Patent Publication Number: US-10782090-B2

Title: Projectile launching device

Description:
The invention relates to a projectile launching device. 
     An aim of the present invention is to provide an improved projectile launching device, and/or at least an alternative projectile launching device, and/or projectile launching device that has new applications. 
     According to the invention there is provided a projectile launching device in accordance with claim  1 . 
     For the avoidance of doubt, the object of spherical cross section referred to in claim  1  is not a feature of claim  1 . Instead, it is a feature which the features of claim cooperate with. 
     Other optional and preferred features of the projectile launching device in accordance with the invention are set out in the dependent claims, and the description, and the drawings. It will be appreciated that the features of the independent claims can be combined in any complimentary manner, with one or more features of another independent claim, the dependent claims, and/or with one or more features of the description, and/or with one or more features of the drawings, where such a combination of features would result in a working embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       A projectile launching device and a projectile launching device kit in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a projectile launching device, in a first operational configuration, charged (meaning ready to fire), 
         FIG. 2  is another side view of the projectile launching device of  FIG. 1 , in a second operational configuration, discharged (meaning fired), 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the projectile launching device of  FIG. 1 , in the charged operational configuration, 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the projectile launching device of  FIG. 1 , in the discharged operational configuration, 
         FIG. 5  is an end view of the part of the projectile launching device, taken in the direction of arrow B in  FIG. 1 , the end view omitting detail to the right hand side of line A-A in  FIG. 1  to maintain simplicity and clarity in the drawing, 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a loading member of the projectile launching device kit, the loading member to be used with the projectile launching device, 
         FIG. 7A  is a view of the part of the projectile launching device taken from line A-A in  FIG. 1  in the direction of arrow D, 
         FIG. 7B  is an end view of the part of the projectile launching device, taken in the direction of arrow C in  FIG. 1 , the end view omitting detail to the left hand side of line A-A in  FIG. 1  to maintain simplicity and clarity in the drawing, 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view from the front and to the side of the projectile launching device, 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the projectile launching device, in a charged operational configuration, showing the tube in a second angle of inclination, 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the projectile launching device, in a charged operational configuration, with balls installed in tube and in the storage tube, and weights on the drop mass, and weight storage spindles, and 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the projectile launching device, in a discharged operational configuration, with balls ejected from tube, and weights on the drop mass, and weight storage spindles. 
     
    
    
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a projectile launching device  10  comprises a support structure  12 , a flexible air bag  14  arranged on an impact support surface  16  of the support structure, and a tube  18 , the interior of which is in air flowing communication with the interior of flexible air bag  14  (In the embodiment shown, the flexible air bag  14  comprises an opening  20  (schematically indicated by reference numeral  20  in  FIG. 7A ), at which point the flexible air bag  14  is connected to an end of the tube  18 , and the interior of the tube  18  and the interior of the flexible air bag  14  are directly connected. Other embodiments are envisaged where the flexible air bag  14  is not directly connected to an end of the tube  18 , i.e. where the flexible air bag  14  is connected to an end of the tube  18  via one or more intermediate parts, and such embodiments are within the scope of the invention). 
     The tube  18  is made of rigid, clear, material, and the inside surface of the tube  18  is of spherical cross section, it being designed to receive a ball  102  (or other projectile of spherical cross section). In other embodiments of the invention, the inside surface of the tube  18  could be non spherical cross section. The inside surface of the tube  18  is smooth so as to minimise frictional effects if a ball  102  and air pass through the tube. The tube  18  is shown truncated compared to its actual length in the Figures, with the exception of  FIG. 8  which shows the length of the tube in its entirety. 
     The impact support surface  16  is made of a rigid material and is flat or substantially flat. 
     The term “air bag” means a bag or a receptacle for air. Whilst flexible, like the material of bellows, the flexible air bag  14  is not elastic in nature. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 10 , the projectile launching device  10  comprises a ball stopping member  22 , which stops a ball passing from the tube  18  into the air bag. The ball stopping member  22  can take any form but its form should be designed to minimise disruption inside the tube and therefore minimise frictional effects if air passes through the tube. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4, 7A, 7B, and 8 to 11 , the projectile launching device  10  comprises a movable mass  30 . In the embodiment shown, mountings  31  attached to the movable mass  30  are pivotably fixed to the support structure  12  via conventional screw fasteners at a pivot axis  32 . Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, 7A, 9, 10 and 11 , the movable mass  30  comprises an impacting surface  34 . The impacting surface  34  is made of a rigid material and is flat or substantially flat. The impacting surface  34  is arranged to pivot about the pivot axis  32  into abutment with the impact support surface  16  of the support structure  12 . Other embodiments are envisaged where an impacting surface of a movable mass moves into abutment with an impact support surface of a support structure in a different manner. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4, 7A, 7B, and 8 to 11 , the movable mass  30  comprises an additional mass storage means  36 , arranged on an upper surface  110  (upper in  FIG. 1 ) of the movable mass  30 , in other words on the surface which faces away from the impacting surface  34 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the additional mass storage means  36  comprises headed threaded fasteners  36   a  arranged through the movable mass  30  and secured by a nut  36   b . The figures show the heads of the fasteners  36   a  protruding from the impacting surface  34 , but in practice the heads of the fasteners  36   a  would be recessed, or protrude only to an extent whereby they do not significantly influence the contact between the impact support surface  16  and the impacting surface  34 . Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , additional mass(es)  38  can be added onto the additional mass storage means  36 , and secured there, so as to increase the effective mass of the movable mass  30 , and therefore the resulting impact force of the movable mass. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3, 4, 7B, and 8 , the projectile launching device  10  comprises a first latch element  106 , arranged on the upper surface  110  of the movable mass  30 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, 7A, 7B, and 9 to 11 , the impact support surface  16  is coupled to (an underside of) the flexible air bag  14  by a first coupling  39 , which can conveniently take the form of a Velcro™ fastener. (An upper side of) the flexible air bag  14  is coupled to the impacting surface  34  by a second coupling  40 . The second coupling  40  comprises a Velcro™ fastener  42  on upper side of air bag  14 , a Velcro™ fastener  44  on underside of movable mass  30 , and an inextensible length of material such as string or the like  46  connecting the two fasteners  42 ,  44 . The positions of the impact support surface  16 , the impacting surface  34 , the geometry of the flexible air bag, the first coupling  39  and the second coupling  40 , are designed so that a first (upper side of) the flexible air bag  14  is spaced by a predetermined distance from a second (underside of) the flexible air bag  14 . The first coupling  39 , second coupling  40 , and the length of string or the like  46  are dimensioned so as to not significantly influence the contact between the impact support surface  16  and the impacting surface  34 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 7B, and 8 to 11 , the projectile launching device  10  comprises a movable mass activation means  50 . The movable mass activation means  50  is mounted on the support structure  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, 8, and 9 to 11 , the movable mass activation means  50  comprises a second latch element  52 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the movable mass activation means  50  also comprises a trigger mechanism  54 . 
     The second latch element  52  is arranged to face the first latch element  106 , when the impacting surface  34  is moved away from the impact support surface  16  so that the first latch element  106  and second latch element  52  can come into contact with each other and engage. 
     The second latch element  52  comprises a pair of arms. The trigger mechanism  54  comprises a pair of arms. Somewhat obscured in the drawings, the arms of the trigger mechanism  54  are broadly speaking in line with the arms of the second latch element  52 . The arms of the second latch element  52  and the arms of the trigger mechanism  54  are connected at a sprung pivot in the manner of a known clothes peg. When not triggered, the sprung pivot biases the two arms of the second latch element  52  to be aligned and define an opening  53  (see  FIGS. 2 and 8 ) between them, and movement of the two arms of the trigger mechanism  54  together, causes the two arms of the second latch element  52  to move apart, which in turn will release the first latch element  106 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the first latch element  106  is a pin or the like, and the second latch element  52  is a manually resiliently deformable retention means. However, the reader will appreciate that the positions of the first latch element  106  and the second latch element  52  could be reversed. 
     Although “engagement” of the first latch element  106  and the second latch element  52  is described hereinabove, other forms of connection between the movable mass  30  and the support structure  12  are possible. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the projectile launching device  10  also comprises additional mass(es)  60 , which can be arranged on additional mass(es) holders  62  of the support structure  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5, 8, and 9 to 11 , the projectile launching device  10  comprises a tube inclination angle adjustment and fixing means  70 , which enables the inclination angle, i.e. the angle of inclination relative to the horizontal, to be adjusted, and the inclination angle to be fixed. Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5, and 8 to 11 , the tube inclination angle adjustment and fixing means  70  comprises a first tube inclination angle adjustment part  72 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4, and 8 to 11 , the tube inclination angle adjustment and fixing means  70  also comprises a second tube inclination angle adjustment part  74 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the first tube inclination angle adjustment part  72  is rotationally arranged on a spindle  76  that extends between spaced apart members  82 ,  84  (see  FIG. 5 ) of the support structure  12 , at a first place on the support structure. Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 10 , the first tube inclination angle adjustment part  72  defines an aperture  78  in which the tube  18  is mounted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the second tube inclination angle adjustment part  74  comprises an elongate member  86  rotationally fitted to an arm  88  of the support structure  12  by a spindle  89 , at a second place on the support structure. The elongate member  86  comprises a (closed) channel  90 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5, and 8 , the second tube inclination angle adjustment part  74  also comprises a tube mounting  92 . A headed pin  94  passes through the channel  90  into the tube mounting  92 , and the headed pin can be adjusted to clamp the elongate member  86  to the tube mounting  92  at a position corresponding to a predetermined inclination angle. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the elongate member  86  comprises indicia  96 , running broadly speaking along the length of the channel  90 , to allow the inclination angle of the tube  18 , in the embodiment shown in terms of degrees relative to the horizontal, to be measured. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 5, 7B, and 10 , the projectile launching device  10  comprises a ball storage  100 , which stores balls  102 . The ball storage  100  comprises a tube, which is inclined, downwardly from right to left in  FIG. 1 , so that balls are biased to roll towards the left hand end of the ball storage, which is nearer the open end of the tube  18 . Referring to  FIGS. 1, 8 , and  10 , at the left hand end of the ball storage  100 , the ball storage comprises a bumper type stopper  101  which defines a recess which a ball  102  (to be used next) can sit in and easily accessed by an operator. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the projectile launching device  10  comprises a loading member  104 . A handle  105  of the loading member  104  is enlarged relative to a elongated rod part of the loading member. The length of the elongated rod part is sized such that when the handle  105  abuts the end of the tube  18 , with the rod part inside the tube, a ball  102  in the tube arranged between the end of the rod and the ball stopping member  22  has some space to move in the direction of the axis of the tube, hence avoiding damage to the ball or stopping member. The handle  105  is circular in cross section, and of a diameter greater than the inner diameter of the tube  18 , so that the loading member cannot fall fully into the tube  18 . 
     It will be appreciated by the reader that in the embodiment shown in the drawings the projectile launching device  10  resembles a cannon. 
     A projectile launching device kit comprises the projectile launching device  10 , the balls  102 , and the additional mass(es)  60 . 
     A method of using the projectile launching device  10  follows. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 10 , optionally, additional mass(es)  60  is/are arranged on the additional mass(es) holders  62 . 
     Then, in accordance with the invention, the movable mass  30  is pivotably moved away from the impact support surface  16 , the movable mass  30  pulling, via the length of string or the like  46 , the upper side of the flexible air bag  14  away from the underside of the flexible air bag. The opening of the flexible air bag  14  draws atmospheric air into the flexible air bag. In other words, moving the movable mass  30  away from the impact support surface  16  has the effect of inflating the flexible air bag  14 . 
     Then, as shown clearest in  FIG. 4 , the first latch element  106  of the movable mass  30  can be releasably secured to the second latch element  52 . Looking at  FIGS. 1 and 9  for example, it will be appreciated by the reader that the latching/stopping position of the movable mass  30  is such that the plane of the movable mass is slightly off the vertical, slightly nearer to the impact support surface  16 . In other words, the angle between the plane of the impacting surface  34  and the impact support surface  16  is less than 90 degrees. In this way, the movable mass  30  is not in equilibrium, but it is biased to fall towards the impact support surface  16  as soon as the second latch element  52  is released. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a ball  102 , most preferably in the form of a table tennis ball, is taken out of the ball storage  100 . In accordance with the invention, table tennis balls have been carefully selected for use because they are light, have a smooth low friction outer surface, have a rigid outer surface, and their size is highly standardized from one manufacturer to another, in contrast with for example tennis balls. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , when a ball  102  is required, it is taken from the bumper type stopper  101  of the ball storage  100 . 
     The loading member  104 , stowed as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5  when not being used, is used to insert a ball  102  into the tube  18 , until the ball is adjacent or abuts the ball stopping member  22 , without the ball applying pressure on the stopping member. Thus, the ball  102  closes or substantially closes the tube  18  so as to restrict air flowing between the tube  18  and the flexible air bag  14 . 
     It is beneficial if the sequence of events is 1. Move the movable mass  30  to open and inflate air bag, then 2. Insert ball  102 , rather than 1. Insert ball, then 2. Move the movable mass  30  to open and inflate air bag. Due to the diameter of the ball being only slightly less than the inner diameter of the tube  18 , there is some air resistance to the movement of the ball if the air bag is opened and inflated after the ball has been placed in the tube. The preferred sequence allows air to be sucked through a less restricted opening than if the ball were pre-installed, which in turn minimises the work done by the flexible air bag  14 , and connections  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 . Also, due to the close fit between the ball  102  and the tube  18 , pushing the ball into the tube after the air bag has been inflated can in fact top up the flexible air bag  14  with additional air. 
     The inclination angle of the tube  18  can be optionally adjusted using the tube inclination angle adjustment and fixing means  70 . 
     Then, the trigger mechanism  54  is depressed, to move apart the two arms of the second latch element  52 . That causes the second latch element  52  to release the first latch element  106 . Due to the not in equilibrium position of the movable mass  30 , the movable mass  30  can then fall, pivotably in the embodiment shown, towards the flexible air bag  14 , until the impacting surface  34  impacts the impact support surface  16 . 
     The impact forces air from the flexible air bag  14  out of the opening  20  into the tube  18 , thus exerting a pressure on the ball  102 , consequently firing the ball  102  out of the tube as a projectile. 
     The projectile launching device  10  can be reloaded with a ball  102  and reused. Multiple balls  102  can be loaded in the tube  18  simultaneously, and fired from the tube simultaneously, but performance is diminished if multiple balls are fired simultaneously. 
     In accordance with the invention, reloading of the projectile launching device  10  is very simple. 
     The projectile launching device  10  is designed to project a ball  102  without additional masses  38  arranged on the movable mass  30 , but additional masses can be arranged on the movable mass in order for the projectile launching device to project a ball  102  further if desired. 
     In the embodiment described and shown, the trigger mechanism  54  is triggered by manual depression. The trigger mechanism  54  is entirely mechanical. However, in another embodiment of the invention (not shown for conciseness) it is envisaged that a trigger mechanism could be made of electrical or electromechanical or other suitable means. For example, a magnet can be mounted on the movable mass  30  and an electromagnet can be mounted on the support structure  12 , the electromagnet being used as a switch to hold or release the magnet as desired. 
     Indeed, the projectile launching device  10  as a whole is entirely mechanical. Other parts of the projectile launching device  10  could also be other than purely mechanical. 
     The projectile launching device  10  can comprise means for making sound effects such as shooting sound effects, which, and be caused by the trigger mechanism, and coincide with the moment of launching a projectile. 
     In one embodiment, the projectile launching device  10  has a total mass without additional masses of about 2.2 kg. In the assembled state, the greatest dimension of the projectile launching device  10  is less than one metre. Hence, an advantage of the projectile launching device  10  is that it is highly portable. Also, the design of the projectile launching device  10 , and its use of only very low weight table tennis balls, and their operational velocity, mean that, across the range of usage, if a ball  102  hits a person during use of the projectile launching device, the impact from the ball  102  is generally unlikely to be harmful. In the main embodiment described herein, the projectile launching device  10  is suitable for use as a toy, or for educational purposes such as conducting scientific experiments. 
     In one embodiment, the projectile launching device  10  is made primarily of wood. The projectile launching device  10  can however be made of any suitable material. The projectile launching device  10  can be disassembled. Assembling the projectile launching device  10  can provide a user with a game like challenge in the same way that Lego™ or Meccano™ does. Also, the disassembled projectile launching device  10  can be optimised for minimal storage volume, and minimal packaging. 
     Parts of the projectile launching device  10  referenced in certain drawings may also be shown referenced in other drawings, and should be interpreted accordingly. Parts of the projectile launching device  10  referenced in certain drawings may also be shown unreferenced in other drawings, and should be interpreted accordingly.