Toy launch apparatus with momentum feature and concentric piston

An air launch apparatus, comprising:

• a first sidewall;
• a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall;
• a front block fixed to the first sidewall and the second sidewall;
• a frame, comprising a third sidewall, a fourth sidewall opposite the third sidewall, and a grip, wherein:
• the first sidewall is disposed adjacent to the third sidewall,
• the second sidewall is disposed adjacent to the fourth sidewall, and
• the front block is moveable, together with the first sidewall and the second sidewall, relative to the frame;
• a substantially cylindrical barrel fixed relative to the frame and defining a central longitudinal axis;
• a substantially cylindrical piston concentric with and moveable along an outer surface of the barrel;
• a plunger fixed to the piston and disposed opposite the front block;
• a spring extending from the front block to the plunger;
• a nut supported by the front block, the nut configured to:
• releasably mate with the piston when the front block is moved, in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and toward the grip, to a first position;
• and
• when the front block is moved in a second direction opposite the first direction and while the nut is releasably mated with the piston, cause movement of the piston, together with the front block, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall, in the second direction, to a second position, wherein:
• disengaging the nut from the piston permits movement of the piston, in the first direction and away from the from the front block, under a force applied to the piston by the spring.

A method of manufacturing an air launch apparatus, the method comprising:

• providing a first sidewall;
• providing a second sidewall;
• fixing a front block to the first sidewall and the second sidewall such that the first sidewall is disposed opposite the second sidewall;
• providing a frame, comprising a third sidewall, a fourth sidewall opposite the third sidewall, and a grip;
• slidably coupling the first sidewall to the frame such that the first sidewall is moveable substantially along the third sidewall;
• slidably coupling the second sidewall to the frame such that the second sidewall is moveable substantially along the fourth sidewall;
• fixing a port block to the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall, the port block being disposed opposite the front block;
• fixing a substantially cylindrical barrel to the port block, the barrel defining a central longitudinal axis;
• positioning a substantially cylindrical piston concentric with and moveable along an outer surface of the barrel;
• fixing a plunger to the piston, the plunger being disposed opposite the front block;
• providing a spring extending from the front block to the plunger;
• and
• providing a nut supported by the front block, the nut configured to:
• releasably mate with the piston when the front block is moved, in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and toward the grip, to a first position;
• when the front block is moved in a second direction opposite the first direction and while the nut is releasably mated with the piston, cause movement of the piston, together with the front block, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall, in the second direction, to a second position, wherein:
• disengaging the nut from the piston permits movement of the piston, in the first direction and away from the from the front block, under a force applied to the piston by the spring.