Inflatable Toy with Foam Nose Cone and Elastic Launcher
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-launched toys are inherently unsafe and have design and size limitations, restricting them to small, dart-shaped designs that fail to meet safety standards and cannot be used as larger or more detailed characters.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable launchable toy system comprising an outer fabric layer with an internal inflatable bladder and a foam nose cone, allowing for larger designs while ensuring safety through reduced impact force and compliance with safety standards, along with a launching strap system for efficient force application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If existing toys are made with solid shaft construction (plastic or foam), then they have structural strength, but they are inherently unsafe and cause high impact force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and composition parameters of the toy by incorporating an inflatable bladder that can be filled with air or water. This transforms the toy from a solid rigid structure to a partially compliant structure that can absorb impact energy, thereby reducing harmful impact forces while maintaining structural integrity through the combination of rigid outer shell and compliant internal bladder.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining a rigid outer shell (plastic or foam) with a compliant inflatable bladder (air or water-filled). This composite design integrates both strength-providing and shock-absorbing properties, allowing the toy to maintain structural strength while reducing impact force through the compliant bladder component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If toys are made small and dart-shaped, then they can be launched effectively, but they have design and size limitations and cannot be used as larger items or detailed characters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the toy into functional segments: a rigid outer shell for structural integrity and aerodynamics, an inflatable bladder for safety and shape, and separate attachment points for launching mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function while enabling larger sizes and more complex character designs without compromising launch performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements through the inflatable bladder that can be inflated or deflated, and through launching straps that can be attached and detached. This dynamic configuration allows the toy to adapt between different launch states and design configurations, enabling versatility in both size and launch performance.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If toys are made larger to meet safety standards, then they can have larger leading edges, but they require more force to launch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes pneumatic or hydraulic principles by incorporating an inflatable bladder that can be filled with air or water. This provides internal pressure support that helps larger toys maintain structural integrity and reduces the external launch force required, as the pressurized bladder acts as an internal scaffolding that resists deformation during launch.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The inflatable design enhances safety by absorbing shock and reducing impact force, enabling larger and more detailed toy designs that meet safety regulations and allow for effective hand launching or throwing with improved performance.
Implementation Method 1
the inflatable bladder inside the fabric outer layer absorbs shock and softens the impact of the device
Implementation Method 2
Some are launched with an elastic launcher, by attaching the elastic launcher to the toy with a hook, pulling back the toy to strain the elastic launcher, then releasing the toy
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable launchable toy system comprising a launcher and an inflatable launchable toy configured to detachably couple to the launcher. The launcher having a launcher handle and a launching elastic. The inflatable launchable toy having an outer fabric layer with an inflatable bladder inside an internal cavity of the outer fabric layer. The inflatable bladder configured to, when inflated, fill the internal cavity of the outer fabric layer and give an intended shape to the inflatable launchable toy. A foam nose cone positioned inside the internal cavity of the outer fabric layer in front of the inflatable bladder. The inflatable launchable toy having a launching strap system coupled to the outer fabric layer, the launching strap system including a launching strap and a launching hook. The launching strap having a first end portion at one end, a second end portion at an opposite end and a middle portion, where the launching hook is coupled to the first end portion of the launching strap, where the second end portion of the launching strap has a strap handle. The inflatable launchable toy configured to detachably couple to the launching elastic through the launching hook.