Patent ID: 6955166

Claim:
A target launcher, comprising: a hollow, tubular base having a first end and a second closed end; a pair of opposing slots cut through the tubular base, intermediate the first and second ends, for accommodating a sliding lifting pin; a compression spring within the tubular base, between the second closed end and the lifting pin, for biasing the lifting pin toward the first end; a throwing lever pivotally attached to the base near its first end, the throwing lever having a first end and a second end, and at least one target holding cup mounted to the throwing lever near its second end; a pair of lifting arms hingedly attached to opposite sides of the throwing lever, and extending to opposite ends of the lifting pin, such that movement of the lifting pin toward the first end of the base pivots the throwing lever away from the base; a locking tab affixed to the throwing lever near its second end; a release lever pivotally attached to the base near its second end, the release lever having a first end and a second end; a notch cut into the release lever near its first end, the notch for engagement with the locking tab in a first pivotal position of the release lever, to hold the throwing lever in a cocked position; an impact target cup mounted to the release lever near its second end; whereby, impact of an object into the impact target cup will pivot the release lever to a second pivotal position, releasing the notch from the locking tab, and allowing the throwing lever to pivot away from the base, and launching at least one target received in the target holding cup.