Projectile launcher including audiovisual stimuli

Abstract

A projectile launcher is provided comprising a barrel wherein a projectile is stored prior to launch and a mechanism for launching said projectile, said mechanism being coupled with a user-operated trigger mechanism for initiating the launch of the projectile. Also coupled with the trigger mechanism is a mechanism for generating an audiovisual stimulus, whereby said stimulus is generated simultaneously upon the launch or independently of the launch of the projectile such that the stimulus serves to surprise, disorient, or otherwise attract the attention of the intended target. In the preferred embodiment, an air-powered mechanism is utilized for launching the projectile, said air-powered mechanism including a user-operated pump that serves to compress air in a pressurizable tank, which compressed air is then released so as to propel the projectile when the user pulls the trigger. In this embodiment, a second barrel is disposed directly above the barrel in which the projectiles are stored, said second barrel housing a strobe or other bright light, which light is also activated when the user pulls the trigger such that the light flashes simultaneously upon the launch of the projectile. A variety of projectiles are contemplated, including discs, arrows, darts and the like, and a variety of different mechanisms for propelling the projectiles are likewise contemplated, including spring means, magnetic means, elastic means, and the like.

1 . A projectile launcher comprising: 
 at least one projectile;    an elongated barrel for receiving said at least one projectile;    means for forcibly launching said projectile from said barrel towards a target; and    means for generating an audiovisual stimulus at about the same time as the launch of said at least one projectile.    
   
   
       2 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein said means for launching comprises means for pressurizing air within a compartment situated behind said projectile in said barrel.  
   
   
       3 . The projectile launcher of  claim 2 , wherein said means for pressurizing comprises a hand operated air pump coupled with a pressure release valve separating said pressurized air in said compartment from said projectile.  
   
   
       4 . The projectile launcher of  claim 3 , wherein said means for launching further comprises an activation switch coupled with said pressure release valve to alternatively open said valve to thereby expel said pressurized air from said compartment and close said valve to retain said pressurized air within said compartment.  
   
   
       5 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein said means for launching comprises a compressible spring and piston, said spring and piston being situated within said barrel behind said projectile.  
   
   
       6 . The projectile launcher of  claim 5 , further including hand-operated means for compressing said spring and retaining said spring in a compressed position.  
   
   
       7 . The projectile launcher of  claim 6 , wherein said means for launching further comprises an activation switch coupled with said spring and piston for alternatively releasing and retaining said spring in said compressed position.  
   
   
       8 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein said projectiles are spherical in shape.  
   
   
       9 . The projectile launcher of  claim 8 , wherein said barrel is cylindrical in shape and has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said projectiles.  
   
   
       10 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of projectile is chosen from the group consisting of darts, arrows, rockets, planes and missiles.  
   
   
       11 . The projectile launcher of  claim 10 , wherein said barrel is shaped so as to conform with the shape of said projectile.  
   
   
       12 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein said projectiles are composed of polystyrene foam.  
   
   
       13 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein said means for generating an audiovisual stimulus comprises a means for producing at least one light.  
   
   
       14 . The projectile launcher of  claim 13 , wherein said means for generating an audiovisual stimulus comprises a flash bulb coupled with a power source.  
   
   
       15 . The projectile launcher of  claim 14 , wherein said means for generating an audiovisual stimulus further comprises a transparent flash light tube for enhancing and focusing the light of said flash bulb.  
   
   
       16 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein said means for generating an audiovisual stimulus comprises a means for producing a sound effect.  
   
   
       17 . The projectile launcher of  claim 16 , wherein said means for producing a sound effect comprises a sound generator coupled with a speaker and a power source.  
   
   
       18 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein said means for generating an audiovisual stimulus comprises a means for producing a flash of light and a means for simultaneously generating a sound effect so as to simulate the firing of a gun.  
   
   
       19 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , further including a trigger coupled with said means for generating an audiovisual stimulus for repeatedly activating said means for generating an audiovisual stimulus.  
   
   
       20 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , further including a trigger coupled with said means for forcibly launching said projectile for activating said means for forcibly launching to thereby propel said projectile from said barrel.  
   
   
       21 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , further including a trigger coupled with said means for generating an audiovisual stimulus and said means for forcibly launching said projectile, for activating said means for generating an audiovisual stimulus while simultaneously propelling said projectile from said barrel.  
   
   
       22 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein said projectiles are disk-shaped.  
   
   
       23 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein said means for launching comprises a motorized flywheel.  
   
   
       24 . The projectile launcher of  claim 23 , wherein said motorized flywheel is battery powered.  
   
   
       25 . A projectile launcher comprising: 
 at least one projectile, said projectile being spherical in shape and composed of polystyrene foam;    an elongated cylindrical barrel for receiving said at least one projectile, the diameter of said barrel being slightly larger than the diameter of said spherical projectile;    means for forcibly launching said projectile from said barrel towards a target comprising a hand operated air pump coupled with a pressure release valve for pressurizing air within a compartment situated behind said projectile in said barrel and an activation switch coupled with said pressure release valve to open said valve to thereby expel said pressurized air from said compartment; and    means for generating an audiovisual stimulus concurrently with the launch of said at least one projectile comprising a flash bulb coupled with a power source, said flash bulb further being coupled with a trigger which serves to simultaneously activate both said flash bulb and said means for launching.