U.S. patent application number 11/503107 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-29 for cap firing noise maker.
Invention is credited to Mark J. Chernick, Webb T. Nelson, Simeon E. Tiefel.
Application Number | 20080125009 11/503107 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39464262 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080125009 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chernick; Mark J. ; et
al. |
May 29, 2008 |
Cap firing noise maker
Abstract
A noisemaker assembly that fires exploding caps that are
contained within a roll of exploding caps. The noisemaker assembly
is operated by being manually spun in a user's hand. The noisemaker
assembly includes a handle and a platform that is pivotably
connected to the handle so that it can be spun about the handle. A
hammer arm is present on the platform. The hammer arm cocks and
strikes an impact surface on the platform at least once each time
that the platform rotates around the handle. A mechanism is
provided on the platform that advances caps across said position
impacted by the hammer arm. In this manner, the hammer arm
repeatedly strikes the advancing caps as the noisemaker assembly is
spun. The hammer arm ignites the caps, thereby rapidly firing the
caps contained within the roll of caps.
Inventors: |
Chernick; Mark J.;
(Woodinville, WA) ; Nelson; Webb T.; (Woodinville,
WA) ; Tiefel; Simeon E.; (Tigard, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAMORTE & ASSOCIATES P.C.
P.O. BOX 434
YARDLEY
PA
19067
US
|
Family ID: |
39464262 |
Appl. No.: |
11/503107 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/398 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 37/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/398 |
International
Class: |
A63H 5/00 20060101
A63H005/00 |
Claims
1. A noisemaker assembly that fires exploding caps contained within
a roll of exploding caps, said noisemaker assembly comprising: a
handle; a platform supported by said handle, wherein said platform
can rotate about said handle, and wherein said platform retains
said roll of exploding caps; a hammer arm that cocks and strikes a
surface on said platform at least once each time said platform is
rotated on said handle; and a mechanism that advances caps from
said roll of exploding caps across said position impacted by said
hammer arm.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said handle engages
said platform proximate a first end of said platform.
3. The assembly according to claim 2, further including an offset
weight coupled to said platform at a second end of said platform
that is opposite said first end.
4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism that
advances caps includes a roller that contacts said roll of
exploding caps, wherein said roller rotates as said platform
rotates on said handle.
5. The assembly according to claim 1, further including a vertical
wall extending upwardly from said platform wherein said surface
impacted by said hammer arm is along said vertical wall.
6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said handle has a
first gear attached thereto.
7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein said first gear
intermeshes with a second gear supported by said platform, wherein
said second gear is turned by said first gear when said platform
rotates about said handle.
8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said hammer arm is
biased into contact with said surface by a spring.
9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said hammer arm is
periodically moved against said spring to said cocked position by
said second gear.
10. A noisemaker assembly comprising: a handle; a platform coupled
to said handle with a pivot connection that enables said platform
to rotate about said handle; an impact surface supported by said
platform; a hammer arm that periodically strikes said impact
surface as said platform rotates about said handle.
11. The assembly according to claim 10, further including a
structure on said platform for holding a roll of caps that contains
a plurality of exploding caps.
12. The assembly according to claim 11, further including a
mechanism for advancing said exploding caps proximate said impact
surface, wherein said exploding caps are ignited by said hammer
arm.
13. The assembly according to claim 10, further including an offset
weight coupled to said platform.
14. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein said mechanism for
advancing said exploding caps includes a roller that contacts said
roll of caps, wherein said roller rotates as said platform rotates
on said handle.
15. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein said handle has a
first gear attached thereto.
16. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said first gear
intermeshes with a second gear supported by said platform, wherein
said second gear is turned by said first gear when said platform
rotates about said handle.
17. A method of sequentially firing exploding caps contained within
a roll of caps, said method comprising the steps of: providing a
handheld device having a handle, a roller, a hammer arm and an
impact surface; loading said roll of caps onto said handheld
device; spinning said handheld device about said handle, wherein
the spinning of said handheld device causes said hammer arm to
periodically strike said impact surface, and wherein said roller
advances said roll of caps toward said impact surface.
18. The method according to claim 17, further including the step of
providing an offset weight that provides momentum to said handheld
device as said handheld device spins.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is related to novelty devices that
fire caps. More particularly, the present invention relates to
novelty devices that continuously fire caps from a roll of
caps.
[0003] 2. Prior Art Description
[0004] Noisemakers are often used as party favors and at
celebrations such as New Years Eve and birthdays. The purpose of a
noisemaker is to make loud noise for a prolonged period of time.
Noisemakers come in a variety of styles and shapes. Some
noisemakers are blown to make noise. Other noisemakers make noise
when they are manually spun. Such spun noisemakers typically
include a handle and some type of head structure that generates
noise when the head structure is rotated about the handle.
[0005] Although blown and spun noisemakers are loud, their volume
is generally limited by their structure. It has been noticed that
exploding caps are capable of making louder, more prolonged noises
than traditional handheld noisemakers. The present invention
incorporates caps into a handheld noisemaker, thereby making the
noisemaker louder and more fun to use. The details of the present
invention are described and claimed below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is a noisemaker assembly that fires
exploding caps that are contained within a roll of exploding caps.
The noisemaker assembly is operated by being manually spun in a
user's hand. The noisemaker assembly includes a handle and a
platform that is pivotably connected to the handle so that it can
be spun about the handle. The platform is configured to retain a
roll of exploding caps. A hammer arm is present on the platform.
The hammer arm cocks and strikes an impact surface on the platform
at least once each time that the platform rotates around the
handle.
[0007] A mechanism is provided on the platform that advances caps
from the roll of caps across said position impacted by the hammer
arm. In this manner, the hammer arm repeatedly strikes the
advancing caps as the noisemaker assembly is spun. The hammer arm
ignites the caps, thereby rapidly firing the caps contained within
the roll of caps.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] For a better understanding of the present invention,
reference is made to the following description of an exemplary
embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention shown in conjunction with a roll of caps;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a fragmented top view showing the exemplary
embodiment in a cocked condition; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is a fragmented top view of the exemplary embodiment
after just having ignited a cap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention novelty noisemaker 10. The novelty
noisemaker 10 has a handle 12 that is held in a user's hand. A head
assembly 14 is connected to the handle 12 with a pivot connection.
Accordingly, the head assembly 14 can be rotated around the top of
the handle 12 by manually manipulating the handle 12 in a circular
manner.
[0014] The head assembly 14 has two opposite ends. The head
assembly 14 is coupled to the handle 12 proximate one end. An
offset weight 20 is present at the opposite end of the head
assembly 14. The offset weight 20 provides momentum to the head
assembly 14 that helps keep the head assembly 14 rotating once it
begins to spin a top the handle 12. In the shown embodiment, the
offset weight 20 is a ball. However, it will be understood that the
offset weight 20 can have any shape, such as an airplane or a
figure head.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, it can be
seen that the head assembly 14 includes a platform 22. The platform
22 has a top surface 24 and a bottom surface (not shown). The
offset weight 20 extends from one end of the platform 22.
[0016] At the opposite end of the platform 22 is the connection to
the handle 12. The handle 12 is coupled to the platform 22 at a
pivot connection 16. In this manner, the platform 22, and all it
supports, is free to rotate about the top of the handle 12.
[0017] A large gear 28 is positioned under the platform 22. The
large gear 28 rotates about a central axle 30. The central axle 30
extends up through the platform 22. The large gear 28 has a top
surface 29 that faces the bottom surface 26 of the platform 22. An
offset pin 32 extends upwardly from the top surface 29 of the large
gear 28.
[0018] A small gear 34 is affixed to the top of the handle 12. The
small gear 34 intermeshes with the large gear 28 under the platform
22. The large gear 28 is supported by the platform 22. The small
gear 34 is supported by the handle 12. Accordingly, it will be
understood that when the platform 22 rotates about the handle 12,
the small gear 34 remains stationary and the large gear 28 turns
around the small gear 34.
[0019] The large gear 28 is attached to its central axle 30.
Accordingly, when the large gear 28 turns the axle 30 turns. A
roller 36 is provided on the top of the platform 22. The roller 36
is coupled to the axle 30 of the large gear 28. Consequently, when
the large gear 28 rotates, the axle 30 rotates and the roller 36
rotates. The roller 36 is seated between a vertical guide wall 38
and an anvil wall 40 that extend vertically from the top surface 24
of the platform 22. As will be later explained, the roller 36, the
guide wall 38 and the anvil wall 40 combine to guide and advance a
line of exploding caps during operation.
[0020] A hammer arm 42 is provided. The hammer arm 42 has two ends.
At one end of the hammer arm is an impact head 44. At the opposite
end of the hammer arm 42 is a vertical shaft 46. A spring 48 is
provided that biases the impact head 44 of the hammer arm 42
against the anvil wall 40.
[0021] The second end of the hammer arm 42 is rigidly affixed to a
vertical shaft 46. The vertical shaft 46 descends through the
platform 22 and is coupled to a lever arm 50 under the platform 22.
The lever arm 50 and the hammer arm 42 are therefore rigidly
interconnected by the vertical shaft 46. In this manner, when the
lever arm 50 is moved under the platform 22, a corresponding
movement is created in the hammer arm 42 above the platform 22.
[0022] A cap cover 52 is provided. The cap cover 52 is connected to
the platform 22 with a pivot connection 54. The cap cover 52 can be
selectively rotated between an open position for loading and a
closed position for firing. When in the open position, the cap
cover 52 is rotated out of the way so that a roll of caps 60 can be
loaded into the noisemaker 10. Once the roll of caps 60 is loaded,
the cap cover 52 can be rotated over the roll of caps 60 to prevent
the roll of caps 60 from inadvertently falling away from the cap
cover 52.
[0023] To load a roll of caps 60, a roll of caps 60 is first
provided. The roll of caps 60 is a unit of standard caps of the
type used by conventional toy cap guns. The roll of caps 60 is
placed around a spool pin 62 that extends upwardly from the
platform 22. The roll of caps 60 is threaded between the cap roller
36 and the vertical guide wall 38. The roll of caps 60 is then
advanced between the anvil wall 40 and the hammer arm 42.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 2, it will be
understood that as the head assembly 14 spins around the handle 12,
the large gear 28 turns. The turning of the large gear 28 makes the
roller 36 turn. The turning of the roller 36 moves the roll of caps
60 forward as the individual caps unwind. Furthermore, as the large
gear 28 turns, the offset pin 32 on the top of the large gear 28
comes into contact with the lever arm 50. This causes the lever arm
50 to rotate. As the lever arm 50 rotates, the hammer arm 42 also
rotates. The hammer arm 42 moves in the direction of arrow 64 into
a cocked position away from the caps and the anvil wall 40.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 4 in conjunction with FIG. 3, it can be
seen that as the large gear 28 rotates, the pin 32 on the large
gear 28 eventually pulls away from the lever arm 50. The
disengagement is sudden. Once disengaged, the bias of the spring 48
causes the hammer arm 42 to rapidly strike a single cap 66 from the
roll of caps 60. The cap 66 is compressed in between the hammer arm
42 and the anvil wall 40. The impact ignites the cap 66 causing a
loud bang. As the head assembly 14 continues to rotate around the
handle 12, the line of caps 60 continues to advance and the hammer
arm 42 continues to cock and release. The hammer arm 42 therefore
strikes a cap 66 as quickly as the head assembly 14 can be rotated.
Accordingly, several caps 66 can be struck in just a few seconds by
spinning the head assembly 14 quickly around the handle 12.
[0026] It will be understood that the embodiment of the present
invention that is illustrated is merely exemplary and that a person
skilled in the art can make many variations to that embodiment. For
instance, the shape of the offset weight, the platform and the
handle can be varied as a matter of design choice. The intermeshing
gears can be replaced by contacting wheels. All such variations,
modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be included
within the scope of the present invention as defined by the
claims.
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