Breechless projectile alignment module and launch methods for toy blaster apparatus
AssigneeHasbro, Inc.
InventorsPhilip Sweeting, David Drew Weiand
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Launcher apparatus and methods for a toy projectile blaster with a breechless projectile alignment module having a receptacle or hopper for multiple received projectile rounds, a passage at the alignment module including a barrel seal to align received projectiles for launching through a blaster barrel, and a channel into the alignment module for a compressed air source. A pre-firing area defines a junction inside the alignment module extending between the receptacle, the channel, and the barrel seal. An actuator at the housing is linked with the compressed air source for causing compressed air to expel through the channel into the alignment module and outwardly launch the received projectile rounds.
Claims20
An alignment module for launching projectile rounds, comprising:
- a receptacle opening allowing a plurality of the projectile rounds to be received into the alignment module, with the receptacle opening located along an upper portion of the alignment module wherein the alignment module is capable of receiving rounds through said receptacle opening from a receptacle capable of holding multiple projectile rounds;
- at least one barrel seal aligned with a passage at the alignment module;
- a channel into the alignment module capable of fluid communication with a compressed air source;
- and
- a pre-firing area defined to include a junction inside the alignment module extending between the receptacle opening, the channel, and the at least one barrel seal thereof, the pre-firing area enabled to align at least one of the received projectiles at the at least one barrel seal.
A method for launching projectile rounds, comprising the steps of:
- providing an alignment module and a receptacle opening located along an upper portion of the alignment module;
- allowing a plurality of the projectile rounds to be received into the alignment module from the receptacle opening wherein the alignment module is capable of receiving rounds through said receptacle opening from a receptacle capable of holding multiple projectile rounds;
- aligning at least one barrel seal with a passage at the alignment module;
- extending a channel into the alignment module capable of fluid communication with a compressed air source;
- and
- positioning a pre-firing area defined to include a junction inside the alignment module extending between the receptacle opening, the channel, and the at least one barrel seal thereof, the pre-firing area enabled to align at least one of the received projectiles at the at least one barrel seal.
A system for launching projectile rounds, comprising:
- an alignment module and a receptacle opening located along an upper portion of the alignment module for a plurality of the projectile rounds to be received into the alignment module from the receptacle opening;
- means for receiving rounds through said receptacle opening from a receptacle capable of holding multiple projectile rounds;
- at least one barrel seal aligned with a passage at the alignment module;
- means for extending a channel into the alignment module capable of fluid communication with a compressed air source;
- and
- a pre-firing area defined to include a junction inside the alignment module extending between the receptacle opening, the channel, and the at least one barrel seal thereof, the pre-firing area enabled to align at least one of the received projectiles at the at least one barrel seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.