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.
Claims21
1-8. (canceled)
A toy launching apparatus for launching projectile rounds, comprising:
- a housing;
- an alignment module in the housing;
- a receptacle for a plurality of the projectile rounds at the alignment module;
- a projectile rounds launching barrel;
- a passage at the alignment module to the projectile rounds launching barrel;
- a compressed air source;
- a channel into the alignment module where a junction is defined inside the alignment module for fluid communication between the channel, the receptacle, and the passage to the projectile rounds launching barrel;
- a pre-firing area at the junction extending to the passage to align at least one of the projectile rounds at the passage to the projectile rounds launching barrel;
- and
- an actuator linked with the compressed air source for causing compressed air to expel through the channel into the alignment module and outwardly launch one or more of the projectile rounds through the projectile rounds launching barrel.
A toy launching method for launching projectile rounds, comprising:
- receiving the projectile rounds through a receptacle to an alignment module for one or more received projectile rounds;
- aligning the one or more received projectile rounds along a passage at the alignment module aligned with a projectile rounds launching barrel;
- coupling a channel into the alignment module where a junction is defined inside the alignment module for compressed air fluid communication between the channel, the receptacle, and the passage to the projectile rounds launching barrel;
- extending a pre-firing area at the junction inside the alignment module extending to the passage to align at least one of the one or more received projectile rounds;
- and
- actuating the channel for causing the compressed air to expel through the channel into the alignment module and outwardly launch the one or more received projectile rounds through the projectile rounds launching barrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.