Toy gun with multiple discharge ports

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6279562
  • Patent Number
    6,279,562
  • Date Filed
    Monday, February 9, 1998
    26 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 28, 2001
    23 years ago
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)
Number Name Date Kind
5373832 D'Andrade Dec 1994
5797385 Thai Aug 1998
5878734 Johnson et al. Mar 1999