Toy launcher apparatus with few parts and quick and easy assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11913751-B2
Application number	US-202217956600-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2022
Priority date	Mar 22, 2019
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A dart launcher having few but integral parts and an assembly process that is quick and easy for forming robust but inexpensive toys. The launcher may have an outer body, a safety valve and spring, a valve cap, a trigger, a piston, a launch spring, a cylinder cap and a plunger rod. The outer body includes an integral cylinder portion, a barrel portion and a trigger-mounting portion, the trigger includes an integral finger pad portion, a latch arm, a biasing portion and resilient legs. The piston includes an opening and a connector component formed around the opening to snap-fit with the piston, the cylinder cap includes an opening for the plunger rod and a connector component to connect with the cylinder portion, and the barrel portion includes a valve and mandrel support for supporting the safety valve and spring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A toy launcher comprising:
an outer body of the toy launcher;
a trigger for the toy launcher, the trigger being received at the outer body and including a finger pad portion, a resilient portion, and an integral arm latch for actuating the toy launcher;
an air cylinder inside the outer body of the toy launcher;
a piston apparatus located in the air cylinder, the piston apparatus including a single molded tubular structure with first and second ends and an outer surface;
a spring received at the first end of the tubular structure;
a connector component within the tubular structure;
a plunger rod that interlocks with the connector component; and
a sealing ring portion of the single molded tubular structure, the sealing ring forming the only air seal from the single molded tubular structure to an inner surface of the air cylinder, with the sealing ring portion formed about the second end of the single molded tubular structure, and said integral arm latch engaging at the outer surface of the tubular structure when the piston apparatus is cocked.

2. The toy launcher of claim 1 , comprising one or more shafts defining a pivot axis where the trigger is received at the outer body, engaging the integral arm latch for actuating the toy launcher.

3. The toy launcher of claim 1 , comprising one or more shafts defining a pivot axis where the trigger is received at the outer body, the resilient portion of the trigger extending toward the outer body of the toy launcher.

4. The toy launcher of claim 1 , comprising one or more shafts defining a pivot axis where the trigger is received at the outer body, with a snap-fit at the pivot axis between the trigger and the outer body of the toy launcher.

5. The toy launcher of claim 1 , comprising one or more shafts defining a pivot axis where the trigger is received at the outer body, with said one or more shafts at the trigger of the toy launcher.

6. The toy launcher of claim 1 , comprising one or more shafts defining a pivot axis where the trigger is received at the outer body, with said one or more shafts at the outer body of the toy launcher.

7. The toy launcher of claim 1 , comprising one or more shafts defining a pivot axis where the trigger is received at the outer body and the resilient portion of the trigger extends toward the outer body of the toy launcher, wherein the pivot axis is positioned between the resilient portion and the integral arm latch of the trigger.

8. The toy launcher of claim 1 , comprising a recess formed in the outer surface of the tubular structure, wherein the integral arm latch of the trigger engages the recess when the piston apparatus is cocked.

9. The toy launcher of claim 1 , comprising at least one ledge formed about the outer surface of the tubular structure, wherein the integral arm latch of the trigger engages the at least one ledge when the piston apparatus is cocked.

10. The toy launcher of claim 1 , comprising a recess formed in the outer surface of the tubular structure with a ledge formed in the recess, wherein the integral arm latch of the trigger engages the recess at the ledge when the piston apparatus is cocked.

11. The toy launcher of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first and second ends of the tubular structure are open ends, with the first open end for receiving the spring.

12. The toy launcher of claim 11 , wherein the connector component further comprises an integral connector component integral with the tubular structure at the second open end, the integral connector component enabling the piston to interlock with the plunger rod.

13. The toy launcher of claim 12 , wherein the sealing ring portion is formed around the second open end of the single molded tubular structure for engaging the inner surface of a cylinder.

14. The toy launcher of claim 13 , comprising a recess formed in the outer surface of the tubular structure, wherein the integral arm latch of the trigger engages the recess when the piston apparatus is cocked.

15. A piston apparatus for a toy launcher comprising:
a toy launcher body disposed about an inner surface defining a cylinder of the toy launcher;
a single molded tubular structure having first and second open ends and an outer surface, the first open end for receiving a spring;
a connector component integral with the tubular structure at the second open end, the connector component of the piston to enable the piston to interlock with a connector component of a plunger rod; and
a sealing ring portion of the single molded tubular structure, the sealing ring forming the only air seal from the single molded tubular structure for engaging the inner surface of the cylinder, with the sealing ring portion formed about the second end of the single molded tubular structure.

16. The piston apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:
the connector component includes a plurality of flexible tabs, wherein the flexible tabs form a snap-fit connection with a plunger rod.

17. The piston apparatus of claim 16 , including:
a recess formed in the outer surface of the tubular structure; and
a ledge formed in the recess for engaging a latch of a trigger, the latch for engaging the piston when the piston is cocked.

18. The piston apparatus of claim 17 , including
a cylinder cap having an opening for the plunger rod and the connector component for engaging the connector component of the cylinder portion; and
a handle, the plunger rod receiving the handle at one end, with the plunger rod extending through the opening of the cylinder cap.

19. A toy launcher method comprising:
providing an outer body for a toy launcher;
receiving a trigger at the outer body, the trigger including a finger pad portion, a resilient portion, and an integral arm latch for actuating the toy launcher;
positioning an air cylinder inside the outer body;
locating a piston in the air cylinder, the piston including a single molded tubular structure with first and second ends and an outer surface;
extending a spring from the first end of the tubular structure;
interlocking a plunger rod with a connector component within the tubular structure; and
forming a sealing ring portion of the single molded tubular structure, the sealing ring forming the only air seal from the single molded tubular structure to an inner surface of the air cylinder, with the sealing ring portion formed about the second end of the single molded tubular structure, and said integral arm latch engaging at the outer surface of the tubular structure when the piston is cocked.

20. The toy launcher method of claim 19 , providing a recess and a ledge on the tubular structure of the piston to enable engagement with the integral arm latch of the trigger.

Assignees

• Hasbro Inc

Inventors

• Tino Nicholas Alexander
• So Ho Fai

Classifications

• F41B11/723 Primary

  for controlling gas pressure for firing the projectile only · CPC title

• F41B11/642

  the piston being spring operated · CPC title

• F41B11/89

  for toys · CPC title

• F41B11/72 Primary

  Valves; Arrangement of valves · CPC title

• F41A19/10

  Triggers; Trigger mountings · CPC title