Toy Projectile Launching Figurine

Abstract

A toy figurine comprising a projectile and an appendage pivotable along a range of positions. The pivotable appendage comprises a projectile launching unit having a catch for releasably engaging the projectile and a biasing member for providing a propulsion force to the engaged projectile. Pivoting the appendage to a launch position causes a joint to trigger the catch and release the engaged projectile, thereby allowing the biasing member to launch the engaged projectile.

1 . A toy figurine comprising:
 a torso;   a first arm portion coupled to the torso;   a second arm portion pivotally coupled to the first arm portion, the second arm portion being movable relative to the first arm portion between a cocked position and a launch position, the second arm portion including:
 a wall defining a cavity; 
 an opening in communication with the cavity; and 
 a release mechanism disposed in the cavity, the release mechanism comprising a biasing member and a catch; 
 wherein the release mechanism is activated by movement of the second arm portion from the cocked position to the launch position, and activation of the release mechanism results in the catch moving and allowing the biasing member to force a projectile away from the opening; and 
   a joint positioned between the first arm portion and the second arm portion, wherein the second arm portion pivots about the joint when moving between the cocked position and the launch position, the joint including a circular portion having a protrusion that activates the release mechanism when the second arm portion is moved to the launch position.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The toy figurine of  claim 1 , wherein the second arm portion further comprises an actuator operatively positioned between the joint and release mechanism and wherein the protrusion of the joint moves the actuator to activate the release mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The toy figurine of  claim 1 , further comprising a torsion spring for biasing the second arm portion to the cocked position. 
     
     
         5 . The toy figurine of  claim 1 , further comprising a catch spring for biasing the catch to a retaining position. 
     
     
         6 . The toy figurine of  claim 1 , further comprising a projectile having an elongated member and a notch on the elongated member for engaging with the catch. 
     
     
         7 . The toy figurine of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the elongated member is sized to fit within the biasing member and the projectile compresses the biasing member when the elongated member is engaged with the catch. 
     
     
         8 . The toy figurine of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm portion and the second arm portion form a substantially straight line when the second arm portion is pivoted to the launch position. 
     
     
         9 . A toy projectile launching figurine comprising:
 a projectile; and   an appendage pivotable about a joint along a range of positions including a launch position, the pivotable appendage comprising a projectile launching unit configured to:
 engage the projectile; and 
 launch the engaged projectile when the appendage is pivoted to the launch position; 
   wherein the joint includes a circular portion having a protrusion and pivoting the appendage to the launch position causes the protrusion to activate the projectile launching unit and launch the engaged projectile.   
     
     
         10 . The toy projectile launching figurine of  claim 9 , wherein the projectile launching unit comprises:
 a catch for releasably engaging the projectile; and   a propulsion spring for providing a propulsion force to the engaged projectile.   
     
     
         11 . The toy projectile launching figurine of  claim 10 , wherein pivoting the appendage to the launch position causes the protrusion of the joint to trigger the catch and release the engaged projectile. 
     
     
         12 . The toy projectile launching figurine of  claim 11 , wherein the appendage further comprises an actuator operatively positioned between the joint and catch and wherein the protrusion of the joint pushes the actuator to trigger the catch. 
     
     
         13 . The toy projectile launching figurine of  claim 9 , further comprising a torsion spring for biasing the appendage away from the launch position. 
     
     
         14 . The toy projectile launching figurine of  claim 10 , further comprising a catch spring for biasing the catch to a retaining position. 
     
     
         15 . The toy projectile launching figurine of  claim 10 , wherein the projectile comprises an elongated member having an engagement portion for engaging with the catch. 
     
     
         16 . The toy projectile launching figurine of  claim 15 , wherein a portion of the elongated member is sized to fit within the propulsion spring and the projectile compresses the propulsion spring when the elongated member is engaged with the catch. 
     
     
         17 . The toy projectile launching figurine of  claim 10 , wherein the pivotable appendage is a portion of an arm and the joint is an elbow joint. 
     
     
         18 . The toy projectile launching figurine of  claim 17 , wherein the projectile is launched when the arm is straightened. 
     
     
         19 . A toy figurine comprising:
 a projectile; and   a pivotable arm portion that pivots about an elbow joint, the pivotable arm portion comprising a projectile launching unit having a catch for releasably engaging the projectile and a biasing member for providing a propulsion force to the engaged projectile;   wherein the elbow joint includes a circular portion having a protrusion and pivoting the pivotable arm portion to a launch position causes the protrusion of the elbow joint to trigger the catch and allow the biasing member to launch the engaged projectile.   
     
     
         20 . The toy figurine of  claim 19 , wherein the pivotable arm portion further comprises an actuator operatively positioned between the elbow joint and catch and wherein the protrusion of the elbow joint pushes the actuator to trigger the catch.