Ammunition chain for toy projectiles

• US 8,146,281 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Buzz Bee Toys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Buzz Bee Toys (Hk) Co., Limited
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Niconovich, Alexander R
• Application Number:
  US12/011,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20090151710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 124/1, 124/41.1, 124/45, 124/48, 124/50, 124/51.1, 124 52- 53, 124/82, 89/332, 89/335, 89/34, 89/350.1, 89/350.2, 42/490.1, 42 87- 89, 42/54, 42/57, 446/473
• US Class Current: 42/54
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/89 for toys
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/087 Feed belts manufactured from fabric or plastics material

Abstract

A link for a toy ammunition chain made up of a plurality of links hinged together side-by-side in articulated fashion includes a cylindrical body adapted to receive a soft projectile. A first hinge component extends laterally from the body and has a pair of hinge pins. A second hinge component extends laterally from the body at a position opposite the first hinge component and has a pair of recesses each for pivotally receiving a hinge pin of an adjacent link in the chain.

Claims

1. A link for a toy ammunition chain made up of a plurality of said links hinged together side-by-side in articulated fashion, the link comprising:

a substantially cylindrical body formed as a plastics molding and adapted to receive a soft projectile therein;

a soft projectile releasably held in the body;

a first hinge component formed integrally with the body and extending laterally from the body and comprising a hinge boss having a pair of hinge pins; and

a second hinge component formed integrally with the body and extending laterally from the body at a position substantially opposite the first hinge component and comprising a pair of hinge lugs mutually spaced apart sufficiently to receive a hinge boss of an adjacent said link in the chain, each of the lugs having a recess adapted to pivotally receive a hinge pin of an adjacent said link in the chain,

and wherein at least one of the hinge lugs comprises a cutout in a lug sidewall extending from the recess to enable lateral insertion of a hinge pin of an adjacent said link in the chain so that said hinge pin is snapped through the cutout into the recess.

2. The link of claim 1, wherein the body has open ends and the body comprises a through-passage extending between said open ends, the through-passage being wider at one open end than the other open end.

3. A toy ammunition chain made up of a plurality of the links of claim 1 hinged together side-by-side in articulated fashion.

4. In combination with the toy ammunition chain of claim 3, a toy gun comprising an advancing sprocket having teeth shaped to engage with each of the links of the chain for drawing each of the links into a firing position.

5. A toy ammunition chain made up of a plurality of the links of claim 2 hinged together side-by-side in articulated fashion.