Bottle rocket launcher

Amusement devices: toys – Operated by relatively moving fluid or pressure differential – Having jet propulsion

Reexamination Certificate

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Reexamination Certificate

active

06315629

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention broadly concerns an apparatus for holding and selectively releasing compressed air model rockets. More particularly, it is concerned with a model rocket launcher which is able to hold, pressurize, and launch rockets made from plastic bottles using water and air or an inert gas as a propulsion source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Increased focus is being provided to hands-on experimentation and practice in the education of elementary and secondary students. Students are being provided with increased opportunities to use their imagination for development of projects in the field of science, and to complement classroom study with measurement of actual results.
One such project which has enjoyed wide acceptance involves the building and launching of so-called bottle rockets. As used herein, “bottle rockets” refers to rockets made from a bottle and which uses liquid such as water and a compressed gas as the propulsion source, and not to a fireworks rocket or other combustion device. Students use standard sized plastic (usually polyethylene terphthalate) bottles as a starting point for the rocket. Such bottles are commonly sold containing carbonated soft drinks in 16 oz, 20 oz, 24 oz, 1 liter, 2 liter and 3 liter sizes. Such used soft drink bottles are especially desirable because they are of a common, predetermined volume capable of handling moderate pressurization, are inexpensive, have a threaded neck of a common, standard size and configuration. Students typically glue or otherwise attach stabilizing fins to the bottle adjacent the threaded neck which serves as a nozzle and is pointed down during launching. The bottle is made more aerodynamic by the addition of a nose cone to the base, and a parachute or similar device may be deployed from the nose cone to retard descent. The bottle rocket thus created is at least partially filled with water, and air or a relatively inert gas such as carbon dioxide is used as a propellant. The bottle rocket is released from a launcher whereupon the compressed gas bears against the water, expelling it from the threaded neck and lifting the bottle rocket by the impulse force applied in the opposite direction.
One problem associated with existing bottle rocket launchers is that the attachment between the launcher for releasing the bottle rocket may only be at one side, causing only a single point of connection and possibly causing the bottle rocket to prematurely launch or launch in an undesired launch angle. Another problem with existing launchers is that they interfere with stabilizing fins which extend far below the nozzle. In addition, large or multistage bottle rockets may tip or fall out of the launcher while being pressurized. Another problem is leakage of the liquid propellant, typically water, past the seals during pressurization and while waiting the launch. Another problem is that bottle rockets must be pressurized while on the launcher. A further problem arises when the launch is prematurely triggered by an anxious student or other accident, which may result in an unsafe situation.
As a result, there has arisen the need for an improved bottle rocket launcher which can be safely and easily used in the field.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These problems have largely been overcome by the bottle rocket launcher of the present invention. That is to say, the bottle rocket launcher hereof provides improved multiple gripping around the nozzle of the bottle rocket, improved release characteristics at launch, allows the use of fins that extend far below the nozzle so that students enjoy greater freedom in their designs, minimizes leakage prior to launch, avoids the need for anchoring the launcher because of the smooth release characteristics, permits the bottle plug with the gas supply conduit attached to be removed from the release mechanism of the launcher and inserted into the nozzle of the rocket while the rocket is held with the nose cone lower than the nozzle for preventing the water therein from spilling out, and in preferred embodiments includes a safety lock to prevent accidental launches.
Broadly speaking, the bottle rocket launcher hereof includes a bottle plug, a release mechanism, and a base. The bottle plug is configured to seal the nozzle of the bottle rocket and to receive a source of compressed gas such as air for pressurizing the bottle. The release mechanism is configured to grip the nozzle in a plurality and preferably a multiplicity of circumferentially arrayed sites, with the nozzle positioned radially intermediate the release mechanism and the plug. A base is provided for supporting and preferably elevating the plug and release mechanism whereby a variety of different designs of stabilizing fins may be used without interference by the launcher or the supporting surface.
The bottle plug includes a guide member which extends into the interior of the bottle for initial directional guidance. Advantageously, the bottle plug is releasably connected to the release mechanism and is provided with a flexible gas-filling conduit which is routed through the tubular center opening of the release mechanism. As a result, the gas supply conduit remains connected to the bottle plug and passes through the release mechanism, so that the bottle plug may be easily replaced with the release mechanism grasping the rocket to permit the bottle to be filled with compressed gas apart on launcher prior to launch.
The release mechanism preferably includes three gripping levers which are shiftably mounted to a support block for movement between a first position retaining the rocket on the launcher and a second position releasing the rocket and thereby enabling impulse of the liquid and gas exhausted from the nozzle to lift the rocket off of the launcher. The gripping levers each include a hook at one end for gripping the nozzle and an arm at the other end for engaging a release actuator. The release actuator may be rotatably mounted about the support block in one embodiment, whereby the arms are alternately blocked by stops or permitted to toggle into notches therebetween. Alternatively, the release actuator may be mounted for up and down translation, whereby in an up position the arms engage a shoulder to prevent launching, but in a down position are permitted to shift inwardly and release the hook from engagement with the nozzle. In either embodiment described herein above, the release actuator shifts relative to the support block between a first position block movement of the gripping levers and a second position permitting movement of the gripping levers. The bottle rocket actually disengages itself by simultaneously forcing the hooks out of engagement when the obstruction of the arms by the release actuator is removed, thereby providing a smoother release and a launch direction less likely to be misdirected by the active disengagement of a single hook or where the hooks are not simultaneously disengaged. A safety pin may be inserted through a toggle lever of the release actuator to prevent premature launching.
As a result, the bottle rocket launcher hereof requires less force to actuate than existing rocket launchers, more effectively guides the rocket during the initial phase of the launch, and minimizes leakage from the rocket prior to launch. These and other advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in the art with reference to the drawings and the description which follows.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2759297 (1956-08-01), Lewis
patent: 2927398 (1960-03-01), Kaye et al.
patent: 3148478 (1964-09-01), Miller
patent: 5839940 (1998-11-01), Ensmenger
Page from 1998 Pitsco catalog showing Hydrolaunch bottle rocket launcher.
Pages from Pitsco 1995 catalog showing Hydro2launch and bottle rocket (6 pages).

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