Toy projectile launchers with two trigger safety locks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018175-A1
Application number	US-201514791294-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 3, 2015
Priority date	Jul 8, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Crossbows having two trigger safety locks. Operatively connected to a trigger is a trigger lock element that in one position prevents the trigger from moving. To prevent inadvertent contact between a cocking slide and a released stretched cord of the crossbow, a slide lock element engages the trigger lock element until the slide lock element is disengaged by the cocking slide moving out of the way. To prevent an improperly configured projectile from being discharged a projectile lock element engages the trigger lock element until a properly configured projectile is loaded onto a drum causing the projectile lock element to disengage from the trigger lock element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A toy projectile launch apparatus with two trigger safety locks comprising:
a housing for supporting a projectile, an energy generating mechanism and a cocking slide; a trigger pivotally mounted to the housing for selectively releasing the energy generating mechanism; a trigger lock element mounted to the housing and operatively connected to the trigger, the trigger lock element being movable between first and second positions; a slide lock element mounted to the housing for selectively engaging the trigger lock element when the trigger lock element is in the first position, the slide lock element being movable by the cocking slide after cocking the energy generating mechanism to cause the slide lock element to disengage from the trigger lock element; and a projectile lock element mounted to the housing for selectively engaging the trigger lock element when the trigger lock element is in the first position, the projectile lock element being movable by a properly configured projectile loaded to the housing to cause the projectile lock element to disengage from the trigger lock element.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first direction is generally perpendicular to the second direction.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the trigger lock element includes a notch to receive the slide lock element.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the trigger lock element includes a notch to receive the projectile lock element.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the projectile lock element includes a slot for receiving the trigger lock element.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the trigger lock element is connected to a first spring and the first spring biases the trigger lock element into the first position.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the slide lock element is connected to a second spring and the second spring biases the slide lock element into engagement with the trigger lock element.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the projectile lock element is connected to a third spring and the third spring biases the projectile lock element into engagement with the trigger lock element.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
the first direction is generally perpendicular to the second direction.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the trigger lock element includes a notch to receive a portion of the projectile lock element; and the projectile lock element includes a slot for receiving the trigger lock element.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
the trigger lock element is connected to a first spring and the first spring biases the trigger lock element into the first position.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the slide lock element is connected to a second spring and the second spring biases the slide lock element into engagement with the trigger lock element; and the projectile lock element is connected to a third spring and the third spring biases the projectile lock element into engagement with the trigger lock element.

13 . Two trigger safety locks for a toy launch apparatus comprising:
a housing for supporting a cocking slide, an energy generating mechanism and a projectile; a trigger pivotally mounted to the housing; a trigger lock element mounted to the housing and operatively connected to the trigger, the trigger lock element being immobile in a first position and movable to in a first direction to a second position; a slide lock element mounted to the housing for selective engagement with the trigger lock element, the slide lock element being movable in a second direction; and a projectile lock element mounted to the housing for selective engagement with the trigger lock element.

14 . The launch apparatus two trigger safety locks as claimed in claim 13 , wherein:
the second direction is generally perpendicular to the first direction.

15 . The launch apparatus two trigger safety locks as claimed in claim 13 , wherein:
the slide lock element is disengaged from the trigger lock element by the cocking slide after the cocking slide cocks the energy transferring element.

16 . The launch apparatus two trigger safety locks as claimed in claim 13 , wherein:
the projectile lock element is disengaged from the trigger lock element by a properly configured projectile loaded to the housing.

17 . The launch apparatus two trigger safety locks as claimed in claim 16 , wherein:
the slide lock element is disengaged from the trigger lock element by the cocking slide after the cocking slide cocks the energy generating mechanism; and the second direction is generally perpendicular to the first direction.

18 . A method for making a toy launch apparatus having two trigger safety locks, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a toy launcher having a housing for supporting a projectile chamber, an energy transferring element, and a cocking slide; mounting a trigger to the housing; mounting a trigger lock element to the housing; operatively connecting the trigger lock element to the trigger, the trigger lock element being moveable between a first position and a second position; mounting a slide lock element to the housing; operatively connecting the slide lock element to the trigger lock element to selectively engage the trigger lock element when the trigger lock element is in the first position; mounting a projectile lock element to the housing; and operatively connecting the projectile lock element to the trigger lock element to selectively engage the trigger lock element when the trigger lock element is in the first position.

19 . The method of claim 18 , including the steps of:
mounting the trigger lock element to move in a first direction; mounting the slide lock element to move in a second direction; and mounting the projectile lock element to move in the second direction.

20 . The method of claim 19 , including the steps of:
locating the slide lock element to be movable by the cocking slide to disengage the slide lock element from the trigger lock element; and locating the projectile lock element to be movable by a properly configured projectile to disengage the projectile lock element from the trigger lock element.

Assignees

• Hasbro Inc

Inventors

• Lallier John Paul
• Nugent David Michael
• Mermelstein Katherine A
• Keska Tadeusz W

Classifications

• F41A17/30 Primary

  Multiple safeties, i.e. {one safety element} acting on at least one element of the firing mechanism and at least one other element of the gun, e.g. the moving barrel · CPC title

• F41A9/73 Primary

  Drum magazines · CPC title

• F41B11/89

  for toys · CPC title

• F41B5/12

  Crossbows · CPC title

• F41B11/54

  the projectiles being stored in a rotating drum magazine · CPC title