Variable force projector and catcher

Abstract

A spring-operated plunger type ball shooter is disclosed having a ball catcher and holder at one end and a twist grip trigger at the other end. The shooter is designed for the playing of games and includes a gravity actuated elevation indicator and a spring force indicator to increase the fun and accuracy of shooting. The ball or projectile is further characterized by having a tail of fabric or the like for visibility in flight. Hinged radial pins in the ball catcher end facilitate retention of the ball therein.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a number of spring-operated toy guns in the prior art adopted to project a missle into the air and catch it again. Most use a tethered projectile. Means for adjusting the spring tension is either lacking or quite crude. The spring-tension on fishing bait projectors is convenient in that the spring is wound like a watch spring. Furthermore, the prior art devices are not suited for playing games and lack interest for this reason.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of this invention is to provide a ball or projectile shooter which is easy to handle, lightweight and shoots the ball with reasonable accuracy and adjustable distance so that duplicating shots is made possible, particularly when some indication of the elevation or angle of the shot is given to the player. The device provides a means to play a game wherein one shooter shoots his ball along a trajectory and one or more other players shoot at the ball in flight with their ball shooters, like the game of trap or skeet. The presence of the tail on the ball gives visual impetus to the game and also increases the chances for a hit. In one aspect of the invention the catch or trigger is rotary so that its release is by means of a twisting force on the butt end of the barrel thus facilitating the release of the catch without a pull motion which would interfere with the elevation and direction adjustments. The position of both the elevation and force variables are clearly before the player at all times making it easier to duplicate shots with more accuracy.

More particularly the actuating plunger is engaged by a rotatable sear at any one of a number of notches as it is pulled back in the tubular barrel. The barrel is provided with an elongated slot in the side wall whereby the extent of retraction of the plunger against the actuating spring is made visible. The plunger is provided with indicia to show the extent of compression of the spring. The forearm has a gravity actuated pendulum suspended within a recess therein on its top side with a scale associated therewith to indicate the angle of the barrel above or below horizontal at the time of a shot.

The barrel has a cup or open-faced housing at the muzzle end which is adapted to receive the generally spherical soft projectile. A number of inwardly projecting flexible radial fingers are provided around the opening of the cup to retain the projectile in operable relationship with the striking end of the plunger. The cup and its fingers also serve as a receptacle by which a projectile shot by another gun can be caught as part of a game of skill. All of the parts are of simple design and are fitted together in a manner to make manufacture and assembly inexpensive. The absence of a stock or pistol grip makes the device more like a wand that is easily manipulated during loading and shooting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of the ball shooter with the projectile or ball shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shooter.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the catcher end of the barrel taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the shooter as seen from the player's viewpoint as he uses same illustrating the close association of the force and elevation indicators.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the lines 6--6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the elevation indicator taken along the lines 7--7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary exploded view of the rotatable buzzer handle at the butt end of the barrel.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the butt end of the barrel to show the details of the rotatable trigger arrangement.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 10--10 of FIG. 9 and

FIG. 11 is a view like FIG. 10 showing the trigger or catch in the release position and also indicating the relative position of the cover plate for this part of the shooter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the shooter is shown to include the tubular barrel member 10 having the flared catcher housing member 12 at the muzzle end and the trigger assembly 14 at the butt end of the barrel. The barrel 10 carries the forearm member 16, intermediate its ends which serves as a hand grip. The barrel has an elongated slot 18 (also shown in FIGS. 6 and 9) that extends a substantial length of the barrel and communicates with the internal bore 20 thereof. The slot 18 forms a retaining edge for the elongated transparent cover or window 22. The peripheral edge 24 of the window 22 may be affixed within the slot 18 by means of an adhesive. The spaced indicia or numerals 1-6, indicated at 26 on the top surface of the cover 22 are provided to show the relative force being applied to the projectile as will be described.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 5, it is seen that the catcher member 12 is cup-shaped having the flared open end 30 defined by the wall 32 which also defines the extended lip 34 over the top portion of the cup at the open end. The cup member 12 has the circular base flange 36 that encompasses the open end of the wall 38 of the tubular member 10. The juncture 40 of these parts can be threaded or represent an adhesive interface. Alternatively the neck 36 can be press-fitted or threaded onto the tubular wall 38.

The projectile 42 is shown in FIG. 3, same being a soft rubber or soft plastic ball of either hollow construction or having a hard core surrounded by a spherical layer of soft rubber or soft plastic. The purpose is to provide a projectile which will be fairly stable in flight yet will not cause any injury if it strikes a person. The ball is provided with a tail or flag 44 of any desired color fastened thereto at one point 46 by any suitable means. The tail 44 can be provided with a knot at one end which is molded deep into the body of the ball at the time of production so that there is no tendency for it to tear out.

The ball 42 is smaller in diameter than the effective diameter of the inside opening 30 of the cup 12 so that a radial space 48 therearound is provided which is about the same as the radius of the ball. In other words, the diameter of the ball is about one-half the diameter of the opening 30. These dimensions are subject to variation and a larger cup 12, in relation to the size of the ball 42 can be used, particularly for use by children.

The wall 32 of the cup 12 is provided with four or more equally spaced holes, indicated at 50, to receive the heads 52 of the flexible tapered fingers 54, the tip ends 56 of which are separated from each other by an amount less than the diameter of the ball 42. The heads 52, are larger than the holes 50. The body of each finger is reduced in size just below the head 52 so as to snap-fit therein and the neck 58 of each finger is again enlarged and tapered therefrom. These parts are made of flexible plastic or rubber so that the fingers can be readily installed by inserting the tips 56 in the holes 50 from the outside and pressing the fingers inwardly until the neck 58 snaps through the hole 50 and into the relationship shown. The heads 52 are rounded so that no harmful projections are on the outside surface of the cup 12. If desired, the fingers 54 can be molded integral with the cup 12.

Each finger 54 is flexible so that the ball 42 upon being received in the cup 12 presses past the fingers by its own weight or inertia and comes to the broken-line position shown in FIG. 5 with the fingers still in contact with the surface of the ball to hold same in axial alignment with the bore hole 20 of the barrel 10. In FIG. 3 it is seen that the fingers 54 are conical in shape. In order to provide less resistance to rearward thrust and greater ease of release of the ball 42 without loss of the axial orientation, the fingers 54 are notched, as at 60 on their back sides. The notches can be adjusted in size in relation to the body diameter of the fingers to provide the desired degree of holding, snapback and orienting action. The notches 60 can also be omitted. The fingers 54 are made of tough elastomer or rubber composition so as to withstand shock and repeated flexing.

The barrel 10, defining the longitudinal bore 20, houses the plunger rod 62 (see FIG. 6) having the handle end 64 extending from the butt end of the barrel and the ram or buttress 66 at the muzzle end of the barrel, which is rounded and adapted to strike the ball and cause it to fly from the cup 12.

The tubular wall 38 of the barrel 10 has the radial inner muzzle flange 68 defining an opening 70 at the muzzle end to receive the buttress end 66 in freely sliding and spaced relationship. Spaced from the buttress end there is provided the integral radial guide flange 72 attached to the plunger 62 which has an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the bore 20 so as to slide freely therein.

The flange 68 provides a seat for the shockabsorber spring 74, same being a coiled spring encompassing the ram end 66 and seated at its other end against the forward wall of the flange 72. This spring 74 can be affixed to either the flange 68 or to the flange 72 or not be attached to either flange, as desired.

A combination guide and indicator member 76, preferably made as a separate part from the flange 72, extends from its top side within and spaced from the longitudinal slot 18. This indicator member 76 and the flange 72 can be of a different color than the barrel 10 so as to be readily visible through the plastic window 22 as a quick reference to the position of the plunger in the barrel and to show whether the shooter is cocked or not. The indicator member 76 can be omitted.

The main spring 80, also a coil spring, encompasses a substantial part of the length of the plunger rod 62 from the flange 72 to the breech plug 82. The breech plug 82 is made as a separate part as well as the indicator member 76 so that the plunger rod 62 and the spring 80 can be assembled in the barrel 10. Once these parts are in place the indicator 76 can be attached and the spring 80 held under tension while the breech plug 82 is fitted in place. This member can be cemented into position or held by screws affixed through the wall of the barrel 10.

The breech plug 82 has a central bore 84 which engages the plunger rod 62 in a close-fitting sliding engagement. The plunger rod 62 is longer than the barrel 10 so that the handle 64 protrudes from the breech end at all times. The space between the indicator-guide 76 and the forward or muzzle end of the slot 18 is large enough that when the plunger butts the shockabsorber 74, it does not strike this end of the slot.

A second guide for the plunger 62 is provided by the end cap 86, having the flange 88 and the bore 90 slidably receiving the plunger. This end cap 86 can be attached to the end of the panel 10 by the screw threads 92, shown, or by any other means.

The barrel 10 carries the external collar 94 about opposite the end plug 82. The collar 94 is about the same outside diameter as the flange 88 and these members define the end walls for the trigger housing parts 96 and 98 (see FIG. 8) which are generally arcuate in shape and of larger diameter than the barrel 10.

The housing members 96 and 98 are the same length and each has an inner arcuate wall, indicated at 100 and 102 which generally conforms in curvature with the outer surface 104 of the barrel 10; each covering a half of the circumference of the barrel. These parts are cemented in place or otherwise attached to the barrel. To facilitate permanence of the trigger housing the top housing member 96 has the grooved edges 106, on each side, which engage the tapered edges 108 of the bottom housing member 98.

The top housing member has the rectangular notch 110 opening to the forward edge 112 and having the intermediate wall 114 thereon which defines a rectangular depression having the end wall 116 in the top forward edge of the housing. The wall 114 is also spaced from the inner surface 100 of the housing member 96. The wall 114 is thinner than the effective thickness of the wall of the housing member 96.

The wall 38 of the barrel 10 has the rectangular arcuate opening 120 therein behind and spaced from the collar 94.

The opening 120 is opposite the notch 110 defined by the edge 122 of the intermediate wall 114 when the housing member 96 is in place on the surfaces 104 of the barrel 10 and the collar 94 abuts against the end surfaces 112 and 113 of the trigger housing members 96 and 98.

The trigger member 124 has a block-like base 126 with the slot 128 on the back edge. The front wall 130 has the guide tip and stop member 132 extending below the bottom wall 134 and also the tab 136 extending out longitudinally of the base 126. The collar 94 has the arcuate slot 140 that is open to the rear having the enclosing front wall indicated 142 (see also FIGS. 10 and 11). The coil spring 146 is housed within the slot 140 by means of the cover plate 148 having the arcuate slot 150 and engaged against the rear wall 152 of the collar 94 by means of screws or the like (not illustrated) that would engage through the holes 154 in the cover plate. The spring 146 is thus completely housed within the slot 140.

The trigger member 124 is installed by engaging the slot 128 over the web wall 114. This brings the front wall 130 in the plane of the edges 112 and 113 and the top and bottom depressions over the wall 114 are filled. The surfaces of the block 126 can be curved so that when the trigger member 124 is assembled it conforms with the exterior and interior wall curvature of the trigger housing 96.

The trigger has the spring-loaded sear 156 with the shank 158 extending into the bore hole 160 of the base 126. The spring 162 biases the sear 156 downwardly in the direction of the arrow 164. The sear extends into the slot 128 just behind the stop member 122 which impinges against the front edge 166 of the slot in sliding rotational relationship. In this position the tab 136 extends into the arcuate slot 140 and the trigger assembly 96-98 and 124 which is rotatably carried on the surface or breech 104 of the barrel 10 is biased by the spring 146 so that the sear is upright and is biased into the spaced notches 170 with its flat back side 172 afainst the straight edge 174 of a notch. The leading surface 176 of the sear 156 is leveled so as to cam against the sloped surfaces 178 of the notches 170.

The plunger rod 62 is slightly out of round to present a narrow plate 180 at the top of each notch. The assembly includes a hand grip 182 which encompasses the trigger members 96-98. This hand grip will be notched at 184 to encompass the raised edge of the trigger 124. Accordingly, as the plunger 67 is pulled back by the handle 64, the sear 156 will drop into each notch 170 in succession and the indicator 76 will come into registry with the members 1-6, indicating the number of notches of pull. The trigger then assumes the position shown in FIG. 10. Then by turning the grip 182, between the flange 94 and the end flange 88, the sear is rotated off-center as shown in FIG. 11, against the trigger spring 146, and the cam 62 is released.

Referring to FIG. 7, the grip 16 has the cavity 190 with the fore and aft undercut positions 192 and 194 to accommodate the pendulum 196, having the weight 198, and pivoted on the pin 200, that extends transverse the grip 16. The top part of the cavity 190 has the off-set periphery 202 to receive the edge of the transparent arched cover member 204. The top surface 206 of the pendulum is rounded circumferentially with the axle 200 and bears the raised indicia 208 to show the relationship of the longitudinal axes of the barrel 10 with the horizontal.

Since the ball shooter is held in the two hands at about waist level, the angle of the shooter's eye to the indicia 208 will be less than vertical. Accordingly, the registry of a particular indicia 208a on the back sides of the pendulum with the back edge of the cover 204 can represent the level position of the shooter. As the breech end is lowered the next indicia 208b will come into view and tell the shooter the angle of the shot. The indicia 208 can be color-coded and a reference line can be provided on the cover 204 or only a part of it made transparent to establish a line of sight to the indicia. The weight 198 is held by any means such as the screw 210 that is embedded between these parts. Other means for fastening the weight 198 can be used.

The pendulum 196 can be mounted on the barrel and the forearm 16 omitted. Also the pendulum can be elevated so that it registers from the side rather than the top, more in line with the shooter's line of sight along the barrel.

The operation of the ball shooter is quite simple. The plunger rod 62 is pulled against the spring 80 by means of the handle 64 as the barrel is gripped by the forearm 16. The sear 156 engages one of the notches 170 in the plunger rod and holds it in cocked position. The ball 42 is inserted against the radial fingers 54 as shown in FIG. 5. The barrel is aimed at the desired elevation indicated by the pendulum 196 and the trigger assembly 14 is twisted. This disengages the sear to the position shown in FIG. 11 and the plunger drives the ball from the cup 12.

The ball shooter can be used with stationary or moving targets. The target can be vertical of horizontal. In the latter case the ball shooter can be used like a morter. A game like skeet can be played wherein one player shoots the ball across a path in front of other shooters who then fire their ball shooters at the flying projectile. Particular dexterity is required to catch the ball in the cup 12. However, the fingers 54 aid in retaining the ball therein once it strikes the inner part of the cup.

In this latter connection the size of the ball 42 in relation to the cup 12 can be varied so that the fingers 54 hold the ball in the cup in two different ways. One embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein the diameter of the ball in relation to the length and resiliency of the fingers 54 is such that it is held in spaced relationship within the cup as it is struck by the rounded tip 66 of the plunger moving in the direction of the arrow. The ball can be smaller than that shown so that it can pass entirely through the fingers 54 and rest in the cup with the fingers 54 returning to the normal radial un-biased position behind the ball. Also the distance between the fingers and the base of the cup (muzzle of the barrel) can be varied to accomplish this result with a large ball. The inner wall of the cup can be shaped so as to center the ball before the muzzle in cooperation with the fingers 54. It is apparent that if the ball is off-center, axial flight therefrom would be disrupted although such erratic initial path of flight may be an advantage for some shooters.

In place of the pendulum 196 any gravity actuated indicator can be used to show the longitudinal angular elevation of the tubular barrel of the shooter. Thus, a spirit level or an arched tube with a glob or mercury can be used. Also, the catch means along the plunger rod have been indicated as notches. Instead of this construction spaced protuberances can be used. The trigger assembly need only comprise a radial reciprocatable detent member or a circumferentially movable detent member with means to selectively engage the detent member with means to selectively engage the detent in the catch means at the desired compression force on the plunger rod. This is determined by the amount of pulling force placed on the handle 64. The shaft 158 of the detent 156 is splined or otherwise prevented from rotating.

Instead of biasing the trigger to the locked or cocked position this assembly can be reversed so that the trigger must be held from rotating and released to shoot the projectile. The shaft 158 of the detent 156 is prevented from rotating by attaching the spring 162 between the inner surface of the barrel and the top of the detent head 156. This shaft can also be splined in the bore hole 160. Instead of using the guide tab 76 to prevent the plunger rod 62 from turning the bores 70, 84 and 90 in which it is mounted can be shaped to conform with the shafts oval configuration or a spline can be used in any one or more of these guide bores.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A toy projectile shooter comprising:

an elongated tubular barrel having a projectile-receiving muzzle end and a breech end; a projectile;

said muzzle end being flared and defining an open-ended cup larger than said projectile and includes:

a series of circumferential spaced flexible members extending radially inward from the wall thereof;

the axial distance of said flexible members from said muzzle end of said barrel being substantially equal to the diameter of said projectile and the length of said flexible members in relation to the diameter of said walled cup being such that said projectile passes therethrough with said flexible members retaining said projectile in spaced relationship aligned with said plunger rod by tangential contact with said projectile;

a trigger assembly at said breech end;

a spring-loaded plunger rod reciprocatably mounted within said tubular barrel;

one end of said plunger rod being forcefully extendable through said muzzle end of said barrel;

the other end of said plunger rod extending in operable relationship with said trigger assembly and having a handle end extending beyond said breech;

stop means at each end of said barrel to contain said spring-loaded plunger rod therein;

longitudinally spaced catch means along said plunger rod and each being registerable with said trigger mechanism at selected cocked positions of bias of said spring-loaded plunger rod;

means along said tubular barrel to indicate said selected biased positions of said plunger rod therein whereby the force applied to a projectile contained in said muzzle end is controlled upon release of said trigger assembly;

a gravity-sensitive member carried by said tubular barrel;

means connected to said gravity-sensitive member to indicate the longitudinal angular elevation of said barrel;

said trigger assembly includes a detent extending radially into said tubular barrel for registry with said catch means on said plunger rod to hold said plunger rod at selected positions of bias; and

means to move said detent circumferentially independent of said plunger rod to and from said positions of registry.

2. A toy projectile shooter comprising:

an elongated tubular barrel having a projectile receiving muzzle end and a breech end a projectile;

said projectile receiving end defining an open-ended cup larger than the diameter of said projectile and including:

a series of circumferential spaced flexible members extending radially inward from the wall thereof;

the axial distance of said flexible members from said muzzle end of said barrel being substantially equal to the diameter of said projectile and the length of said flexible members in relation to the diameter of said walled cup being such that said projectile passes therethrough with said flexible members retaining said projectile in spaced relationship aligned with said plunger rod by tangential contact with said projectile;

an elongated slot extending intermediate the ends of said tubular barrel;

a trigger assembly at said breech end;

a spring-loaded plunger rod reciprocatably mounted within said tubular barrel;

one end of said plunger rod being forcefully extendable through said muzzle end of said barrel;

the other end of said plunger rod extending in operable relationship with said trigger assembly and having a handle end extending beyond said breech;

stop means at each end of said barrel to contain said spring-loaded plunger rod therein;

a guide flange on said plunger rod having a radial indicator tab extending into said elongated slot and being reciprocatable therewith;

a series of longitudinally spaced notches along an intermediate portion of said plunger rod facing said elongated slot;

each of said notches having a vertical wall and an oblique wall intersecting therewith; said vertical walls facing the muzzle end of said tubular barrel;

said trigger assembly including a spring detent extending radially into said tubular barrel for registry with said notches to hold said plunger rod at selected positions of bias;

said detent having complimentary vertical and oblique walls fitting into the walls of said notches with said vertical wall thereof engaging the vertical wall of said notches whereby to cam over said oblique walls of said notches upon retraction of said spring-loaded plunger rod to the cocked position and lock into a selected notch upon release of said plunger rod;

means in said trigger assembly to bias said detent circumferentially into registry with said notches, said means being movable to release same from said registry; and

means along said tubular barrel to indicate said selected biased positions of said radial indicator tab and plunger rod therein whereby the force applied to a projectile contained in said muzzle end is controlled upon release of said trigger assembly.

3. A toy projectile shooter comprising:

an elongated tubular barrel having a projectile receiving muzzle end and a breech end;

said tubular barrel having a pair of spaced flanges at the breech end;

a trigger assembly at said breech end;

a spring-loaded plunger rod reciprocatably mounted within said tubular barrel;

one end of said plunger rod being forcefully extendable through said muzzle end of said barrel;

the other end of said plunger rod extending in operable relationship with said trigger assembly and having a handle end extending beyond said breech;

stop means at each end of said barrel to contain said spring-loaded plunger rod therein;

said tubular barrel having a pair of spaced flanges at the breech end and an elongated slot extending intermediate its ends;

a guide flange on said plunger rod having a radial tab extending into said elongated slot and being reciprocatable therewith;

a series of spaced notches along an intermediate portion of said plunger rod facing said elongated slot;

each of said notches having a vertical wall and an oblique wall intersecting therewith, said vertical walls facing the muzzle end of said tubular barrel;

said trigger assembly includes a tubular handle member rotatably mounted on said tubular barrel between said spaced flanges at the breech end;

a slotted opening is provided in said tubular barrel opposite said tubular handle and opening to said plunger rod;

said trigger assembly includes a spring detent carried by said tubular handle and extending radially into said tubular barrel through said slotted opening for registry with said notches to hold said plunger rod at selected portions of bias;

circumferential biasing means including a tab carried by said tubular handle in said trigger assembly to bias said detent circumferentially into registry with said notches, said means being movable to release same from registry, and including an arcuate slot on the inside of one of said flanges receiving the end of said tab;

a spring carried in said slot and biased against said tab to urge said tubular housing circumferentially and carry said detent into registry with said notches;

said detent having complementary vertical and oblique walls for fitting into the walls of said notches with said vertical wall thereof engaging the vertical wall of said notches whereby to cam over said notches upon retraction of said spring-loaded plunger to the cocked position and lock into a selected notch upon release of said plunger rod; and

means along said tubular barrel to indicate said selected biased positions of said plunger rod therein whereby the force applied to a projectile contained in said muzzle end is controlled upon release of said trigger assembly.

4. A toy projectile shooter comprising:

an elongated tubular barrel member having an inner seat on the muzzle end, a second inner seat adjacent and spaced from the breech end and a plug member at the breech end;

said seats and plug member having axially aligned bores therethrough;

a projectile receiving cup at the muzzle end of said tubular barrel;

a plunger rod reciprocatably mounted within said tubular member and carried by said axially aligned bores;

said plunger rod having a radial flanged guide member adjacent and spaced from said muzzle seat;

said plunger rod being longer than said tubular member and having a protruding striker end and a protruding handle end;

a pair of compression springs encompassing said plunger rod member;

one of said compression springs being a shock absorber between said muzzle seat and said guide member, the other of said compression spring being a propulsion spring between said guide member and said second seat;

an elongated longitudinal guide slot in the top wall of said tubular member extending forward of the normal position of said radial guide member and forward of said second seat;

an indicator tab extending radially from said radial guide member into said guide slot;

said plunger rod being reciprocatable within said tubular member within the coqpression limits of said propulsion spring with said indicator tab reciprocating within said slot;

a series of longitudinally spaced catch members along said plunger rod within said tubular member;

a trigger assembly at the breech end of said tubular barrel member having a radially reciprocatable detent member; and

means to selectively move said detent member into and out of engagement with said catch members;

including a sleeve member rotatably mounted on said tubular barrel member about said breech end and retained by said plug member;

said sleeve member carrying said detent member for rotation to and from registry with said catch members; and

means biasing said sleeve member into latched relationship with said catch members;

whereby said plunger rod upon movement against said propulsion spring is held in a retracted position by said detent member and released to cause said striker end to propel said projectile from said cap.

5. A toy projectile shooter in accordance with claim 4 including:

scaled indicia associated with said guide slot and guide tab to indicate the relative compression on said propulsion spring when any one of said catch members is engaged by said detent.

6. A toy projectile shooter in accordance with claim 4 including:

a gravity-actuated level indicator associated with said tubular barrel member whereby the longitudinal angular elevation of said projectile shooter is shown.

7. A toy projectile shooter in accordance with claim 6 in which:

said gravity-actuated level indicator comprises a pendulum pivotally mounted on a transverse axis on said tubular barrel member;

said pendulum member having an arcuate top portion above said axis bearing spaced indicia and a weighted bottom portion below said axis; and

a reference on said barrel member to indicate the relative vertical angle of said barrel above the horizontal.

8. A toy projectile shooter comprising:

an elongated tubular barrel having a muzzle end and a breech end;

said tubular barrel includes a forearm member intermediate its ends;

said forearm member having an open-topped recess thereacross;

a pendulum member pivotally mounted on a transverse axis within said recess and having an arcuate top portion bearing spaced indicia;

a fixed reference above said recess and top portion of said pendulum to indicate the vertical angle of said tubular barrel above the horizontal;

a projectile receiving cup at the muzzle end of said tubular member;

an inner circumferential flange seat at the muzzle end of said tubular barrel defining a first bore therethrough;

an inner circumferential flange seat at the breech end of said tubular barrel defining a second bore therethrough axially aligned with said first bore;

a plunger rod reciprocatably mounted within said tubular barrel, extending through said first and second bores with one end of said plunger rod being forcefully extendable through said projectile receiving cup and the other end of said plunger rod having a handle end extending beyond said breech end;

said plunger rod having a radial flanged guide member adjacent and spaced from said flanged seat at the muzzle end of said tubular barrel;

a pair of compression springs encompassing said plunger rod;

one of said compression springs being a shock absorber between said flanged seat at the muzzle end and said flanged guide member on said plunger rod; the other of said compression springs being a propulsion spring between said flanged guide member and said flanged seat at the breech end of said tubular barrel;

a portion of said plunger rod encompassed by said propulsion spring defining a semi-circular cross-section and an elliptical cross section;

a series of longitudinally spaced notches in said elliptical portion of said plunger rod;

a radially extending reciprocatable trigger detent at the breech end of said tubular barrel;

first means biasing said trigger detent radially toward said notches;

said trigger detent having complimentary vertical and oblique walls fitting into said notches with said vertical wall engaging the outer portion of said vertical wall of each notch;

rotatable support means for said trigger detent carried by said tubular barrel at the breech end;

second means biasing said support means to rotate said trigger detent circumferentially into engagement with said notches; and

the retracted position of said second biasing means allowing the vertical surface of said trigger detent to clear the vertical face of each of said notches, along said elliptical portion in the extended position of said first biasing means.