US 12,449,228 B1
Pneumatic launching apparatus employing piston and cylinder cam driving pathways and methods
Robert C Maschin, Johnston, RI (US); and Nicholas Alexander Tino, Seekonk, MA (US)
Assigned to Hasbro, Inc., Pawtucket, RI (US)
Filed by Hasbro, Inc., Pawtucket, RI (US)
Filed on Jul. 11, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/769,605.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/513,383, filed on Jul. 13, 2023.
Int. Cl. F41B 11/641 (2013.01); F41B 11/52 (2013.01); F41B 11/73 (2013.01)
CPC F41B 11/641 (2013.01) [F41B 11/52 (2013.01); F41B 11/73 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A toy launching apparatus, comprising:
a firing mechanism housing;
a projectile launching barrel;
an air compression element comprising a cylinder and an elongated breech bolt, the breech bolt having a proximal end at the cylinder and a breech bolt channel extending therethrough for fluid communication from the cylinder through the breech bolt for expelling compressed air from a distal end of the breech bolt, the cylinder having a cylinder driving coupling;
a piston slidably received at the cylinder of the air compression element, the piston having a piston driving coupling;
a cylinder cam pathway track at the firing mechanism housing;
a piston cam pathway track at the firing mechanism housing;
a trigger assembly including a conveyor;
a piston cam follower linkage having a tracking end at the piston cam pathway track, a piston trigger end pivoted at the conveyor, and a piston follower coupling for engaging the piston driving coupling;
a cylinder cam follower linkage having a tracking end at the cylinder cam pathway track, a cylinder trigger end pivoted at the conveyor, and a cylinder follower coupling for engaging the cylinder driving coupling; and
a pre-firing area defining a breech and an alignment passage at the firing mechanism housing including at least one barrel seal aligned with the projectile launching barrel, the breech being capable of receiving one or more projectiles with the breech bolt of the air compression element capable of extending into the pre-firing area to position a received projectile between the distal end of the breech bolt and the barrel seal.