US2991782A - Toy - Google Patents

Description

C. AYALA July ll, 1961 TOY Filed Jan. 28, 1959 United States Patent Office Patented July 1l, 1961 C cago, Filed Jan. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 789,661

' 4 Claims. (Cl. 124-13) This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to a missile-launching toy.

The invention provides an air-propelled toy rocket and launcher which can be charged with pressure air, aimed and fired, all the while being held in the hands of a child, and which simulates realism through the creation off a blast-off noise effect which occurs simultaneously with the release of the rocket.

It is the object of the invention to provide a novel rocket toy which may be readily carried about and operated by a child without the need of expandable supplies. A further object of the invention is the crea-tion of a toy which simulates realism to a degree attractive .to children by combining action `and sound, and which may be economically constructed and will provide reliable performance over a long period of time.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of atoy constructed in accordance with this invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a rocket launching toy which embodies the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the toy shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 2.

As seen especially in FIGURES 1 and 2, the illus-v trated toy comprises a missile or rocket 11 which is seated in a hand-held launcher 13 from which it is launched by a charge of pressure air accumulated by a hand-operated pump mechanism in the launcher. More particw larly, the rocket and launcher are provided with interfitting, complementary parts which lock the rocket and align it for initial guidance in its flight, and which also seal the base of the rocket to permit the charging of the rocket with pressure air.

The sealing engagement of the rocket with the launcher is self-releasing upon the accumulation in the rocket of air at ta predetermined pressure, whereupon the rocket is propelled from the launcher by the rapid escape from its base of the pressurized air in the rocket body. In addition, the releasing of the rocket from the launcher also creates a loud report which simulates blasting-off of the rocket and which further increases the attractiveness of the toy.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the rocket proper comprises an elongated, hollow body 15 which may be of molded plastic construction, and which is closed at its forward end and open at its rearward end. Of course, the rocket may be fancifully shaped as desired, but for the sake of stable ight, is preferably constructed along the lines shown. In particular, the rocket body 15 is generally of circular cross section tapering to a forwardly-disposed rounded nose, which provides a Very desirable safety feature.

Extending longitudinally along the sides of the rocket are several equally spaced vanes or ns 17 which act to stiien the elongated rocket body and guide the rockets flight. The vanes 17 terminate forwardly of the open rearward end 19 of the rocket body which is resiliently deformable and which includes an outwardly directed peripheral collar or flange Z1, the outer edge of which is preferably chamfered, as indicated at 29 in FIGURE 2.

The rocket launcher 13 is also preferably and economically constructed of plastic, and includes a fancifully designed air pump 23 which carries at its discharge end a bell-shaped rocket receiver 25. The receiver 25 is generally of circular cross section, having its small end cemented Ito the air pump to form an air-tight joint, and having at its large open end or mouth an inwardly directed lip or rim 27, the inner diameter of which corresponds with the outer diameter of the base of the rocket.

The rocket is inserted into the receiver by forcing its base end into the mouth of the receiver, entry being eased by the aforementioned chamfered edge on the ange 21. When the rocket is seated, as shown in FIGURE 2, the anges 21 and 27 on the rocket and receiver are interengaged, and the rocket is aligned for llight from |the launcher. Furthermore, the receiver seals the open end of the rocket and maintains the seal until the pressure built up in the rocket body is sufficient to overcome the restraint of the interengaged anges 21 and 27, thus to permit the escape of the rocket.

The air pump 23 which provides pressure air to the rocket comprises generally a cylinder 31 and a movable plunger 33 carried therein. The cylinder 31 is formed with a forward, transverse wall .35 having an opening 37 through which pressure air is directed from the air pump into -the rocket. The plunger 33 includes a piston 39 carried on a piston rod 41 which is of generally crossshaped, cross section and which has a rearwardly disposed and attractively executed operating handle 43.

Support of the piston rod 41 toward the rear of the cylinder and alignment of the handle 43 to maintain the decorative motif of the 'toy are provided by a iin-bearing, after-piece or handle guard 45 which is cemented to the cylinder and provides a transverse wall 47 at the rearward end of the cylinder 31. The wall 47 has a generally cross-shaped opening 49 therein through which the piston rod 41 extends. As seen particularly in FIGURE 4, the opening 49 and the piston rod 41 are somewhat mismatched to afford free passage of air into the pump, while `at the same time, preventing angular movement of the handle relative to the remainder of the launcher.

Entry of air from the rearward portion of the cylinder 31 to the pressure side of the plunger 33 is provided by a valve arrangement which includes slidable mounting of the piston 39 on the forward end of the piston rod 41 and provision of a port or passageway 51 which extends through the piston rod and which is opened and closed in response to movement of the piston 39 relative to the rod 41. More particularly, as seen in FIGURE 5, the inner end of the piston rod 41 is formed with a section 53 of reduced diameter which has an axial bore 55 communieating with a series of radial bores 57. In turn, the piston is formed with a hole S9 which is slidably engaged by the reduced diameter piston rod section 53. The piston 39 can be maintained on the piston rod end section 53 by any suitable means and in this case, the free end of the section is formed to provide an abutment 61 which, together with the shoulder 63 formed at the other end of the section, limit the travel of the piston relative to the piston rod.

Thus, during the return or withdrawal stroke, the piston moves into engagement with the abutment 61 and the radial bores are open to the non-pressure side of the cylinder to thereby allow passage of air to the pressure side of the piston. On the other hand, during the pressure stroke, the piston is seated against the shoulder 63 closing the radial bores S7 from communication with the non-pressure side of the cylinder and the air drawn into the pump on the Withdrawal stroke is forced into the body of the rocket.

The pressure air delivered to the rocket from the pump is retained in the rocket by a check valve in the launcher. One form of valve which has been found to be both effective and reliable comprises a valve member 65 which is located in the receiver and which is formed from a somewhat exible plastic sheet. As shown particularly in FIGURES 2 and 3, the valve member 65 is generally in the form of a cross and is dished in its central portion 67 to provide a slightly convex surface on the side facing the opening 37 between the receiver and the cylinder. As shown, positioning of the valve member with the dished portion 67 in general alignment with the opening 37 is accomplished by engagement of the end edges of the cross forming legs with the inner cylindrical wall surface of the receiver.

The air discharged from the pump by the pressure stroke of the plunger displaces the valve member from the opening 37 to permit entry of pressure air into the rocket. On the other hand, during the return stroke, the pressure air within the rocket again seats the dished, central portion of the valve member over the opening 37.

In the operation of the toy, the rocket 11 is rst seated in the receiver 2S by pressing the open end 19 of the rocket into the mouth of the receiver to establish airtight engagement between the receiver rim 27 and the base end of the rocket. As previously noted, this engagement also provides for alignment of the rocket with the launcher. The assembled rocket and launcher may be held by grasping the central portion of the air pump 23 in one hand and by grasping the pump handle 43 with the other hand to operate the pump while aiming the rocket.

ln this regard, the rocket and launcher preferably are constructed so that the volume of the interior of the missile and receiver are so proportioned to the capacity of the pump so that a predetermined number of strokes are required to attain a pressure sufficient to eiect release of the rocket from the launcher. For example, if the rocket and launcher were constructed so that the rocket would be released incident to the third stroke of the plunger, then the rocket could be pre-charged with pressure air in an amount resulting from two strokes of the plunger. Then, when the rocket and launcher are aimed, the rocket will be released incident to the next pressure stroke of the plunger.

Of course, if desired, the rocket and launcher could be proportioned so that one stroke of the plunger would release the rocket for night. This could be accomplished by increasing the size of the pump or employing a smaller rocket, or a rocket having a rather small reaction or pressure cavity therein.

In any event, the illustrated hollow rocket construction, having a relatively large interior volume, is preferred as this permits the introduction, under pressure, of a large quantity of air. Thus, when the rocket is released from the launcher, the rapid expansion of this large volume of air will create a greater sustained thrust and therefore, higher initial velocity and a longer flight path.

Incident to release of the rocket from the launcher, there is also produced a loud noise effect which occurs incident to the rapid release of the pressure air, and which realistically simulates the blasting-off of a rocket.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application, Serial No. 701,123 which is entitled Toy, and which was filed on December 6, 1957.

Numerous changes and modications may be made in the disclosed construction to achieve certain of the advantages mentioned herein, without departing from the principles of this invention. Various features of the i nvention are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A missile launching toy comprising a missile and a launcher adapted to be held in the hands for aiming and firing operation, said missile comprising an elongated hollow body having a resiliently deformable open rearward end including a laterally outwardly extending collar, said launcher including an air pump and a rigid missile receiver tixed at the delivery end of said air pump, said receiver including an opening therein circumscribed by a rigid rim directed inwardly of said opening and located in forwardly spaced relation to the delivery end of said air pump, said rim having inner dimensions corresponding to the outer dimensions of said rearward end of said missile body at the base of said collar, said collar having outer ydimensions in excess of the inner dimensions of said rim, said collar and said rearward end of said missile body being forcibly passable through said opening to within said receiver to emplace said rearward end of said missile body in engagement with said rim so as to provide an air-tight pressure chamber defined by said missile and said receiver and so as to position said missile body in forwardly extending relation to said receiver, a check valve at the delivery end of said pump automatically operable to allow pressure air to flow from said pump to said pressure chamber and to prevent pressure air from llowing in the opposite direction, said pump being operable to charge said pressure chamber, including said hollow missile body, with a quantity of air developing a pressure capable of deforming said rearward end of said missile body so as to enable its passage outwardly of said opening and, at the same time, producing sufficient reaction thrust from the charged air in said hollow body to propel said missile from said receiver with an accompanying loud report.

2. A missile launching toy comprising a missile and a launcher adapted to be held in the hands for aiming and firing operation, said missile comprising an elongated hollow body having a resiliently deformable open rearward end including a laterally outwardly extending collar, said launcher including an air pump and a rigid missile receiver ixed at the delivery end of said air pump, said receiver including an opening therein circumscribed by a rigid rirn directed inwardly of said opening and located in forwardly spaced relation to the delivery end of said air pump, said rim having inner dimensions corresponding to the outer dimensions of said rearward end of said missile body at the base of said collar, said collar having outer dimensions in excess of the inner dimensions of said rim, said collar and said rearward end of said missile body being forcibly passable through said opening to within said receiver to emplace said rearward end of said missile body in engagement with said rim so as to provide an air-tight pressure chamber defined by said missile and said receiver and so as to position said missile body in forwardly extending relation to said receiver solely through the interengagement of said rearward end of said missile body with said rim, a check valve at the delivery end of said pump automatically operable to allow pressure air to flow from said pump to said pressure chamber and to prevent pressure air from flowing in the opposite direction, said pump being operable to charge said pressure chamber, including said hollow missile body, with a quantity of air developing a pressure capable of deforming said rearward end of said missile body so as to enable its passage outwardly of said opening and, at the same time, producing sufficient reaction thrust from the charged air in said hollow body to propel said missile from said receiver with an accompanying loud report.

3. A missile launching toy comprising a missile and a launcher adapted to be held in the hands for aiming and tiring operation, said missile comprising an elongated, hollow body having a generally cylindrical and resiliently deformable, open rearward end including a laterally outwardly extending collar, said launcher including an air pump and a rigid missile receiver iixed at the delivery end of said air pump, said receiver including an opening therein circumscribed by a rigid rim directed inwardly of said opening and located in forwardly spaced relation to the delivery end of said air pump, said rim having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of said rearward end of said missile body at the base of said collar, said collar having an outer diameter in excess of the inner diameter of said rim and a chamfered outer periphery on its rearward side, said rearward end of said missile body being forcibly passable with the -aid of said chamfered periphery through said opening to within said receiver to emplace said rearward end of said missile body in engagement with said rim so as to provide an air-tight pressure chamber defined by said missile and said receiver and so as to position said missile body in forwardly extending relation to said receiver solely through the interengagement of said rearward end of said missile with said rim, a check valve at the delivery end of said pump automatically operable to allow pressure air to iiow from said pump to said pressure chamber and to prevent pressure air from flowing n the opposite direction, said pump being operable to charge said pressure chamber, including said hollow missile body, with a quantity of air developing a pressure capable of deforming said rearward end of said missile body so as to enable its passage outwardly of said opening and, at the same time, producing sufficient reaction thrust from the charged air in said hollow body to simultaneously propel said missile from said receiver with an accompanying loud report.

4. A missile launching toy comprisi-ng a missile and a -launcher adapted to be held in the hands for aiming and tiring operation, said missile comprising an elongated, hollow body having Va generally cylindrical and resiliently deformable, open rearward endincluding a laterally outwardly extending collar, said launcher including an elongated air pump and a rigid missile receiver fixed at the delivery end of said air pump, said air pump including a cylinder and a plunger movable in said cylinder, said cylinder having an aperture therein at the delivery end communicating with said receiver, said receiver including an opening therein circumscribed by a rigid rim directed inwardly of said opening in a plane perpendicular to the stroke of said plunger and located in forwardly spaced relation to the delivery end of said air pump, said rim having a cylindrical inner surface with an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of said rearward end of said missile body at the base of said collar, said inner diameter being located ygenerally concentric with the axis of said air pump, said collar having an outer diameter in excess of the inner diameter of said rim, said rearward end of said missile body being forcibly passable through said opening to within said receiver to emplace the outer cylindrical surface of said rearward end of said missile body in engagement with the inner cylindrical surface of said rim, and to emplace the facing side surfaces of said collar and said rim in engagement so 4as to provide an airtight pressure chamber defined by said missile and said receiver and so as to position said missile body in forwardly extending relation to said receiver solely through the interengagement of said rearward end of said missile body Wit-l1 said rim, said receiver supporting therein a flexible member in covering relation to said aperture, whereby said member is displaced `from said covering relation to said aperture during the pressure stroke of said plunger to admit pressure air within said pressure chamber, and whereby the air pressure in said chamber seats said member in covering relation to said aperture during withdrawal of the plunger so as to prevent the escape of pressure air, said pump being operable to charge said pressure chamber, including said hollow missile body, with a quantity of air developing ya pressure capable of deforming said rearward end of said missile body so as to enable its passage outwardly of said opening and, at the same time, producing suflicient reaction thrust from the charged air in said hollow body to propel said missile vfrom said receiver with an `accompanying loud report.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,379,492 Wagner May 24, 1921 2,273,678 Webby Feb. 17, 1942 2,409,653 Amdur Oct. 22, 1946 2,449,187 Walters Sept. 14, 1948 2,733,699 Krinsky Feb. 7, 1956 2,759,297 Lewis Aug. 21, 1956 2,853,991 McLain Sept. 30, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 161,579 Australia Mar. 1, 1955

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