Patent Application
20060131326
The present invention relates generally to a water toy and, more particularly, to a water toy such as a pressurizeable water squirt gun having an external reservoir having a water level gauge.
Pressurized squirt guns that eject water from a pressurized reservoir are generally known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,437 to D'Andrade et al. discloses a toy water gun that operates by releasing water from a water reservoir that is pressurized by air. The reservoir is pressurized using a manually operated air pump. When a trigger is operated, water is released under pressure from the reservoir through an outlet nozzle.
In many applications, the reservoir of the toy water gun has only a limited capacity. Accordingly, the user may have to refill the reservoir a number of times during any given play session. Naturally, the total playtime may be lessened if the user must take time out to refill the toy water gun. Although the size of the reservoir may be increased, nevertheless users typically desire to carry as much water as possible. Auxiliary reservoirs, separate and apart from the toy water gun, are known. For a variety of reasons, users may wish to know approximately how much water is available in the auxiliary reservoir for use at any given point in time.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a toy water gun system comprises a water gun having a primary reservoir, an outlet nozzle in flow communication with the primary reservoir, and an actuating trigger, with the primary toy water gun adapted to discharge an output stream of water through the outlet nozzle in response to actuation of the trigger. An auxiliary reservoir is provided and is separate from the water gun and arranged to hold an auxiliary supply of water. A gauge conduit is in flow communication with the auxiliary reservoir, and a float is disposed in the gauge conduit and is visible through at least a portion of the gauge conduit. The float is arranged to shift within the gauge conduit in response to changes in the auxiliary supply of water in the auxiliary reservoir. A supply conduit operatively couples the auxiliary reservoir and the primary reservoir.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the reservoir includes an upper portion and a lower portion, and the gauge conduit is in flow communication with the upper portion and the lower portion of the reservoir. Preferably, the gauge conduit includes at least one screen, with the screen being positioned in the gauge conduit to maintain the float within the gauge conduit. Preferably, at least a portion of the gauge conduit is at least one of translucent or clear.
Preferably, the auxiliary reservoir is carried by a backpack, although the auxiliary reservoir may be carried by a shoulder strap, a fanny pack, as a belt, or by other suitable structures. The auxiliary reservoir may comprise a flexible bladder disposed within a pouch in the backpack or other structure.
The float preferably is a ball sized for insertion in the gauge conduit. The gauge conduit preferably is in flow communication with an upper portion and a lower portion of the auxiliary reservoir, and includes an upper screen and a lower screen, with each of the screens arranged to prevent the float from passing into the auxiliary reservoir.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, an auxiliary reservoir for use with a water toy includes an auxiliary reservoir housed separately from the water toy and arranged to hold an auxiliary supply of water, a gauge conduit in flow communication with the auxiliary reservoir, a float disposed in the gauge conduit and visible through at least a portion of the gauge conduit, with the float arranged to shift within the gauge conduit in response to changes in the auxiliary supply of water in the auxiliary reservoir, and a supply conduit in flow communication with the auxiliary reservoir and arranged for flow communication with the water toy.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention an auxiliary reservoir for use with a water toy includes an auxiliary reservoir housed in a backpack and separated from the water toy and arranged to hold an auxiliary supply of water, a gauge conduit in flow communication with the auxiliary reservoir and arranged to receive a quantity of water, with the gauge conduit arranged such that at least a portion of the quantity of water in the gauge conduit is visible to a user and permitting movement of the quantity of water in response to changes in the auxiliary supply of water in the auxiliary reservoir, and a supply conduit arranged to operatively couple the auxiliary reservoir and the water toy.
Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.
It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring now to
The gauge conduit 22 is, in the disclosed example, incorporated into, attached to, attached adjacent to, or otherwise carried by one of the shoulder straps 36, 38. The gauge conduit 22 may also be separate and distinct from either one of the shoulder straps 36, 38. In accordance with the disclosed example, the gauge conduit 22 is shown attached to the front of the shoulder strap 38. The gauge conduit 22 preferably is formed of a clear or translucent plastic tubing. Such clear or translucent plastic tubing may take the form of surgical tubing or other similar flexible tubing, which is commonly available and may be obtained from a variety of commercial sources. As an alternative, the gauge conduit 22 may be rigid or may include one or more rigid sections.
In accordance with the disclosed example, all or at least a substantial portion of the gauge conduit 22 is clear or translucent. As an alternative, only a portion of the gauge conduit 22 need be clear or translucent, and the remaining portions may be opaque. In the event the entire gauge conduit 22 is clear or translucent, it will be appreciated that the float 32 will be visible regardless of the position of the float 32 within the gauge conduit 22. Otherwise, if portions of the gauge conduit 22 are opaque, then the float 32 will be visible as long as the float 32 is disposed in a clear or translucent portion 23 of the gauge conduit 22.
As can be seen in
Referring now to
It will be understood that the bladder 47 may be similar to flexible bladders commonly employed in backpack drinking systems. Such backpack drinking systems are commercially available under the CAMELBACK® name. Both the gauge conduit 22 and the supply conduit 34 may be constructed to use the same type of tubing as is employed in the CAMELBACK® products and in similar systems. Of the auxiliary reservoir 20 includes an outer shell 54 having a suitable access opening through which the flexible bladder 47 may be inserted. The outer shell 54 may be constructed of a suitable grade of Denier nylon, or other suitable material, and may also include a suitable zipper or other suitable closures for maintaining the bladder 47 in position within the outer shell 54.
Referring now to
The bladder 47 includes an outlet port 58 which, in the disclosed example, is preferably generally cylindrical and includes an outer surfacing forming an abutment 60. The end 24 of the gauge conduit 22 fits over the cylindrical outlet port 58, and is preferably secured to the cylindrical outlet port 58 using a suitable adhesive. Alternatively, the gauge conduit 22 may be connected to the outlet port 58 in other suitable fashions. Preferably, the connection 56 includes a screen 62 disposed within the gauge conduit 22. The screen 62 is preferably a nylon mesh screen, although other screens or other suitable structures may be used. In the disclosed example, the screen 62 is seated against the abutment 60. It will be understood that the screen 62 maintains the float 32 within the gauge conduit 22, by preventing the float 32 from inadvertently flowing out of the gauge conduit 22 through either the end 22 or through the end 24.
In operation, the user fills the bladder 47 of the auxiliary reservoir 20 with a desired amount of water upon removing the fill cap 52. With the fill cap 52 suitably replaced, the user places his/her arms through the shoulder straps 36, 38. The float 32 is now visible to the user as illustrated in
In the event the user wishes to eject water from the outlet nozzle 18 of the water gun 12, the user simply actuates the trigger 18. When the supply of water within the reservoir 14 of the water gun 12 is sufficiently low, additional water from within the auxiliary reservoir 20 may be supplied to the reservoir 14 of the water gun 12 through the supply conduit 34. As such, the user is able to operate the water gun 12 for a longer time as compared to the time period which would be afforded by the supply of water contained solely within the reservoir 14 of the water gun 12. All the while, the user is provided a visual indicator of the amount of water remaining within the auxiliary reservoir 20 by glancing at the position of the float 32 within the gauge conduit 22.
The preceding text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.
