Toy launch apparatus with safety valve

A toy launch apparatus with a safety valve comprising:

• a housing;
• a dart receiving structure mounted in the housing;
• a passageway structure mounted in the housing and in communication with the dart receiving structure, the passageway structure including an open rearward end, a tubular wall extending forward from the open end and a port in the wall;
• and
• a blocking structure mounted to the wall, the blocking structure movable between a forward position wherein the port in the wall is blocked and a rearward position wherein the port in the wall is unblocked and the blocking structure is spaced from airflow through the passageway structure.

A method for making a toy launch apparatus with a safety valve, the steps of the method comprising:

• forming a housing;
• mounting a dart receiving structure in the housing;
• forming a stationary valve component in the housing, the stationary valve component including an open rearward end, a tube extending forward and a port in the tube;
• placing the stationary valve component in communication with the dart receiving structure;
• forming a slideable valve component having a flange;
• mounting the slideable valve component to the tube, the slideable valve component being movable between a forward position to block the port and a rearward position to unblock the port, and when in the rearward position the slideable valve component is spaced from air flow through the stationary valve component;
• mounting a valve spring to the slideable valve component to bias the slideable valve component to the forward position;
• mounting a cylinder in the housing, the cylinder being in communication with the stationary valve component;
• and
• mounting a piston in the cylinder.