U.S. patent application number 09/845760 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for cap rocket.
Invention is credited to LaPointe, Brian, Larner, Cole E..
Application Number | 20020086610 09/845760 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26812869 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020086610 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LaPointe, Brian ; et
al. |
July 4, 2002 |
Cap rocket
Abstract
A projectile toy includes an outer projectile member made of
foam. A cap mechanism is contained inside the projectile member. A
foam shaft and fin structures may extend from an end portion of the
foam projectile member.
Inventors: |
LaPointe, Brian; (West
Yarmouth, MA) ; Larner, Cole E.; (Portland,
OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KOLISCH HARTWELL DICKINSON MCCORMACK &
HEUSER
520 S.W. YAMHILL STREET
SUITE 200
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Family ID: |
26812869 |
Appl. No.: |
09/845760 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09845760 |
Apr 30, 2001 |
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09478935 |
Jan 6, 2000 |
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60115130 |
Jan 6, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
446/400 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 27/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/400 |
International
Class: |
A63H 005/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A toy comprising an outer projectile member made of foam, and a
cap activation mechanism contained inside the member.
2. A cap activation device comprising a cap impact member, a ball
bearing, and a foam spring separating the ball bearing from the cap
impact member so that momentum from the ball bearing causes the
foam spring to compress, thereby causing the cap impact member to
activate a cap.
3. A toy comprising a front portion dimensioned to be held and
thrown by hand, a cap activation device contained in the front
portion, and a tail portion attached to the front portion, wherein
a space for loading a cap in the cap activation device can be
created by pulling the tail portion relative to the front portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. application
Ser. No. 09/478,935 filed Jan. 6, 2000 titled "Cap Rocket" which
application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Serial No. 60/115,130, filed Jan. 6, 1999.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a toy, particularly, a foam ball
incorporating a mechanism for activating a cap upon impact.
[0003] FIGS. 1-17 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the
invention. FIG. 1 shows a rocket-shaped projectile 20 including
front portion 22 which is shaped generally like a football. Shaft
24 extends behind front portion 22. Three fins 26 are provided at
the end of shaft 24. A cap activator mechanism 28 is incorporated
inside front portion 22. Front portion 22, shaft 24 and fins 26 are
all preferably made of flexible, compressible foam material. Cap
activator 28 is advantageously contained at all times inside of
front portion 22 so that people who may be playing with the toy
will only contact the soft foam outer portions of cap rocket 20.
FIGS. 2 and 3A-C show other views of cap rocket 20.
[0004] FIG. 4 shows a preferred design for cap mechanism 30 which
includes firing surface 32, firing pin 34, cap placement pin 36 and
a cylindrical foam spring. The foam spring is compressed on impact,
allowing a ball bearing to travel forward 1/4 inch to contact the
back of firing pin 34, thereby driving firing pin 34 and the cap
forward against firing surface 32.
[0005] FIGS. 5-8 and 11-13 show component parts of front portion
22.
[0006] FIGS. 9, 10 and 14-17 show other views of the preferred cap
mechanism.
[0007] FIG. 20 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention.
Toy projectile 60 has a front football-shaped portion 62 made of
compressible foam material. A cap activation device is contained
inside front portion 62. The cap activation device includes anvil
64 which remains stationary relative to front portion 62.
Individual caps are sandwiched between anvil 64 and pin member 66.
Pin member 66 is movable along axis AA. Pin member 66 can be pulled
away from anvil 64 by pulling on tail portion 82 relative to front
portion 62. An internal rod 68 connects pin portion 66 to tail
portion 82. Spring 68 forces pin member 66 toward anvil 64.
Weighted cylinder 72 is free to translate along rod 68 and
functions to hammer pin member 66 onto the cap upon impact. Pin
member 66, spring 68, and weighted cylinder 72 are contained within
cylindrical tube 74. Tail portion 82 contains a straw-like member
in which a portion of rod 68 is immobilized.
[0008] The invention as described above may also be adapted to
include a roll of caps inside the ball so that successive caps can
be dialed into the activation site by dialing or twisting a
handle.
* * * * *