Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TOY BOW AND ARROW SYSTEM WITH INTERNAL BOW LIGHTING
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
In general, the present invention relates to toy how
and arrow systems, where a toy bow is used to launch a
toy arrow projectile into flight.
Background. Art
Bow and arrow sets that are designed for children's
play have existed. throughout recorded history. In the
modern era, toy bow and arrow sets typically have a
plastic molded bow, a string and safety-tipped arrows. To
ensure safety, the functional design of a toy bow is also
commonly altered. In a real bow, the string has a fixed
length. The spring force used to launch an arrow comes
from the flexing of the arms of the bow. The problem with
this design is its failure mode. If a bow is drawn beyond
Its limit, then the arms or the string of the bow may
break. Depending upon where the breakage occurs, the
broken string and/or bow may fly toward the person
holding the bow as the stored energy is accidentally
released.
To reduce the likelihood of this hazard from
occurring, many toy bows are manufaceured as static
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structures. An elastic string is used to create the arrow
launching force. If such a bow is overdrawn, there is no
significant chance of the bow breaking. Rather, the
elastic string will break and will most likely move in a
direction away from the person drawing the bow. The
failure mode of a string breaking is far less dangerous
than the failure mode of the bow breaking. However, the
failure mode of a broken string does present some danger
depending upon where the elastic string breaks and how
much energy is stored in the elastic string at the time
it breaks.
Toy bows that use a static bow and an elastic string
are exemplified by U.S. Patent No. 5,247,920 to Harbin,
entitled Toy Bow; and U.S. Patent No. 7,748,369 to Chee,
entitled Launching Apparatus and Assembly.
Many toy bows that have elastic strings use elastic
strings that are made from a synthetic polymer, such as
silicon, TPR or some other synthetic rubber. On the toy,
such elastic strings are constantly under tension. As
such, if the material of the string creeps or degrades,
the elastic string will break. This stops the toy bow
from being functional.
Most all plastic degrades in some fashion over. time.
However, it has been found that one of the fastest ways
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to degrade the preferred polymers used for the bowstring
is to expose the bowstring to UV light. A bowstring that
can last for months inside a home may only last for a few
days if taken outside and left in sunlight. A toy that
lasts for months is acceptable. A toy that last for days
is not. Damage caused by exposure to light has therefore
caused products to be returned and/or consumer's
dissatisfaction with the toy manufacturer.
in co-pending U.S. Application No. 13/909,968, the
applicant presents a toy bow where the elastic bowstring
is encased and protected from UV light in the ambient
atmosphere. However, in shielding the bowstring the toy
bow loses some aesthetics. However, the shielding over
the bowstring provides an opportunity to provide unique
improved aesthetics through, the use of internal lighting. .
A need therefore exists for a toy bow and arrow
design that inhibits degradation in the elastic string
caused by exposure to UV light, yet provides enhanced
aesthetics using internal lighting that does not contain "
significant UV wavelengths. This need is met by the
present invention as described and claimed below.
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DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a toy bow assembly that is
used to launch toy projectiles. The toy bow assembly
includes a bow structure having a first arm section and a
second arm section. Both the first arm section and the
second arm section contain at least one translucent area.
Lights are disposed within both the first arm section
and the second arm section. The lights internally
illuminate the translucent areas of the first arm section
and second arm section when activated.
An activation switch is disposed on the bow structure
for selectively activating and deactivating the lights.
A first elastic element is anchored to the first arm
section. The first elastic element extends through the
first arm section into a central. area. The first arm
section shields the first elastic element from exposure
to ambient light. Likewise, a second elastic element is
anchored to the second arm section. The second elastic
element extends through the second arm section and into
the central area. The second arm section shields the
second elastic element from exposure to ambient light.
This prevents the elastic elements from degrading due to
exposure of UV light contained in ambient light.
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A toy projectile is provided that has extending hooks.
The hooks on the projectile engage the elastic elements.
When the projectile is drawn back, the elastic elements
stretch and provide the spring energy needed to launch
the projectile into flight when it is released.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention,
reference is made to the following description of an
exemplary embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of a toy bow and toy projectile in combination;
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the toy bow
shown in Fig. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a. pivot post shown
in section 3 of Fig. 2; and
FIG. 4 shows a toy projectile engaging the loading
loops within the central region of the toy bow.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
INVENTION
Although the present invention toy bow and arrow
system can be embodied in many ways, only one exemplary
embodiment of the present invention system is illustrated.
This embodiment is selected in order to set forth the
best mode contemplated for the invention. The illustrated
embodiment, however, is merely exemplary and õshould not
be considered a limitation when interpreting the scope of
the appended claims.
Referring to Fig. 1, a bow and arrow system 10 is
shown. The bow and arrow system 10 includes a bow
structure 12 and at least one arrow projectile 14. The
bow structure 12 is rigid. The force used to propel the
arrow projectile 14 is provided by two separate and
distinct loading loops 16. The arrow projectile 14 has
hook projections 20 that engage both of the loading. loops
16. Elastic elements 18 extend through the loading loops
16. As a person engages an arrow projectile 14 with the
loading loops 16 and pulls on the arrow projectile 14,
the elastic elements 18 in the loading loops 16 eLreLch.
Since there are two loading. loops 16, the elastic element
18 in each of- the loading loops 16 need only provide half
the force needed to propel the arrow projectile 14 into
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flight. The elastic elements 18 are therefore difficult
to overstretch in the proper operation of the toy.
Furthermore, should either of the elastic elements 18 or
loading loops 16 suddenly break, the orientation of the
broken elastic elements 18 prevents the elastic elements
18 or the loading loops 16 from whipping toward the user.
Thds dynamic is explained later in greater detail. Lastly,
since the arrow projectile 14 engages two separate and
distinct loading loops 16, the chances of the elastic
elements 18 in both loading loops 16 breaking
simultaneously are highly improbable. Accordingly, if one
elastic element 18 breaks, the arrow projectile 14 will
still be engaged by the other loading loop 16 and the
person pulling the arrow projectile 14 back will not pull
the arrow projectile 14 into himself upon the breakage of
the one loading. loop 16.
Referring to Fig. 2 in conjunction with Fig. 1, it can
be seen that the bow structure 12 is a rigid molding. The
bow structure 12 has a first end 22, a second end 24 and
a handle 26 in its central region. The handle 26 has a
top end 25 and a bottom end 27. A first arm section 28 is
supported above the top end 25 of the handle 26. Likewise,
a second arm section 30 is supported below the bottom end
27 of the handle 26. The first arm section 28 and the
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second arm section 30 are oriented in a common vertical
plane. The handle 26 is offset from the common vertical
plane so as not to interfere with the path of the arrow
projectile 14. This creates an open central region 15
between the first and second arm sections 28, 30 that is
defined by the handle 26.
The first arm section 28 contains a sheath structure
35 that defines a first internal compartment 37. The
first internal compartment 37 has a bottom end 39 that
faces toward the open central region 15. Likewise, the
second arm section 30 contains a sheath structure 41 that
defines a second internal compartment 43. The second
internal compartment. 43 is has a top end 45 that faces
toward the open central region 15. Both sheath structures
35, 41 have forward-facing surfaces 49 that are
translucent.
One or more light emitting diodes 51 are mounted
inside each of the sheath structures 35, 41. When the
light emitting diodes 51 activate, they internally
illuminate both the first internal compartment 37 and the
second internal compartment 43. This internal
illumination can be viewed from an external point through
the translucent areas 49 on both sheath structures 35, 41.
Although only one or a few light emitting diodes 51 may
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be used in each of the internal compartments 37, 43, the
internal illumination causes the translucent areas 49 to
glow brightly wherever they are backlit by the internal
illumination.
The light emitting diodes 51 are preferably
monochromatic and emit light between the green and red
wavelengths of the visible spectrum. Such light contains
no significant ultraviolet components. The light produced
by the light emitting diodes 51, therefore, produces no
significant degradation in the polymers of the elastic
elements 16. As such, the light emitting diodes 51 can
emit bright light without adversely affecting the
lifespan of the elastic elements B.
The light emitting. diodes 51 are powered by batteries
53. The batteries 53 are contained within a battery
compartment 55 that is manufactured into the bow
structure 22. Although a batter compartment can be
positioned within in the first arm section 28 or the
second arm section 30, it is preferred that the battery
compartment 55 be placed within the structure of the
handle 26.
When using the bow and arrow system 10, a person
grasps the,handle 26 of the bow structure 12. As such, it
is preferred that an on/off switch 57 be positioned on
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the handle 26 in a position that can easily be operated
by a person grasping the handle 26 of the bow structure
12. In the preferred embodiment, the on/off switch 57 is
a normally "off" switch that turns "on" only when
actively pressed. The on/off switch 57 can be integrated
into the handle 26 so that the on/off switch is activated
merely by firmly grasping the handle 26 of the bow
structure 12.
Two post structures 31, 32 are mounted to the bow
structure 12 outside the bottom opening 39 of the first
sheath structure 35 and the top opening 45 of the bottom
sheath structure 41. Referring now to Fig. 2 in
conjunction with Fig. 3, it will be understood that
although Fig. 3 shows only one of the post structures 31,
the description offered stands for both post structures
31, 32 equally. Each pivot post structure 31, 32 defines
two narrow channels 40. In Fig. 3, only one channel 40 is
shown. It will be understood that a second channel lay
below the shown. channel 40 in a parallel configuration.
Each of the loading loops 16 is a loop structure of an
elastic element 18 that creates two runs 47, 48. The runs
47, 48 of each elastic element 18 extend through the
sheath structures 35, 41 and through the two pivot posts
31, 32. Each elastic element 18 has two ends. Both ends
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of each elastic loop 18 are affixed to anchored posts 44,
46 withinthe sheath structure 35, 41. Since the runs 47,
43 of each elastic element 18 extend through the sheath
structures 35, 41, it will be understood that the
material of the elastic elements 18 is shielded from any
external light exposure until the elastic elements 18 are
stretched out of the channels 40 in the pivot post
structures 31, 32.
The length of the elastic element 18 has a cross
section that is smaller than the diameter of the channels
40 in the pivot post structures 31, 32. In this manner, a
separate run 47, 48 of the elastomeric element 18 can
pass through each of the openings 40, therein keeping the
two runs 47, 48 of the loop apart.
As the runs 47, 48 of the elastic element 18 pass out
of the pivot post structures 31, 32, the elastic element
18 immediately passes into reinforcement tubes 50 to form
the loading loops 16. The diameters of the reinforcement
tubes 50 are larger than the channels 40 in the pivot
post stIrucLures 31, 32. Consequently, the reinforcement
tubes 50 cannot pass through the pivot post structures 31,
32. As a result, each length of the elastic element 18 is
divided into two runs 47, 48. The first run 47 extends
between an anchor post and the reinforcement tube 50 on
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the far side of the pivot post structure. The second run
48 extends from the reinforcement tube 50 back to the
anchor post. The looping of the elastic element 18
between the two runs 47, 48 curves the reinforcement
tubes 50 and creates the two loading loops 16.
Additionally, the presence of the reinforcement tubes
50 protects the elastic element 18 inside the loading
loops 16 from exposure to external light. Consequently,
when the elastic elements 18 are at rest, the entire
length of each of the elastic elements 18 is shielded
from external ambient light.
Due to the offset of the handle 26, an open central
region 15 exists between the two pivot post structures 31,
32. The loading loops 16 each extend into the open
central region 15 from opposite sides.
Referring to Fig. 4 in conjunction with Fig. 1, it can
be seen that the arrow projectile 14 has two hook
elements 20 extending from opposite sides. The hook
elements 20 are sized and shaped to engage the two
loading loops 16 as the hook elements 20 are pulled
through the open central region 15. To load the arrow
projectile 14, the arrow projectile 14 is positioned
within the open central region 15 so that the hook
elements 20 engage the loading loops 16. Once engaged
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with the loading loops 16, the arrow projectile 1.4 is
pulled in the manner of a traditional bow and arrow. As
the arrow pro-jectile 14 is bulled away from the open
central region 15, the elastic elements 18 stretch. The
elastic elements 18 bend around the pivot post structures
31, 32, therein enabling the loading loops 16 to move
with the arrow projectile 14. This is the only time that
parts of the elastic elements 18 are exposed to ambient
light. This exposure lasts only for as long as the
elastic elements 18 are stretched. Thus, the exposure to
ambient light only lasts for a few seconds during each
shot cycle.
As the elastic elements 18 stretch; they store energy.
When the arrow projectile 14 is released, the elastic
elements 18 retract and the arrow projectile 14 is
accelerated toward the open central region 15. At the
open central region 15, the loading loops 16 retract
against the, pivot post structures 31, 32. The momentum of
the arrow projectile 14 causes the arrow projectile 14 to
continue its forward movement beyond the open central
region 15. This launches the arrow projectile 14 into
flight as the hook elements 20 disengage the loading
loops 16.
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When the elastic elements 18 are stretched, they are
most vulnerable to breakage. If one of the runs 47, 48 of .
an elastic element 18 breaks before passing through a
pivot post structure 31, 32, then the speed of the
contracting broken elastic element 18 is slowed by its
passage through the pivot post structure 31, 32. This
prevents a broken run from whipping toward a user.
Furthermore, if the elastic element 18 were to break
after it passes the pivot post structure 31, 32, most of
the potential energy serves to move the broken elastic
element 18 back toward the pivot post structure 31, 32
and away from the user.
it will be understood that the embodiment of the
present invention that is illustrated and described is
merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can
make many variations to that embodiment. For instance,
the bow structure can have many different ornamental
shapes. The bow structure can also take the form of a
crossbow. likewise, the arrow projectiles can be
configured as airplanes, rocket ships or any other flying
projectile. All such embodiments are intended to be
included within the scope of the present invention as
defined by the claims.
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