Toy for launching a projectile

Abstract

A toy for launching a projectile is described. The toy comprisies a body and a resiliently flexible tongue attached to the body at a first end. The resiliently flexible tongue includes a free second end adapted to be initially displaced from the body and released by a user so as to resiliently flex in a direction opposite from which it was initially displaced in order to strike and launch the projectile.

1 . A toy for launching a projectile, the toy comprising: 
 a body and a resiliently flexible tongue attached to the body at a first end, the resiliently flexible tongue having a free second end adapted to be initially displaced from the body and released by a user so as to resiliently flex in a direction opposite from which it was initially displaced in order to strike and launch the projectile.    
   
   
       2 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the resiliently flexible tongue includes a striking member, wherein the striking member contacts the projectile when the tongue resiliently flexes in a direction opposite from which it was initially displaced.  
   
   
       3 . The toy of  claim 2 , wherein the striking member comprises an upwardly angled member.  
   
   
       4 . The toy of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one guide member, wherein the at least one guide member and the striking member launch the projectile in a pre-selected orientation.  
   
   
       5 . The toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a gripping member, wherein the gripping member is utilized by a user to initially displace the free second end of the tongue from the body.  
   
   
       6 . The toy of  claim 5 , wherein the gripping member includes a striking member, wherein the striking member contacts the projectile when the tongue resiliently flexes in a direction opposite from which it was initially displaced.  
   
   
       7 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the resiliently flexible tongue is constructed out of one of plastic, metal or wood.  
   
   
       8 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the deflection angle between the plane of the body and the resiliently flexible tongue for launching the projectile is between 30 and 60 degrees.  
   
   
       9 . The toy of  claim 8 , wherein the projectile is launched with an energy of between 20mJ and 60mJ when the resiliently flexible tongue is released from the deflection angle of between 30 and 60 degrees.  
   
   
       10 . The toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a base member, wherein the base member provides added stability for when the tongue resiliently flexes in a direction opposite from which it was initially displaced.  
   
   
       11 . A toy for launching a projectile, the toy comprising: 
 a body including a chamber having a first opening for receiving a projectile, a shaft and a second opening; and    a resiliently flexible tongue attached to the chamber at a first end, the resiliently flexible tongue having a free second end adapted to be initially displaced from the chamber and released by a user so as to resiliently flex in a direction opposite from which it was initially displaced in order to strike and launch the projectile; wherein the shaft of the chamber guides the projectile in a predetermined orientation through the second opening of the chamber.    
   
   
       12 . The toy of  claim 11 , wherein the resiliently flexible tongue includes a striking member, wherein the striking member contacts the projectile when the tongue resiliently flexes in a direction opposite from which it was initially displaced.  
   
   
       13 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein the shaft of the chamber and the striking member launch the projectile in a pre-selected orientation.  
   
   
       14 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein the chamber includes a seat for aligning the projectile with the striking member.  
   
   
       15 . The toy of  claim 11 , wherein the deflection angle between the plane of the body and the resiliently flexible tongue for launching the projectile is between 30 and 60 degrees.  
   
   
       16 . The toy of  claim 15 , wherein the projectile is launched with an energy of between 20mJ and 60mJ when the resiliently flexible tongue is released from the deflection angle of between 30 and 60 degrees.