Launcher device for launching a series of items into a spin

• US 9,127,900 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Inventors: Hudson, Jon, Laurienzo, Dominic, Lee Chi Wai, Dennis, Tsui Ka Tim, Timmy
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US13/626,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20130078885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 446/236, 446/239, 446/241, 446/255, 446/256, 446/259, 446/262
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: F41B 7/08 Toy guns , i.e. guns launching objects of the gliding type, e.g. airplanes, parachute missiles F41B7/006 and F41B7/02 take precedence

Abstract

A toy launcher that can launch multiple consecutive devices into a spin is described. The toy launcher includes a housing adapted to receive an item to be launched. The housing includes a bunching mechanism to force the item from the launcher. Additionally, a protrusion is positioned in front of the launching mechanism such that art item launched from the launching mechanism engages with the protrusion, forcing the item into a spin as it exits the launcher.

Claims

1. A toy launcher for launching an item into a spin, comprising:

a housing adapted to receive an item to be launched, the housing having a launching mechanism to force the item from the launcher;

a protrusion positioned in front of the launching mechanism such that as the item is forced from the launcher, a first end of the item catches with the protrusion to allow a second end of the item to speed forward and into a spin,thereby causing the item to be launched from the launcher while spinning about a short axis of the item;

wherein the housing includes an upper tray and a bottom tray;

wherein the launching mechanism includes a trigger handle that is operably connected with a compression lever, such that upon use of the trigger handle, the compression lever squeezes the item to be launched to force the item from the launcher; and

wherein the bottom tray includes channels that are formed to receive raised edges of the item to be launched.

2. A toy launcher for launching an item into a spin, comprising:

a housing adapted to receive an item to be launched, the housing having a launching mechanism to force the item from the launcher;

a protrusion positioned in front of the launching mechanism such that as the item is forced from the launcher, a first end of the item catches with the protrusion to allow a second end of the item to speed forward and into a spin, thereby causing the item to be launched from the launcher while spinning about a short axis of the item;

wherein the housing includes an upper tray and a bottom tray; and

wherein the bottom tray includes channels that are formed to receive raised edges of the item to be launched.