Toy projectile launching apparatuses

Claim 1

A rapid fire toy projectile launching apparatus, comprising: pneumatically displaceable means for moving from an initial position toward a projectile, appropriately disposed for launching upon being struck by said pneumatically disposable means, when a positive pneumatic pressure is supplied thereto and for returning to the initial position thereof when a negative pneumatic pressure is supplied thereto; support means for causing a projectile to be disposed, relative to the initial position of said pneumatically displaceable means, in a launchable position at which the projectile will be struck by said pneumatically displaceable means upon pneumatic displacement from the initial position thereof; and operating means, in pneumatic connection with said pneumatically displaceable means, for supplying positive pressure to said pneumatically displaceable means for forward movement thereof and for supplying negative pressure thereto for return movement thereof, said operating means comprising a variable volume chamber which is substantially sealed other than a pneumatic connection to said pneumatically displaceable means; and biasing means for maintaining said chamber at an initial volume thereof and for rapidly restoring the initial volume of said chamber after any sudden reduction in the volume thereof, whereby a sudden reduction in the volume of said chamber causes positive pressure to be supplied to said pneumatically displaceable means and the rapid return of said chamber to the initial volume thereof by means of said biasing means causes negative pressure to be supplied to said pneumatically displaceable means.