TOY LAUNCH APPARATUS WITH SAFETY LATCHES
First Claim
1. A toy launch apparatus with multiple safety features comprising:
- a housing assembly;
a first structure for receiving a projectile, the projectile receiving structure being movably mounted in the housing assembly between a first position and a second position;
a cocking assembly mounted to the housing assembly, the cocking assembly including a second structure connected to the projectile receiving structure, a launch spring and a third structure connected to the launch spring, the third structure for engaging an inserted projectile and being movable between a first position and a second position, and the second structure for operation by a user;
a trigger assembly mounted to the housing assembly, the trigger assembly being connected to the third structure;
a first latch mounted to the projectile receiving structure and to the housing assembly, the first latch being movable between a first position to prevent operation of the cocking assembly when an inserted projectile does not have sufficient width and a second position to enable operation of the cocking assembly; and
a second latch mounted to the projectile receiving structure and to the housing assembly, the second latch being movable between a first position to prevent operation of the cocking assembly when an inserted projectile does not have sufficient height and a second position to enable operation of the cocking assembly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A toy launch apparatus for discharging circular projectiles of predetermined diameter and height. The apparatus includes multiple safety features to prevent inappropriate objects inserted into the apparatus from enabling the apparatus to operate. A side latch is mounted that locks a shuttle to a housing assembly unless a properly sized projectile is inserted that rotates a side latch bar rotatably mounted to the shuttle out of engagement with an abutment surface in the housing assembly. A top latch is mounted that locks the shuttle to the housing assembly unless the inserted projectile also rotates a top latch bar mounted to the shuttle out of engagement with another abutment surface in the housing assembly.
44 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A toy launch apparatus with multiple safety features comprising:
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a housing assembly; a first structure for receiving a projectile, the projectile receiving structure being movably mounted in the housing assembly between a first position and a second position; a cocking assembly mounted to the housing assembly, the cocking assembly including a second structure connected to the projectile receiving structure, a launch spring and a third structure connected to the launch spring, the third structure for engaging an inserted projectile and being movable between a first position and a second position, and the second structure for operation by a user; a trigger assembly mounted to the housing assembly, the trigger assembly being connected to the third structure; a first latch mounted to the projectile receiving structure and to the housing assembly, the first latch being movable between a first position to prevent operation of the cocking assembly when an inserted projectile does not have sufficient width and a second position to enable operation of the cocking assembly; and a second latch mounted to the projectile receiving structure and to the housing assembly, the second latch being movable between a first position to prevent operation of the cocking assembly when an inserted projectile does not have sufficient height and a second position to enable operation of the cocking assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17)
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14. A toy launch apparatus with multiple safety features comprising:
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a housing assembly; a shuttle structure for receiving a projectile, the shuttle structure being movably mounted in the housing assembly between a relaxed position and a cocked position; a cocking assembly mounted to the housing assembly, the cocking assembly including a user operated slide structure connected to the shuttle structure, a launch spring and a ram structure, the ram structure connected to the launch spring for engaging an inserted projectile and the ram structure being movable between a non-cocked position and a cocked position; a trigger assembly mounted to the housing assembly, the trigger assembly being connected to the ram structure; a first latch mounted to the shuttle structure and to the housing assembly, the first latch movable between a first position to prevent operation of the cocking assembly when an inserted projectile does not have sufficient width and a second position to enable operation of the cocking assembly; and a second latch mounted to the projectile receiving structure and to the housing assembly, the second latch movable between a first position to prevent operation of the cocking assembly when an inserted projectile does not have sufficient height and a second position to enable operation of the cocking assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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18. A method for making a toy launch apparatus with multiple safety features, the steps of the method comprising:
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forming a housing assembly; mounting a first structure to the housing assembly, the first structure having a projectile receiving opening, and the first structure being movable between non-cocked and cocked positions; mounting a second structure to the housing assembly to cock the first structure; mounting a third structure in the first structure, the third structure movable between non-cocked and cocked positions; mounting a launch spring to the third structure and to the housing assembly; mounting a first latch to the first structure and to a side wall of the housing assembly for preventing movement of the first structure unless an appropriate size projectile is inserted into the first structure; mounting a second latch to the first structure and to a top wall of the housing assembly for preventing movement of the first structure unless an appropriate size projectile is inserted into the first structure; and mounting a trigger assembly to the housing assembly to release the third structure from a cocked position. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification