Jun 3, 2025

US12320612 - Toy launch apparatus with momentum feature and concentric piston

An air launch apparatus includes a frame, a grip, and a plurality of sidewalls and also includes a hollow substantially cylindrical barrel having a central longitudinal axis. The air launch apparatus further includes a piston disposed substantially concentric with the barrel. The piston is configured to move longitudinally along the outer surface of the barrel in directions parallel to the longitudinal axis. The air launch apparatus also includes a nut that is configured to engage the piston as a front block carrying the nut is drawn rearward toward a user, and to hold the piston stationary relative to the front block while so engaged. A plunger, fixedly connected to the piston, is configured to move with the piston. Movement of the piston and plunger, forward during cocking draws air into a volume within an air chamber of the air launch apparatus. The plunger, together with the piston, is driven rearward (toward the user) during firing of the air launch apparatus.

Assignee: Crosman Corporation
Inventors: Arvid Johnson, Christopher David Miller
Filing date: 2023-09-29

The patent describes a toy launch apparatus that utilizes a piston and a nut mechanism to control the movement of air for launching projectiles. The design features a cylindrical barrel and a frame that allows for the piston to move longitudinally, enabling the apparatus to draw air into an air chamber during cocking and release it during firing.

Claim 1

An assembly, comprising: a frame including a grip; a first sidewall; a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall; a front block fixed to the first and second sidewalls, and movable with the first and second sidewalls relative to the grip; a substantially cylindrical barrel fixed relative to the frame and defining a central longitudinal axis; a substantially concentrical piston concentric with and movable along an outer surface of the barrel; and a nut, supported by the front block, the nut configured to: releasably mate with the piston when the first block is moved in a first direction, parallel to the longitudinal axis, toward the grip, and cause movement of the piston together with the front block in a second direction, parallel to the longitudinal axis and opposite the first direction, when the front block is moved in the second direction and while the nut is releasably matched with the piston, wherein: disengaging the nut from the piston permits movement of the piston, in the first direction and away from the front block, under a force applied by a resistance component. a frame including a grip; a first sidewall; a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall; a front block fixed to the first and second sidewalls, and movable with the first and second sidewalls relative to the grip; a substantially cylindrical barrel fixed relative to the frame and defining a central longitudinal axis; a substantially concentrical piston concentric with and movable along an outer surface of the barrel; and a nut, supported by the front block, the nut configured to: releasably mate with the piston when the first block is moved in a first direction, parallel to the longitudinal axis, toward the grip, and cause movement of the piston together with the front block in a second direction, parallel to the longitudinal axis and opposite the first direction, when the front block is moved in the second direction and while the nut is releasably matched with the piston, wherein: disengaging the nut from the piston permits movement of the piston, in the first direction and away from the front block, under a force applied by a resistance component. releasably mate with the piston when the first block is moved in a first direction, parallel to the longitudinal axis, toward the grip, and cause movement of the piston together with the front block in a second direction, parallel to the longitudinal axis and opposite the first direction, when the front block is moved in the second direction and while the nut is releasably matched with the piston, wherein: disengaging the nut from the piston permits movement of the piston, in the first direction and away from the front block, under a force applied by a resistance component. disengaging the nut from the piston permits movement of the piston, in the first direction and away from the front block, under a force applied by a resistance component.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12320612

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12320612