Patent Publication Number: US-6655370-B1

Title: Firecracker launching device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to firecracker launchers and more particularly pertains to a new firecracker launching device for launching a firecracker up to 50 feet so that it would be safely exploded. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of firecracker launchers is known in the prior art. More specifically, firecracker launchers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 8,333,372; U.S. Pat. No. 1,091,512; U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,592; U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,033; U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,868; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,758,585. None of the prior art hurls a firecracker a safe distance from the user before exploding unlike the present invention. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new firecracker launching device. The inventive device includes a handgun-shaped member having an elongate barrel and a handgrip stock member attached to the elongate barrel; and an assembly for launching a firecracker from the elongate barrel; all features not described nor suggested by the prior art. 
     In these respects, the firecracker launching device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of launching a firecracker up to 50 feet so that it would be safely exploded. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new firecracker launching device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the firecracker launchers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new firecracker launching device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art firecracker launchers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the firecracker launching device in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new firecracker launching device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the firecracker launchers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new firecracker launching device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art firecracker launchers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new firecracker launching device for launching a firecracker up to 50 feet so that it would be safely exploded. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new firecracker launching device that is easy and convenient to use. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new firecracker launching device that prevents injury to the user by hurling the firecracker a safe distance away from the user before exploding. 
    
    
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a new firecracker launching device according to the present invention and shown in use. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new firecracker launching device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the firecracker launching device  10  generally comprises a handgun-shaped member  11  having an elongate barrel  12  and a handgrip stock member  13  integrally and conventionally attached to the elongate barrel  12 . The handgun-shaped member  11  further includes a trigger guard member  14  is integrally and conventionally attached at a junction of the handgrip stock member  13  and the elongate barrel  12 . The elongate barrel  12  has a top wall  15 , and also has an internal cavity  16 , and a longitudinal opening  17  being disposed through the top wall  15  and into the cavity  16  of the elongate barrel  12 . 
     A means for launching a firecracker from the elongate barrel  12  includes a trigger  20 , a latch member  23  being conventionally attached to the trigger  20 , a lever  23  being pivotally and conventionally attached to the elongate barrel  12 , and a spring member  34  being conventionally attached to the trigger  20  and to the lever  23 . The trigger  20  includes an elongate shaft  21  being pivotally and conventionally disposed in the cavity  16  of the elongate barrel  12 , and also includes an arcuate finger-hold end portion  22  being conventionally and integrally attached to a first end of the elongate shaft  21  and being movably disposed through an opening  19  in a bottom wall  18  of the elongate barrel  12 . The latch member  23  is integrally attached to a second end of the elongate shaft  21  and is curved back upon a portion of the elongate shaft  21 . The lever  24  includes an elongate main body  25  having a top side  26  and a bottom side  27 , and also includes a lug member  32  being conventionally and integrally attached at a first end  28  of the elongate main body  24  and being disposed generally perpendicular to the elongate main body  25  and further being pivotally and conventionally attached in the cavity  16  near a front end of the elongate barrel  12 . The elongate main body  25  is rounded at a junction of the top side  15  and the first end  28  to facilitate unhindered pivoting of the lever  24 . The elongate main body  25  further includes a longitudinal slot  30  being disposed in the top side  26  thereof and being adapted to removably receive a firecracker therein, and also includes a first slot  31  being disposed in the bottom side  27  and near a second end  29  of the elongate main body  25 . The lever  24  further includes a catch member  33  being integrally attached to a wall defining the first slot  31  and being disposed in the first slot  31 . The latch member  23  is engagable to the catch member  33  to pivotally retain the lever  24  in the cavity  16  of the elongate barrel  12  for launching a firecracker away from the firecracker launching device  10 . 
     In use, the user cocks the lever  24  using the latch member  23  which engages the catch member  33 , and places the firecracker in the longitudinal slot  30 . The user then lights the firecracker and pulls the trigger  20  which disengages the latch member  23  from the catch member  33  with the spring member  34  pulling back on the lug member  32  thus pivotally springing the lever  24  out of the cavity  16  of the elongate barrel  12  and throwing or hurling the firecracker a safe distance away from the user before exploding. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the firecracker launching device. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.