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.
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;
a substantially cylindrical barrel fixed relative to the frame and defining a central longitudinal axis;
a 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, and
cause movement of the piston together with the front block, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, while the nut is releasably mated with the piston.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plunger disposed at a rear end of the piston, and a biasing spring disposed circumferentially around the piston.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein movement of the front block in a direction toward the plunger causes compression of the biasing spring.
4 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more detents disposed on a surface of the nut, the one or more detents configured to engage corresponding one or more grooves formed by the piston.
5 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the one or more grooves are helical such that engagement of the one or more detents with the one or more grooves causes the nut to rotate as the nut engages the piston.
6 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a notch formed by the nut; and
a latch configured to engage the notch to hold the nut in engagement with the piston.
7 . The assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a trigger in communication with the latch, wherein movement of the trigger disengages the latch from the notch.
8 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a loading block connected to the first and second sidewalls, wherein the grip is connected to the loading block.
9 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the plunger forms a substantially fluid-tight seal with an air chamber formed within the frame, and
movement of the plunger in a first direction compresses air within the air chamber.
10 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein an O-ring disposed around an outer periphery of the plunger forms the substantially fluid-tight seal.
11 . The assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a bumper disposed within the air chamber, wherein impact between the plunger and the bumper restricts movement of the plunger within the air chamber.