A toy projectile launcher for launching projectiles, e.g, toy foam darts, from a hopper. One or more agitating members inside the hopper to enable the projectiles to drop into a firing chamber under the hopper. A hopper cover has a collapsible ceiling with nested members and a ceiling plate to maintain the projectiles toward the bottom of the hopper. A catch coupled to the ceiling plate engages an opening in a hopper wall to prevent the ceiling from collapsing when the hopper cover is closed. Where there are multiple vertically spaced-apart openings in the hopper wall, the catch may disengage from a first opening, and then engage a lower, second opening in the hopper wall, as the number of projectiles in the hopper drops and the ceiling plate descends in the hopper. A rotating track and a push rod advance projectiles from the firing chamber to flywheels for launch.

In accordance with embodiments a toy projectile system can have a toy projectile and a toy projectile launcher having an improvised projectile checking and locking feature to confirm presence of a proper projectile of the system through detection of the nub and prevent launch of a projectile not designed for use with the system.

In accordance with embodiments a toy projectile system can have a toy projectile and a toy projectile launcher having an improvised projectile checking and locking feature to confirm presence of a proper projectile of the system through detection of the nub and prevent launch of a projectile not designed for use with the system.

A tube launch system is used for launching payloads from a platform and includes at least one tube launch section that is removably mounted to the platform, a plurality of powered wheels that are electrically powered and arranged in the tube launch section for propelling the payloads through the tube launch section, and a power source configured to operate the powered wheels. The tube launch system may include a magazine having an endless conveyor and powered magazine wheels that are engageable with the payloads to move the payloads from the endless conveyor to the tube launch section.

A tube launch system is used for launching payloads from a platform and includes at least one tube launch section that is removably mounted to the platform, a plurality of powered wheels that are electrically powered and arranged in the tube launch section for propelling the payloads through the tube launch section, and a power source configured to operate the powered wheels. The tube launch system may include a magazine having an endless conveyor and powered magazine wheels that are engageable with the payloads to move the payloads from the endless conveyor to the tube launch section.

A toy projectile launcher having a front portion, a rear portion, a hinge connecting the front portion and the rear portion, a handle connected to the front portion and adapted to rotate the front portion against the rear portion around the hinge among a left orientation, a right orientation, and a center orientation, and a rotatable two-way mirror, the handle being rotatable around a same axis of rotation as the hinge, and the rotatable two-way mirror being coupled to the front portion via a mechanical transmission adapted to translate a rotation of the front portion around the hinge to a rotation of the rotatable two-way mirror at a 2:1 ratio.

A toy projectile launcher having a front portion, a rear portion, a hinge connecting the front portion and the rear portion, a handle connected to the front portion and adapted to rotate the front portion against the rear portion around the hinge among a left orientation, a right orientation, and a center orientation, and a rotatable two-way mirror, the handle being rotatable around a same axis of rotation as the hinge, and the rotatable two-way mirror being coupled to the front portion via a mechanical transmission adapted to translate a rotation of the front portion around the hinge to a rotation of the rotatable two-way mirror at a 2:1 ratio.

An improvised projectile checking housing assembly having latch button and first and second sidewalls with first and second catch apertures opening as a catch latch recess of elongated structure using an improvised projectile checking spring opening to receive a locking key structure based upon the projectile receiving opening to the improvised projectile checking housing assembly. Alternate rearward translating lock gauge at the backside of a dart drum uses a follower and engaging cam surfaces locking and unlocking a pathway for correct dart alignment. Alternate motorized, non-motorized and pneumatic structures are disclosed with apparatus launch operations moving between checking and non-checking positions.

A sports projectile delivery system may control the operation of a launcher to cause an American football or other sports projectile to be delivered to a target location on a field. In some aspects, the system can track player movements on the field, e.g., through the use of a tracking device mounted on the player, enabling the ball etc. to be launched to a player in anticipation of where the player will go. The system may include additional customization and/or logging options, e.g., permitting a player to designate a body position (e.g., above the head or near the knees) for delivery of the ball, designate a speed or hang time for delivery, or provide player data and analytics to an online or otherwise connected database.

A shuttlecock loading mechanism with a grabbing mechanism and a pair of ejecting wheels defining a wheel plane. The grabbing mechanism receives a shuttlecock entering the loading mechanism in a vertical position and ejects the shuttlecock from the loading mechanism in an orientation parallel to the wheel plane wherein the pitch of the wheel plane about a wheel horizontal axis is selectively indexed about the wheel's horizontal axis.