Launch apparatus

Abstract

A launch apparatus, such as a toy gun, is disclosed herein. The launch apparatus includes a launch system for launching an object that has been loaded in the launch apparatus. The launch system has a guide channel extending in a launch direction. The launch system also includes a launcher element. At least part of the launcher element is mounted in the guide channel and is movable through the guide channel along the launch direction. Further, the launch system includes a drive system for driving the at least part of the launcher element through the guide channel in the launch direction. The launcher element is configured to accelerate the loaded object for launching the loaded object from the launch apparatus when the at least part of the launcher element is driven through the guide channel in the launch direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A launch apparatus, comprising:
 a launch system for launching an object that has been loaded in the launch apparatus,   wherein the launch system comprises:
 a guide channel extending in a launch direction, and 
 a launcher element, wherein at least part of the launcher element is mounted in the guide channel and is movable through the guide channel along the launch direction, and 
 a drive system for driving the at least part of the launcher element through the guide channel in the launch direction, wherein 
 the launcher element is configured to accelerate the loaded object for launching the loaded object from the launch apparatus when the at least part of the launcher element is driven through the guide channel in the launch direction, and wherein 
 the at least part of the launcher element is configured to, when the at least part of the launcher element is driven through the guide channel in the launch direction and when an anomalous object is present in the guide channel, push the anomalous object in a direction other than the launch direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least part of the launcher element is configured to, when it is driven through the guide channel in the launch direction and when the anomalous object is present in the guide channel, cause the anomalous object to get stuck between the launcher element and the inner surface of the guide channel herewith hampering movement of the launcher element in the launch direction. 
     
     
         3 . The launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the anomalous object is a wooden skewer. 
     
     
         4 . The launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a front portion of the at least part of the launcher element narrows towards a front end of the at least part of the launcher element. 
     
     
         5 . The launch apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the narrowing front portion extends along the launch direction between a first plane that is orthogonal to the launch direction and the front end of the at least part of the launcher element, wherein in the first plane, the guide channel has an inner dimension, and further wherein in the first plane, a distance between the narrowing front portion and an inner wall of the guide channel is more than 1% of the inner dimension. 
     
     
         6 . The launch apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the distance between the narrowing front portion and the inner wall of the guide channel is more than 2% of the inner dimension. 
     
     
         7 . The launch apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the distance between the narrowing front portion and the inner wall of the guide channel is more than 5% of the inner dimension. 
     
     
         8 . The launch apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the narrowing front portion extends along the launch direction between a or the first plane that is orthogonal to the launch direction and the front end of the at least part of the launcher element, wherein the narrowing front portion does not comprise a surface having a normal vector that is directed in the launch direction. 
     
     
         9 . The launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of a or the front portion of the at least part of the launcher element is beveled or has a conical shape or has a concave shape. 
     
     
         10 . The launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel comprises a slot that extends along the launch direction, wherein a second part of the launcher element extends through the slot and outside of the guide channel, wherein the launch system is configured to accommodate the loaded object in a ready-to-launch position in which at least part of the object sits outside of the guide channel, and further wherein the second part of the launcher element is configured to, when the at least part of the launcher element is driven through the guide channel in the launch direction, push the at least part of the object herewith accelerating the object for launching the object from the launch apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The launch apparatus of to  claim 10 , wherein the second part comprises a surface having a normal vector that makes an angle with the launch direction that is less than 30 degrees, the surface being configured to push the at least part of the object herewith accelerating the object for launching the object from the launch apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The launch apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a second part of the loaded object in the ready-to-launch position sits in the guide channel. 
     
     
         13 . The launch apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the guide channel comprises a second slot that extends along the launch direction, wherein the loaded object in the ready-to-launch position extends from a first position outside of the guide channel through the second slot and through the guide channel and through the slot to a second position outside of the guide channel. 
     
     
         14 . The launch apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first position is a position outside of the launch apparatus and the second position is a position in an interior of the launch apparatus, wherein the second part of the launcher element sits in the interior of the launch apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel comprises a or the slot that extends along the launch direction and comprises a or the second slot that extends along the launch direction, wherein the second slot is positioned above the slot, and wherein the slot is wider than the second slot. 
     
     
         16 . The launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel comprises one or more surfaces that support the launcher element. 
     
     
         17 . The launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the launch apparatus comprises a toy gun. 
     
     
         18 . The launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least part of the launcher element pushes the anomalous object in at least one of an upward direction, a downwards direction, or a sideways direction from the launch direction. 
     
     
         19 . The launch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least part of the launcher element pushes the anomalous object against an inner surface of the guide channel.