System for luminescing and propelling a projectile

• US 7,900,619 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sierra Innotek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sierra Innotek, Inc.
• Inventors: Palmer, William R., Palmer, Stephen L., Palmer, Robert N.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICCI, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US12/012,956
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/578, 124/1, 124/73, 124/74, 124/16, 124/27, 446/473
• US Class Current: 124/16
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/89 for toys
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/365 Projectiles transmitting information to a remote location using optical or electronic means F42B12/385 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/382 emitting an electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser beam or infrared emission
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/42 of illuminating type, e.g. carrying flares
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/00 Projectiles or missiles specially adapted for projection without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge, e.g. for blow guns, bows or crossbows, hand-held spring or air guns for delivering hypodermic charges F42B12/54; projectiles or missiles incorporating springs as the projecting means F41B7/02; Arrows or darts for dispensing materials, for producing chemical or physical reaction, or for signalling F42B12/362

Abstract

A projectile having light emitting structure and a rechargeable power source is launched by projectile launching apparatus such as a gun. The projectile launching apparatus charges the rechargeable power source and when the projectile is propelled a visual display is produced by the lighted propelled projectile.

Claims

1. In combination:

projectile launching apparatus and a projectile positionable in said projectile launching apparatus, said projectile including light emitting structure and a rechargeable power source operatively associated with said light emitting structure, said projectile launching apparatus including a source of electrical energy operable to charge said rechargeable power source and cause said light emitting structure to emit light at least after launch of said projectile by said projectile launching apparatus.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said projectile launching apparatus includes a launch tube for receiving said projectile prior to launching of said projectile.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said projectile includes projectile electrodes electrically connected to said rechargeable power source and wherein said projectile launching apparatus includes projectile launching apparatus electrodes electrically connected to said source of electrical energy, relative movement between said projectile and said projectile launching apparatus bringing said projectile electrodes into operative association with said projectile launching apparatus electrodes whereby said rechargeable power source is electrically charged by said source of electrical energy.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said source of electrical energy comprises at least one battery and wherein said projectile electrodes and said projectile launching apparatus electrodes are brought into engagement during launching of said projectile.

5. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said projectile electrodes are in the form of rings.

6. The combination according to claim 1 herein said projectile additionally includes an inductive coupler coil electrically connected to said rechargeable power source, said source of electrical energy comprising an inductive coupling magnet, relative movement between said projectile and said projectile launching apparatus during launch generating a voltage in said inductive coupler coil by said inductive coupling magnet to charge said rechargeable power source.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said rechargeable power source comprises at least one battery.

8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said rechargeable power source comprises at least one capacitor.

9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said light emitting structure includes at least one LED.

10. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said projectile additionally includes control structure operatively connected to said light emitting structure for controlling operation of said light emitting structure.

11. The combination according to claim 1 including structure operatively associated with said projectile and said projectile launching apparatus to cause said light emitting structure to emit light due to electrical induction.

12. A projectile for launching from projectile launching apparatus having a source of electrical energy, said projectile including light emitting structure and a rechargeable power source operatively associated with said light emitting structure, said rechargeable power source for receiving electrical energy from the source of electrical energy and cause said light emitting structure to emit light at least after launching of said projectile by said projectile launching apparatus.

13. The projectile according to claim 12 additionally including projectile electrodes electrically connected to said rechargeable power source.

14. The projectile according to claim 12 wherein said projectile includes an inductive coupler coil electrically connected to said rechargeable power source.

15. The projectile according to claim 12 wherein said rechargeable power source comprises at least one battery.

16. The projectile according to claim 12 wherein said rechargeable power source comprises at least one capacitor.

17. The projectile according to claim 12 wherein said light emitting structure includes at least one LED.

18. The projectile according to claim 12 wherein said projectile electrodes are in the form of rings.

19. The projectile according to claim 12 additionally including control structure operatively connected to said light emitting structure for controlling operation of said light emitting structure.

20. A method of illuminating a projectile launched from projectile launching apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

providing said projectile with light emitting structure and a rechargeable power source for powering said light emitting structure;

providing said projectile launching apparatus with a source of electrical energy;

launching said projectile from said projectile launching apparatus;

prior to or during the step of launching said projectile from said projectile launching apparatus, employing said source of electrical energy to charge said rechargeable power source; and

employing said charged rechargeable power source to light said light emitting structure at least after launching of said projectile by said projectile launching apparatus.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein electrodes on said projectile are brought into contact with electrodes on said projectile launching apparatus to provide an electrical connection between said rechargeable battery source and said source of electrical energy.

22. The method according to claim 20 wherein said rechargeable power source is charged by electromagnetic induction.