US3282262A

US3282262A - Combined launcher and dart with depth gauge

Info

Publication number: US3282262A
Application number: US283819A
Authority: US
Inventors: James C Skinner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-05-28
Filing date: 1963-05-28
Publication date: 1966-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-01

Description

Nov. 1, 1966 J- K E 3,282,262

COMBINED LAUNCHER AND DART WITH DEPTH GAUGE Filed May 28, 1963 2s 2s 24 27 f I/ XPZB INVENZOR JamesGSkmnez' United States Patent 3,282,262 COMBINED LAUNCHER AND DART WITH DEPTH GAUGE James C. Skinner, 3221 Sherman Court, Anderson, Ind. Filed May 28, 1963, Ser. No. 283,819 6 Claims. (Cl. 124-5) This invention relates to amusement devices, and, more particularly, to that class of amusement devices that are associated with toys rather than games and the like.

Man is forever seeking new and more attractive devices for amusement, devices that will, if possible, appeal not only to children but also to grown-ups as well. In the quest for new and novel amusement devices, one must not only try to produce a device that requires a certain amount of physical skill, but also a device that can be manufactured and retailed at a price attractive to anyone who may want something different in the way of amusement devices. At the same time the article must be safe to use and fairly rigid in construction.

While many different forms of amusement devices have been produced throughout the ages, none have held the attention of the public longer nor provided as much fun as amusement devices of the dart type. Darts always require a certain amount of skill, skill that is even more important when they are launched from some form of a holder held in ones hand and literally thrown towards the target.

It is, therefore, the main object of this invention to provide an amusement device of the dart and launcher type that is not only entirely new and novel in its construction, but also a device that is safer to use than anything yet placed on the open market.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement device in the form of a dart and its launcher that does not have any mechanical or electrical mechanism to get out of order.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement device in the form of a dart that can be sent on its way from a launcher which can be manufactured in many different forms, as disclosed in the following specification and claims.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement device in the form of a dart and its launcher that can be used both indoors and out-of-doors with equal success.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement device in the form of a dart and its hand launcher that can be used against any desired target.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an amusement device that can be adapted to launch toy rockets from launching sites as well as propelling them from the hand.

Other and further objects and advantages of this amusement device will be hereinafter described, and the novel features thereof defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the dart portion of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of that portion of FIGURE 1 that is enclosed within the arrowed circle and indicated by the numeral 2 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an underside view of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side view. of an optional method of constructing that detail of the dart known as its projection.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of that part of this invention known as the launcher.

FIGURE 6 is an edge view of the launcher of FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of another form of the launcher.

3,282,262 Patented Nov. 1, 1966 FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view of the launching end of FIGURE 5, with a loop at the free end of the cord.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of one form of this invention being held in the hand and ready for the launching of the dart.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the optional form of this invention which is also shown in FIGURE 7 ready for use.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, there is generally indicated by the character 15 a typical dart that is one of the two major parts of this invention. The dart consists of a shaft 16 having what I personally call a sponge rubber depth gauge 17, adjustably mounted on the aforesaid shaft 16, which will allow the shaft to penetrate a given target only to the desired depth, as will be described later on in this specification. A solid rubber tip 18, that has the side view configuration of an equilateral triangle, is secured to one end of the shaft 16. This solid rubber tip can be so manufactured as to leave a mark on the target, if so desired. A plurality of stabilizing fins 19 are secured to the opposite end of the aforesaid shaft 16, which is provided with a diagonal recess 20, that has a rounded end 21 terminating in the center of the shaft and towards the solid rubber tip 18, as shown in FIGURE 1 of the appended drawing. This recess 20 is adapted to receive the end of the launcher portion of this invention. The recess 20 can be replaced by the downwardly and backwardly extending projection 22, as shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, if it is so desired.

The second major portion of this invention is the launcher 23. This device consists of a body member 24, having a handle 25 on one end thereof and the other end terminating in a concave portion 26, having an opening 27, through which is threaded a cord 28, that has a bead 29 or a ring 30 on the outer end thereof; the other end 31 of the cord is secured to a coil spring 32 that has its lower end secured to that portion of the aforesaid body member 24 that blends into the handle 25, as best illustrated in FIGURE 6 of the appended drawing.

In that form of the launcher 23 that is illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 10, the cord 28 is replaced by cord 33 terminating in a bead 34, after it has passed through the opening 27 in the outer end of the body member 24, rather than continue on down the body member and terminate in a connection to the aforesaid coil spring 32. The body member shown in FIGURE 7 is constructed froinfiexible material as evidenced by the dashed lines 35 of the tip of the device.

The way in which this new and novel amusement device is used is as follows. The launcher 23 or 23' is held in one hand by its handle 25, with the upper portion of the launcher protruding between the thumb and index finger, and the bead 29 or the ring 30 toward you. With the other hand, pick up the dart 15 by its shaft 16 with the stabilizing fins 19 towards your body, place the bead 29 or ring 30 in the recess 20 or on the downwardly extending projection 22. Place the shaft 16 in the concave portion 26 of the

body member

24 or 24 of the launcher 23, and then point the dart 15 at whatever target you are aiming at. Then, holding the shaft 16 just back of the stabilizing fins 19, pull back and release the shaft. This is, of course, a game of skill, and the more practice, the better scores one will make.

This invention can have the handle 25 of the launcher 23 or 23' adapted to securement to a stationary base for the launching of toy rockets, if so desired.

It is to be realized that this invention can be made from any desired material or combination of materials, that many variations may be made in its detail design, and

that the invention will still fall within the spirit and intent of the appended claims.

It may be well to call ones attention at this time to that part of this invention of mine which I have called the dart 15. Technically speaking, a dart is normally considered to be a device having a maximum length of six inches; however, due to the fact that this part of this invention characterized in the drawing by the aforesaid reference numeral 15 has the same parts and same basic configuration as that of a dart with the exception of the actual length of the shaft 16, I have taken the liberty to call this part of my invention a dart throughout this specification and its appended claims.

Having now described my invention of an amusement device, the way in which the same is constructed in its preferred and suggested optional forms, and the way in which the same is used, what I now claim as my invention is:

1 An amusement device embodying a dart, a launcher, said dart having a shaft, on one end of which is secured a triangular, solid rubber tip and a sponge rubber depth gauge movably mounted on the said shaft and behind the said tip, and the other end of the said shaft, on which is secured a plurality of stabilizing fins, the said shaft having means of temporary securement to the said launcher, the said launcher embodying a body member having its lower end terminated in a handle and the upper end adapted to receive the shaft of the said dart, thereby providing means of launching the said dart at a predetermined target by movements of ones hand.

2. An amusement device embodying a dart, a launcher, said dart having a shaft, on one end of which is secured a triangular, solid rubber tip and a sponge rubber depth gauge movably mounted on the said shaft and behind the saids-tip, and the other end of the said shaft, on which is secured a plurality of stabilizing fins, the said shaft having means of temporary securement to the said launcher, the said launcher embodying a body member having its lower end terminated in a handle and the upper end being concaved and adapted to receive the shaft of the said dart, thereby providing means of launching the said dart at a predetermined target by movements of ones hand.

3. An amusement device embodying a dart, a launcher, said dart having a shaft, on one end of which is secured a triangular, solid rubber tip and a sponge rubber depth gauge movably mounted on the said shaft and behind the said tip, and the other end of the said shaft, on which is secured a plurality of stabilizing fins, the said shaft having an angularly disposed recess therein for temporary securement of the said dart to the said launcher, the said launcher embodying a body member having its lower end terminated in a handle and the upper end being concaved and adapted to receive the shaft of the said dart, thereby providing means of launching the said dart at a predetermined target by movements of ones hand.

4. An amusement device embodying a dart, a launcher, said dart having a shaft, on one end of which is secured a triangular, solid rubber tip and a sponge rubber depth gauge movably mounted on the said shaft and behind the said tip, and the other end of the said shaft, on which is secured a plurality of stabilizing fins, the said shaft having an angularly disposed projection extending downward and backward towards the said stabilizing fins in order to provide temporary securement of the said dart to the said launcher, the said launcher embodying a body member having its lower end terminated in a handle and the upper end being concaved and adapted to receive the shaft of the said dart, thereby providing means of launching the said dart at a predetermined target by movements of ones hand.

5. An amusement device embodying a dart, a launcher, said dart having a shaft, on one end of which is secured a triangular, solid rubber tip and a sponge rubber depth gauge movably mounted on the said shaft and behind the said tip, and the other end of the said shaft, on which is secured a plurality of stabilizing fins, the said shaft having an angularly disposed recess therein for temporary securement of the said dart to the said launcher, the said launcher embodying a body member having its lower end terminated in a handle and the upper end being concaved and adapted to receive the shaft of the said dart, thereby providing means of launching the said dart at a predetermined target by means of a cord having one end secured to a bead adapted to the angularly disposed recess in the said shaft, the said cord passing through an opening in the upper end of the said body member and extending down the said body member to the upper end of a coil spring, that has its lower end secured to the lower end of the said body member and above the said handle.

6. An amusement device embodying a dart, a launcher, said dart having a shaft, on one end of which is secured a triangular, solid rubber tip and a sponge rubber depth gauge movably mounted on the said shaft and behind the said tip, and the other end of the said shaft, on which is secured a plurality of stabilizing fins, the said shaft having an angularly disposed projection extending downward and backward towards the said stabilizing fins in order to provide temporary securement of the said dart to the said launcher, the said launcher embodying a body member having its lower end terminated in a handle and the upper end being concaved and adapted to receive the shaft of the said dart, thereby providing means of launching the said dart at a predetermined target by means of a cord having one end secured to a ring adapted to the angularly disposed projection extending downward and backward from the shaft of the said dart, the said cord having its other end passing through an opening in the upper end of the said body member of the said launcher and terminating in a bead.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 736,759 8/1903 Means.

876,324 1/l908 Brucker 273-1065 X 1,178.028 4/1916 Schlueter 1245 1,468,223 3/1923 Baltich 1245 2,691,973 10/1954 Hutson 273106.5 X 2,976,042 3/1961 Barnett 273-1065 FOREIGN PATENTS 251,681 8/ 1948 Switzerland.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE EMBODYING A DART, A LAUNCHER, SAID DART HAVING A SHAFT, ON ONE END OF WHICH IS SECURED A TRIANGULAR SOLID RUBBER TIP AND A SPONGE RUBBER DEPTH GAUGE MOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE SAID SHAFT AND BEHIND THE SAID TIP, AND THE OTHER END OF THE SAID SHAFT, ON WHICH IS SECURED A PLURALITY OF STABILIZING FINS, THE SAID SHAFT HAVING MEANS OF TEMPORARY SECUREMENT TO THE SAID LAUNCHER, THE SAID LAUNCHER EMBODYING A BODY MEMBER HAVING ITS LOWER END TERMINATED IN A HANDLE AND THE UPPER END ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE SHAFT OF THE SAID DART, THEREBY PROVIDING MEANS OF LAUNCHING THE SAID DART AT A PREDETERMINED TARGET BY MOVEMENTS OF ONE''S HAND.