U.S. patent application number 15/059130 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-07 for paper airplane launcher toy.
The applicant listed for this patent is Gorilla Group Limited. Invention is credited to Chi Wing William Ng, Max Anton Benjamin Voigt.
Application Number | 20170252661 15/059130 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59722548 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170252661 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Voigt; Max Anton Benjamin ;
et al. |
September 7, 2017 |
Paper Airplane Launcher Toy
Abstract
The present invention relates to a toy which holds and launches
multiple paper airplanes. It utilizes a user input device, such as
a trigger or button, to initiate firing. On initiation one or more
paper airplanes are advanced into a spinning wheel, which is
powered by an electric motor, that accelerates the paper airplanes
out of the toy. Upon leaving the toy, the paper airplanes fly
through the air to their target.
Inventors: |
Voigt; Max Anton Benjamin;
(Causeway Bay, HK) ; Ng; Chi Wing William; (Kwun
Tong, HK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gorilla Group Limited |
Tsim Sha Tsui |
|
HK |
|
|
Family ID: |
59722548 |
Appl. No.: |
15/059130 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 27/14 20130101;
A63H 33/26 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 27/14 20060101
A63H027/14; A63H 33/26 20060101 A63H033/26 |
Claims
1. A paper airplane launcher toy comprising: a channel, a user
input device, a pushing mechanism, a wheel, and an electric motor,
wherein: a) the channel holds a plurality of stacked paper
airplanes; b) the user input device actuates the pushing mechanism;
c) the pushing mechanism synchronously or asynchronously moves the
plurality of paper airplanes into contact with the wheel; d) the
wheel is driven by the electric motor; and e) the wheel accelerates
paper airplanes fed by the pushing mechanism out of the
launcher.
2. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 1 further comprising: a
guide fin, wherein: a) the guide fin penetrates the lengthwise
crevice on the top surface of paper airplanes; and b) the guide fin
maintains crosswise stability during the pushing mechanism's
movement of paper airplanes to the wheel.
3. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 1 further comprising: a
rate-limiting structure, wherein: a) the rate-limiting structure
physically blocks a proper subset of paper airplanes being
synchronously moved by the pushing mechanism; b) the remaining
paper airplanes being synchronously moved by the pushing mechanism:
i. are not blocked, ii. are moved into contact with the wheel by
the pushing mechanism, and iii. are accelerated out of the launcher
by the wheel.
4. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 1 further comprising: a
guide fin, and a rate-limiting structure, wherein: a) the guide fin
penetrates the lengthwise crevice on the top surface of paper
airplanes; and b) the guide fin maintains crosswise stability
during the pushing mechanism's movement of paper airplanes to the
wheel. c) the rate-limiting structure physically blocks a proper
subset of paper airplanes being synchronously moved by the pushing
mechanism; d) the remaining paper airplanes being synchronously
moved by the pushing mechanism: i. are not blocked, ii. are moved
into contact with the wheel by the pushing mechanism, and iii. are
accelerated out of the launcher by the wheel.
5. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 1 further comprising: a
detection sensor, wherein: a) the detection sensor is toggled by
the presence or absence of paper airplanes; and b) a state of paper
airplane absence interpreted by the sensor interrupts or prevents:
i. the user input device's actuation of the pushing mechanism ii.
the pushing mechanism's movement of paper airplanes into contact
with the wheel, and/or iii. the wheel's acceleration of paper
airplanes out of the launcher.
6. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 2 further comprising: a
detection sensor, wherein: a) the detection sensor is toggled by
the presence or absence of paper airplanes; and b) a state of paper
airplane absence interpreted by the sensor interrupts or prevents:
i. the user input device's actuation of the pushing mechanism ii.
the pushing mechanism's movement of paper airplanes into contact
with the wheel, and/or iii. the wheel's acceleration of paper
airplanes out of the launcher.
7. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 3 further comprising: a
detection sensor, wherein: a) the detection sensor is toggled by
the presence or absence of paper airplanes; and b) a state of paper
airplane absence interpreted by the sensor interrupts or prevents:
i. the user input device's actuation of the pushing mechanism ii.
the pushing mechanism's movement of paper airplanes into contact
with the wheel, and/or iii. the wheel's acceleration of paper
airplanes out of the launcher.
8. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 4 further comprising: a
detection sensor, wherein: a) the detection sensor is toggled by
the presence or absence of paper airplanes; and b) a state of paper
airplane absence interpreted by the sensor interrupts or prevents:
i. the user input device's actuation of the pushing mechanism ii.
the pushing mechanism's movement of paper airplanes into contact
with the wheel, and/or iii. the wheel's acceleration of paper
airplanes out of the launcher.
9. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 5 further comprising: a
feed-blocking structure, wherein: a) the feed-blocking structure
physically blocks all paper airplanes being moved by the pushing
mechanism; b) the feed-blocking structure is retracted, such that
it will not physically block all paper airplanes being moved by the
pushing mechanism, if the detection sensor interprets a state of
paper airplane presence.
10. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 6 further comprising:
a feed-blocking structure, wherein: a) the feed-blocking structure
physically blocks all paper airplanes being moved by the pushing
mechanism; b) the feed-blocking structure is retracted, such that
it will not physically block all paper airplanes being moved by the
pushing mechanism, if the detection sensor interprets a state of
paper airplane presence.
11. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 7 further comprising:
a feed-blocking structure, wherein: a) the feed-blocking structure
physically blocks all paper airplanes being moved by the pushing
mechanism; b) the feed-blocking structure is retracted, such that
it will not physically block all paper airplanes being moved by the
pushing mechanism, if the detection sensor interprets a state of
paper airplane presence.
12. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 8 further comprising:
a feed-blocking structure, wherein: a) the feed-blocking structure
physically blocks all paper airplanes being moved by the pushing
mechanism; b) the feed-blocking structure is retracted, such that
it will not physically block all paper airplanes being moved by the
pushing mechanism, if the detection sensor interprets a state of
paper airplane presence.
13. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 5 wherein: a) the
detection sensor is a depressable detector switch; and b) the
detector switch is depressed by the wing or base surface of paper
airplanes loaded in the channel or being moved by the pushing
mechanism.
14. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 6 wherein: a) the
detection sensor is a depressable detector switch; and b) the
detector switch is depressed by the wing or base surface of paper
airplanes loaded in the channel or being moved by the pushing
mechanism.
15. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 7 wherein: a) the
detection sensor is a depressable detector switch; and b) the
detector switch is depressed by the wing or base surface of paper
airplanes loaded in the channel or being moved by the pushing
mechanism.
16. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 8 wherein: a) the
detection sensor is a depressable detector switch; and b) the
detector switch is depressed by the wing or base surface of paper
airplanes loaded in the channel or being moved by the pushing
mechanism.
17. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 13 further comprising:
an elastic containment structure, wherein: a) the elastic
containment structure applies pressure against the opposite side of
the paper airplane surface which depresses the detector switch; and
b) the elastic containment structure includes a cavity for the
detector switch such that the detector switch is exclusively
depressed by objects between the elastic containment structure and
the detector switch and not the elastic containment structure
itself.
18. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 14 further comprising:
an elastic containment structure, wherein: a) the elastic
containment structure applies pressure against the opposite side of
the paper airplane surface which depresses the detector switch; and
b) the elastic containment structure includes a cavity for the
detector switch such that the detector switch is exclusively
depressed by objects between the elastic containment structure and
the detector switch and not the elastic containment structure
itself.
19. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 15 further comprising:
an elastic containment structure, wherein: a) the elastic
containment structure applies pressure against the opposite side of
the paper airplane surface which depresses the detector switch; and
b) the elastic containment structure includes a cavity for the
detector switch such that the detector switch is exclusively
depressed by objects between the elastic containment structure and
the detector switch and not the elastic containment structure
itself.
20. The paper airplane launcher toy of claim 16 further comprising:
an elastic containment structure, wherein: a) the elastic
containment structure applies pressure against the opposite side of
the paper airplane surface which depresses the detector switch; and
b) the elastic containment structure includes a cavity for the
detector switch such that the detector switch is exclusively
depressed by objects between the elastic containment structure and
the detector switch and not the elastic containment structure
itself.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to toys and games, and in
particular to toy projectile launchers. It also relates to paper
airplanes, which serve as the projectiles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The origin of the paper airplane traces itself back to the
Han dynasty in China, where the manufacture of paper was first
developed. Since its ancient beginnings, the paper airplane has
been one of the most classic toys ever created. They are cheap and
can be made by just about anyone. Most importantly, though, they
are lots of fun to fly.
[0003] Another classic category of toy, though perhaps not quite so
old as the paper airplane, is the foam dart shooter. The NERF brand
has become ubiquitous in American culture since it's inception in
the 1960's, and foam darts are a staple in many households
containing children. The guns, turrets, and other weapons
manufactured by NERF and their competitors have earned a place in
the hearts of many children and adults alike. This is likely
attributable to the fact that, like the paper airplane, the toys
are a lot of fun.
[0004] Both types of toy have their drawbacks, however. While paper
airplanes are simple to fly, many children find throwing them
difficult. Some children are too young to have developed the
necessary arm strength and coordination, while others suffer from
injuries or physical disabilities. Pulling a trigger or pressing a
button is a lot easier than throwing a paper airplane.
[0005] Another limitation of paper airplanes is the pizazz factor.
The most popular toys--like NERF blasters--are often brightly
colored, while paper airplanes are typically plain white. Paper
airplanes also lack the foam dart experience in the mock warfare
context. A paper airplane fight doesn't sound like much fun, in the
same way a NERF fight without the blasters doesn't sound like much
fun. Children often find launching projectiles at one another more
amusing than throwing them. Parents are likely to hold the same
preference for launching versus throwing. Permitting the use of
NERF blasters does not reinforce the general negative behavior of
throwing objects at others, which is a problem for some
children.
[0006] Foam dart launchers have different drawbacks. The majority
of their problems revolve around the foam darts they use as
ammunition. As many children know, an arsenal of foam darts has a
way of slowly disappearing. This limits the fun of the toys until
the foam dart supply can be replenished. In the best case scenario
this is accomplished by removing couch cushions, looking under and
behind furniture, and thoroughly searching shelves and windowsills.
Even then, some darts vanish to never be found again, which leads
to more difficult replenishment strategies, like convincing a
parent to purchase more.
[0007] Parents recognize these same drawbacks of the foam darts.
The projectiles have a habit of getting anywhere and everywhere, as
their small size and narrow profile allows them to fit under
kitchen appliances, behind desks and bookshelves, and within any
other rarely-examined nook and cranny a household might contain.
And, once the supply inevitably reaches a critically-low level, one
must purchase additional darts to further fill those nooks and
crannies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention describes a launcher toy which can be
loaded with a plurality of stacked paper airplanes. It utilizes a
user input device, such as a trigger or button, to initiate the
launching of the paper airplanes. Upon actuation of the user input
device, one or more paper airplanes are pushed into a spinning
motorized wheel which accelerates them out of the launcher. The
launcher toy's essential elements are a channel, a user input
device, a pushing mechanism, a wheel, and an electric motor; all of
these elements are described in detail below. Note that here, as
well as in interpreting the scope of the appended claims in an
open-ended ("comprising") context, indefinite articles "a" and "an"
are intended to mean "one or more," and elements so described may
share structure and functionality with other elements. Elements of
this type may or may not depend on other elements of the same type
to function; for example, a launcher may have two buttons which
must be pressed simultaneously to launch a paper airplane.
[0009] A paper airplane is any gliding or flying apparatus
constructed primarily from paper, though it may include additional
materials such as tape, glue, staples, stickers, etc. Typical
configurations include a vertical base which runs the entire length
of the object, and two horizontal wings which extend from the top
edge of the vertical base and also run the entire length of the
object. Sometimes the base and both wings meet at a point in the
front of the paper airplane; other times the front is blunt. Less
common variates incorporate additional structures such as wing tips
or fins, and rarely the vertical base is omitted or there are
multiple vertical bases.
[0010] The launcher toy may function with any variation of paper
airplane, though it is likely (if not logically necessary) that any
specific embodiment would function with only one variation or some
subset of all possible variations. Note that the capabilities of
the launcher to operate with paper airplanes does not limit it's
potential capabilities in operating with other projectiles, without
regard to whether those projectiles are made of paper or even a
planar or sheet material.
[0011] While the launcher toy holds a plurality of paper airplanes,
it is not required that it be loaded with a plurality to enable
functionality. The holding of a plurality of paper airplanes, and
the functioning in that instance, is a necessary capability of the
launcher toy. The launcher toy might also function, though, after
being loaded with only a single paper airplane. Note that this
capability is not required either--it might be the case that a
launcher toy only functions when loaded with the maximum quantity
of paper airplanes it can hold. The only requirement is that the
launcher toy functions when loaded with some plurality of paper
airplanes; nothing requires or limits any other capabilities
regarding functionality when loaded with any other quantity of
paper airplane.
[0012] The paper airplane launcher toy includes a channel, which is
a slot or receptacle which holds multiple stacked paper airplanes.
The manner in which the paper airplanes are stacked is not limited;
paper airplanes may be stacked directly one on top of another, or
with any offset, with different embodiments including differing
capabilities in this regard. The channel may hold the paper
airplanes by any of their structures, surfaces, or edges, and its
holding of the paper airplanes may be effectuated in tandem with
other launcher toy structures or elements. The channel and any
other structures or elements which assist it in the holding of
paper airplanes may require the launcher toy be oriented in a
specific way (e.g. not upside down, or not pointing straight up
vertically) to hold onto the paper airplanes, though it may also
hold the paper airplanes in every orientation.
[0013] A paper airplane is considered contained by the launcher toy
from the time it is loaded in the channel to the time that it
breaks contact with the launcher toy after being accelerated out of
it. The act of loading a paper airplane refers to placing a paper
airplane in the channel such that it is positioned for launch. A
paper airplane is positioned for launch when it is in such a
position that the user input device, upon being triggered one or
more times, actuates the pushing mechanism and moves the paper
airplane to the motorized wheel which accelerates it out of the
launcher.
[0014] The paper airplane toy includes a wheel driven by the
electric motor. This motorized wheel is oriented such that its axis
of rotation is generally perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of
the paper airplanes it accelerates. A paper airplane's lengthwise
axis runs from fore to aft along the center of its wing surface.
When a paper airplane contacts the spinning wheel, the wheel grabs
the paper airplane and begins pushing it, accelerating the paper
airplane and ejecting it out of the launcher toy.
[0015] The pushing mechanism is actuated by the user input device,
and pushes paper airplanes into contact with the motorized wheel.
This may be done synchronously or asynchronously, i.e. one paper
airplane at a time, some paper airplanes at a time, or all paper
airplanes at a time. The pushing mechanism is a mechanism which
moves paper airplanes translationally by pushing on them, either
directly or indirectly. This includes linear-moving structures like
as arms and blocks and rotating structures like as wheels and
belts, or any combination thereof. It is not required that the
pushing mechanism move a loaded paper airplane to the launcher
assembly upon a single actuation. The pushing mechanism may also be
a combination of pushing structures; for example, a launcher toy
may have two structures A and B which comprise the pushing
mechanism, where A moves paper airplanes halfway to the motorized
wheel from their initially loaded position in the channel, and B
moves them the rest of the way. Such a pushing mechanism may even
be half-actuated by a user input device which alternates between
actuating A and B, requiring two actuations of the user input
device for a paper airplane to make contact with the wheel.
[0016] The pushing mechanism need not be actuated by every
identical input applied to the user input device. For example, a
launcher may have two pushing mechanisms and a trigger which
actuates them in an alternating sequence. Both pushing mechanisms
move the bottom airplane in a stack of paper airplanes positioned
for launch to the motorized wheel, but each one is only actuated on
every other trigger pull. Likewise, the same pushing mechanism may
be triggered by multiple user input devices or combinations of user
input devices.
[0017] The movement effectuated on paper airplanes by the pushing
mechanism need not be effectuated through direct physical contact.
Any number of structures or elements may link an advancement body
to a paper airplane. For example, in a launcher loaded with three
paper airplanes A, B, and C, an advancement body only making
physical contact with A can still simultaneously exert force on B
and C. If A is in contact with B, and B is in contact with C, the
advancement body may apply force to B (through A) and C (through
B).
[0018] The user input device actuates the pushing mechanism. User
input devices include triggers, toggles, switches, buttons, knobs,
levers, and slides. The user input device may be physically linked
to the pushing mechanism or even share structure with the pushing
mechanism, such that triggering the user input device directly and
physically actuates the pushing mechanism. The user input device
may also actuate the pushing mechanism via some other power source,
for example electronically actuating a linear solenoid pushing
mechanism.
[0019] The launcher toy which is configured to launch standard
paper airplanes can also include a guide fin. A standard paper
airplane is one which comprises a vertical base which extends along
its entire length, and two coplanar horizontal wings folding out
from the top edge of the vertical base at right angles which also
run along its entire length. The guide fin penetrates the
lengthwise crevice at the top edge of the vertical base, between
the two wings. This penetration is maintained during some or all of
the movement of paper airplanes by the pushing mechanism, providing
crosswise stability during the movement.
[0020] The launcher toy can also include a rate-limiting structure.
The rate-limiting structure physically blocks some, but not all, of
the maximum number of paper airplanes a launcher toy can hold from
being synchronously moved by the pushing mechanism. The remaining
paper airplanes are not physically blocked, allowing the pushing
mechanism to move them to the motorized wheel. The rate-limiting
structure need not be permanently enabled, nor must it always block
paper airplane movement to the motorized wheel whenever there is a
plurality of paper airplanes loaded. For example, in a launcher
loaded with six paper airplanes, the same feed-blocking structure
may be disabled to allow all six planes to be launched with a
single user input device actuation; enabled in a semi-automatic
mode to allow only one plane to be launched per user input device
actuation; or enabled in a burst mode which allows up to three
planes to be launched per user input device actuation (which would
launch two planes when only two planes are loaded, or one when only
one is loaded).
[0021] The launcher toy can also include a detection sensor, which
may be implemented as a safety device. The detection sensor is
toggled by the presence or absence of paper airplanes, with a state
of absence as interpreted by the detection sensor generally
disrupting the functionality of the launcher toy to prevent the
launch of projectiles which are not paper airplanes. This may
prevent injury. Specifically, a state of absence causes the
electronic or physical interruption or prevention of the user input
device's actuation of the pusher mechanism, the pusher mechanism's
movement of paper airplanes into contact with the wheel, the
wheel's acceleration of paper airplanes out of the launcher, or any
combination thereof.
[0022] The detection sensor may be a depressable detector switch
which is depressed by the wing or base surfaces of paper airplanes
loaded in the channel or being moved by the pushing mechanism. In
such instances the launcher toy can also include an elastic
containment structure, which applies mild pressure to the opposite
paper airplane surface which contacts the detector switch. The
pressure applied by the elastic containment structure is provided
by an elastic object or material, such as a metal coil spring or
elastomer block. The pressure applied by the elastic containment
structure does not prevent movement by the pushing mechanism, and
ensures the depression of the detector switch when a paper airplane
is present. The elastic containment structure necessarily includes
a cavity for the detector switch. This prevents the detector switch
from being depressed by the elastic containment structure itself;
the switch is only depressed by objects between the elastic
containment structure and the detector switch.
[0023] The launcher toy can also include a feed-blocking structure
if it includes a detection sensor, which moves in and out of
position to physically block all paper airplanes being moved by the
pushing mechanism. The position of the feed-blocking structure is
determined by the detection sensor's interpretation of the state of
paper airplane presence, with presence moving the feed-blocking
structure into position to block, and absence retracting the
feed-blocking structure out of position to not block.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] For a more complete understanding of the invention,
reference is made to the following description and accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 depicts a cutaway view of the internals of a paper
airplane launcher toy with three loaded paper airplanes; and
[0026] FIG. 2 depicts a cutaway view of the internals of a paper
airplane launcher toy with three loaded paper airplanes and a
partially-pulled trigger.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Reference will now be made to several potential embodiments
of the present invention. Each detail is provided as an explanation
of the present subject matter, and should not be construed to
narrow the metes and bounds of the invention's broader conception.
While the subject matter will be described in conjunction with
particular embodiments, it will be apparent to persons having
ordinary skill in the art that many further modifications and
variations can be made to the present invention without departing
from the scope or spirit thereof. Thus, it is intended that the
present subject matter covers such modifications and variations,
inasmuch as they would come within the scope of the appended
claims.
[0028] In one embodiment of the present invention, the paper plane
launcher toy takes the general shape of a toy gun. The user input
device is a trigger, and the device is hand-held.
[0029] In FIG. 1, the trigger [1] is in the non-depressed position.
Loaded in the channel [4] are three standard paper airplanes which
include a ridge in their vertical bases as a result of the way they
were folded. As this is a profile view, the wings of the paper
airplanes are coplanar with the line-of-sight perspective. The
outline of the vertical base of the bottom stacked paper airplane
[6] is visible in the channel [4], along with the aforementioned
ridge in this paper airplane's vertical base [8]. The other two
paper airplanes [9] stacked on top of the bottom paper airplane [6]
are blocked from advancing further forward by the a rate-limiting
structure [10]. Only the wing profiles of these two paper airplanes
[9] have been included for clarity. The base structures of these
two paper airplanes, while omitted, nest in the base structure of
the bottom paper airplane [6]. The structure holding the rate
limiting structure [10] in its fixed position above the channel [4]
has been omitted for clarity. The wheel [3] is directly driven by
the electric motor [2]. When the trigger [1] is pulled, it
mechanically advances the pushing mechanism [7], which slides along
the vertical base of the bottommost paper airplane [6] until it
contacts the ridge [8], at which point the paper airplane [6] would
begin to be pushed forward until it reached the wheel [3] and
experienced an acceleration out of the launcher.
[0030] In FIG. 2, the trigger [1] has been partially pulled, which
has advanced the pushing mechanism [7] forward. At this point the
pushing mechanism [7] has already began pushing the bottom paper
airplane [6] forward, specifically by pushing against the ridge [8]
in the bottom paper airplane's vertical base. The other two paper
airplanes in the launcher [9] continue to be blocked by the
rate-limiting structure [10]; this embodiment only launches a
single paper airplane at a time.
[0031] The embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 includes an
electronic depressable detection sensor [5] which is depressed by
the bottom loaded paper airplane [6]. When the detection sensor [5]
is not depressed, an interruption in the power source for the
electronic motor [2] stops the wheel [3] from spinning.
[0032] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among
those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently
attained and, because certain changes may be made in carrying out
the above constructions set forth without departing from the scope
and spirit of the invention, it is intended that all matter
contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying
drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting
sense.
* * * * *