Projectile Launcher And Applications Therefor

Abstract

A toy projectile launcher having a handle for receiving a removable projectile clip mechanism that stores projectiles in an unstretched state. A trigger mechanism is provided to engage and stretch a projectile when pulled towards the rear, and is configured to release the stretched projectile when pulled past a pre-determined distance. A blow-back mechanism is provided and movable secured about an upper portion of the body. The trigger mechanism is configured to engage the blow-back mechanism as the trigger is pulled and the blow-back mechanism is configured to disengage from the trigger mechanism when the trigger is pulled past the pre-determined distance to substantially coincide with the release of the stretched projectile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy projectile launcher comprising:
 a hollow body defining a muzzle end, a rear portion, a trigger guard region, and a handle, the handle includes an aperture for receiving a removable projectile clip mechanism for storing projectiles in an unstretched state;   a trigger mechanism housed in the body, the trigger mechanism includes a finger trigger extending about the trigger guard region, wherein the trigger mechanism is configured to engage and stretch a projectile when the finger trigger is pulled towards the rear portion of the body, and is further configured to only release the stretched projectile when the finger trigger is pulled past a pre-determined distance from a resting position; and   a blow-back mechanism movable secured about an upper rear portion of the body, the trigger mechanism being further configured to engage the blow-back mechanism as the finger trigger is moved towards the pre-determined distance and the blow-back mechanism is configured to disengage from the trigger mechanism about when the figure trigger is pulled past a pre-determined distance from a resting position to substantially coincide with the release of the stretched projectile.   
     
     
         2 . A toy projectile launcher comprising:
 a handle for receiving a removable projectile clip mechanism that stores projectiles in an unstretched state;   a trigger mechanism is provided to engage and stretch a projectile when pulled towards the rear, and is configured to release a stretched projectile when pulled past a pre-determined distance; and   a blow-back mechanism is provided and movable secured about an upper portion of the toy projectile launcher, and wherein the trigger mechanism is configured to engage the blow-back mechanism as the trigger is pulled and the blow-back mechanism is further configured to disengage from the trigger mechanism when the trigger is pulled past the pre-determined distance to substantially coincide with the release of the stretched projectile.   
     
     
         3 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the removable projectile clip mechanism includes:
 a two-piece handle butt,   a magazine compartment having an firing slot positioned along a top portion thereof,   at least one projectile positioned within the magazine compartment and aligned along the top portion of the magazine compartment such that the at least one projectile is configured to stretch and fire along with firing slot; and   a loading mechanism contained within the magazine compartment and configured to position the at least one projectile in the firing slot.   
     
     
         4 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 3 , wherein the loading mechanism includes a loading rod positioned through an opening defined in the at least one projectile, a loading base slidably positioned on the loading rod and a spring positioned between the loading base and the two piece handle butt and biased to force the loading base along the loading rod and press the at least one projectile upwardly towards the firing slot along the top portion of the magazine compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a dip release mechanism configured to release the projectile clip mechanism such that the projectile clip mechanism is removable from the handle. 
 
     
     
         6 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 5 , wherein the clip release mechanism includes:
 at least one release tab pivotally secured to the handle;   a release arm pivotally connect within the handle and having a lower projecting arm configured to engage an aperture defined in the projectile clip mechanism and further having an upper portion positioned about the at least one release tab, and wherein the at least one release tab when pivoted is further configured to engage the upper portion and pivot the lower projecting arm out of engagement with the aperture to cause the release of the projectile clip mechanism.   
     
     
         7 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a two piece muzzle cradle secured about the muzzle end; and 
 an e-device holder assembly secured to the two piece muzzle cradle and configured to hold an electronic device on top of the launcher. 
 
     
     
         8 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 7 , wherein the e-device holder assembly includes:
 a lower gripping pad secured to a top portion of the launcher;   an upper holder having a body portion and a top head portion, the top head portion having secure thereto an upper gripping pad positioned over the lower gripping pad, the body portion having a frontend channel with clips extending inwardly towards each other over the frontend channel and the frontend channel further having an outwardly extending flange;   a lower holder having a rearend channel having a groove corresponding to the outwardly extending flange to secure the upper holder and the lower holder together, the lower holder further includes arms projecting into the muzzle end, the arms configured to engage interior portions of the muzzle end.   
     
     
         9 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 8 , wherein the e-device holder assembly further includes:
 a lever is positioned between the upper holder and the lower holder and positioned within the channel, the lever includes notches defined to receive the clips and the lever further includes a pivot pin along a bottom portion which rests in a bore defined on a bottom section of the body on the upper holder, the lever when pressed forces the upper body away from the lower body to allow separation thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 8 , wherein the muzzle end includes apertures positioned over a portion of the arms, and wherein when the arms are moved away from the apertures, the e-device holder assembly is removable from the muzzle end. 
     
     
         11 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a touch marker mechanism configured to move and make contact with an electronic device positioned in the e-device holder assembly upon the release of the blow-back mechanism. 
 
     
     
         12 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a software component application running on an electronic device positioned in the e-device holder assembly and being configured to respond to display touches from the touch marker mechanism. 
 
     
     
         13 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 12  wherein the software component application includes sound and/or image responses. 
     
     
         14 . A toy projectile launcher comprising:
 a handle for receiving a removable projectile clip mechanism that stores projectiles in an unstretched state;   a trigger mechanism is provided to engage and stretch a projectile when pulled towards the rear, and is configured to release a stretched projectile when pulled past a pre-determined distance;   a blow-back mechanism is provided and movable secured about an upper portion of the toy projectile launcher, and wherein the trigger mechanism is configured to engage the blow-back mechanism as the trigger is pulled and the blow-back mechanism is further configured to disengage from the trigger mechanism when the trigger is pulled past the pre-determined distance to substantially coincide with the release of the stretched projectile.   a two piece muzzle cradle secured about the muzzle end;   an e-device holder assembly secured to the two piece muzzle cradle and configured to hold an electronic device on top of the launcher;   a touch marker mechanism configured to move and make contact with an electronic device positioned in the e-device holder assembly upon the release of the blow-back mechanism; and   a software component application running on an electronic device positioned in the e-device holder assembly and being configured to respond to display touches from the touch marker mechanism.   
     
     
         15 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 14  wherein the software component application is configured to upload a global positioning update of the electronic device and download global positioning for a secondary electronic device running a similar software component application, and the software component application is further configured to display the global positions relative to each other. 
     
     
         16 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 14  wherein the software component application is configured to display images and sounds relative to a game environment for a user to play a game. 
     
     
         17 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 14  wherein the software component application is configured to read a quick response code and display images and sounds relative to the quick response code. 
     
     
         18 . The toy projectile launcher of  claim 17  wherein the software component application is configured to track projectiles launched from the launcher and further configured to display images and sounds when the software component application determines a projectile hit a target. 
     
     
         19 . A projectile for use in an projectile launcher comprising a textured surface made of a plurality of polygonal raised surface structures positioned over the entire surface of the projectile.