Launcher for toy vehicle having variable force means

Claim 1

A toy vehicle launcher comprising: a launcher base having a slot with a front end, a retaining means proximate to said front end of said slot, and anchor means spaced from said front end of said slot; a sliding block slidably engaged within said slot; an elastic member elastic for its entire length, said elastic member having one end secured to said sliding block and extending generally parallel to said slot, over said retaining means and terminating in another end secured to said anchor means, wherein said anchor means permits said other end of said elastic member to be secured at a plurality of points located at varying distances from said front end of said slot, and wherein said elastic member is free to move longitudinally with respect to said retaining means and is in tension for all locations of said sliding block within said slot; and trigger means releasably engaging said sliding block at a point spaced from said front end of said slot wherein said trigger means includes a bell crank pivoted to said launcher base for limited rotation in the plane of said launcher base, said bell crank having a first arm releasably engaging said sliding block and a second arm extending beyond the periphery of said launcher base and wherein said trigger means further includes a spring member for biasing said first arm into engagement with said sliding block.