Projectile launcher

An impact-safe projectile launcher for propelling projectiles, the projectile launcher comprising:

• a launch tube sized to accommodate insertion of an impact-safe projectile with substantially little to no friction between the launch tube inner wall and the projectile;
• a nozzle disposed adjacent one end of the launch tube, the nozzle being adapted to receive a flow of compressed air and to direct a stream of high-velocity air at the projectile disposed within the launch tube;
• and
• a play-participant actuated valve interposed between the nozzle and a source of compressed air, the valve being adapted when actuated to place the nozzle in communication with the source of compressed air;
• whereby upon actuation of the valve, the nozzle discharges a stream of high-velocity air which transfers momentum to the projectile, propelling it down the launch tube and into the air
• wherein the nozzle has a plurality of apertures adapted to create a substantially coherent high-velocity stream of air.

An impact-safe projectile launcher for propelling projectiles, the projectile launcher comprising:

• a launch tube sized to accommodate insertion of an impact-safe projectile with substantially little to no friction between the launch tube inner wall and the projectile;
• a nozzle disposed adjacent one end of the launch tube, the nozzle being adapted to receive a flow of compressed air and to direct a stream of high-velocity air at the projectile disposed within the launch tube;
• and
• a play-participant actuated valve interposed between the nozzle and a source of compressed air, the valve being adapted when actuated to place the nozzle in communication with the source of compressed air;
• and
• a strobe light for illuminating the launch tube
• whereby upon actuation of the valve, the nozzle discharges a stream of high-velocity air which transfers momentum to the projectile, propelling it down the launch tube and into the air.

A projectile launcher comprising:

• a launch tube substantially sealed at a first end and being sized and configured so as to accommodate insertion and launching of an impact-safe projectile, the impact-safe projectile having a size and mass adapted to safely impact a child, the launch tube having an inner diameter that is least slightly smaller at a second and than the diameter of the projectile;
• an air reservoir for containing compressed air;
• a nozzle disposed adjacent the sealed end of the launch tube, the nozzle being adapted to receive the compressed air and to deliver it to the launch tube between the projectile and the sealed end of the launch tube;
• a valve interposed between the nozzle and the air reservoir, the valve being adapted when actuated to place the nozzle in communication with the air reservoir;
• and
• a strobe light for selectively illumining the launch tube
• whereby upon actuation of the valve, the nozzle delivers the compressed air to the launch tube, expelling the projectile from the launch tube and into the air.

An impact-safe projectile launch system comprising an impact-safe projectile constructed of foam and adapted to minimize the risk of injury to a child upon impact and a projectile launcher, the projectile launcher comprising:

• a housing;
• a launch tube sized and configured so as to accommodate insertion of the impact-safe projectile with substantially little to no friction between the launch tube inner wall and the projectile;
• an air reservoir for containing a charge of compressed air;
• a manual play-participant-operated pump operated to pump a charge of compressed air into the air reservoir;
• a nozzle disposed adjacent one end of the launch tube, the nozzle being adapted to receive a flow of compressed air, to accelerate the flow of compressed air to form a stream of high-velocity air, and to direct the stream of high-velocity air at the projectile disposed within the launch tube;
• and
• a valve interposed between the air reservoir and the launch tube, the valve being adapted when actuated to place one end of the launch tube in communication with the air reservoir;
• whereby upon actuation of the valve, the nozzle discharges the stream of high-velocity air which transfers momentum to the projectile, propelling it down the launch tube and into the air.

An impact-safe projectile launch system comprising an impact-safe projectile constructed of foam and adapted to minimize the risk of injury to a child upon impact and a projectile launcher, the projectile launcher comprising:

• a housing;
• a launch tube sized and configured so as to accommodate insertion of the impact-safe projectile;
• an air reservoir for containing a charge of compressed air;
• a manual play-participant-operated pump operated to pump a charge of compressed air into the air reservoir;
• and
• a valve interposed between the air reservoir and the launch tube, the valve being adapted when actuated to place one end of the launch tube in communication with the air reservoir;
• and
• a strobe light for selectively illuminating the launch tube
• whereby upon actuation of the valve, the charge of compressed air is delivered to the launch tube, propelling the projectile down the launch tube into the air.

An impact-safe projectile launcher for propelling projectiles, the projectile launcher comprising:

• a nozzle adapted to receive a flow of compressed air, to accelerate the flow of compressed air to form a stream of high-velocity air, and to direct the stream of high-velocity air to impinge upon the projectile;
• a play-participant-actuated valve interposed between the nozzle and a source of compressed air, the valve being adapted when actuated to place the nozzle in communication with the source of compressed air;
• and
• a swivel-mounted base for allowing rotation of the projectile launcher in vertical and horizontal planes;
• whereby upon actuation of the valve, the nozzle discharges a stream of high-velocity air which transfers momentum to the projectile, propelling it in a desired direction.

A projectile launcher for use by play participants comprising:

• means for holding an impact-safe projectile in a position for launching;
• means for providing a flow of compressed air;
• means for accelerating the flow of compressed air to form a stream of high-velocity air;
• means for selectively delivering the stream of high-velocity air to directly impact one side of the projectile and to transfer momentum to the projectile for accelerating the projectile;
• play-participant-operated means for directing the accelerated projectile in a desired direction;
• and
• play-participant-operated means for controlling the stream delivering means and being adapted when actuated to cause the stream delivering means to deliver a stream of high-velocity air to accelerate the projectile.

A projectile launcher for use by play participants comprising:

• means for holding an impact-safe projectile in a position for launching;
• means for selectively delivering a charge of high-velocity air in a stream directly impacting one side of the projectile for accelerating the projectile;
• play-participant-operated means for directing the accelerated projectile in a desired direction;
• and
• play-participant-operated means for controlling the charge delivering means and being adapted when actuated to cause the charge delivering means to deliver a charge of high-velocity air to accelerate the projectile
• wherein the projectile directing means comprises rails.

A method for launching a projectile at a desired safe velocity comprising the steps of:

• holding the projectile in a position for launching;
• providing the flow of compressed air to a nozzle;
• accelerating the flow of compressed air within the nozzle to form a stream of high-velocity air;
• and
• directing the stream of high-velocity air at the projectile so that the momentum of the stream of air is transferred to the projectile to accelerate the projectile in a desired direction;
• and
• regulating the velocity of said stream of air such that said projectile attains a desired safe velocity upon launching.