Over the past week I have done a lot more searching, including finding fun bits of news and posting to Nerf groups. However, I think I should write summaries of all the things I’ve found this week so that they can all be in one place.
Hasbro holds a patent that allows jump-starting flywheel blasters. Worker (a third-party mod parts company and occasional blaster manufacturer) teased a new flywheelblaster but also filed for a design patent. That Adventure Force soaker from Dart Zone, too? It’s also a new patent system! Let’s get started!
US Patent 10,876,809B covers several implementations of a quick start mechanism for flywheel blasters. There are many pictures of a modified Rapidstrike. However, don’t get too excited. I would guess that Hasbro engineers used it as a testbed to demonstrate the idea. One using LOTS of gears.
The core idea is using stored energy in a spring to jump-start flywheel rotation, but several other ideas are demonstrated, ranging from using one motor to power everything to one trigger operation. This requires that you are able to keep a dart from getting stuck in the flywheels. We’re not talking about microcontrollers, motors with extremely high torque, or motors powered by alkaline. In this case, the gear train includes a centrifugal clutch that only transmits power to the pusher mechanism once the flywheels reach a minimum rpm setting.
Of course, the end goal for many of these things is saving money, as reducing the number of motors makes for lower costs in manufacturing. However, the patent recognizes that rev triggers are essential for gameplay and want instant firing. So
A Worker Creates A Blaster To Match The Magazine
Worker, the company that many Nerf enthusiasts know for mod kits, darts, and some of their own blasters, teased a new blaster on their social media, to be released after Chinese New Year. They also filed a patent design patent so that we can see what it looks like. However, the final product is not guaranteed to match 100%. It uses the angled Talon mags, fires short darts, and (based on the mag dimensions) uses Hurricane-size flywheels.
Im sure it wont be long until they reveal the actual product. We’ll keep waiting.
Dart Zone Soaker Has Been Patented
Earlier, I reviewed the Adventure Force Water Strike Hydro Burst and looked at its unique priming and firing mechanism. It is patentable, apparently because it is so unique. However, there is no word yet on whether it will be used in dart bombers.
