Toy for rotating and launching an object

• US 7,950,976 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Inventors: Bernstein, Michael, Carlson, Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cegielnik; Urszula M
• Application Number:
  US12/387,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20090227178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 446/429, 446/430, 74/891.7, 744/22
• US Class Current: 446/429
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/008 Launching devices for motorless toy vehicles start mechanisms for trackways A63H18/026; for toy aircraft A63H27/14
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/14 Starting or launching devices for toy aircraft; Arrangements on toy aircraft for starting or launching for launching objects from an aircraft A63H27/004
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/24 Details or accessories for drive mechanisms, e.g. means for winding-up or starting toy engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A toy for rotating and launching an object is disclosed. The toy comprises a launcher configured to impart rotary motion to an object. A launcher rotating system is connected with the launcher, and is configured to impart a rotary motion to the launcher. The launcher rotating system engages with a gear rack, the gear rack capable of moving to rotate the launcher rotating system. The launcher rotating system further comprises a clutch mechanism such that continued oscillatory motion of the gear rack causes the launcher rotating system to increase the rotary motion imparted to the launcher and such that withdrawal of the gear rack causes the clutch mechanism to decrease rotary motion imparted to the launcher, whereby a rotating object is released from the launcher.

Claims

1. A toy for rotating and launching an object, comprising:

a housing;

a launcher extending from the housing, the launcher configured to impart a rotary motion to an object, wherein the launcher comprises a driving element configured to engage a receiving element attached with an object to form a drive connection and rotate the object;

a launcher rotating system mounted inside the housing and connected with the launcher, the launcher rotating system configured to impart a rotary motion to the launcher;

wherein the launcher rotating system comprises a series of interconnected gears and axles, the gears and axles capable of rotating the launcher and engaging with a gear rack, the gear rack movably mountable within the housing, with the gear rack capable of moving to rotate the gears and thereby rotate the launcher rotating system; and

wherein the launcher rotating system further comprises a clutch mechanism such that continued oscillatory motion of the gear rack causes the launcher rotating system to increase the rotary motion imparted to the launcher and such that withdrawal of the gear rack causes the clutch mechanism to decrease the rotary motion imparted to the launcher such that when the driving element ceases to accelerate the receiving element, the receiving element disengages from the driving element and releases the object from the drive connection.

2. A toy for rotating and launching an object as in claim 1, wherein the clutch mechanism operates by selectively contacting a braking drum connected with the series of interconnected gears and axles such that contact of the braking drum by the clutch mechanism causes decreased rotation of the launcher rotating system, where the clutch mechanism is pushed into contact with the breaking drum by a spring attached with the clutch mechanism, and where the clutch mechanism further comprises a rack engager having an angled edge configured so that when the gear rack is engaged with the launcher rotating system, the gear rack contacts the angled edge and lifts the clutch mechanism off of the braking drum, thereby allowing the launcher rotating system to rotate, and where when the gear rack is disengaged from the launcher rotating system, the clutch mechanism is pushed back down onto the breaking drum by the spring, thereby decreasing rotation of the launcher rotating system and the launcher, whereby an object attached with the launcher is released.

3. A toy for rotating and launching an object as in claim 2, wherein the launcher rotating system further comprises a ratcheting drum connected with the series of interconnected gears and axles, the ratcheting drum having internal teeth with angled edges and vertical edges, the ratcheting drum further having an internal pawl contacting the teeth, such that when the gear rack is engaged with the launcher rotating system and pushed forward, it will rotate the pawl in a first direction, such that the pawl slides along the teeth'"'"'s angled edges without imparting any motion to the ratcheting drum, and such that when the engaged gear rack is pulled back, the pawl is driven in a second direction, where it locks in place against a tooth'"'"'s vertical edge, thereby imparting rotary motion to the ratcheting drum which, in turn, imparts rotary motion to the launcher, whereby a user can “

rev”

the launcher by continually oscillating the gear rack in a back and forth motion.

4. A toy for rotating and launching an object as in claim 1, wherein the launcher rotating system further comprises a ratcheting drum connected with the series of interconnected gears and axles, the ratcheting drum having internal teeth with angled edges and vertical edges, the ratcheting drum further having an internal pawl contacting the teeth, such that when the gear rack is engaged with the launcher rotating system and pushed forward, it will rotate the pawl in a first direction, such that the pawl slides along the teeth'"'"'s angled edges without imparting any motion to the ratcheting drum, and such that when the engaged gear rack is pulled back, the pawl is driven in a second direction, where it locks in place against a tooth'"'"'s vertical edge, thereby imparting rotary motion to the ratcheting drum which, in turn, imparts rotary motion to the launcher, whereby a user can “

rev”

the launcher by continually oscillating the gear rack in a back and forth motion.

5. A method for forming a toy for rotating and launching an object, comprising acts of:

forming a housing;

forming a launcher extending from the housing, the launcher configured to impart a rotary motion to an object, wherein the launcher comprises a driving element configured to engage a receiving element attached with an object to form a drive connection and rotate the object;

forming a launcher rotating system mounted inside the housing and connected with the launcher, the launcher rotating system configured to impart a rotary motion to the launcher;

wherein the launcher rotating system comprises a series of interconnected gears and axles, the gears and axles capable of rotating the launcher and engaging with a gear rack, the gear rack movably mountable within the housing, with the gear rack capable of moving to rotate the gears and thereby rotate the launcher rotating system; and

wherein the launcher rotating system further comprises a clutch mechanism such that continued oscillatory motion of the gear rack causes the launcher rotating system to increase the rotary motion imparted to the launcher and such that withdrawal of the gear rack causes the clutch mechanism to decrease the rotary motion imparted to the launcher such that when the driving element ceases to accelerate the receiving element, the receiving element disengages from the driving element and releases the object from the drive connection.

6. A method of forming toy for rotating and launching an object as in claim 5, wherein the clutch mechanism operates by selectively contacting a braking drum connected with the series of interconnected gears and axles such that contact of the braking drum by the clutch mechanism causes decreased rotation of the launcher rotating system, where the clutch mechanism is pushed into contact with the breaking drum by a spring attached with the clutch mechanism, and where the clutch mechanism further comprises a rack engager having an angled edge configured so that when the gear rack is engaged with the launcher rotating system, the gear rack contacts the angled edge and lifts the clutch mechanism off of the braking drum, thereby allowing the launcher rotating system to rotate, and where when the gear rack is disengaged from the launcher rotating system, the clutch mechanism is pushed back down onto the breaking drum by the spring, thereby decreasing rotation of the launcher rotating system and the launcher, whereby an object attached with the launcher is released.

7. A method of forming a toy for rotating and launching an object as in claim 6, wherein the launcher rotating system further comprises a ratcheting drum connected with the series of interconnected gears and axles, the ratcheting drum having internal teeth with angled edges and vertical edges, the ratcheting drum further having an internal pawl contacting the teeth, such that when the gear rack is engaged with the launcher rotating system and pushed forward, it will rotate the pawl in a first direction, such that the pawl slides along the teeth'"'"'s angled edges without imparting any motion to the ratcheting drum, and such that when the engaged gear rack is pulled back, the pawl is driven in a second direction, where it locks in place against a tooth'"'"'s vertical edge, thereby imparting rotary motion to the ratcheting drum which, in turn, imparts rotary motion to the launcher, whereby a user can “

rev”

the launcher by continually oscillating the gear rack in a back and forth motion.

8. A method of forming a toy for rotating and launching an object as in claim 5, wherein the launcher rotating system further comprises a ratcheting drum connected with the series of interconnected gears and axles, the ratcheting drum having internal teeth with angled edges and vertical edges, the ratcheting drum further having an internal pawl contacting the teeth, such that when the gear rack is engaged with the launcher rotating system and pushed forward, it will rotate the pawl in a first direction, such that the pawl slides along the teeth'"'"'s angled edges without imparting any motion to the ratcheting drum, and such that when the engaged gear rack is pulled back, the pawl is driven in a second direction, where it locks in place against a tooth'"'"'s vertical edge, thereby imparting rotary motion to the ratcheting drum which, in turn, imparts rotary motion to the launcher, whereby a user can “

rev”

the launcher by continually oscillating the gear rack in a back and forth motion.