Propelled toy device and launcher therefor

Abstract

A toy device including the combination of a small toy vehicle fitted into a simulated ammunition shell, and a simulated rifle-type launching implement therefor. The launching implement includes a spring biased plunger which is depressed by cocking a bolt-type mechanism. The racing car and shell combination are loaded into the launching implement through an opening provided in the side thereof. Cocking the bolt mechanism also pushes the shell and vehicle into a "firing" compartment which retains the shell after the launching implement is "fired" to launch the racing car. The car is impelled down a ramp which is an integral part of the launching implement and onto the floor by the action of the plunger. The shell is ejected through the opening in the side of the launching implement when the bolt is pulled back for reloading. An interlocking mechanism is provided such that the trigger will not operate unless the launching instrument is supported on a flat surface, such as a floor, and a race car is loaded in the firing compartment. The interlocking mechanism is such as to prevent the launching implement from firing any other projectiles, particularly dangerously small projectiles, which are not in the intended size and shape of the specific race car.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to toy racing vehicles and more particularly to toy racing vehicles which are impelled by a spring biased launching implement.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Spring propelled devices in many forms are well known in the toy field, including spring propelled toy vehicles. Specifically, it is well known to provide a wheeled toy with spring means designed to act against a propelling element for the purpose of causing the vehicle to be propelled across a surface by reaction force in response to the release of the spring by manually operated means of some kind. Also known in the art are spring propelled vehicles wherein the spring propelling device is provided for in a separate launching implement or platform as disclosed by Holt in U.S. Pat. No. 2,803,922.

Also known in the art are toy gun devices which will eject a simulated empty ammunition shell after the toy gun has been fired as disclosed by Ferri in U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,644.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and useful toy vehicle and launching implement combination. The launching implement is formed in the shape of a toy gun, or rifle, and will eject spent ammunition shells after the device has been fired.

Another significant object of the invention is to provide an interlocking means on the launching implement such that it cannot be fired under unsafe conditions. The interlocking mechanism requires that the launching implement be placed flat on the floor before it can be fired. This mechanism also prevents firing of the launching implement when it is not loaded and especially when it is not loaded with the toy vehicle and shell combination provided. More particularly this mechanism will prevent the launching of any small objects, such as stones, marbles, pencils, or the like, which are not of the same size and shape of the intended projectile.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will appear after the description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction with the drawings of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed, in brief, to an improvement in toy devices wherein a small racing car is impelled along a flat surface by a launching implement.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes a small wheeled racing car which is fitted into a simulated ammunition shell, and a launching implement in the form of a simulated rifle is provided to impel the car over a floor. The launching implement includes a srping biased plunger which is depressed or "cocked" by the forward movement of a bolt-type mechanism similar to that type used on single shot rifles. An opening is provided in the side of the launching implement for loading the car and shell combination into the launching implement. When the bolt mechanism is cocked, it contacts the shell and racing car combination and pushes them into a firing compartment near the front portion of the launching implement. The plunger, which is released by pulling a trigger, strikes the rear portion of the racing car causing it to roll down a ramp and out of the launching implement onto the floor. The shell is retained in the firing compartment and, when the bolt mechanism is retracted for reloading, a small hook on the end of the bolt mechanism pulls the shell from the firing compartment and ejects the shell through the opening in the side of the launching implement.

A three part interlocking mechanism is provided such that the operator cannot fire the launching implement under unsafe conditions, particularly prohibiting firing the vehicle through the air. The trigger will not operate unless the impelling instrument is supported on a flat surface, a spring biased safety latch is held open, and a race car is loaded in the firing compartment. Thus, both hands of the operator are required to operate the launching instrument thus preventing a race car from being fired into the air, and also preventing firing of the instrument when projectiles, particularly small or unsafe projectiles such as pencils or the like, not of the same size and shape of the race car are loaded in the launching instrument.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toy combination of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a generally central vertical front-to-rear section showing the toy device in its cocked position before firing;

FIG. 3 is a section similar to that of FIG. 2 showing the device after it has been fired;

FIG. 4 is a fragmented sectional view of the interlocking mechanism taken generally along line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway view facilitating a showing the firing compartment and the directional ramp;

FIG. 6 is a fragmented horizontal sectional view showing the operation of the shell ejectment mechanism;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the components of the interlocking mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale of the toy vehicle and ammunition shell combination, showing the shell partially cutaway;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the toy vehicle and ammunition shell combination; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally along line 10--10 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The toy combination of the present invention, generally designated 10 in FIG. 1, includes a launching implement, generally designated 12, a toy racing vehicle, generally designated 14, and a simulated ammunition shell, generally designated 16.

The toy device will be described generally as shown in FIG. 2 as supported on a flat surface, preferably a floor F, since it is designed such that the device cannot be used to launch the toy racing vehicle into the air.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the toy device is shown in a position ready for launching the toy vehicle 14. The launching implement 12 includes a relatively large, hand held generally hollow frame 18 simulating the shape of a rifle. A trigger 20 is pivotally mounted on a pin 22 which is integrally molded with the frame 18. The trigger 20 also is provided with a curved slot 24 and two posts 26 and 28. A leaf-type spring 30 is attached to post 26 and is inserted into a slot provided in another post 32 molded integrally with the frame 18 such that the spring 30 causes a counterclockwise force to be applied to the trigger 20. The slot 24 provides a guide for the trigger 20 along post 32.

A release lever 34 is mounted on a pin 36 such that it will release a cross-shaped elongated plunger 38 when the trigger 20 is pulled. A curved flexible portion 40 is provided on the release lever 34 to return the lever to its original position by engagement with the post 28 on the trigger 20. A cylindrical interior bolt housing 42 encloses the plunger 38 and a spring 44. The spring surrounds plunger 38 such that the spring 44 is compressed when the rear headed tip 46 of the plunger engages with lever 34 and the bolt housing 42 is in its forwardmost position. The front tapered tip 48 of the plunger 38 is provided with a disc-like flange 50 which contacts a rubber damping gasket 52 at the front of housing 42 when the plunger moves forward under the force of the spring 44. The front tip 48 of the plunger strikes the rear of the toy vehicle 14 causing it to be impelled down a flanged ramp 56 and out the front open end 58 of the impelling rifle-like instrument 12.

The rear tip 46 of the plunger 38 engages with the tip of the lever 34 when a bolt arm 60 is moved upwards and toward the rear in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 5. For convenience, a round ball-shaped handle 62 is provided on the end of the bolt lever 60.

A sight 63 is rotatably mounted by means of a pin 64 in a flange 65 extending upwardly on the top of the frame 18. A sighting protusion 66 is provided on the top of the frame 18 near the front end 58 of the implement to aid in aiming the travel of the toy vehicle 14.

To load the launching implement, a toy vehicle 14 is fitted into a shell 16 and placed in a loading compartment 67 provided for by an opening 68 on the side of the launching implement 12. The launching implement 12 is cocked and readied for firing by pushing the bolt arm 60 forward and down in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 5. The front end of the bolt housing 42 engages with the rear of the shell 16 and pushes it into the firing compartment 67a as it compresses the spring 44 between the circular disc 50 on the front portion of the plunger 38 and the rear portion of the bolt housing 42. The launching implement then is ready to be fired, as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the toy vehicle 14 and the simulated ammunition shell 16. The shell 16 is generally tubular in shape with a flat bottom portion 69. A slot 70 is provided for clearance of rear wheels 72 of the toy vehicle 14. In addition, a hole 74 is provided in the bottom flat portion 69 of the simulated shell 16 to engage with a detent 75 on the bottom of the toy vehicle chassis 76. A circular base 78 is provided on the end of the simulated ammunition shell 16 with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the tubular portion of the shell to retain it in the firing compartment 67a.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, we see the toy vehicle comprises a hollow body 90 formed of plastic or other suitable material in the shape of a large scale bullet-type projectile. The body 90 is mounted on the chassis 76. The chassis is fabricated of metal, or the like, which gives the toy vehicle a low center of gravity to increase its accuracy when moving over a supporting surface. The chassis 76 carries the rear ground engageable wheels 72 which are fixed to a common axle 92 for conjoint rotation therewith. The axle is rotatably mounted in a bearing 94 in the rear portion of the chassis 76. Thus, the wheels are not independently rotatable and, preferably, have rubber or other friction surfaces. A generally triangular cut out 96 is provided toward the front portion of the chassis for clearance with a front wheel 98 which is supported by an axle 100 carried by a yoke shaped caster 102 which is pivotally mounted to the body 90 by a screw 104. The front wheel is weighted, as by being fabricated of metal. The combination of the weighted, caster-type front wheel and the rear wheels 72 fixed to shaft 92 for conjoint rotation causes the toy vehicle 14 to travel over a floor, or the like, in a very straight path. This allows for accuracy in aiming.

The detent 75 is provided on the rear portion of the chassis 76 to engage with the hole 74 in the bottom portion of the shell 16 such that the toy vehicle 14 and the shell 16 may be loaded as a unitary member into the launching implement 12.

A sound producing device for the toy vehicle is provided in the form of a gear type member 106 fixed for rotation with axle 92. A resilient leaf 108 is mounted for engagement with the teeth of member 106 for producing sound as the rear wheels and axle 92 rotate.

A safety interlocking mechanism is provided, generally designated 110 (FIG. 2), and shown in FIG. 7 with the component parts separated. The safety interlock includes a support pad 114 rotatably mounted on the frame 18 by means of a pin 116. The pad 114 includes an integrally molded leaf-type spring 118, which abuts against a rib 120 molded integral with the frame, and a flange 122 which is biased by spring 118 into contact with a rib 124 on the lower portion of the frame 18. Flange 122 comes into contact with a rib 126 of the frame 18 when the launching implement is placed on an appropriate supporting surface and the pad 114 rotates clockwise against the force of the spring 118. A pin 128 mounted on an upwardly directed ear 130 of the pad 114 engages in a slot 132 on an interlocking arm 134. An elongated slot 135 is provided in the interlocking arm 134 to slide the arm along a pair of pins 136 and 138 which are molded as part of the frame 18. The interlocking arm 134 is provided with an L-shaped rear end 140 such that a blocking pad 142 on the end of the trigger 120 cannot move downward unless the interlocking arm 134 is in its forwardmost position.

Another pad 144 is provided toward the front end of the frame 18 and is rotatably mounted on a pin 146 which is mounted on a depending arm 148 of the frame 18. A cam surface 150 is provided on an arm 152 of the pad 144 such that during rotation of the pad 144 about the pin 146 the cam surface 150 contacts a cam follower 160 which is rotatably mounted on a second elongated interlocking arm 162 by means of a pin 164.

The cam follower 160 is provided with two upwardly directed arms 165. The two upwardly directed arms 165 can protrude into the firing compartment 67a through a hole 166 in the bottom of the firing compartment. When the firing compartment 67a is loaded with a toy vehicle 14 and shell 16 combination the tips of the arms 165 abut against the bottom of the car 54 as seen in FIG. 2. This point of contact acts as a fulcrum for the cam follower 160 such that when the pad 144 is rotated clockwise the cam follower (through pin 164) causes the interlocking arm 162 to move to the left in the direction of arrow C (FIG. 2).

The interlocking arm 162 is provided with a slot 167 which is in slidable engagement with a pin 168 on the frame 18. A second slot 170 is provided in the interlocking arm 162 for slidable engagement on pins 136 and 138. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, the interlocking arm 162 is provided with a U-shaped portion 174 at its rear end (the left as seen in FIG. 7) such that the pad 142 of the trigger 20 cannot be moved downward unless the pad 144 rests on a flat surface. FIG. 4 shows the proper alignment between the interlocking arms 134 and 162 to enable the trigger 20 to be pulled.

The cam follower 160 performs an additional function of preventing the trigger from being pulled when no vehicle is loaded in the firing compartment or when a foreign object not of the size and shape of the toy vehicle 14 is placed in the gun for firing. More particularly, when no vehicle is in the firing compartment 67a, the cam follower 160 will move upwardly through the hole 166 into the firing compartment through the bottom of shell 16 and thereby cause the safety interlocking arm 162 to move to the right in the direction of arrow D (FIG. 2) by the force of a spring 180. Spring 180 is attached to a hook 182 depending from the interlocking arm 162 and is connected to a pin 184 on the frame 18. Thus, the rear end of the interlocking arm 162 will block downward movement of the pad 142 on the trigger 20, and the spring biased plunger 38 cannot be released when the firing compartment does not contain a toy vehicle. To the same extent, if foreign objects, such as dangerously small objects such as pencils or the like, are placed in the gun for firing, the cam follower 160 again will move upwardly through hole 166 and either lift the foreign object or move it to one side and again prevent the gun from firing.

As an additional safety feature, a spring biased latch 190 is provided with a handle 191 for hand operation by the user. The latch 190 is mounted in an elongaged slot 192 in the side of the frame 18 and held in position by a retainer bushing 193. The latch 190 is biased toward the rear of the launching implement 12 by a spring 194 connected between a hook 195 on the latch on a tab 196 on the housing 18. The trigger 20 is provided with an extended rib 197 which contacts the latch 190 and blocks the movement of the trigger 20 unless the safety latch is pushed and held forward in the direction of arrow E. This prevents a user from holding the "gun" pointed upwardly while depressing the pads 114 and 144 and pulling the trigger. Yet a third hand would be necessary to release the safety latch 190.

FIG. 5 shows the launching implement 10 after it has been fired and when it is not resting on a flat surface. As can be seen, the pads 114 and 144 have rotated counterclockwise thus causing the interlocking arms 134 and 162 to move to the right as shown in the drawings to block the pad 142 on the trigger 20. Thus, as shown in this position the trigger 20 cannot be pulled and the spring biased plunger 38 cannot be released while the launching implement is not resting on the floor or other appropriate supporting surface.

The launching implement 12 is fired by pulling the trigger 20 which releases the plunger 38. The front tip 48 of the plunger then strikes the rear of the vehicle body 90 through aperture 199 in the rear of shell 16 causing the vehicle to travel down the ramp and out onto the floor or other appropriate supporting surface. After launching the vehicle 14 the bolt housing is pulled back to prepare the launching implement for another loading. A small hook 200 (FIG. 6) on the front end of the bolt housing 42 engages with the circular disc-like flange 78 on the rear of the shell 16 to withdraw it from the firing chamber 67a. A leaf-hook spring 202 engages circular flange 78 of the shell 16 as it moves backward in the direction of arrow F (FIG. 6) and causes it to rotate in the direction of arrow G (FIG. 6) and move through the opening 68 in the side of the launching implement. The launching implement is then ready to be reloaded with another toy vehicle and shell combination.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

We claim:

1. A toy device comprising, in combination:

a toy wheeled vehicle;

a separate shell suitable for slidably receiving the toy vehicle to form a cartridge; and

an implement for launching the toy vehicle while separating the same from and retaining the shell, and for ejecting the empty shell from the launching implement after the toy vehicle has been launched.

2. A toy device comprising, in combination:

a toy wheeled vehicle;

a separate shell suitable for slidably receiving the toy vehicle to form a cartridge; and

an implement for launching the toy vehicle while retaining the shell and for ejecting the empty shell after the toy vehicle has been launched, including a safety interlocking mechanism which prevents the implement from being actuated when a vehicle is not loaded therein.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said toy wheeled vehicle has a predetermined size and shape and said launching implement has a predetermined size and shape and said launching implement has a firing compartment of a complementary size and shape for receiving said toy vehicle, and said safety interlocking mechanism includes means which prevents the implement from being actuated when a foreign object not of the same size and shape as said vehicle is placed in said firing compartment.

4. A toy device comprising, in combination:

a toy wheeled vehicle;

a separate shell suitable for slidably receiving the toy vehicle to form a cartridge, the shell being formed in the shape of a simulated ammunition shell; and

an implement in the shape of a toy gun for launching the toy vehicle while retaining the shell and for ejecting the empty shell after the toy vehicle has been launced.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the toy vehicle body if formed in the shape of a bullet-type wheeled projectile and is slidably enclosed in the simulated ammunition shell.

6. A toy device comprising, in combination:

a toy wheeled vehicle;

a separate shell suitable for slidably receiving the toy vehicle to form a cartridge; and

an implement for launching the toy vehicle while retaining the shell and for ejecting the empty shell after the toy vehicle has been launched, including a safety interlocking mechanism which prevents actuation of the implement without the use of two hands and unless the implement is supported on an appropriate supporting surface.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the launching implement is formed in the shape of a toy gun and includes a ramp in the area of a gun's barrel down which the vehicle is launched.

8. A toy device comprising, in combination:

a toy wheeled vehicle having a pair of rear wheels mounted on a common rotatably mounted axle for conjoint rotation therewith and a single front wheel rotatably mounted on a caster mounting which is pivoted to said vehicle for pivoting about a generally vertical axis;

a shell suitable for slidably receiving the toy vehicle to form a cartridge; and

an implement for launching the toy vehicle while retaining the shell and for ejecting the empty shell after the toy vehicle has been launched.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said front wheel is weighted.

10. A toy device comprising, in combination:

a toy vehicle including a frame and ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on the frame for rollingly supporting the vehicle on an appropriate supporting surface;

a simulated ammunition shell for receiving and holding the toy vehicle to form a loading cartridge; and

a launching implement in the form of a simulated gun for launching the toy vehicle, said implement having a support base for resting the implement on the supporting surface and ramp means in the area of the barrel portion of the gun down which the toy vehicle is launched onto the supporting surface for rolling therealong, while retaining the simulated ammunition shell in the simulated gun.

11. The toy device of claim 10 wherein said launching implement includes manually and selectively operable actuating means for launching the toy vehicle from the implement, and including a safety lock mechanism to prevent operation of said actuating means unless said implement is resting on the supporting surface, to prevent launching the vehicle through the air.

12. The toy vehicle of claim 11 wherein said safety lock mechanism includes a plurality of support pads mounted on the implement and operatively associated with said lock mechanism to release the lock mechanism when the implement is resting on the supporting surface but to prevent operation of said actuating means when the implement is not resting on the supporting surface.

13. The toy device of claim 12 including a manually manipulated trigger portion of said simulated gun for operating said actuating means, and including interlocking means between said support pads and said trigger portion to prevent moving the trigger portion unless said support pads have been moved in response to the launching implement resting on the supporting surface.

14. The toy device of claim 13 including an additional safety lock mechanism which is operatively associated with said trigger portion and which must be manually grasped and held in a release position in order to operate said trigger portion.

15. The toy device of claim 11 including means to prevent operation of said actuating means unless said vehicle is loaded in said implement.

16. The toy device of claim 10 wherein said toy wheeled vehicle has a predetermined size and shape and said launching implement has a firing compartment of a complementary size and shape for receiving said toy vehicle, and said safety interlocking mechanism includes means which prevents the implement from being actuated when a foreign object not of the same size and shape as said vehicle is placed in said firing compartment.

17. The toy device of claim 10 wherein said implement includes means for ejecting an empty ammunition shell after the vehicle has been launched from the implement.

18. The toy device of claim 10 including means to prevent operation of said actuating means unless said vehicle is loaded in said implement.

19. The toy device of claim 10 wherein said toy wheeled vehicle has a pair of rear wheels mounted on a common rotatably mounted axle for conjoint rotation therewith and a single front wheel rotatably mounted on a caster mounting which is pivoted to said vehicle for pivoting about a generally vertical axis.

20. The toy device of claim 19 wherein said front wheel is weighted.

21. A toy device comprising, in combination: a launching implement for receiving and projecting a toy wheeled vehicle over an appropriate supporting surface; and a toy wheeled vehicle adapted to be launched by said implement, said vehicle having a plurality of rear wheels fixed to common axle means for conjoint rotation therewith and a single front wheel rotatably mounted on a caster mounting for rotation about a single horizonaal axis, said caster mounting being pivoted to said vehicle for pivoting about a generally vertical axis spaced forwardly of said horizontal axis in relation to the direction of movement of the vehicle, said front wheel being weighted, whereby said conjoinly rotatable rear wheels and said weighted caster mounted front wheel facilitate launching said vehicle over the supporting surface in a straight line to facilitate aiming the projection of the vehicle.