Projectile-propelling toy and kit therefor

• US 5,377,655 A
• Filed: 12/31/1992
• Issued: 01/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toy Biz Acquisition, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Toy Biz Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Arad, Avi
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/997,718
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 124/63, 124/64, 124/65, 124/66, 124/67, 446/63, 446/64, 446/192, 446/196, 446/211, 446/212, 446/429, 446/430, 446/473, 273/129 R, 273/129 AP, 273/129 S, 273/129 T
• US Class Current: 124/65
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/55 the projectiles being stored in stacked order in a removable box magazine, rack or tubular magazine
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/681 Pumping or compressor arrangements therefor

Abstract

A projectile-propelling toy includes a first port and a first propulsion mechanism for propelling a projectile via the first port as well as a second port and a second propulsion mechanism for propelling a projectile via the second port. The first and second propulsion mechanisms are separate and independent, at least one of the first and second propulsion mechanisms being pneumatic. A kit for the toy includes a housing having an engaging element for releasably receiving a first weapon and a cavity for telescopically receiving at least a major portion of a second weapon. A magazine is adapted to be releasably received in functional engagement by each of the first weapon, the second weapon and the housing. One weapon includes a manually-driven pneumatic propulsion mechanism for propelling a projectile, a spring-driven pneumatic propulsion mechanism for propelling a projectile, and a selector for manually selecting which of the pneumatic propulsion mechanisms is operative at a given time.

Claims

1. A projectile-propelling toy comprising:

(A) a first port and a first propulsion means for propelling a projectile via said first port; and

(B) a second port and a second propulsion means for propelling a projectile via said second port;

said first and second propulsion means being separately and independently driven, said first and second propulsion means being pneumatic, one of said propulsion means being manually-driven and another of said propulsion means being spring-driven.

2. The toy of claim 1 additionally including a third port and a third propulsion means for propelling a projectile via said third port.

3. The toy of claim 2 wherein at least two of said propulsion means are simultaneously operable.

4. The toy of claim 2 wherein said third propulsion means differs from at least one of said first and first second propulsion means in how it is driven.

5. The toy of claim 2 wherein said first, second and third propulsion means are net simultaneously operable.

6. The toy of claim 1 wherein said one propulsion means is not spring-driven and said another propulsion means is not manually-driven.

7. The toy of claim 1 wherein some of the projectiles are adapted for being propelled via a female member and others of the projectiles are adapted for being propelled via a male member, and additionally including conversion means releasably securable to at least one of said ports for converting said one port from a female member to a male member.

8. The toy of claim 1 wherein some of the projectiles are adapted for being propelled via a large diameter member and others of the projectiles are adapted for being propelled via a relatively small diameter member, and additionally including conversion means releasably securable to at least one of said ports for converting said one port from a large diameter member to a relatively small diameter member.

9. A projectile-propelling toy comprising:

(A) a first port and a first propulsion means for propelling a projectile via said first port; and

(B) a second port and a second propulsion means for propelling a projectile via said second port;

said first and second propulsion means being separately and independently driven, at least one of said first and second propulsion means being pneumatic, and said first and second propulsion means being configured to propel projectiles via the same one of said ports.

10. The toy of claim 9 wherein said at least one of said propulsion means and said at least another of said propulsion means are configured to propel projectiles via said same one of said ports.

11. The toy of claim 10 additionally including means for manually selecting which of said at least one of said propulsion means and said another of said propulsion means is operable to propel a projectile via said same one of said ports.

12. projectile-propelling toy comprising:

(A) a first port and a first propulsion means for propelling a projectile via said first port; and

(B) a second port and a second propulsion means for propelling a projectile via said second port;

said first and second propulsion means being separately and independently driven, said first and second propulsion means being pneumatic;

said toy being easily and reversibly separable into two independent and distinct projectile-propelling devices, each said device having a respective one of said first and second ports and a respective one of said first and second propulsion means.

13. A kit for a projectile-propelling toy comprising:

(A) a first weapon including first pneumatic propulsion means for propelling a projectile therefrom;

(B) a second weapon including second pneumatic propulsion means for propelling a projectile therefrom;

(C) a housing including means for releasably receiving said first weapon thereon and means for telescopically receiving at least a major portion of said second weapon therein; and

(D) a magazine adapted to be releasably received in functional engagement by each of said first weapon, said second weapon and said housing.

14. The kit of claim 13 wherein, when said housing telescopically receives at least a major portion of said second weapon therein, said second propulsion means is operable in said housing.

15. The kit of claim 13 wherein said magazine enables rapid multiple firing of projectiles by said first weapon when mounted thereon, without reloading.

16. The kit of claim 13 wherein said second propulsion means is manually-driven, said second weapon additionally includes third pneumatic propulsion means for propelling a projectile therefrom, said third propulsion means being spring-driven, and means ere provided for selecting which of said second and third propulsion means is operative at a given time.

17. The kit of claim 13 additionally including as projectiles at least one ball, at least one arrow, at least one missile, and at least one plane.

18. The kit of claim 13 additionally including elbow means to enable directional guidance of a projectile propelled by said second propulsion means from said second weapon when mounted thereon.

19. A convertible projectile-propelling toy comprising:

(A) manually-driven pneumatic propulsion means for propelling a projectile therefrom;

(B) spring-driven pneumatic propulsion means for propelling a projectile therefrom; and

(C) means for manually selecting which of said pneumatic propulsion means is operative at a given time.

20. The toy of claim 19 including a given port, and wherein said manually-driven propulsion means and said spring-driven propulsion means both drive projectiles via said given port.

21. The toy of claim 19 including first and second ports, and wherein said manually-driven propulsion means drives a projectile via said first port, and said spring-driven propulsion means drives a projectile via said second port, said first and second ports being different.

22. The toy of claim 21 additionally including means for releasably sealing a port, said sealing means being manually switchable between a first position sealing said first port and a second position sealing said second port.

23. The toy of claim 22 wherein each of said manually-driven and spring-driven propulsion means is capable of propelling a projectile through either one of said first and second ports when said sealing means is in a position sealing the other of said first and second ports.

24. A projectile-propelling toy having a primary power unit comprising:

(A) an axially extending tube having a front end, a back end, a sidewall joining said tube front and back ends, and a hollow tube interior;

(B) a plurality of ports in gaseous communication with said tube interior for propelling a projectile therefrom, one of said ports extending through said tube front end and one of said ports extending through said tube sidewall; and

(C) piston means extending through said tube back end and into said tube interior for axial movement relative to said tube for pneumatically propelling a projectile via one of said ports.

25. The toy of claim 24 wherein said primary power unit additionally includes biasing means for causing relative movement of said piston means and said tube.

26. The toy of claim 24 additionally including a housing defining a hollow interior configured and dimensioned to telescopically receive therein at least a portion of said primary power unit, and an exterior including means for releasably securing to said primary power unit at least one additional device.

27. The toy of claim 26 wherein said housing exterior includes means for releasably securing to said primary power unit at least two additional devices.

28. The toy of claim 24 additionally including means secured thereto for releasably sealing against gaseous communication a selected one of said ports.

29. The toy of claim 24 additionally including hollow elbow means, releasably securable to a port, for modifying the direction of travel of a projectile propelled via the port and through said elbow means.

30. The toy of claim 29 wherein said elbow means modifies the direction of travel by a fixed angle.

31. The toy of claim 30 wherein said elbow means defines a first end defining a port, a second end for releasable connection to one of said ports of said primary power unit for establishing gaseous communication with said tube interior, and a body connecting said elbow means ends and defining a fixed angle of 35°

-55°

.

32. The toy of claim 31 wherein said elbow means free end is configured and dimensioned for releasable connection with a hollow launcher for gaseous communication therewith.

33. The toy of claim 32 wherein said launcher includes magazine means for storing a plurality of projectiles for firing from said launcher.