BR112013024761A2 - toy projectile launching system and device - Google Patents

Abstract

toy projectile launching system and device. a toy projectile launching system that launches a toy projectile. The caster has a handle. The handle is deflected between two brackets. A first arm member is coupled to the first support. A first elastic loop is anchored to the first arm element. The first elastic loop has a loop section that extends into an open area. A second arm member is coupled to the second bracket. A second elastic loop is anchored to the second arm member. The second elastic loop has a loop section that extends into the open area. The loop sections of the first elastic loop and the second elastic loop are spaced to receive and engage opposing hook elements in the toy projectile when the toy projectile is manually pulled through the open area.

Description

“Toy Projectile Launching System and Device”

Descriptive Report

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In general, the present invention relates to toy bow and arrow systems, where a toy bow is used to launch a toy arrow projectile in flight.

BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE

Archery sets that are designed to play with children have existed throughout recorded history. In the modern era. toy bow and arrow sets typically have one. molded plastic bow, a rope and arrows with safety tips. To ensure safety, the functional design of the bow is also commonly changed. In a real arc, the string has a fixed length. The spring force used to launch an arrow comes from the bending of the bow's arms. The problem with this project is its failure mode. If a bow is pulled beyond its limit, then the bow's arms or string can break. Depending on where the break occurs, the broken rope and / or bow may fly towards the person holding the bow 20 when the stored energy is accidentally released.

To reduce the likelihood of this danger occurring, many toy bows are manufactured as static structures. An elastic rope is used to create the arrow launching force. If such a bow is pulled too far, there is no significant chance of it. smash. 25 of the bow. Instead, the elastic cord can break and will most likely move in a direction away from the person pulling the bow. The failure mode of a breaking rope is much less dangerous than

2/11 that the arc failure mode breaking. However, the broken rope failure mode presents some danger, depending on where the elastic rope breaks and how much energy is stored in the elastic rope at the moment it breaks.

Toy bows using a static bow and elastic rope are exemplified by US Patent 5,247,920 to Harbin, entitled Toy Bow; and US Patent 7,748,369 to Chee, entitled Launching Apparatus and Assembly.

Although toy bows with elastic strings are 10 safer than flexible bows with non-elastic strings, a danger is still present. If an elastic rope is stretched to a fully pulled state a. elastic rope breaks near its mounting point with the bow, then the broken elastic rope can whip towards the person by pulling on the elastic rope. Therefore, the broken elastic rope 15 has the potential to cause physical danger to the child by pulling the rope, especially to the child's eyes.

There is, therefore, a need for a toy bow and arrow design that eliminates the dangers for a child who may pull the bow too far to a point of failure of the string. This need 20 is satisfied by the present invention as described and claimed below.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a toy projectile launching system that launches a toy projectile. The toy projectile has at least two hook elements extending from it 2nd which are engaged by the launcher. The launcher has a handle. The handle has. a first end and a second end. A first support extends from the handle near its first end. Likewise, a second support extends from the handle close to its

3/11 second end. As a result, an open area is defined on three sides by the handle, the first support and the second support.

A first arm element is coupled to the first support. A first elastic loop is anchored to the first 5-arm element. The first elastic loop has a loop section that extends to the open area. A second arm element is coupled to the second support. Likewise, one. second elastic loop is anchored to the second arm element. The second elastic loop has a loop section that extends to the open area. The loop sections of the first elastic loop and the second elastic loop are spaced to receive and engage the opposing hook elements on the toy projectile when the toy projectile is manually pulled through. open area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments of. considered together with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a toy launcher and toy projectile in combination.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a side view of the launcher shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the launcher with a segment of the toy projectile, the launcher is shown in a position of 25 pitch.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the launcher with a segment of the toy projectile, the launcher is shown in an arma4 / 11 position.

FIG. 5 shows one. perspective view of an alternative modality of the toy launcher configured as a crossbow; and FIG. 6 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of a launcher having static arm elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST WAY TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

While the toy bow and arrow system of the present invention can be configured in many ways, only two embodiments of the system of the present invention are illustrated. These modalities are selected in order to establish the best modes contemplated for the. invention. The illustrated modalities, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered limiting15 when interpreting the scope of the appended Claims.

With reference to Fig. 1, a projectile launching system 10 is shown. The projectile launching system 10 includes a launcher 12 and at least one toy projectile 14. Launcher 12 includes two spring loaded arm elements 16, 18. The force 20 used to propel the toy projectile 14 is provided by energy spring stored by the spring loaded arm elements 16, 18 and the stretching of the two elastic loops 19, 20 extending from the arm elements 16, 18. The toy projectile 14 has hook projections 22 that engage both elastic loops 19, 25 20. When a person engages the toy projectile 14 with the elastic loops 19, 20 and pulls the toy projectile 14, both elastic loops 19, 20 stretch. Since there are two elastic loops 19, 20, each of the elastic loops 19, 20 only needs to provide half of the

5/11 necessary force to propel the toy projectile 14 in flight. The elastic loops 19, 20 are therefore too difficult to stretch * in the correct operation of the projectile launching system 10. In case any of the elastic loops 19, 20 suddenly break, the orientation 5 of the broken elastic loops 19 , 20 prevents them from hitting towards the user. Furthermore, since the toy projectile 14 engages two separate and distinct elastic loops 19, 20, the chance of both elastic loops 19, 20 breaking simultaneously is highly unlikely. Therefore, if an elastic loop breaks, the toy projectile 14 10 will still be engaged with the second elastic loop and the person pulling the toy projectile 14 will not pull the toy projectile 14 to himself by breaking an elastic loop. .

With reference to Fig. 2 in conjunction with. Fig. 1, it can be seen that the launcher 12 includes one. handle 24. The handle. 24 has a first end 25 and an opposite second end 26. The handle 24 is preferably a molded piece of rigid plastic that progresses along a main longitudinal axis 27. Two supports 28, 30 extend from the handle 24. The first support 28 extends from the handle 24 near its first end 25 and the second support 30 extends from the handle 24 20 next to its second end 26. As a set, the handle 24 and the two supports 28, 30 form a structure generally C-shaped which defines three sides of an open central area 32.

The lower part of each support 28, 30 is coupled to the handle 24. The upper part of each support 28, 30 ends with a post of articulation 25. Each articulation post 34 is oriented at a right angle to the longitudinal axis. 27 of the support lever 24. As such, when the handle 24 is held in a vertical orientation, both pivot posts 34 will extend in a horizontal orientation.

A hole 36 is formed in the center of the top of each

6/11 one of the pivot posts 34. Each hole 36 is used to receive a mounting screw 38, as explained later. At the bottom of each of the pivot posts 34, the supports 28, 30 expand. This creates a bead 40 around the bottom of each 5 pivot post 34. A recess 42 is formed just below the bead 40 which is sized to receive a torsion spring 44. At least one stop 46 is formed on each bead 40 for a purpose that will be explained later,

Two arm elements 16, 18 are provided. Each arm element 16, 18 has a first end 48, a second end 52 and a mounting hole 50 that extends through each of the arm elements 16, 18 near its second ends 52. A guide groove 54 is partially formed around each mounting hole 50 for a purpose that is later explained.

Elastic loops 19, 20 extend from the second ends 52 of the arm elements 16, 18. Elastic loops 19, 20 are made of yarns of highly elastic elastomeric material that allows each elastic loop .19, 20 to stretch resiliently across minus the triple 20 without breaking. The elastic loops 1.9, 20 are made of a different material than the rest of the rigid arm elements 16, 18. Consequently, it will be understood that the elastic loops 19, 20 are mechanically anchored to the arm elements 16, 18. Ca. arm member 16, 18 defines two holes 55, 56 near its second end 52. The elastic loop extends through these holes 55, 56. The holes 55, 56 are spaced at least% inch apart. This spreads each of the elastic loops 19, 20 and helps the elastic loops 19, 20 maintain an open loop configuration at all times.

The arm elements 16, 18 attach to the supports 28, 30

7j'11 by passing the hinge posts 34 through the mounting holes 50 of the arm elements 16, 18. The arm elements 16, 18 are free to rotate around the hinge posts 34 through a predetermined range of motion. The range of motion is about 5 ninety degrees. When the arm elements 16, 18 are placed on the hinge posts 34, the stops 46 on the edge 40 of the supports 28, 30 engage with the guide groove. 54 surrounding the mounting hole 50. The position of the stops 46 and the shape of the guide groove 54 allow each of the arm elements 16, 18 to rotate only ninety degrees in 10 around the hinge posts 34 in between. disarmed position and an armed position.

The torsion spring 44 is positioned around each articulation post 34. The torsion springs 44 engage both the arm elements 16, 18 and the supports 28, 30. The torsion springs 44 15 apply a deflection force to the arm elements. 16, 18 which deflects arm elements 16, 18 to their unarmed positions. It will therefore be understood that the arm elements 16, 18 are spring loaded to their disarmed positions.

The arm elements 16, 18 are prevented from moving 20 out of the hinge posts 34 by end caps 58 which are mounted on top of the hinge posts 34 with. screws 38.

When the launcher 12 is fully assembled, the handle 24 is offset from the plane of the arm elements 16, 18 by the holders 28, 30. This defines the open area 32 between the arm elements 16,

18. The elastic ties .19, 20 extend into this open area 32 from opposite sides.

With reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 in combination with Fig.

2, it can be seen that the toy projectile 14 has two projections of

8/11 hook 22 extending from opposite sides. The hook projections 22 are dimensioned and shaped to engage the two elastic loops 19, 20 when the hook projections 22 are pulled through the open area 32.

To load the toy projectile 14, the toy projectile 14 is pulled through the open area 32, so that the hook projections 22 engage the elastic loops 19, 20. Once engaged with the elastic loops 19, 20, the projectile .14 toy is pulled in the shape of a traditional bow and arrow. As the play projectile 10 is pulled away from open area 32, the elastic loops 19, 20 stretch. As the elastic loops 19, 20 stretch they apply a moment to the arm elements 16. 18. When the applied torque force cancels the deviation of the torsion spring 44, each of the arm elements 16, 18, rotates around from the articulation posts 34 from the original disarmed position 15 (Fig. 3) to an armed position ready to fire (Fig. 4).

When elastic loops 19, 20 stretch they store energy. In addition, when spleen elements 16, 18 move in opposition to torsion springs 44, torsion springs 44 store 20 energy. When toy projectile 14 is released, the elastic loops

19, 20 retract. The arm elements 16, 18 spring back to their disarmed positions and the toy projectile 14 is accelerated through the open area 32. In the open area 32, the moment of the toy projectile 14 causes the toy projectile 14 to continue its forward movement through open area 32. This launches the toy projectile 14 in flight when the hook projections 22 disengage from the elastic loops 19,

20.

Rotating the arm elements 16, 18 from the disarmed position (Fig. 3) to the armed position (Fig. 4) provides a clear visual indication of when the bow launcher 12 is ready for

9/11 launch the toy projectile 14. The resistance of the torsion springs 44 is coordinated with the resistance of the elastic loops 19, 20. In this way, the arm elements 16, 18 rotate to the fully armed positions (Fig. 4) as soon as the elastic loops 19, 20 reach their optimum degree 5 of elongation. In this way, a child playing with launcher 12 can easily see when launcher 12 is ready to be fired at its ideal resistance. Likewise, the visual cue will help to prevent a child from pulling too hard on the toy projectile 14 and tensioning the elastic loops 19, 20 to the breaking point.

Referring to Fig. 5, an alternative embodiment of a launcher 60 is shown. In this embodiment, launcher 60 is configured as a crossbow 62. The crossbow 62 has arm elements 16, 18 and elastic loops 19, 20 which are the same as previously explained. The only difference is that the handle is now part of a rod 64 that can hold a toy projectile 14 in a charged position. A fastener 66 is provided on the rod 64 which engages the toy projectile 14 and prevents it from launching. Catch 66 is operated by a trigger mechanism 68 which is positioned under rod 64. When a user activates trigger mechanism 68, toy projectile 14 is released by catch 66 and toy projectile 14 is launched in flight. .

In the previous embodiments, the launcher's arm elements are spring loaded. However, this need not be the case. The toy launcher can still be toned effectively even though the arms are made static. With reference now to. Fig. 6, this mode is shown. In this embodiment, the toy launcher 70 is made with a handle 72 which is displaced between two supports 74, 76, as with the previous embodiment. Two static arm elements 78, 80 are rigidly joined to the handle 72 by means of the supports 74, 76. The first arm element 78 and the second arm element 80 are

10/11 arranged in a common plan. The handle 7'2 is moved from the common plane by the supports 74, 76 so as not to interfere with the path of the toy projectile 14. This creates an open central area 82 between the first and second arm members 78, 80 .

Two elastic loops 84, 86 extend to the open central area 82. Loops 84, 86 engage a toy projectile in the manner described above. Since the arm elements 78, 80 are not spring loaded, it is only the resistance of the elastic loops 84, 86, which provides the energy necessary to launch the toy projectile. The strength of the elastic loops 84, 86 can be increased by increasing the size of the elastic loops 84, 86 and, therefore, the amount of elastic material incorporated by the elastic loops 84, 86.

In launcher 70 of Fig. 6, two rigid guide posts 88, 90 are provided. One post 88 is directly above the open central area 82, the other directly below the open central area 82. The elastic loops 84, 86 are much longer than in the previous embodiments. The first elastic loop 84 is anchored to the top of the first arm element 78. The first elastic loop 84 extends through openings in the first guide post 88. The first guide post 20 retains loop section 92 of the elastic loop 84 in the open central area 82. Likewise, the second elastic loop 86 is anchored to. far end of the second arm member 80. The second elastic loop 86 extends through openings in the second guide post 90. The second guide post. 90 retains the loop section 94 of the second elastic loop 86 in the open central area 82.

When a toy projectile engages the first and second elastic loops 84, 86, the entire length of the elastic loops 84, 86 can stretch. This provides the energy needed to propel the toy projectile in flight, without using spring loaded arms.

11/11

It will be understood that the modalities of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that one skilled in the art can make many variations in these modalities. For example, the arch structure can have many different ornamental shapes. Likewise, toy projectiles can be configured as airplanes, rockets, ships or any other flying projectile. All such modalities are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the Claims.

Claims (19)

1 - Launching Device for Launching a Toy Projectile, in which said toy projectile contains opposite hook elements extending from it, being said launching device 5 characterized by the fact that it comprises: a handle having a first end and a second end; a first support extending from said loop near said first end; 10 a second support extending from said handle near said second end, wherein an open central area is defined on three sides by said handle, said first support and said second support; a first elastic loop supported by said first support, wherein said first elastic loop extends to said open central area; and a second elastic loop supported by said second support, wherein said second elastic loop extends to said open central area, wherein said first elastic loop and said second elastic loop 20 are spaced to receive and engage said elements opposite hooks on said toy projectile, 2 - Launching Device for Launching a Toy Projectile, according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that it also includes a first arm element that extends from said first 25 support and a second arm element extending from said second support. 2/5 3 - Launching Device for Launching a Toy Projectile, according to Claim 2, characterized by the fact that said first elastic loop is anchored to said first arm element and said second elastic loop is anchored to said second element 5 arm. 4 - Launching Device for Launching a Toy Projectile, according to Claim 3, characterized by the fact that said first arm element is connected to said first support in a first articulated connection and said second arm element 10 is connected to said second support in a second articulated connection. 5 - Launching Device for Launching a Toy Projectile, according to Claim 4, characterized by the fact that said first arm element is free to rotate around said first 15 articulated connection through a predetermined range between an unarmed position and an armed position. Launching Device for Launching a Toy Projectile, according to Claim 5, characterized by the fact that said predetermined range is about ninety degrees. 20 7 - Launching Device for Launching a Toy Projectile, according to Claim 4, characterized by the fact that said second arm element is free to rotate around said second articulated connection through a predetermined range between an unarmed position and an armed position. 25 8 - Launching Device for Launching a Toy Projectile, according to Claim 7, characterized by the fact that said predetermined range is about ninety degrees. 9 - Launching Device to Launch Toy Projectile, 3/5 according to Claim 5, characterized by the fact that it also includes a first spring that diverts said first arm element to said unarmed position. 10 - Launching Device for Launching a Toy Projectile, 5 according to Claim 7, characterized by the fact that it also includes a second spring that diverts said second arm element to said unarmed position. 11 - Launching Device for Launching a Toy Projectile, according to Claim 4, characterized by the fact that said 10 handle is configured as one. crossbow rod. 12 - Toy Projectile Launching System, characterized by the fact that it comprises: a toy projectile having at least two hook elements extending from it; 15 a launcher including, a handle, having a first end and a second end; a first support extending from said first end of said handle; 20 a second support extending from said second end of said handle, in which an open area is defined in. three sides by said handle, said first support and said second support; a first elastic loop supported by said first support, wherein said first elastic loop extends to said open area 25; 4/5 a second elastic loop supported by said second support, wherein said second elastic loop extends to said open area; wherein said first elastic loop and said second elastic loop 5 are spaced to receive and engage said hook elements on said toy projectile when said toy projectile is manually pulled through said open area. 13 - Toy Projectile Launching System, according to. Claim 12, characterized by the fact that it still includes a 10 first arm element extending from said first support and a second arm element extending from said second support. 14 - Toy Projectile Launching System, according to. Claim 13, characterized by the fact that said first elastic loop is anchored to said first arm element and said The second elastic loop is anchored to said second arm element. 15 - Toy Projectile Launching System, according to Claim 14, characterized by the fact that said first arm element is connected to said first support in a first articulated connection and said second arm element is 20 connected to said second support in a second hinged connection. 16 - Toy Projectile Launching System, according to Claim 15, characterized by the fact that said first arm element is free to rotate around said first connection 25 articulated through a first predetermined strip between a first disarmed position and a first armed position, and said second arm element is free to rotate around said second articulated connection through a second predetermined strip between 5/5 a second unarmed position and a second armed position. 17 »Toy Projectile Launching System, according to Claim 16, characterized by the fact that said first predetermined range and said second predetermined range are both 5 of approximately ninety degrees. 18 - Toy Projectile Launching System according to Claim 12, characterized by the fact that it includes both springs that deflect said first arm element to said first disarmed position and deflect said second arm element 10 for said second disarmed position. 19 - Toy Projectile Launching System, according to Claim 12, characterized by the fact that said handle is part of a crossbow rod.