Patent Publication Number: US-9833720-B2

Title: Clip launcher system with interconnecting projectile

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     In general, the present invention relates to the structure of toy projectiles and launchers for toy projectiles. The present invention also relates to the structure of clip connectors and the use of clip connectors as a platform to launch toys. 
     2. Prior Art Description 
     Many consumer products, such as backpacks and book bags contain strapping. Commonly, some of the strapping is terminated with clip connectors that enable sections of the strapping to be selectively connected or separated. 
     Clip connectors have both a male side and a female side that interconnect. The male side of the clip connector contains two elongated arms that deform slightly when they enter the female side of the clip connector. The arms expand into openings within the female side, therein locking the male and female sides of the clip connector together. One early example of such a prior art clip connector is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,629 to Ikeda, entitled Plastic Buckle. 
     Although many variations of such clip connectors exist in the marketplace, such connectors are used mainly for selectively interconnecting strapping or similar flexible tethers. 
     Also, in the prior art, there exist many toy cars, motorcycles, airplanes, characters and other such toys that are designed to be launched as projectiles, either on the ground or through the air. Such toys typically require a launching device for accelerating the toy into flight. In the prior art, launching devices typically use compressed springs or pulled elastic bands to provide the energy needed to accelerate and launch the toy into flight. As is often the case, the launching device for a toy projectile is far more complex and expensive than is the toy projectile itself. Consequently, the launcher for a toy projectile, if sold with a toy projectile, can be responsible for most of the cost of the packaged toy. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 7,927,173 to Walterscheid, the applicant herein, attempts to create a toy launcher from the structure of a clip connector. In this early design, the energy used to launch the toy projectile forward was generated by connecting the toy projectile to a clip connector and manually squeezing the toy projectile to disengage it from the clip connector. The problem that occurs is that a person&#39;s fingers create friction against the flexible arms as they squeeze the flexible arms. This friction inhibits the movement of toy projectile and often adversely affects both the flight velocity and the flight path of the toy projectile. 
     The applicant has improved his design in such a manner that it negates the adverse effects of finger friction. The result is a toy that moves faster and farther than that in the prior art. The structure of the present invention and its associated method of use are described and claimed below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a system for launching a toy projectile from a clip connector. The toy projectile has a set of elongated arm elements and a set of elongated leg elements extending therefrom. The toy projectile is launched from a clip connector launcher. The clip connector launcher has a housing with a top opening, side openings and an internal divider. The set of elongated arm elements and the set of elongated leg elements from the toy projectile are insertable into the top opening of said clip connector housing. The set of elongated arm elements mechanically interlock with the side openings in said clip connector housing when in a fully engaged position. The set of leg elements are spread by the divider within the clip connector housing when in the fully engaged position. 
     The set of elongated arm elements and the set of elongated leg elements store spring energy that releases to accelerate the toy character out and away from the clip connector housing when a force is applied to the set of elongated arm elements through the side openings that displaces the set of elongated arm elements from the side openings. This launches the toy projectile from the clip connector housing at a velocity sufficient to launch the toy projectile into flight. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a toy launching system with a toy projectile and clip base launcher engaged; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the toy projectile and the clip base launcher separated; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4A  shows an enlarged view of a side opening in the clip base launcher; 
         FIG. 4B  shows an enlarged view of a side opening in the clip base launcher being engaged by a fingertip; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Although the present invention can be used to launch many types of toys, such as toy airplanes, toy vehicles, and toy rockets, the present invention is especially well suited for launching a toy character, such as a toy superhero. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiment of the invention selected for illustration is that of a toy character that is intended to be launched into flight. This embodiment is presented as representing the best mode contemplated for the invention. However, the selected embodiment is a mere example and should not be considered a limitation when interpreting the claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  in conjunction with  FIG. 2 , an exemplary embodiment of a toy launching system  10  is shown. The toy launching system  10  consists of a toy character  12  and a clip base launcher  14 . The toy character  12  is exemplary of many possible toy projectile configurations. As will be explained, the clip base launcher  14  is generally configured as a female half of a traditional clip connector with slight modifications. The clip base launcher  14  can be attached to a strap  17  in the traditional manner of a clip connector. The strap  17  can be attached to any secondary object  19 , such as a backpack, key ring, lunch box or the like. 
     The toy character  12  is configured as a humanoid figure. Accordingly, the toy character  12  has a head  16 , a body  18 , arm elements  20 , and leg elements  22 . However, the head  16 , body  18 , arm elements  20 , and leg elements  22  have unique configurations that enable the toy character  12  to interconnect with the clip base launcher  14 . The head  16 , body  18 , arm elements  20 , and leg elements  22  also promote the rapid separation and launching of the toy character  12  from the clip base launcher  14 . 
     The toy character  12  is selectively interconnected with the clip base launcher  14 . As will be explained, when the arm elements  20  of the toy character  12  are squeezed to disengage the toy character  12  from the clip base launcher  14 , the spring energy that is stored within the arm elements  20  and the leg elements  22  of the toy character  12  are simultaneously released. The released energy accelerates the toy character  12  away from the clip base launcher  14 , therein launching the toy character  12  into flight. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  in conjunction with  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that head  16  of the toy character  12  may be hollow to reduce the overall weight of the toy character  12 . Alternatively, the head  16  of the toy character  12  can be made from a molded foam rubber, as illustrated, to make the head  12  both lightweight and soft. In either construction, a base support  24  is present at the bottom of the head  16  at the transition between the head  12  and the remainder of the toy character  12 , which includes the body  18 , arm elements  20 , and leg elements  22 . 
     The arm elements  20  extend from the base support  24  as flexible cantilevers. The arm elements  20  are molded from resilient flexible plastic that enables the arm elements  20  to temporarily deform and then spring back to their original shape. Each of the arm elements  20  has a thin section  26  and a wider hand section  28 . The thin section  26  has a length L 1 , the significance of which is later explained. The hand section  28  has a smooth curved surface  30  that bulges outwardly and is wider than the thin section  26 . The arm elements  20  on opposite sides of the toy character  12  are mirror images of each other. On both arm elements  20 , there is a distinct transition point P 1  between the straight thin section  26  and the bulge of the smooth curved surface  30  that is the exterior of the hand section  28 . 
     The body  18  extends from the base support  24 . The leg elements  22  of the toy character  12  also extend as flexible cantilevers from the body  18 . The leg elements  22  extend in the same plane as do the arm elements  20 . The leg elements  22  are molded from the same flexible plastic as are the arm elements  20 . Each of the legs elements  22  terminates at its free end with a flat footpad  32 . The toy character  12  is symmetrically balanced so it can freely stand upright upon the flat footpads  32  when placed on a flat surface. 
     The leg elements  22  are long and thin. A slot  34  is present between the leg elements  22  that separates the leg elements  22  from each other. The leg elements  22  are reinforced by the body  18  of the toy character  12 . The body  18  of the toy character  12  is molded to both the base support  24  and the higher sections of the leg elements  22 . The presence of the body  18  stiffens the leg elements  22  and prevents the leg elements  22  from breaking away from the base support  24  when the leg elements  22  are temporarily deformed apart. 
     The clip base launcher  14  has the structure of a traditional female half of a clip connector with the exception that a separator plate  36  is added to its structure. The clip base launcher  14  has a housing  40 . The separator plate  36  runs down the middle interior of the housing  40 . The housing  40  has a face surface  42   FIG. 2 ), a rear surface  44  and two side surfaces  46  that define an interior  48 . The two side surfaces  46  have slightly diverging paths as they travel toward the open top  50  of the housing  40 . As such, the side surfaces  46  provide the interior  48  with a slightly V-shaped cross-sectional profile. The housing  40  has an open top  50  and two opposing side openings  52  in the side surfaces  46 . The separator plate  36  is disposed midway between the side openings  52 . The separator plate  36  lays perpendicular to both the face surface  42  and the rear surface  44  of the housing  40 . The side openings  52  are disposed in the side surfaces  46  at a distance D 1  from the open top  50 . The distance D 1  is equal or slightly shorter than the length L 1  of the thin sections  26  of the arm elements  20  on the toy character  12 . 
     The side openings  52  are concave. Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B  in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the side openings  52  have a complex shape with a first radius of curvature R 1  and a second radius of curvature R 2 . The first radius of curvature R 1  is smaller than the second radius of curvature R 2 . As a consequence, the side openings  52  have a steeper slope curvature at the end of the side openings  52  nearest the open top  50 . The ends of the side openings  52  furthest from the open top  50  have a second slope curvature that is less steep. This difference in slope curvature serves an important function. 
     The differences in slope curvature cause a person&#39;s fingertip  55  to naturally enter the side openings  52  at a slight angle, rather than parallel to the open top  50 . The angle directs the fingertip  55  slightly toward the open top  50  of the clip base launcher  14 . As a result, the fingertips  55  not only compress the arm elements  20  toward each other, but they also press the arm elements  20  slightly forward. This slight forward movement begins to release the energy stored in the arm elements  20  and leg elements  22 . As such, it begins a mechanical reaction that results in the toy character  12  being launched from the clip base launcher  14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , it will be understood that the toy character  12  and the clip base launcher  14  can be mechanically interconnected. The arm elements  20 , leg elements  22 , and body  18  of the toy character  12  pass into the open top  50  of the clip base launcher  14 . As the arm elements  20  of the toy character  12  are advanced into the clip base launcher  14 , the hand sections  28  contact the converging side surfaces  46 . This deforms the arm elements  20  toward each other until the hand sections  28  of the arm elements  20  pass into the side openings  52 . Once within the side openings  52 , the arm elements  20  rapidly spread, causing the hand sections  28  to protrude through the side openings  52 . Since the lengths of the thin sections  26  of the arm elements  20  has the same length as the side surfaces  46  above the side openings  52 , the hand sections  28  expand into the side openings  52  just as the base support  24  abuts against the open top  50 . At this position, the toy character  12  is fully seated within the clip base launcher  14 . 
     Additionally, as the leg elements  22  of the toy character  12  advance into the clip base launcher  14 , the slot  34  between the leg elements  22  aligns with the separator plate  36  within the clip base launcher  14 . As the leg elements  22  further advance, the separator plate  36  passes into the slot  34  and creates a slight spreading of the leg elements  22 . The spreading of the leg elements  22  stores spring energy in the leg elements  22 . The spring energy stored increases until the toy character  12  is fully seated within the clip base launcher  14 . 
     Referring to figures, it will be understood that in order to launch the toy vehicle  12  from the clip base launcher  14 , the flexible arm elements  20  are pressed inwardly with a force sufficient to overcome the spring bias of the flexible arm elements  20 . The application of the force causes the flexible arm elements  20  to disengage from the side openings  52 . The inward pressing also further deforms the flexible arm elements  20  and causes them to store additional spring energy. 
     Once the flexible arm elements  20  have disengaged from the side openings  52  in the clip base launcher  14 , the spring energy stored in the both the deformed arm elements  20  and the deformed flexible leg elements  22  biases the toy character up and out of the clip base launcher  14 . Due to the curved surface  30  on each of the hand sections  28 , and the angled slope of the side surfaces  46  on the interior of the housing  40 , the stored spring energy acts to accelerate the toy character  12  away from the clip base launcher  14 . This causes the toy character  12  to separate from the clip base launcher  14  and move away from the clip base launcher  14  at a significant velocity. Accordingly, the toy character  12  is propelled forward into flight. 
     It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention that is shown is merely exemplary and variations can easily be made by those skilled in the art. For instance, the shape of the toy character can be changed as a matter of design choice. The toy character can also be configured as a plane, vehicle, missile, or similar traditional toy projectile shape. All such variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.