Toy projectile launching devices

Abstract

Toy projectile launching devices comprising a projectile and a carrying case for housing the projectile in a stowed position. The carrying-case includes a base member, a cover member configured to pivot relative to the base member about an axis of rotation between a range of open positions and a closed position in which the cover member engages the base member, and a launching unit operatively coupled to the base member at an end region generally distal the axis of rotation. The launching unit is configured to engage the projectile, pivotally bias the projectile from the stowed position to a launch position, and launch the projectile.

1 . A toy projectile launching device comprising: 
 a projectile; and    a carrying-case configured to house the projectile in a stowed position, the carrying-case including: 
 a base member;  
 a cover member configured to pivot relative to the base member about an axis of rotation between a range of open positions and a closed position in which the cover member engages the base member; and  
 a launching unit operatively coupled to the base member at an end region generally distal the axis of rotation and configured to: 
 engage the projectile;  
 pivotally bias the projectile from the stowed position to a launch position; and  
 launch the projectile.  
 
   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the launching unit is further configured to automatically pivot the projectile from the stowed position to the launch position and launch the projectile when the cover member is pivoted from the closed position to within the range of open positions.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the carrying-case further includes a central portion operatively connecting the base member and the cover member and configured to provide the axis of rotation, the central portion including: 
 an inner central portion fixedly coupled to the base member; and    at least one hub with a central axis generally coaxial to the axis of rotation, fixedly coupled to the cover member, and configured to rotate relative to the inner central portion.    
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the carrying-case further includes a projectile release mechanism configured to engage and retain the projectile within the carrying case when the projectile is in the stowed position, and further configured to automatically disengage the projectile when the cover member is pivoted from the closed position to a position within the range of open positions.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the launching unit is further configured to automatically pivot the projectile from the stowed position to the launch position and launch the projectile when the cover member is pivoted from the closed position to within the range of open positions.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 4 , 
 wherein the projectile release mechanism includes: 
 an axle sleeve with a longitudinal axis generally coaxial to the axis of rotation and operatively connected to the cover member, the axle sleeve including a lateral rib generally parallel to the axis of rotation; and  
 a projectile release member biased to a projectile engagement position, the projectile release member including: 
 an axle sleeve rib engagement end configured to engage the lateral rib; and  
 a projectile engagement end configured to engage the projectile when the projectile is in the stowed position; and  
 
   wherein, when the cover member is pivoted from the closed position to a position within the range of open positions, the lateral rib engages the axle sleeve rib engagement end of the projectile release member causing the projectile engagement end of the projectile release member to disengage from the projectile.    
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the base member and the cover member comprise a storage portion; and    wherein the carrying case further includes: 
 a handle portion configured to be gripped by a user; and  
 a central portion operatively connecting the handle portion, the base member, and the cover member, and configured to provide an axis of rotation for relative rotation between: 
 the handle portion and the storage portion, when the cover member is in the closed position;  
 the base member and the cover member;  
 the base member and the handle portion; and  
 the cover member and the handle portion.  
 
   
   
   
       8 . A toy projectile launching device comprising: 
 a projectile;    a carrying-case for the projectile including: 
 a handle portion configured to be gripped by a user;  
 a storage portion configured to house the projectile in a stowed position, the storage portion including: 
 a base member; and  
 a cover member configured to pivot relative to the base member about an axis of rotation between a range of open positions and a closed position in which the cover member engages the base member; and  
 
 a launching unit operatively coupled to the base member at an end region generally distal the axis of rotation and configured to: 
 engage the projectile;  
 pivotally bias the projectile from the stowed position to a launch position; and  
 launch the projectile.  
 
   
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the cover member is further configured to be engaged by a user; and wherein the launching unit is further configured to automatically pivot the projectile from the stowed position to the launch position and launch the projectile in response to the user engaging the cover member and operatively positioning the cover member from the closed position to a position within the range of open positions.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the launching unit includes: 
 a propulsion arm assembly configured to engage and provide motive power to the projectile;    a propulsion arm assembly mounting mechanism coupled to the base member and configured to provide a pivot axis about which the propulsion arm assembly rotates;    a pivot spring coupled to the propulsion arm assembly and the propulsion arm assembly mounting mechanism and configured to pivotally bias the propulsion arm assembly to a launch position corresponding to the launch position of the projectile; and    a launch trigger member coupled to the base member and configured to engage the propulsion arm assembly when the propulsion arm assembly is in the launch position, thus causing the projectile to disengage from the propulsion arm assembly and launch.    
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the carrying-case further includes a central portion interposed between and operatively connecting the handle portion and the storage portion and configured to provide an axis of rotation for relative rotation between: 
 the handle portion and the storage portion, when the cover member is in the closed position;    the base member and the cover member;    the base member and the handle portion; and    the cover member and the handle portion.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the central portion includes: 
 an inner central portion fixedly coupled to the base member;    at least one first hub with a central axis generally coaxial to the axis of rotation and fixedly coupled to the cover member;    at least one second hub with a central axis generally coaxial to the axis of rotation and fixedly coupled to the handle portion; and    an axle fixedly coupled to the first hub with a longitudinal axis generally coaxial to the axis of rotation.    
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the carrying-case further includes a projectile release mechanism configured to engage and retain the projectile within the storage portion when the projectile is in the stowed position, and further configured to automatically disengage the projectile when the cover member is pivoted from the closed position to a position within the range of open positions.  
   
   
       14 . A toy projectile launching device comprising: 
 a projectile; and    a carrying-case configured to house the projectile in a stowed position, the carrying-case including: 
 a base member;  
 a cover member configured to pivot relative to the base member between a range of open positions and a closed position in which the cover member engages the base member;  
 a central portion operatively connecting the base member and the cover member and configured to provide an axis of rotation for relative rotation between the base member and the cover member; and  
 a launching unit operatively coupled to the base member at an end region generally opposite the axis of rotation and configured to: 
 engage the projectile;  
 pivotally bias the projectile from the stowed position to a launch position; and  
 launch the projectile.  
 
   
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the launching unit is further configured to automatically pivot the projectile from the stowed position to the launch position and launch the projectile when the cover member is pivoted from the closed position to within the range of open positions.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the central portion includes: 
 an inner central portion fixedly coupled to the base member; and    at least one hub with a central axis generally coaxial to the axis of rotation, fixedly coupled to the cover member, and configured to rotate relative to the inner central portion.    
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the carrying-case further includes a projectile release mechanism configured to engage the projectile when the projectile is in the stowed position, and further configured to automatically disengage the projectile when the cover member is pivoted from the closed position to a position within the range of open positions.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the launching unit is further configured to automatically pivot the projectile from the stowed position to the launch position and launch the projectile when the cover member is pivoted from the closed position to within the range of open positions.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 17 , 
 wherein the projectile release mechanism includes: 
 an axle sleeve with a longitudinal axis generally coaxial to the axis of rotation and operatively connected to the cover member, the axle sleeve including a lateral rib generally parallel to the axis of rotation; and  
 a projectile release member biased to a projectile engagement position, the projectile release member including: 
 an axle sleeve rib engagement end configured to engage the lateral rib; and  
 a projectile engagement end configured to engage the projectile when the projectile is in the stowed position; and  
 
   wherein, the lateral rib is configured to engage the axle sleeve rib engagement end of the projectile release member and the projectile engagement end of the projectile release member is configured to disengage from the projectile when the cover member is pivoted from the closed position to a position within the range of open positions.    
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 17 , 
 wherein the carrying case further includes a handle portion configured to be gripped by a user;    wherein the cover member and base member comprise a storage portion; and    wherein the central portion operatively connects the handle portion, the base member, and the cover member, and is further configured to provide for relative rotation between: 
 the handle portion and the storage portion, when the cover member is in the closed position;  
 the base member and the handle portion; and  
 the cover member and the handle portion.