Toy gun with glowing projectiles and method of providing glowing projectiles to a toy gun

• US 20050227580A1
• Filed: 04/01/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CYI Inc
• Original Assignee: CYI Inc
• Inventors: Zuloff, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,004,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/473
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 7/08 Toy guns , i.e. guns launching objects of the gliding type, e.g. airplanes, parachute missiles F41B7/006 and F41B7/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/38 of tracer type

Abstract

A toy gun that shoots glowing projectiles and the method of providing glowing projectiles to a toy gun. The toy gun having a body, at least one black light responsive projectile, a cartridge for supplying the projectiles to the body, at least one black light source within the body for exposing the projectile to black light, a triggering mechanism for engaging the exposed projectile and a launching mechanism for expelling the exposed projectile from the toy gun, such that the projectiles expelled from the toy gun has a glowing effect as if internally lit.

Claims

1. A combination toy gun and projectile to be expelled from said toy gun, said toy gun having a triggering mechanism to be actuated by a user, comprising:

a. a body,

b. at least one black light responsive projectile,

c. means for supplying and storing said projectile to said body,

d. at least one black light source positioned within said body for exposing said projectile to black light,

e. a triggering mechanism in said body for selectively engaging said exposed projectile from said supplying and storing means in preparation for expulsion, and

f. a launching mechanism within said body for engaging and expelling said exposed projectile from said body;

wherein said projectile expelled from said body has a glowing effect.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said body comprises an upper portion and a lower portion.

3. The combination of claim 2 further comprises a handle attached to said lower portion of said body.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said body comprises an opening for expelling said projectile.

5. The combination of claim 1 further comprises a launching channel within said body for expelling said projectile from said body in a reasonably linear fashion.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said black light responsive projectile is a disk.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said black light responsive projectile is made of foam.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said black light responsive projectile contains fluorescent pigment.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said black light responsive projectile contains phosphorescent pigment.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said supplying and storing means is removably attachable to said body.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said supplying and storing means comprises a tubular body having an open end and a closed end.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said open end of said supplying and storing means is removably attachable to said body.

13. The combination of claim 2 comprising first and second black light sources, with said first black light source attached to said upper portion of said body and said second black light source attached to said lower portion of said body.

14. The combination of claim 1 wherein said triggering mechanism comprises a trigger and an engaging plate, wherein upon actuation of said trigger by a user, said trigger actuates said engaging plate to slidably push each of said projectile sequentially from said supplying and storing means to be in a position for engagement by said launching mechanism.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said triggering mechanism further comprises a spring and a gear combination, wherein upon actuation of said trigger by a user, said spring compresses and through said gear combination, actuates said engaging plate.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said triggering mechanism further comprises a latching element to ensure that said trigger is fully actuated before said spring returns said engaging plate to its original position.

17. The combination of claim 1 wherein said launching mechanism comprises a driver motor that imparts rotational movement, a driver disk connected to said driver motor for engaging and expelling said projectile, and a idler disk for pushing said projectile against said driver disk and for supporting said projectile to ensure said projectile exits said body in a reasonably linear fashion.

18. The combination of claim 1 further comprises a speaker within said body that produces a sound effect to accompany each actuation of said triggering mechanism.

19. The combination of claim 1 further comprises a power source supplying energy to said at least one black light source and said launching mechanism.

20. The method of providing at least one glowing projectile for expulsion from a toy gun, comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least one black light responsive projectile,

c. providing means for supplying and storing said projectile within said toy gun,

d. providing at least one black light source within said toy gun,

e. providing a staging area for said projectile,

f. providing a triggering mechanism for engaging said projectile from said supplying and storing means to said staging area,

g. exposing said at least one black light responsive projectile to said at least one black light source at said staging area, and

h. providing a launching mechanism for engaging said exposed projectile at said staging area and expelling said exposed projectile from said toy gun.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein each of said black light responsive projectile is a disk.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein each of said black light responsive projectile is made of foam.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein each of said black light responsive projectile contains fluorescent pigment.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein each of said black light responsive projectile contains phosphorescent pigment.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein said supplying and storing means is removably attachable to said toy gun.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein said supplying and storing means comprises a tubular body having an open end and a closed end.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said open end of said supplying and storing means is removably attachable to said toy gun.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein said triggering mechanism comprises a trigger and an engaging plate, wherein upon actuation of said trigger by a user, said trigger actuates said engaging plate to slidably push each of said projectile sequentially from said supplying and storing means to said staging area.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said triggering mechanism further comprises a spring and a gear combination, wherein upon actuation of said trigger by a user, said spring compresses and through said gear combination, actuates said engaging plate.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said triggering mechanism further comprises a latching element to ensure that said trigger is fully actuated before said spring returns said engaging plate to its original position.

31. The method of claim 20 wherein said launching mechanism comprises a driver motor that imparts rotational movement, a driver disk connected to said driver motor for engaging and expelling said projectile, and a idler disk for pushing said projectile against said driver disk and for supporting said projectile to ensure said projectile exits said toy gun in a reasonably linear fashion.

32. The method of claim 20 further comprises the step of providing a sound effect to accompany each actuation of said triggering mechanism.

33. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of providing a power source to supply energy to said at least one black light source and said launching mechanism.