WATER BLASTER

Abstract

A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a container portion, a receiver portion, and a grip portion. The container portion includes a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening. The first opening comprises a trap door valve. The second opening comprises a vent valve attached to a trigger located in the grip portion. The third opening is in liquid communication with a liquid ejection system.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Devices generally designed to disperse water in a controlled manner over a distance are known in the art as “water blasters” or “water guns.” Typically used to amuse children, a user may use a blaster to shoot or apply a stream of water to a desired target. Once the blaster's internal water storage or reservoir runs out, the user must then fill up a tank with water or other liquid. This process is lengthy and reduces the playtime of the child or user; therefore, reducing the enjoyment of the blaster.

The present disclosure introduces a new water blaster with a novel structure to fill the water reservoir of said blaster. An exemplary embodiment of the currently disclosed invention utilizes a trap-door valve to open and close the blaster's reservoir. A user can plunge at least part of the water blaster into a source of liquid, open the valve (for example, by a linkage, by liquid pressure, or some other manner), and then remove the water blaster. This action refills the reservoir and seals the trap door valve shut with the weight of the captured liquid.

One aspect described herein is a liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising a container portion, a receiver portion, and a grip portion. The container portion includes a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening. The first opening may comprise a trap door valve; the second opening may comprise a vent valve attached to a trigger located in the grip portion; and the third opening may be in liquid communication with a liquid ejection system. The trap door valve may further comprise a flap and a structural element capable of supporting the flap when the container portion contains liquid. The flap may be made of a flexible material. Said flexible material may be comprised of magnetic material. The first opening may further include a seal element that is magnetically attracted to the flap. Furthermore, the flap may be made of a rigid material. The rigid flap may include a magnetic portion, and the first opening may include a seal element that is magnetically attracted to the magnetic portion of the rigid flap.

The vent valve in the second opening may further comprise an inner portion located within an outer portion, wherein said inner portion is capable of actuating between a closed position and an open position. The trigger may be attached to the inner portion of the vent valve, such that displacement of the trigger will actuate the inner portion between the closed position and the open position. Both the trigger and the inner portion of the vent valve may be in contact with a single spring, such that the default position of the inner portion is the closed position.

The liquid ejection system may further comprise at least one ejection outlet. The liquid ejection system may comprise a pump. Said pump may be a single-acting positive displacement pump and further include a plunger. Operation of the pump would force air into the container portion. Depression of the trigger portion would open a third valve, enabling the liquid and air in the container portion to escape through the at least one ejection outlet. Operation of the pump would force liquid from the container portion through the at least one ejection outlet.

Moreover, the receiver portion may include at least one illumination device capable of emitting light. The at least one illumination device may include an electrical push button. The receiving portion may further include at least one gun rail.

Also disclosed is a method for rapidly filling a tank with liquid and expelling the liquid, comprising the steps of: submerging a liquid dispensing apparatus at least partially into a liquid source, wherein said liquid dispensing apparatus comprises a container portion, a receiver portion, and a grip portion, wherein the container portion includes a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening; the first opening comprising a trap door valve, the second opening comprising a vent valve attached to a trigger located in the grip portion, and the third opening being in liquid communication with a liquid ejection system; wherein pressure from the liquid source pushes the trap door valve into an open position and a portion of the liquid source enters the container portion. Then, squeezing the trigger, wherein the vent valve moves into an open state, enabling air to escape the container portion. Further, releasing the trigger, wherein the vent valve moves into a closed state, sealing the container portion and preventing the air and the portion of the liquid source in the container portion from escaping said container portion. And finally, surfacing the liquid dispensing apparatus from the liquid source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a rapid refill water blaster;

FIG. 2 illustrates an internal exploded isometric view of a rapid refill water blaster;

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up side view of a rapid refill water blaster;

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up side view of a rapid refill water blaster;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a perspective cut-away view of the rapid refill water blaster;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the front end of a water blaster;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of the front end of a water blaster;

FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 show a sequence of operation using a water blaster;

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 illustrates the operation of the liquid ejection system of the water blaster;

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 illustrate an illumination device; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a portion of the liquid ejection system 1600.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1-14 illustrate the currently disclosed liquid dispensing apparatus. FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of rapid refill water blaster 100. The rapid refill water blaster 100 comprises a container portion 118, a receiver portion 105 and a grip portion 110. The container portion 118 is capable of containing a liquid, such as by way of example water. The container portion 118 is nested within the receiver portion 105. As illustrated, the container portion 118 contains a first opening 102, a second opening 104, and a third opening 107. It should be noted that container portion 118 may further include additional openings (such as a fourth opening, fifth opening, etc.) or may also include less openings, such as zero, one, or two. The receiver portion 105, which can act as the main body of the blaster, includes grip portion 110. FIG. 1 illustrates grip portion 108 as a pistol grip. The grip portion 108 may also be of a “straight” or “upland” style. Alternatively, some embodiments of the present disclosure will omit a grip portion either partially or entirely.

The front end of the water blaster 100 includes at least one ejection outlet or liquid ejection nozzle 106. The liquid ejection nozzle 106 may be one nozzle, or may be more than one nozzle. By way of example, one nozzle could cause the liquid to spray out in a single stream, while the other nozzle could cause the liquid to spray out in multiple streams and in a pattern. It is anticipated that the nozzles could be changed to create any kind of stream pattern in the ejected liquid.

The water blaster 100 may further include a selection switch 118. The selection switch 118 allows the user to select a particular nozzle to use by selectively opening or closing nozzles. The selection switch 118 may also be used when there is a single nozzle.

The receiver portion 105 may also include at least one drainage hole 120. As illustrated in FIG. 1, receiver portion 105 may include multiple drainage holes. The at least one drainage hole 120 allows liquid inside the receiver portion 105 and other areas of the blaster to leave the apparatus.

The receiver portion 105 may further comprise a pump portion 108, which may be operable to be displaced back and forth by a user. The receiver portion 105 also may house an illumination device 124. In some embodiments, the illumination device 124 emits light to illuminate at least a portion of the water blaster 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates an internal exploded isometric view of a rapid refill water blaster 200. Structural element 202, seal element 204, flap portion 206, and retainer portion 208 can be sandwiched together to form a one-way trap door valve 205. The one-way trap door valve is housed within a receiver portion 210.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up side view of a rapid refill water blaster, similar to the outlined portion 212 of FIG. 2. A tank portion 316 is capable of holding a liquid, and interacts generally with a liquid ejection system 300. As a plunger 302 and pump 306 are moved and opened up, liquid can move from the tank portion 316 through a one way entry valve 310 and into a chamber 308. As the plunger 302 and pump 306 are depressed, the liquid exits the exit valve 312 and moves through the selection switch 314 and is expelled through a nozzle.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up side view of a rapid refill water blaster 400, similar to outlined portion 214 of FIG. 2. A trigger portion 404 is attached to an inner portion of a valve 416. The trigger portion 404 is capable of being depressed, which depresses a spring portion 408 and displaces the inner portion 416. The inner portion 416 moves within an outer portion 414 enables liquid to flow in and out of the tank portion 412, through the outer portion 414, and out through an opening 410. When the trigger portion 404 is not depressed, the spring portion 408 acts to place the inner portion 416 into a position where liquid can no longer flow between the tank portion 412 and the opening 410. This location of a water blaster 400 may also include a loop portion 402.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a perspective cut-away view of the rapid refill water blaster 400 and the valve assembly in action. FIG. 5 illustrates the valve in a closed position, while FIG. 6 illustrates the valve in an open position. The closed position identifies a state where the tank portion is not in liquid communication with the vent 410, while the open position identifies a state where the tank portion is in liquid communication with the vent 410. Depression of the trigger portion 404 may cause a transition between the two states. However, in alternative embodiments the valve may be opened by way of a handle, switch, lever, button, or any other means, which may or may not be independent of the trigger portion. When the valve is in the open position, the check valve may allow liquid to fill the container portion, such as placing a hose exit near the second opening.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the front end of a water blaster 700. The front end of the water blaster has a flap 710 which may be rigid or may flexible. Illustrated is a flexible flap held against a seal element 708 and structural element 704 by a retention element 712.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first opening with a one way trap door valve contains magnetic components which enable the trapped door valve to remain shut even when the container portion 118 contains a small, but significant amount of liquid. By way of non-limiting an example, the flap 710 may comprise magnetic or magnetically attractive materials. The seal element 708 can also contain either magnetic materials or magnetically attractive materials. Thus, when the trap door valve is in a closed state, the magnetic attraction between the flap and the seal elements will ensure that any displacement or quick movement of the water blaster as a whole will not inadvertently set the trap door valve to an open state therefor losing some liquid contents of the container portion. The attraction between the flap and the seal element can dramatically reduce or even eliminate the necessity for reseal pressure. Reseal pressure is generally known as the pressure necessary in order to seal the one way check valve such that no liquid flow will be permitted to exit out of the valve.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that any means or method to increase attraction between the seal element and the flap element of the one way valve will be suitable to prevent this kind of failure mode. By way of non-limiting example, things such as adhesives or spring tension could also be used to ensure that the pieces stay shut and sealed even when there is a minimal amount of liquid in the container portion.

In an additional embodiment of the disclosure, the seal element is may be made to be unnecessary to prevent liquid from escaping the container through the first opening. In this embodiment, the flap element in the closed state could comprise a material capable of forming a seal with structural element, without the need for some sort of intermediary seal element. Further, the structural exterior element in one embodiment may be formed such that a seal is made around the flap element.

Additionally, the present invention may include a lattice structure 702 which is outside of and supports the flap element and in some embodiments the seal element. The lattice structure is permeable to liquid and is strong enough to structurally support the flap element against water or liquid pressure exerted by the contents of the container portion 118 against the flap. While typically this pressure is useful to make sure that the first opening trap door valve stays sealed during operation, the pressure might overwhelm a flexible seal element or a flexible flap element. By layering a structural grid lattice element that is permeable to water or liquid behind the flap element, the flap element will have sufficient strength to resist that water pressure without displacing or bending due to that pressure. The permeability of the lattice structure ensures that the container portion is still capable of rapidly filling with liquid.

FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 show a sequence of operation using water blaster 900 to rapidly refill the container portion. In FIG. 9, the water blaster is lowered 902 into a source of water 904. The blaster 900 is in a default closed state, where no liquid communication of the container portion can occur.

FIG. 10 illustrates the filling of the container portion. Once the blaster 900 is at least partially submerged within a source of liquid 904, the trigger portion is depressed and the rear valve is opened. The opening over the rear valve permits air to escape the container portion. As this occurs, liquid pressure opens up the front one way valve and fills the container portion.

FIG. 11 illustrates a closing of the rear valve assembly and a lifting 908 of the water blaster up out of the source of liquid 904. The liquid now captured within the container portion presses back against the front one way valve, closing the valve shut against a seal element and prevent the water from escaping the container portion.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 illustrates the operation of the liquid ejection system of the water blaster. FIG. 12 illustrates the operation of the liquid ejection system 1200 when the pump grip 1202 is extended out, pulling the plunger 1204 out and introducing a vacuum in cavity 1206. The vacuum causes liquid stored in the container portion to enter through a one-way valve 1210 to fill the vacuum in the cavity 1206. The vacuum in cavity 1206 also causes the valve 1208 to seal shut.

FIG. 13 illustrates the liquid ejection system when the pump portion is compressed, by a pulling of the pump grip 1202 and the plunger portion 1204. This causes a pressure to form in cavity 1206 and the one-way valve assembly 1210 to shut closed. The pressure opens the valve assembly 1208, and the liquid in the cavity 1206 exits through a tube, passes through a selector switch, and exits out through a chosen ejection nozzle.

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 illustrate an illumination device 124, which may be located on the receiver portion 105 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The illumination device 124 is capable of outputting a source of light, and the wavelength or color of the light may be selectable. For example, a user may choose to have the light source output a blue light, a red light, a green light, or some combination of those three.

A push plate 1508 is in contact with a button interface 1506, which is in direct contact with an illumination source 1504. The illumination source 1504 may have a source of power, such as a button cell battery, and may also include a push switch. A housing 1502 holds the apparatus together and interfaces with the receiver portion of the water blaster.

FIG. 16 illustrates a portion of the liquid ejection system 1600. A pump portion 1606 forces liquid into a tube 1604, which transfers liquid to a selector switch 1602. The selector switch 1602 can be adjusted to divert the liquid from the pump portion 1606 into one of two ejection nozzles 1610.

There are multiple other embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the container portion could be capable of being pressurized. In this embodiment, the pump can be operated to force air into the container portion, thus increasing the pressure of the container portion relative to the outside atmosphere. A pull of a trigger or operation of another device may then open up a nozzle, propelling the water out of the nozzle and towards an intended target via the pressure differential.

In another embodiment, the liquid ejection system of the present invention could also operate as a vent valve. In this embodiment, there may be a lever or a button that would open up a valve within the liquid ejection system to enable water and air to flow freely as the container portion is filled with liquid.

Additional embodiments may include a one-way valve with a ball-valve design. In this embodiment, the ball-valve, or a ball will be located within a small tube and the ball is allowed to freely move. If the ball is located at either end of the tube, it will seal that valve shut. This will operate in a similar manner to retract the door one-way valve of the present invention. It is further contemplated that in other embodiments any kind of check valve can be used in opening of the disclosure. By way non-limiting examples, the check valve could be a ball check valve, a dye frame check valve, a swing check valve, a tilting disc check valve, a clapper valve, a stop check valve, a lift check valve, an inline check valve, a duck-bill valve, or pneumatic non-return valve. In other embodiments, any kind of valve at all may also be employed, so long as it is capable of preventing liquid from escaping the water blaster in an unintended manner.

In even more embodiments of the disclosure, the liquid ejection system could be used to create a vacuum inside the container portion. In this embodiment, water from a water source would enter the container portion in order to fill that vacuum, thus filling the container portion in a rapid manner.

In an additional embodiment, devices which do not fully seal movement of air or liquid may be used as replacements for fully sealable valves. By way of non-limiting example, a tesla valve could be used to permit air to leave the container portion as it fills. The rapid refill of the container portion can occur where the second opening has no kind of valve action and rather is in continuous interaction with the outside atmosphere. In such embodiments, it would be preferable that a long pipe or angled pipe could be used in order to prevent the liquid contents from the container portion 118 from exiting through the second opening when the water blaster is in use. For example, a large U-shaped pipe could be used such that the removal of the liquid through the second opening would require a specific rotation of the water blaster, the kind of which may be unlikely to occur during ordinary operation.

Further, an embodiment of the present disclosure employs a mechanical linkage between a trigger portion and the first opening. In this manner, depression of the trigger portion will open a check valve and allow liquid to enter the container portion.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising: a container portion, a receiver portion, and a grip portion, wherein the container portion includes a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening;the first opening comprising a trap door valve;the second opening comprising a vent valve attached to a trigger located in the grip portion; andthe third opening being in liquid communication with a liquid ejection system.

2. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trap door valve further comprises a flap and a structural element capable of supporting the flap when the container portion contains liquid.

3. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flap is a flexible material.

4. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the flexible material is magnetic and the first opening includes a seal element that is magnetically attracted to the flap.

5. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the flap is a rigid material.

6. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the flap includes a magnetic portion and the first opening includes a seal element that is magnetically attracted to the magnetic portion.

7. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vent valve further comprises an inner portion located within an outer portion, the inner portion capable of actuating between a closed position and an open position.

8. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the trigger is attached to the inner portion of the vent valve, such that displacement of the trigger will actuate the inner portion between the closed position and the open position.

9. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 8, wherein both the trigger and the inner portion of the vent valve are in contact with a single spring, such that the default position of the inner portion is the closed position.

10. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid ejection system further comprises at least one ejection outlet.

11. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the liquid ejection system comprises a pump.

12. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the pump is a single-acting positive displacement pump and includes a plunger.

13. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein operation of the pump forces air into the container portion.

14. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 13, wherein depression of the trigger portion opens a third valve, enabling the liquid and air in the container portion to escape through the at least one ejection outlet.

15. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein operation of the pump forces liquid from the container portion through the at least one ejection outlet.

16. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion includes at least one illumination device capable of emitting light.

17. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one illumination device includes an electrical push button.

18. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion includes at least one gun rail.

19. A method for rapidly filling a tank with liquid and expelling the liquid, comprising the steps of: submerging a liquid dispensing apparatus at least partially into a liquid source, wherein said liquid dispensing apparatus comprises a container portion, a receiver portion, and a grip portion, wherein the container portion includes a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening; the first opening comprising a trap door valve,the second opening comprising a vent valve attached to a trigger located in the grip portion, andthe third opening being in liquid communication with a liquid ejection system;wherein pressure from the liquid source pushes the trap door valve into an open position and a portion of the liquid source enters the container portion;squeezing the trigger, wherein the vent valve moves into an open state, enabling air to escape the container portion;releasing the trigger, wherein the vent valve moves into a closed state, sealing the container portion and preventing the air and the portion of the liquid source in the container portion from escaping said container portion; andsurfacing the liquid dispensing apparatus from the liquid source.