Projectile launching toy

Abstract

A projectile launching toy for launching one or more projectiles is disclosed herein. The projectile launching toy includes a plurality of pneumatic projectile launchers, a plurality of individual triggers each corresponding to one of the plurality of launchers, and a master trigger. Each of the launchers is adapted to launch a projectile loaded in the launcher in response to actuation of the corresponding individual trigger. The plurality of launchers are further adapted to launch projectiles in response to actuation of the master trigger.

1 . A projectile launching toy adapted to launch one or more projectiles, comprising: 
 a plurality of pneumatic projectile launchers;    a plurality of individual triggers, each corresponding to one of the plurality of launchers;    wherein each of the launchers is adapted to launch a projectile loaded in the launcher in response to actuation of the corresponding individual trigger; and    a master trigger, wherein the plurality of launchers are adapted to launch projectiles in response to actuation of the master trigger.    
   
   
       2 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of launchers are adapted to simultaneously launch projectiles in response to actuation of the master trigger.  
   
   
       3 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of the plurality of launchers include: 
 a housing that defines a first space adapted to receive a projectile, and a second space in fluid communication with the first space; and  
 a compressor movable within the housing between a first position and a second position, wherein moving the compressor from the second position to the first position causes the compressor to compress air occupying the second space thereby pneumatically launching a projectile from the first space; and  
 a biasing mechanism adapted to urge the compressor towards the first position;  
 a retaining mechanism adapted to releasably secure the compressor in the second position;  
   wherein actuation of each individual trigger releases the retaining mechanism of the corresponding launcher; and    wherein actuation of the master trigger releases the retaining mechanisms of at least two of the launchers.    
   
   
       4 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 3 , wherein actuation of the master trigger simultaneously releases the retaining mechanisms of at least two of the launchers.  
   
   
       5 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 3 , further comprising the one or more projectiles, each projectile including a third space open externally, and wherein each launcher includes a nozzle separating the first space and second space of each launcher, and extending into the first space, the nozzle being adapted to extend into the third space when one of the projectiles is positioned in the one space.  
   
   
       6 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 3 , wherein each housing includes a launch tube that defines the first space, and a cylinder that defines the second space.  
   
   
       7 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 6 , wherein each compressor includes a piston adapted to reciprocate within the cylinder as the compressor is moved between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       8 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 6 , wherein each compressor includes a plunger having a first end disposed within the cylinder, and a second end disposed outside of the cylinder, the second end being user accessible for selectively manually moving the plunger between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       9 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 8 , further comprising a grasping tool adapted to be selectively secured to the second end and to provide a user with sufficient surface area to move manually the plunger between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       10 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 3 , wherein each compressor has a receiver, and wherein each retaining mechanism includes a retainer adapted to engage the receiver when the compressor is in the second position.  
   
   
       11 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 10 , wherein each trigger includes a button, and wherein depressing the button causes the retainer of the corresponding launcher to disengage the receiver.  
   
   
       12 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 10 , wherein actuation of the master trigger causes the retainers of the at least two launchers to disengage the receiver.  
   
   
       13 . A projectile launching toy adapted to launch one or more projectiles, comprising: 
 first, second and third triggers;    a first pneumatic projectile launcher adapted to launch a projectile in response to actuation of the first trigger and not in response to actuation of the second trigger; and    a second pneumatic projectile launcher adapted to launch a projectile in response to actuation of the second trigger and not in response to actuation of the first trigger; and    wherein the first and second launchers are adapted to launch projectiles in response to actuation of the third trigger.    
   
   
       14 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second launchers are adapted to simultaneously launch projectiles in response to actuation of the third trigger.  
   
   
       15 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the first and second launchers each include: 
 a housing that defines a first space adapted to receive a projectile, and a second space in fluid communication with the first space; and  
 a compressor movable within the housing between a first position and a second position, wherein moving the compressor from the second position to the first position causes the compressor to compress air occupying the second space thereby pneumatically launching a projectile loaded in the first space;  
 a biasing mechanism adapted to urge the compressor towards the first position; and  
 a retaining mechanism adapted to releasably secure the compressor in the second position;  
   wherein actuation of the first trigger releases the retaining mechanism of the first launcher, and actuation of the second trigger releases the retaining mechanism; of the second launcher; and    wherein actuation of the third trigger releases the retaining mechanisms of both the first and second launchers.    
   
   
       16 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 15 , wherein actuation of the third trigger simultaneously releases the retaining mechanisms of both the first and second launchers.  
   
   
       17 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 15 , further comprising the one or more projectiles including a third space open externally, and wherein each launcher includes a nozzle separating the first space and the second space, and extending into the first space, the nozzle being adapted to extend into the third space of one of the projectiles when the one projectile is loaded in the first space.  
   
   
       18 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 15 , wherein each compressor includes a plunger having a first end disposed within the housing, and a second end disposed outside of the housing, the second end being user accessible for selectively manually moving the compressor between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       19 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 15 , wherein each compressor has a receiver, and wherein each retaining mechanism includes a retainer adapted to engage the receiver when the compressor is in the second position.  
   
   
       20 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 19 , wherein each of the first and second triggers includes a button, and wherein depression of the button causes the retainer of the corresponding launcher to disengage the receiver.  
   
   
       21 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 19 , wherein actuation of the third trigger causes the retainers of both the first and second launchers to disengage the receiver.  
   
   
       22 . A projectile launching toy, comprising: 
 a plurality of projectile launchers each adapted to be loaded with a projectile, wherein each launcher includes a launching mechanism selectively movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein moving the launcher from the second position to the first position causes the launcher pneumatically to launch a projectile loaded in the launcher;    a plurality of individual triggers, each corresponding to one of the plurality of launchers, and each adapted to cause only the launching mechanism of the corresponding launcher to move from the second position to the first position when actuated; and    a master trigger adapted to cause the launching mechanisms of each of the launchers to move from the second position to the first position when actuated.    
   
   
       23 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 22 , wherein the master trigger is adapted to simultaneously cause the launching mechanisms of each of the launchers to move from the second position to the first position when actuated.  
   
   
       24 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 each launcher further includes: 
 a biasing mechanism adapted to urge the launching mechanism towards the first position; and  
 a retaining mechanism adapted to releasably secure the launching mechanism in the second position;  
   wherein actuation of each individual trigger releases the retaining mechanism of the corresponding launcher; and    wherein actuation of the master trigger releases the retaining mechanisms of each of the plurality of launchers.    
   
   
       25 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 24 , wherein actuation of the master trigger simultaneously releases the retaining mechanisms of each of the plurality of launchers.  
   
   
       26 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 24 , wherein each retaining mechanism includes a retainer adapted to engage a receiving portion of the launching mechanism when the launching mechanism is in the second position.  
   
   
       27 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 26 , wherein actuation of each individual trigger causes the retainer of the corresponding launcher to disengage the receiving portion.  
   
   
       28 . The projectile launching toy of  claim 26 , wherein actuation of the master trigger simultaneously causes the retainers of each of the plurality of projectile launchers to disengage.  
   
   
       29 . A projectile launching toy, comprising: 
 a plurality of projectile launchers, each including: 
 a housing including a launch tube adapted to receive a projectile;  
 a launching mechanism selectively movable between a first position and a second position, and adapted to pneumatically launch a projectile loaded in the launch tube when moved from the second position to the first position;  
 a biasing mechanism adapted to urge the piston towards the first position; and  
 a retaining mechanism adapted to releasably secure the launching mechanism in the second position;  
   a plurality of release mechanisms, each corresponding to one of the plurality of launchers, and each adapted to selectively release only the retaining mechanism of the corresponding projectile launcher; and    a master release mechanism adapted to simultaneously release the retaining mechanisms from all of the plurality of projectile launchers.