Toy Launcher With Rotating Disk Magazine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toy launchers lack unique features to enhance creative play and interest, as they often rely on conventional mechanisms that do not provide varied or engaging projectile release methods.
Innovation Solution
A toy design featuring a pivotable arm with a retractable extension that engages and rotates stacked disks in a spring-biased magazine, allowing for rapid and spinning projectile launch, enhancing play value through repetitive and spinning motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional launching mechanisms are used, then the launcher is simple to manufacture, but it lacks unique features to enhance creative play
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the arm retractable rather than fixed. The arm extends to engage with the magazine and retracts to release projectiles, creating a dynamic launching mechanism that enhances creative play while maintaining manageable complexity through purposeful motion variation
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-biased magazine creates periodic action by automatically advancing stacked disks into position after each launch. This periodic replenishment mechanism enables rapid succession launches without requiring complex manual reloading, balancing versatility with operational simplicity
2Adaptability or versatility
If a retractable extension mechanism is added to rotate disks, then projectile launch becomes more engaging, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the launching function and rotation function into a single integrated arm mechanism. The same retractable arm that launches projectiles also imparts rotational motion by engaging with engagement elements on the disks, eliminating the need for separate rotation mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The arm serves multiple functions: it extends to grasp projectiles, launches them forward, and imparts rotational motion through engagement with disk features. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, balancing enhanced versatility with controlled complexity
3Productivity
If stacked disks are used in a spring-biased magazine, then rapid succession launches are enabled, but the magazine complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-biased magazine implements periodic action by automatically advancing stacked disks into the launching position after each projectile is fired. This self-replenishing mechanism enables rapid succession launches without requiring complex manual reloading systems, achieving high productivity with relatively simple magazine structure
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple projectiles are pre-loaded in stacked form within the magazine before play begins. The spring mechanism preliminarily positions each disk in advance, so that rapid succession launches can occur without real-time reloading, enhancing productivity while maintaining simple magazine design
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
Enables creative and imaginative play by allowing rapid succession of spinning projectile launches, adding new entertainment value compared to traditional translational motion launchers.
Implementation Method 1
the plate is spring-biased such that the plate advances the disks out of the magazine
Implementation Method 2
The protrusion on the magazine engages the engagement element in the disk, causing the disk to rotate around the retractable extension as the arm removes the disk from the magazine
Data Source
AI summary
A toy includes a magazine and a movable arm having a launching end. A plurality of disks are configured to be stacked face to face in the magazine, where each disk has a recess in its face and an engagement element near an edge of the disk. The launching end of the arm includes a retractable extension that is insertable into the recess in the disk, such that the arm is capable of receiving the disk. A protrusion on the magazine engages the engagement element in the disk, causing the disk to rotate around the retractable extension as the arm removes the disk from the magazine. A mechanism in the arm causes the retractable extension to protrude when the arm is adjacent to the magazine, and to retract to release the disk when the arm is moved away from the magazine.