US3905350A

US3905350A - Launcher for toy vehicle having variable force means

Info

Publication number: US3905350A
Application number: US391952A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph T Becker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-08-27
Filing date: 1973-08-27
Publication date: 1975-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-16

Abstract

Improvements in a launcher for toy vehicles. An elastic band is engaged at one end with a block slidably mounted in a launch slot in the launcher base. The elastic band runs around a pulley affixed to the launcher base near the forward end of the launch slot. The other end of the elastic band is engaged on one of a series of anchor points spaced on the launcher base to the rear of the forward end of the launch slot. The vehicle to be launched is releasably engaged with the sliding block, which is drawn to the rear and then released to propel the vehicle. To vary the propulsive force the elastic band may be engaged on different anchor points.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Becker [76] Inventor: Joseph T. Becker, 21 W. 674 Glen Valley Dr., Glen Ellyn, 111. 60137 [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 391,952

[52] U.S. Cl. 124/17; 46/81; 124/37 [51] F41B 7/00 [58] Field 01 Search 124/21, 22, 17, 35 R, 41, 124/1, 7, 37; 46/81, 202, 206

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 372,136 10/1887 Fouts 124/17 X 1,827,023 10/1931 Keselefl'.... 124/17 2.056.446 10/1936 Dodge 124/21 2,860.620 11/1953 Effinger..... 124/21 3.0681112 12/1962 Simpson 46/81 3,172,233 3/1965 Lent 124/17 X Barker 124/41 X FOR 1N PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France 124/17 1451 Sept. 16, 1975 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Puck Launcher-Autotransformer AM-1248) The Ealing Corporation Catalogue. p. 22.

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dorsey, Marquart, Windhorst, West & Halladay 5 7 ABSTRACT Improvements in a launcher for toy vehicles. An elastic band is engaged at one end with a block slidably mounted in a launch slot in the launcher base. The elastic band runs around a pulley affixed to the launcher base near the forward end of the launch slot. The other end of the elastic band is engaged on one of a series of anchor points spaced on the launcher base to the rear of the forward end of the launch slot. The vehicle to be launched is releasably engaged with the sliding block, which is drawn to the rear and then released to propel the vehicle. To vary the propulsive force the elastic band may be engaged on different anchor points.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures LAUNCHER FOR TOY VEHICLE HAVING VARIABLE FORCE MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in launching devices for toy vehicles such as aircraft.

Elastic bands in tension have been used previously to provide propulsive force for launching toy vehicles such as toy airplanes. A sliding block moving within a slot and restrained in its travel at the launch end of the slot has been used to transmit the propulsive force to a toy which then releases itself from the sliding block and continues to move forward through inertiav An example of such art is the Cole patent. US. Pat. No. 2,426,437. entitled Toy.- filed Jan. 22., I945.

Increases in the velocity of the propelled toy vehicle may be achieved by using a thicker elastic band or doubling the band. or by using a longer band which may be drawn back farther. The strength required to draw back the band is a factor to be considered in a toy which may be used by small children. The longer band is advantageous in that it accelerates the toy vehicle over a greater distance, thus imparting a greater velocity for a given tension in the band. However. use of a longer band has heretofore required a longer launcher. since the band has conventionally been anchored forward of the launch slotv This increased length can be an inconvenience.

Launchers heretofore have also allowed the sliding block to travel forward to the point that the elastic band becomes slack. at which time no propulsive force is being applied. It is more efficient to have the band in tension during the entire launch. but if any tension is retained in the band when the sliding block is fully forward. a conventional launcher using a long band may be inconveniently long.

The same shortcomings are of course present if the elastic band acts directly on the toy vehicle instead of transmitting the propulsive force through a sliding block.

Furthermore. launchers have heretofore provided no convenient method for adjusting the propulsive force of the launcher other than by varying the length of the draw. That method is inconvenient in some applications in that it does not allow the launcher to be set for the various launch forces with a catch which may later be released at the operator's discretion.

SUMMARY It is an object of this invention to provide a launcher which imparts increased propulsive force to a toy vehicle while being of shorter overall length than other launchers of similar power.

Another object is to provide a quick and convenient means of adjusting the propulsive force of an elastic band in a launcher for toy vehicles.

To achieve these objects this launcher incorporates at the end of the launching slot a pulley on which runs a single long elastic band. The band is connected at one end to a block which is free to slide in the slot and which transmits the propulsive force to the toy vehicle. and at the other end to a fixed anchor point beside the launch slot and to the rear of the launching end of the slot. Alternatively the anchor point may be spaced vertically from the end of the launch slot. The distance from the end of the slot and around the pulley to the anchor point is such that the elastic band is in tension even when the sliding block is fully forward in the slot. Several spaced anchor points are provided so that the tension in the elastic band is easily adjustable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view showing a toy airplane in position on the launcher;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway top view of the launcher; and

FIG. 3 is a crosssection of the launcher seen along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, which line is substantially the centerline of the launch slot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the launcher includes a base I having a launch slot 2 running substantially the length of the base, a sliding block 3 with a catch 4, a release lever 5. a pulley 6. and a plurality of spaced anchor points 7. In the embodiment shown. the center shaft of the pulley is affixed to the base so that the pulley rotates about its vertical axis and is located in such a relationship to the launch slot 2 that the circumference of the pulley is tangential to the launch slot. The anchor points are affixed to the launcher base at varying distances from the pulley to one side of the launch slot and preferably to the rear of the end of the launch slot. Alternatively. the pulley may be affixed to the base in such a manner that it rotates about its horizontal axis and is aligned with the launch slot. in which case the anchor points may be spaced vertically rather than hor izontally from the launch slot.

An elastic band 3 is engaged at one end with one anchor point 7. directed around the pulley 6 and engaged at the other end with the sliding block 3.

Spring 9 extends from stud 10 mounted on base I to release lever 5 for the purpose of holding lever S in engagement with catch 4 of block 3.

To operate the launcher. an appropriate projection on the vehicle to be launched. such as a toy airplane. is engaged with the forward portion of the sliding block 3. which may be provided with an appropriate recess 9 for this purpose. The sliding block is then drawn to the rear against the tension of the elastic band 8 and the catch 4 is secured behind the release lever 5. When it is desired to launch the vehicle. the release lever 5 is moved to the rear against the tension of spring 9 so as to free the catch 4. and the sliding block 3 is drawn rapidly forward. propelling the vehicle with it. As it reaches the end of the launch slot the sliding block 3 is stopped by striking the end of the slot. and the vchi cle continues to move forward on its own.

The force with which the vehicle is propelled can be conveniently adjusted by engaging the end of the clastic band on different anchor points as desired. Elastic bands of different length may also be substituted. prefcrably of such a length that the band remains under slight tension when engaged on the desired anchor point with the sliding block fully forward. It will be readil seen that by spacing the anchor points along the launch slot behind the pulley, it is possible to provide propulsive force to the vehicle for nearly the full length of the launcher. For example. using an elastic band which is 6 inches long when slack and which can be ex tended 6 inches. the total length of the launcher need be little greater than 6 inches because the slack length lies alongside the launch slot. whereas if the anchor point were forward ol the launch slot. the launcher would have to be 12 inches long. Thus the launcher provides greater propulsive force than other launchers of a comparable size and also provides a means of easily adjusting the propulsive force.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention is shown and described above. it is apparent that modifications and changes which do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Consequently it is intended that the invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy vehicle launcher comprising:

a launcher base having a slot with a front end. a retaining means proximate to said front end of said slot. and anchor means spaced from said front end of said slot;

a sliding block slid-ably engaged within said slot;

an elastic member elastic for its entire length. said elastic member having one end secured to said sliding block and extending generally parallel to said slot. over said retaining means and terminating in another end secured to said anchor means. wherein said anchor means permits said other end of said elastic member to be secured at a plurality of points located at varying distances from said front end of said slot and wherein said elastic member is free to move longitudinally with respect to said retaining means and is in tension for all locations of said sliding block within said slot; and

trigger means releasably engaging said sliding block at a point spaced from said front end of said slot wherein said trigger means includes a bell crank pivoted to said launcher base for limited rotation in the plane of said launcher base. said bell crank having a first arm releasably engaging said sliding block and a second arm extending beyond the periphery of said launcher base and wherein said trigger means further includes a spring member for hiasing said first arm into engagement with said sliding block.

2. The toy vehicle launcher recited in claim 1 wherein said anchor means comprises a plurality of anchor points disposed at varying distances from said front end of said slot.

3. The toy vehicle launcher recited in claim I wherein said retaining means is a pulley,

Claims

1. A toy vehicle launcher comprising: a launcher base having a slot with a front end, a retaining means proximate to said front end of said slot, and anchor means spaced from said front end of said slot; a sliding block slidably engaged within said slot; an elastic member elastic for its entire length, said elastic member having one end secured to said sliding block and extending generally parallel to said slot, over said retaining means and terminating in another end secured to said anchor means, wherein said anchor means permits said other end of said elastic member to be secured at a plurality of points located at varying distances from said front end of said slot, and wherein said elastic member is free to move longitudinally with respect to said retaining means and is in tension for all locations of said sliding block within said slot; and trigger means releasably engaging said sliding block at a point spaced from said front end of said slot wherein said trigger means includes a bell crank pivoted to said launcher base for limited rotation in the plane of said launcher base, said bell crank having a first arm releasably engaging said sliding block and a second arm extending beyond the periphery of said launcher base and wherein said trigger means further includes a spring member for biasing said first arm into engagement with said sliding block.

3. The toy vehicle launcher recited in claim 1 wherein said retaining means is a pulley.