U.S. patent application number 10/223662 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-19 for toy gun for launching self-propelled projectiles in water.
Invention is credited to Elliot, James David, Fireman, Andrew F., Hsu, Tony Tong-Young.
Application Number | 20040031473 10/223662 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31715185 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040031473 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fireman, Andrew F. ; et
al. |
February 19, 2004 |
Toy gun for launching self-propelled projectiles in water
Abstract
The present invention is a toy gun for use by a person in water
environment such as a swimming pool. In one embodiment, the toy gun
comprises a first body portion having a first handle portion, a
first trigger member, first front and back portions, and a first
launching portion. The toy gun further comprises a second body
portion having a second handle portion, a second trigger member,
second front and back portions, and a second launching portion. The
second body portion is removably engaged with the first body
portion. The toy gun further comprises a first projectile removably
engaged with the first launching portion and a second projectile
removably engaged with the second launching portion. The first
projectile comprises a first propulsion unit and the second
projectile comprises a second propulsion unit. The first projectile
is engaged with the first launching portion from a first or loaded
position where the first projectile is substantially retained by
the first launching portion to a second or firing position where
the first projectile may be released or fired from the first
launching portion upon activation of the first propulsion unit in
the water. The second projectile is engaged with the second
launching portion from a first or loaded position where the second
projectile is substantially retained by the second launching
portion to a second or firing position where the second projectile
may be released or fired from the second launching portion upon
activation of the second propulsion unit in the water.
Inventors: |
Fireman, Andrew F.;
(Bethesda, MD) ; Elliot, James David; (Huntington
Beach, CA) ; Hsu, Tony Tong-Young; (San Marino,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Steven N. Fox, ESQ.
P.O. BOX 251
CANTON
MA
02021
US
|
Family ID: |
31715185 |
Appl. No.: |
10/223662 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/16 ; 124/56;
446/153 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 23/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/16 ; 124/56;
446/153 |
International
Class: |
F41B 007/08; F41B
011/00; A63H 023/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A toy gun for use by a person in water comprising: (a) a first
body portion comprising a first handle portion, a first trigger
member, first front and back portions, and a first launching
portion; (b) a second body portion comprising a second handle
portion, a second trigger member, second front and back portions,
and a second launching portion; said second body portion being
engaged with said first body portion; (c) a first projectile
comprising a first propulsion unit; said first projectile being
engaged with said first launching portion from a first position
where said first projectile is substantially retained by said first
launching portion to a second position where said first projectile
may be released from said first launching portion upon activation
of said first propulsion unit in the water; and (d) a second
projectile comprising a second propulsion unit; said second
projectile being engaged with said second launching portion from a
first position where said second projectile is substantially
retained by said second launching portion to a second position
where said second projectile may be released from said second
launching portion upon activation of said second propulsion unit in
the water.
2. The toy gun of claim 1, wherein said front portion of said first
body portion is removably engaged with said back portion of said
second body portion.
3. The toy gun of claim 2, wherein each of said first and second
projectiles are self-propelled.
4. The toy gun of claim 3, wherein said first propulsion unit
comprises a first battery, a first motor connected to said first
battery, a first propeller engaged with said first motor, and a
first switch operable from a first position where said first
propulsion unit is inactive to a second position where said first
propulsion unit is activated.
5. The toy gun of claim 4, wherein said second propulsion unit
comprises a second battery, a second motor connected to said second
battery, a second propeller engaged with said second motor, and a
second switch operable from a first position where said second
propulsion unit is inactive to a second position where said second
propulsion unit is activated.
6. The toy gun of claim 5, wherein activation of said first and
second trigger members of said first and second body portions,
respectively, cause said first and second projectiles,
respectively, to be in said second position of said first and
second launching portions, respectively.
7. The toy gun of claim 6, wherein said activation of said first
and second trigger members of said first and second body portions,
respectively, cause activation of said first and second propulsion
units, respectively.
8. The toy gun of claim 7, wherein said first and second launching
portions each comprise a cover that may be opened to allow the
person to insert said first and second projectiles into said first
and second launching portions, respectively.
9. The toy gun of claim 8, wherein said second body portion further
comprises a release pin that may be operated by the person to
remove said first body portion from said second body portion.
10. The toy gun of claim 9, wherein said fist and second trigger
members of said first and second body portions, respectively, are
positioned in close proximity to said first and second handle
portions of said first and second body portions, respectively, to
allow the person to grasp said first and second handle portions and
activate said first and second trigger members.
11. The toy gun of claim 3, wherein said first and second
propulsion units each comprise compressed air to dispense said
first and second projectiles, respectively.
12. The toy gun of claim 3, wherein said first and second
propulsion units each comprise pressurized water to dispense said
first and second projectiles, respectively.
13. The toy gun of claim 3, wherein said first and second
propulsion units each comprise a spring to dispense said first and
second projectiles, respectively.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to toys for use by a person in
a water environment such as a swimming pool.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many types of toys have been developed for use by a person
in a water environment such as a swimming pool. Conventional toys
do not allow a person to launch self-propelled projectiles in such
water environments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention is a toy gun for use by a person in
water environment such as a swimming pool. In one embodiment, the
toy gun comprises a first body portion having a first handle
portion, a first trigger member, first front and back portions, and
a first launching portion. The toy gun further comprises a second
body portion having a second handle portion, a second trigger
member, second front and back portions, and a second launching
portion. The second body portion is removably engaged with the
first body portion. The toy gun further comprises a first
projectile removably engaged with the first launching portion and a
second projectile removably engaged with the second launching
portion. The first projectile comprises a first propulsion unit and
the second projectile comprises a second propulsion unit. The first
projectile is engaged with the first launching portion from a first
or loaded position where the first projectile is substantially
retained by the first launching portion to a second or firing
position where the first projectile may be released or fired from
the first launching portion upon activation of the first propulsion
unit in the water. The second projectile is engaged with the second
launching portion from a first or loaded position where the second
projectile is substantially retained by the second launching
portion to a second or firing position where the second projectile
may be released or fired from the second launching portion upon
activation of the second propulsion unit in the water.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The following detailed description of the invention will be
more fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a first embodiment of the
toy gun of the present invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the toy
gun of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the first embodiment of
the toy gun of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the first embodiment of
the toy gun of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a cut-away view of the first embodiment of the toy
gun of the present invention showing engagement of the first body
portion with the second body portion; and
[0010] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the first and second propulsion
units of the first and second projectiles, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, wherein a first embodiment of the
toy gun 10 of the present invention is shown. The toy gun 10
comprises a first body portion 12 removably engaged with a second
body portion 36. The first body portion 12 comprises a front
portion 14, a back portion 16, a top portion 18, a handle portion
20, a trigger member 22, and a first launching portion 24. The
second body portion 36 comprises a front portion 38, a back portion
40, a top portion 42, a handle portion 44, a trigger member 46, and
a second launching portion 48. The first and second launching
portions 24 and 48 are generally adapted to receive and release the
first and second self-propelled projectiles 62 and 74 (to be
described), respectively. The front portion 14 of the first body
portion 12 is removably engaged within the back portion 40 of the
second body portion 36. The front portion 14 of the first body
portion 12 comprises a recessed annular channel 15. The back
portion 40 of the second body portion 36 comprises an opening or
cavity 41 and a spring loaded snap pin 43 extending normally
therein. When front portion 14 of the first body portion 12 is
fully inserted within the opening 41 of the back portion 40 of the
second body portion 36, the pin 43 extends into the channel 15 and
the first body portion 12 cannot be removed from the second body
portion 36. The person may retract the pin 43 to remove the first
body portion 12 from the second body portion 36.
[0012] The first launching portion 24 comprises a concave shaped
cavity portion 26, and a spiral shaped cover portion 28. The cover
portion 28 is connected by a hinge member 30 to the cavity portion
26. The cover portion 28 may be opened by person to insert or load
the first projectile 62 into the first launching portion 24 and
closed by the person to retain the first projectile 62 within the
first launching portion 24. The first launching portion 24 is
positioned above the top portion 18 of the first body portion 12.
The first launching portion 24 further comprises a stop member 32
removably positioned within the cavity portion 26. The stop member
32 may be moved inward and outward of the cavity portion 26 to
restrain and release the first projectile 62 from the first
launching portion 24. Movement of the stop member 32 may be caused
by activation or depression of the first trigger member 22. In a
first or loaded position, the stop member 32 prevents the first
projectile 62 from moving outward from the first launching portion
24. Activation or depression of the first trigger member 22 causes
the first projectile 62 to be in a second or firing position
wherein the stop member 32 is retracted and does not prevent the
first projectile 62 from moving outward from the first launching
portion 24. The first trigger member 22 is positioned in close
proximity or adjacent to the first handle portion 20 so that the
person may grip the first body portion 12 and activate the first
trigger member 22 with a single hand and finger. The body portion
12 may further comprise a cross hair guide 34 mounted on the cover
portion 28 of the first launching portion 24. The cross hair guide
34 is designed to assist the person in aiming the first projectile
62 at a target (not shown).
[0013] The second launching portion 48 comprises a concave shaped
cavity portion 50 and a spiral shaped cover portion 52. The cover
portion 52 is connected by a hinge member 54 to the cavity portion
50. The cover portion 52 may be opened by person to insert or load
the second projectile 74 into the second launching portion 48 and
closed by the person to retain the second projectile 74 within the
second launching portion 48. The second launching portion 48 is
positioned at the front portion 38. The second launching portion 48
is substantially aligned with the first launching portion 24. The
second launching portion 48 further comprises a stop member 56
removably positioned within the cavity portion 50. The stop member
56 may be moved inward and outward of the cavity portion 50 to
restrain and release the second projectile 74 from the second
launching portion 48. Movement of the stop member 56 may be caused
by activation or depression of the second trigger member 46. In a
first or loaded position, the stop member 56 prevents the second
projectile 74 from moving outward from the second launching portion
48. Activation or depression of the second trigger member 46 causes
the second projectile 74 to be in a second or firing position
wherein the stop member 56 is retracted and does not prevent the
second projectile 74 from moving outward from the second launching
portion 48. The second trigger member 46 is positioned in close
proximity or adjacent to the second handle portion 44 so that the
person may grip the second body portion 36 and activate the second
trigger member 46 with a single hand and finger.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 6, the first projectile 62 comprises a
first propulsion unit 64. The first projectile 62 is engaged with
the first launching portion 24 from a first position or state where
the first projectile 62 is substantially retained by the first
launching portion 24 to a second position or state where the first
projectile 48 is unrestrained by the first launching portion 24 (by
activation of the first trigger member 22) and is launched upon
activation of the first propulsion unit 64 in the water. The first
propulsion unit 64 may be activated prior to activation of the
first trigger member 22. The second projectile 74 comprises a
second propulsion unit 76. The second projectile 74 is engaged with
the second launching portion 48 from a first position or state
where the second projectile 74 is substantially retained by the
second launching portion 48 to a second position where the second
projectile 74 is unrestrained by the first launching portion 48 (by
activation of the second trigger member 46) and is launched by
activation of activation of the second propulsion unit 76 in the
water. The second propulsion unit 76 may be activated prior to
activation of the second trigger member 46. The first and second
projectiles 62 and 74 are self-propelled and similar in design to
the self-propelled projectile shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,093,076 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety
into this specification. The first propulsion unit 64 comprises a
first battery 66, a first motor 68 connected to the first battery
66, a first propeller 70 engaged by a first shaft 71 to the first
motor 68, and a first switch 72 operable from a first position
where the first propulsion unit 64 is off or inactive to a second
position where the first propulsion unit 64 is on or activated.
Similarly, the second propulsion unit 76 comprises a second battery
78, a second motor 80 connected to the second battery 78, a second
propeller 82 engaged by a second shaft 83 to the second motor 80,
and a second switch 84 operable from a first position where the
second propulsion unit 76 is off or inactive to a second position
where the second propulsion unit 76 is on or activated.
[0015] In operation, the person may connect the first body portion
12 to the second body portion 36 and load the first and second
projectiles 62 and 74 into the first and second launching portions
24 and 48, respectively, by opening cover portions 28 and 52 and
inserting the first and second projectiles 62 and 74 therein. The
cover portions 28 and 52 may be closed wherein the stop members 32
and 56 restrain the first and second projectiles 62 and 74 within
the first and second launching portions 24 and 48, respectively.
The person may turn one or both of the first and second projectiles
48 and 62 by manual activation or depression of the switches 72 and
84, respectively. The person may launch one or both of the first
and second projectiles 62 and 74 by manual activation or depression
of the first and second trigger members 22 and 46, respectively,
which allows the first and second projectiles 62 and 74 to launch
or move outward from the first and second launching portions 24 and
48. The person may remove the first body portion 12 from the second
body portion 36 upon launching of the first or second projectile 62
and 74 by retracting the retention pin 43.
[0016] The toy gun 10 may designed in a variety of different ways.
By way of example only, activation or depression of the first and
second trigger members 22 and 46 may also cause activation of the
first and second propulsion units 64 and 76, respectively, thereby
eliminating the need for manual activation or depression of the
switches 72 and 84. Further, the first propulsion unit 64 may
further comprises a third propeller (not shown) and the second
propulsion unit 76 may further comprise a fourth propeller (not
shown). The third propeller (not shown) of the first propulsion
unit 64 is connected to the first motor 68. The fourth propeller
(not shown) of the second propulsion unit 76 is connected to the
second motor 80. The use of two (2) propellers on each shaft may
tend to achieve enhanced directional control and/or power.
Alternatively, the first propulsion unit 64 may further comprise a
third shaft (not shown) and a third motor (not shown) and the
second propulsion unit 76 may comprise a fourth shaft (not shown)
and a fourth motor (not shown). The first propeller 70 and the
third propeller (not shown) of the first propulsion unit 64 are
connected and driven by the first motor 66 and the third motor (not
shown), respectively. Similarly, the second propeller 80 and the
fourth propeller (not shown) of the second propulsion unit 64 are
connected and driven by the second motor 80 and the fourth motor
(not shown), respectively. A single or multiple battery sources may
be used.
[0017] In the embodiment shown, the first and second propulsion
units 64 and 76 use a propeller to cause movement of the
projectile. Alternatively, the first and second propulsion units 64
and 76 may each comprise a compressed air system (not shown) to
dispense the first and second projectiles 62 and 74, respectively.
The first and second propulsion units 64 and 76 may each comprise a
pressurized water system to dispense the first and second
projectiles 62 and 74, respectively. The first and second
propulsion units 64 and 76 may comprise a spring to dispense the
first and second projectiles 62 and 74, respectively. The first and
second launching portions 24 and 48 may each comprise a spring or
an elastic band engaged with and adapted to dispense the first and
second projectiles 62 and 74, respectively.
[0018] The foregoing description is intended primarily for purposes
of illustration. This invention may be embodied in other forms or
carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or
scope of the invention. Modifications and variations still falling
within the spirit or the scope of the invention will be readily
apparent to those of skill in the art.
* * * * *