Projectile launcher

• US 6,276,353 B1
• Filed: 08/28/1997
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 07-12690, Inc., WhiteWater West Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Koala Corporation
• Inventors: Frantz, Edward James III, Briggs, Rick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US08/920,000
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 124/56, 124/69, 124/70, 124/77, 124/71, 124/72, 124/73
• US Class Current: 124/71
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/57 Electronic or electric systems for feeding or loading F41B11/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/62 with pressure supplied by a gas cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/68 the gas being pre-compressed before firing F41B11/62 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/681 Pumping or compressor arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/71 Electric or electronic control systems, e.g. for safety purposes

Abstract

A projectile launcher is provided for propelling impact-safe foam projectiles. The projectile launcher includes a launch tube sized and configured to accommodate insertion of an impact-safe projectile with substantially little or no friction between the launch tube inner wall and the projectile. A nozzle is disposed adjacent one end of the launch tube. The nozzle is adapted to receive a flow of compressed air from a source and to discharge a stream of high-velocity air which impinges upon the projectile disposed within the launch tube. A play-participant-actuated valve is interposed between the nozzle and the source of compressed air to control the flow of air to the nozzle. The valve is adapted, when actuated, to place the nozzle in communication with the source of compressed air. Upon actuation of the valve the nozzle discharges a stream of high-velocity air which transfers momentum to the projectile, propelling it down the launch tube and into the air or at a selected target.

Claims

1. An impact-safe projectile launcher for propelling projectiles, the projectile launcher comprising:

a launch tube died to accommodate insertion of an impact-safe projectile with substantially little to no friction between the launch tube inner wall and the projectile;

a nozzle disposed adjacent one end of the launch tube, the nozzle being adapted to receive a flow of compressed air, to accelerate the flow of compressed air to form a stream of high-velocity air, and to direct the stream of high-velocity air at the projectile disposed within the launch tube; and

a play-participant actuated valve interposed between the nozzle and a source of compressed air, the valve being adapted when actuated to place the nozzle in communication with the source of compressed air;

whereby upon actuation of the valve, the nozzle discharges the stream of high-velocity air which transfers momentum to the projectile, propelling it down the launch tube and into the air.

2. The projectile launcher of claim 1 wherein the launch tube comprises a clear acrylic tube having an inner diameter that is at least slightly larger than the diameter of the projectile.

4. The projectile launcher of claim 1 wherein the nozzle comprises an ejector exhaust muffler.

5. The projectile launcher of claim 1 wherein the play participant actuated valve comprises a solenoid valve.

6. The projectile launcher of claim 1 further comprising a swivel-mounted base for allowing rotation of the projectile launcher in vertical and horizontal planes.

7. The projectile launcher of claim 1 further comprising an air reservoir for storing a charge of compressed air.

8. The projectile launcher of claim 7 further comprising a pressure gauge coupled to the air reservoir.

10. The projectile launcher of claim 1 further comprising a feed tube for delivering projectiles into the launch tube.

11. The projectile launcher of claim 10 wherein the feed tube is connected to a substantially continuous source of projectiles.

12. The projectile launcher of claim 1 in combination with an impact-safe foam ball having a diameter of about 2½

inches, and a weight of about 0.15 oz. and being formed from an expanded ethylene vinyl acetate material having a density of about 2 lbs/ft³.

13. A plurality of projectile launchers as set forth in claim 1 organized into at least one group of projectile launchers, each group comprising at least one projectile launcher, in combination with a safety control manifold having a master control valve and pressure regulator and separate control valves and regulators for each air line provided to each group of projectile launchers.

14. The projectile launcher of claim 1 wherein the play participant actuated valve comprises a manually operated valve.

16. The projectile launcher of claim 1 in combination with an impact-safe foam ball having a diameter of about 2½

inches, and a weight of about 0.15 oz. and being formed from an expanded ethylene vinyl acetate material having a density of about 2 lbs/ft³.

17. A plurality of projectile launchers as set forth in claim 1 organized into at least one group of projectile launchers, each group comprising at least one projectile launcher, in combination with a safety control manifold having a master control valve and pressure regulator and separate control valves and regulators for each air line provided to each group of projectile launchers.

41. The projectile launcher of claim 1 wherein the velocity of the stream of air is controlled by controlling the pressure of the compressed air.

3. An impact-safe projectile launcher for propelling projectiles, the projectile launcher comprising:

a launch tube sized to accommodate insertion of an impact-safe projectile with substantially little to no friction between the launch tube inner wall and the projectile;

a nozzle disposed adjacent one end of the launch tube, the nozzle being adapted to receive a flow of compressed air and to direct a stream of high-velocity air at the projectile disposed within the launch tube; and

a play-participant actuated valve interposed between the nozzle and a source of compressed air, the valve being adapted when actuated to place the nozzle in communication with the source of compressed air;

whereby upon actuation of the valve, the nozzle discharges a stream of high-velocity air which transfers momentum to the projectile, propelling it down the launch tube and into the air

wherein the nozzle has a plurality of apertures adapted to create a substantially coherent high-velocity stream of air.

9. An impact-safe projectile launcher for propelling projectiles, the projectile launcher comprising:

a launch tube sized to accommodate insertion of an impact-safe projectile with substantially little to no friction between the launch tube inner wall and the projectile;

a nozzle disposed adjacent one end of the launch tube, the nozzle being adapted to receive a flow of compressed air and to direct a stream of high-velocity air at the projectile disposed within the launch tube; and

a play-participant actuated valve interposed between the nozzle and a source of compressed air, the valve being adapted when actuated to place the nozzle in communication with the source of compressed air; and

a strobe light for illuminating the launch tube

whereby upon actuation of the valve, the nozzle discharges a stream of high-velocity air which transfers momentum to the projectile, propelling it down the launch tube and into the air.

15. A projectile launcher comprising:

a launch tube substantially sealed at a first end and being sized and configured so as to accommodate insertion and launching of an impact-safe projectile, the impact-safe projectile having a size and mass adapted to safely impact a child, the launch tube having an inner diameter that is least slightly smaller at a second and than the diameter of the projectile;

an air reservoir for containing compressed air;

a nozzle disposed adjacent the sealed end of the launch tube, the nozzle being adapted to receive the compressed air and to deliver it to the launch tube between the projectile and the sealed end of the launch tube;

a valve interposed between the nozzle and the air reservoir, the valve being adapted when actuated to place the nozzle in communication with the air reservoir; and

a strobe light for selectively illumining the launch tube

whereby upon actuation of the valve, the nozzle delivers the compressed air to the launch tube, expelling the projectile from the launch tube and into the air.

18. An impact-safe projectile launch system comprising an impact-safe projectile constructed of foam and adapted to minimize the risk of injury to a child upon impact and a projectile launcher, the projectile launcher comprising:

a housing;

a launch tube sized and configured so as to accommodate insertion of the impact-safe projectile with substantially little to no friction between the launch tube inner wall and the projectile;

an air reservoir for containing a charge of compressed air;

a manual play-participant-operated pump operated to pump a charge of compressed air into the air reservoir;

a nozzle disposed adjacent one end of the launch tube, the nozzle being adapted to receive a flow of compressed air, to accelerate the flow of compressed air to form a stream of high-velocity air, and to direct the stream of high-velocity air at the projectile disposed within the launch tube; and

a valve interposed between the air reservoir and the launch tube, the valve being adapted when actuated to place one end of the launch tube in communication with the air reservoir;

whereby upon actuation of the valve, the nozzle discharges the stream of high-velocity air which transfers momentum to the projectile, propelling it down the launch tube and into the air.

19. The impact-safe projectile launch system of claim 18 wherein the launch tube comprises a clear acrylic tube.

20. The impact-safe projectile launch system of claim 18 further comprising a nozzle disposed adjacent one end of the launch tube, the nozzle being adapted to receive a flow of compressed air to discharge a stream of high-velocity air impinging upon the projectile disposed within the launch tube.

21. The impact-safe projectile launch system of claim 20 wherein the nozzle comprises an ejector exhaust muffler.

22. The impact-safe projectile launch system of claim 18 wherein the valve comprises a play-participant-actuated solenoid valve.

23. The impact-safe projectile launch system of claim 18 further comprising a swivel-mounted base for allowing rotation of the projectile launcher in vertical and horizontal planes.

24. The impact-safe projectile launch system of claim 18 further comprising a pressure gauge coupled to the air reservoir.

26. The impact-safe projectile launch system of claim 18 wherein the impact-safe foam ball has a diameter of about 2½

inches, and a weight of about 0.15 oz. and is formed from an expanded ethylene vinyl acetate material having a density of about 2 lbs/ft³.

25. An impact-safe projectile launch system comprising an impact-safe projectile constructed of foam and adapted to minimize the risk of injury to a child upon impact and a projectile launcher, the projectile launcher comprising:

a housing;

a launch tube sized and configured so as to accommodate insertion of the impact-safe projectile;

an air reservoir for containing a charge of compressed air;

a manual play-participant-operated pump operated to pump a charge of compressed air into the air reservoir; and

a valve interposed between the air reservoir and the launch tube, the valve being adapted when actuated to place one end of the launch tube in communication with the air reservoir; and

a strobe light for selectively illuminating the launch tube

whereby upon actuation of the valve, the charge of compressed air is delivered to the launch tube, propelling the projectile down the launch tube into the air.

27. An impact-safe projectile launcher for propelling projectiles, the projectile launcher comprising:

a nozzle adapted to receive a flow of compressed air, to accelerate the flow of compressed air to form a stream of high-velocity air, and to direct the stream of high-velocity air to impinge upon the projectile;

a play-participant-actuated valve interposed between the nozzle and a source of compressed air, the valve being adapted when actuated to place the nozzle in communication with the source of compressed air; and

a swivel-mounted base for allowing rotation of the projectile launcher in vertical and horizontal planes;

whereby upon actuation of the valve, the nozzle discharges a stream of high-velocity air which transfers momentum to the projectile, propelling it in a desired direction.

28. The projectile launcher of claim 27 further comprising a launch tube sized to accommodate insertion of an impact-safe projectile with substantially little to no friction between the launch tube inner wall and the projectile.

29. The projectile launcher of claim 27 wherein the nozzle comprises an ejector exhaust muffler.

30. The projectile launcher of claim 27 in combination with an impact-safe foam ball having a diameter of about 2½

inches, and a weight of about 0.15 oz. and being formed from an expanded ethylene vinyl acetate material having a density of about 2 lbs/ft³.

42. The projectile launcher of claim 27 whereby the velocity of the stream of air is controlled by controlling the pressure of the compressed air.

31. A projectile launcher for use by play participants comprising:

means for holding an impact-safe projectile in a position for launching;

means for providing a flow of compressed air;

means for accelerating the flow of compressed air to form a stream of high-velocity air;

means for selectively delivering the stream of high-velocity air to directly impact one side of the projectile and to transfer momentum to the projectile for accelerating the projectile;

play-participant-operated means for directing the accelerated projectile in a desired direction; and

play-participant-operated means for controlling the stream delivering means and being adapted when actuated to cause the stream delivering means to deliver a stream of high-velocity air to accelerate the projectile.

32. The projectile launcher of claim 31 wherein the projectile holding means comprises a launch tube sized and configured to accommodate insertion of an impact-safe projectile.

33. The projectile launcher of claim 31 wherein the charge delivering means comprises a nozzle adapted to receive a flow of compressed air and to discharge the stream of high-velocity air directed at the projectile.

34. The projectile launcher of claim 31 wherein the charge delivering means comprises a nozzle adapted to receive a flow of compressed air and to discharge a stream of high-velocity air impinging upon the projectile.

35. The projectile launcher of claim 31 wherein the charge delivering means comprises a nozzle adapted to receive compressed air from a source and to deliver it to an expansion chamber disposed behind the projectile.

36. The projectile launcher of claim 31 wherein the projectile directing means comprises a launch tube.

38. The projectile launcher of claim 31 wherein the controlling means comprises a play-participant-actuated solenoid valve.

39. The projectile launcher of claim 31 in combination with an impact-safe foam ball having a diameter of about 2½

inches, and a weight of about 0.15 oz. and being formed from an expanded ethylene vinyl acetate material having a density of about 2 lbs/ft³.

37. A projectile launcher for use by play participants comprising:

means for holding an impact-safe projectile in a position for launching;

means for selectively delivering a charge of high-velocity air in a stream directly impacting one side of the projectile for accelerating the projectile;

play-participant-operated means for directing the accelerated projectile in a desired direction; and

play-participant-operated means for controlling the charge delivering means and being adapted when actuated to cause the charge delivering means to deliver a charge of high-velocity air to accelerate the projectile

wherein the projectile directing means comprises rails.

40. A method for launching a projectile at a desired safe velocity comprising the steps of:

holding the projectile in a position for launching;

providing the flow of compressed air to a nozzle;

accelerating the flow of compressed air within the nozzle to form a stream of high-velocity air; and

directing the stream of high-velocity air at the projectile so that the momentum of the stream of air is transferred to the projectile to accelerate the projectile in a desired direction; and

regulating the velocity of said stream of air such that said projectile attains a desired safe velocity upon launching.