Toy projectile launcher

Abstract

A toy machine gun or a light-weight projectile launching device including a projectile conveying mechanism and a projectile shooting mechanism. The projectile shooting mechanism includes a projectile shooting pass which is formed by a first and a second opposing projectile engaging surfaces which are adapted to friction drag and compressively engage the projectile to be shot. At least one of the rotating surface is preferably driven by a motor. The projectile conveying mechanism conveys a projectile towards said shooting pass for launching.

1 . A light-weight projectile launching device including a projectile conveying mechanism and a projectile shooting mechanism, wherein said projectile shooting mechanism includes a first and a second opposing projectile engaging surfaces, said first and second projectile engaging surfaces are adapted to compressively engage the projectile to be shot, at least said first projectile engaging surface is rotatable about a first rotational axis and is connected to a rotational power source for imparting energy to said projectile, and said projectile conveying mechanism to convey a projectile towards engagement with said projectile engaging surfaces for launching.  
     
     
         2 . A projectile launching according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second engaging surfaces are adapted to use friction to impart energy to said projectile and said engaging surfaces are separated by a distance which is slightly smaller than the width of a projectile.  
     
     
         3 . A projectile launcher according to  claim 1 , wherein said second projectile engaging surface is freely rotatable about a second rotational axis, and said second rotational surface is driven into rotation by said first engaging surface upon engagement of a projectile between said engaging surfaces.  
     
     
         4 . A projectile launching device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said projectile engaging surfaces is elastically deformable.  
     
     
         5 . A projectile launching device according to  claim 3 , wherein said first and second rotational axis are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         6 . A projectile launching device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second projectile engaging surfaces are substantially parallel to each other at the position of engaging a projectile.  
     
     
         7 . A projectile launching device according to  claim 1 , wherein a projectile guiding mechanism is provided at the exit of said projectile engaging surfaces.  
     
     
         8 . A projectile launching device according to  claim 7 , wherein said guiding member includes a barrel member having an internal bore adapted to receive said projectile in a lengthwise manner.  
     
     
         9 . A projectile launching device according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotational power source is an electric motor.  
     
     
         10 . A projectile including a head portion and a body portion, wherein said head portion is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material and the body portion is made of a soft material, the length of said body portion is significantly longer than that of the head portion.  
     
     
         11 . A projectile member according to  claim 10 , wherein the length of the head portion is only about {fraction (1/12)}-{fraction (1/20)} of the overall length of the projectile.  
     
     
         12 . A projectile according to  claim 9 , wherein said head portion is made of PVC or rubber while the body portion is made of foam.  
     
     
         13 . An elongated projectile made substantially of a foam material having a head portion which is covered by a layer of hard material.  
     
     
         14 . A light-weight projectile launching mechanism including a first and a second opposing projectile engaging surfaces, said first and second projectile engaging surfaces are adapted to compressively engage the projectile to be shot, at least said first projectile engaging surface is rotatable about a first rotational axis and is connected to a rotational power source for imparting energy to said projectile.  
     
     
         15 . A projectile launching mechanism according to  claim 14 , further including a projectile conveying mechanism, wherein said projectile conveying mechanism conveys a projectile towards engagement with said projectile engaging surfaces for launching.  
     
     
         16 . A projectile launching mechanism according to  claim 14 , wherein said first and second engaging surfaces are adapted to use friction to impart energy to said projectile and said engaging surfaces are separated by a distance which is slightly smaller than the width of a projectile.  
     
     
         17 . A projectile launching mechanism according to  claim 14 , wherein said second projectile engaging surface is freely rotatable about a second rotational axis, and said second rotational surface is driven into rotation by said first engaging surface upon engagement of a projectile between said engaging surfaces.  
     
     
         18 . A projectile launching device according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said projectile engaging surfaces is elastically deformable.  
     
     
         19 . A toy machine gun including a bullet shooting mechanism, wherein said bullet shooting mechanism includes a first and a second rotatable wheel which is adapted to permit compressive passage of a bullet to be shot through the space formed between said wheels and at least one of the wheels is power driven.