[001] This invention relates to the field of non-lethal projectile launchers, such as gel projectile launchers, foam projectile launchers, water blasters, airsoft guns, and paintball guns, particularly the loading & storage of projectiles within said projectile launchers.

BACKGROUND

[002] Non-lethal projectile launchers are a popular product in the toy market and sports market; non-lethal projectile launchers may be split into two key categories: toy projectile launchers and hobby projectile launchers.

[003] Toy projectile launchers may fire one of various projectiles including, but not limited to: jets of water, foam darts with rubber tips, foam darts with suction pad tips, foam balls, foam discs, and gel pellets. Each of these projectile types are launched at a non-lethal velocity and are often relatively painless; foam projectiles such as darts, balls, and discs are often designed to prioritise projectile distance, such as 10m to 30m, while maintaining a light impact force; this light impact force allows these projectile launchers to be suitable for use by children, provided they are above a minimum recommended age.

[004] Hobby projectile launchers, such as airsoft guns or paintball guns, may fire one of various projectiles including, but not limited to: airsoft 'BB' balls, and paintballs. Airsoft guns and paintball guns fire their projectiles much faster and further than toy projectile launchers, resulting in higher impact force that can be significantly painful, although still non-lethal. Due to the higher impact force, airsoft and paintball guns are generally restricted to use by teenagers and adults.

[005] Toy projectile launchers are commonly powered by a spring-loaded mechanism, which may be cocked by either a manual action by the user, or by an automatic electromechanical mechanism. Most toy projectile launchers utilise a manual cocking action to be able to provide a low-cost product, however more premium toy projectile launchers boast 2 rapid fire and/or self-repeating firing modes by utilising an automatic cocking electromechanical mechanism. In the case of water blasters, they use a pressurised reservoir that may be pressurised using a motorised pump, or a hand operated pump, and a trigger that opens an outlet to release pressure and consequently jet out the pressurised material, in this case, water. Additionally, some toy projectile launchers do not have mechanical projectile launching systems, such as laser tag guns that utilise electromagnetic emitters such as infrared beams powered by batteries.

[006] Regarding the projectiles of hobby projectile launchers and toy projectile launchers, projectiles are stored in various ways, including but not limited to magazines, rotating barrels, hoppers, individually loaded, & belt fed projectiles. Projectile hoppers are usable with various types of projectiles, including but not limited to paintballs, gel pellets, BB pellets, foam balls, foam discs, & foam darts. Projectile hoppers have a benefit in which they may be designed to receive a bulk amount of projectiles that may be fed into the firing mechanism; depending on the projectile type & shape, this may be in an unorganised heap, or an organised queue. Projectile hoppers are often manually refilled using an external container of projectiles with a nozzle or funnel to aid the projectiles flow into the projectile hopper with minimal spillage. This method of refilling has the issue of requiring an often even larger container than the projectile hopper, as well as being loaded in such a way that may cause spillage or additional tools to aid in refilling.

[007] As compared to filling a projectile hopper, magazines may be prepared with loaded ammunition and quickly swapped with an empty magazine, allowing the user to minimise time and effort in reloading the projectile launcher. Magazines, however, are often bottom mounted on a projectile launcher, requiring additional mechanisms within the magazine or part of the projectile launcher to aid in transferring the projectiles from the magazine to the firing mechanism. Alternatively, a magazine may utilise gravity to assist transferring projectiles to the firing mechanism when mounted at a top side of the projectile launcher, however, this affects the aiming and sight features often integrated on the top side of a projectile launcher.

[008] Considering the preceding text, therein exists a need for a projectile launcher that may ameliorate the aforementioned drawbacks of a projectile hopper wherein a fast reloading system that utilises easily replaceable magazines may be used, however, in such a way that does not comprise the potential of projectile spillage and sightline blockage of a top mounted magazine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[009] Accordingly, the present invention comprises a projectile launcher with a projectile hopper that may supply a firing mechanism with projectiles, and a removable magazine that may supply the projectile hopper with projectiles. In a neutral position, the projectile hopper comprises a non-return flap that is in a closed position, and when rotated about an axis orthogonal to a vertical direction, transitioning the projectile launcher to a rotated position, the non-return flap is in an open position, allowing projectiles from the magazine to flow to the projectile hopper. When the projectile launcher is counter-rotated, returning it to the neutral position, the non-return flap returns to the closed position restricting the projectiles within the projectile hopper from flowing back into the magazine.

[010] Furthermore, it is an objective of this the non-return flap is freely hinged at a pivoting end, wherein the self-weight due to gravity of the non-return flap is what settles it into the closed and open positions, relative to the rotational position of the projectile launcher.

[Oil] Furthermore, it is preferable that the projectile hopper is non-removeable.

[012] Furthermore, it is preferable that the required angle of rotation from the neutral position to the rotated position is not substantially greater than 90°.

[013] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realised and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended figures.

[014] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[015] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the invention are incorporated and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[016] In the drawings:

[017] Figure 1 displays a three-quarter perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention: A Projectile Launcher that comprises a projectile hopper that may be refillable by a removable magazine.

[018] Figure 2 displays a side view of the embodiment.

[019] Figure 3 displays a three-quarter perspective view of the embodiment with the magazine removed from the Projectile Launcher.

[020] Figure 4 displays a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment with the magazine removed from the Projectile Launcher.

[021] Figure 5 displays a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment with the Projectile Launcher in a neutral position with an empty projectile hopper and an inserted magazine that comprises a plurality of projectiles.

[022] Figure 6 displays a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment with the Projectile Launcher in a rotated position, wherein the non-return flap is open and projectiles from the magazine are flowing to the projectile hopper.

[023] Figure 7 displays a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment with the Projectile Launcher in a neutral position with the projectile hopper comprising a plurality of projectiles, and an empty magazine.

[024] As used hereinbefore or after, when referring to a projectile hopper of a projectile launcher, 'hopper' or 'projectile hopper' refers to a reservoir attached to or contained within said projectile launcher, wherein said projectile hopper is purposed to contain a plurality of projectiles and feed them into a firing mechanism.

[025] As used hereinbefore or after, when referring to a projectile launcher, 'projectile launcher', 'toy projectile launcher', or 'non-lethal projectile launcher' refers to a projectile launcher designed as a toy, wherein said projectile launcher fires non-lethal projectiles at a non-lethal velocity, wherein non-lethal refers to it being non-lethal toward humans. This includes projectile launchers such as gel projectile launchers, foam projectile launchers, water blasters, airsoft guns, and paintball guns.

[026] The invention as disclosed in its current form comprises of: A projectile launcher comprising a removable magazine and projectile hopper, wherein the projectile hopper comprises a non-return flap. When the projectile launcher is rotated from a neutral position to a rotated position, a plurality of projectiles may flow from the magazine to a hopper. When the projectile launcher is rotated back to the neutral position, the projectiles are restricted from returning to the magazine by the non-return flap.

[027] Referring now to figures 1 to 4, a projectile launcher 101 is shown with 3 primary axes, an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis. The projectile launcher 101 comprises an outer shell 201 and a magazine 202, wherein the outer shell 201 houses a projectile hopper 401 and a firing mechanism 407. The firing mechanism in this embodiment may be readied by a manual lever 204 and fired by pulling a trigger 203. The projectile hopper 401 comprises an interior volume 402 with a non-return flap 403 hingedly connected to the hopper at a pivoting end 404. The magazine 202 is removable 301 and comprises an internal volume 406 that is accessible by a top opening 302. Additionally, the projectile hopper 401 comprises a hole 405 in which projectiles may be funnelled toward to enter the firing mechanism 407.

[028] Referring now to figures 1 to 7, the projectile launcher 101 is shown in a neutral position 501, wherein the magazine 202 is inserted into the projectile launcher and comprises a plurality of projectiles 503 in the interior volume 406 of the magazine. In this neutral position 501 the non-return flap 403 is in a closed position 502 and it is settled against a supporting edge 504 by its self-weight due to gravity. Upon the projectile launcher 101 being rotated from the neutral position 501 about its X-axis, it may transition to the rotated position 601 wherein the non-return flap transitions to an open position 602, due to its self-weight due to gravity. In this rotated position, the plurality of projectiles 503 flow from the interior volume 406 of the magazine to the interior volume 402 of the projectile hopper. In this embodiment, the magazine 202 comprises an inclined angle 605 such that the flow of the projectiles 503 are aided. As the projectiles flow between the magazine 202 and the projectile hopper 401, they are assisted by guiding features 603, 604 so that the magazine 202 and the projectile hopper 401 to not need to interface directly. Once the plurality of projectiles 503 have all flowed past the non-return flap, the projectile launcher 101 may be counter-rotated about its X-axis from the rotated position 601 to the neutral position 501, wherein the nonreturn flap 403 returns to a closed position 702 due to self-weight due to gravity and supported by the supporting edge 504. With the non-return flap 403 in the closed position 702, the projectiles 701 in the projectile hopper 401 are restricted from falling back to within the magazine 202 which is now empty 704. While in the neutral position 501, the projectiles 701 within the projectile hopper 401 are funnelled by a funnelling surface 703 toward the hole 405 and subsequently the firing mechanism 407.

[029] Once the magazine 201 has been emptied due to the projectiles being transferred to the projectile hopper, the magazine may be removed and refilled, or replaced with a second magazine, allowing quick reloading of the projectile launcher, rather than having to reload the hopper directly with projectiles.

[030] It should be understood that the form of the firing mechanism 407 is not integral to the scope of this invention, wherein the firing mechanism may embody any form in which it may receive a projectile from a hopper. Furthermore, it should be understood that the method of actuation of said firing mechanism does not affect the invention as claimed, in which the present embodiment aims to serve purely as added context within a typical toy projectile launcher, consequently, the firing mechanism as displayed is shaded to represent a generic firing mechanism.

[031] In alternative embodiments it may be preferable that the firing chamber is actuated by an electromechanical means, wherein a motor is used to prime a firing mechanism, or to propel the projectiles directly. Such electromechanical firing mechanisms should be known to those familiar with the scope of toy projectile launchers.

[032] In the present embodiment as shown, the guiding features 603, 604 are depicted to be a part of the outer shell 201, however it should be understood that such guiding features for the projectiles 503 to flow into the projectile hopper 401 could vary in how they are integrated into the structure. Such options could include being a part of then projectile hopper moulding itself, wherein the non-return flap is inset from guiding features that interface near an inserted magazine. Alternatively, the magazine could extend up to the nonreturn flap, bypassing a need for intermediate guiding features. Furthermore, such guiding features may be slanted toward the rear of the projectile launcher such that the required angle of rotation of the projectile launcher would be less than 90°, wherein the flow of the projectiles are biased toward the projectile hopper.

[033] In alternative modes of operation, it may be feasible to rotate the projectile launcher 201 about its Z-axis, wherein upon being rotated greater than 90° about the Z-axis, gravitational force will cause the non-return flap to open, and the projectiles to flow into the projectile hopper.

[034] In the present embodiment, the projectiles are depicted as spherical balls; it is preferable that the projectiles are substantially spherical or a shape that does not comprise directional bias as it rolls on a surface, such as a cylinder or ovoid. This is such that flow of the plurality of projectiles may be unobstructed as they flow from the magazine to the projectile hopper.

[035] Additionally, in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the projectiles are gel pellets, however, in alternative embodiments, it may be preferable that the projectiles are an alternative projectile such as, but not limited to, foam balls, plastic pellets, BB pellets, or paint balls.

[036] Furthermore, in alternative embodiments, it may be feasible to modify the projectile hopper, wherein it may be able to contain a fluid, such as water, such that it may be refillable by water from the removable magazine.

[037] The invention has been described with examples relevant to its current form, however, potential embodiments will include any form that is within the scope of the appended claims. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variation can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.