Reconfigurable toy gun with a slidable barrel

• US 8,336,531 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Fan, Peter Kit Chuen, Sopinsky, Brandon, Paterson, Fraser
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVID, MICHAEL D
• Application Number:
  US12/765,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20110168150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 124 63- 67, 124/55, 124/61, 42 7501- 7504, 42/54, 42/55
• US Class Current: 124/65
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/003 Convertible toys, e.g. robots convertible into rockets or vehicles convertible into planes
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 11/02 Modular concepts, e.g. weapon-family concepts
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/64 having a piston effecting a compressor stroke during the firing of each shot
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/643 the piston being arranged concentrically with the barrel
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/89 for toys

Abstract

A reconfigurable toy gun includes a handle portion, a guide member coupled to the handle portion, and a barrel portion. The barrel portion is slidably coupled to the guide member and movable along the guide member between a first end portion of the guide member and second end portion of the guide member.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable toy gun, comprising:

a handle portion that includes an upper end portion and an opposite lower end portion;

a guide member coupled to the handle portion, the guide member including a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, the first end portion of the guide member is coupled to the upper end portion of the handle, and the guide member has an arcuate configuration and extends between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the handle portion; and

a barrel portion slidably coupled to the guide member, the barrel portion movable along the guide member between a first position proximate the first end portion of the guide member and a second position proximate the second end portion of the guide member, the barrel portion extending outwardly from the handle portion in a first direction in the first position and in a second direction in the second position, the second direction being different than the first direction.

2. The reconfigurable toy gun of claim 1, wherein the barrel portion includes a receptacle configured for receiving a projectile and a launcher mechanism in communication with the receptacle, the launcher mechanism configured to expel the projectile from the receptacle upon actuation.

3. The reconfigurable toy gun of claim 2, wherein the launcher mechanism includes a plunger movable toward and away from the receptacle, the plunger moved toward the receptacle upon actuation of the launcher mechanism so that a burst of air is generated and forced outwardly from the receptacle, thereby expelling the projectile disposed within the receptacle.

4. The reconfigurable toy gun of claim 1, wherein the barrel portion is releasably retained in a selected position along the guide member via a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism actuatable by a user by activating a release trigger operably associated with the latch mechanism.

5. A toy projectile launcher, comprising:

a barrel portion defining an opening and a receptacle in communication with the opening, the receptacle configured for receiving a compatible projectile, the receptacle including an aperture spaced from the opening and blocked by the compatible projectile when the compatible projectile is received in the receptacle; and

a launcher mechanism in communication with the receptacle, the launcher mechanism including a plunger movable toward and away from the receptacle, the plunger moved toward the receptacle upon activation of the launcher mechanism so that a burst of air is generated and forced through the receptacle, wherein the burst of air is forced against the compatible projectile received within the receptacle so that the compatible projectile is expelled from the opening of the barrel portion, and the burst of air is forced out the aperture when a non-compatible projectile having a configuration insufficient to block the aperture is disposed within the receptacle so that the non-compatible projectile remains in the receptacle.

6. The toy projectile launcher of claim 5, further comprising a valve pivotally coupled to the barrel portion and movable between a closed position blocking the aperture and an open position allowing access to the aperture, the compatible projectile engaging the valve and moving the valve to the closed position when the compatible projectile is received in the receptacle.

7. The toy projectile launcher of claim 5, further comprising a handle portion having a guide member, the barrel portion coupled to and slidably movable along the guide member.

8. The toy projectile launcher of claim 7, wherein the guide member has an arcuate configuration having a first end coupled to an upper portion of the handle portion and a second end coupled to a lower portion of the handle portion, the barrel portion movable along the guide member between the first and second ends thereof.

9. The toy projectile launcher of claim 5, wherein the launcher mechanism includes a compression chamber in communication with the receptacle, the plunger movably disposed within the compression chamber.

10. A reconfigurable toy gun, comprising:

a handle portion having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a barrel portion slidably coupled to the handle portion and movable between a first position proximate the upper portion and a second position proximate the lower portion, and an arcuate guide member having a first end coupled to the upper portion of the handle portion and an opposite second end coupled to the lower portion of the handle portion, the barrel portion slidably movable along the guide member between the first and second ends thereof.

11. The reconfigurable toy gun of claim 10, wherein the arcuate guide member includes a track, and the barrel portion includes roller members slidably coupled to and movable along the track.

12. The reconfigurable toy gun of claim 10, wherein, in the first position the barrel portion extends outwardly from the upper portion of the handle portion in a first direction, and in the second position the barrel portion extends outwardly from the lower portion of the handle portion in a second direction different than the first direction.

13. The reconfigurable toy gun of claim 12, wherein the first direction is substantially opposite the second direction.

14. The reconfigurable toy gun of claim 10, wherein the barrel portion is releasably retained in at least one of the first and second positions via a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism actuatable by a user by activating a release trigger operably associated with the latch mechanism.

15. The reconfigurable toy gun of claim 10, wherein the barrel portion includes a receptacle configured for receiving a projectile and a launcher mechanism in communication with the receptacle, the launcher mechanism configured to expel the projectile from the receptacle upon actuation.

16. The reconfigurable toy gun of claim 15, wherein the launcher mechanism includes a plunger movable toward and away from the receptacle, the plunger moved toward the plunger upon actuation of the launcher mechanism so that a burst of air is generated and forced outwardly from the receptacle, thereby expelling the projectile disposed within the receptacle.

17. The reconfigurable toy gun of claim 15, wherein the barrel portion includes a storage receptacle configured for storing at least one projectile.