US 5,842,907 A · Radio-controlled toy missile launcher

Abstract

A radio-controlled toy missile launcher with missile launch mount having a first end mounted on a chassis and a second end movable upward and downward. The missile launch mount has at least one missile projector accommodating a missile. A supporting member is provided to mechanically connect the chassis to the missile launch mount for supporting the missile launch mount. The supporting member is capable of rising up and falling down the second end of the missile launch mount. A thrust applying unit is provided in the missile projector for applying the missile with a thrust enough to allow launching of the missile. A missile holding member is provided in the missile projector for holding the missile from being launched. A release member engages the missile holding member for moving the missile holding member to release the missile from holding by the missile holding member thereby to allow launching of the missile by the thrust force.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A toy missile launcher for launching a missile, comprising:

a chassis;
a unitary missile launch mount having a first end, a second end, and a missile projector for accommodating the missile;
an attachment member pivotally mounting the first end of said missile launch mount on said chassis to raise and to lower the second end of said missile launch mount;
a thrust-applying means in the missile projector for applying sufficient thrust to launch the missile;
a missile holder in the missile projector resisting the thrust of the thrust applying means to prevent launching of the missile;
a missile releaser engaging said missile holder to launch the missile selectively;
and
a bi-directional motor engaging a first one-way clutch and a second one-way clutch;
the first one-way clutch cooperating with said attachment member functioning to raise and to lower the second end of said missile launch mount when said motor is in a first direction;
the second one-way clutch cooperating with said missile releaser functioning to release the missile when said motor is in a second direction opposite said first direction.

7 more elements

A toy missile-launcher comprising:

a chassis;
a missile launch mount having a first end mounted on said chassis and a second end movable upward and downward so that said missile launch mount pivots around said first end, said missile launch mount having at least one missile projector accommodating a missile;
a supporting means mechanically connecting said chassis to said missile launch mount for supporting said missile launch mount, said supporting means comprising a pair of first and second arms having first and second movable ends directly connected to said missile launch mount at right and left sides thereof respectively and first and second fixed ends connected through third and fourth fixed arms to said chassis, respectively;
a thrust-applying means in said missile projector for applying said missile with sufficient thrust to launch said missile;
a missile holding means in said missile projector for preventing said missile from being launched;
a release means engaging said missile holding means for moving said missile holding means by utilizing an external driving force so as to release said missile from being held by said missile holding means to allow launching said missile by said thrust;
a bi-directional motor on said chassis for generating said driving force;
a first transmission gear mechanism on said chassis mechanically connecting a clutch mechanism to said single motor for transmitting said driving force of said single motor to said clutch mechanism;
a second transmission gear mechanism on said chassis mechanically connecting said clutch mechanism to said supporting means for transmitting said driving force of said single motor to said supporting mean when said motor is in a first direction, whereby said supporting means raises and lowers said second end of said missile launch mount;
a third transmission gear mechanism on said chassis mechanically connecting said clutch mechanism to said release means for transmitting said driving force of said single motor to said release means, whereby said release means when said motor is in a second direction, opposite said first direction moves said missile holding means to release said missile from being held by said missile holding means,
wherein said first and second movable ends move to keep positions, on a horizontal and longitudinal coordinate, between said first and second ends of said missile launch mount, said first and second fixed ends of said first and second arms being closer to said first end of said missile launch mount than said first and second movable ends of said first and second arms, said first and second fixed ends of said first and second arms being connected via a rotary shaft to said second transmission gear mechanism for receiving said driving force from said single motor so that said first and second arms pivot around said first and second fixed ends thereof, whereby said missile launch mount also pivots around said first end, provided that said first and second movable ends of said first and second arms move to keep positions, on said horizontal and longitudinal coordinate, farther from said first end of said missile launch mount than said first and second fixed ends.

8 more elements

A toy missile launcher comprising:

a chassis;
a missile launch mount having a first end mounted on said chassis and a second end movable upward and downward, said missile launch mount having at least one missile projector accommodating a missile;
a supporting means mechanically connecting said chassis to said missile launch mount for supporting said missile launch mount and for raising and lowering said second end of said missile launch mount by utilizing an external driving force;
a thrust-applying means in said missile projector for applying said missile with sufficient thrust to launch said missile;
a missile holding means in said missile projector for preventing said missile from being launched;
a release means engaging said missile holding means for moving said missile holding means by utilizing said external driving force so as to release said missile from being held by said missile holding means to allow launching said missile by said thrust;
a single bi-directional motor on said chassis for generating said driving force;
a control unit on said chassis electrically connected to said single motor for receiving first and second control signals and controlling said single motor to drive in a first direction upon receipt of said first control signal and to drive said single motor in a second direction upon receipt of said second control signal;
a first transmission gear mechanism on said chassis mechanically connecting a clutch mechanism to said single motor for transmitting said driving force of said single motor to said clutch mechanism;
a second transmission gear mechanism on said chassis mechanically connecting said clutch mechanism to said supporting means for transmitting said driving force of said single motor to said supporting means whereby said supporting means for raising and lowering said second end of said missile launch mount;
a third transmission gear mechanism on said chassis mechanically connecting said clutch mechanism to said release means for transmitting said driving force of said single motor to said release means, whereby said release means moves said missile holding means to release said missile from being held by said missile holding means,
wherein said clutch mechanism comprises a pair of first and second one-way clutches, said first one-way clutch engaging said second transmission gear mechanism for transmitting said driving force to said second transmission gear mechanism only when said single motor rotates in a first direction, said second one-way clutch engaging said third transmission gear mechanism for transmitting said driving force to said third transmission gear mechanism only when said single motor rotates in a second direction, so that if said single motor rotates in said first direction, then said clutch mechanism transmits said driving force through said second transmission gear mechanism to said supporting means for raising and lowering said second end of said missile launch mount, and if said single motor rotates in said second direction, then said clutch mechanism transmits said driving force through said third transmission gear mechanism to said release means for releasing and launching said missile.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Radio-controlled toy missile launcher

Life of this patent

Radio-controlled toy missile launcher

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18