CA2155959C

CA2155959C - Multi-shot air operated projectile launcher

Info

Publication number: CA2155959C
Application number: CA002155959A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Richard A. Clayton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-02-12
Filing date: 1993-02-12
Publication date: 2001-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 2013-02-12
Also published as: CA2155959A1

Abstract

An air gun comprises a magazine (632) with a plurality of barrels (634) with associated projectiles (670, 672). Air is compressed by a piston (623) through an outlet (637). The barrels are sequentially alignable with the outlet by an advancement mechanism (653, 664).
In one embodiment, the magazine is normally biased with a spring (663) toward the outlet to create a seal (631) with the aligned barrel.
Upon magazine advancement, the advancement mechanism counteracts the spring bias to reduce friction. In another embodiment, the outlet is slidable, under friction provided by the piston, into sealing contact with magazine. The gun may be mounted on a bow frame (900) to provide force to propel the piston.

Description

WO 94/18519 ~ ~ ~ PCT/LJS93/01318 MULTI-SHOT AIR OPERATED PROJECTILE LAUNCHER
$ACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Inv nrinn The present invention relates to air operated guns and projectile launchers, and more particularly to air operated devices capable of launching a plurality of projectiles without reloading.

2. Brief DescriBt~on of the Prior Art Single shot toy airguns have been in common use for many years in which a spring operated piston forces air from a chamber and through a barrel to eject a projectile from the barrel (for example, Cagan et al., U. S. Patent 4,212,285). Other toy airguns have been developed for launching multiple projectiles between loadings, such as Ferri (U. S. Patent 4,841,655) and Tsao (U. S. Patent 4,848,307). Difficulties and disadvantages are encountered with the aforementioned designs stemming from the methods of engagement of the airpump with the launching barrels for transfer of compressed air to the projectiles, and with constructions used for projectile magazines.
Tsao ('307) provides a single airpump for propelling projectiles from a plurality of barrels in a rotating magazine, but provides no air seal between the airpump outlet 401 and barrels 21, and requires a special projectile having an internal air chamber 84 and funnel shaped tail 82 to catch an airstream from the airpump. This allows for significant amounts of air and hence=propelling force to be lost in the gap between the airpump outlet 401 and the projectile 8.
Ferri ('655) provides a constant spring bias 14 within a two piece projectile magazine 12A, 12C of expandable length whereby the magazine is always in tight engagement between the gun frame on its forward end and the airpump outlet 18A on its rearward end.
This arrangement provides a seal between the magazine chambers 16 and the airpump outlet 18A but yields the undesirable side effect of high friction between the magazine and frame during advancement of the magazine, thus requiring sturdier construction and greater force for operation of the gun. The two effects oppose one another, whereby adjustment of the magazine bias to give a strong air seal generates a gun which is more difficult to operate while adjustment for ease of operation yields a gun with a poor airseal.
Projectile magazines for multi-shot air guns have in the past been typically formed as cylinders having a plurality of passageways in a symmetrical parallel spaced relationship about the cylinder's central axis as do both Ferri and Tsao. Such an arrangement can lead to much material being wasted in the structure of the cylinder and to warpage problems in molded parts if the spacing between passageways becomes relatively large, as will be the case for use with certain types of projectiles.

~WO 94/18519 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties are obviated by the present invention which provides novel means for sealing the air passage between an airpump and a magazine chamber or barrel whereby greater sealing force is applied between the airpump and the magazine during discharge of the airpump than during advancement of the magazine.
The present invention provides an airpump outlet or nozzle which is movable on the launch apparatus between a forward "firing" position and a rearward "cocking"
position so that the airpump outlet may be engaged and sealed with a barrel of the projectile magazine during the time that air is discharged from the airpump, but may be drawn rearward away from the magazine during the time of magazine-advancement to reduce friction or completely break engagement between the air outlet and the magazine. The present invention further provides means for normally biasing and clamping the.magazine into a rearward position for closer engagement with the air outlet during discharge of air through the outlet and barrel, and means for overriding or disabling said biasing and clamping means during magazine advancement.
The present invention further provides novel magazine construction wherein individual tubular barrels are joined together by a support structure to eliminate wasted material between barrels, to allow greater design flexibility in spacing of the barrels, and to provide a simple and economical means of producing a multi-projectile magazine. The magazine may be formed in a wide variety of configurations- e.g., revolver, clip and ammo belt styles- and may be formed as a single piece by pz;ocesses such as plastic injection and blow molding.
The present invention also provides novel designs for air operated guns and other air operated projectile launchers, and novel cocking and magazine advancing mechanisms for multi-shot air operated projectile launchers.
Therefore, it is among the primary objectives of the present invention to provide novel means for intermittently sealing the airpump of an~air operated projectile launcher to a plurality of projectile launching tubes, chambers or barrels in a magazine.
It is further among the objectives of the present invention to provide a novel magazine construction for carrying a plurality of projectiles to be successively discharged from a projectile launcher.
It is another objective of the present.invention to provide novel means for cocking and magazine advancement in multi-shot air operated projectile launchers.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide several novel designs for air operated projectile launchers employing in various combinations the elements and features described above.

-4 a-In one embodiment, the invention provides an air operated projectile launcher comprising: a frame; an air cylinder; a piston assembly comprising a piston movably carried in said air cylinder; cocking means intermittently engageable with said piston assembly for drawing said piston from a discharged position within said cylinder to a cocked position within said cylinder;
means for propelling said piston assembly from said cocked position to said discharged position to discharge air under pressure from said cylinder; outlet means for conducting air from said cylinder; a projectile magazine movably carried on said frame; said magazine comprising a plurality of barrels in spaced relationship; said barrels being selectively a:Lignable with said outlet means to receive air discharged from said cylinder to launch a projectile carried by a selected barrel; said cocking' means comprising a slide element operably carried for reciprocating movement: on said frame between a rest position and a biased position; said slide element cooperating with said piston assembly to urge said piston assembly toward said cocked position upon actuation of said slide element from said rest position toward said biased position.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the frame comprises the form of. a gun having a handle portion, a muzzle portion and a breech portion; the slide element and the air cylinder are carried generally at the breech portion of the frame; and the magazine is carried generally toward the muzzle portion of the frame.
In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the slide element comprises a pawl for engagement with the piston assembly and t:he propelling means normally urges said piston assembly toward said discharged position; and release means are present for disengaging the pawl from -4 b-the piston assembly when the piston assembly is moved into the cocked position. In this embodiment, the frame may comprise the form. of a gun having a handle portion, a muzzle portion and a breech portion where the slide element is carried generally at the handle portion of the frame and the slide element comprises the general form of a trigger.

WO 94/18519 ~ PCTlUS93/01318 ~RTEF DESCRIPTION OF TFiE DRAWINGS
The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood with reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a novel mechanical gun incorporating the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view, partly in section of the mechanical gun of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is a side view, partly in section, of a projectile magazine for the gun of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the projectile magazine taken in the direction of arrows 4-4 Of FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of another novel mechanical gun incorporating the present invention;
FIGURE 6 is a partial elevational view, partly in section, of the reverse side of the gun of FIGURE 5;
FIGURE 7 is an end elevational view of the projectile magazine taken in the direction of arrows 7-7 Of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of the air cylinaer and magazine advancement components taken in the direction of arrows 8-8 of FIGURE 6;
FIGURE 9 is a side sectional view of an air cylinder, nozzle and barrel for a toy rifle incorporating the present invention;
FIGURE 10 is a side sectional view of an air cylinder, nozzle and barrel for a variation of the present invention;
FIGURE 11 is a nozzle and barrel combination having spring biased engagement; and FIGURE 12 is a nozzle and barrel combination having spring biased disengagement.
FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a novel mechanical gun incorporating elements of the present invention;
FIGURE 14 is an end elevational view, partly in section, of the frame and magazine advancement and engagement mechanisms of the mechanical gun of FIGURE
13;
FIGURE 15 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a linearly configured clip style projectile , magazine incorporating elements of the present invention;
FIGURE 16 is an end view of the magazine of FIGURE
15 taken in the direction of arrows 16-16;

iW0 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318 ur , bIGURE 17 is a side view, partly in section, of a projectile barrel configuration which may be employed in embodiments of the present invention;
FIGURE 18 is a side elevational view, partly in section of variation on the magazine of FIGURE 15;
FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of a cylindrically configured rotary style projectile magazine incorporating elements of the present invention;
FIGURE 20 is an end view of the magazine of FIGURE
19 taken in the direction of arrows 20-20;
FIGURE 21 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a linearly configured belt style projectile magazine incorporating elements of the present invention;
FIGURE 22 is an end view of the magazine of FIGURE
21 taken in the direction of arrows 22-22;
FIGURE 23 is a side elevational view of a novel mechanical gun employing elements of the present invention to incorporate a slide cocking and magazine advancing mechanism into the gun's trigger;
FIGURE 24 is a fragmentary elevational view of the frame and slide element of the frame and slide element of the the gun of FIGURE 23, taken in the direction of arrows 24-24;

_g_ FIGURE 25 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of a novel projectile launching apparatus employing elements of the present invention;
FIGURE 26 is a fragmentary end view of the magazine and magazine advancing pawl of FIGURE 25, taken in the direction of arrows 26-26;
FIGURE 27 is a fragmentary view of the apparatus of FIGURE 25, taken in the direction of arrows 27-27;
FIGURE 28 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a novel bow and arrow type apparatus employing elements of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown by way of illustration, but not: of limitation, a mechanical pistol designed and constructed in accordance with this invention. The pistol includes a frame 11, having a breech portion, a mu~:zle portion, a handle 12, trigger guard 13, a shaft 14 for pivotally mounting a trigger 15, a shaft 16 for pivotally mounting a magazine advancement arm 17, and guides 18 for carrying a slide assembly 1.9 for forward and rearward travel between a forward position and a rearward position. Carried within the frame 11 are a cylinder 20 having a protruding flange 21, and a plunger 22 comprising a head 23, and a hollow shaft 24 having a protruding shoulder 25. Both the cylinder 20 and the plunger 22 a~__°e movably supported by interior surfaces of the frame 11 for forward and reverse travel longitudinally within the frame 11. A spring 26 is carried within the plunger 22 such that one end of the WO 94/18519 ~'~~ PCT/US93/01318 _g_ ' , spring rests at the forward end of the hollow shaft 24 and tree other end of the spring 26 rests against an arm 27 of trigger 15 which protrudes into the interior of the hollow shaft 24 through a pair of slots 28, 29. In its uncocked state, as depicted in FIGURE 1, the plunger 22 is in its mostforward position so that the arm 27 is near the rearward end of the hollow shaft 24.
Guides 30, having slots 31, are attached to the frame 11 at its forward end for insertably and removably receiving a projectile magazine 32. The magazine 32 comprises a baseplate 33 to which a plurality of elongated barrels 34 are attached. Each barrel 34 has a central passageway 35, open at both ends. The rearward opening 36 is beveled to mate smoothly with the beveled tip 37 of cylinder 20. Each barrel receives within its central passageway 35 a,projectile 38 having a shaft 39 with an enlarged head 40 at the forward end of the shaft 39. The rearward end 41 of the shaft 39 rests at the rearward end of the barrel 34 at a section 42 of the passageway 35 having a reduced diameter relative to the more forward portion of the passageway. The rearward end 41 of the shaft 39 has a circular transverse cross section of a diameter which yields a snug and generally airtight fit within the reduced diameter section 42.
Another reduced diameter section 43 of the passageway 35 serves to prevent the rearward end 41 of the shaft from exiting the rearward opening 36 of the barrel.
Magazine 32 is loaded into the pistol 10 by insertion of one end of the baseplate 33 into the lower end 44 of the slots 31 of guides 30 until the inserted end of the baseplate 33 contacts the forward end of cylinder 20 which in rest position as shown in FIGURE 1 protrudes into the path of the baseplate 33 whereby further insertion is prevented. At this point a spring . , latch 45 engages the uppermost slot 46 on baseplate 33 to prevent downward movement of the magazine 32.
The pistol 10 is cocked and the magazine 32 is advanced as follows: An operator grips the handle 12 with one hand and draws the slide assembly 19 rearward with his/her other hand. A shoulder 47 on the interior surface of the slide 19 engages the shoulder 25 of the plunger 22 causing the plunger to travel rearward within frame 11, thereby compressing spring 26 against arm 27 of trigger 15. As the plunger 22 moves rearward, friction between the head 23 and the interior surface of cylinder 20 drags cylinder 20 rearward such that the forward end of cylinder 20 is withdrawn from the upward path of baseplate 33. Once the cylinder 20 is clear of the slots 31 a shoulder 48 on the frame 11 engages the flange 21 of the cylinder to prevent further rearward movement of the cylinder 20. Additionally, once the cylinder 20 is clear of the slots 31 a shaft 49 on the slide 19, protruding to the interior of frame 11 through a pair of slots 50 of the frame, engages the upper member 51 of the magazine advancement arm 17. As the slide 19 is drawn further rearward the shaft 49 pivots the arm 17 about shaft 16. A pawl 52 pivotally mounted on the lower member 53 of arm 17 is raised upward whereby the tip 54 of pawl 52 engages a slot 46 of baseplate 33 to force the magazine 32 upward. As the , slide 19 reaches its most rearward position, magazine 32 is raised to a point where the slot 46 currently engaged .
by pawl 52 becomes engaged by spring latch 45.
Additionally, the plunger 22 reaches its most rearward position whereby a hook 55 on the trigger 15 becomes ~VVO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318 aligned with a hole 56 in the hollow shaft 24.
Compression of the spring 26 against arm 27 pivots trigger 15 about shaft 14 such that the hook 55 engages the rim of the hole 56 to prevent the plunger 22 from moving in the forward direction when the slide 19 is returned forward. An elastic band 57 attached to a shaft 58 on the slide and to a shaft 59 on the frame, having been stretched by the rearward travel of the slide 19, serves to return the slide 19 forward upon release by the operator. As the slide 19 approaches its forward most position a shoulder 60 engages flange 21 of the cylinder to move the cylinder 20 forward until the forward beveled tip 37 engages the beveled rearward opening 36 of the barrel 34 currently aligned in the firing position to form a generally airtight seal between the cylinder 20 and the barrel 34. A spring 61 engaged between frame 11 and pawl 52 returns the pawl 52 and the magazine-advancement arm 17 to their rest positions as depicted in FIGURE 1.
Once cocked, the pistol 10 may be fared by pivoting the trigger 15 about shaft 14 to disengage hook 55 from hole 56 thus allowing the compressed spring 26 to expand, thrusting plunger 22 forward to compress air within the closed space formed by cylinder 20, head 23, barrel 34 and the rearward end 41 of projectile 38.
Friction between plunger head 23 and the interior surface of cylinder 20 urges cylinder 20 forward, thus reinforcing the seal between cylinder 20 and barrel 34.
The frictional bond between projectile 38 and barrel 34 is designed to be the weakest seal in the system such that when the air pressure reaches a sufficient magnitude within cylinder 20 and barrel 34 the bond is WO 94/18519 ~ PCT/US93101318 broken and the projectile 38 is ejected from the barrel 34.
After firing, the pistol 10 may once again be cocked and the magazine advanced as previously described. Once the projectiles 38 have all been launched the empty magazine 32 is removed from the pistol 10 by manually lifting the magazine upward and out of slots 31. In the absence of the magazine 32, a shoulder 64 retains cylinder 20 within frame 11.
A false barrel 62 is carried at the forward end of the frame 11 for cosmetic purposes. The inside diameter of the false barrel 62 is larger than the diameter of the enlarged head 40 of the projectile 38 such that no contact is made between the projectile 38 and the false barrel 62 at any time before, during or after projectile launch. Slots 63-are provided top and bottom on false barrel 62 to allow passage of projectiles 38, barrels 34 and baseplate 33 during magazine advancement.
With reference to FIGURE 5, it may be seen that the present invention may also be incorporated in a revolver format. Similar to the previously described version, the revolver comprises a frame 110 having a handle 111, a trigger 112, a projectile magazine 113, a cylinder 114 slidingly carried on the frame, and a piston assembly 115 within the cylinder. The magazine 113 is rotatably carried about a mounting shaft 113a on the frame 110.
The trigger 112 is pivoted on the frame 110 about a shaft 116 and comprises a pawl-like shoulder 117 for engagement with a lever assembly 118. The lever assembly 118 is pivotally mounted to frame 110 about a shaft 119 and comprises a member 120 which engages a flange 121 of ~WO 94/18519 ~~~ PCT/US93/01318 the piston assembly 115 and a member 122 which engages shoulder 117 of the trigger.
Actuation of the trigger (i.e., inducement of pivotal motion to the trigger 112 in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 5) forces lever assembly 118 to pivot about shaft 119 whereby member 120 engages flange 121 to draw piston assembly 115 rearward (to the right in FIGURE 5) within cylinder 114. Frictional force of the piston head 123 against the interior surface of cylinder 114 pulls the cylinder rearward until the cylinder engages a stop 124. Guides 125 keep the cylinder in a horizontal alignment within the frame 110.
Actuation of the trigger 112 additionally precipitates advancement of magazine 113 to align a projectile barrel 130 and barrel passageway 130A with the cylinder 114. With reference to FIGURE 6, clockwise motion of trigger 112 pulls an arm 126 downward, said arm being pivotally mounted to trigger 112 by a shaft 127. A pawl 128 is pivoted on the upper end of~arm 126 and urged by a spring 137 to engage a set of ratchet teeth 129 on the rear face of magazine 113 whereby said downward movement of arm 126 imparts rotational force to the magazine. It is noted that cylinder 114 is simultaneously being drawn rearward by piston 123 so that the nozzle 132 will not interfere with magazine movement. The number of ratchet teeth 129, and their dimensions, are adapted to cooperate with said movement of arm 126 to normally advance the magazine 113 by the distance between two adjacent barrels 130, in response to the normal firing stroke of trigger 112. A guide 131 is provided at each ratchet tooth to engage the pawl 128 to prevent rotation of magazine 113 beyond the point of WO 94/18519 ~ ~ PCT/US93/01318 barrel 130 to nozzle 132 alignment. A spring latch (not shown)~may also be provided which engages the ratchet teeth 129 to prevent rotation of magazine 113 in the direction opposite that imparted by the previously described advancement sequence.
As the trigger 112 is (referring again to FIGURE 5) pivoted counterclockwise, it approaches a firing position which may be defined as the position at which angular displacements of the trigger 112 and lever assembly 118 cause shoulder 117 of the trigger and member 122 of the lever assembly to disengage one another. Once said disengagement occurs, the lever assembly 118 and the piston assembly 115, 121, 123 are driven toward their original positions (as depicted in FIGURE 5) by a spring 133. Frictional force of the piston 123 against the cylinder 114 drives the cylinder and nozzle 132 forward to engage the beveled end 134 of the nozzle with the beveled rear end 135 of the barrel 130. Air pressure generated by the piston 123 tends to additionally force the cylinder 114 away from the piston 123, thereby reinforcing the seal between nozzle 132 and barrel 130. Finally, the pressurized air is forced by piston 123 through nozzle 132 into passageway 130A to eject the projectile 136.
When the trigger 112 is released after passing said firing position, the spring 137, having been compressed by downward movement of pawl 128, expands to return pawl 128 up and over the next ratchet tooth 129 and to return arm 126 and trigger 112 to their rest positions as in FIGURES 5 and 6. A slotted mounting hole 138 allows trigger 112 to slide forward about shaft 116 to allow WO 94/I8519 , PCT/US93/01318 F ..

shoulder 117 to pass over member 122 of the lever assembly 118 during this retraction stroke.
Other embodiments of the present invention are depicted in FIGURES 9, 10, 11 and 12. The configuration of FIGURE 9 may be used to construct a rifle incorporating the invention in which a cylinder 210 and a barrel 211 are held in fixed relationship by a frame (not shown), and a nozzle 212 is slidingly carried by guides 213 on the frame. The nozzle 212 is attached to the outlet 214 of the cylinder 210 by a flexible tube 215 having a service loop 219. When air is pressurized and expelled from the cylinder 210 by a piston 216, it urges the nozzle 212 away from the piston (in the direction of arrow 201) and into engagement with the barrel 211 so that air is forced through the barrel. If the barrel is later moved in the direction of arrow 202, as might be the-case for advancement of a projectile magazine, the force of beveled edge 217 of the barrel 211 against beveled edge 218 of the nozzle 212 will urge the nozzle rearward (opposite to the direction of arrow 201) so that the nozzle does not interfere with magazine advancement.
FIGURE 10 shows a cylinder 310 and a barrel 311 held in fixed relationship by a frame (not shown), and a nozzle 312 slidingly carried on the outlet 313 of the cylinder 310. When air is pressurized and expelled from the cylinder 310 by a piston 314, it urges the nozzle 312 away from the piston (in the direction of arrow 201) . and into engagement with the barrel 311 so that air is forced through the barrel. Once again, if the barrel 311 is later moved in the direction of arrow 202, contact between the beveled edges 315 and 316 of the barrel and WO 94/18519 ° PCT/US93/01318 nozzle, respectively, will force the nozzle 312 rearward to. allow unhindered magazine advancement.
FIGURES 11 and 12 depict spring assisted nozzle movements which may be desirable in some applications of the present invention, depending upon other design variables. In FIGURE 11 a spring 410 is biased between a frame 411 and a shoulder 412a of a nozzle 412 to normally urge the nozzle into contact with a barrel 413 (in the direction pointed by arrow 401). This strengthens the seal between nozzle 412 and barrel 413 during discharge of air through the nozzle and barrel, but requires that retracting forces applied to nozzle 412 (opposite to the direction indicated by arrow 401) during a magazine advancement operation be greater than the force applied by the spring 410.
In FIGURE 1.2 a spring 510 is biased between a frame 511 and a shoulder 512a of a nozzle 512 to normally urge the nozzle away from a barrel 513 (in the direction indicated by arrow 501). Employed in a gun with an multi-projectile magazine, this insures unimpeded magazine advancement, but requires that sealing forces applied to the nozzle 512 (opposite the direction indicated by arrow 501) during discharge of pressurized air through the nozzle 512 and barrel 513 be greater than the force applied by the spring 510.
Referring to FIGURE 13, there is shown yet another embodiment of the present invention. A mechanical pistol 610 is similar in many respects to the embodiment illustrated in figures 1-4. The pistol 610 includes a frame 611, having a handle 612, trigger guard 613, a shaft 614 for pivotally mounting a trigger 615, a shaft WO 94/18519 ~~~ PCT/US93/01318 616 for pivotally mounting a magazine advancement arm 617, and guides 618 for carrying a slide assembly 619 for forward and rearward travel between a forward position and a rearward position. (The term "assembly~~
is used in this case to describe a device comprising a plurality of functional members, but it is to be understood that the device may actually be assembled from a plurality of parts or it may be molded or otherwise formed as a single piece.) Carried within the frame 611 are a cylinder 620, and a plunger 622. The plunger comprises a piston 623, and a hollow shaft 624 having a protruding shoulder 625. Both the cylinder 620 and plunger 622 are movably carried for forward and reverse travel longitudinally within the frame 611.
Interior members 621 of the frame 611 provide support for the cylinder 620. A spring 626 is carried within the plunger 622 such that one end of the spring rests at the forward end of the hollow shaft 624 and the other end of the spring 626 rests against an arm 627 of trigger 615 which protrudes into the interior of the hollow shaft 624 through a pair of slots 628, 629. In its uncocked state, as depicted in FIGURE 13, the plunger 622 is in its most forward position so that the arm 627 is near the rearward end of the hollow shaft 624.
A projectile magazine 632 is rotatably carried by a shaft 630 on the frame 611 which supports a tubular _ bearing 659 on the magazine 632. In this embodiment of the invention, the magazine is able to slide forward and rearward on shaft 630, and is normally urged rearward by the bias of a spring 663. A washer 661 prevents the bearing 659 from dragging against the spring 663. The magazine 632 comprises a baseplate 633 to which a plurality of elongated barrels 634 are attached. A
similar magazine is shown in greater detail in Figures 19 and 20. This and other magazine embodiments will be described in depth later in this specification. With reference to Figures 13, 19 and 20, each barrel 634 has a central passageway 635, open at both ends. The rearward opening 636 is of smaller diameter than the passageway 635 to provide a stop for a projectile to be inserted from the forward end, and for ease of alignment with a gasket 631 at the outlet 637 of cylinder 620 (refer also to Figure 14). Each barrel is able to carry a projectile so as to form a generally airtight seal, as will be described in greater detail later in this specification.
In FIGURE 13 the slide assembly 619 is shown in its forward, or rest, position, being biased to this position by the. force of a spring 641 which is engaged between a shaft 642 on frame 611 and a shaft 643 at the rearward end of slide assembly 619. A shaft 640 at the forward end of slide assembly 619 protrudes~to the interior of frame 611 through a pair of slots 641 to engage a lever 644 which is pivotally carried by a shaft 645 on the frame 611. The opposite end of 'the lever 644 is pivotally attached by a shaft 646 to a clamping arm 647. A protrusion 648 on the forward end of the clamping arm 647 engages baseplate 633 of 'the magazine 632 to draw the baseplate 633 rearward for sealing engagement with gasket 631 of the cylinder 620. It is noted that sealing force is derived from the bias of spring 641, which, in this embodiment of the invention, actuates the magazine clamping mechanism as previously described, and additionally forces a shoulder 660 on slide assembly 619 into engagement with cylinder 620 to drive~the cylinder forward.
The pistol 610 is cocked and the magazine 632 is advanced as follows: An operator grips the handle 612 with one hand and draws the slide assembly 619 rearward with his/her other hand. A shoulder E38 on the interior surface of the slide 619 engages the shoulder 625 of the plunger 622 causing the plunger to travel rearward within frame 611, thereby compressing spring 626 against arm 627 of trigger 615. As the plunger 622 moves rearward, friction between the piston 623 and the interior surface of cylinder 620 drags cylinder 620 rearward such that the forward end of cylinder 620 is urged away from baseplate 633 of the magazine 632. A
protruding member 639 on the frame 611 limits rearward movement of the cylinder 620 to a minimum whereby friction between the baseplate 633 and the gasket 631 is acceptably reduced without allowing lost motion to excessively shorten the effective stroke of the piston 623 within the cylinder. To further reduce~friction between magazine 632 and cylinder gasket 631, as the slide assembly 619 moves rearward, shaft 640 is disengaged from lever 644, thereby removing clamping force from arm 647 and relaxing the hold of protrusion 648 on baseplate 633. Additionally, the shaft 640 on slide assembly 619 then engages the upper member 651 of the magazine advancement arm 617. As the slide 619 is drawn further rearward the shaft 640 pivots the arm 617 about shaft 616. A pawl 652, pivotally mounted by shaft 653a to the lower member 653 of arm 617, is raised upward whereby the tip 654 of pawl 652 engages a slot 657 in baseplate 633 to force the slot 657 upward, thereby rotating magazine 632 for successive alignment WO 94/18519 ~ ~~ PCT/US93101318 of barrels 634 with the air cylinder outlet 637. The pawl a's shown in Figure 13 normally rests against a point 658 on the frame 611 to prevent it from interfering with manual rotation of the magazine for loading. When the pawl 652 is raised upwardly by arm 617, a spring 649 exerts force on a member 650 of the pawl 652 to pivot the pawl 652 forwardly for engagement with baseplate 633. As the arm 617 pivots further, reactive force of the upper edge of slot 657 against tip 654 further urges the pawl 652 to pivot forwardly, thereby reinforcing engagement of the pawl 652 to the baseplate 633 and driving the magazine 632 forwardly on shaft 630, against force of spring 663, to further ensure acceptable disengagement between baseplate 633 and cylinder gasket 631. The forward movement of magazine 633 also prevents drag between the magazine and the forward bulkhead 664 of frame 611.
As the slide 619 reaches its most rearward position, the plunger 622 also reaches its most rearward position whereby a hook 655 on the trigger 615 becomes aligned with a hole 656 in the hollow shaft 624.
Compression of the spring 626 against arm 627 pivots trigger 615 about shaft 614 such that the hook 655 engages the rim of the hole 656 to prevent the plunger 622 from moving in the forward direction when the slide 619 is returned forward. Spring 641, having been stretched by the rearward travel of the slide 619, serves to return the slide 619 forward upon release by the operator. As the slide 619 approaches its forwardmost position, spring 649 pulls pawl 652 downward and out of magazine engagement, spring 663 again urges magazine 632 rearwardly, shaft 640 again actuates the clamping mechanism of lever 644 and arm 647, and ~WO 94/18519 ~ PCT/US93/01318 shoulder 660 on the slide again urges the cylinder 620 forward to form a generally airtight seal between the cylinder gasket 631 and magazine baseplate 633, and to form a continuous air channel comprising air cylinder outlet 637 and passageway 635 of the barrel 634 currently in firing alignment with gasket 631.
Once cocked, the pistol 610 may be fired by pivoting the trigger 615 about shaft 614 to disengage hook 655 from hole 656 thus allowing the compressed spring 626 to expand, thrusting plunger 622 forward to force air out of cylinder 620 and through passageway 635 to discharge a projectile, such as 670, 671 or 672 in Figure 15, from the barrel 634. Friction between plunger head 623 and the interior surface of cylinder 620 urges cylinder 620 forward, thus reinforcing the seal between cylinder 620 and barrel 634. After firing, the pistol 610 may once again be cocked and the magazine advanced as previously described.
A false barrel 662 is carried at the-forward end of the frame 611 for cosmetic purposes. The inside diameter of the false barrel 662 is intended to be larger than the diameter of the projectiles used with the gun such that no contact is made between the projectile and the false barrel 662 at any time before, during or after projectile launch. Notches 665 are provided in the support 666 between the false barrel 662 and the frame 611 to allow clearance during magazine advancement for projectiles, similar to 671 of Figure _ 15, which have enlarged suction cup type heads .
Referring to FIGURES 15 and 16, an embodiment of the projectile magazine of the present invention is shown. The magazine 669 comprises a plurality of individual tubular barrels 673 supported and joined , together in a linear, side by side, parallel spaced configuration by an elongated baseplate 674. The baseplate 674 attaches to each barrel 673 generally orthogonally to the central longitudinal axis of the barrel. The use of individual tubes for the barrels 673 allows the barrels to be widely spaced with a minimum of material being required, since the areas between adjacent barrels 673 are for the most part devoid of material. Additionally, the use of individual tubes allows the magazine 669 to be used with hollow projectiles such as 672 which may be carried on the exterior surface 675 of a barrel 673. The magazine 669 is preferably formed, by a plastic molding or other suitable process, as a single piece comprising a plurality of barrels 673 and the supporting baseplate 674 The magazine as shown may be formed using a two piece mold which separates in the forward and rearward directions (left and right, respectively, in Figure 15).
A primary advantage of the single piece molded construction is the reduction of assembly requirements for the magazine 69.
The magazine 669 of FIGURES 15 and 16 is depicted in fragmentary form with three barrels 673 arranged in a linear parallel spaced configuration, stacked one on top of another, but it is understood that other than practical considerations such as size and structural integrity, there are no limits to the number of barrels 673 which may be so joined together. .
A variety of projectile types, such as 671, 671 and 672, may be carried and launched by magazine 669. A

~WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318 ,, _23_ . r , r~~c~
common requirement for good launching distance is that the projectile be capable of blocking airflow through the barrel s central passageway 676 sufficiently for pressurized air delivered into the passageway 676 through a rearward opening 677 to eject the projectile from the barrel 673. This requirement is referred to herein as a ~~generally airtight seal~~. Projectile 670 achieves the aforementioned generally airtight seal with a circular piston 678 at its rearward end which is generally complementary to the cross-sectional shape and dimensions of the barrel s internal passageway 676.
Projectile 671 is bullet shaped, having cross-sectional dimensions similarly matched to the internal passageway.
Projectile 672 has a hollow interior 679 with the surrounding walls 680 being sized to slide snugly over the exterior surface 675 of a barrel 673. In the embodiment of Figure 15,, the inside diameter of each barrel 673 is reduced from front to rear in a tapered manner, and the outside diameter of each barrel 673 is reduced from rear to front in a tapered manner. This allows the greatest seal between a barrel-673 and an internally carried projectile 670, 671 or an externally carried projectile 672 to be achieved when the projectile is positioned rearwardly in or on the barrel 673. As the projectile is moved forwardly, the contact friction between barrel 673 and the projectile is reduced to allow compressed air delivered through opening 677 to freely accelerate and discharge the - projectile from the barrel. It is understood that while the barrels 673 of Figure 15 are shown to be tapered, a - similar reduction of exterior and interior diameters may be achieved in a stepwise manner, or the barrels may be formed with uniform diameters over their length.

The magazine 669 is provided with recesses 681, 682 in baseplate 674 the edges of which function as ratchet surfaces for engagement with magazine advancing means on a cooperating projectile launching apparatus. An example of such an apparatus is shown in Figure 25. The features and operation of this apparatus will be further described later herein. Note that the recesses 681, 682 are configured to be symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis of baseplate 674 so that either end of such a magazine may be initially inserted into a firing apparatus.
The barrels 673 in FIGURE 15 are shown with a rear opening 677 that is of -smaller diameter than the passageway 676, so that a projectile 670, 671 inserted from the forward end of the barrel is prevented from protruding or exiting through the opening 677. In some embodiments of the invention, it will be desirable to load projectiles into a barrel from the rearward end. A
barrel 683 adapted for rear loading is shown in Figure 17. The barrel 683 comprises a rear opening 684 having generally the same diameter as the barrel's inner passageway 685, so that a projectile 686 having a similar cross-sectional diameter may be inserted through the opening 684.
Another barrel configuration is shown in FIGURE 18 in which the barrels 687 comprise a central passageway 688 which is sealed longitudinally at the forward end 689, with outlets 690 arranged for radial or side discharge. This configuration is designed for use only .
with externally carried projectiles, such as a hollow, rocket shaped projectile 691. The sealed end 689 of the longitudinal path through the passageway 688 adds a ~WO 94/18519 ~ PCT/LTS93/01318 measure of safety against foreign objects being inserted or. discharged. As in the previously described magazines, the barrels 687 are supported and joined together by a baseplate 692.
FIGURES 19 and 20 depict an embodiment 632 of the projectile magazine of the present invention in which the barrels 634 are supported and joined together by a baseplate 633 in a cylindrical parallel spaced relationship. The magazine is similar to that employed by the gun 610 of Figure 13. As with the previously described linearly arranged magazine 669, the cylindrical magazine 632 is preferably molded or otherwise formed as a single piece comprising a plurality of barrels 634 and the baseplate 633. As with the linear magazine 669, the cylindrical magazine 632 may be formed using a two piece mold which separates in the forward and rearward directions. The passageways 635 within the barrels 634 open to the rear through openings 636 in the baseplate 633. The baseplate 633 is provided with indexing slots 693 for engagement with a magazine rotating advancement mechanism, such as the magazine advancing pawl 652 of Figure 13. In Figure 20, the tip of such a pawl is represented by numbers 694a and 694b. In the position of 694a, the pawl laterally engages a slot 663. As the pawl is moved upward toward the position of 694b, magazine 632 is forced to rotate to maintain engagement of the pawl and slot 693. When the pawl reaches the position of 694b, the pawl longitudinally engages the sides 695 of the slot 693.
Assuming the pawl is constrained from sideways movement, the aforementioned longitudinal engagement will serve to index the magazine to facilitate alignment of an opening WO 94/18519 ~~ PCT/US93/01318 636 with the air cylinder outlet of a cooperating launching apparatus, such as the gun 610 of Figure 13.
FIGURES 21 and 22 depict another embodiment 696 of the projectile magazine of the present invention in which a plurality of barrels 697 are joined in a linear parallel configuration by support members 698 which attach to the barrels 697 and provide structural support generally parallel to the central longitudinal axes of the barrels 697. Such a configuration may be employed to simulate a belt type machine gun magazine. Preferably the magazine is molded or otherwise formed as a single piece from flexible plastic whereby the magazine is resiliently bendable between adjacent barrels 697, while the support members 698 maintain parallel alignment between adjacent barrels 697. As with the previously described magazine embodiments, each barrel 697 comprises a central passageway for carrying a projectile, such as 670 or 671 of Figure 15, and a rearward opening 703 for receiving compressed air from the outlet of a cooperating air cylinder. Each barrel 697 is provided with protruding tabs 701 which may be engaged by magazine advancing and indexing means of a cooperating projectile launching apparatus.
Additionally, the sides 702 of the barrels may be engaged by magazine advancing and indexing means, such as a sprocket or pawl.
FIGURE 23 shows an embodiment 710 of the present invention, which is a variation on the pistol 610 of FIGURE 13. In the gun 710, the previously described slide mounted cocking and magazine advancement features are incorporated into a slide assembly 719 which simulates the trigger of a conventional gun. The gun aW0 94/18519 . ~ PCT/US93/01318 ~, 710 comprises a frame 711, having a handle 712, trigger guard 713, a shaft 716 for pivotally mounting a magazine advancement lever 717, and guides 718a, b, c, d for slidingly supporting a slide assembly 719, at surfaces 719a, b, c, d, for reciprocating travel between a forward rest position and a rearward cocked, or firing, position. Carried within the frame 711 are an air cylinder 720 and a plunger assembly 722 similar to corresponding elements previously described for Figure 13. The cylinder 720 is supported by guides 721 for sliding movement between a forward position and a rearward position, with its travel limited by a shoulder 739 of frame 711. The plunger 722 is likewise supported for forward and rearward movement: at its rearward end by a shaft 728 which protrudes from the frame 711 through slots 729 in the hollow plunger shaft 724, and at its forward end by piston 723 which slides against the interior surface of cylinder 720. A spring 726 is carried within hollow shaft 724, with its forward end in contact with the forward end of hollow shaft 724 and its rearward end contacting shaft 728 which is fixed to the frame. The plunger 722 also comprises a protruding sear 725 for engagement with the hooked end 738 of a pawl 755 pivotally carried by slide assembly 719 about a shaft 714. A cylindrically configured projectile magazine 732, similar to that of Figures 19 and 20, is rotatably carried on frame 711 by a shaft 730 which supports a tubular bearing 759 of magazine 732. Note that in this embodiment, the forward movement of the magazine 732 is restricted by a portion 761 of shaft 730 having an enlarged diameter, and by a shoulder 748 protruding from the frame 711. The slidable, spring biased magazine configuration of Figure 13 (ref spring 663) could also be implemented in this embodiment, but it has been omitted from this design for simplicity and reduction of pants.' Note also that the clamping mechanism of Figure 13 (ref lever 644 and arm 647) is not implemented in the embodiment of 710. The slide assembly in embodiment 710 is in its most rearward position when plunger 722 is released for a firing stroke, as will be explained in further detail, and thus is not available to actuate such a clamping device. Therefore, in the gun 710 of Figure 23, intermittent engagement and disengagement of the air cylinder gasket 731 to the magazine baseplate 733 is facilitated by forward and rearward movement of cylinder 720 in response to forward and rearward movement of piston 723 within the cylinder 720.
The gun 710 of FIGURE 23 is cocked and fired as follows: an operator inserts an index finger through an opening 736, in the frame 711 above the trigger guard 713, to grasp a.member 715 of slide assembly 719 which simulates a conventional finger operated trigger. The operator's thumb is wrapped around the handle 712, and the remaining fingers of the hand are used Lo grasp the lower portion 742 of slide 719, which extends out from the frame 711 below trigger guard 713. The lower portion 742 of the slide may be omitted without deviating from the spirit of the present invention, however its inclusion provides for easier cocking and firing of the gun, particularly by a child who may have difficulty compressing spring 726 with the strength of a single finger. The operator, with hand positioned as described, now pulls the slide assembly 719 rearward on the frame 711. As the slide 719 moves rearward, hook 738 of pawl 755 engages sear 725 to draw plunger assembly 722 rearward, which in turn causes piston 723 to draw cylinder 720 rearward until the cylinder ~WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318 contacts shoulder 739, and causes spring 726 to be compressed between the forward end of hollow shaft 724 and shaft 728 of the frame. The slide 719 also compresses a slide return spring 741 against frame 711.
The slide further comprises a shaft 740 which engages and pivots magazine advancement lever 717. The tip 754 of pawl 752 engages slot 757 in the magazine baseplate 733 to rotate magazine 732 in the manner previously described for the devices of Figures 13, 19 and 20. As slide assembly 719 reaches its cocked, or firing position, a release lever 727 on pawl 755 engages a member 756 of the frame 711 to pivot pawl 755 about shaft 714 and withdraw hook 738 from engagement with sear 725. Note that the forward surface of the frame release member 756 is sloped such that it will engage the uppermost corner of pawl release lever 727, to provide maximum releasing leverage to the pawl 755.
With pawl 755 withdrawn, the spring 726, compressed within plunger assembly 722, abruptly urges the plunger 722 forward. Friction between piston 723 and cylinder 720 forces the cylinder forward to seal gasket 731 to the magazine baseplate 733. All further forward motion of the plunger 722 drives piston 723 forward within cylinder 720 to force pressurized air from the cylinder outlet end 737 and into the inner passageway 735 of the barrel 734 currently in firing alignment with the cylinder 720, thereby ejecting the projectile 771 from _ the barrel. The projectile exits the gun 710 through a false barrel 762 similar to that of Figure 13.
After the projectile 771 is discharged, the operator releases the trigger 715, 742, allowing spring 741 to return the slide assembly 719 to its forward rest position. The sloping forward surface of hook 738 slides over the sloping rearward surface of sear 725, forcing pawl 755 to pivot downward. Once hook 738 is past the sear 725, a spring 743 carried on the slide assembly 719 urges pawl 755 upward to place hook 738 in its rest position in front of sear 725.
Referring to FIGURES 25, 26 and 27, a variation on the previously described embodiments is shown in which the slide mounted cocking and magazine advancing features are incorporated into a plunger assembly. In this embodiment, a projectile launching apparatus 810 comprises a frame 811 upon which are carried an air cylinder 812, a plunger-like slide assembly 813, a projectile magazine 814, and a magazine advancement lever 815. The cylinder 812 is loosely carried on the frame 811, and may be moved forwardly and rearwardly along guides 824, 825 and 826, with rearward travel being limited by rear protrusions on guides 824 and 826, and forward travel being limited by the baseplate 827 of magazine 814. The slide assembly 813 comprises a hollow shaft 816, a piston 817 at the forward end of shaft 816, a flange 818 at the rearward end of shaft 816, and forwardly extended arm 819 having a protruding shaft 820 on its forward end. A spring 821 is carried within the hollow shaft 816 with its forward end resting against the inside of the forward end of shaft 816 and its rearward end resting against a shaft 822 which protrudes from the frame 811 into the hollow shaft 816 through slots 823.
An operator of the invention may cock the apparatus 810 by using a hand or other suitable means to keep the frame stationary with respect to the slide assembly 813 WO 94/18519 ~ PCT/US93/01318 while using another hand or other suitable means to grasp or engage the flange 818 to draw the slide assembly 813 rearward. As the slide assembly 813 moves rearwardly the piston 817 drags the cylinder 812 rearward into the protrusions of guides 824 and 826. As the slide 813 moves further rearward, shaft 820 on arm 819 engages lever 815 to pivot the lever about its mounting shaft 828. Lever 815 raises a pawl 829, pivotally carried on lever 815 by a shaft 830, so that the pawl 829 engages a recess 831 on the magazine baseplate 827 and drives the magazine 814 through a calibrated range of motion to move one barrel 831 out of alignment with the outlet or nozzle end 832 of the cylinder 812 and to move an adjacent barrel 831 into alignment. The magazine is carried by guides 833 on the frame 811 and a movable guide 834. The movable guide 834 is carried by a shaft 835 which extends inside frame 811. A spring 836 on the shaft is compressed between the frame 811 and a flange 837 on the shaft 835, whereby the movable guide 834 is normally urged toward the frame to draw the magazine rearward for engagement with the air cylinder outlet 832. The magazine advancing pawl 829 normally extends from its pivotal mounting shaft 830 both in the direction of magazine advancing motion and in the direction of the magazine 814. Thus as the pawl 829 urges magazine 814 upward, as oriented in Figure 25, leverage of the magazine 814 on pawl 829 will tend to rotate the pawl counter-clockwise, urging the tip 839 of the pawl and the magazine 814 further forward against the bias of spring 836 on movable guide 834. With the magazine 814 pushed forward as described, the friction between baseplate 827 and nozzle 832 is reduced for the duration of magazine advancing motion.

Once cocked as described above, the apparatus 810 is .fired simply by releasing the flange 818 to allow spring 821 to drive the piston 817 away from shaft 822 and forward within the cylinder 812. The cylinder 812 is pushed forward by friction of the piston 817, and at the same time, shaft 820 is moved forward to allow a spring 838 to retract pawl 829, which in turn allows spring 836 to pull the magazine baseplate 827 rearward, whereby the baseplate 827 and cylinder nozzle 832 are forced into mutual engagement. The piston 817 continues forward within the cylinder 812 to force air from the cylinder 812 through nozzle 832 and into the aligned barrel 831 through a rear opening 839 in the baseplate 827, for discharge of a projectile as has been previously described. When configured for firing as described above the apparatus 810 may be used in the construction of pull-and-release" type devices such as a multi-shot air operated toy bow and arrow.
A releasable latch may optionally be added to the apparatus of Figure 25 for engagement with an opening in the hollow shaft 816, to retain the slide assembly 813 in its rearward cocked position. Such a latch may be similar in form and function to the trigger 615 and hook 655 of FIGURE 13. In this case, with the slide assembly 813 drawn rearward, the opening 840 would become aligned with hook 655, whereby hook 655, biased by suitable means would be urged to enter the opening 840 to prevent forward travel of the slide 813. The apparatus would be fired by pulling on trigger 615 to withdraw hook 655 from the opening 840. When configured for firing as , described above the apparatus 810 may be used in the construction of triggered devices such as a multi-shot, air operated toy crossbow, armored vehicle, or firearm.

~WO 94/18519 ~ ~ ~ ' PCT/US93/01318 a A'separate cocking device may be optionally added to actuate the slide assembly 813. Such a cocking device may be similar in form and function to the slide assembly 619 of Figure 13. In this case, the shoulder 638 of slide 619 would engage the forward side of flange 818 whereby rearward movement of the slide 619 would cause shoulder 638 to drag slide assembly 813 rearward as well.
With reference to FIGURE 28, elements of the present invention are employed in the construction of a toy bow and arrow apparatus 900 which comprises a frame 901 having bow members 902, an airpump housing 903, and an advancement mechanism housing 904. Within the airpump housing 903, an elongated air cylinder 905 which is movably carried for limited forward and rearward travel as has been described for previously discussed embodiments of the invention. Within the advancement mechanism housing 904, a lever 906 is pivotally carried about a shaft 907 on the frame 901. A pawl. 908 is pivotally carried about a shaft 909 on the lever 906.
The pawl 908 and lever 906 are biased to rest positions, as depicted, by a spring 910. A
cylindrically configured projectile magazine 911, similar to that of Figures 19 and 20, is rotatably mounted to the frame 901 about a shaft 912. The magazine baseplate 913 is additionally supported and guided by shoulders 914 on the bow members 902. The magazine is adapted to carry elongated toy arrows 915 on the exterior surfaces of the barrels.
A plunger assembly 917 is slidably carried by an opening 918 at the rear end 924 of the airpump housing WO 94/18519 ~ ~ PCT/US93/01318 903. The plunger assembly 917 comprises a shaft 919, a handle 920 at the rear end of the shaft 919, a piston 321 at the front end of the shaft, a flange 922 on a forward portion of the shaft, and a spring 923 carried about the shaft 919 for compression between the flange 922 and the rear end 924 of the airpump housing 903. A
secondary slide assembly 925 is operably carried within a side chamber 926 of the airpump housing 903. The slide assembly 925 comprises an elongated member 927 which is pivotally joined to lever 906 by a shaft 928, and a shoulder 929 which extends into the rearward path of flange 922 of the plunger, or primary slide assembly, 917. The plunger assembly 917 is depicted in an intermediately rearward position. If the plunger 917 is drawn fully rearward, flange 922 engages shoulder 929 and pulls the secondary slide assembly 925 rearward, which in turn pivots lever 906 to induce magazine advancement as has been described for previously discussed embodiments.
In FIGURE 28 an arrow 915 is depicted on the barrel 916 currently in firing position. If the plunger assembly 917 is driven forward by spring 923, or any other means, piston 321 will urge cylinder 905 forward for sealing engagement with the magazine 911 and force air from within the cylinder 905 and through the aligned barrel 916 to launch the projectile or arrow 915. If however the plunger assembly 917 is drawn from the depicted position to its fully rearward position, flange _ 922 will actuate the magazine advancement mechanism of 927, 906 and 908, causing the depicted projectile 915 to be rotated out of firing alignment. Thus, once the apparatus900 has been cocked by the rearward positioning of plunger assembly 917, the magazine 911 may be ~WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318 advanced repeatedly to move any desired barrel 916 into or.out'of firing alignment by cyclical movement of the plunger 917 over a short range of travel near its fully rearward position.
Note that firing force may be applied to drive the plunger 917 forward by many different means, either individually or in combination. Such means may include but are not limited to: the bias of a spring such as spring 923, resilient stretching of bowstrings 930 connected from the bow members 902 to the plunger assembly 917, resilient bending of the bow members 902, and pushing force applied by an operator to an accessible portion of plunger assembly 917, such as handle 920.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and therefore the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A multi-projectile magazine for use with an air operated projectile launcher;

said magazine comprising a plurality of barrels and a supporting structure for said barrels;

each of said barrels comprising a tube;

said tube comprising an inner passageway and walls surrounding said passageway;

said walls having exterior surfaces generally concentric with said inner passageway and being substantially unshared with any of the other of said barrels;

said barrels and said supporting structure being formed integrally as a single piece.

2. The invention of Claim 1 wherein:

said supporting structure comprises a generally flat plate formed generally orthogonal to the central longitudinal axes of said barrels.

3. The invention of Claim 1 wherein:

said supporting structure comprises members between adjacent barrels formed and attached generally parallel to the central longitudinal axes of said barrels;

4. The invention of Claim 1 wherein:

said inner passageways each comprise a forward end and a rearward end;

said rearward end being adapted to receive compressed air from a cooperating source of compressed air.

5. The invention of Claim 4 wherein:

each of said inner passageways is adapted to receive a projectile to form a generally airtight seal.

6. The invention of Claim 5 wherein:

each of said inner passageways has a smaller diameter toward its rearward end than at its forward end, whereby friction between said projectile and said tube is reduced as said projectile is moved from said rearward end toward said forward end.

7. The invention of Claim 4 including:

the exterior of each of said barrels being adapted to receive and carry a hollow projectile so as to form a generally airtight seal between the exterior surface of said barrel and the interior surface of said hollow projectile.

8. The invention of Claim 7 wherein:

the exterior of each of said barrels has a larger diameter toward its rearward end than at its forward end, whereby friction between said projectile and said barrel is reduced as said projectile is moved from said rearward end toward said forward end.

9. The invention of Claim 1 wherein:

said barrels are held by said support structure in a linear parallel spaced relationship.

10. The invention of Claim 1 wherein:

said barrels are held by said support structure in a cylindrical parallel spaced relationship.

11. An air operated projectile launcher comprising:

a frame;

an air cylinder;

a piston movably carried in said air cylinder;

means for propelling said piston within said cylinder to discharge air under pressure from said cylinder;

outlet means for conducting air compressed by said piston from said cylinder;

a projectile magazine movably carried on said frame;

said magazine comprising a plurality of barrels in spaced relationship;

said barrels being selectively alignable with said outlet means to receive air discharged from said cylinder to expel a projectile carried by the selected barrel;

engagement means normally urging said magazine into contact with said outlet means to form a seal between said outlet means and a selected barrel;

magazine advancement means for successive alignment of said barrels with said outlet means;

disengagement means intermittently operable for disabling said engagement means whereby contact pressure and friction between said magazine and said outlet means may be reduced for advancement of said magazine.

12. The invention of Claim 11 including:

said engagement means comprising non-biased clamping means;

said magazine advancement means comprising at least one reciprocating element movably carried on said frame for forward and reverse motion from a rest position through a magazine advancing range of motion;

said reciprocating element actuating said clamping means when said reciprocating element is in said rest position;

bias means normally urging said reciprocating element to said rest position.

13. The invention of Claim 11 including:

said engagement means comprising permanent bias means;

said disengagement means comprising counter-bias means for overcoming said bias means.

14. The invention of Claim 13 including:

said magazine advancement means comprising a pawl engageable with said magazine to drive said magazine through an advancing range of motion;

said pawl additionally providing said disengagement means by driving said magazine against the force of said bias means and away from said outlet means.

15. An air operated projectile launcher comprising:

a frame;

an air cylinder;

a piston movably carried in said air cylinder;

cocking means for drawing said piston from a discharged position within said cylinder to a cocked position within said cylinder;

means for propelling said piston within said cylinder to discharge air under pressure from said cylinder;

outlet means for conducting air compressed by said piston from said cylinder;

a projectile magazine movably carried on said frame;

said magazine comprising a plurality of barrels in spaced relationship;

said barrels being selectively alignable with said outlet means to receive air discharged from said cylinder to expel a projectile carried by a selected barrel;

magazine advancement means for successive alignment of said barrels with said outlet means;

said magazine advancement means comprising a lever assembly pivotally carried on said frame;

said lever assembly coacting with said cocking means whereby actuation of said cocking means induces pivotal motion of said lever assembly;

a pawl pivotally carried by said lever assembly whereby pivotal motion of said lever assembly in one direction engages said pawl with said magazine to induce advancing motion of said magazine;

16. The invention of Claim 15 including:

said pawl extending from its pivotal mount on said lever assembly into the direction of said induced advancing motion and into the direction of said magazine whereby pivotal motion of said lever assembly through a magazine advancing range of motion continually urges said pawl into engagement with said magazine.

17. An air operated projectile launcher comprising:

a frame;

an air cylinder;

a piston movably carried in said air cylinder;

cocking means for drawing said piston from a discharged position within said cylinder to a cocked position within said cylinder;

means for propelling said piston within said cylinder to discharge air under pressure from said cylinder;

outlet means for conducting air compressed by said piston from said cylinder;

a projectile magazine movably carried on said frame;

said magazine comprising a plurality of barrels in spaced relationship;

said barrels being selectively alignable with said outlet means to receive air discharged from said cylinder to expel a projectile carried by a selected barrel;

magazine advancement means for successive alignment of said barrels with said outlet means;

said magazine advancement means comprising a lever pivotally carried on said frame whereby advancing motion of said magazine is induced by pivotal motion of said lever;

said cocking means comprising fixedly mounted means for direct engagement with said lever whereby actuation of said cocking means induces pivotal motion of said lever;

18. An air operated projectile launcher comprising:

a frame;

an air cylinder;

a piston movably carried in said air cylinder;

a slide assembly operably carried for reciprocating travel;

said slide assembly cooperating with said piston to draw said piston from a discharged position within said cylinder to a cocked position within said cylinder;

means for propelling said piston within said cylinder to discharge air under pressure from said cylinder;

outlet means for conducting air compressed by said piston from said cylinder;

a movably carried projectile magazine;

said magazine comprising a plurality of barrels in spaced relationship;

said barrels being selectively alignable with said outlet means to receive air discharged from said cylinder to expel a projectile carried by a selected barrel;

magazine advancement means for successive alignment of said barrels with said outlet means;

said slide assembly cooperating with said magazine advancement means such that reciprocative travel of said slide assembly actuates said magazine advancement means.

19. An air operated projectile launcher comprising:

a frame;

an air cylinder;

a piston assembly comprising a piston movably carried in said air cylinder;

cocking means intermittently engageable with said piston assembly for drawing said piston from a discharged position within said cylinder to a cocked position within said cylinder;

means for propelling said piston assembly from said cocked position to said discharged position to discharge air under pressure from said cylinder;

outlet means for conducting air from said cylinder;

a projectile magazine movably carried on said frame;

said magazine comprising a plurality of barrels in spaced relationship;

said barrels being selectively alignable with said outlet means to receive air discharged from said cylinder to launch a projectile carried by a selected barrel;

said cocking means comprising a slide element operably carried for reciprocating movement on said frame between a rest position and a biased position;

said slide element cooperating with said piston assembly to urge said piston assembly toward said cocked position upon actuation of said slide element from said rest position toward said biased position;

20. The invention of Claim 19 including:

said frame comprising the form of a gun having a handle portion, a muzzle portion and a breech portion;

said slide element and said air cylinder being carried generally at said breech portion of said frame;

said magazine being carried generally toward said muzzle portion of said frame.

21. The invention of Claim 19 including:

latch means for retaining said piston assembly in said cocked position;

said slide element being able to return to rest position independent of said piston assembly;

trigger means for releasing said piston assembly from said latch means, whereby said propelling means may urge said piston assembly toward said discharged position to launch a projectile.

22. The invention of Claim 19 including:

said slide element comprising a pawl for engagement with said piston assembly;

said propelling means normally urging said piston assembly toward said discharged position;

release means for disengaging said pawl from said piston assembly when said piston assembly is moved into said cocked position.

23. The invention of Claim 22 including:

said frame comprising the form of a gun having a handle portion, a muzzle portion and a breech portion;

said slide element being carried generally at said handle portion of said frame;

said slide element comprising the general form of a trigger.

24. The invention of Claim 19 including:

magazine advancement means for successive alignment of said barrels with said outlet means;

said slide element cooperating with said magazine advancement means whereby sliding motion of said slide element induces advancement of said magazine.

25. The invention of Claim 24 wherein:

said magazine advancing means comprises a pawl cooperating with said cocking assembly and said magazine to translate sliding motion of said slide element to advancing motion of said magazine.

26. The invention of Claim 19 wherein:

said outlet means is movable with respect to said frame for intermittent sealing engagement with said magazine.

27. The invention of Claim 19 including:

magazine engagement means normally urging said magazine into engagement with said outlet means;

means for intermittently disabling said magazine engagement means to temporarily disengage said magazine from said outlet means.

28. The invention of Claim 19 including:

means for carrying said magazine on said frame allowing movement of said magazine into and out of engagement with said outlet means;

means for forcing said magazine into sealing engagement with said outlet means.

29. An air operated projectile launcher comprising:

a frame;

a linearly formed air cylinder;

a piston assembly for compressing air in said air cylinder;

said piston assembly comprising a piston movably carried within said air cylinder for linear reciprocating travel between a discharged position and a cocked position;

means for propelling said piston from said cocked position to said discharged position to discharge air under pressure from said cylinder;

outlet means for conducting air from said cylinder;

a projectile magazine movably carried on said frame;

said magazine comprising a plurality of barrels in spaced relationship;

said barrels being selectively alignable with said outlet means to receive air discharged from said cylinder to expel a projectile carried by the selected barrel;

magazine advancement means cooperating with said piston assembly whereby linear reciprocating movement of said piston assembly induces advancement of said magazine for successive alignment of said barrels with said outlet means.

30. The invention of Claim 29 including:

cocking means intermittently engageable with said piston assembly for drawing said piston from a discharged position within said cylinder to a cocked position within said cylinder.

31. The invention of Claim 29 including:

latch means for retaining said piston assembly in said cocked position;

trigger means for releasing said piston assembly from said latch.

32. The invention of Claim 29 including:

said piston assembly comprising a handle for drawing said piston from said discharged position to said cocked position;

33. The invention of Claim 32 wherein:

said propelling means is said handle on said piston assembly, whereby propelling force may be provided manually by a user of said invention.

34. The invention of Claim 29 including:

said propelling means comprising resilient bias means normally urging said piston assembly from said cocked position and toward said discharged position.

35. The invention of Claim 34 including:

said frame comprising the form of a bow.

36. The invention of Claim 29 wherein:

said air outlet means is movable with respect to said frame for intermittent sealing engagement with said magazine.

37. The invention of Claim 29 including:

magazine engagement means normally urging said magazine into engagement with said outlet means;

means for intermittently disabling said magazine engagement means to temporarily disengage said magazine from said outlet means.

38. The invention of Claim 29 including:

means for carrying said magazine on said frame allowing movement of said magazine into and out of engagement with said outlet means;

means for forcing said magazine into sealing engagement with said outlet means.

39. The invention of Claim 18 wherein:

said slide comprises a shaft attached to said piston.

40. The invention of Claim 39 wherein:

said slide comprises a handle for manual operation.

41. The invention of Claim 39 including:

a separate movable cocking mechanism which engages said slide to urge said slide through a piston cocking range of motion.

42. An air operated projectile launcher comprising:

a frame simulating an archery bow;

an air cylinder carried on said frame;

a piston carried within said cylinder for travel between a cocked position and a discharged position;

cocking means for drawing said piston from said discharged position to said cocked position;

propelling means for driving said piston from said cocked position to said discharged position to force air under pressure from said cylinder;

outlet means for conducting pressurized air from said cylinder;

a projectile magazine movably carried for selective alignment of a plurality of projectile launching barrels with said air outlet;

43. The invention of Claim 42 wherein:

said cocking means comprises a piston shaft attached to said piston;

handle means for manually moving said piston shaft to cock said piston.

44. The invention of Claim 43 including:

magazine advancement means for successively aligning said projectile launching barrels with said air outlet.

45. The invention of Claim 44 including:

said cocking means cooperating with said magazine advancement means whereby actuation of said cocking means induces actuation of said magazine advancement means.

46. The invention of Claim 42 including:

intermittently operable engagement means for sealing said air outlet to a selected projectile launching barrel.

47. An air operated projectile launcher comprising:

a frame;

an air chamber carried on said frame;

said chamber having an air outlet path adapted to conduct airflow from said chamber through a nozzle;

said nozzle being movably carried on said frame for motion between a cocking position and a firing position;

a magazine movably carried on said frame and comprising a plurality of barrels in spaced relationship;

each of said barrels comprising an elongated passageway open at both ends;

said magazine movable on said frame whereby said barrels are selectively alignable with said nozzle to allow airflow from said nozzle through said passageway;

a piston in said air chamber having a shape complementary to said air chamber;

means for propelling said piston through a firing stroke within said chamber to displace air under pressure from said chamber through said nozzle;

means urging said nozzle into said firing position during said piston firing stroke to engage said nozzle with a selected barrel, said barrel and said nozzle being adapted to form a substantially airtight seal with each other;

each said barrel adapted to carry a projectile and to form a substantially airtight seal with said projectile to normally prevent airflow through said barrel;

pressurized air from said chamber being forced through said nozzle and said barrel for the desired result of said projectile being ejected from said barrel by force of said air pressure.

48. The invention as defined in Claim 47 wherein:

said nozzle and said chamber are rigidly joined as a single assembly movably carried on said frame for travel between said cocking position and said firing position.

49. The invention as defined in Claim 48 wherein:

said means urging said nozzle into said firing position is the frictional force applied to said chamber by said piston during said firing stroke.

50. The invention as defined in Claim 47 including:

means for advancing said magazine to successively align said barrels with said nozzle.

51. The invention as defined in Claim 50 including:

means urging said nozzle toward said cocking position during actuation of said magazine advancing means whereby said nozzle is disengaged from said barrel.

52. The invention as defined in Claim 51 wherein:

said nozzle and said chamber are rigidly joined as a single assembly;

said means urging said nozzle toward said cocking position provided by frictional force between said piston and said chamber as said piston is cocked against said propelling means.

53. The invention as defined in Claim 50 wherein:

said magazine advancement means comprises a lever assembly pivotally carried on said frame and a plurality of ratchet surfaces on said magazine;

one member of said lever assembly carrying a pawl for engagement with said ratchet surfaces whereby pivotal motion of said lever assembly in one direction causes said magazine to move on said frame to effect said advancement, and pivotal movement of said lever assembly in the other direction retracts said pawl without imparting motion to said magazine;

54. The invention as defined in Claim 53 including:

a slide element operably carried for reciprocating movement on said frame;

said slide element engageable with said lever assembly to induce said pivotal movement of said lever assembly to effect said magazine advancement upon manual actuation of said slide element.

55. The invention as defined in Claim 54 including:

a latch to hold said piston cocked against said propelling means;

a trigger for releasing said latch to actuate said piston propelling means;

said slide element when moved in the rearward direction cooperating with said piston so as to draw said piston rearward for engagement with said latch.

56. An air operated gun comprising:

a frame;

an elongated air cylinder movably carried on said frame for forward and reverse travel between a cocking position and a firing position;

said air cylinder comprising a nozzle to allow air to exit said cylinder;

a piston movably carried in said air cylinder;

a spring normally biasing said piston within said cylinder toward said nozzle;

a magazine movably carried on said frame;

said magazine comprising a plurality of projectile launching barrels in spaced relationship;

said barrels being selectively alignable with said nozzle of said air cylinder;

one end of each said barrel being adapted to be engageable with said nozzle to form a substantially airtight seal when said air cylinder is in said firing position;

the other end of each said barrel being adapted to receive a projectile so as to form a substantially airtight seal between said barrel and said projectile;

means for drawing said piston rearward away from said magazine and against said spring bias;
friction of said rearward moving piston within said cylinder dragging said cylinder rearward to said cocking position to disengage said nozzle from said selected barrel.

57. The invention of Claim 56 including:

means for drawing said piston further rearward to engage a latch, said latch holding said piston against said spring bias;

a trigger for releasing said latch to allow said spring bias to propel said piston forward within said cylinder toward said nozzle;

said cylinder being urged forward toward said firing position by friction of said piston moving within whereby said nozzle is forcibly engaged with said selected barrel;

said piston furthermore displacing air from said cylinder through said nozzle to eject a projectile from a selected barrel.

58. The invention of Claim 56 including:

means for drawing said piston further rearward to compress said-spring;

means for releasing said piston to allow said spring bias to propel said piston forward within said cylinder toward said nozzle;

said cylinder being urged forward toward said firing position by friction of said piston moving within whereby said nozzle is forcibly engaged with said selected barrel;

said piston furthermore displacing air from said cylinder through said nozzle to eject a projectile from a selected barrel.