Soft impact projectile launcher

Abstract

A soft impact projectile launcher including a launching mechanism that creates a burst of air or air pressure in order to launch a projectile. The launching mechanism includes an outer cylinder and a spring-loaded piston configured to generate the burst of air. The projectile launcher may also include a projectile reservoir and a loading member that positions projectiles for launching. The projectile launcher can launch projectiles that are made from a superabsorbent polymer and consist of mostly water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A projectile launcher comprising:
 an outer housing comprising a grip portion;   a slide that is movable relative to the outer housing between a rearward position and a forward position;   a barrel having a loading end and a muzzle end;   a reservoir configured to house a plurality of projectiles, the reservoir having an opening that permits communication with the barrel to permit a projectile to move from the reservoir to the barrel;   a launching mechanism having a first portion and a second portion in sealed, sliding engagement with one another and cooperating to define an air chamber, the first portion configured to be moved to a cocked position by the slide, a launch spring biasing the first portion of the launching mechanism away from the cocked position, wherein the movement of the first portion from the cocked position under the biasing force of the launch spring reduces a volume of the air chamber to create a burst of air capable of launching a projectile from the barrel;   a trigger mechanism configured to release the first portion of the launching mechanism from the cocked position; and   a barrel closure mechanism comprising at least one shutter member that normally blocks a muzzle end of the barrel, wherein the at least one shutter member is moved to an open position to unblock the barrel when the trigger is actuated;   wherein the second portion includes a cylinder and a loading member that selectively blocks the opening of the reservoir;   wherein the second portion moves relative to the barrel with movement of the slide toward the rearward position such that the loading member unblocks the opening of the reservoir to permit a projectile to move from the reservoir through the opening to the barrel;   wherein the second portion moves with movement of the slide toward the forward position.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shutter member comprises a pair of shutter members that move away from one another to the open position to unblock the barrel. 
     
     
         3 . The projectile launcher of  claim 2 , wherein the barrel closure mechanism comprises a pair of angled arms, each of which engages a respective one of the pair of shutter members, wherein the angled arms are movable with the trigger mechanism to move the pair of shutter members to the open position. 
     
     
         4 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , further comprising a stop mechanism configured to inhibit release of the first portion of the launching mechanism from the cocked position when the slide is in the rearward position. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile launcher of  claim 4 , further comprising a trigger mechanism configured to release the first portion of the launching mechanism from the cocked position, wherein the stop mechanism comprises a stop member configured to selectively inhibit movement of the trigger mechanism, wherein the stop member is normally biased toward a stopping position in which movement of the trigger mechanism is inhibited, wherein when the slide is in the rearward position, the stop member is permitted to move to the stopping position and when the slide is in the forward position, the slide contacts and moves the stop member away from the stopping position such that movement of the trigger mechanism is permitted. 
     
     
         6 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the slide is biased toward the forward position by a biasing member. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver positioned within the reservoir and surrounding the opening, the receiver comprising a blocking portion having a first height and a receiving portion having a second height that is less than the first height. 
     
     
         8 . A projectile launcher comprising:
 an outer housing comprising a grip portion;   a slide that is movable relative to the outer housing between a rearward position and a forward position;   a barrel having a loading end and a muzzle end;   a reservoir configured to house a plurality of projectiles, the reservoir having an opening that permits communication with the barrel to permit a projectile to move from the reservoir to the barrel;   a launching mechanism having a first portion and a second portion in sealed, sliding engagement with one another and cooperating to define an air chamber, the first portion configured to be moved to a cocked position by the slide, a launch spring biasing the first portion of the launching mechanism away from the cocked position, wherein the movement of the first portion from the cocked position under the biasing force of the launch spring reduces a volume of the air chamber to create a burst of air capable of launching a projectile from the barrel;   a trigger mechanism configured to release the first portion of the launching mechanism from the cocked position; and   a stop mechanism comprising a stop member configured to selectively inhibit movement of the trigger mechanism, the stop mechanism configured to inhibit release of the first portion of the launching mechanism from the cocked position when the slide is in the rearward position;   wherein the stop member is normally biased toward a stopping position in which movement of the trigger mechanism is inhibited;   wherein, when the slide is in the rearward position, the stop member is permitted to move to the stopping position and, when the slide is in the forward position, the slide contacts and moves the stop member away from the stopping position such that movement of the trigger mechanism is permitted;   wherein the second portion includes a cylinder and a loading member that selectively blocks the opening of the reservoir;   wherein the second portion moves relative to the barrel with movement of the slide toward the rearward position such that the loading member unblocks the opening of the reservoir to permit a projectile to move from the reservoir through the opening to the barrel; and   wherein the second portion moves with movement of the slide toward the forward position.   
     
     
         9 . The projectile launcher of  claim 8 , further comprising a trigger mechanism configured to release the first portion of the launching mechanism from the cocked position and a barrel closure mechanism comprising at least one shutter member that normally blocks a muzzle end of the barrel, wherein the at least one shutter member is moved to an open position to unblock the barrel when the trigger is actuated. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile launcher of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one shutter member comprises a pair of shutter members that move away from one another to the open position to unblock the barrel. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile launcher of  claim 10 , wherein the barrel closure mechanism comprises a pair of angled arms, each of which engages a respective one of the pair of shutter members, wherein the angled arms are movable with the trigger mechanism to move the pair of shutter members to the open position. 
     
     
         12 . The projectile launcher of  claim 8 , wherein the slide is biased toward the forward position by a biasing member. 
     
     
         13 . The projectile launcher of  claim 8 , further comprising a receiver positioned within the reservoir and surrounding the opening, the receiver comprising a blocking portion having a first height and a receiving portion having a second height that is less than the first height.