Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 94/18519 ~ ~ ~ PCT/LJS93/01318
-1-
MULTI-SHOT AIR OPERATED PROJECTILE LAUNCHER
$ACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Inv nrinn
The present invention relates to air operated guns
and projectile launchers, and more particularly to air
operated devices capable of launching a plurality of
projectiles without reloading.
2. Brief DescriBt~on of the Prior Art
Single shot toy airguns have been in common use for
many years in which a spring operated piston forces air
from a chamber and through a barrel to eject a
projectile from the barrel (for example, Cagan et al.,
U. S. Patent 4,212,285). Other toy airguns have been
developed for launching multiple projectiles between
loadings, such as Ferri (U. S. Patent 4,841,655) and
Tsao (U. S. Patent 4,848,307). Difficulties and
disadvantages are encountered with the aforementioned
designs stemming from the methods of engagement of the
airpump with the launching barrels for transfer of
compressed air to the projectiles, and with
constructions used for projectile magazines.
Tsao ('307) provides a single airpump for
propelling projectiles from a plurality of barrels in a
rotating magazine, but provides no air seal between the
airpump outlet 401 and barrels 21, and requires a
special projectile having an internal air chamber 84 and
funnel shaped tail 82 to catch an airstream from the
WO 94/18519
PCT/US93/01318
-2-
airpump. This allows for significant amounts of air and
hence=propelling force to be lost in the gap between the
airpump outlet 401 and the projectile 8.
Ferri ('655) provides a constant spring bias 14
within a two piece projectile magazine 12A, 12C of
expandable length whereby the magazine is always in
tight engagement between the gun frame on its forward
end and the airpump outlet 18A on its rearward end.
This arrangement provides a seal between the magazine
chambers 16 and the airpump outlet 18A but yields the
undesirable side effect of high friction between the
magazine and frame during advancement of the magazine,
thus requiring sturdier construction and greater force
for operation of the gun. The two effects oppose one
another, whereby adjustment of the magazine bias to give
a strong air seal generates a gun which is more
difficult to operate while adjustment for ease of
operation yields a gun with a poor airseal.
Projectile magazines for multi-shot air guns have
in the past been typically formed as cylinders having a
plurality of passageways in a symmetrical parallel
spaced relationship about the cylinder's central axis as
do both Ferri and Tsao. Such an arrangement can lead to
much material being wasted in the structure of the
cylinder and to warpage problems in molded parts if the
spacing between passageways becomes relatively large, as
will be the case for use with certain types of
projectiles.
~WO 94/18519
PCT/US93/01318
-3-
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties
are obviated by the present invention which provides
novel means for sealing the air passage between an
airpump and a magazine chamber or barrel whereby greater
sealing force is applied between the airpump and the
magazine during discharge of the airpump than during
advancement of the magazine.
The present invention provides an airpump outlet or
nozzle which is movable on the launch apparatus between
a forward "firing" position and a rearward "cocking"
position so that the airpump outlet may be engaged and
sealed with a barrel of the projectile magazine during
the time that air is discharged from the airpump, but
may be drawn rearward away from the magazine during the
time of magazine-advancement to reduce friction or
completely break engagement between the air outlet and
the magazine. The present invention further provides
means for normally biasing and clamping the.magazine
into a rearward position for closer engagement with the
air outlet during discharge of air through the outlet
and barrel, and means for overriding or disabling said
biasing and clamping means during magazine advancement.
The present invention further provides novel
magazine construction wherein individual tubular barrels
are joined together by a support structure to eliminate
wasted material between barrels, to allow greater design
flexibility in spacing of the barrels, and to provide a
simple and economical means of producing a multi-
projectile magazine. The magazine may be formed in a
wide variety of configurations- e.g., revolver, clip and
WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318
-4-
ammo belt styles- and may be formed as a single piece by
pz;ocesses such as plastic injection and blow molding.
The present invention also provides novel designs
for air operated guns and other air operated projectile
launchers, and novel cocking and magazine advancing
mechanisms for multi-shot air operated projectile
launchers.
Therefore, it is among the primary objectives of
the present invention to provide novel means for
intermittently sealing the airpump of an~air operated
projectile launcher to a plurality of projectile
launching tubes, chambers or barrels in a magazine.
It is further among the objectives of the present
invention to provide a novel magazine construction for
carrying a plurality of projectiles to be successively
discharged from a projectile launcher.
It is another objective of the present.invention to
provide novel means for cocking and magazine advancement
in multi-shot air operated projectile launchers.
It is a further objective of the present invention
to provide several novel designs for air operated
projectile launchers employing in various combinations
the elements and features described above.
0
CA 02155959 2001-04-09
-4 a-
In one embodiment, the invention provides an air
operated projectile launcher comprising: a frame; an air
cylinder; a piston assembly comprising a piston movably
carried in said air cylinder; cocking means
intermittently engageable with said piston assembly for
drawing said piston from a discharged position within
said cylinder to a cocked position within said cylinder;
means for propelling said piston assembly from said
cocked position to said discharged position to discharge
air under pressure from said cylinder; outlet means for
conducting air from said cylinder; a projectile magazine
movably carried on said frame; said magazine comprising a
plurality of barrels in spaced relationship; said barrels
being selectively a:Lignable with said outlet means to
receive air discharged from said cylinder to launch a
projectile carried by a selected barrel; said cocking'
means comprising a slide element operably carried for
reciprocating movement: on said frame between a rest
position and a biased position; said slide element
cooperating with said piston assembly to urge said piston
assembly toward said cocked position upon actuation of
said slide element from said rest position toward said
biased position.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the frame
comprises the form of. a gun having a handle portion, a
muzzle portion and a breech portion; the slide element
and the air cylinder are carried generally at the breech
portion of the frame; and the magazine is carried
generally toward the muzzle portion of the frame.
In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the
slide element comprises a pawl for engagement with the
piston assembly and t:he propelling means normally urges
said piston assembly toward said discharged position; and
release means are present for disengaging the pawl from
CA 02155959 2001-04-09
-4 b-
the piston assembly when the piston assembly is moved
into the cocked position. In this embodiment, the frame
may comprise the form. of a gun having a handle portion, a
muzzle portion and a breech portion where the slide
element is carried generally at the handle portion of the
frame and the slide element comprises the general form of
a trigger.
WO 94/18519 ~ PCTlUS93/01318
-5-
~RTEF DESCRIPTION OF TFiE DRAWINGS
The present invention, both as to its organization
and manner of operation, together with further objects
and advantages thereof, may best be understood with
reference to the following description, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in
section, of a novel mechanical gun incorporating the
present invention;
FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view, partly in
section of the mechanical gun of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is a side view, partly in section, of a
projectile magazine for the gun of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the
projectile magazine taken in the direction of arrows 4-4
Of FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view, partly in
section, of another novel mechanical gun incorporating
the present invention;
FIGURE 6 is a partial elevational view, partly in
section, of the reverse side of the gun of FIGURE 5;
FIGURE 7 is an end elevational view of the
projectile magazine taken in the direction of arrows 7-7
Of FIGURE 6;
WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318
-6-
FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of the air
cylinaer and magazine advancement components taken in
the direction of arrows 8-8 of FIGURE 6;
FIGURE 9 is a side sectional view of an air
cylinder, nozzle and barrel for a toy rifle
incorporating the present invention;
FIGURE 10 is a side sectional view of an air
cylinder, nozzle and barrel for a variation of the
present invention;
FIGURE 11 is a nozzle and barrel combination having
spring biased engagement; and
FIGURE 12 is a nozzle and barrel combination having
spring biased disengagement.
FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view, partly in
section, of a novel mechanical gun incorporating
elements of the present invention;
FIGURE 14 is an end elevational view, partly in
section, of the frame and magazine advancement and
engagement mechanisms of the mechanical gun of FIGURE
13;
FIGURE 15 is a side elevational view, partly in
section, of a linearly configured clip style projectile ,
magazine incorporating elements of the present
invention;
FIGURE 16 is an end view of the magazine of FIGURE
15 taken in the direction of arrows 16-16;
iW0 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318
ur
-7-
, bIGURE 17 is a side view, partly in section, of a
projectile barrel configuration which may be employed in
embodiments of the present invention;
FIGURE 18 is a side elevational view, partly in
section of variation on the magazine of FIGURE 15;
FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of a cylindrically
configured rotary style projectile magazine
incorporating elements of the present invention;
FIGURE 20 is an end view of the magazine of FIGURE
19 taken in the direction of arrows 20-20;
FIGURE 21 is a side elevational view, partly in
section, of a linearly configured belt style projectile
magazine incorporating elements of the present
invention;
FIGURE 22 is an end view of the magazine of FIGURE
21 taken in the direction of arrows 22-22;
FIGURE 23 is a side elevational view of a novel
mechanical gun employing elements of the present
invention to incorporate a slide cocking and magazine
advancing mechanism into the gun's trigger;
FIGURE 24 is a fragmentary elevational view of the
frame and slide element of the frame and slide element
of the the gun of FIGURE 23, taken in the direction of
arrows 24-24;
CA 02155959 2001-04-09
_g_
FIGURE 25 is a fragmentary side view, partly in
section, of a novel projectile launching apparatus
employing elements of the present invention;
FIGURE 26 is a fragmentary end view of the magazine
and magazine advancing pawl of FIGURE 25, taken in the
direction of arrows 26-26;
FIGURE 27 is a fragmentary view of the apparatus of
FIGURE 25, taken in the direction of arrows 27-27;
FIGURE 28 is a side elevational view, partly in
section, of a novel bow and arrow type apparatus
employing elements of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown by way of
illustration, but not: of limitation, a mechanical pistol
designed and constructed in accordance with this
invention. The pistol includes a frame 11, having a
breech portion, a mu~:zle portion, a handle 12, trigger
guard 13, a shaft 14 for pivotally mounting a trigger 15,
a shaft 16 for pivotally mounting a magazine advancement
arm 17, and guides 18 for carrying a slide assembly 1.9
for forward and rearward travel between a forward
position and a rearward position. Carried within the
frame 11 are a cylinder 20 having a protruding flange 21,
and a plunger 22 comprising a head 23, and a hollow shaft
24 having a protruding shoulder 25. Both the cylinder 20
and the plunger 22 a~__°e movably supported by interior
surfaces of the frame 11 for forward and reverse travel
longitudinally within the frame 11. A spring 26 is
carried within the plunger 22 such that one end of the
WO 94/18519 ~'~~ PCT/US93/01318
_g_
' , spring rests at the forward end of the hollow shaft 24
and tree other end of the spring 26 rests against an arm
27 of trigger 15 which protrudes into the interior of
the hollow shaft 24 through a pair of slots 28, 29. In
its uncocked state, as depicted in FIGURE 1, the plunger
22 is in its mostforward position so that the arm 27 is
near the rearward end of the hollow shaft 24.
Guides 30, having slots 31, are attached to the
frame 11 at its forward end for insertably and removably
receiving a projectile magazine 32. The magazine 32
comprises a baseplate 33 to which a plurality of
elongated barrels 34 are attached. Each barrel 34 has a
central passageway 35, open at both ends. The rearward
opening 36 is beveled to mate smoothly with the beveled
tip 37 of cylinder 20. Each barrel receives within its
central passageway 35 a,projectile 38 having a shaft 39
with an enlarged head 40 at the forward end of the shaft
39. The rearward end 41 of the shaft 39 rests at the
rearward end of the barrel 34 at a section 42 of the
passageway 35 having a reduced diameter relative to the
more forward portion of the passageway. The rearward
end 41 of the shaft 39 has a circular transverse cross
section of a diameter which yields a snug and generally
airtight fit within the reduced diameter section 42.
Another reduced diameter section 43 of the passageway 35
serves to prevent the rearward end 41 of the shaft from
exiting the rearward opening 36 of the barrel.
Magazine 32 is loaded into the pistol 10 by
insertion of one end of the baseplate 33 into the lower
end 44 of the slots 31 of guides 30 until the inserted
end of the baseplate 33 contacts the forward end of
cylinder 20 which in rest position as shown in FIGURE 1
WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/013I8
-10-
protrudes into the path of the baseplate 33 whereby
further insertion is prevented. At this point a spring
. ,
latch 45 engages the uppermost slot 46 on baseplate 33
to prevent downward movement of the magazine 32.
The pistol 10 is cocked and the magazine 32 is
advanced as follows: An operator grips the handle 12
with one hand and draws the slide assembly 19 rearward
with his/her other hand. A shoulder 47 on the interior
surface of the slide 19 engages the shoulder 25 of the
plunger 22 causing the plunger to travel rearward within
frame 11, thereby compressing spring 26 against arm 27
of trigger 15. As the plunger 22 moves rearward,
friction between the head 23 and the interior surface of
cylinder 20 drags cylinder 20 rearward such that the
forward end of cylinder 20 is withdrawn from the upward
path of baseplate 33. Once the cylinder 20 is clear of
the slots 31 a shoulder 48 on the frame 11 engages the
flange 21 of the cylinder to prevent further rearward
movement of the cylinder 20. Additionally, once the
cylinder 20 is clear of the slots 31 a shaft 49 on the
slide 19, protruding to the interior of frame 11 through
a pair of slots 50 of the frame, engages the upper
member 51 of the magazine advancement arm 17. As the
slide 19 is drawn further rearward the shaft 49 pivots
the arm 17 about shaft 16. A pawl 52 pivotally mounted
on the lower member 53 of arm 17 is raised upward
whereby the tip 54 of pawl 52 engages a slot 46 of
baseplate 33 to force the magazine 32 upward. As the ,
slide 19 reaches its most rearward position, magazine 32
is raised to a point where the slot 46 currently engaged .
by pawl 52 becomes engaged by spring latch 45.
Additionally, the plunger 22 reaches its most rearward
position whereby a hook 55 on the trigger 15 becomes
~VVO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318
-11-
aligned with a hole 56 in the hollow shaft 24.
Compression of the spring 26 against arm 27 pivots
trigger 15 about shaft 14 such that the hook 55 engages
the rim of the hole 56 to prevent the plunger 22 from
moving in the forward direction when the slide 19 is
returned forward. An elastic band 57 attached to a shaft
58 on the slide and to a shaft 59 on the frame, having
been stretched by the rearward travel of the slide 19,
serves to return the slide 19 forward upon release by
the operator. As the slide 19 approaches its forward
most position a shoulder 60 engages flange 21 of the
cylinder to move the cylinder 20 forward until the
forward beveled tip 37 engages the beveled rearward
opening 36 of the barrel 34 currently aligned in the
firing position to form a generally airtight seal
between the cylinder 20 and the barrel 34. A spring 61
engaged between frame 11 and pawl 52 returns the pawl 52
and the magazine-advancement arm 17 to their rest
positions as depicted in FIGURE 1.
Once cocked, the pistol 10 may be fared by
pivoting the trigger 15 about shaft 14 to disengage hook
55 from hole 56 thus allowing the compressed spring 26
to expand, thrusting plunger 22 forward to compress air
within the closed space formed by cylinder 20, head 23,
barrel 34 and the rearward end 41 of projectile 38.
Friction between plunger head 23 and the interior
surface of cylinder 20 urges cylinder 20 forward, thus
reinforcing the seal between cylinder 20 and barrel 34.
The frictional bond between projectile 38 and barrel 34
is designed to be the weakest seal in the system such
that when the air pressure reaches a sufficient
magnitude within cylinder 20 and barrel 34 the bond is
WO 94/18519 ~ PCT/US93101318
-12-
broken and the projectile 38 is ejected from the barrel
34.
After firing, the pistol 10 may once again be
cocked and the magazine advanced as previously
described. Once the projectiles 38 have all been
launched the empty magazine 32 is removed from the
pistol 10 by manually lifting the magazine upward and
out of slots 31. In the absence of the magazine 32, a
shoulder 64 retains cylinder 20 within frame 11.
A false barrel 62 is carried at the forward end of
the frame 11 for cosmetic purposes. The inside diameter
of the false barrel 62 is larger than the diameter of
the enlarged head 40 of the projectile 38 such that no
contact is made between the projectile 38 and the false
barrel 62 at any time before, during or after projectile
launch. Slots 63-are provided top and bottom on false
barrel 62 to allow passage of projectiles 38, barrels 34
and baseplate 33 during magazine advancement.
With reference to FIGURE 5, it may be seen that the
present invention may also be incorporated in a revolver
format. Similar to the previously described version, the
revolver comprises a frame 110 having a handle 111, a
trigger 112, a projectile magazine 113, a cylinder 114
slidingly carried on the frame, and a piston assembly
115 within the cylinder. The magazine 113 is rotatably
carried about a mounting shaft 113a on the frame 110.
The trigger 112 is pivoted on the frame 110 about a
shaft 116 and comprises a pawl-like shoulder 117 for
engagement with a lever assembly 118. The lever assembly
118 is pivotally mounted to frame 110 about a shaft 119
and comprises a member 120 which engages a flange 121 of
~WO 94/18519 ~~~ PCT/US93/01318
-13-
the piston assembly 115 and a member 122 which engages
shoulder 117 of the trigger.
Actuation of the trigger (i.e., inducement of
pivotal motion to the trigger 112 in a counterclockwise
direction in FIGURE 5) forces lever assembly 118 to
pivot about shaft 119 whereby member 120 engages flange
121 to draw piston assembly 115 rearward (to the right
in FIGURE 5) within cylinder 114. Frictional force of
the piston head 123 against the interior surface of
cylinder 114 pulls the cylinder rearward until the
cylinder engages a stop 124. Guides 125 keep the
cylinder in a horizontal alignment within the frame 110.
Actuation of the trigger 112 additionally
precipitates advancement of magazine 113 to align a
projectile barrel 130 and barrel passageway 130A with
the cylinder 114. With reference to FIGURE 6, clockwise
motion of trigger 112 pulls an arm 126 downward, said
arm being pivotally mounted to trigger 112 by a shaft
127. A pawl 128 is pivoted on the upper end of~arm 126
and urged by a spring 137 to engage a set of ratchet
teeth 129 on the rear face of magazine 113 whereby said
downward movement of arm 126 imparts rotational force to
the magazine. It is noted that cylinder 114 is
simultaneously being drawn rearward by piston 123 so
that the nozzle 132 will not interfere with magazine
movement. The number of ratchet teeth 129, and their
dimensions, are adapted to cooperate with said movement
of arm 126 to normally advance the magazine 113 by the
distance between two adjacent barrels 130, in response
to the normal firing stroke of trigger 112. A guide 131
is provided at each ratchet tooth to engage the pawl 128
to prevent rotation of magazine 113 beyond the point of
WO 94/18519 ~ ~ PCT/US93/01318
-14-
barrel 130 to nozzle 132 alignment. A spring latch (not
shown)~may also be provided which engages the ratchet
teeth 129 to prevent rotation of magazine 113 in the
direction opposite that imparted by the previously
described advancement sequence.
As the trigger 112 is (referring again to FIGURE 5)
pivoted counterclockwise, it approaches a firing
position which may be defined as the position at which
angular displacements of the trigger 112 and lever
assembly 118 cause shoulder 117 of the trigger and
member 122 of the lever assembly to disengage one
another. Once said disengagement occurs, the lever
assembly 118 and the piston assembly 115, 121, 123 are
driven toward their original positions (as depicted in
FIGURE 5) by a spring 133. Frictional force of the
piston 123 against the cylinder 114 drives the cylinder
and nozzle 132 forward to engage the beveled end 134 of
the nozzle with the beveled rear end 135 of the barrel
130. Air pressure generated by the piston 123 tends to
additionally force the cylinder 114 away from the piston
123, thereby reinforcing the seal between nozzle 132 and
barrel 130. Finally, the pressurized air is forced by
piston 123 through nozzle 132 into passageway 130A to
eject the projectile 136.
When the trigger 112 is released after passing said
firing position, the spring 137, having been compressed
by downward movement of pawl 128, expands to return pawl
128 up and over the next ratchet tooth 129 and to return
arm 126 and trigger 112 to their rest positions as in
FIGURES 5 and 6. A slotted mounting hole 138 allows
trigger 112 to slide forward about shaft 116 to allow
WO 94/I8519 , PCT/US93/01318
F ..
-15-
shoulder 117 to pass over member 122 of the lever
assembly 118 during this retraction stroke.
Other embodiments of the present invention are
depicted in FIGURES 9, 10, 11 and 12. The configuration
of FIGURE 9 may be used to construct a rifle
incorporating the invention in which a cylinder 210 and
a barrel 211 are held in fixed relationship by a frame
(not shown), and a nozzle 212 is slidingly carried by
guides 213 on the frame. The nozzle 212 is attached to
the outlet 214 of the cylinder 210 by a flexible tube
215 having a service loop 219. When air is pressurized
and expelled from the cylinder 210 by a piston 216, it
urges the nozzle 212 away from the piston (in the
direction of arrow 201) and into engagement with the
barrel 211 so that air is forced through the barrel. If
the barrel is later moved in the direction of arrow 202,
as might be the-case for advancement of a projectile
magazine, the force of beveled edge 217 of the barrel
211 against beveled edge 218 of the nozzle 212 will urge
the nozzle rearward (opposite to the direction of arrow
201) so that the nozzle does not interfere with magazine
advancement.
FIGURE 10 shows a cylinder 310 and a barrel 311
held in fixed relationship by a frame (not shown), and
a nozzle 312 slidingly carried on the outlet 313 of the
cylinder 310. When air is pressurized and expelled from
the cylinder 310 by a piston 314, it urges the nozzle
312 away from the piston (in the direction of arrow 201)
. and into engagement with the barrel 311 so that air is
forced through the barrel. Once again, if the barrel 311
is later moved in the direction of arrow 202, contact
between the beveled edges 315 and 316 of the barrel and
WO 94/18519 ° PCT/US93/01318
-16-
nozzle, respectively, will force the nozzle 312 rearward
to. allow unhindered magazine advancement.
FIGURES 11 and 12 depict spring assisted nozzle
movements which may be desirable in some applications of
the present invention, depending upon other design
variables. In FIGURE 11 a spring 410 is biased between
a frame 411 and a shoulder 412a of a nozzle 412 to
normally urge the nozzle into contact with a barrel 413
(in the direction pointed by arrow 401). This
strengthens the seal between nozzle 412 and barrel 413
during discharge of air through the nozzle and barrel,
but requires that retracting forces applied to nozzle
412 (opposite to the direction indicated by arrow 401)
during a magazine advancement operation be greater than
the force applied by the spring 410.
In FIGURE 1.2 a spring 510 is biased between a frame
511 and a shoulder 512a of a nozzle 512 to normally urge
the nozzle away from a barrel 513 (in the direction
indicated by arrow 501). Employed in a gun with an
multi-projectile magazine, this insures unimpeded
magazine advancement, but requires that sealing forces
applied to the nozzle 512 (opposite the direction
indicated by arrow 501) during discharge of pressurized
air through the nozzle 512 and barrel 513 be greater
than the force applied by the spring 510.
Referring to FIGURE 13, there is shown yet another
embodiment of the present invention. A mechanical
pistol 610 is similar in many respects to the embodiment
illustrated in figures 1-4. The pistol 610 includes a
frame 611, having a handle 612, trigger guard 613, a
shaft 614 for pivotally mounting a trigger 615, a shaft
WO 94/18519 ~~~ PCT/US93/01318
-17-
616 for pivotally mounting a magazine advancement arm
617, and guides 618 for carrying a slide assembly 619
for forward and rearward travel between a forward
position and a rearward position. (The term "assembly~~
is used in this case to describe a device comprising a
plurality of functional members, but it is to be
understood that the device may actually be assembled
from a plurality of parts or it may be molded or
otherwise formed as a single piece.) Carried within the
frame 611 are a cylinder 620, and a plunger 622. The
plunger comprises a piston 623, and a hollow shaft 624
having a protruding shoulder 625. Both the cylinder 620
and plunger 622 are movably carried for forward and
reverse travel longitudinally within the frame 611.
Interior members 621 of the frame 611 provide support
for the cylinder 620. A spring 626 is carried within
the plunger 622 such that one end of the spring rests at
the forward end of the hollow shaft 624 and the other
end of the spring 626 rests against an arm 627 of
trigger 615 which protrudes into the interior of the
hollow shaft 624 through a pair of slots 628, 629. In
its uncocked state, as depicted in FIGURE 13, the
plunger 622 is in its most forward position so that the
arm 627 is near the rearward end of the hollow shaft
624.
A projectile magazine 632 is rotatably carried by a
shaft 630 on the frame 611 which supports a tubular
_ bearing 659 on the magazine 632. In this embodiment of
the invention, the magazine is able to slide forward and
rearward on shaft 630, and is normally urged rearward by
the bias of a spring 663. A washer 661 prevents the
bearing 659 from dragging against the spring 663. The
magazine 632 comprises a baseplate 633 to which a
WO 94/18519 PCT/LTS93/01318
-18-
plurality of elongated barrels 634 are attached. A
similar magazine is shown in greater detail in Figures
19 and 20. This and other magazine embodiments will be
described in depth later in this specification. With
reference to Figures 13, 19 and 20, each barrel 634 has
a central passageway 635, open at both ends. The
rearward opening 636 is of smaller diameter than the
passageway 635 to provide a stop for a projectile to be
inserted from the forward end, and for ease of alignment
with a gasket 631 at the outlet 637 of cylinder 620
(refer also to Figure 14). Each barrel is able to carry
a projectile so as to form a generally airtight seal, as
will be described in greater detail later in this
specification.
In FIGURE 13 the slide assembly 619 is shown in its
forward, or rest, position, being biased to this
position by the. force of a spring 641 which is engaged
between a shaft 642 on frame 611 and a shaft 643 at the
rearward end of slide assembly 619. A shaft 640 at the
forward end of slide assembly 619 protrudes~to the
interior of frame 611 through a pair of slots 641 to
engage a lever 644 which is pivotally carried by a shaft
645 on the frame 611. The opposite end of 'the lever 644
is pivotally attached by a shaft 646 to a clamping arm
647. A protrusion 648 on the forward end of the
clamping arm 647 engages baseplate 633 of 'the magazine
632 to draw the baseplate 633 rearward for sealing
engagement with gasket 631 of the cylinder 620. It is
noted that sealing force is derived from the bias of
spring 641, which, in this embodiment of the invention,
actuates the magazine clamping mechanism as previously
described, and additionally forces a shoulder 660 on
WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318
slide assembly 619 into engagement with cylinder 620 to
drive~the cylinder forward.
The pistol 610 is cocked and the magazine 632 is
advanced as follows: An operator grips the handle 612
with one hand and draws the slide assembly 619 rearward
with his/her other hand. A shoulder E38 on the interior
surface of the slide 619 engages the shoulder 625 of the
plunger 622 causing the plunger to travel rearward
within frame 611, thereby compressing spring 626 against
arm 627 of trigger 615. As the plunger 622 moves
rearward, friction between the piston 623 and the
interior surface of cylinder 620 drags cylinder 620
rearward such that the forward end of cylinder 620 is
urged away from baseplate 633 of the magazine 632. A
protruding member 639 on the frame 611 limits rearward
movement of the cylinder 620 to a minimum whereby
friction between the baseplate 633 and the gasket 631 is
acceptably reduced without allowing lost motion to
excessively shorten the effective stroke of the piston
623 within the cylinder. To further reduce~friction
between magazine 632 and cylinder gasket 631, as the
slide assembly 619 moves rearward, shaft 640 is
disengaged from lever 644, thereby removing clamping
force from arm 647 and relaxing the hold of protrusion
648 on baseplate 633. Additionally, the shaft 640 on
slide assembly 619 then engages the upper member 651 of
the magazine advancement arm 617. As the slide 619 is
drawn further rearward the shaft 640 pivots the arm 617
about shaft 616. A pawl 652, pivotally mounted by shaft
653a to the lower member 653 of arm 617, is raised
upward whereby the tip 654 of pawl 652 engages a slot
657 in baseplate 633 to force the slot 657 upward,
thereby rotating magazine 632 for successive alignment
WO 94/18519 ~ ~~ PCT/US93101318
-20-
of barrels 634 with the air cylinder outlet 637. The
pawl a's shown in Figure 13 normally rests against a
point 658 on the frame 611 to prevent it from
interfering with manual rotation of the magazine for
loading. When the pawl 652 is raised upwardly by arm
617, a spring 649 exerts force on a member 650 of the
pawl 652 to pivot the pawl 652 forwardly for engagement
with baseplate 633. As the arm 617 pivots further,
reactive force of the upper edge of slot 657 against tip
654 further urges the pawl 652 to pivot forwardly,
thereby reinforcing engagement of the pawl 652 to the
baseplate 633 and driving the magazine 632 forwardly on
shaft 630, against force of spring 663, to further
ensure acceptable disengagement between baseplate 633
and cylinder gasket 631. The forward movement of
magazine 633 also prevents drag between the magazine and
the forward bulkhead 664 of frame 611.
As the slide 619 reaches its most rearward
position, the plunger 622 also reaches its most rearward
position whereby a hook 655 on the trigger 615 becomes
aligned with a hole 656 in the hollow shaft 624.
Compression of the spring 626 against arm 627 pivots
trigger 615 about shaft 614 such that the hook 655
engages the rim of the hole 656 to prevent the plunger
622 from moving in the forward direction when the slide
619 is returned forward. Spring 641, having been
stretched by the rearward travel of the slide 619,
serves to return the slide 619 forward upon release by
the operator. As the slide 619 approaches its
forwardmost position, spring 649 pulls pawl 652 downward
and out of magazine engagement, spring 663 again urges
magazine 632 rearwardly, shaft 640 again actuates the
clamping mechanism of lever 644 and arm 647, and
~WO 94/18519 ~ PCT/US93/01318
-21-
shoulder 660 on the slide again urges the cylinder 620
forward to form a generally airtight seal between the
cylinder gasket 631 and magazine baseplate 633, and to
form a continuous air channel comprising air cylinder
outlet 637 and passageway 635 of the barrel 634
currently in firing alignment with gasket 631.
Once cocked, the pistol 610 may be fired by
pivoting the trigger 615 about shaft 614 to disengage
hook 655 from hole 656 thus allowing the compressed
spring 626 to expand, thrusting plunger 622 forward to
force air out of cylinder 620 and through passageway 635
to discharge a projectile, such as 670, 671 or 672 in
Figure 15, from the barrel 634. Friction between
plunger head 623 and the interior surface of cylinder
620 urges cylinder 620 forward, thus reinforcing the
seal between cylinder 620 and barrel 634. After firing,
the pistol 610 may once again be cocked and the magazine
advanced as previously described.
A false barrel 662 is carried at the-forward end of
the frame 611 for cosmetic purposes. The inside
diameter of the false barrel 662 is intended to be
larger than the diameter of the projectiles used with
the gun such that no contact is made between the
projectile and the false barrel 662 at any time before,
during or after projectile launch. Notches 665 are
provided in the support 666 between the false barrel 662
and the frame 611 to allow clearance during magazine
advancement for projectiles, similar to 671 of Figure
_ 15, which have enlarged suction cup type heads .
Referring to FIGURES 15 and 16, an embodiment of
the projectile magazine of the present invention is
WO 94/18519 PCT/1JS93/01318
-22-
shown. The magazine 669 comprises a plurality of
individual tubular barrels 673 supported and joined ,
together in a linear, side by side, parallel spaced
configuration by an elongated baseplate 674. The
baseplate 674 attaches to each barrel 673 generally
orthogonally to the central longitudinal axis of the
barrel. The use of individual tubes for the barrels 673
allows the barrels to be widely spaced with a minimum of
material being required, since the areas between
adjacent barrels 673 are for the most part devoid of
material. Additionally, the use of individual tubes
allows the magazine 669 to be used with hollow
projectiles such as 672 which may be carried on the
exterior surface 675 of a barrel 673. The magazine 669
is preferably formed, by a plastic molding or other
suitable process, as a single piece comprising a
plurality of barrels 673 and the supporting baseplate
674 The magazine as shown may be formed using a two
piece mold which separates in the forward and rearward
directions (left and right, respectively, in Figure 15).
A primary advantage of the single piece molded
construction is the reduction of assembly requirements
for the magazine 69.
The magazine 669 of FIGURES 15 and 16 is depicted
in fragmentary form with three barrels 673 arranged in a
linear parallel spaced configuration, stacked one on top
of another, but it is understood that other than
practical considerations such as size and structural
integrity, there are no limits to the number of barrels
673 which may be so joined together. .
A variety of projectile types, such as 671, 671 and
672, may be carried and launched by magazine 669. A
~WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318
,,
_23_ . r , r~~c~
common requirement for good launching distance is that
the projectile be capable of blocking airflow through
the barrel s central passageway 676 sufficiently for
pressurized air delivered into the passageway 676
through a rearward opening 677 to eject the projectile
from the barrel 673. This requirement is referred to
herein as a ~~generally airtight seal~~. Projectile 670
achieves the aforementioned generally airtight seal with
a circular piston 678 at its rearward end which is
generally complementary to the cross-sectional shape and
dimensions of the barrel s internal passageway 676.
Projectile 671 is bullet shaped, having cross-sectional
dimensions similarly matched to the internal passageway.
Projectile 672 has a hollow interior 679 with the
surrounding walls 680 being sized to slide snugly over
the exterior surface 675 of a barrel 673. In the
embodiment of Figure 15,, the inside diameter of each
barrel 673 is reduced from front to rear in a tapered
manner, and the outside diameter of each barrel 673 is
reduced from rear to front in a tapered manner. This
allows the greatest seal between a barrel-673 and an
internally carried projectile 670, 671 or an externally
carried projectile 672 to be achieved when the
projectile is positioned rearwardly in or on the barrel
673. As the projectile is moved forwardly, the contact
friction between barrel 673 and the projectile is
reduced to allow compressed air delivered through
opening 677 to freely accelerate and discharge the
- projectile from the barrel. It is understood that while
the barrels 673 of Figure 15 are shown to be tapered, a
- similar reduction of exterior and interior diameters may
be achieved in a stepwise manner, or the barrels may be
formed with uniform diameters over their length.
WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318
-24-
The magazine 669 is provided with recesses 681, 682
in baseplate 674 the edges of which function as ratchet
surfaces for engagement with magazine advancing means on
a cooperating projectile launching apparatus. An example
of such an apparatus is shown in Figure 25. The features
and operation of this apparatus will be further
described later herein. Note that the recesses 681, 682
are configured to be symmetrical about the central
longitudinal axis of baseplate 674 so that either end of
such a magazine may be initially inserted into a firing
apparatus.
The barrels 673 in FIGURE 15 are shown with a rear
opening 677 that is of -smaller diameter than the
passageway 676, so that a projectile 670, 671 inserted
from the forward end of the barrel is prevented from
protruding or exiting through the opening 677. In some
embodiments of the invention, it will be desirable to
load projectiles into a barrel from the rearward end. A
barrel 683 adapted for rear loading is shown in Figure
17. The barrel 683 comprises a rear opening 684 having
generally the same diameter as the barrel's inner
passageway 685, so that a projectile 686 having a
similar cross-sectional diameter may be inserted through
the opening 684.
Another barrel configuration is shown in FIGURE 18
in which the barrels 687 comprise a central passageway
688 which is sealed longitudinally at the forward end
689, with outlets 690 arranged for radial or side
discharge. This configuration is designed for use only .
with externally carried projectiles, such as a hollow,
rocket shaped projectile 691. The sealed end 689 of the
longitudinal path through the passageway 688 adds a
~WO 94/18519 ~ PCT/LTS93/01318
-25-
measure of safety against foreign objects being inserted
or. discharged. As in the previously described
magazines, the barrels 687 are supported and joined
together by a baseplate 692.
FIGURES 19 and 20 depict an embodiment 632 of the
projectile magazine of the present invention in which
the barrels 634 are supported and joined together by a
baseplate 633 in a cylindrical parallel spaced
relationship. The magazine is similar to that employed
by the gun 610 of Figure 13. As with the previously
described linearly arranged magazine 669, the
cylindrical magazine 632 is preferably molded or
otherwise formed as a single piece comprising a
plurality of barrels 634 and the baseplate 633. As with
the linear magazine 669, the cylindrical magazine 632
may be formed using a two piece mold which separates in
the forward and rearward directions. The passageways
635 within the barrels 634 open to the rear through
openings 636 in the baseplate 633. The baseplate 633 is
provided with indexing slots 693 for engagement with a
magazine rotating advancement mechanism, such as the
magazine advancing pawl 652 of Figure 13. In Figure 20,
the tip of such a pawl is represented by numbers 694a
and 694b. In the position of 694a, the pawl laterally
engages a slot 663. As the pawl is moved upward toward
the position of 694b, magazine 632 is forced to rotate
to maintain engagement of the pawl and slot 693. When
the pawl reaches the position of 694b, the pawl
longitudinally engages the sides 695 of the slot 693.
Assuming the pawl is constrained from sideways movement,
the aforementioned longitudinal engagement will serve to
index the magazine to facilitate alignment of an opening
WO 94/18519 ~~ PCT/US93/01318
-26-
636 with the air cylinder outlet of a cooperating
launching apparatus, such as the gun 610 of Figure 13.
FIGURES 21 and 22 depict another embodiment 696 of
the projectile magazine of the present invention in
which a plurality of barrels 697 are joined in a linear
parallel configuration by support members 698 which
attach to the barrels 697 and provide structural support
generally parallel to the central longitudinal axes of
the barrels 697. Such a configuration may be employed to
simulate a belt type machine gun magazine. Preferably
the magazine is molded or otherwise formed as a single
piece from flexible plastic whereby the magazine is
resiliently bendable between adjacent barrels 697, while
the support members 698 maintain parallel alignment
between adjacent barrels 697. As with the previously
described magazine embodiments, each barrel 697
comprises a central passageway for carrying a
projectile, such as 670 or 671 of Figure 15, and a
rearward opening 703 for receiving compressed air from
the outlet of a cooperating air cylinder. Each barrel
697 is provided with protruding tabs 701 which may be
engaged by magazine advancing and indexing means of a
cooperating projectile launching apparatus.
Additionally, the sides 702 of the barrels may be
engaged by magazine advancing and indexing means, such
as a sprocket or pawl.
FIGURE 23 shows an embodiment 710 of the present
invention, which is a variation on the pistol 610 of
FIGURE 13. In the gun 710, the previously described
slide mounted cocking and magazine advancement features
are incorporated into a slide assembly 719 which
simulates the trigger of a conventional gun. The gun
aW0 94/18519 . ~ PCT/US93/01318
~,
-27-
710 comprises a frame 711, having a handle 712, trigger
guard 713, a shaft 716 for pivotally mounting a magazine
advancement lever 717, and guides 718a, b, c, d for
slidingly supporting a slide assembly 719, at surfaces
719a, b, c, d, for reciprocating travel between a
forward rest position and a rearward cocked, or firing,
position. Carried within the frame 711 are an air
cylinder 720 and a plunger assembly 722 similar to
corresponding elements previously described for Figure
13. The cylinder 720 is supported by guides 721 for
sliding movement between a forward position and a
rearward position, with its travel limited by a shoulder
739 of frame 711. The plunger 722 is likewise supported
for forward and rearward movement: at its rearward end
by a shaft 728 which protrudes from the frame 711
through slots 729 in the hollow plunger shaft 724, and
at its forward end by piston 723 which slides against
the interior surface of cylinder 720. A spring 726 is
carried within hollow shaft 724, with its forward end in
contact with the forward end of hollow shaft 724 and its
rearward end contacting shaft 728 which is fixed to the
frame. The plunger 722 also comprises a protruding sear
725 for engagement with the hooked end 738 of a pawl 755
pivotally carried by slide assembly 719 about a shaft
714. A cylindrically configured projectile magazine
732, similar to that of Figures 19 and 20, is rotatably
carried on frame 711 by a shaft 730 which supports a
tubular bearing 759 of magazine 732. Note that in this
embodiment, the forward movement of the magazine 732 is
restricted by a portion 761 of shaft 730 having an
enlarged diameter, and by a shoulder 748 protruding from
the frame 711. The slidable, spring biased magazine
configuration of Figure 13 (ref spring 663) could also
be implemented in this embodiment, but it has been
WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318
-28-
omitted from this design for simplicity and reduction of
pants.' Note also that the clamping mechanism of Figure
13 (ref lever 644 and arm 647) is not implemented in the
embodiment of 710. The slide assembly in embodiment 710
is in its most rearward position when plunger 722 is
released for a firing stroke, as will be explained in
further detail, and thus is not available to actuate
such a clamping device. Therefore, in the gun 710 of
Figure 23, intermittent engagement and disengagement of
the air cylinder gasket 731 to the magazine baseplate
733 is facilitated by forward and rearward movement of
cylinder 720 in response to forward and rearward
movement of piston 723 within the cylinder 720.
The gun 710 of FIGURE 23 is cocked and fired as
follows: an operator inserts an index finger through an
opening 736, in the frame 711 above the trigger guard
713, to grasp a.member 715 of slide assembly 719 which
simulates a conventional finger operated trigger. The
operator's thumb is wrapped around the handle 712, and
the remaining fingers of the hand are used Lo grasp the
lower portion 742 of slide 719, which extends out from
the frame 711 below trigger guard 713. The lower
portion 742 of the slide may be omitted without
deviating from the spirit of the present invention,
however its inclusion provides for easier cocking and
firing of the gun, particularly by a child who may have
difficulty compressing spring 726 with the strength of a
single finger. The operator, with hand positioned as
described, now pulls the slide assembly 719 rearward on
the frame 711. As the slide 719 moves rearward, hook
738 of pawl 755 engages sear 725 to draw plunger
assembly 722 rearward, which in turn causes piston 723
to draw cylinder 720 rearward until the cylinder
~WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318
-29-
contacts shoulder 739, and causes spring 726 to be
compressed between the forward end of hollow shaft 724
and shaft 728 of the frame. The slide 719 also
compresses a slide return spring 741 against frame 711.
The slide further comprises a shaft 740 which engages
and pivots magazine advancement lever 717. The tip 754
of pawl 752 engages slot 757 in the magazine baseplate
733 to rotate magazine 732 in the manner previously
described for the devices of Figures 13, 19 and 20. As
slide assembly 719 reaches its cocked, or firing
position, a release lever 727 on pawl 755 engages a
member 756 of the frame 711 to pivot pawl 755 about
shaft 714 and withdraw hook 738 from engagement with
sear 725. Note that the forward surface of the frame
release member 756 is sloped such that it will engage
the uppermost corner of pawl release lever 727, to
provide maximum releasing leverage to the pawl 755.
With pawl 755 withdrawn, the spring 726, compressed
within plunger assembly 722, abruptly urges the plunger
722 forward. Friction between piston 723 and cylinder
720 forces the cylinder forward to seal gasket 731 to
the magazine baseplate 733. All further forward motion
of the plunger 722 drives piston 723 forward within
cylinder 720 to force pressurized air from the cylinder
outlet end 737 and into the inner passageway 735 of the
barrel 734 currently in firing alignment with the
cylinder 720, thereby ejecting the projectile 771 from
_ the barrel. The projectile exits the gun 710 through a
false barrel 762 similar to that of Figure 13.
After the projectile 771 is discharged, the
operator releases the trigger 715, 742, allowing spring
741 to return the slide assembly 719 to its forward rest
WO 94/18519 PCT/LJS93/01318
-30-
position. The sloping forward surface of hook 738
slides over the sloping rearward surface of sear 725,
forcing pawl 755 to pivot downward. Once hook 738 is
past the sear 725, a spring 743 carried on the slide
assembly 719 urges pawl 755 upward to place hook 738 in
its rest position in front of sear 725.
Referring to FIGURES 25, 26 and 27, a variation on
the previously described embodiments is shown in which
the slide mounted cocking and magazine advancing
features are incorporated into a plunger assembly. In
this embodiment, a projectile launching apparatus 810
comprises a frame 811 upon which are carried an air
cylinder 812, a plunger-like slide assembly 813, a
projectile magazine 814, and a magazine advancement
lever 815. The cylinder 812 is loosely carried on the
frame 811, and may be moved forwardly and rearwardly
along guides 824, 825 and 826, with rearward travel
being limited by rear protrusions on guides 824 and 826,
and forward travel being limited by the baseplate 827 of
magazine 814. The slide assembly 813 comprises a hollow
shaft 816, a piston 817 at the forward end of shaft 816,
a flange 818 at the rearward end of shaft 816, and
forwardly extended arm 819 having a protruding shaft 820
on its forward end. A spring 821 is carried within the
hollow shaft 816 with its forward end resting against
the inside of the forward end of shaft 816 and its
rearward end resting against a shaft 822 which protrudes
from the frame 811 into the hollow shaft 816 through
slots 823.
An operator of the invention may cock the apparatus
810 by using a hand or other suitable means to keep the
frame stationary with respect to the slide assembly 813
WO 94/18519 ~ PCT/US93/01318
-31-
while using another hand or other suitable means to
grasp or engage the flange 818 to draw the slide
assembly 813 rearward. As the slide assembly 813 moves
rearwardly the piston 817 drags the cylinder 812
rearward into the protrusions of guides 824 and 826. As
the slide 813 moves further rearward, shaft 820 on arm
819 engages lever 815 to pivot the lever about its
mounting shaft 828. Lever 815 raises a pawl 829,
pivotally carried on lever 815 by a shaft 830, so that
the pawl 829 engages a recess 831 on the magazine
baseplate 827 and drives the magazine 814 through a
calibrated range of motion to move one barrel 831 out of
alignment with the outlet or nozzle end 832 of the
cylinder 812 and to move an adjacent barrel 831 into
alignment. The magazine is carried by guides 833 on the
frame 811 and a movable guide 834. The movable guide
834 is carried by a shaft 835 which extends inside frame
811. A spring 836 on the shaft is compressed between
the frame 811 and a flange 837 on the shaft 835, whereby
the movable guide 834 is normally urged toward the frame
to draw the magazine rearward for engagement with the
air cylinder outlet 832. The magazine advancing pawl
829 normally extends from its pivotal mounting shaft 830
both in the direction of magazine advancing motion and
in the direction of the magazine 814. Thus as the pawl
829 urges magazine 814 upward, as oriented in Figure 25,
leverage of the magazine 814 on pawl 829 will tend to
rotate the pawl counter-clockwise, urging the tip 839 of
the pawl and the magazine 814 further forward against
the bias of spring 836 on movable guide 834. With the
magazine 814 pushed forward as described, the friction
between baseplate 827 and nozzle 832 is reduced for the
duration of magazine advancing motion.
WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318
-32-
Once cocked as described above, the apparatus 810
is .fired simply by releasing the flange 818 to allow
spring 821 to drive the piston 817 away from shaft 822
and forward within the cylinder 812. The cylinder 812
is pushed forward by friction of the piston 817, and at
the same time, shaft 820 is moved forward to allow a
spring 838 to retract pawl 829, which in turn allows
spring 836 to pull the magazine baseplate 827 rearward,
whereby the baseplate 827 and cylinder nozzle 832 are
forced into mutual engagement. The piston 817 continues
forward within the cylinder 812 to force air from the
cylinder 812 through nozzle 832 and into the aligned
barrel 831 through a rear opening 839 in the baseplate
827, for discharge of a projectile as has been
previously described. When configured for firing as
described above the apparatus 810 may be used in the
construction of pull-and-release" type devices such as
a multi-shot air operated toy bow and arrow.
A releasable latch may optionally be added to the
apparatus of Figure 25 for engagement with an opening in
the hollow shaft 816, to retain the slide assembly 813
in its rearward cocked position. Such a latch may be
similar in form and function to the trigger 615 and hook
655 of FIGURE 13. In this case, with the slide assembly
813 drawn rearward, the opening 840 would become aligned
with hook 655, whereby hook 655, biased by suitable
means would be urged to enter the opening 840 to prevent
forward travel of the slide 813. The apparatus would be
fired by pulling on trigger 615 to withdraw hook 655
from the opening 840. When configured for firing as ,
described above the apparatus 810 may be used in the
construction of triggered devices such as a multi-shot,
air operated toy crossbow, armored vehicle, or firearm.
~WO 94/18519 ~ ~ ~ ' PCT/US93/01318
a
-33-
A'separate cocking device may be optionally added
to actuate the slide assembly 813. Such a cocking
device may be similar in form and function to the slide
assembly 619 of Figure 13. In this case, the shoulder
638 of slide 619 would engage the forward side of flange
818 whereby rearward movement of the slide 619 would
cause shoulder 638 to drag slide assembly 813 rearward
as well.
With reference to FIGURE 28, elements of the
present invention are employed in the construction of a
toy bow and arrow apparatus 900 which comprises a frame
901 having bow members 902, an airpump housing 903, and
an advancement mechanism housing 904. Within the airpump
housing 903, an elongated air cylinder 905 which is
movably carried for limited forward and rearward travel
as has been described for previously discussed
embodiments of the invention. Within the advancement
mechanism housing 904, a lever 906 is pivotally carried
about a shaft 907 on the frame 901. A pawl. 908 is
pivotally carried about a shaft 909 on the lever 906.
The pawl 908 and lever 906 are biased to rest
positions, as depicted, by a spring 910. A
cylindrically configured projectile magazine 911,
similar to that of Figures 19 and 20, is rotatably
mounted to the frame 901 about a shaft 912. The
magazine baseplate 913 is additionally supported and
guided by shoulders 914 on the bow members 902. The
magazine is adapted to carry elongated toy arrows 915 on
the exterior surfaces of the barrels.
A plunger assembly 917 is slidably carried by an
opening 918 at the rear end 924 of the airpump housing
WO 94/18519 ~ ~ PCT/US93/01318
-34-
903. The plunger assembly 917 comprises a shaft 919, a
handle 920 at the rear end of the shaft 919, a piston
321 at the front end of the shaft, a flange 922 on a
forward portion of the shaft, and a spring 923 carried
about the shaft 919 for compression between the flange
922 and the rear end 924 of the airpump housing 903. A
secondary slide assembly 925 is operably carried within
a side chamber 926 of the airpump housing 903. The
slide assembly 925 comprises an elongated member 927
which is pivotally joined to lever 906 by a shaft 928,
and a shoulder 929 which extends into the rearward path
of flange 922 of the plunger, or primary slide assembly,
917. The plunger assembly 917 is depicted in an
intermediately rearward position. If the plunger 917 is
drawn fully rearward, flange 922 engages shoulder 929
and pulls the secondary slide assembly 925 rearward,
which in turn pivots lever 906 to induce magazine
advancement as has been described for previously
discussed embodiments.
In FIGURE 28 an arrow 915 is depicted on the barrel
916 currently in firing position. If the plunger
assembly 917 is driven forward by spring 923, or any
other means, piston 321 will urge cylinder 905 forward
for sealing engagement with the magazine 911 and force
air from within the cylinder 905 and through the aligned
barrel 916 to launch the projectile or arrow 915. If
however the plunger assembly 917 is drawn from the
depicted position to its fully rearward position, flange _
922 will actuate the magazine advancement mechanism of
927, 906 and 908, causing the depicted projectile 915 to
be rotated out of firing alignment. Thus, once the
apparatus900 has been cocked by the rearward positioning
of plunger assembly 917, the magazine 911 may be
~WO 94/18519 PCT/US93/01318
-35-
advanced repeatedly to move any desired barrel 916 into
or.out'of firing alignment by cyclical movement of the
plunger 917 over a short range of travel near its fully
rearward position.
Note that firing force may be applied to drive the
plunger 917 forward by many different means, either
individually or in combination. Such means may include
but are not limited to: the bias of a spring such as
spring 923, resilient stretching of bowstrings 930
connected from the bow members 902 to the plunger
assembly 917, resilient bending of the bow members 902,
and pushing force applied by an operator to an
accessible portion of plunger assembly 917, such as
handle 920.
While particular embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, it will be
obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and
modifications may be made without departing from this
invention in its broader aspects and therefore the aim
in the appended claims is to cover all such
modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope
of this invention.
