Patent Description:
This application claims priority to and the benefit of <CIT> and entitled FEEDING MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR TOY PROJECTILE LAUNCHER, and <CIT> and entitled FEEDING MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR TOY PROJECTILE LAUNCHER.

Traditional toy projectile launchers have utilized various forms of rifles, pistols, blasters, machine guns, and the like, for launching toy projectiles, such as foam balls, darts, to name a few. Such toy launchers have varied in size, power, storage capacity, to name a few. More specifically, toy launchers of foam projectiles-bullets (or "darts"), balls, and the like-have become ubiquitous. One standard for foam bullets has been marketed under the brand name Nerf® with a rubber tip and a foam body that totals approximately <NUM> in length. There have been various types of rifles, machine guns, and the like, that have been marketed for launching such foam projectiles. In most cases, the launchers for these standard Nerf® foam bullets have been large rifle-style launchers that can be inflexible and unwieldy during play. In a manner similar to conventional bullets in an automatic or semiautomatic rifle (e.g., sub-machine gun and the like), standard elongate foam darts need to be housed in an external body that can guide each dart, with the tip pointing forward, sequentially into a firing chamber. In other words, elongate foam darts cannot be jumbled up in a hopper-for example, in the manner that polyurethane (PU) foam balls or paint balls often are in their respective launchers. A storage housing for elongate darts can be in the form of a cartridge belt, a magazine clip, a drum, or a cylinder barrel. In all cases, the heavier tip of the foam dart needs to be pointing forward to satisfy flight requirements. <CIT> shows a magazine for accommodating one or more projectiles in a toy gun. The magazine comprises a housing defining a chamber adapted to accommodate the one or more projectiles in a longitudinal, inline arrangement; a first positioning member arranged at the chamber and being movable relative to the housing; wherein the first positioning member comprises one or more first engaging means adapted to engage the one or more projectiles, such that the one or more projectiles are permitted to move longitudinally along the chamber in one direction only in response to a projectile advancing or loading movement of the first positioning member.

A magazine clip is the most commonly used storage housing for standard elongate foam darts. In a manner similar to conventional magazine clip used for a standard rifle or a sub-machine gun, a foam dart magazine clip is usually inserted into the underside of a blaster body. <CIT> discloses a firearm of the gas pressure storage type with a rigid barrel to which is connected a rigidly lockable vertical breechblock. The locking and unlocking of the breechblock is by means of a longitudinally displaceable slide control body which is gas pressure-activated, moving in guide bars, and subjected to the pressure of a spring of a further slide control body. The displaceable slide control body, by means of an angle lever device (, connected to the housing of the striker mechanism, delivers the ammunition from the insert magazine beneath the barrel into a rotary device, and thence for eventual firing. Magazine clips may also be inserted sideways into the blaster body, or down into the top of the blaster. In all of these alternative configurations, the magazine clip would protrude out from the blaster. While a "sub-machine gun" foam dart launcher may be designed to be aesthetically pleasing, whether in a realistic or futuristic mode, a protruding magazine clip limits the design scope to just conventional sub-machine gun designs, or their variations.

Accordingly, there has been a need for a more portable foam or plastic toy projectile launcher that provides for more flexible play without sacrificing launch velocity and accuracy yet providing for increased projectile capacity.

To address the above, the present invention is generally related to an improved toy launcher in accordance with claim <NUM>, for launching a foam dart with a feeding mechanism from a storage cartridge to a firing position that reduces the overall size of the launcher.

In particular, the present invention is directed to a dart feeding mechanism that provides for hiding a foam dart magazine clip inside the housing body of a blaster, which then allows the blaster body to take any shape-for example, as a shotgun-which might otherwise look extremely unattractive or unrealistic with a protruding magazine clip. In embodiments, the feeding mechanism is compatible with a standard foam dart magazine clip-for example, magazine clips used for Nerf® launchers and the like. The magazine clip has a long body to hold the foam darts, wherein the length is directly related to the capacity of the magazine clip for holding a number of darts.

In embodiments, for an increased capacity of a magazine clip that, nevertheless, does not protrude significantly from a housing of a launcher, the launcher provides for inserting the magazine clip into the main body via the rear of the launcher. In embodiments, the magazine clip may also be inserted via an opening on the front of the launcher. For such magazine clip insertion configurations, the foam darts stored in the magazine clip would be aligned in a direction that is orthogonal to the launch direction of the launcher-in other words, the stored foam darts would be either pointing upwards or pointing downwards when the magazine clip is inserted into the launcher-depending upon whether the clip is inserted above or below the launch assembly.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a feeding mechanism is incorporated within the housing of the launcher that reorients a stored foam dart into a firing direction, thereby eliminating the need for the stored foam dart-e.g., in an insertable cartridge and the like-to be originally oriented in the firing direction, which then would negate the need for the foam dart storage compartment to extend in a direction that is orthogonal to the firing direction. Advantageously, an effective, user-friendly, and high-performance blaster may be realized in a more compact design without sacrificing the ability to load a larger number of projectiles. Additionally, the present invention is directed to a toy launcher with a simple construction for an improved integrated launcher with a two-step loading/priming and firing mechanism that decreases the size of the launcher while realizing high launching force for projectiles and increased dart capacity.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the toy launcher incorporates a projectile feeding mechanism that reorients a first projectile in a storage area having a first orientation to a second orientation of a firing position.

In embodiments, the projectile feeding mechanism includes a lever configured to push the first projectile from the storage area towards a priming surface or into a projectile housing.

In embodiments, the lever is coupled to a sliding handle.

In embodiments, the lever includes an extendible and retractable tip section.

In embodiments, the toy launcher includes a coupling between the sliding handle and a barrel of an air piston assembly.

In embodiments, the barrel is movable to a backward position when the sliding handle is moved to the backward position.

In embodiments, a front portion of the barrel pushes the plunger element to compress the compression spring against the rear wall of the toy launcher when the sliding handle is moved to the backward position.

In embodiments, the projectile feeding mechanism advances the first projectile into a priming position in front of the barrel when the sliding handle is moved from the backward position to the forward position.

In embodiments, the lever of the projectile feeding mechanism is pivoted upward to push the first projectile towards the priming surface or into the projectile housing when the sliding handle is moved from the backward position to the forward position.

In embodiments, the priming surface is formed by a resilient flap that pushes the first projectile towards a forward orientation when the lever pushes the first projectile upward towards the priming surface.

In embodiments, the plunger element and the barrel form an internal air chamber when the sliding handle is moved from the backward position to the forward position.

In embodiments, the barrel pushes the loaded projectile in the priming position forward into the firing position inside a launch barrel.

In embodiments, the plunger element is pushed forward by the compression spring to expel the air from the internal air chamber through an air nozzle on a front end of the barrel behind the loaded projectile in the firing position when the coupling of the latching assembly between the plunger element and the trigger assembly is released.

In embodiments, in the firing position, the air nozzle on a front end of the air piston assembly is immediately adjacent the projectile which in turn is in the launching barrel.

In embodiments, the spring-loaded air piston assembly is substantially oval in cross-section to maximize volume of the internal air chamber without increasing the thickness or length of the toy launcher.

A toy launcher according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises: a housing; a storage cartridge configured for placement into an opening of the housing, with projectiles within the storage cartridge held in a first orientation; a cocking slide movably attached to the housing between a first position and a second position; a reciprocating frame operatively connected to the cocking slide; a projectile housing pivotably attached to the toy launcher housing adjacent to the storage cartridge; and a reciprocating feed lever operatively connected to the reciprocating frame, whereby movement of the cocking slide from the first position to the second position in a first priming step and then back to the first position in a second priming step causes the feed lever to push a projectile from the storage cartridge into the projectile housing, pivots the projectile housing so that the projectile is in a second orientation, and places the projectile in the second orientation at a firing position within the toy launcher.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the operative connection between the feed lever and the reciprocating frame is configured so that the feed lever moves relative to the storage cartrdige with a reciprocating movement of the reciprocating frame.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the reciprocating feed lever comprises at least one first pin and at least one second pin disposed below the at least first pin, wherein the at least one second pin is fixed to the housing.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the reciprocating frame comprises at least one first track and at least one second track disposed below the at least first track, wherein the at least one first pin of the reciprocating feed lever is slidably engaged within the at least first track of the reciprocating frame and the at least one second pin of the reciprocating feed lever is slidably engaged within the at least one second track of the reciprocating frame.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the reciprocating feed lever comprises a retractable tip portion that is biased in an extended configuration.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, upon a condition the cocking slide is in the first position before the first priming step, the retractable tip portion is pushed into a retracted configuration by the projectile which is a front-most projectile stored in the storage cartridge.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, upon a condition the cocking slide is moved from the first position to the second position in the first priming step, the at least one first pin of the reciprocating lever is pushed backwards within the at least first track of the reciprocating frame so that the reciprocating lever is pivoted about the at least one second pin to a position below the storage cartridge, thereby releasing the retractable tip portion of the reciprocating lever into the extended configuration.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, upon the condition the cocking slide is moved from the second position to the first position in the second priming step, the at least one first pin of the reciprocating lever is pulled forward within the at least first track of the reciprocating frame so that the reciprocating lever is pivoted about the at least one second pin and the retractable tip portion in the extended configuration is pushed into engagement with the front-most projectile of the storage cartridge, thereby pushing the front-most projectile into the projectile housing.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the storage cartridge is spring-loaded.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the toy launcher further comprises a launch barrel.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first orientation of the projectiles is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the launch barrel.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second orientation of the projectiles is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the launch barrel.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the toy launcher further comprises an air piston assembly, and the air piston assembly comprises: a barrel operatively connected to the cocking slide; a plunger element slidably disposed within the barrel; an air nozzle disposed at a front portion of the barrel; a push rod extending from the front portion of the barrel; and a compression spring that biases the plunger element within the barrel away from a back wall of the housing of the toy launcher.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, upon a condition in which the cocking slide is moved from the first position to the second position in the first priming step, the barrel pushes the plunger element backwards to compress the compression spring against the back wall.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, upon a condition in which the cocking slide is moved from the second position to the first position in the second priming step, the barrel is pulled forward while the plunger element is held in position by a coupling between the plunger element and the back wall, thereby pulling air through the air nozzle and into an internal air chamber formed by the plunger element and the barrel.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, upon a condition in which the cocking slide is moved from the second position to the first position in the second priming step, the push rod pushes against the projectile housing so that the projectile is pivoted into the second orientation.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, upon a condition in which the cocking slide is moved from the second position to the first position in the second priming step, the air nozzle protrudes into the projectile housing to push the projectile into the firing position.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the toy launcher further comprises a trigger assembly.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, upon actuation of the trigger assembly after the second priming step, the coupling between the plunger element and the back wall is released so that the compression spring pushes the plunger element forward to expel the air from the internal air chamber through the air nozzle, thereby firing the projectile from the toy launcher.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the air piston assembly is substantially oval in cross-section.

A toy launcher according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises: a housing; a storage cartridge configured for placement into an opening of the housing, with projectiles within the storage cartridge held in a first orientation; a cocking slide movably attached to the housing between a first position and a second position; a reciprocating frame operatively connected to the cocking slide; and a reciprocating feed lever operatively connected to the reciprocating frame, whereby movement of the cocking slide from the first position to the second position in a first priming step and then back to the first position in a second priming step causes the lever to push a projectile from the storage cartridge and into a second orientation, and places the projectile in the second orientation at a firing position within the toy launcher.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the operative connection between the feed lever and the reciprocating frame is configured so that the feed lever moves relative to the storage cartridge with a reciprocating movement of the reciprocating frame.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, upon a condition the cocking slide is moved from the second position to the first position, the at least one first pin of the reciprocating lever is pulled forward within the at least first track of the reciprocating frame so that the reciprocating lever is pivoted about the at least one second pin and the retractable tip portion in the extended configuration is pushed into engagement with the front-most projectile of the storage cartridge, thereby pushing the front-most projectile from the storage cartridge and into the second orientation.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the toy launcher further comprises a spring-loaded flap that pushes a tip portion of the front-most projectile downwards to pivot the front-most projectile into the second orientation while the reciprocating lever pushes the front-most projectile from the storage cartridge.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the toy launcher further comprises an air piston assembly, and the air piston assembly comprises: a barrel operatively connected to the cocking slide by the reciprocating frame; a plunger element slidably disposed within the barrel; an air nozzle disposed at the front of the barrel; and a compression spring that biases the plunger element within the barrel away from a back wall of the housing of the toy launcher.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, upon a condition in which the cocking slide is moved from the second position to the first position in the second priming step, the air nozzle pushes the projectile into the firing position.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with references to the accompanying figures, wherein:.

The present invention is generally related to an improved toy launcher with a feeding mechanism that reorients projectiles from a storage direction in a projectile storage area into a launching direction when primed for launch. To achieve this objective, according to an exemplary embodiment, a toy launcher incorporates a spring-loaded lever that is coupled to a projectile priming mechanism for concurrently priming the launcher and reorienting a projectile for launch. According to another exemplary embodiment, the projectile is pushed from the projectile storage area into an individual projectile housing, and then the projectile housing is pivoted into alignment with a firing position. The projectile housing achieves the objective of protecting the projectile from wear and fatigue during the launcher priming steps in which the projectile is reoriented into the firing position.

<FIG> are schematic partial cross-sectional views of key elements of a toy projectile launcher <NUM> and an empty storage cartridge <NUM> configured for insertion into launcher <NUM>, respectively, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For clarity and simplicity in illustrating the key elements and mechanisms of toy projectile launcher <NUM> and storage cartridge <NUM>, portions that are not necessary to understand the scope and the spirit of the present disclosure are not shown. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand the supporting elements needed to house and support the various illustrated elements, including those that facilitate the insertion and removal of cartridge <NUM> into and out of launcher <NUM>, with various design choices that would not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a projectile launcher <NUM> in un-cocked position with an empty storage cartridge <NUM> inserted therein according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, projectile launcher <NUM> is shaped to resemble a short-barreled shotgun, with a handle <NUM> that is shaped to resemble a pistol grip in place of a full-length stock. In embodiments, launcher <NUM> may be in various other shapes and arrangements without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosure, as detailed below. As illustrated in <FIG>, a reciprocating air piston assembly <NUM> comprised of a barrel <NUM> and a plunger element <NUM> is located above the handle <NUM> and inserted cartridge <NUM> of the projectile launcher <NUM>. According to an exemplary embodiment, the barrel <NUM> of air piston assembly <NUM> has a generally rounded cylindrical or an oval shape and plunger element <NUM> is biased away from back wall <NUM> of the rear part of launcher housing <NUM> by a compression spring <NUM>. The plunger element <NUM> incorporates a size and a shape that correspond with an internal circumference of barrel <NUM> so as to form an airtight seal with an internal surface of barrel <NUM>. According to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, plunger element <NUM> incorporates a resilient O-ring <NUM> (<FIG>) to form an improved seal. As shown in <FIG>, barrel <NUM> is coupled to a cocking slide <NUM> via a reciprocating frame <NUM> that is fittingly coupled to, along with cocking slide <NUM>, a track <NUM> incorporated in the housing <NUM> of launcher <NUM>. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, reciprocating frame <NUM> incorporates a pin <NUM> that slides along track <NUM> when cocking slide <NUM> is cocked back and forth similar to a pump action shotgun, which, in turn, primes air piston assembly <NUM> while feeding a foam dart for launch, as will be described in further detail below. In embodiments, cocking slide <NUM> may be coupled to reciprocating frame <NUM> via pin <NUM> as well.

As shown in <FIG>, cartridge <NUM> includes a loading compression spring <NUM> and a pusher block <NUM>. When cartridge <NUM> is empty, as illustrated in <FIG>, compression spring <NUM> is in an expanded state where a pusher block <NUM> is pushed upward (leftward in <FIG>), which is disposed proximate to a dart-feeding lever <NUM> when cartridge <NUM> is inserted into launcher <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. As described in further detail below, projectiles-such as foam darts/bullets and the like-would be advanced by spring <NUM> via block <NUM> such that a topmost projectile would be delivered to a position for feeding, by lever <NUM>, into a firing position.

As further illustrated in <FIG>, block <NUM> is positioned proximate a top opening of cartridge <NUM> when cartridge <NUM> is empty. Additionally, cartridge <NUM> includes a frame <NUM>, which includes two generally rounded stops for fitting around the outer surface on the two sides of a topmost dart stored in cartridge <NUM>.

<FIG>, and <FIG> are perspective, bottom, and top views of the cartridge <NUM>, respectively, when it is oriented in the position shown in <FIG>, showing frame <NUM> on cartridge <NUM> holding a foam dart <NUM>. As shown therein, frame <NUM> includes two generally rounded stops 835a and 835b that are dimensioned to hold dart <NUM> in place at a front portion thereof as pusher block <NUM> and compression spring <NUM> push dart <NUM> forward. As further shown in <FIG>, stops 835a and 835b abut respective sides of dart <NUM> slightly above the diameter of dart <NUM> such that the force from compression spring <NUM> would press dart <NUM> against stops 835a and 835b, thus holding and aligning dart <NUM> for priming as will be described in further detail below. <FIG> includes dimensions related to stops 835a and 835b for fitting a foam dart <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the dimensions shown in <FIG> are merely exemplary, and other dimensions may be appropriate that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Stops 835a and 835b may be made from a resilient material, such as a semi-rigid polymer, so that the stops 835a and 835b are sufficiently rigid to hold dart <NUM> against the force of compression spring <NUM> via block <NUM> while flexible enough to allow a user to push dart <NUM> into the position shown in <FIG> over the top of the gap between stops 835a and 835b of frame <NUM> illustrated therein. Accordingly, darts can be loaded vertically into cartridge <NUM> by pushing them down against block <NUM> through the top opening of cartridge <NUM> and by either sliding a next dart in between the two rounded stops 835a and 835b of frame <NUM> from the front side or back side of cartridge <NUM> or by pushing the next dart down between the two rounded stops 835a and 835b of frame <NUM> from the top side of cartridge <NUM> (thereby flexing the two stops 835a and 835b of frame <NUM> around the two sides of the loaded dart <NUM>). Again, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the two rounded stops 835a and 835b of frame <NUM> are made of a semi-rigid material and dimensioned to fit a loaded projectile so that a forward-most loaded projectile-for example dart <NUM>-<NUM> while cartridge <NUM> is inserted into launcher <NUM> as shown in <FIG>-would be held in place without slipping out either from the front side or back side of cartridge <NUM>-in other words, the top side or the bottom side of cartridge <NUM> in the configuration shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are side and back views of cartridge <NUM> showing the dimensions of respective components of cartridge <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Cartridges having different dimensions accommodated by a launcher <NUM> having correspondingly different dimensions may also be used without departing from the scope and the spirit of the present invention.

Referring back to <FIG>, reciprocating frame <NUM> incorporates two tracks 140a and 140b that are substantially parallel to track <NUM>. Corresponding pins 145a and 145b of reciprocating feed lever <NUM> are slidably engaged, respectively, to tracks 140a and 140b so that reciprocating frame <NUM> can slide along tracks 140a and 140b against lever <NUM> when reciprocating frame <NUM> is moved back and forth by a user moving cocking slide <NUM> back and forth. According to an exemplary embodiment, pin 145b of the feed lever <NUM> is anchored to housing <NUM> of launcher <NUM> to allow feed lever <NUM> to pivot up and down, as will be described in further detail below. Additionally, lever <NUM> is disposed between two side portions of reciprocating frame <NUM>. Thus, the front portion of reciprocating frame <NUM> may be embodied by a U-shaped element, or the like, that incorporates respective tracks 140a and 140b on the left and right sides for couplings to the two sides of feed lever <NUM> via respective pins 145a and 145b. Correspondingly, track <NUM>, along which reciprocating frame <NUM> slides against housing <NUM> of launcher <NUM>, may be incorporated on the outside of the two side elements of reciprocating frame <NUM> or on a center block element disposed below the position of feed lever <NUM> shown in <FIG>. As will be described in further detail below, the reciprocating frame <NUM> allows a user to pull back cocking slide <NUM> in order to move barrel <NUM> and plunger element <NUM> backwards in a first, pull-back, priming step.

Although the manner by which the reciprocating frame <NUM> moves relative to the housing and the manner by which the feed lever <NUM> moves relative to the frame <NUM> are described with reference to pins and tracks, it is to be understood that exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these constructions, and any other manner in which the reciprocating frame can be mounted to reciprocate relative to the housing while restrained between a first and second position and any other manner by which the feed lever <NUM> can be mounted to pivot relative to the housing shall be deemed to be within the scope of this invention. Further, it should be appreciated that the feed lever <NUM> may be replaced with any other type of mechanism that does not necessary pivot (for example, the movement may be vertically up and down relative to the housing upon reciprocating movement of the frame <NUM>) to eject a projectile from the cartridge.

<FIG> is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the fully loaded storage area in the cartridge <NUM>, which is inserted into projectile launcher <NUM> through a rear cartridge receptacle opening <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fully-loaded cartridge <NUM> houses fifteen (<NUM>) darts <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>. <NUM>-<NUM>). As shown in <FIG>, the loaded darts <NUM> are oriented vertically, upward when cartridge <NUM> is loaded in launcher <NUM>. Thus, the loaded darts <NUM> are oriented in a direction that is orthogonal to a launch direction of launcher <NUM>. As will be described in further detail below, launcher <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides for re-orienting the frontmost loaded dart <NUM>-<NUM> from the upward loaded orientation to a forward launch orientation in the firing barrel of launcher <NUM>. It is noted that the length of cartridge <NUM> and the corresponding length of housing <NUM> for accommodating cartridge <NUM> may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, thus providing for housing more or fewer darts <NUM> in cartridge <NUM>. Different lengths and capacities for any number of darts <NUM>-n up to a reasonable length can be used so long as not to render launcher <NUM> overly cumbersome. As illustrated in <FIG>, the frontmost dart <NUM>-<NUM> in loaded cartridge <NUM>, which is held between round extensions of frame <NUM> shown in <FIG>, is pushed against a tip portion <NUM> of feed lever <NUM>. Tip portion <NUM> is coupled to the remainder of lever <NUM> via an internal compression spring <NUM> and is, therefore, compressible and extendible. As shown in <FIG>, dart <NUM>-<NUM> pushes against tip portion <NUM> and compresses spring <NUM> such that lever <NUM> is compressed against dart <NUM>-<NUM>.

Next, <FIG> is a schematic partial cross-sectional side view of the projectile launcher of <FIG> being placed in a rearward loading and priming (cocked) position. As illustrated in <FIG>, cocking slide <NUM> is pulled backwards by a user (see arrow), which causes reciprocating frame <NUM> to slide backwards on track <NUM>. Correspondingly, piston assembly <NUM>, which is coupled to frame <NUM> is moved backwards, causing spring <NUM> to be compressed between plunger element <NUM> and back wall <NUM>. Advantageously, plunger element <NUM> starts at a position near a front portion of barrel <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, and, therefore, compression spring <NUM> may be fully compressed in the position illustrated in <FIG>. Back wall <NUM> includes an aperture that allows a dome-shaped tip portion <NUM> of plunger element <NUM> to extend through and past another aperture that is incorporated in a spring-loaded plate <NUM> that is, in turn, coupled to a trigger assembly <NUM> (see <FIG>). As illustrated in <FIG>, plate <NUM> is coupled to a compression spring <NUM> that biases plate <NUM> downward towards a trigger assembly <NUM>. According to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the leading edge of dome-shaped tip portion <NUM> is rounded and when it is pushed backward, the rounded leading sloped edge pushes upward on a top edge of the aperture in plate <NUM>, compressing spring <NUM>, so that tip portion <NUM> can be pushed through the aperture from the front of plate <NUM> to clear an opposing back side of plate <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. Once tip portion <NUM> is pushed sufficiently past plate <NUM> through the aperture therein, spring <NUM> moves plate <NUM> downward into engagement with a notch or recess <NUM> opposite the rounded face of tip portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) so that tip portion <NUM>-and, correspondingly, plunger element <NUM>-is engaged with, and temporarily retained in place by plate <NUM>. Notch <NUM> hooks to the opposing back side of plate <NUM> above the aperture therein once plate <NUM> is pushed downwardly by compression spring <NUM> into notch <NUM> and, accordingly, a top edge of the aperture is pushed into a bottom surface of notch <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>)-thus, plate <NUM>, compression spring <NUM>, and notch <NUM> together form a latching assembly for holding plunger element <NUM> in the backward position. With plunger element <NUM> being pulled back by reciprocating frame <NUM>, spring <NUM> is compressed against the back wall <NUM> of main launcher housing <NUM> in the position at which plate <NUM> and notch <NUM> are hooked and engaged with each other.

As further shown in <FIG>, as reciprocating frame <NUM> is slid backward along track <NUM> via pin <NUM>, tracks 140a and 140b are slid past pins 145a and 145b of lever <NUM>. Additionally, track 140b is longer than track 140a such that the front end of track 140b reaches further forward than track 140a. Thus, upon reaching the engagement portion between notch <NUM> and plate <NUM> described above, a front end of track 140a pushes against pin 145a while track 140b continues to slide past pin 145b. Consequently, lever <NUM> pivots around pin 145b and tip <NUM> is tilted downward along the outer surface of the topmost dart <NUM>-<NUM> until it clears the bottom of dart <NUM>-<NUM>. Once tip <NUM> clears dart <NUM>-<NUM>, internal spring <NUM> decompresses and extends tip <NUM> and lengthens lever <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, tip <NUM> extends to a sufficient length such that a top surface thereof can abut a back surface of dart <NUM>-<NUM> to push up against <NUM>-<NUM>. As further illustrated in <FIG>, track <NUM> serves as a structural stop to limit the backward motion of cocking slide <NUM> to the above full extension position-i.e., the engagement position between notch <NUM> and plate <NUM>, and the extension position of lever <NUM> below dart <NUM>-<NUM>.

With the notch/recess <NUM> of rod portion <NUM> engaged with plate <NUM> via the downward bias of spring <NUM>, the user can push cocking slide <NUM> forward in a second priming step-again, in a similar fashion to a pump action shotgun-see forward arrow adjacent cocking slide <NUM> in <FIG>. Consequently, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, reciprocating frame <NUM> slides forward along track <NUM> during the forward motion of cocking slide <NUM>. Thus, barrel <NUM> is compelled to slide forward towards the front of launcher <NUM> while rod portion <NUM> and plunger element <NUM> are held in place by plate <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, compression spring <NUM> remains fully compressed by the return of cocking slide <NUM> to its original forward position.

<FIG> illustrates a first interim position on the forward priming motion of cocking slide <NUM>, where lever <NUM> begins tilting back upward to push dart <NUM>-<NUM> upward towards a spring-loaded flap <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a camming notch 143a on track 140a pushes against pin 145a in a forward direction as reciprocating frame <NUM> is slid forward along track <NUM> along with cocking slide <NUM>. Consequently, lever <NUM> is tilted upward and tip <NUM> thereof, now extended past and engaging the bottom of dart <NUM>-<NUM>, pushes dart <NUM>-<NUM> upward through frame <NUM>. As described before, frame <NUM> may include two rounded semi-resilient extensions that hold dart <NUM>-<NUM> in place. Thus, with sufficient force applied by camming notch 143a against pin 145a, dart <NUM>-<NUM> is slid upward between the rounded extensions of frame <NUM> until the front tip of dart <NUM>-<NUM> abuts flap <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. Flap <NUM> is biased downward towards the position shown in <FIG> and <FIG> by a torsion spring <NUM> that is positioned towards the rear end of launcher <NUM> in relation to dart <NUM>-<NUM>. Thus, flap <NUM> rotates upward and backward as the tip of dart <NUM>-<NUM> is pushed upward against it. Consequently, flap <NUM> exerts a generally downward and forward force on the front tip of dart <NUM>-<NUM>-thus, re-orienting dart <NUM>-<NUM> from pointing upward to pointing forward adjacent the launch barrel <NUM> of launcher <NUM>. Additionally, with plunger element <NUM> temporarily coupled to back plate <NUM>, plunger element <NUM> begins to form an air chamber <NUM> within barrel <NUM> whereby air is drawn in through a front nozzle <NUM> of barrel <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, nozzle <NUM> may be of a substantially smaller diameter than that of the air chamber <NUM> so that a forward push by plunger <NUM> would expel the air through nozzle <NUM> at a higher pressure.

<FIG> illustrates a second interim position that is a continuation from <FIG> of the projectile launcher <NUM> being placed in a forward firing position from the backward cocked position of <FIG> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, when dart <NUM>-<NUM> is pushed sufficiently upward by lever <NUM> into the upper portion of housing <NUM>, a next dart <NUM>-<NUM> is pushed forward to the position in frame <NUM> by compression spring <NUM> and block <NUM> via the other loaded darts <NUM>. As a result, internal compression spring <NUM> and tip <NUM> of lever <NUM> is returned to their shortened configuration, as shown in <FIG>, against the outer surface of dart <NUM>-<NUM>. Separately, flap <NUM> continues to exert a generally downward and forward force on the front tip of dart <NUM>-<NUM>-thus, continuing to re-orient dart <NUM>-<NUM> from pointing upward to pointing forward within launcher <NUM>. Additionally, with plunger element <NUM> still temporarily coupled to back plate <NUM>, plunger element <NUM> continues to form an air chamber <NUM> within barrel <NUM> whereby air is drawn in through a front nozzle <NUM> of barrel <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

Next, <FIG> illustrates a third interim position that is a continuation from <FIG> of the projectile launcher <NUM> being placed in a forward firing position from the backward cocked position of <FIG> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the front tip of dart <NUM>-<NUM> is pushed sufficiently forward and downward by flap <NUM> so that it is generally oriented forward towards launch barrel <NUM> in front of nozzle <NUM> of barrel <NUM>. Additionally, with cocking slide <NUM> continuing to be moved forward (see arrow) and plunger element <NUM> still temporarily coupled to back plate <NUM>, air chamber <NUM> continues to be expanded within barrel <NUM> whereby air is drawn in through a front nozzle <NUM> of barrel <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the rear portion of launch barrel <NUM> includes a tapered opening <NUM> for receiving dart <NUM>-<NUM>, which is generally oriented forward, and for guiding it into launch barrel <NUM>. Operatively, as barrel <NUM> and nozzle <NUM> are moved forward via cocking slide <NUM>, nozzle <NUM> pushes on the rear end of dart <NUM>-<NUM> to move it forward towards launch barrel <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, front tip of dart <NUM>-<NUM> enters the tapered opening <NUM> and slides along the slanted walls of tapered opening <NUM> for inserting dart <NUM>-<NUM> into launch barrel <NUM>.

Consequently, as illustrated in <FIG>, dart <NUM>-<NUM> is aligned and inserted into launch barrel <NUM> with a front portion of nozzle <NUM> inserted into tapered portion <NUM> to form an airtight connection between air chamber <NUM> and the rear end of dart <NUM>-<NUM>.

Thus, <FIG> illustrate cocking slide <NUM> being moved forward in the direction shown by the forward arrows therein, resulting in the topmost dart <NUM>-<NUM> being primed into the position in front of barrel <NUM> within launch barrel <NUM> in a firing position, as shown in <FIG>. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, launch barrel <NUM> has an internal diameter that provides minimal clearance for darts <NUM> to allow for substantially airtight propulsion from launch barrel <NUM> upon release of the pressurized air from air cylinder assembly <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the rear tapered portion <NUM> of launch barrel <NUM> is of a slightly larger internal diameter for fittingly receiving front nozzle <NUM> of barrel <NUM>, thereby, again, providing for a substantially airtight connection from air chamber <NUM> to the rear surface of dart <NUM>-<NUM> in the launch position within launch barrel <NUM>. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, nozzle <NUM> incorporates an O-ring <NUM> made from a resilient material, such as a polymer, around its outer circumference to form a seal around the internal circumference of the rear portion of launch barrel <NUM> to further improve the airtight connection.

With dart <NUM>-<NUM> in position shown in <FIG>, launcher <NUM> is ready for a trigger pull and launch action. As illustrated in <FIG>, an interface between the rear portion of trigger assembly <NUM> and locking plate <NUM> includes an inclined camming surface <NUM> so that, when trigger assembly <NUM> is pulled backward by the user, locking plate <NUM> is caused to move upward by sliding up along inclined camming surface <NUM> against spring <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, trigger assembly <NUM> is biased forward in a default position by a spring <NUM> such that plate <NUM> is disengaged from the inclined surface <NUM> when trigger <NUM> is in the forward, default, non-firing position.

As a user pulls trigger assembly <NUM> backward and, as trigger assembly <NUM> is slid backwards, camming surface <NUM> is pushed backwards and, accordingly, slides plate <NUM> upward. Consequently, as plate <NUM> is pushed upward by inclined surface <NUM> of trigger assembly <NUM>, the engagement between plate <NUM> and notch/recess <NUM> of tip portion <NUM> is released as the aperture of plate <NUM> is moved upward to a position that clears notch/recess <NUM>. Thus, spring <NUM> is released from its fully compressed state thereby driving plunger element <NUM> forcefully forward to thereby expel the collected air from air chamber <NUM> through nozzle <NUM> to launch dart <NUM>-<NUM> through launch barrel <NUM>. Correspondingly, trigger assembly <NUM> is returned to the forward default position by spring <NUM> and plate <NUM> is returned to its lowered position by compression spring <NUM>. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, cocking slide <NUM> may be pulled backward again to the position shown in <FIG> to prime a next dart <NUM>-e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>-from the storage cartridge <NUM> into the firing position shown in <FIG>.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, barrel <NUM> may embody a larger internal volume for air chamber <NUM>-thus increasing the launch force of launcher <NUM> on dart <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, barrel <NUM> has an increased height when compared, for example, to launch barrel <NUM>. According to an exemplary embodiment, internal air cylinder assembly <NUM> incorporates an elongated cross section in its height dimension-such as an oval shape. Accordingly, internal air cylinder assembly <NUM> may maintain a similar width to, say, launch barrel <NUM> while increasing its height-for example, a <NUM>:<NUM> height-to-width ratio (<NUM> : <NUM>).

Although the exemplary embodiment is described in the context of a foam bullet/dart launcher that utilizes shortened foam bullets/darts, it is to be understood that the two-step priming/loading and firing action according to the present disclosure could be applied to a toy projectile launcher of other types of projectiles (e.g. a ball or the like) or a fluid launcher whereby the fluid from a reservoir in place of the cartridge is driven by a plunger. In such environment the two-step priming/pumping action and the lever reorientation assembly of the present disclosure enables pump action launcher that provides for projectile or fluid connection reorientation, which would, in turn, contribute to miniaturization of the launcher.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, rather than feeding the dart straight from a storage cartridge and then reoriented into a firing position using a spring-loaded flap (or some other mechanism) that directly contacts the dart, as described previously, the dart may first be loaded from the cartridge into a protective housing such as an open cylinder and then the housing may be reoriented so that the dart is aligned with the firing position. The housing achieves the objectives of preventing wear to the dart tip, which might otherwise occur from the dart tip directly contacting the internal walls of the launcher during reorientation into the firing position, and minimizing fatigue of the dart body, which might otherwise result from repetitive manipulation of the dart, causing jams and other malfunctions.

<FIG> is a schematic partial cross-sectional side view of a toy projectile launcher <NUM> with an inserted fully loaded cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. This exemplary embodiment is similar to the prior-described embodiments and includes identical components, except that a cylinder is provided to accept a toy dart from a storage cartridge and therefore protect the dart during reorientation into the firing position, thereby addressing concerns with dart-tip wear and jams caused by fatigued dart bodies.

Launcher <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> including a track <NUM>, launch barrel <NUM>, a reciprocating frame <NUM> including tracks 1140a and 1140b and a pin <NUM> slidably engaged with the track <NUM>, a feed lever <NUM> including tip portion <NUM> and pins 1145a and 1145b that are slidably engaged with the tracks 1140a and 1140b, respectively, of the frame <NUM>, and cocking slide <NUM>. The launcher further includes storage cartridge <NUM>, trigger assembly <NUM>, handle <NUM>, nozzle <NUM>, internal air cylinder assembly <NUM>, back wall <NUM>, and plate <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, internal air cylinder assembly <NUM> includes resilient O-ring <NUM>, plunger element <NUM>, barrel <NUM>, notch hooks <NUM>, tip portion <NUM>, and spring <NUM>. The above components are housed within main launcher housing <NUM>. Storage cartridge <NUM> stores foam darts <NUM>. Each of these components is substantially similar in structure and performs a substantially similar function as corresponding components depicted in <FIG> and <FIG> for launcher <NUM>.

Although the manner by which the reciprocating frame <NUM> moves relative to the housing and the manner by which the feed lever <NUM> moves relative to the frame <NUM> are described with reference to pins and tracks, it is to be understood that exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these constructions, and any other manner in which the reciprocating frame <NUM> can be mounted to reciprocate relative to the housing while restrained between a first and second position and any other manner by which the feed lever <NUM> can be mounted to pivot relative to the housing shall be deemed to be within the scope of this invention. Further, it should be appreciated that the feed lever <NUM> may be replaced with any other type of mechanism that does not necessary pivot (for example, the movement may be vertically up and down relative to the housing upon reciprocating movement of the frame <NUM>) to eject a projectile from the cartridge.

As shown in <FIG>, internal air cylinder assembly <NUM> includes barrel <NUM> and a plunger element <NUM> located above handle <NUM> and storage cartridge <NUM> of projectile launcher <NUM>. According to an exemplary embodiment, the barrel <NUM> of internal air cylinder assembly <NUM> has a generally rounded cylindrical or an oval cross section and plunger element <NUM> is held against but biased away from a back wall <NUM> at the rear part of launcher housing <NUM> by compression spring <NUM>. According to embodiments, when barrel <NUM> of air cylinder assembly <NUM> has an oval cross section, an internal air chamber <NUM> (depicted and described below) of air cylinder assembly <NUM> is formed and has increased capacity without needing to increase the thickness of launcher <NUM>. The plunger element <NUM> incorporates a size and a shape that correspond with an internal circumference of barrel <NUM> so as to form an airtight seal with an internal surface of barrel <NUM>. Plunger element <NUM> also incorporates a resilient O-ring <NUM> to form an improved seal. As shown in <FIG>, barrel <NUM> is coupled to cocking slide <NUM> via the reciprocating frame <NUM> that is fittingly coupled to, along with cocking slide <NUM>, the track <NUM> incorporated in the housing <NUM> of launcher <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the pin <NUM> of the reciprocating frame <NUM> slides along track <NUM> when cocking slide <NUM> is cocked back and forth similar to a pump action shotgun, which, in turn, primes internal air cylinder assembly <NUM> while feeding a foam dart <NUM> into cylinder <NUM> for launching, as will be described in further detail below. In embodiments, cocking slide <NUM> may be coupled to reciprocating frame <NUM> via pin <NUM> as well.

As shown in <FIG>, nozzle <NUM> incorporates an O-ring <NUM> around its outer circumference. In embodiments, O-ring <NUM> is made from a resilient material, such as a polymer, similar to O-ring <NUM> depicted in and described in connection with <FIG>. Similar to O-ring <NUM>, O-ring <NUM> forms a seal around the internal circumference of the rear portion of launch barrel <NUM>.

In addition to the above components, the exemplary embodiment depicted in <FIG> replaces spring-loaded flap <NUM> from launcher <NUM> with a cylinder <NUM>. Cylinder <NUM> is shaped and sized to accept a foam dart to be loaded therein. As shown in <FIG>, although cylinder <NUM> is biased into the vertical position by a torsion spring <NUM>, as discussed below, cylinder <NUM> is held in the horizontal position by engagement with air nozzle <NUM>. In <FIG>, toy projectile launcher <NUM> is in a resting position. That is, toy projectile launcher <NUM> is in an un-cocked position, whereby foam darts <NUM> (including the depicted darts <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>) are in storage cartridge <NUM>. In <FIG>, none of the foam darts <NUM> have yet been loaded into cylinder <NUM>. Furthermore, cocking slide <NUM> is in its resting forward position. In addition, nozzle <NUM>, as shown, passes though cylinder <NUM>, retaining cylinder <NUM> in the horizontal orientation.

<FIG> is a schematic partial cross-sectional side view of projectile launcher <NUM> of <FIG> being placed in a rearward loading and priming (cocked) position, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, cocking slide <NUM> has been pulled back from its resting forward position to a position toward the rear of toy projectile launcher <NUM>, comprising a first priming step. When cocking slide <NUM> is pulled back, reciprocating frame <NUM> is operated and slides backwards on track <NUM>, which, in turn, moves internal air cylinder assembly <NUM> (see <FIG>) backwards. This causes spring <NUM> to be compressed between plunger element <NUM> and back wall <NUM>. According to embodiments, plunger element <NUM> starts at a position near a front portion of barrel <NUM>, causing spring <NUM> to become fully compressed.

Back wall <NUM> includes an aperture that allows dome-shaped tip portion <NUM> to extend through and past another aperture that is incorporated in spring-loaded plate <NUM>. According to an exemplary embodiment, the leading edge of dome-shaped tip portion <NUM> is rounded and when it is pushed backward, it is pushed through the aperture from the front of plate <NUM> to clear an opposing back side of plate <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. Once tip portion <NUM> is pushed sufficiently past plate <NUM> through the aperture therein, plate <NUM> engages with notch <NUM> opposite the rounded face of tip portion <NUM> so that tip portion <NUM>-and, correspondingly, plunger element <NUM>-is engaged with, and temporarily retained in place by plate <NUM>. Notch <NUM> hooks to the opposing back side of plate <NUM> above the aperture therein and, accordingly, a top edge of the aperture is pushed into a bottom surface of notch <NUM>-thus, plate <NUM> and notch <NUM> form a latching assembly for holding plunger element <NUM> in the backward position. With plunger element <NUM> being pulled back by reciprocating frame <NUM>, spring <NUM> is compressed against the back wall <NUM> of housing <NUM> in the position at which plate <NUM> and notch <NUM> are hooked and engaged with each other.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, air nozzle <NUM>, which is attached to internal air cylinder assembly <NUM>, also moves backward and out of cylinder <NUM>. As also shown in <FIG>, when nozzle <NUM> exits cylinder <NUM>, spring <NUM> restores cylinder <NUM> to an upright, vertical position.

Also, similar to the operation described in relation to the prior exemplary embodiment, movement of the cocking slide <NUM> also results in pivoting of the feed lever <NUM> downwards below the storage cartridge <NUM>, with extension of the tip portion <NUM> below a dart to be loaded from the cartridge <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic partial cross-sectional side view of projectile launcher <NUM> of <FIG> at an initial stage of being placed in a forward firing position according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, cocking slide <NUM> is pushed forward in a second priming step, which causes reciprocating frame <NUM> to slide barrel <NUM> forward towards the front of launcher <NUM> while tip portion <NUM> and plunger element <NUM> are held in place by plate <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, compression spring <NUM> remains fully compressed by engagement of the leading edge of dome-shaped tip portion <NUM> in an aperture in plate <NUM> prior to the return of cocking slide <NUM> to its original forward position. At the same time, tip portion <NUM> of dart-feeding lever <NUM> lifts the frontmost dart in cartridge <NUM> upward and loads the dart into the vertically oriented cylinder <NUM>. This is shown in <FIG>, where dart <NUM>-<NUM> has been lifted by tip portion <NUM> and is loaded into cylinder <NUM> from cartridge <NUM>. In this exemplary embodiment, push rod <NUM> is attached to the front of barrel above nozzle <NUM>. As shown, push rod <NUM> is longer than nozzle <NUM>, and, as a result, reaches and engages cylinder <NUM> before nozzle <NUM>. Additionally, with plunger element <NUM> temporarily coupled to back plate <NUM>, plunger element <NUM> begins to form an air chamber <NUM> within barrel <NUM> whereby air is drawn in through a front of nozzle <NUM> of barrel <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, nozzle <NUM> may be of a substantially smaller diameter than that of the air chamber <NUM> so that a forward push by plunger <NUM> would expel the air through nozzle <NUM> at a higher pressure.

<FIG> is a schematic partial cross-sectional side view of a continuation from <FIG> of projectile launcher <NUM> of <FIG> being placed in a forward firing position according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, cocking slide <NUM> is moved forward to complete the second priming step. As the second priming step is completed, push rod <NUM> is also moved forward. As push rod <NUM> is moved forward, it causes cylinder <NUM> to rotate against the bias of spring <NUM> until cylinder <NUM> reaches a horizontal orientation, as shown in <FIG>. As the cocking handle <NUM> completes its travel, nozzle <NUM> enters cylinder <NUM>. O-ring <NUM>, which is at the distal end of nozzle <NUM> that enters cylinder <NUM>, comes into contact with dart <NUM>-<NUM>, which, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, has been loaded into cylinder <NUM>. Nozzle <NUM> exerts a horizontal force on dart <NUM>-<NUM> and, as shown in <FIG>, places the dart at the rear of launch barrel <NUM>. Further, O-ring <NUM> of nozzle <NUM> engages the rear portion of launch barrel <NUM> so as to form an airtight seal between nozzle <NUM> and launch barrel <NUM>. Additionally, with plunger element <NUM> still temporarily coupled to back plate <NUM>, plunger element <NUM> continues to form an air chamber <NUM> within barrel <NUM> whereby air is drawn in through nozzle <NUM> into barrel <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

Further, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, launch barrel <NUM> has an internal diameter that provides minimal clearance for darts <NUM> to allow for substantially airtight propulsion from launch barrel <NUM> upon release of the pressurized air from air cylinder assembly <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the rear portion of launch barrel <NUM> is tapered and has a slightly larger internal diameter for fittingly receiving the distal end of nozzle <NUM> of barrel <NUM>. This provides for a substantially airtight connection from air chamber <NUM> through cylinder <NUM> to the rear surface of dart <NUM>-<NUM> in the launch position within launch barrel <NUM>. As noted earlier, O-ring <NUM>, which is incorporated in nozzle <NUM>, is made from a resilient material, such as a polymer, around its outer circumference to form a seal around the internal circumference of the rear portion of launch barrel <NUM> to further improve the airtight connection.

Further, as shown in the exemplary embodiment in <FIG>, launcher <NUM> may include a cylinder guide <NUM> that guides the movement of cylinder <NUM> as the cylinder rotates from a vertical to a horizontal position, using spring <NUM> as an axis of rotation. As shown in <FIG>, the cylinder guide <NUM> may be a sloping roof that guides the forward end of the cylinder <NUM> as it moves between the horizontal and vertical positions.

Claim 1:
A toy launcher (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a storage cartridge (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured for placement into an opening (<NUM>) of the housing, with projectiles (<NUM>, <NUM>) within the storage cartridge (<NUM>, <NUM>) held in a first orientation in which a longitudinal axis of each projectile (<NUM>, <NUM>) is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a cocking slide (<NUM>, <NUM>) movably attached to the housing (<NUM>, <NUM>) between a first position and a second position;
a reciprocating frame (<NUM>, <NUM>) operatively connected to the cocking slide (<NUM>,<NUM>);
a projectile housing pivotably attached to the toy launcher housing (<NUM>, <NUM>) adjacent to the storage cartridge (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a feed lever (<NUM>, <NUM>) operatively connected to the reciprocating frame (<NUM>, <NUM>), whereby movement of the cocking slide (<NUM>,<NUM>) from the first position to the second position in a first priming step and then back to the first position in a second priming step causes the feed lever (<NUM>, <NUM>) to move to a position below a projectile (<NUM>, <NUM>) to be loaded from the storage cartridge (<NUM>, <NUM>) and then push the projectile (<NUM>, <NUM>) from the storage cartridge (<NUM>, <NUM>) into the projectile housing, pivots the projectile housing so that the projectile (<NUM>, <NUM>) is in a second orientation in which the longitudinal axis of the projectile (<NUM>, <NUM>) is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing (<NUM>, <NUM>), and places the projectile (<NUM>, <NUM>) in the second orientation at a firing position within the toy launcher (<NUM>, <NUM>).