Projectile discharge apparatus

Abstract

A projectile discharge apparatus 10 having a first generally planar ribbed portion 12 and opposed side portions 14 which form a hand reception recess. Apparatus 10 includes a plurality of chambers 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 which are adapted to movably receive a dart 34. Apparatus 10 further includes a first member 56 which is movably deployed within each of the chambers 32 and which is movable from a first position to a second dart dispensing position by a downward movement of member 66.

I claim:  
     
       1. A projectile apparatus comprising: 
       a planar portion having a first chamber and a second chamber;  
       a first projectile which is movably deployed within said first chamber;  
       a second projectile which is movably deployed within said second chamber;  
       a first movement means deployed within said first chamber and selectively activated to discharge said first projectile from said first chamber;  
       a second movement means deployed within said second chamber and selectively activated to discharge said second projectile from said second chamber;  
       means for positioning said planar portion on top of a hand of an operator of said projectile apparatus;  
       a first release mechanism means adjacent said planar portion, said first release mechanism means activating said first movement means, said first release mechanism means adapted to align with a first extended finger of said hand for actuation by said first extended finger; and  
       a second release mechanism means adjacent said planar portion, said second release mechanism means activating said second movement means, said second release mechanism means adapted to align with a second extended finger of said hand for actuation by said second extended finger, each said first and second release mechanism means being thereby adapted for actuation individually by separate individual fingers of said hand for successive or simultaneous discharge of said first and second projectiles, whereby the same said hand positions said planar portion and actuates said first and second release mechanism means.  
     
     
       2. The projectile apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each said first and second projectile is a suction tipped dart. 
     
     
       3. The projectile apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for positioning said planar portion is a band which selectively attaches said planar portion to said hand. 
     
     
       4. The projectile apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one said release mechanism means extends outwardly away from said planar portion, said release mechanism means having a finger reception recess adapted to correspond with a curvature of a respective said finger of said hand. 
     
     
       5. The projectile apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said planar portion has a forward end, said projectiles being released from said planar portion at said forward end, said release mechanism means extending from said planar portion at a location in close proximity to said forward end. 
     
     
       6. The projectile apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one said release mechanism means extends from said planar member at a position adapted to be beyond a palm area of said hand with respect to said operator so that the release mechanism means is activated by the under surface of a respective finger. 
     
     
       7. The projectile apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one said release mechanism means includes a portion generally perpendicular to said planar portion. 
     
     
       8. The projectile apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said planar portion includes a third chamber, said projectile apparatus further comprising: 
       a third projectile which is movably deployed within said third chamber;  
       a third movement means deployed within said third chamber and selectively activated to discharge said third projectile from said third chamber;  
       a third release mechanism means adjacent said planar portion, said third release mechanism means activating said third movement means, said third release mechanism means adapted to align with a third extended finger of said hand for actuation by said third extended finger.  
     
     
       9. A projectile apparatus comprising: 
       a planar portion and opposed side portions which cooperatively form a hand reception recess adapted for a hand of an apparatus operator;  
       a first chamber received within said planar portion, said first chamber extending along a first axis;  
       a second chamber received within said planar portion, said second chamber extending along a second axis generally parallel to said first axis;  
       a first projectile which is movably deployed within said first chamber;  
       a second projectile which is movably deployed within said second chamber;  
       a first movement means deployed within said first chamber and selectively activated to discharge said first projectile from said first chamber;  
       a second movement means deployed within said second chamber and selectively activated to discharge said second projectile from said second chamber;  
       a first release mechanism extending outwardly away from said planar portion and having a curved portion, said first release mechanism activating said first movement means, said first release mechanism adapted to align with a first finger of said hand, said curved portion adapted to correspond with a curvature of said first finger for actuation by said first finger; and  
       a second release mechanism extending outwardly away from said planar portion and having a curved portion, said second release mechanism activating said second movement means, said second release mechanism adapted to align with a second finger of said hand, said curved portion adapted to correspond with a curvature of said second finger for actuation by said second finger, each said first and second release mechanisms being thereby adapted for actuation individually by separate individual fingers of said hand for successive or simultaneous discharge of said first and second projectiles, whereby the same said hand positions said planar portion and actuates said first and second release mechanisms.  
     
     
       10. The projectile apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each of said projectiles is a rubber tipped dart. 
     
     
       11. The projectile apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a band which selectively attaches said apparatus to said hand. 
     
     
       12. A toy projectile discharge apparatus comprising: 
       a plurality of toy projectiles;  
       a planar portion having a plurality of reception chambers, each chamber of said chambers being adapted to receive one of said plurality of toy projectiles;  
       a plurality of discharge means, one said plurality of discharge means associated with each one of said plurality of chambers, said discharge means discharging said plurality of toy projectiles, said means including an air chamber wherein air is released to impart a force sufficient to propel said toy projectile from said chamber, each of said plurality of toy projectiles being directly discharged from one of said plurality of chambers;  
       a first release mechanism means extending outwardly away from said planar portion, said first release mechanism means activating one of said discharge means, said first release mechanism means positioned for actuation by a first finger of a hand of an Operator  operator of said projectile apparatus, said first release mechanism means positioned for actuation by said first finger; and  
       a second release mechanism means adjacent said planar portion, said second release mechanism means activating one of said discharge means, said second release mechanism means positioned for actuation by a second finger of said hand, said second release mechanism means positioned for actuation by said second finger, each said first and second release mechanism means being thereby adapted for actuation individually by separate individual fingers of said hand for successive or simultaneous discharge of said first and second projectiles, whereby the same said hand positions said planar portion and actuates said first and second release mechanism means.  
     
     
       13. The toy projectile discharge apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said plurality of toy projectiles comprise rubber tipped darts. 
     
     
       14. The toy projectile discharge apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said plurality of toy projectiles comprise paint balls. 
     
     
       15. The toy projectile discharge apparatus of  claim 12  wherein each said toy projectile is propelled several feet from each respective said chamber. 
     
     
       16. The projectile apparatus of  claim 12  wherein each said release mechanism means extends outwardly away from said planar portion, each release mechanism means having a finger reception recess adapted to correspond with a curvature of a respective said finger of said hand. 
     
     
       17. A projectile apparatus comprising: 
       
         a housing having a recess adapted to overlay the back side of a select hand of an operator, said housing having first and second reception chambers;  
       
       
         a first projectile sized and shaped to be received within said first reception chamber;  
       
       
         a second projectile sized and shaped to be received within said second reception chamber;  
       
       
         first discharge means associated with said first reception chamber for causing a discharge force upon said first projectile sufficient to project said first projectile from said first reception chamber;  
       
       
         second discharge means associated with said second reception chamber for causing a discharge force upon said second projectile sufficient to project said second projectile from said second reception chamber;  
       
       
         trigger means for triggering said first discharge means and said second discharge means, said trigger means being positioned to be engaged by the fingers of the select hand of an operator so that the mounting and firing of the apparatus is conducted by a single hand. 
       
     
     
       18. The projectile apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said trigger means may be actuated to trigger said first and second discharge means sequentially or substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
       19. The projectile apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said first and second discharge means each comprise an air chamber having an opening in fluid communication with said associated reception chamber, a compressing portion mounted within said air chamber for reciprocal movement therein, and biasing means for biasing said compressing portion toward said air chamber opening, whereby the movement of the compressing portion toward the opening causes air within the chamber to be compressed and expelled through the opening into the associated reception chamber for propelling the projectile therein. 
     
     
       20. The projectile apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said first and second discharge means each include a channel, moveable member means movably mounted within said channel, spring means biasing said moveable member means in one direction, and a grasping portion associated with said moveable member means extending from said housing and configured to be grasped by the operator for movement of said moveable member means in a direction opposite said spring means biasing direction. 
     
     
       21. The projectile apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said triggering means comprises a moveable trigger member adapted to releasably engage said moveable member means. 
     
     
       22. The projectile apparatus of  claim 20  wherein each said channel of said first and second discharge means has an opening in fluid communication with said associated reception chamber, and wherein said moveable member means comprises compressing portion slidably mounted within said air chamber for reciprocal movement therein, and wherein said spring means biases said moveable member means in a direction towards said opening, whereby the movement of the compressing portion toward the opening causes air within the channel to be compressed and expelled through the opening into the associated reception chamber for propelling the projectile therein. 
     
     
       23. The projectile apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said trigger means comprises a trigger member configured to be engaged and actuated by the outstretched finger of an operator. 
     
     
       24. The projectile apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said moveable member contacts said projectile for projection of said projectile.