Toy launch apparatus with safety valve

Abstract

A toy launch apparatus with a safety valve. The safety valve includes a stationary valve component with a tubular shape and an open inlet end. Ports in the tubular component help define an air path from the open inlet through the ports. A slideable valve component including a sleeve portion and extending fingers slides along an outer surface of the stationary valve component. A valve spring biases the slideable valve component forward to close the ports and when a dart is loaded, a back wall of the dart pushes the extending fingers of slideable valve component rearward to open the ports. In the open position the slideable valve component is out of the air path such that no pressure drop is attributed to the slideable valve component. When the dart is discharge, the valve spring biases the slideable valve component forward to close the ports.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy launch apparatus with a safety valve comprising:
 a housing;   a dart receiving structure mounted in the housing;   a stationary valve component forming an air passageway mounted in the housing in communication with the dart receiving structure, the stationary valve component including a tube portion with an outer surface, a rearward end open to air flow through the air passageway, the tube portion extending forward from the rearward end, and a port in the tube portion;   a slideable valve component movable along the outer surface of the tube portion between a first position blocking the port to airflow, and a second position spaced away from the port and spaced away from air flow through the air passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 1 , including:
 a valve spring connected to the slideable valve component and the stationary valve component for biasing the slideable valve component to the first position.   
     
     
         3 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the slideable valve component includes a flange.   
     
     
         4 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the slideable valve component includes an extension structure for being engaged by a dart loaded in the dart receiving structure, the dart causing the slideable valve component to move from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         5 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stationary valve component is cylindrical; and   the slideable valve component is cylindrical.   
     
     
         6 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 5 , including:
 a valve spring connected to the slideable valve component for biasing the slideable valve component to the first position.   
     
     
         7 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the slideable valve component includes a flange.   
     
     
         8 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the slideable valve component flange is in communication with the valve spring.   
     
     
         9 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 8 , including:
 the slideable valve component includes an extension structure for being engaged by a dart loaded in the dart receiving structure, the dart causing the slideable valve component to move from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         10 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 1 , including:
 a cylinder mounted in the housing and in communication with the stationary valve component; and   a piston mounted in the cylinder.   
     
     
         11 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 9 , including:
 a cylinder mounted in the housing and in communication with the stationary valve component; and   a piston mounted in the cylinder.   
     
     
         12 . A toy launch apparatus with a safety valve comprising:
 a housing;   a dart receiving structure mounted in the housing;   a passageway structure mounted in the housing and in communication with the dart receiving structure, the passageway structure including an open rearward end, a tubular wall extending forward from the open end and a port in the wall; and   a blocking structure mounted to the wall, the blocking structure movable between a forward position wherein the port in the wall is blocked and a rearward position wherein the port in the wall is unblocked and the blocking structure is spaced from airflow through the passageway structure.   
     
     
         13 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 12 , including:
 a valve spring for biasing the blocking structure to the forward position.   
     
     
         14 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 13 , including:
 a cylinder mounted to the housing, the cylinder in communication with the passageway structure; and   a piston mounted in the cylinder.   
     
     
         15 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the blocking structure includes a flange.   
     
     
         16 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the blocking structure includes an extension structure for engaging a dart loaded in the dart receiving structure, the dart causing the blocking structure to move from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         17 . The toy launch apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a forward end of the valve spring bears against the flange.   
     
     
         18 . A method for making a toy launch apparatus with a safety valve, the steps of the method comprising:
 forming a housing;   mounting a dart receiving structure in the housing;   forming a stationary valve component in the housing, the stationary valve component including an open rearward end, a tube extending forward and a port in the tube;   placing the stationary valve component in communication with the dart receiving structure;   forming a slideable valve component having a flange;   mounting the slideable valve component to the tube, the slideable valve component being movable between a forward position to block the port and a rearward position to unblock the port, and when in the rearward position the slideable valve component is spaced from air flow through the stationary valve component;   mounting a valve spring to the slideable valve component to bias the slideable valve component to the forward position;   mounting a cylinder in the housing, the cylinder being in communication with the stationary valve component; and   mounting a piston in the cylinder.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the slideable valve component includes an extension structure; and including the step of:   mounting the slideable valve component so that the extension structure engages a dart loaded in the dart receiving structure.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , including the step of:
 mounting the slideable valve component so that the valve spring biases the flange.