(1) Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an air-powered toy gun and, more particularly, to an air-powered toy gun that shoots pliable projectiles.
(2) Description of Related Art
Toy projectiles have long been known in the art. Toy projectiles are often expelled by toy guns to simulate the firing of a weapon. To reduce injury, several toy guns have been created to fire “soft” projectiles. The soft projectiles are presumably softer and less dangerous than their metallic counterparts. By way of example, several toy companies sell toy guns that shoot plastic or foam bullets. Both the plastic and foam bullets do not possess the mass of a real metallic bullet and, therefore, are less dangerous.
An advantage of plastic bullets is that they are solid and, as such, are less influenced by air currents than foam bullets. In other words, after being fired by a toy gun, a solid and plastic projectile is more likely than a porous projectile (i.e., the foam bullet) to shoot straight. A disadvantage to such plastic bullets is that they are solid and, although softer than metal, can still cause injury. Additionally, because they are typically solid, such plastic bullets do not stick to their target and readily “bounce off” of the target. Alternatively, a foam bullet is much softer than a plastic bullet which reduces the risk of injury from such a projectile. However, as noted above, the foam bullet is subject to being influenced by air currents and, as such, does not shoot straight (or as far) as a plastic bullet. As was the case with a plastic bullet, a foam bullet also does not stick to its target.
As noted above, both the plastic and foam bullets do not possess the mass of a real metallic bullet and, therefore, are typically less dangerous. While a manufacturer may sell a toy gun with such plastic or foam bullets, users often misuse the items and have been known to stick foreign objects into such toy guns. For example, a user may attempt to shoot a marble out of a toy gun instead of the plastic bullets included with the gun. While the marble could possibly shoot farther, it is considerably harder and more dangerous as a projectile than a plastic bullet. To prevent a user from shooting such foreign objects, projections or other markings are often includes in the barrels of the toy gun. For example, the barrel may have protrusions, while the plastic bullet includes corresponding indentations. Thus, the plastic bullet is specifically formed to matingly engage with markings in the barrel. However, because of the protrusions (markings), foreign objects do not fit properly within the barrel and are less likely to be fired or expelled by the toy gun. As such, a toy gun requires such markings for safety reasons.
Thus, a continuing need exists for a soft projectile that is safer than a plastic bullet, that is less influenced by air current than a foam bullet, that is capable of sticking to its target, and that can conform to the safety markings of a corresponding toy gun to form an air tight seal for effective firing from the gun. Further, a need exists for a toy gun that is operable for rapidly shooting such projectiles. Thus, the present invention is directed to an air-powered toy gun and pliable projectiles for shooting therefrom.
While considering the failure of others to make use of all of the above components in this technology space, the inventor unexpectedly realized that a pliable projectile (e.g., dehydrated pulp-based projectile) would increase safety while being less influenced by air current. Also, it was unexpectedly realized that such a pulp-based projectile, when rehydrated, would be capable of making an air tight seal in a bullet chamber that includes safety projections and, when fired, sticking to a target. Further, it was unexpectedly realized that an air-powered gun could be used to safely shoot the projectiles at great distances without compromising safety.
Thus, the present invention is directed to an air-powered toy gun. The gun includes a housing with a barrel. A cartridge slot is formed in the housing to accept a projectile cartridge and align a bullet chamber of the cartridge with the barrel. An air cylinder is attached with the housing. A dual slide unit is slideably attached with the housing, the dual slide unit having a plunger positioned within the air cylinder. A main spring is wrapped around the plunger. A pull back handle attached is with the dual slide unit to allow a user to draw the plunger from the air cylinder, which compresses the spring. Conduits are attached with the air cylinder to fluidly connect the air cylinder with the bullet chamber of a cartridge when a cartridge is positioned within the main housing. Thus, a user can draw the plunger from the air cylinder and release the pull back handle to cause the plunger to compress air within the air cylinder and force the compressed air through the conduits to shoot a projectile from the bullet chamber of a cartridge.
In another aspect, an indexing mechanism attached with the housing. The indexing mechanism is operably connected with the dual slide unit such that upon motion of the dual slide unit, the indexing mechanism draws a cartridge through the cartridge slot.
The dual slide unit includes a top indexing platform with a slot formed therein. The indexing mechanism further includes an indexing lever and an indexing gear operably connected with the indexing lever. The indexing lever is attached with the housing such that upon motion of the dual slide unit, the indexing lever slides within the slot and causes the indexing gear to rotate, thereby drawing a cartridge through the cartridge slot.
Additionally, a cartridge with a plurality of bullet chambers for encasing a plurality of projectiles can be included. The cartridge includes projections formed through each bullet chamber. Additionally, pulpous projectiles are included for positioning within the cartridge, the pulpous projectiles including a fluorescent material therein.
Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming and using the pliable projectile and toy gun described herein.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where:
The present invention relates to an air gun and, more particularly, to an air-powered, toy gun that rapidly shoots pliable projectiles. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is only one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.
Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object.
(1) Description
As described above, toy projectiles have long been known in the art. However, toy projectiles of the prior art are known to bounce off of their target, are influenced by air currents, and/or can present a risk of injury. Thus, the present invention improves upon the prior art by providing a pliable projectile that is less prone to causing injury. Further, for rapid-fire actions, the present invention provides an air-powered, toy gun for rapidly shooting such projectiles.
As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the projectile 100 can be formed in a variety of shapes, non-limiting examples of which include being round, or shaped as that depicted in
In operation, the pliable projectile 100 can be positioned within the bullet chamber (e.g., gun clip) of the toy gun and then formed around the markings/shape of the bullet chamber. For example, the toy gun or bullet chamber can be dipped in water, which would cause the projectile to absorb the water (rehydrate) and soften. An advantage to being pulp based is that the projectile 100 is more solid than foam and, as such, generally shoots straighter and further than foam. However, when rehydrated, the projectile 100 has the propensity to stick to its target as it becomes pliable and sticky through rehydration.
Additionally, the pliable projectile 100 for use with the present invention can be used with an air-powered toy gun and propelled from the toy gun. As a non-limiting example,
As noted above, the present invention includes both the combination of a pliable projectile and a toy gun having a bullet chamber that is formed to prevent a foreign projectile from forming an air tight seal within the bullet chamber. For example, preventing such an air tight seal can be accomplished with projections 122 (or depressions). It should be understood that although the present application may refer to projections, depressions can be similarly used to prevent a round object from forming an airtight seal within a chamber. For example, if a rut or channel is formed along the length of the bullet chamber, a round pellet would not be able to form an air tight seal within the chamber. However, using the pliable (e.g., pulp-based) projectiles of the present invention, the pulp-based projectile, when rehydrated, becomes pliable and can be pushed into or expanded into the depression, thereby forming an air tight seal. Thus, although the term projection may be used herein, the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto as the term projection and depression can be used interchangeably as markings. Additionally, it should also be understand that altering the shape of the bullet chamber can also be used to prevent a foreign projectile from forming an air tight seal within the bullet chamber.
As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, there are numerous shapes of markings (e.g., projections or depressions) that can be used to prevent a hardened, round object from forming an air tight seal within a chamber. As depicted in
For example,
As another example,
As another Example,
As another example,
Thus, the air-powered toy gun of the present invention includes a bullet chamber that is shaped to prevent a foreign projectile (e.g., a hard, round object) from forming an air tight seal therein. This can be accomplished through any suitable manner, non-limiting examples of which include projections, depressions, or forming the bullet chamber such that it is a non-conforming shape to that of the foreign projectile. It should also be appreciated that the bullet chamber can be formed within the barrel of the toy gun itself or formed as a bullet clip that attaches with the toy gun.
As illustrated in
Referring again to
To assist in compressing the air within the air cylinder 204, a main spring 212 (or any suitable compression/expansion device) is wrapped around the plunger 302. Thus, as the user pulls back the pull back handle 202, the plunger 302 is drawn 203 from the air cylinder 204 and the main spring 212 becomes compressed around the plunger 302. Due to the expansive forces of a compressed spring, as a user releases the pull back handle 202, the main spring 212 forces the plunger 302 forward 205 to compress air within the air cylinder 204. The compressed air then escapes from the air cylinder 204 via an air cylinder cap 214 and front air nozzle 216 that directs air into the air tube 208.
As mentioned above, the toy gun 110 includes an indexing mechanism 218. The indexing mechanism 218 is any suitable mechanism or device that allows the cartridge to be drawn through a cartridge slot 220. Importantly, the cartridge slot 220 is formed through the housing so that a cartridge can be positioned therein, with its chambers successively aligned between the barrel 210 and air being forced from the air tube 208 (and the corresponding pipes, caps, and valves).
As a non-limiting example, the indexing mechanism 218 includes an indexing lever 222 that is operably connected with an indexing gear 224. As the dual slide unit 206 is pulled back and drawn 203 from the air cylinder 204, the indexing lever 222 slides through the slot (shown as element 304 in
For further understanding,
Therefore and repeated here for clarity, the present invention is directed to an air-powered toy gun that can be used with a pliable projectile (or any other suitable projectile). By applying air pressure to the projectile, the projectile is expelled from the barrel and shot to a surface, such as a wall. Because the projectile can be soaked in water and pulpous, it maintains a sticky composition, allowing it to “splat” and stick to the wall.
It should be noted that additional features can be added to the present invention. For example, the invention can be formed to include a tracer function. In this aspect, a fluorescent material (a fluorescent dye) or solution can be added to the projectiles. Additionally, a glow-in-the-dark material or solution can also be added to the projectiles. Additionally and referring again to
For further understanding of the toy gun 110,
This is a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/899,442, filed on Oct. 6, 2010, and entitled, DEHYDRATED, PULP-BASED PROJECTILE, which is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/340,740, filed on Mar. 18, 2010, entitled, “Air-powered projectile shooter and pulpous projectiles for shooting therefrom.” This is ALSO a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/901,489, filed on Oct. 8, 2010, and entitled, A PLIABLE PROJECTILE AND CORRESPONDING TOY GUN WITH SAFETY FEATURES FOR USE WITH THE PLIABLE PROJECTILE, which is also a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/340,740, filed on Mar. 18, 2010, entitled, “Air-powered projectile shooter and pulpous projectiles for shooting therefrom.”
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12899442 | Oct 2010 | US |
Child | 13253874 | US | |
Parent | 12901489 | Oct 2010 | US |
Child | 12899442 | US |