Fireworks Launching Tube

The present invention is directed to a launcher for repetitively launching aerial fireworks shells.

Fireworks of the type that are often referred to as shells are launched from tubular structures. The shells include a long fuse and are each sequentially dropped into the tube and fired. Each shell includes an explosive charge which propels the remainder of the shell out of the tube and into the air where it subsequently explodes and produces a more and/or colorful aerial display. Such shells originally came with individual tubes which are expensive and bulky to ship. Later, as popularity in the shells begin to increase multiple shells were packaged along with a single tube. These original tubes were normally manufactured from paper or a similar substance and were not designed for more than a minimal number of repetitive shots. Consequently, most of the fireworks displays of this type are packaged with a single tube and perhaps six shells.

Because of the popularity of the shells, more and more manufacturers are interested in packaging additional shells in a single package to be sold to the consumer. Because the paper launchers have a limited capacity for the number of shells that can be shot from them, large number of shells require multiple conventional tubes. This causes several potential problems. The first of these problems is that the tubes take up substantially greater space on the shelves and multiple tubes simply are more bulky and costly to ship. The second problem is that a consumer may ignore warnings to only shoot a limited number of shells from a particular tube and try to shoot more than the safe maximum rather than using a new tube. This could result in injury to persons or property, if the tube fail.

Therefore, it has become desirable to provide a shell launcher which can launch numerous shells from the same tube without serious threat of injury or harm. If it were possible, it is desirable for the launcher to even be reusable in subsequent years so a consumer would not have to expend the money for the manufacturing and shipping of a launcher for each set of shells purchased.

The shell launcher is provided for launching fireworks of the aerial shell type. The launcher includes an upright tubular member and a base.

The base includes an indentation which is circular and which snugly receives an outer surface of the tube. The tube is secured in the indentation of the base by a fastener such as a stainless steel staple, glue or the like.

The tube is constructed of a plastic material of sufficient rigidity to withstand the explosive forces encountered during the launch of numerous shells. Preferably the tube is constructed of an ABS or polyester plastic. Also, preferably the tube is approximately 18 inches in length, approximately 17/8 inches in internal diameter and approximately 1/4 of an inch in wall thickness.

Therefore: the objects of the present invention are: to provide a launcher for aerial shell type fireworks that includes a plastic tube having sufficient strength and rigidity to withstand multiple launches from a single tube; to provide such a launcher that is constructed of a readily obtainable plastic; to provide such a launcher which significantly reduces the number of launchers required and therefore reduces shipping expense and bulk for large sets of shells; to provide such a launcher which allows sequential multiple launching of shells without significant danger due to failure of the launcher to either persons or property; to provide such a launcher which is relatively easy to construct and which can may be constructed from commonly available materials; and to provide a launcher which is inexpensive to produce, easy to manufacture and especially well adapted for the intended usage thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fireworks shell launcher illustrating a shell in position to be launched and with portions of the launcher broken away to show greater detail thereof.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and fragmentary cross sectional view of the launcher, taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

The reference numeral 1 generally designates a launcher for launching an aerial fireworks shell 2.

The launcher 1 includes a base 5 and a upright tubular member 6.

The base 5, as in the illustrated embodiment, is a generally square shaped structure having a substantially larger width and depth as compared to height. In the particular illustrated embodiment, the sides 7 of the base are slightly slanted from top to bottom so as to form a truncated four sided pyramid with a top 8 of the base. Positioned and centrally located so as to have a central axis that extends perpendicularly relative to the base top 8 is a tube receiving aperture or indentation 10 having a bottom 11 and a circular side wall 12. The indentation 10 is sized such that the inside of the side wall 12 snugly receives the outside of the tubular member 6.

The illustrated base 5 is constructed of a conventional plastic and manufactured by standard molding techniques. However, it is foreseen that the base 5 could be constructed of wood or other conventional materials that would be suitable for supporting the tubular member 6.

The tubular member 6 is secured to the base 5 by a set of staples 15 which are passed through the tubular member 6 and through the indentation side wall 12 to fixedly secure the tubular member 6 in the indentation 10. Preferably, the staples are constructed of stainless steel so as not to rust over time and thereby possibly degrade the connection between the tubular member 6 and base 5. In this manner the launcher 1 may be utilized more than one season, even if the device is left in the elements. When the staples 15 are inserted into the base 5 and tubular member 6, a metal rod having the same interior diameter as the tubular member 6 or the like is inserted into the tubular member 6 such that the staples 15 flair outwardly to form interior ears 16 which lie flat against the interior of the tubular member.

The tubular member 6 is an elongate tube having a substantially greater length than diameter. In a preferred embodiment, the tubular member 6 is approximately 18 inches long and has an inside diameter of approximately 17/8 inch. The tube thickness can vary with the type of plastic utilized and is approximately 1/4 of an inch in thickness in the illustrated embodiment using ABS plastic. The tubular member 6 can be constructed of a wide range of plastics. Preferably the material of construction is an ABS plastic or polyester plastic. Nevertheless, a number of other types of plastic such as nylon, polypropylene or the like may be utilized for the construction.

While staples have been illustrated as connecting the tubular member 6 to the base 5, it is also foreseen that the connection could be made by utilization of glues or the like. It is also foreseen that the indentation 10 for mounting the tubular member in the base 5 could be formed by cutting a single circumferential groove having essentially the same shape as the cross section of the tubular member 6.

Shown in the illustrated embodiment is a shell 2 positioned in the launcher 1. The shell includes an aerial display section 19 a launching charge 20 and a fuse 21. In use, the shell 2 is lowered into the launcher tubular member 6 and allowed to set on the bottom 11 of the base indentation 10, as is shown in FIG. 1. The fuse 21 is then lit and subsequently the fuse ignites the launching charge 20. Ignition of the launching charge 20 causes the explosion within the tubular member 6 which launches the aerial display 19 upwardly and outwardly from the tubular member 6 along the central axis of the tubular member 6. The aerial display 19 also includes a fuse which is not seen and which is lit by the fuse 21 at the same time as lighting of the fuse for the launching charge 20. Eventually the aerial display 19 explodes into a visual and/or audio display in the air, at a substantial distance above the launcher 1. Multiple shells 2 may be sequentially launched from the launcher 1 into the air. The launcher 1 may be reused for many dozens of shells 2 in a single year and/or utilized in later years, if so desired, for also launching shells 2.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.