Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6279562
-
Patent Number
6,279,562
-
Date Filed
Monday, February 9, 199826 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 28, 200123 years ago
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 124 59
- 124 72
- 124 69
- 124 73
- 222 79
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A toy gun projects matter from a plurality of discharge ports, such as barrels or nozzles, which are irregularly located on the gun. The gun may incorporate a figurine in its structure to simulate an object such as a creature or a vehicle. The discharge ports may simulate a plurality of weapons carried by or on the figurine, such as cannons, machine guns, lasers or the like and may be adapted to project matter in solid or liquid forms, such as darts or water. A pump mechanism pressurizes gas or liquid, typically air or water, to facilitate the discharge of such projected matter. A distribution mechanism conducts the pressurized gas or liquid to the discharge ports.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to toy guns and projectile launchers, and more particularly to such devices which incorporate a figurine into the structure of the device to simulate a vehicle, creature or other figure, and to such devices adapted to discharge water or other projectiles from multiple ports.
Dart guns are known in the art in which the body of the gun is in the form of an aircraft. In such guns a dart barrel is typically formed in the nose of the aircraft fuselage. A handle at the rear of the fuselage allows the user to draw back the plunger of an internally carried air pump. A pistol grip and trigger attached to the underside of the fuselage allow the user to hold and discharge the toy. The toy is identical in function and manner of operation to a typical single shot dart gun, except that its body is shaped like an aircraft rather than a gun.
Also known in the art are water guns concealed in, disguised as, or otherwise incorporating figurines. Examples are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,419 (Spector), U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,202 (D'Andrade), U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,918 (D'Andrade), U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,892 (Nadel), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,756 (Amici et al.).
A common characteristic of the above referenced dart guns and water guns is they are limited to discharging projectile matter from a single discharge port.
Also known in the art are air operated projectile launchers, such as dart guns, which are capable of launching projectiles sequentially from multiple discharge ports. Typically this involves the use of a multiple barrel magazine which can be rotated or otherwise moved on the frame of the gun to sequentially align the individual barrels with the air outlet of an air pump. For the purpose of such alignment with the barrels, the air pump outlet is fixed in position on the gun frame. Examples of this structure are found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,237,678 (Lohr et al.). A variation on this structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,729 (Griffin et al.) wherein a magazine is held in a stationary position on the frame of a dart gun, and an air pump is rotated to sequentially align an air outlet with the barrels of the magazine.
A common characteristic of such multi-shot devices is the grouping of the barrels in a uniform pattern, immediately adjacent one another, in a magazine which is movably or releasably attached to the body. Commonly used magazine patterns include evenly spaced circular and linear arrays of barrels. Such arrangements are necessary in prior art devices to allow movable barrels to sequentially align with a stationary air outlet, or vice versa, through simple incremental motions. Another common characteristic of such devices is the proximity of the barrels to the air pump. Pumps and barrels in these and other multi-shot air guns are aligned and positioned adjacent to one another because it is efficient, both as to layout and construction of the gun and as to delivery of air from pump to barrel. Adherence to such conventions and the incorporation of such characteristics has limited prior art development of multiple barrel, air powered toy guns to generally conventional layouts, e.g., a magazine comprising a circular or linear array of barrels carried at the front end of a gun in direct contact with the cylinder of an air pump.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides novel constructions for toy guns wherein a pump or other pressurization mechanism is employed to project matter from a plurality of projectile discharge ports at locations generally remote from the pressurization mechanism, remote from one another, or otherwise irregularly positioned. The invention further provides novel constructions for toy guns wherein a plurality of projectile discharge ports, such as barrels or nozzles, simulate a plurality of weapons or the like being operated by or upon a figurine or model. For example, the invention can be employed to construct toys simulating such things as a multi-headed serpent that spits liquid from each head, a robot that fires a plurality of guns or other simulated weapons, and a vehicle (aircraft, water craft, army tank, spacecraft, etc.) that launches projectiles from a plurality of simulated cannons.
In general, the invention includes distribution mechanisms for directing pressurized matter, typically air or water, from a central pressure source, such as a pump, to remote locations on a gun. The invention may be employed in air guns, wherein the pressurized matter, air, is used as a propellant to discharge solid projectiles such as darts. The invention may also be employed in water guns wherein the pressurized matter, water, is itself utilized as a projectile. In either example, the invention allows a single pump at one location on the gun to discharge projectile matter from a plurality of locations remote from each other and/or from the pump. A typical embodiment includes the incorporation of a figurine into the frame or body of the gun, wherein primary components of the pump and associated pressure distribution mechanisms are concealed within a relatively large central portion of the body, and a plurality of barrels, nozzles or other discharge ports are carried upon extremities characteristic of the particular figurine incorporated. Other embodiments may comprise a pump on one part of a gun, a plurality of barrels on a remote subassembly of the gun, and a plurality of flexible conduits connecting the individual barrels to a selective distribution mechanism for delivering pressurized air sequentially to one barrel at a time.
It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to enable the construction of pressure operated toy guns in a variety of novel configurations wherein extra play value is derived by the separation of multiple discharge ports from a common pressurization mechanism.
It is a further objective of the invention to enable the construction of novel toy guns wherein multiple projectiles appear to be discharged from or by a creature, vehicle or other object that can be simulated by a figurine incorporated into the toy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood with reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a side view, partially in section, of a novel dart gun incorporating the invention;
FIG. 2
is a side view, partially in section, of the dart gun of
FIG. 1
wherein an operating handle is halfway through an operative cycle;
FIG. 3
is a side view, partially in section, of the dart gun of
FIG. 2
wherein the operative cycle of the operating handle is complete and the gun is ready to be discharged;
FIG. 4
is a front view of a subassembly, including wings and projectile launching barrels, of the dart gun of
FIGS. 1
,
2
&
3
;
FIG. 5
is a top view, partially exploded, of the dart gun subassembly of
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 6
is a side view, partially exploded, of the dart gun subassembly of
FIGS. 4 & 5
;
FIG. 7
is a side view, partially in section, of a novel water gun incorporating the invention;
FIG. 8
is a front view of the water gun of
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 9
is a top view of pump and sequencing mechanisms of the water gun of
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 10
is a top view of components of the pump and sequencing mechanisms of
FIG. 9
;
FIG. 11
is an exploded side sectional view of a cylinder and valve assembly of the pump mechanism of
FIG. 9
;
FIG. 12
is an end view of the cylinder of
FIGS. 9 and 11
;
FIG. 13
is a top view, partially exploded, of a subassembly, including wings and nozzles, of the water gun of
FIGS. 7 and 8
;
FIG. 14
is a front view of the water gun subassembly of
FIG. 13
;
FIG. 15
is a side view in partial section of a novel water gun incorporating the invention;
FIG. 16
is an enlarged side view in partial section of mechanisms of the water gun of FIG.
15
.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1
,
2
, and
3
depict, by way of illustration but not of limitation, a dart gun employing the present invention. The dart gun, indicated in the general direction of arrow
10
, includes a body or frame
11
that simulates a flying vehicle having a fuselage portion
12
and four wings
13
. Carried within the fuselage
12
are a cylinder
14
, a plunger
15
and a latch
16
. The plunger comprises a piston
17
, and a hollow shaft
18
having a protruding shoulder
19
. A spring
20
is carried within the plunger shaft
18
such that one end of the spring rests against the end
18
a
of shaft
18
nearest the piston
17
, and the other end of the spring rests against a member
21
of the latch
16
which protrudes into the interior of the shaft
18
through a pair of slots
22
,
23
. The plunger
15
is carried for forward and reverse travel within the fuselage
12
such that piston
17
either draws air into cylinder
14
or compresses air within the cylinder, depending on direction of travel. The cylinder
14
includes an outlet
24
for discharging air compressed by the piston
17
. The outlet
24
is offset from a central longitudinal axis
14
a
of cylinder
14
. The cylinder
14
is movably carried for rotation about the axis
14
a
. Frame members
25
,
26
and
27
support the cylinder
14
.
A “pistol grip” styled handle assembly
28
is carried for travel between a forward position and a rearward position on the frame
11
. To this end, rails
29
of the handle assembly
28
slide within guides
30
of the frame
11
. A finger
31
of the handle assembly
28
engages shoulder
19
of the plunger
15
, and a shaft
32
on the handle assembly
28
engages a set of grooves
33
on the cylinder
14
. As depicted in
FIG. 1
, the firing mechanism of the gun (which includes cylinder
14
, plunger
15
, latch
16
and spring
20
) is in a discharged condition. If the handle assembly
28
is moved forward on the frame
11
(ref. FIG.
2
), engagement of finger
31
with shoulder
19
causes the plunger
15
to be moved forward, compressing spring
20
between the end
18
a
of the plunger shaft and member
21
of the latch. The spring tension applied to member
21
urges latch
16
to pivot in the clockwise direction about its mounting shaft
16
a
. At the same time, cam action between shaft
32
and grooves
33
forces cylinder
14
to rotate about its axis
14
a
in order to keep a groove
33
in alignment with shaft
32
as the shaft moves forward with the handle assembly
28
.
When the handle assembly reaches the position shown in
FIG. 2
, an opening
34
in one side of plunger shaft
18
becomes aligned with a hook
35
on latch
16
. Rotation of the latch (by tension of spring
20
) forces the hook into the opening, thereby latching the plunger
15
in this position. The cam mechanism of shaft
32
and grooves
33
is designed such that travel of the handle assembly
28
to this position causes cylinder
14
to rotate by approximately one eighth of a revolution. As the handle assembly is returned to its rearward position (ref. FIG.
3
), the plunger
15
remains in the latched position and the cylinder
14
is rotated another one eighth revolution. Since the cylinder outlet
24
is offset from the axis of rotation, it is swept through a ninety degree arc by the forward and reverse cycle of travel described above for handle assembly
28
.
As illustrated in
FIG. 4
,
5
and
6
, the wings
13
are attached to a subassembly
36
of frame
11
. Subassembly
36
includes a central portion
37
having four holes
38
opening into four passages
39
. The passages
39
are formed in the rear side of the structure and are therefore represented in dashed lines. Each of the passages
39
extends toward a different corner of the central portion
37
of subassembly
36
, each corner corresponding to the general location of one of the four wings
13
. Each passage
39
joins a similar passage
40
which traverses the rear edge of a wing. At the tip of each wing is a projectile discharge port in the form of a hollow, tubular dart barrel
41
, open at its front and in communication with a passage
40
at its rear. The four holes
38
are spaced at ninety degree intervals about axis
14
a
, offset from the axis by the same distance as cylinder outlet
24
, and are oriented such that the outlet
24
will be aligned with a selected one of the four holes whenever handle assembly
28
is in the rearward position as in
FIGS. 1 and 3
. Thus, as the handle assembly is repeatedly cycled the outlet will sequentially step through alignment with each of the holes
38
. A gasket
24
a
is affixed to the cylinder
14
about outlet
24
to prevent pressurized air from escaping at the union of outlet
24
and a hole
38
. A shaft
42
on the cylinder
14
extends rearward to the exterior of the body
11
via a hole
43
in frame subassembly
36
. The hole
43
is in alignment with axis
14
a
about which the cylinder
14
rotates. A dial
44
is attached to the shaft
42
in alignment with the air outlet
24
, and rotates with cylinder
14
to indicate which barrel
41
is ready to be discharged. With reference to
FIG. 5
it may be observed that the frame subassembly
36
comprises a main section
36
a
which includes the wings
13
and barrels
41
, and a rear cover section
36
b
. The air passages
39
,
40
are formed from channels
39
a
and
40
a
which are molded into the main section
36
a
, and channels
39
b
and
40
b
which are molded into the rear cover section
36
b.
With the plunger
15
latched in its forward position and the handle assembly
28
in its rearward position (ref. FIG.
3
), the dart gun
10
is cocked and ready to fire. To discharge a dart
41
a
from a barrel
41
, an operator presses a trigger
45
carried on handle assembly
28
. The trigger pivots about a shaft
45
a
such that members
46
of the trigger
45
engage flanges
47
on the latch
16
to force hook
35
upward and out of opening
34
to release the plunger
15
. Spring
20
drives the plunger
15
rapidly into cylinder
14
to compress air therein. Pressurized air is forced from the cylinder through outlet
24
, into an aligned hole
38
, through an associated passage
39
,
40
and into the rear of a barrel
41
to eject a dart
41
a
therefrom. A user can recycle the handle
28
and trigger
45
repeatedly to discharge all barrels
41
in automatic sequence.
FIGS. 7 and 8
depict a water gun constructed in accordance with the present invention. The water gun, generally indicated by numeral
110
includes a a body or frame
111
that simulates a flying vehicle having a fuselage portion
112
and four wings
113
. Carried within the fuselage
112
are a cylinder
114
, a plunger
115
and a motor assembly
116
. With reference to
FIGS. 9 and 10
, the plunger comprises a piston
117
, a shaft
118
attached to a slotted member
119
, and a cylinder advancement arm
120
also attached to the slotted member
119
. The advancement arm carries a cam finger
121
. A flexible water supply tube
122
is connected to the input side of a unidirectional check valve
123
carried on shaft
118
. The output side of valve
123
feeds through the piston
117
via a tube
124
. A fill tube
122
a
provides for filling of a reservoir
144
.
The cylinder
114
is movably carried for rotation about a central longitudinal axis
114
a
. The cam finger
121
engages surfaces in a set of indexing grooves
125
on the cylinder
114
. These are similar to grooves
33
on cylinder
14
in the dart gun
10
of
FIG. 1
, except that on cylinder
114
of water gun
110
the grooves
125
are configured to rotate the cylinder by ninety degrees on an intake stroke of the plunger
115
and to cause no rotation on a discharge stroke. In this way the cylinder outlet
126
(ref.
FIGS. 11 and 12
) rotates incrementally as the pump
114
,
115
is filled with water and remains stationary as the pump is discharged.
The cylinder
114
incorporates an check valve
127
to prevent reverse flow of water from outlet
126
into the cylinder's interior chamber
128
. The check valve
127
includes an orifice
129
in communication with chamber
128
, a disk
130
, and a disk retaining structure
131
. The retainer
131
allows some movement of the disk
130
from side to side in
FIG. 11
, so that pressurized water is able to flow from orifice
129
to outlet
126
. Suction created on an intake stroke of plunger
115
pulls disk
130
against the orifice
129
to prevent reverse flow. A gasket
132
is provided to ensure a good seal between outlet
126
and a water distribution mechanism which will be described further herein.
The motor assembly
116
provides drive force for operation of the pump mechanism, which includes cylinder
114
and piston
117
, and for the sequencing mechanism, which includes arm
120
and grooves
125
. Referring to
FIG. 7
, the motor assembly
116
includes a motor
133
, a speed reducing gearbox
134
, and a cam wheel
135
. Electrical power is supplied to motor
133
from batteries
136
through contacts
137
,
138
. For simplicity, electrical wiring is not shown in the figure. A trigger
139
is carried for pivoting motion about a shaft
139
a
. When the trigger
139
is operatively pivoted a member
140
of the trigger forces the contacts
137
,
138
together to complete the circuit and energize motor
133
. Gearbox
134
receives the output of motor
133
via a shaft
141
and, via an internal gear train, adjusts speed and torque as appropriate for application to cam wheel
135
via a shaft
142
. The cam wheel
135
includes a lobe
143
(ref.
FIGS. 9 and 10
) which engages slotted member
119
to reciprocatively drive the plunger
115
along axis
114
a
. Lateral motion of the lobe
143
is lost in slot
119
a
. As the plunger
115
travels right to left in
FIGS. 7
,
9
and
10
, water is drawn into chamber
128
from reservoir
144
through flexible tube
122
, intake valve
123
, and piston
117
. At the same time, cam finger
121
engages surfaces of grooves
125
and forces the cylinder
114
to incrementally rotate ninety degrees about axis
114
a
. As the plunger
115
travels from left to right in the figures, the cylinder remains motionless and water is forced from chamber
128
through outlet valve
127
and outlet
126
(ref. FIG.
11
).
With reference to
FIGS. 13 and 14
it may be seen that the wings
113
are attached to a subassembly
145
of the frame
111
. This subassembly is similar to frame subassembly
36
of the dart gun
10
(ref.
FIGS. 4
,
5
and
6
) except that nozzles
146
are incorporated into simulated weaponry
147
to adapt the gun
110
for discharging streams of liquid
146
a
. The subassembly
145
includes four holes
148
and passages
149
connecting the holes to nozzles
146
via additional passages
150
in the simulated weapons
147
. The passages
149
are formed from mating channels
149
a
and
149
b
in two parts
145
a
and
145
b
of subassembly
145
. The passages
149
,
150
serve as conduits in a mechanism adapted for selectively and sequentially distributing pressurized water from the pump
114
,
117
to the four wing-tip nozzles
146
. The holes
148
are positioned such that when subassembly
145
is joined to the fuselage
112
the cylinder outlet
126
will become aligned with a different one of the holes, in sequence, each time the cylinder
114
is incrementally rotated by the sequencing mechanism of cam finger
121
and indexing grooves
125
in preparation for discharge of water from the chamber
128
. Gasket
132
generally prevents leakage around the connection between outlet
126
and a selected hole
148
, and additionally covers the nonselected holes
148
to prevent water from draining out of the conduit passages
149
,
150
.
FIGS. 15 and 16
illustrate the invention as embodied in a water gun
210
having a frame
211
, a pump mechanism
212
adapted for pressurizing water and air in a sealed reservoir
213
, a valve
214
for releasing pressurized water from the reservoir, a trigger assembly
215
for operating the valve, a distribution mechanism
216
for conducting water from the valve
214
to a selected one of four selectable conduits
217
, a plurality of nozzles
218
connected to the conduits to receive pressurized water therefrom for discharge from the gun
210
, and a sequencing mechanism
219
causing water to be discharged from different nozzles, in a preset sequence, for each actuation of the trigger assembly
215
.
The pump mechanism
212
includes a plunger
220
, a cylinder
221
, and a unidirectional check valve
222
. The plunger includes a shaft
223
having a piston
224
at one end and a user operable handle
220
a
at the opposite end. The piston is carried for bi-directional travel within the cylinder to draw outside air into the cylinder when moved in one direction and to pressurize and force air from the cylinder through check valve
222
to the interior chamber of reservoir
213
via a tube
225
when moved in the other direction. Water is added to the reservoir (when not pressurized) through an air tight, removable cap
226
. Air pressure urges water from the reservoir
213
into a tube
227
in communication with the water release valve
214
. The trigger assembly
215
includes a finger operated trigger
228
, a tubular sleeve
229
which slides in forward and reverse directions about cylinder
221
, a valve actuating member
230
, and a discharge sequencing member
231
which co-acts with other elements of the sequencing mechanism
219
. The sequencing mechanism also includes a cylinder
232
, movably carried for rotation about a central longitudinal axis of the cylinder. Indexing grooves
233
engage sequencing member
231
in a cam relationship whereby operative travel of the trigger assembly
215
induces rotation of the cylinder
232
in increments of ninety degrees per full cycle of the trigger. One end of the cylinder is carried coaxially about a tube
234
which conducts water released from valve
214
. The opposite end of the cylinder
232
is supported upon a manifold
235
of the distribution mechanism
216
. The manifold
235
is adapted to position an end of each of the conduits
217
for sequential alignment with an outlet
236
of the cylinder
232
as the cylinder is stepwise rotated through successive ninety degree increments by the sequencing mechanism
219
. The remaining end of each conduit is connected to a nozzle
218
. The manifold
235
includes four receptacles
237
, to which the four conduits
217
are individually mated, and four orifices
238
, one per receptacle, to allow communication between the cylinder outlet
236
and a selected conduit
217
. A feed through gasket
239
is affixed to the outlet end of cylinder
232
to prevent leakage about the union of outlet
236
and a selected orifice
238
, and to prevent drainage of water from nonselected conduits
217
and orifices
238
. The manifold
235
is held in a fixed position by engagement of flanges
240
in receptacles
241
of the frame
211
.
To prepare the water gun
210
for discharge a user seals water in reservoir
213
and then reciprocates plunger
223
several times to build air pressure within the reservoir. When the trigger assembly
215
is subsequently moved in the direction of pistol grip handle
242
(by a user depressing trigger
228
), the valve actuating member
230
begins to compress a spring
243
against a flange
244
at the end of a valve control rod
245
. As the spring compresses, sequencing member
231
engages grooves
233
to rotate cylinder
232
by one increment of ninety degrees, thus stepping outlet
236
from alignment with one orifice
238
and into alignment with the next orifice in sequence. As the trigger assembly
215
approaches its rearmost position, spring
243
reaches full compression and the force of member
230
pulls control rod
245
rearward to open valve
214
. Water flows through the valve, through tube
234
, and into cylinder
232
. An o-ring
246
seals the connection between tube
234
and cylinder
232
, so the pressurized water must flow through outlet
236
, through the currently selected orifice
238
of manifold
235
, and through an associated conduit
217
. Water in the conduit is applied to an associated nozzle
218
, from which it is discharged in a high velocity stream.
Claims
- 1. A toy gun comprising a pump mechanism, a distribution mechanism, a sequencing mechanism, an operating mechanism, and a plurality of non-movable discharge ports adapted for projection of matter from said gun;said discharge ports being fixed in position on said gun at locations that are remote with respect to said pump mechanism; said pump mechanism adapted to pressurize matter; said distribution mechanism adapted to receive pressurized matter and to selectively apply said matter to said remotely located discharge ports for discharge of said matter therefrom; said sequencing mechanism controlling said distribution mechanism for selection of said discharge ports in a predetermined sequence; said operating mechanism adapted to actuate said sequencing mechanism and to precipitate the flow of pressurized matter to said distribution mechanism; said sequencing and distribution mechanisms including an indexed element movably carried for rotation about an axis and a drive element adapted to incrementally rotate said indexed element; said indexed element adapted to conduct a flow of pressurized matter, and including an outlet for said matter, said outlet being radially offset from said axis; said drive element cooperating with said operating mechanism such that actuation of said operating mechanism causes said drive element to incrementally rotate said indexed element.
- 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein repetitive incremental rotation of said indexed element causes said outlet to sequentially redirect said matter for successive expulsion from sequential discharge ports of said toy gun.
- 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein:said distribution mechanism includes a plurality of conduits, said conduits adapted to sequentially receive pressurized matter from said outlet as said outlet is stepped through said incremental rotation; sequential conduits of said distribution mechanism being adapted to conduct pressurized matter to sequential discharge ports of said toy gun.
- 4. A toy gun comprising a pump mechanism, a distribution mechanism, a sequencing mechanism, and a plurality of non-movable discharge ports adapted for protection of matter from said gun;said discharge ports being fixed in position on said gun at locations that are remote with respect to said pump mechanism; said pump mechanism adapted to pressurize matter; said distribution mechanism adapted to receive pressurized matter and to selectively apply said matter to said remotely located discharge ports for discharge of said matter therefrom; said sequencing mechanism controlling said distribution mechanism for selection of said discharge ports in a predetermined sequence; an operational cycle associated with said pump mechanism for pressurization of matter thereby; said sequencing mechanism being responsive to operation of said pump mechanism to incrementally advance said distribution mechanism through said predetermined sequence of discharge port selection, such that a full operational cycle of said pump mechanism results in said distribution mechanism being advanced by one increment in said predetermined sequence of discharge port selection, and such that multiple operational cycles of said pump mechanism are necessary to advance said distribution mechanism through the entirety of said predetermined sequence of discharge port selection.
- 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said distribution mechanism includes a plurality of conduits adapted to receive and conduct a flow of pressurized matter, each of said conduits adapted to conduct said matter to a different one of said discharge ports.
- 6. The invention of claim 4 wherein said toy gun includes a frame;said frame incorporating a figurine; said projectile discharge ports being located on said figurine.
- 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said figurine simulates a vehicle.
- 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said figurine simulates a flying vehicle having a plurality of wings, each of said wings carrying at least one of said discharge ports.
- 9. The invention of claim 4 wherein said discharge ports are positioned at remote locations with respect to one another.
- 10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said distribution mechanism includes a plurality of conduits adapted to receive and conduct a flow of pressurized matter, each of said conduits adapted to conduct said matter to a different one of said discharge ports.
- 11. The invention of claim 9 wherein said toy gun includes a frame;said frame incorporating a figurine; said projectile discharge ports being located on said figurine.
- 12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said figurine simulates a vehicle.
- 13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said figurine simulates a flying vehicle having a plurality of wings, each of said wings carrying at least one of said discharge ports.
- 14. A toy gun comprising a frame, a plurality of discharge ports, a pump mechanism for pressurizing matter, a distribution mechanism for conducting matter pressurized by said pump to said projectile discharge ports, and a sequencing mechanism for controlling said distribution mechanism to direct said matter to said discharge ports in a predetermined sequence;said frame incorporating a figurine having a plurality of extremities for carrying said projectile discharge ports, each of said extremities carrying at least one of said discharge ports.
- 15. The invention of claim 14 including a handle carried on said frame for general manipulation and carrying of the toy by a user, and a trigger to allow a user to selectively discharge projectile matter from said gun.
- 16. The invention of claim 14 wherein said pump mechanism includes a cylinder and a plunger, said plunger movably carried for pressurizing matter within said cylinder;said distribution mechanism including a plurality of conduits, each of said conduits being in fluid communication with an individual one of said discharge ports; said distribution mechanism further including an outlet for conducting pressurized matter from said cylinder, said outlet being movably carried for selective alignment with each of said conduits.
- 17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said pump mechanism is adapted to have an operational cycle including an intake stroke and a discharge stroke, said pump mechanism adapted to draw liquid from a reservoir into said cylinder on said intake stroke and to discharge pressurized liquid from said cylinder through said outlet on said discharge stroke;each of said discharge ports including a nozzle such that pressurized liquid discharged from said cylinder and conducted through a selected conduit to one of said ports is discharged as a high pressure stream.
- 18. The invention of claim 17 including indexing surfaces on said cylinder, said cylinder rotatable about an axis to facilitate selective alignment of said outlet with said conduits;said plunger including an indexing drive member cooperatively engaged with said indexing surfaces to cause incremental rotation of said cylinder whereby said outlet is sequentially aligned with successive conduits for successive operational cycles of said pump mechanism.
- 19. The invention of claim 16 including indexing surfaces on said cylinder, said cylinder rotatable about an axis to facilitate selective alignment of said outlet with said conduits;an indexing drive mechanism cooperating with said indexing surfaces and having an operational cycle adapted to cause incremental rotation of said cylinder whereby said outlet is sequentially aligned with successive conduits for successive operational cycles of said indexing drive mechanism.
- 20. The invention of claim 19 wherein said indexing drive mechanism includes a user operable handle movably carried on said frame, operative travel of said handle inducing said incremental rotation of said cylinder.
- 21. The invention of claim 20 wherein said handle cooperates with said plunger to move said plunger from a first position to a second position to load matter into said cylinder in preparation for discharge therefrom.
- 22. The invention of claim 21 including a latch, a spring, and a user operable trigger;said latch releasably retaining said plunger in said second position, and said spring biasing said plunger from said second position toward said first position; said trigger operable by a user to release said plunger from said latch whereby said spring is allowed to drive said plunger from said second position to said first position to discharge pressurized matter from said cylinder.
- 23. The invention of claim 22 wherein each of said discharge ports includes a barrel adapted to carry a projectile such that pressurized matter discharged from said cylinder and conducted through a selected conduit to one of said ports causes a projectile carried by said barrel to be ejected.
- 24. The invention of claim 23 wherein said matter is air.
- 25. A toy gun comprising a pump for pressurizing matter, a distribution mechanism for selectively supplying matter pressurized by said pump to a plurality of discharge ports, a sequencing mechanism for causing said distribution mechanism to select individual said discharge ports in a predetermined sequence for application of pressurized matter thereto, said distribution and sequencing mechanisms including a conduit movably carried for rotation about an axis, said conduit being separate and distinct from said pump, said conduit including an outlet radially offset from said axis, said distribution mechanism including a plurality of passages in communication with said discharge ports, said passages positioned such that rotation of said conduit causes said outlet to sequentially become aligned with sequential said passages for transmission of pressurized matter thereto.
- 26. The invention of claim 25 including means for conducting matter pressurized by said pump to said movably carried conduit.
- 27. The invention of claim 26 including a user controllable operating mechanism for causing discharge of matter from said toy gun, said sequencing mechanism being actuated by said operating mechanism.
- 28. The invention of claim 27 wherein said operating mechanism includes a trigger assembly, said trigger assembly including a sequencing drive member adapted to cooperate with elements of said sequencing mechanism to translate operative motion of said trigger assembly into incremental rotation of said conduit and said offset outlet.
- 29. The invention of claim 28 wherein said trigger assembly is carried for reciprocating linear travel on said toy gun;said toy gun including a mechanism for translating linear motion of said trigger into rotation of said conduit and said offset outlet.
- 30. A toy gun comprising a pump mechanism, a distribution mechanism, a sequencing mechanism, and a plurality of non-movable discharge ports adapted for projection of matter from said gun;said discharge ports being fixed in position on said gun at locations that are remote with respect to said pump mechanism; said pump mechanism adapted to pressurize matter; said distribution mechanism adapted to receive pressurized matter and to selectively apply said matter to said remotely located discharge ports for discharge of said matter therefrom; said sequencing mechanism controlling said distribution mechanism for selection of said discharge ports in a predetermined sequence; said toy gun further comprising a handle assembly, said handle assembly being carried for reciprocative travel through a range of motion on said toy gun and including a handle accessible to a user for manipulation thereof; said handle assembly further including a sequencing drive member adapted to cooperate with elements of said sequencing mechanism to incrementally advance said distribution mechanism through said predetermined sequence of discharge port selection in response to reciprocative cycling of said handle, whereby a reciprocation of said handle through its full range of motion causes said distribution mechanism to advance in said predetermined sequence of discharge port selection by one incremental step thereof, and whereby multiple such reciprocations of said handle are necessary to advance said distribution mechanism through the entirety of said predetermined sequence of discharge port selection.
- 31. The invention of claim 30 wherein said pump mechanism includes a plunger movably carried for pressurizing matter within a cylinder;said plunger drawing matter into said cylinder for travel of said plunger from a first position to a second position, said plunger pressurizing matter within said cylinder for travel from said second position to said first position; said handle assembly cooperating with said pump mechanism such that operative travel of said handle assembly through at least a portion of its reciprocative cycle causes said plunger to travel from said first position to said second position.
- 32. The invention of claim 31 including a latch for retaining said plunger in said second position, a spring biasing said plunger from said second position toward said first position, and a trigger for releasing said plunger from said latch whereby said spring is allowed to drive said plunger toward said first position to pressurize matter within said cylinder.
- 33. The invention of claim 32 wherein each said discharge port includes a barrel adapted to carry a projectile.
- 34. The invention of claim 33 wherein said pump mechanism is adapted to pressurize air and said distribution mechanism is adapted to transmit pressurized air from said pump mechanism to a selected barrel to eject a projectile therefrom.
US Referenced Citations (3)