Toy launching apparatus

Abstract

A toy apparatus includes: a base portion; a receptacle including a first open end, a second open end, and a sidewall that extends between the first open end and the second open end; a platform configured to move relative to the base portion between a first position and a second position, the first position under the second open end of the receptacle; and a launcher coupled to the platform, the launcher configured to move the platform between the first position and the second position.

1 . A toy apparatus comprising:
 a base portion;   a receptacle comprising a first open end, a second open end, and a sidewall that extends between the first open end and the second open end;   a platform configured to move relative to the base portion between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position is under the second open end of the receptacle; and   a launcher coupled to the platform, the launcher configured to move the platform between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The toy apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cutting assembly, the cutting assembly comprising: a cutting surface and a cutting interface, wherein the cutting surface moves in a space between the second open end of the receptacle and the platform in response to manipulation of the cutting interface. 
     
     
         3 . The toy apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cutting assembly comprises cutting blades mounted on a pivot point assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The toy apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the platform is mounted to the base portion and slides relative to the base portion between the first position and the second position; the cutting assembly is mounted to the base portion, and the cutting surface slides relative to the base portion in response to manipulation of the cutting interface. 
     
     
         5 . The toy apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the base portion comprises a slot in a planar surface; the platform is on a first side of the planar surface; the launcher is on a second side of the planar surface; and the apparatus further comprises a mechanical interface that passes through the slot and attaches the launcher to the platform. 
     
     
         6 . The toy apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the mechanical interface comprises a post. 
     
     
         7 . The toy apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the launcher is in an initial state when the platform is in the first position, the launcher is in a launching state when the platform is in the second position, and the launcher has a smaller extent along a first direction in the initial state than in the launched state. 
     
     
         8 . The toy apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the launcher comprises a plurality of rigid mechanical links configured to rotate relative to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The toy apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the launcher is coupled to a launching interface comprising: a first handle attached to a first one of the rigid mechanical links at a first pivot point; and a second handle attached to a second one of the rigid mechanical links at a second pivot point. 
     
     
         10 . The toy apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein moving the first handle and the second handle toward each other slides the platform relative to the base portion toward the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The toy apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein placing the first handle and the second handle in contact with each other causes a post that is attached to the launcher and the platform to collide with an end wall. 
     
     
         12 . The toy apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is configured to receive one of a moldable material and a pre-formed slice of material. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The toy apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the receptacle is configured to receive a pre-formed slice of material, and the pre-formed slice of material is a pre-formed disk of material. 
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A toy set comprising:
 a moldable material; and   a launching apparatus comprising:
 a base portion; 
 a platform mounted to the base portion, the platform configured to receive the moldable material; 
 a cutting surface configured to move in a space above the platform and to cut through the moldable material such that a slice of the moldable material is on the platform; and 
 a launcher coupled to the platform, the launcher configured to move the platform between an initial position and a launched position. 
   
     
     
         18 . The toy set of  claim 17 , wherein moving the launcher into the launched position ejects the slice of the moldable material. 
     
     
         19 . The toy set of  claim 17 , wherein the launcher comprises rigid mechanical links configured to rotate relative to each other. 
     
     
         20 . The toy set of  claim 19 , further comprising a launching interface, the launching interface comprising a first handle coupled to a first one of the rigid mechanical links and a second handle coupled to a second one of the rigid mechanical links, and wherein moving the first handle and the second handle toward each other moves the platform toward the launched position. 
     
     
         21 . The toy set of  claim 17 , wherein the cutting surface comprises two blades. 
     
     
         22 . A method comprising:
 positioning a platform mounted in a base portion in an initial position by sliding the platform along a track in the base portion;   placing a piece of material onto the platform;   moving the platform along the track toward an end wall of the track; and   releasing the piece of material from the platform by colliding the platform with the end wall of the track.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein placing a piece of material onto the platform comprises:
 providing a moldable material to the platform; and   preparing a slice of the moldable material by moving a cutting surface above the platform and through the moldable material that is on the platform such that a slice of the moldable material is placed on the platform.   
     
     
         24 - 32 . (canceled)