storing a properly configured toy to be launched, mounting an ejector to the housing  754 , the ejector being movable from a relaxed position to a cocked position by an inserted properly configured toy, mounting an extendible element to the housing and to the ejector  756 , mounting a flex member to the housing  758  to prevent the ejector moving from the relaxed position to the cocked position, to deflect in response to engagement with the properly configured toy, and to deflect in response to engagement with the ejector when the ejector is moving from the cocked position to the relaxed position by the extendible element, mounting a trigger mechanism to the housing  760  for releasing the ejector from the cocked position, and mounting a safety lock to the housing  762  for preventing operation of the trigger mechanism when the launcher apparatus is not disposed on a surface. 
     The toy launcher apparatus disclosed in detail above have great play value, are fun to use and easy to operate, and are safe, even for young children, and yet the toy launcher apparatus are robust, have relatively simple structures, and they may be produced at reasonable cost. 
     From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been provided features for an improved toy apparatus and a disclosure of a method for making the toy launcher apparatus. While particular embodiments and variations of the present invention have been shown and described in great detail, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The matters set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings are offered by way of illustrations only and not as limitations. The actual scope of the invention is to be defined by the subsequent claims as mandated by the United States Code, Title 35, Section 112, when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.