Mechanical guns and projectors – Spring
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-14
2001-01-23
Ricci, John A. (Department: 3712)
Mechanical guns and projectors
Spring
C124S049000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176230
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to devices that launch projectiles, and in particular to a device that launches balls to provide amusement and exercise for pets.
BACKGROUND
Pets have a lot of energy and need exercise to dissipate some of that energy and to stay fit. Pets usually get their exercise through playing fun games; chasing after, catching and retrieving some sort of projectile—usually a ball—is a particularly popular game which keeps a pet amused. Often, this game is played with or under the supervision of an adult; the adult throws the ball and the pet chases after the ball, sometimes catches it, and returns it to the adult to be thrown again. Unfortunately, though, a willing adult is not always present when the pet wants to play. What, then, is the poor pet to do? One possible solution for helping the pet is to provide them with a machine that automatically launches the ball, and to which they can return the ball to be launched again.
Unfortunately, there are very few machines which launch projectiles and can be used by a pet. Machines do exist for launching projectiles for recreational purposes; examples include tennis ball throwers used for tennis lessons, and baseball and softball throwers used in batting cages. But these machines have are unsuitable for use by pets. Existing machines are usually large, heavy contraptions which either cannot not be moved (often the case with baseball/softball machines) or must be put on a heavy base with wheels before it can be moved (often the case with tennis ball throwers). Thus, these machines are not portable and cannot easily be taken to yards, parks or other areas where children might play. Existing machines are also expensive and complex, making them impractical to buy for a pet, and rendering them too complex to be operated by a child and completely inoperable by a pet. These machines require some knowledge to properly select the machine's location and choose the correct operational settings (such as ball speed, and interval between ball launches). Moreover, they require some size and dexterity for operation; for example, the balls must usually be loaded into a large receptacle that would be out of reach for a pet, and which may be covered and locked for safety reasons, requiring some dexterity for opening. Finally, existing machines can pose a safety hazard, because they launch balls at high speeds that could injure pets.
Since existing projectile-launching machines are unsuitable for use by pets, there is a need for a projectile-launching machine which is portable and easily used by a pet, or for other similar purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a device for individually launching a plurality of projectiles. The device comprises a base having a launching mechanism housed therein, a feeder for transporting a projectile to the launching mechanism, and a receptacle attached to the base and operatively connected to the feeder, wherein the receptacle holds the projectiles until they are fed into the feeder.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4185608 (1980-01-01), Young et al.
patent: 4209003 (1980-06-01), Sainsbury
patent: 4721091 (1988-01-01), Ridley et al.
patent: 4834060 (1989-05-01), Greene
patent: 4995374 (1991-02-01), Black
patent: 5097985 (1992-03-01), Jones
patent: 5749797 (1998-05-01), Sunseri et al.
Davis , Wright, Tremaine, LLP
Ricci John A.
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