BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a

liquid jet propelled rocket launcher and rocket.

More specifically, it is directed to a toy which

propels a rocket in a generally upward direction

by a liquid-air propulsion combination. Further,

the present invention utilizes a rocket with a

liquid reservoir, a pump and a pressurized base

vessel whereby pressurized air is pumped into the

rocket reservoir and into the base vessel, and

the rocket is subsequently released for

propulsion. Thus, the present invention pertains

in general to motive type rockets which are

launched by hand operation and no chemicals,

motors, batteries or other power is required.

2. Prior Art Statement

Toys involving launchers have been around

for at least thirty or forty years and apparently

5 emerged with modern rocketry, although not all

such toys pertain directly to rockets. Over the

years various types of jet-powered toys have been

developed which rely upon pressurized liquid

within a container in the projectile or

10 transporter and/or rely upon pneumatic launching.

United States Patent No. 2,733,699 issued to

B. Krinsky describes a rocket toy using a

pressurized launcher and a spring mechanism for

initial thrust. Pressurized air is created by a

15 hand pump and a resilient washer (42) is used to

retard launching until adequate pressure is

achieved .

United States Patent No. 2,927,398 issued to

Kaye et al describes a multi-stage rocket in

which fluid within chambers in each of multiple

5 stages of a rocket are pressurized and

sequentially released. Similarly, United States

Patent No. 3,962,818 issued to Reginald Pippin

describes a multi-stage rocket with mechanisms

for pressurizing liquid within containers for

10 each stage.

United States Patent No. 3,740,896 to Marvin

Glass et al describes a jet-powered vehicle

wherein a wheeled vehicle has a chamber or

container within it and has a launching device

15 which includes an air pump with a one-way valve.

There is also clamp means for holding the vehicle

in the charging position and a trigger means for

releasing the clamping device following the

charging of the chamber to permit the vehicle to

be propelled by means of reaction of the jet

5 drive.

United States Patent No. 4,223,472 describes

a toy missle launching device which utilizes

pressurized air. It involves a complex system

which includes a large launching guide pipe, a

10 complex mechanical release mechanism and a three

position valve member for a complex pumping and

launching.

United States Patent No. 4,411,249 issued to

Bonnie Fogarty et al describes a toy glider with

15 a pneumatic launcher. In this device, a wristlet

includes a pumping mechanism as well as a

flexible conduit to which a glider may be

attached. The pump is used to pressurize and

pneumatically project the glider.

United States Patent No. 4,897,065 issued to

5 John Fertig describes a toy vehicle and hand held

pneumatic launcher wherein the pumping mechanism

has a piston and hollow cylinder designed for a

particular type of grip of a child coupled with

thumb or hand operation of the pump mechanism.

10 United States Patent No. 5,032,100 issued to

Adolf Goldfarb describes a toy vehicle and

launcher which uses contractive power of liquid

in a liquid expanded chamber to propel the

vehicle. Here, a significantly large reservoir

15 is utilized to fill and expand a bladder which is

connected to and part of a transporter or toy

vehicle. It is the expanded, pressurized bladder

with the air and water mixture which propels the

vehicle as a result of the contraction of the

bladder upon release of the vehicle.

5 Notwithstanding the prior art in this field,

no patent teaches or renders obvious the present

invention device which utilizes a pressurized

launcher with a rocket which has a reservoir

which holds a predetermined amount of liquid.

10 The reservoir is also pressurized so as to create

a predetermined volume mixture of liquid and air

to maximize a two step liquid jet propulsion of

the rocket upon launching.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

15 The present invention involves a liquid jet

propelled rocket and rocket launcher. The

launcher has a housing which includes a vessel

for holding pressurized air therein, an inlet to

the vessel and an outlet from the vessel. Also,

the housing has a jet tube receiver extending

5 from the outlet and adapted to connect with a jet

tube of a rocket assembly. A pump is connected

to the vessel inlet of the housing, the pump is

connected for and capable of pumping air into the

vessel at a pressure sufficient to launch the

10 rocket assembly. A one way valve is connected to

the pump and permits the flow of air only from

the pump to the vessel. There is a rocket

assembly latch mechanism located on the housing

with means for releasing the latch. There are

15 also, a rocket assembly which includes a liquid

reservoir for receiving liquid and subsequently

receiving air under pressure from the pump, a jet

tube extending from the liquid reservoir and

adapted to sealably and releasably connect to

said jet tube receiver of the housing.

5 The rocket assembly with the jet tube is

releasably attachable to the housing with the jet

tube coupled in fluid communication with the jet

tube receiver by the latch mechanism, wherein the

liquid may be stored within the rocket reservoir,

10 and air may be pumped into the rocket reservoir

and into the launcher vessel by means of

actuating the pump. In addition, a substantial

positive air pressure may be created within the

rocket reservoir and within the vessel, after

15 which the rocket assembly may be released by the

release means and may advance away from the

housing by the pressurized air in the vessel and

by jet propulsion of the liquid and air contained

within the rocket reservoir. In preferred

embodiments the water to air ratio and the air

5 pressure itself are such that the rocket assembly

is launched in two different discrete phases, one

being a positive air pressure thrust by the

pressurized vessel and the other being a

combination of air and liquid such as water to

10 create a jet stream thrust from the rocket

assembly.

BRIEF -DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention as described herein

will be more fully understood and appreciated

15 when taken in conjunction with the drawings

appended hereto those drawings are as follows:

Figures 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c) show front

elevation views, partially in vertical cross-

section, of a present invention toy, including a

pump, a launcher and a liquid jet propelled

5 rocket assembly;

Figure 2 is a partial side elevation view,

partially in vertical cross-section, of a present

invention launcher base; and

Figure 3 shows a partial sectional view of a

10 portion of the launcher shown in Figures la, lc

and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention toy has been developed

to create a rocket assembly which is jet

15 propelled and which may be launched by hand

preferably utilizing a mixture of liquid

(typically water) and air, e.g. a predetermined

ratio, in a rocket assembly reservoir and

enabling the user to effectively accomplish this

in a manner which utilizes an air pressure built

5 up in both a rocket assembly and a launcher,

followed by jet propulsion caused by pressurized

air with water exiting from the rocket assembly

for thrust. Uniquely, the present invention toy

includes a launcher which has a housing with a

10 pressurizeable vessel, as well as a reservoir on

the rocket assembly for additional

pressurization. The rocket reservoir has a

volume for a predetermined amount of liquid, with

space left for air and subsequent pressurization.

15 Thus, it is an object of the present

invention to provide an advanced toy for

launching rocket assemblies and similar

substantially vertically launched aerodynamic

projectiles and any other form of substantially

vertically launched transporters, which can be

5 imagined or may yet to be developed in an

exciting and efficient manner. (Thus the words

"rocket" and "rocket assembly" should be taken to

mean substantially vertically launched

aerodynamic projectiles or transporters.)

10 Referring now to Figures 1(a), 1(b), 1(c)

and 2, there is shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b)

front, elevation views, partially in vertical

cross-section, of a present invention toy 1,

including a launcher 11, rocket assembly 101 and

15 pump 39. Figure 1(b) shows an enlargement of a

portion of the launcher and rocket assembly and

Figure 1(c) shows an enlargement of the pump

system. In Figure 2 is shown a partial side

elevation view, partially in vertical cross-

section, of a present invention launcher base

5 (without showing supports such as supports 5).

Launcher 11 includes launcher housing 3 which has

a plurality (e.g. three) base supports such as

base supports 5 for support and stability as well

as a housing vessel 7. Vessel 7 includes a

10 vessel inlet 9 which includes attachment stem 13

shown in Figure 2. Also shown in Figure 2 is one

way check valve 12 which allows, air to flow into

vessel 7 but, when vessel 7 is pressurized,

prevents air from exiting vessel 7 through inlet

15 9.

Facing upwardly from housing 3 is vessel

outlet 15 connected directly to jet tube receiver

27. As will be discussed below, the jet tube

receiver 27 receives jet tube 77 of. rocket

assembly 101. Jet tube receiver 27 includes an

5 outlet 25, as shown. Additionally, jet tube

receiver 27 is itself an annulus or tubing or

piping configuration and has a one way valve 31

which opens only to upward flow (e.g. air)

through orifice 33.

10 The housing 3 also includes a rocket

assembly latch mechanism 17 which is biased by

spring 19 to latch over lip 21. Release means 23

is slidably moveable left to right and vice versa

as shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(c). Release means

15 23 may be pushed against end 29 of latch

mechanism 17 to release an otherwise latched

rocket assembly for launching (discussed further

below) . Safety features such as encasement 35

prevent or deter premature or accidental

launching by securing release mechanism 17 from

5 accidental contact.

Also, shown in Figure 1(c) is pump 39 with

pump piston support 42 which includes a piston

chamber 43 and a piston rod 45 and a piston 41.

Piston pump handle 47 extends beyond the outer

10 end of piston rod 45 and may be reciprocated so

as to pump air into the vessel 7 through one way

0-ring valve 49 located around piston 41 and

connected thereto, as shown. Piston housing cap

51 supports piston rod 45 and handle 47.

15 Optional spring 53 acts as a shock absorber

between handle 47 and cap 51 during pumping.

Air is taken into piston chamber 43 at the

opening around piston rod 45 at cap 51. This

occurs when piston pump handle 47 is pulled

outwardly and O-ring valve 49 moves away from the

5 sealing position and allows air to pass by piston

41 such that air fills piston chamber 43. When

piston pump handle 47 is pushed inwardly, the air

within the piston housing is forced by one way O-

ring valve 49 past one way valve 55, through

10 cavity 57 located in support 42 through outlet

59, down flexible tubing 61 and into vessel inlet

attachment stem 13, into vessel inlet 9 and into

vessel 7. The air also travels up jet tube

receiver 27 and into rocket propulsion reservoir

15 75 of rocket assembly 101. Further pumping

increases the air pressure in the vessel 7 and in

the reservoir 75 of the rocket assembly for

subsequent propulsion. However, if a

predetermined maximum acceptable pressure is

reached, pressure release valve 60 prevents

5 further pressure build up.

Release means 23 is, as mentioned, slidably

mounted so that it may be pushed into end 29 of

latch mechanism 17. When jet tube 77 of the

rocket assembly 101 is inserted onto jet tube

10 receiver 27, it may be secured in place via latch

mechanism 17. When the rocket propulsion

reservoir 75 has water and the rocket propulsion

reservoir of rocket assembly 101 and vessel 7 of

launcher 11 are fully pumped up, e.g. with 60,

15 70, 80 or higher p.s.i., the user could press a

release mechanism to launch. But here, a safety

advantage is achieved because release means 23 is

activated remotely. Flexible tubing 63 connects

a second outlet 65 from pump piston support 42 to

release inlet 67 of launcher 11.

5 When spool valve 69 (or its equivalent) is

shifted from right to left, air pressurizes

tubing 63 instead of tubing 61 and pushes on

release means 23 to release latch mechanism 29.

This causes rocket assembly 101 to launch and be

10 propelled, first by the air pressure in the

launcher vessel 7 and the rocket assembly 101,

and then by subsequent pressure release from

inside jet tube 77 and rocket propulsion

reservoir 75. The initial air pressure from the

15 launcher may be only for a fraction of a second

or so while the released pressure and water jet

stream from the jet tube 77 and reservoir 75 may

last for a number of seconds, e.g. 10 or 20

seconds or more.

Rocket assembly 101 includes jet tube 77

5 with constricted jet orifice 73, and threads 71,

for receiving reservoir 75. In this case there

is a foam cover for rocket propulsion reservoir

75, as shown. Reservoir 75 includes threads 81

at orifice 95 for connection to jet tube threads

10 71. Rocket assembly 101 is in the form of a

simulated vehicle, in this case a rocket with

fins such as fin 83 and brackets such as bracket

89. The fins such as fin 83 may be removable, as

here. While attachment of the reservoir 75 is by

15 threading, the threads are not essential and a

snap on, clamped or sealed arrangement would work

sufficiently. Propulsion reservoir orifice 95

attaches to constricted jet orifice 73 with a

tight seal via washer 97.

A user fills reservoir 75 with water to 50%,

5 60%, or so, of capacity while inverted (orifice

95 upward), and screws it onto jet tube 77. The

thus assembled rocket assembly 101 is then

inverted and placed on jet tube receiver 27. The

assembly 101 is then snapped into a latched

10 position and releasably latched by latch

mechanism 17. Air is pumped via pump 39 into the

launcher vessel 7, the jet tube receiver 27 and

the rocket propulsion reservoir 75 and through

the various connecting means. Valve 31 prevents

15 water from emptying into vessel 7 from reservoir

75. When the pump has been actuated a

predetermined number of counts, e.g., twenty, the

toy 1 is ready for launching.

The user next switches spool valve 69 by

pressing or pulling it to the opposite position

5 from that shown in Figure 1(B). By so doing, the

user closes off outlet 59 and opens outlet 65.

Further pumping increases air pressing in tubing

63 and this continues to increase until adequate

pressure is achieved to overcome the force of

10 spring 19, thereby pushing latch mechanism 17 to

the open position and launching rocket assembly

101 as previously described. This pump releasing

means adds significant play value to the toy, as

it simulates the plunger activated detonation of

15 explosives as frequently depicted in animations.

Significant safety advantages are achieved

by the embodiment of the present invention shown

in Figures 1 and 2. As mentioned, encasement 35

prevents direct release of latch mechanism 17 and

encourages remote release via pump 39. Further,

5 the "soft" rocket assembly 101, comprising

reservoir 75 covered with a foam nose cone 79,

limits any injury which could occur from

accidental impact to a user or other person or

property in the area. Further, a "tilt switch"

10 97 which would prevent release of the rocket

unless it were kept in a substantially vertical

position. This includes a ball valve 99 at

outlet 103. If toy 1 is tilted to an angle of

greater than, say about 15° from the vertical or

15 aimed at someone, or falls over, ball valve 99

will unseat and pressure pumped into tubing 63

will exit through outlet 103 and the user will be

unable to release latch mechanism 17. While this

is an optional feature, it will prevent the use

of the toy for firing at other people.

5 Figure 3 shows a partial sectional view of a

portion along line 3-3 of Figure 1 of launcher 11

with the upper part of encasement 35 removed.

Parts identical to those shown in Figure 1 are

identically numbered. Guides 85 and 87 support

10 latch mechanism 17 allowing it to be moved from

left to right and vice versa, although it is

biased to the left in its resting and latching

position via spring 19. Similarly, release means

23 is reciprocally movable within mounting

15 flanges 91 and 93.

The construction of the present invention

toy is, typically, of various types of plastic

and, once the invention is appreciated, the

selection of soft and hard plastics .for various

components will be within the skill of the

5 artisan. For example, high density polyethylene

may be used for certain aspects whereas other

plastics may be utilized, for example, tubing

could be typical vinyl tubing and the fittings

could be hard rubber fittings or otherwise.

10 Additionally, some or all parts may be made of

other materials such as materials typically

available in the construction of toys, including

rigid and flexible foams, metals, graphite, etc.

Obviously, numerous modifications and

15 variations of the present invention are possible

in light of the above teachings. It is therefore

understood that within the scope of the appended

claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise

than as specifically described herein.