FIELD

The present invention generally relates to a toy projectile launcher capable of launching a substantially large number of projectiles without reloading.

BACKGROUND

Toy guns that discharge soft projectiles, such as toy foam darts—commonly referred to as “launchers” or “shooters”—are well known in the art. A typical magazine that holds darts that are discharged by such launchers is a clip or a cartridge that has an open top, a closed bottom, and a biasing spring that biases the darts upwardly, from the bottom of the magazine to the top.

Currently, darts are loaded into empty magazines one dart at a time. The time and effort it takes to reload a launcher that can launch a multitude of darts in this manner is one of the most frustrating aspects of playing with a launcher. Specifically, during the time period that one is reloading a launcher, one is vulnerable to being shot at by one's opponents in a dart war game. This situation could be alleviated by carrying a spare magazine, a belt with a plurality of spare magazines, a drum, or some other source of spare darts. However, there is a limit to the number of spare magazines that one could carry.

Furthermore, although it also follows that a launcher that could launch a lot of darts will yield more fun between reloads, the downside to being able to launch a lot of darts is that it will take longer amount of time to reload the launcher. Thus, a key determinant to ensuring a pleasurable and satisfying experience when using a toy projectile launcher remains the amount time it takes to reload the launcher. Accordingly, a system for reducing the time required to reload a toy projectile launcher is desirable.

SUMMARY

The present invention generally relates to toy projectile launchers, and in embodiments, to a projectile launcher that enables a user to load the launcher simply by grabbing a handful of projectiles and dropping them into a container that leads directly to the firing chamber of the launcher.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a toy projectile launcher includes a housing defining an interior recess and a hopper coupled to the interior recess of the housing. The hopper is configured to house one or more projectiles and to provide the one or more projectiles to the interior recess of the housing so that they can be launched from the housing. The hopper includes a wall and an agitating member that is associated with the wall and is configured to cause the one or more projectiles to move within the hopper.

In embodiments, an opening may be provided in the agitating member.

In embodiments, the toy projectile launcher may include a wheel having a finger extending therefrom, and the wheel may protrude through the opening in the agitating member.

In embodiments, the agitating member may be agitated as a result of contact between the finger and an edge of the opening in the agitating member.

In embodiments, the agitating member may slope downwardly from the wall to the housing to guide the one or more projectiles into the housing.

In embodiments, the interior recess of the housing may include a firing chamber, and the agitating member may guide the one or more projectiles into the firing chamber.

In embodiments, the firing chamber may include a rotating track to advance the one or more projectiles from the firing chamber.

In embodiments, the one or more projectiles may be provided to the interior recess of the housing one at a time.

In embodiments, the agitating member may be coupled to the wall by a hinge.

In embodiments, the one or more projectiles may include toy foam darts.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a toy projectile launcher includes a housing defining an interior recess and a hopper coupled to the interior recess of the housing. The hopper is configured to house one or more projectiles and to provide the one or more projectiles to the housing so that they can be launched from the housing. The hopper includes a first wall, an agitating member associated with the first wall and configured to cause the one or more projectiles to move within the hopper, a cover having an underside which faces into the hopper, and a ceiling that is collapsibly attached to the underside of the cover.

In embodiments, the ceiling may include a plurality of nested members attached to the underside of the cover.

In embodiments, the plurality of nested members may expand into the hopper when the cover is closed.

In embodiments, the ceiling may rest on top of the one or more projectiles that are housed in the hopper.

In embodiments, the ceiling may include a spring attached to the underside of the cover.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a toy projectile launcher includes a housing defining an interior recess and a hopper coupled to the interior recess of the housing. The hopper is configured to house one or more projectiles and to provide the one or more projectiles to the housing so that they can be launched from the housing. The hopper includes a wall that is movable to facilitate loading of the one or more projectiles into the hopper.

In embodiments, the wall may be rotatable about the housing for a predetermined distance.

In embodiments, the wall may be movable to a degree that accommodates entry of a partially closed fist of a user into the hopper.

In embodiments, the wall may be a rear wall of the hopper.

In embodiments, the toy projectile launcher may include a cover for the hopper that is rotatably coupled to the rear wall.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a toy projectile launcher includes a housing defining an interior recess, a firing chamber disposed within the interior recess and configured to receive a projectile, a rotating track disposed at a bottom of the firing chamber to advance the projectile out of the firing chamber, and a push rod configured to enter the firing chamber. The push rod cooperates with the rotating track to advance the projectile from the firing chamber.

In embodiments, the push rod may push the projectile as the projectile is being advanced from the firing chamber by the rotating track.

In embodiments, a tip of the push rod may extend halfway into the firing chamber.

In embodiments, the push rod may be a reciprocating push rod.

In embodiments, the firing chamber may be configured to receive one projectile at a time.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a toy projectile launcher includes a housing defining an interior recess, and a hopper coupled to the interior recess of the housing. The hopper is configured to house one or more projectiles, such as toy foam darts, and to provide the one or more projectiles to the housing to be launched from the housing. The hopper includes a first wall and a front wall, an agitating member coupled to the first wall and configured to cause the one or more projectiles to move within the hopper, a cover having an underside which faces into the hopper, a plurality of openings in the first wall or the front wall, wherein the openings are spaced apart from one another and extend in substantial alignment from an upper position to a lower position on one of the first or front walls, a ceiling having a ceiling plate that is collapsibly attached to the underside of the cover and is expandable downward from the cover into the hopper when the cover is closed, and a catch that is coupled to the ceiling plate and configured to engage with at least a first opening of the plurality of openings when the hopper is loaded with a first amount of the one or more projectiles to prevent the cover from collapsing back into the underside of the cover when the cover is closed onto the hopper.

In embodiments, the catch is further configured to disengage from the first opening and engage with a second opening of the plurality of openings located at a second position lower in the hopper than the first position when the hopper is loaded with a second amount of the one or more projectiles following a launch of one or more of the one or more projectiles from the hopper, wherein the second amount of the one or more projectiles is less than the first amount is loaded in the hopper.

In embodiments, the catch is coupled to the ceiling plate with a spring to allow engagement and disengagement of the catch from one or more of the plurality of openings.

In embodiments, the catch is configured to disengage from any of the plurality of openings in which the catch is engaged upon an opening of the cover of the hopper.

In embodiments, the ceiling plate is configured to rest on top of the one or more projectiles housed in the hopper.

In embodiments, the ceiling further includes a plurality of nested members, between an interior side of the ceiling plate and the underside of the cover, wherein the plurality of nested members are extendible downward from the cover.

In embodiments, the ceiling plate includes a spring attached to the underside of the cover.

In embodiments, the plurality of openings are substantially vertically aligned.

In embodiments, the hopper includes a third wall that is movable to facilitate loading of the one or more projectiles into the hopper. The third wall may be rotatable about the housing for a predetermined distance and may be movable to a degree that accommodates entry of a partially closed fist of a user into the hopper.

In embodiments, the third wall includes a rear wall of the hopper. In embodiments, the cover for the hopper is rotatably coupled to the rear wall.

In embodiments, the toy projectile launcher further includes a third wall opposite the first wall, and a second agitating member coupled to the third wall and configured to cause the one or more projectiles to move within the hopper.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a toy projectile launcher includes a housing defining an interior recess, and a hopper coupled to the interior recess of the housing, the hopper configured to house one or more projectiles, such as toy foam darts, and to provide the one or more projectiles to the interior recess of the housing to be launched. The hopper includes a first wall on a first side of the hopper, a second wall on a second side of the hopper opposite the first wall, and at least two agitating members, including a first agitating member associated with the first wall, and a second agitating member associated with the second wall. The first and second agitating members are configured to cause the one or more projectiles to align within the hopper.

In embodiments, the first and second agitating members are agitated by different agitating mechanisms.

In embodiments, the first and second agitating members are configured to be agitated substantially simultaneously.

In embodiments, the first and second agitating members are configured to be agitated one at a time.

In embodiments, the first and second agitating members are configured to be sequentially activated with agitation in the hopper alternating between agitation by the first agitating member and agitation by the second agitating member.

In embodiments, the toy projectile launcher further includes a first wheel having a finger extending therefrom and configured to agitate the first agitating member by intermittent contact between the finger and the first agitating member.

In embodiments, the toy projectile launcher further includes a second wheel coupled to a arm that is configured to agitate the second agitating member by intermittent contact between the arm and the second agitating member. In embodiments, the second wheel is configured to rotate in a single direction. In embodiments, the second wheel is configured to alternate between rotation in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction.

In embodiments, the first agitating member slopes downwardly to the housing to guide the one or more projectiles into the interior recess of the housing.

In embodiments, the second agitating member slopes downwardly to the housing to guide the one or more projectiles into the interior recess of the housing.

In embodiments, the interior recess of the housing includes a firing chamber, and the first and second agitating members are configured to guide the one or more projectiles into the firing chamber. In embodiments, the firing chamber includes a rotating track to advance the one or more projectiles from the firing chamber.

In embodiments, the one or more projectiles are to be provided to the interior recess of the housing one at a time.

In embodiments, the first agitating member is coupled to the first wall by a first hinge and the second agitating member is coupled to the second wall by a second hinge.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a toy projectile launcher includes a housing having an opening and a hopper detachably coupled to the opening of the housing. The hopper is configured to house one or more projectiles, such as toy foam darts, and to provide the one or more projectiles to the housing to be launched from the housing. The hopper includes a first wall, a second wall disposed opposite the first wall, a cover having an underside which faces into the hopper, a first plurality of openings in the first wall, wherein the first plurality of openings are spaced apart from one another and extend in substantial alignment from an upper position to a lower position on the first wall, a second plurality of openings in the second wall, wherein the second plurality of openings are spaced apart from one another and extend in substantial alignment from an upper position to a lower position on the second wall, a ceiling plate that is collapsibly attached to the underside of the cover and is expandable downward from the cover into the hopper when the cover is closed, a first catch coupled to the ceiling plate and configured to engage with at least a first opening of the first plurality of openings when the hopper is loaded with a first amount of the one or more projectiles to prevent the cover from collapsing back into the underside of the cover when the cover is closed onto the hopper, and a second catch coupled to the ceiling plate and configured to engage with at least a first opening of the second plurality of openings when the hopper is loaded with the first amount of the one or more projectiles to prevent the cover from collapsing back into the underside of the cover when the cover is closed onto the hopper.

In embodiments, the first catch is further configured to disengage from the first opening of the first plurality of openings and engage with a second opening of the first plurality of openings located at a second position lower in the hopper than the first position when the hopper is loaded with a second amount of the one or more projectiles following a launch of one or more of the one or more projectiles from the hopper and the second catch is further configured to disengage from the first opening of the second plurality of openings and engage with a second opening of the second plurality of openings located at a second position lower in the hopper than the first position when the hopper is loaded with the second amount of the one or more projectiles following a launch of one or more of the one or more projectiles from the hopper, wherein the second amount of the one or more projectiles is less than the first amount is loaded in the hopper.

In embodiments, at least one of the first catch and the second catch is coupled to the ceiling plate with a spring to allow engagement and disengagement of the at least one of the first catch and the second catch from one or more of the first plurality of openings and/or the second plurality of openings.

In embodiments, at least one of the first catch or the second catch is configured to disengage from any of the first plurality of openings and/or the second plurality of openings in which the at least one of the first catch or the second catch is engaged upon an opening of the cover of the hopper.

In embodiments, the ceiling plate is configured to rest on top of the one or more projectiles housed in the hopper.

In embodiments, the ceiling plate comprises a spring attached to the underside of the cover.

In embodiments, at least one of the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings are substantially vertically aligned.

In embodiments, at least one of the openings in the first plurality of openings has a sloping orientation.

In embodiments, at least one of the openings in the first plurality of openings near the bottom of the hopper has a sloping orientation.

In embodiments, at least one of the openings in the second plurality of openings has a sloping orientation.

In embodiments, at least one of the openings in the second plurality of openings near the bottom of the hopper has a sloping orientation.

In embodiments, the cover for the hopper is rotatably coupled to the hopper.

In embodiments, the ceiling further includes a plurality of nested members, between an interior side of the ceiling plate and the underside of the cover, wherein the plurality of nested members are extendible downward from the cover.

In embodiments, the hopper further includes an agitating member that is disposed between the first wall and the second wall and is configured to facilitate the orderly descent of the one or more projectiles within the hopper.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a toy projectile launcher includes a housing defining an interior recess and a hopper detachably coupled to the interior recess of the housing. The hopper configured to house one or more projectiles, such as toy foam darts, and to provide the one or more projectiles to the interior recess of the housing to be launched from the housing. The hopper includes a first wall on a first side of the hopper, a second wall on a second side of the hopper opposite the first wall, a rotating belt to deliver the one or more projectiles to the interior recess of the housing, and an agitating member disposed between the first wall and the second wall and rotatably coupled to the hopper, wherein rotation of the rotating belt imparts a flapping motion to the agitating member. to facilitate the orderly descent of the one or more projectiles within the hopper.

In embodiments, the agitating member straddles the rotating belt.

In embodiments, the flapping of the agitating member agitates the one or more projectiles within the hopper to facilitate an orderly descent of the one or more projectiles within the hopper.

In embodiments, a gear is coupled to the rotating belt and the gear includes a structure that extends outwardly from an end of the gear.

In embodiments, the structure that extends outwardly from the end of the gear intermittently contacts the agitating member to impart the flapping motion to the agitating member.

In embodiments, the interior recess of the housing includes a firing chamber and the rotating belt delivers the one or more projectiles into the firing chamber.

In embodiments, the firing chamber includes a rotating gear to advance the one or more projectiles from the firing chamber.

In embodiments, the one or more projectiles are to be provided to the interior recess of the housing one at a time.

In embodiments, the agitating member is rotatably coupled to the hopper by a hinge.

