Toy Projectile Launching Assembly

Abstract

An assembly for launching toy projectiles is disclosed. The assembly includes a left wing having a left elastic support, a right wing having a right elastic support, a central region between the left wing and the right wing, and a pair of launching elements extending continuously from the left elastic support to the right elastic support. The launching elements pivot about the left and right elastic supports when drawn. When drawn, the launching elements stretch in parallel over a launch region to produce energy to launch a toy projectile. When released, the launching elements retract in parallel about the launch region to launch the toy projectile. A handle extends downwardly from the central region. An arm support extends outwardly from the central region and away from the handle. The arm support engages a user's arm to stabilize the toy projectile assembly while drawing and releasing the launching elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy projectile launching assembly for launching toy arrow projectiles, comprising:
 a crossbow structure including a left wing, a right wing, the left wing opposite the right wing, and a central region disposed between the left wing and the right wing, the left wing including a left elastic support, the right wing including a right elastic support, the central region including an upper surface and a lower surface;   a first elastic launching element extending continuously from the left elastic support to the right elastic support; and   a second elastic launching element extending continuously from the left elastic support to the right elastic support;   wherein:   the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element are coplanar and extend substantially parallel relative to each other above the central region; and   the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element define a gap therebetween sized to allow movement of a toy arrow projectile therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the left wing defines a left body including an outer end, an inner end, an upper surface, a lower surface, the upper surface opposite the lower surface, a distal side, a proximal side, and an inner side;   the right wing defines a right body including an outer end, an inner end, an upper surface, a lower surface, the upper surface opposite the lower surface, a distal side, a proximal side, and an inner side;   the central region connects the left wing to the right wing; and   the left wing and the right wing are symmetrical about the central region.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the left elastic support comprises a left exterior post disposed on the outer end of left body and a left interior post disposed on the inner end of the left body, the left exterior post and the left interior post extending substantially orthogonally upwardly from the upper surface of the left body;   the right elastic support comprises a right exterior post disposed on the outer end of right body and a right interior post disposed on the inner end of the right body, the right exterior post and the right interior post extending substantially orthogonally upwardly from the upper surface of the right body;   the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element pivot about the left interior post and the right interior post;   the left exterior post and the right exterior post are symmetrical about the central region; and   the left interior post and the right interior post are symmetrical about the central region.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element are anchored to the left exterior post and the right exterior post;   the left interior post and the right interior post each include a first aperture and a second aperture; and   the first elastic launching element is guided through the first aperture of the left interior post and the first aperture of the right interior post and the second elastic launching element is guided through the second aperture of the left interior post and the second aperture of the right interior post.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element each include a continuous midpoint region spanning between the left interior post and the right interior post that is configured to stretch to launch the toy arrow projectile. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the left interior post and the right interior post are proximate to the central region defining a launch region therebetween about which the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element are configured to stretch and launch the toy arrow projectile. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the left interior post and the right interior post each define a pivot about which the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element pivot in concert when stretching. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element are biased towards the left interior post and right interior post, such that the further the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element are stretched away from the left interior post and right interior post the more elastic potential energy is created in the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the upper surface of the central region is stepped downwardly relative to the upper surface of the right wing and the upper surface of the left wing, such that the central region is lower relative to the right wing and the left wing. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the central region defines a platform connecting the inner side of the left body to the inner side of the right body and forming a space between the inner side of the left body and the inner side of the right body, such that the continuous midpoint regions of the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element are disposed above the space. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element extend along the distal side of the left body and the distal side of the right body. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the proximal side of the left body and the proximal side of the right body include one or more fasteners for removably receiving toy arrow projectiles. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first elastic launching element and the second elastic launching element each comprise a first end and a second end;   the first end of the first elastic launching element and the first end of the second elastic launching element are attached within the left exterior post; and   the second end of the first elastic launching element and the second end of the second elastic launching element are attached within the right exterior post.   
     
     
         14 . A toy projectile launching assembly for use by a user including an arm having a hand to launch toy arrow projectiles, comprising:
 a crossbow structure including a left wing, a right wing, and a central region including an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface opposite the lower surface, the central region disposed between the left wing and the right wing;   a pair of elastic launching elements extending continuously from the left wing to the right wing, the pair of parallel elastic launching elements substantially parallel relative to each other over the central region, the pair of elastic launching elements bendable about the central region, the pair of elastic launching elements defining a gap therebetween sized to allow movement of a toy arrow projectile therethrough;   a handle extending substantially orthogonally downwardly from the lower surface of the central region; and   an arm support extending outwardly from the central region, the arm support extending away from the handle;   wherein the arm support engages the user's arm when the user is grasping the handle with the user's hand so as to stabilize the toy projectile assembly while drawing and releasing the pair of elastic launching elements.   
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the handle defines a midline axis of the crossbow structure over which the left wing and the right wing are symmetrical; and   the handle is separated from the pair of elastic launching elements by the central region.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein an arm support comprises a pair of arms and an arm band connecting the pair of arms, the arm band extending substantially parallel relative to the left wing and the right wing, the arm band configured to engage the user's arm when the handle is grasped. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the pair of arms comprise a proximal end and a distal end; and   the arm band connects the distal ends of the pair of arms to each other defining an opening between the distal ends and the proximal ends that is configured to accommodate at least a portion of the user's arm therethrough when the arm band is engaging the user's arm and the user is grasping the handle.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein each of the pair of arms comprises a first region and a second region, the first region extending substantially parallel relative to the handle and the second region extending substantially orthogonal relative to the handle. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the handle comprises a pistol grip. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the arm band is arcuate to conform to the contours of the user's arm.