BREECHLOADING TOY/SPORTING RING AIRFOIL LAUNCHER AND PROJECTILE THEREFOR

• US 20100282227A1
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chester Vanek
• Original Assignee: Chester Vanek
• Inventors: Vanek, Chester
• Granted Patent: US 8,371,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 124/27
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/18 Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys discs used in athletics A63B65/10as part of a game A63F9/02; sling weapons F41B3/00; spring toy guns F41B7/08
• 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 10/36 Ring-foil projectiles

Abstract

A multi-shot ring airfoil launcher comprises a launcher configured to receive a magazine which supports at least two ring airfoils. The launcher includes a barrel. A chuck is mounted in the barrel and is configured to propel a ring airfoil from a breech to the muzzle of the barrel, launching a ring airfoil with forward velocity and spin. The magazine is configured to deliver successive ring airfoils to the breech or rear end of the chuck for launching. The launcher includes a cocking mechanism for loading ring airfoils on to the chuck and cocking the chuck, and a firing mechanism for firing the launcher.

Claims

1. A ring airfoil launcher comprising:

a barrel defining a launch passage, said barrel having a first breech end and an opposing second muzzle end;

a chuck movably mounted in said passage of said barrel, said chuck having an outer surface and having a front end facing towards said muzzle end of said barrel and an opposing rear end, said chuck configured to receive a ring airfoil for launching at said rear end thereof and to launch said ring airfoil from said front end thereof;

at least one ring airfoil engaging member configured to connect a ring airfoil associated with said chuck for launching thereof, said at least one ring airfoil engaging member configured to prevent rearward movement of a ring airfoil mounted on said chuck during propulsion of said chuck during launch; and

a propulsion mechanism configured to propel said chuck having a ring airfoil mounted thereto from a first position in which said chuck is located at said breech end of said barrel towards second muzzle end, whereby said ring airfoil is projected from said chuck from said front end thereof and out of said muzzle end of said barrel.

2. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a ring airfoil loading mechanism, said mechanism configured to successively deliver at least two ring airfoils to said chuck.

3. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one ring airfoil engaging member comprises at least one catch moveable from a retracted position to an extended position, said catch in said extended position configured to engage the exterior of a ring airfoil.

4. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 3 wherein said chuck is generally annular in shape, having an interior and an exterior, said interior configured to receive at least a portion of a ring airfoil therein, and wherein said at least one catch extends inwardly from said catch towards said ring airfoil.

5. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 1 wherein said propulsion mechanism is selected from the group consisting of:

a metal spring, a rubber spring and a bow.

6. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 1 wherein said chuck is configured to rotate as it moves through said barrel.

7. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a cocking mechanism, said cocking mechanism configured to move said chuck along said barrel rearwardly towards said breech end to said first position.

8. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a firing mechanism configured to receive user input to cause said propulsion mechanism to propel said chuck.

9. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 8 wherein said firing mechanism comprises a trigger configured to move a sear, said sear moveable between an extended position in which it maintains said chuck in said cocked position and a retracted position when said trigger is pulled, said chuck is permitted to move forwardly when said sear is moved to said retracted position.

10. The ring airfoil in accordance with claim 1 wherein said launcher is configured to receive a ring airfoil magazine at said breech end of said barrel.

11. A ring airfoil launcher comprising:

a barrel defining a launch passage along a first axis, said barrel having a first breech end and an opposing second muzzle end;

a chuck movably mounted in said passage of said barrel along said first axis, said chuck having an outer surface and having a front end facing towards said muzzle end of said barrel and an opposing rear end, said chuck configured to receive a ring airfoil for launching at said rear end thereof and to launch said ring airfoil from said front end thereof;

at least one ring airfoil engaging member located on said chuck, said at least one ring airfoil engaging member configured to engage a ring airfoil associated with said chuck for launching thereof, said at least one ring airfoil engaging member configured to prevent rearward movement of a ring airfoil mounted on said chuck during propulsion of said chuck during launch;

a propulsion mechanism configured to propel said chuck having a ring airfoil connected thereto from a first position in which said chuck is located at said breech end of said barrel towards second muzzle end, whereby said ring airfoil is projected from said chuck from said front end thereof and out of said muzzle end of said barrel; and

a ring airfoil loading mechanism, said loading mechanism comprising a rotary magazine defining at least two ring airfoil mounts.

12. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 11 further comprising a firing mechanism configured to receive user input to cause said propulsion mechanism to propel said chuck.

13. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 11 wherein said magazine is configured to rotate about a second axis generally transverse to said first axis to positions in which a ring airfoil located on said mounts is aligned with said chuck for loading to said chuck.

14. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 13 wherein said magazine is removably mounted to a spindle which is configured to rotate about said second axis.

15. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 11 wherein said loading mechanism defines a plurality of positions corresponding to said mounts and wherein said launcher further comprises a cocking mechanism, said cocking mechanism configured to move said chuck along said barrel rearwardly towards said breech end to said first position and configured to move said magazine to successive positions.

16. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 11 wherein said magazine is located at said breech end of said barrel.

17. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 11 wherein said ring airfoil mounts comprise a receiver extending along a third axis positioned in the same plane as said first axis.

18. The ring airfoil launcher in accordance with claim 11 wherein said at least one ring airfoil engaging member located on said chuck is configured to engage a ring airfoil mounted on a mount of said magazine when aligned with said chuck.

19. A ring airfoil comprising:

a body having an interior and an exterior, comprising;

a generally annular head section having a front and a rear and defining a central passage there through;

a generally annular tail section having a front and a rear and defining a central passage there through, said tail section located at said rear of said head section;

said passages through said head and tail sections collectively defining a passage through said ring airfoil;

said front of said head section defining a front of said ring airfoil; and

at least one groove located in said exterior of said body.

20. The ring airfoil in accordance with claim 19 wherein at least a portion of said outer portion of said tail section is defined by a flap, a portion of said flap moveable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein in said retracted position said tail section defines said at least groove.

21. The ring airfoil in accordance with claim 20 wherein said flap has a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said tail section at said rear end thereof and said flap extending forwardly towards said head section to a free end.

22. The ring airfoil in accordance with claim 21 wherein said tail section defines a hollow interior area under said flap, permitting said flap to be moved inwardly to said retracted position.