Patent ID: 7950976

Claim:
A toy for rotating and launching an object, comprising: a housing; a launcher extending from the housing, the launcher configured to impart a rotary motion to an object, wherein the launcher comprises a driving element configured to engage a receiving element attached with an object to form a drive connection and rotate the object; a launcher rotating system mounted inside the housing and connected with the launcher, the launcher rotating system configured to impart a rotary motion to the launcher; wherein the launcher rotating system comprises a series of interconnected gears and axles, the gears and axles capable of rotating the launcher and engaging with a gear rack, the gear rack movably mountable within the housing, with the gear rack capable of moving to rotate the gears and thereby rotate the launcher rotating system; and wherein the launcher rotating system further comprises a clutch mechanism such that continued oscillatory motion of the gear rack causes the launcher rotating system to increase the rotary motion imparted to the launcher and such that withdrawal of the gear rack causes the clutch mechanism to decrease the rotary motion imparted to the launcher such that when the driving element ceases to accelerate the receiving element, the receiving element disengages from the driving element and releases the object from the drive connection.