Compact and ergonomic ball-launching dog toy: United States Patent 9970732

A ball-launching device includes a housing, ball holder, elastomeric member, cocking member, latch, and trigger assembly. The housing has an opening at a first end defining an elongated cavity. The ball holder is disposed in the housing cavity and slidable in an axial direction from a first position proximate to the opening at the housing first end, to a second position. The elastomeric member is selectively arranged within the housing to bias the ball holder toward the first position. The cocking member includes a first portion disposed outside of the housing, being usable to move the ball holder into a cocked position, where the latch may oppose the bias of the elastomeric member and releasably secure the cocking member and the ball holder thereat. Actuating the trigger assembly releases the latch, permitting the elastomeric member to accelerate the ball holder towards the housing first end to launch the ball therefrom.