Toy projectile launcher

• US 7,686,002 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Andrews, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers; Troy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdosh; Samir
• Application Number:
  US11/853,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20090064979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 124/54, 124/55, 124/56, 124/16, 124/78, 124/80, 124/1, 124/3, 447/487
• US Class Current: 124/65
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/89 for toys

Abstract

The present invention is a toy launcher which is transfigurable from a compacted state to an operative state for launching projectiles. In one embodiment, the launcher utilizes a hand-pressurized air pump for providing the launching power, and may accommodate multiple types of projectiles to be loaded in the gun at the same time. Projectiles may include, for example, a bolo bullet, grapnel, or miniature missiles. Auxiliary retractable features such as targeting components and a flashlight with a logo projector may be added to enhance the play value of the invention.

Claims

1. A toy projectile launcher, comprising:

an upper housing, wherein said upper housing comprises a bore for loading projectiles, and wherein said upper housing has a first central axis;

a lower housing slidably coupled adjacent to said upper housing, wherein said lower housing is movable from a contracted position to an extended position along a second central axis, wherein said second central axis is offset from said first central axis, and wherein neither the lower housing nor the upper housing is located inside the other housing in the contracted position;

a gripping handle pivotally attached to said lower housing, wherein said gripping handle is movable from a folded position to an unfolded position;

a trigger coupled to said gripping handle;

an air chamber mounted in said lower housing;

a pumping handle extendable from said lower housing, wherein said pumping handle comprises a piston for pressurizing said air chamber;

wherein said toy projectile launcher forms the shape of a gun when said lower housing is in said extended position and when said gripping handle is in said unfolded position; and

wherein said toy projectile launcher forms a compacted shape when said lower housing is in said contracted position and said gripping handle is in said folded position.

2. The toy projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein said compacted shape is a rectangular box.

3. The toy projectile launcher of claim 1, further comprising a targeting screen coupled to said upper housing, wherein said targeting screen is movable from a stored position to a viewing position.

4. The toy projectile launcher of claim 3, wherein said targeting screen further comprises a lighting component.

5. The toy projectile launcher of claim 4, wherein said lighting component changes color when said trigger is depressed.

6. The toy projectile launcher of claim 1, further comprising a wide angle lens coupled to said upper housing, wherein said wide angle lens is movable from a retracted position to an deployed position.

7. The toy projectile launcher of claim 1, further comprising a flashlight coupled to said upper housing, wherein said flashlight is movable from a stowed position to an operable position.

8. The toy projectile launcher of claim 7, wherein said flashlight further comprises a logo projector.

9. The toy projectile launcher of claim 7, wherein said flashlight further comprises more than one color of light.

10. A toy projectile launcher, comprising:

an upper housing having a first central axis, wherein said upper housing comprises two bores for loading non-interchangeable projectiles, wherein said two bores are different in shape from each other;

a lower housing slidably coupled adjacent to said upper housing, wherein said lower housing is movable from a contracted position to an extended position along a second central axis, wherein said second central axis is offset from said first central axis, and wherein neither the lower housing nor the upper housing are located inside the other housing in the contracted position;

a gripping handle pivotally attached to said lower housing, wherein said gripping handle is movable from a folded position to an unfolded position;

a trigger coupled to said gripping handle;

wherein said toy projectile launcher forms the shape of a gun when said lower housing is in said extended position and when said gripping handle is in said unfolded position; and

wherein said toy projectile launcher forms a compacted shape when said lower housing is in said contracted position and said gripping handle is in said folded position.

11. The toy projectile launcher of claim 10, wherein said two bores are each configured to accept different types of projectiles from each other.

12. The toy projectile launcher of claim 11, wherein said projectiles comprises a foam dart.

13. The toy projectile launcher of claim 10, further comprising a storage compartment enclosed in said upper housing, wherein said storage compartment is configured to store said projectiles, and wherein said storage compartment is movable from a closed position to an open position.

14. The toy projectile launcher of claim 10, further comprising a targeting screen coupled to said upper housing, wherein said targeting screen is movable from a stored position to a viewing position.

15. The toy projectile launcher of claim 10, further comprising a wide angle lens coupled to said upper housing, wherein said wide angle lens is movable from a retracted position to an deployed position.

16. The toy projectile launcher of claim 10, further comprising a flashlight coupled to said upper housing, wherein said flashlight is movable from a stowed position to an operable position.

17. A method for launching a projectile from a toy launcher, wherein said toy launcher has an upper housing, a lower housing slidably coupled adjacent to said upper housing, a pumping handle, an air chamber, a gripping handle, and a trigger, and wherein neither the lower housing nor the upper housing are located inside the other housing in the contracted position, the method comprising:

sliding said upper housing and said lower housing from a contracted position to an extended position, wherein said upper housing is slid along a first central axis which is offset from a second central axis of said lower housing;

moving said gripping handle from a folded position to an unfolded position;

reciprocating said pumping handle at least once to pressurize said air chamber; and

pressing said trigger to launch said projectile from said toy launcher.

18. The method for launching a projectile from a toy launcher of claim 17, further comprising pressing said trigger more than once to sequentially launch more than one projectile from said toy launcher.

19. The method for launching a projectile from a toy launcher of claim 18, wherein said upper housing comprises more than one bores, and wherein said bores are different in shape from each other to accept different types of non-interchangeable projectiles.