Water gun with removable pre-pressurizable cartridge

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to toy water guns having removable pre-pressurizable water cartridges and the pre-pressurizable cartridges themselves and water charging systems for them. More particularly, the present invention relates to a toy water gun having a pre-pressurizable water cartridge which can be charged using a pump located on the water gun or an auxiliary adapter connected to an external pressurized water source for quickly charging the pre-pressurizable water cartridge either installed in the water gun or separately.

Water guns having an onboard water reservoir which can be pressurized with air are known. Such guns typically utilize a pump located on the water gun which can be used to pump air into the water reservoir in order to pressurize the water therein such that when the trigger is pulled, a stream of water is ejected from the water gun that lasts as long as the trigger is engaged or until the pressure of the water equals ambient pressure. One such water gun is disclosed in prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,437, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. It is also known to provide such a water gun which can be rapidly charged without the need for pumping if an external pressurized water source, such as a municipal water supply, is available. Such a water gun is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/227,061, filed Jan. 5, 1999, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is incorporated herein by eference as if fully set forth. Such water guns have proven to be extremely popular and successful in the market.

It would be desirable to provide a water gun that can be quickly recharged and or refilled in order to eliminate the need for the user to return to a water source every time the water gun requires refilling. This would provide for enhanced enjoyment and ease of use. It would also be desirable to maintain the ability to rapidly charge the water gun from a source of pressurized water, when available for younger users who may have more difficulty using the manual pump. Additionally, it would desirable to maintain the ability to pressurize the water gun when an external source of pressurized water is not available.

It would also be desirable to provide a removable, pre-pressurizable water cartridge for a toy water gun which can be quickly recharged and or refilled in order to eliminate the need for the user to return to a water source every time the water gun requires refilling. This would provide for enhanced enjoyment and ease of use. It would also be desirable to be able to remove a “spent” cartridge from the water gun and rapidly insert a pre-pressurized replacement cartridge without the need to refill the spent cartridge in order to continue using the water gun.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention relates to a toy gun for discharging a fluid under pressure, the toy gun comprising:

a housing;

a trigger movably connected to the housing;

a pre-pressurizable fluid storage cartridge removably connected to the housing, the fluid storage cartridge being pressurizable with a fluid prior to connecting the fluid storage cartridge to the housing;

a release valve fluidly connected to the fluid storage cartridge and connected to the trigger to permit a discharge of fluid from the toy gun;

a nozzle in fluid communication with the release valve; and

a path of fluid communication connected between the fluid storage cartridge and the release valve;

wherein operation of the trigger discharges pressurized fluid from the fluid storage cartridge through the path of fluid communication and through the nozzle.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a toy gun system adapted to discharge a stream of liquid under pressure, comprising:

a toy gun and a recharging adapter, the toy gun including:

a housing;

a nozzle assembly at a discharge end of the housing;

a pump connected to the housing;

a pre-pressurizable fluid storage cartridge removably connected to the housing;

a path of fluid communication connected between the fluid storage cartridge and the nozzle; and

the recharging adapter including:

a receptacle adapted to receive the nozzle assembly;

a valve body slidably disposed in the receptacle;

a fluid channel located in the valve body; and

a connector adapted for connection to an external source of pressurized liquid,

wherein insertion of the nozzle assembly of the toy gun into the receptacle of the recharging adapter displaces the valve body to an open position, and allows fluid from an external source of pressurized fluid to travel through the valve body, the nozzle assembly and the path of fluid communication and into the fluid storage cartridge, pressurizing fluid in the storage cartridge

and wherein insertion of the charge valve assembly of the cartridge, which has been removed from the toy gun housing, into the receptacle of the recharge adapter allows fluid from the external source of pressurized fluid to travel through the charge valve assembly and into the fluid storage cartridge, pressurizing fluid in the storage cartridge.

Still another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of operating a toy gun system comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a toy gun having a housing, a pre-pressurizable fluid storage cartridge removably connected to the housing and having a charge valve assembly, a nozzle, a pump, and a path of fluid communication between the cartridge, the nozzle, and the pump;

(b) pressurizing air within the fluid storage cartridge by at least one of:

(i) pumping air via the pump to the fluid storage cartridge;

(ii) inserting the nozzle in a receptacle of a recharging adapter and allowing pressurized fluid to flow from the recharging adapter through the nozzle and into the fluid storage cartridge; and

(iii) inserting the charge valve assembly of the fluid storage cartridge which has been removed from the housing into the receptacle of the recharging adapter and causing the charge valve assembly to open to allow pressurized fluid to flow from the recharging adapter into the fluid storage cartridge, removing the fluid storage cartridge from the recharging adapter and inserting the fluid storage cartridge into the gun;

(c) discharging the cartridge by displacing the release valve via a trigger connected to the release valve to eject a stream of fluid from the toy gun; and

(d) recharging the toy gun in accordance with step (b).

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a fluid cartridge comprising:

a cartridge bottle having an opening, the cartridge bottle adapted to receive and store pressurized fluid; and

a first valve connected to the cartridge bottle and operable to seal the opening and releasably maintain a pressurized condition within the cartridge bottle, the first valve adapted to allow fluid flow into and out of the cartridge bottle;

the fluid cartridge being adapted for connection with a fluid discharge device, whereupon actuation of the fluid discharge device discharges fluid from the fluid cartridge.

Still another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of filling a fluid cartridge comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a fluid cartridge having a cartridge bottle and a manifold releasably connected to the cartridge bottle, the manifold including a first valve; and

(b) filling and pressurizing the fluid cartridge by at least one of:

(i) inserting the first valve into a recharging adapter, allowing pressurized fluid to flow from the recharging adapter into the fluid cartridge, and removing the fluid cartridge from the recharging adapter in one instance;

(ii) inserting the cartridge into a toy water gun having a nozzle assembly and inserting the nozzle assembly into a receptacle of a recharging adapter and allowing pressurized fluid to flow from the recharging adapter through the nozzle assembly and into the fluid cartridge in another instance; and

(iii) removing the manifold from the cartridge bottle, adding fluid into the cartridge bottle, and reconnecting the manifold to the cartridge bottle, and pumping air into the cartridge through the manifold in a third instance.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is, in combination,

a fluid discharge device and a fluid discharge cartridge, the fluid discharge cartridge including:

a cartridge bottle having an opening, the cartridge bottle adapted to receive and store pressurized fluid; and

a first valve connected to the cartridge bottle and operable to seal the opening and releasably maintain a pressurized condition within the cartridge bottle, the first valve adapted to allow fluid flow into and out of the cartridge bottle;

the fluid cartridge being insertable into the fluid discharge device, whereupon actuation of the fluid discharge device discharges fluid from the fluid cartridge.

Still another aspect of the present invention relates to a quick charge device comprising:

a pressurized water chamber;

a receptacle connected to the chamber adapted to receive a nozzle assembly of a toy gun;

an attachment for connection to an external source of pressurized liquid in fluid communication with the chamber;

a valve body slidably disposed in the receptacle, wherein the valve body in the receptacle is adapted to be displaced by the nozzle assembly of the toy gun to an open position allowing liquid from the external source of pressurized liquid to travel into the nozzle assembly of the toy gun; and

a release valve in fluid communication with the chamber; the release valve being operable between a closed position wherein pressurized fluid is retained within the quick charge device and an open position wherein the pressurized fluid is released from the quick charge device.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to method of filling a water gun utilizing a quick charge device having a first valve with a quick fill receptacle and a second valve, the method comprising:

(a) connecting the quick charge device to a source of pressurized fluid; and

(b) filling the water gun by discharging the pressurized fluid through the quick charge device by:

(i) in one instance inserting a charge nozzle on a toy water gun into the quick fill receptacle of the first valve of the quick charge device; and

(ii) in a second instance opening the second valve and allowing the pressurized fluid to discharge from the second valve into the water gun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1

is a left side elevational view showing one embodiment of a water gun in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1A

is an exploded left side elevational view similar to

FIG. 1

showing installation of the water gun cartridge on the water gun;

FIG. 2

is a left side elevational view, partially in vertical cross-section and with the housing removed, of the water gun in accordance with the present invention shown in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 2A

is a right side elevational view with half of the housing removed and the cartridge removed;

FIG. 3

is a partial elevational view, partially in cross-section, of the nozzle of the toy water gun shown in

FIG. 1

being inserted into a recharge adapter in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4

is a greatly enlarged elevational view, partially in cross-section, of a portion of

FIG. 3

;

FIG. 5

is a side elevational view of a fluid cartridge in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5A

is an exploded view better illustrating the components of an air pressurizable fluid cartridge according to the present invention;

FIG. 6

is a top plan view of the cartridge manifold, shown unthreaded from the cartridge bottle;

FIG. 7

is a cross-sectional view taken along lines

7

—

7

in

FIG. 6

;

FIG. 8

is a partial top plan view of a water gun cartridge quick-release mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9

is a top plan view of the recharge adapter in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10

is a vertical cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment of a recharge adapter in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 11

is a vertical cross-sectional view of the nozzle of the charge valve assembly of a cartridge used in the toy water gun shown in

FIG. 1

being inserted into the recharge adapter of

FIG. 10

in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. “Left” and “right”, with respect to the description of the sides of the water gun noted above in the brief description of

FIGS. 1

,

1

A,

2

and

2

A, refers to the respective side of the water gun as one would view it looking from the rear toward the front of the gun. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the toy water gun in accordance with the present invention, and designated parts thereof. The word “a” is defined to mean “at least one”, unless otherwise specifically stated or as would be clearly only one in the context in which it is used. The terminology includes the words noted above as well as derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

a toy water gun

10

for discharging a fluid under pressure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention having a removable, pre-fillable and/or pre-pressurizable cartridge

8

. While the preferred embodiment of the invention preferably includes the cartridge

8

connected to the water guns, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure that the cartridge

8

can be connected to other pressurized fluid release systems and the cartridge

8

can be used with any fluid. For the sake of convenience, the preferred embodiment will therefore be described as a water gun, although this is not intended to limit the present invention from use with other fluids. The water gun

10

operates in a similar manner to the water gun disclosed in prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,437, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth. As shown in

FIG. 1

, the water gun

10

includes a main housing

12

having a handle

14

which can be grasped by a user's hand. A support

15

is located forward of the handle

14

which can be grasped by the user's other hand, if desired. A pump housing

13

is supported between the handle

14

and the support

15

.

Preferably, the housing

12

the handle

14

, and the support

15

are molded from a polymeric material in one or more pieces, and are assembled together to form the housing

12

. The ornamental appearance of the housing

12

, handle

14

and support

15

is not important for the functioning of the water gun, and many of the details of the housing, handle and support as illustrated in the drawings are merely ornamental. The functional aspects of the functional components will be described in sufficient detail to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention, while creating such ornamental designs as desired without adversely affecting the function or operation of any component or subassembly. A plurality of female screw posts

17

(some of which have not been numbered for the sake of clarity) have screw receiving holes in them and extend in a sufficient number at appropriate places from the interior surface of the left side of the gun as illustrated in

FIG. 2A

to facilitate connecting the housing halves together. Each of the screw posts

17

is preferably molded to form a unitary structure with one of the housing halves. The screw posts

17

receive screws passing through mating screw holes formed in the right or other half of the housing to connect the housing halves together.

Preferably, the cartridge

8

includes a cartridge bottle

9

, which is also made of a polymeric material and may be blow molded, as well as a cartridge manifold

25

, described in detail below. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that the housing

12

, the handle

14

, support

15

, pump housing

13

, and the cartridge bottle

9

may be made using any desired method, such as machining or casting, and from any suitable material, as desired.

As shown in

FIG. 5

, as an alternative to air pressure being solely utilized to pressurize the liquid, an elastic bladder

11

(in phantom) can be provided within the cartridge bottle

9

. The bladder

11

can be similar to any number of bladders well known to those skilled in the art for use in water guns. The preferred bladder is a type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,609, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth. The bladder

11

provides motive force for ejecting fluid from the cartridge

8

under pressure. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other bladders can be used and that the bladder

11

is not required. The cartridge bottle

9

will hereinafter be described without reference to the bladder.

As seen in

FIGS. 1

,

1

A and

2

, the housing

12

includes a front or discharge end

16

which supports a nozzle

18

, and a rear end

20

which houses the removable, pre-fillable and/or pre-pressurizable fluid storage cartridge

8

removably connected to the housing

12

. The cartridge

8

is pressurizable with a fluid either prior to connecting the cartridge

8

to the housing

12

or after the cartridge

8

is connected to the housing

12

. The cartridge

8

is preferably releasably and fluidly connected to the housing via a spring operated quick release connection

24

to a water gun manifold

26

located inside the housing

12

.

As seen in

FIG. 8

, the quick release connection

24

includes a lock arm

27

pivotally mounted by pivotable connectors

27

c

on each side of a cartridge receiver

23

. Each lock arm

27

includes a tang

29

located at a first free end

27

a

of the arm

27

. The tang

29

is extendable through an opening

23

a

in the cartridge receiver

23

. A lock arm spring

31

is biased between the housing

12

and each first free end

27

a

of the arm

27

such that the tang

29

is biased into the opening

23

a

in the cartridge retainer

23

. Preferably, the lock arm spring

31

is a helical spring, although those skilled in the art will recognize that springs other than helical compression springs can be used, such as leaf springs, for instance. A second free end

27

b

of each arm

27

extends generally outward and rearward from the housing

12

. Although a spring operated quick release connection

24

having two lock arms

27

is preferred, those skilled in the art will realize in view of the present disclosure that only one or more than two lock arms

27

could be utilized or other types of quick release connections can be used to connect the cartridge

8

to the cartridge receiver

23

, such as a spring-detent mechanism, a form fit snap connection, etc.

Referring to

FIG. 5

, preferably, the cartridge

8

is generally oblong in shape to facilitate insertion into the housing

12

. However, those skilled in the art will recognize from the present disclosure that the cartridge

8

can be any other shape without departing from the scope of the present invention. The cartridge

8

includes the cartridge bottle

9

and the cartridge manifold

25

. The cartridge manifold

25

includes an indentation or notch

25

a

on either side of the exterior of the cartridge manifold

25

. Each notch

25

a

is located and sized so as to be engaged by one of the tangs

29

, such that the tangs

29

extend through the notches

25

a

and retain the cartridge

8

in the housing

12

. Preferably, the notches

25

a

are located on the body of the manifold

25

, although those skilled in the art will recognize that the notches

25

a

can also be located on the cartridge bottle

9

. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that only one notch or more than two notches

25

a

could be utilized, if desired. Preferably, the cartridge bottle

9

includes a plurality of raised grips

9

a

spaced around the outer circumference of the cartridge bottle

9

. The raised grips

9

a

enable the user to obtain a firm grip on the cartridge

8

when removing the cartridge

8

from the housing

12

.

The cartridge manifold

25

is replaceably removable from a threaded opening of the cartridge bottle

9

to allow the cartridge bottle

9

to be filled with unpressurized water as will be more fully described later herein. The cartridge manifold

25

includes a threaded portion

127

, which is threadably connected to the cartridge bottle

9

by mating threads

128

on the cartridge bottle, best seen in FIG.

5

A. An O-ring

129

assures a leak-free seal between the bottle

9

and the cartridge manifold

25

.

Referring to

FIGS. 2 and 7

, the cartridge manifold

25

further includes a charge valve assembly

80

and a pump valve assembly

100

as will be described in more detail below.

As shown in

FIGS. 2 and 2A

, a first path of fluid communication between the inserted or installed cartridge

8

and the nozzle

18

inside the housing

12

is made up of a conduit

28

and a passage through the water gun manifold

26

located in the base of the receiver

23

. The conduit

28

can be made by any desired method from any suitable material in any manner as long as the conduit

28

has the ability to deliver fluid from one end to the other. The manifold

26

is fluidly connected via the conduit

28

to a release valve

30

connected to and controlling fluid flow through the nozzle

18

. The release valve

30

is similar to the valve disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,827 which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.

The release valve

30

is actuated via a trigger

32

which is connected to the release valve

30

and is movably connected to the housing

12

for sliding movement adjacent to the handle

14

. A valve stem

34

extends from the release valve

30

for opening the release valve

30

to discharge water or any other desired fluid from the nozzle

18

which is in fluid communication with the release valve

30

. Operation of the trigger

32

moves a linkage that causes the valve stem

34

in the release valve

30

to be retracted, opening the release valve

30

and thereby providing a discharge of pressurized water from the cartridge

8

which passes through the first path of fluid communication and is ejected from the water gun

10

as a stream from the nozzle

18

. The trigger

32

is biased to a first position via a first spring

40

. The trigger

32

is connected to the valve stem

34

by an arm

42

that is connected to an actuator trolley

44

, in turn connected to a valve actuator

38

, which is operatively connected to the valve stem

34

. As shown in

FIG. 2 and 2A

, the actuator trolley

44

is located inside the housing

12

and includes pairs of front and rear rollers

44

a

,

44

b

, respectively, which roll within a track

45

, which is integral with and preferably molded or otherwise formed unitarily as a single structure with the interior of the housing

12

. Preferably, the track

45

includes upper and lower track portions

45

a

,

45

b

between which the rollers

44

a

,

44

b

roll. The upper and lower track portions

45

a

,

45

b

guide the actuator trolley

44

as it reciprocates between a forward position when the trigger

32

is released and a rearward position when the trigger

32

is depressed against the force of the first spring

40

.

Preferably, a delay spring

46

is located between the trigger valve actuator

38

attached to the actuator trolley

44

and the valve stem

34

and operates in the same manner as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,827. However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, that other types of release valves may be used, such as a pinched tube valve or a valve assembly not including the delay spring

46

, and that the present invention is not limited to the specific valve or trigger arrangement disclosed.

A pump

50

is connected to the housing

12

and is preferably located in the pump housing

13

. The pump

50

includes a pump handle

52

that preferably extends from the front of the water gun

10

. The pump can be designed such that the handle

52

may extend in any other direction besides the front, if desired. The pump handle

52

is connected to a piston rod that in turn is connected to a piston that reciprocates within a piston chamber, all of which are well known for use in water gun pumps. The pump

50

is fluidly connected to the cartridge

8

via a second path of fluid communication comprising a pump pipe

54

that is connected to the manifold

26

. The pump handle

52

can be grasped by a user's hand to manually pump air into the cartridge

8

for charging the cartridge

8

by transferring air into the cartridge

8

through the pump valve assembly

100

, pressurizing fluids (i.e. air and water) located therein. The pump

50

may be of any type, including various types of reciprocating piston pumps or even a battery operated pump if desired, and may be integral with and firmly or rigidly connected to the gun, such as by the gun handle

14

and a support

15

, or otherwise, such as being located within or attached to the housing

12

. Alternatively, the pump may be a separate or a separable pump, connected to and in fluid communication with the water gun only by a flexible pipe. Various portable pumps are also well known for use with water guns.

A pump pressure release valve

60

, which is set at a desired pressure in order to prevent over-pressurization of the water gun

10

, is connected to the pump pipe

54

. Preferably, the pump pressure release valve

60

includes a second spring

62

, schematically shown in

FIG. 2

, which normally biases the pump pressure release valve

60

to a closed position and opens when acted upon by a sufficient pressure. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that the pump pressure release valve

60

may be set at any desired value in order to prevent over-pressurization of the water gun

10

from the pump

50

. The pump pressure release valve

60

discharges over-pressurized air or water from the water gun

10

via a vent opening

12

a

, which, for example, may be located conveniently in the pump housing

13

, near the gun handle

14

, as shown in FIG.

2

.

Still with reference to

FIG. 2

, a nozzle assembly

64

, including the nozzle

18

, is located at the discharge end

16

on the front of the water gun

10

and is in fluid communication with the cartridge

8

through the gun release valve

30

, the conduit

28

and the manifold

26

. The nozzle assembly

64

, which allows quick charging of the water gun

10

, is shown in detail in

FIGS. 3 and 4

in the charging position in a recharge adapter

130

or quick charge device. The nozzle assembly

64

is adapted for insertion into the recharge adapter

130

or a recharge adapter

230

, shown in

FIGS. 10 and 11

, as explained in detail below, to force liquid through the nozzle assembly

64

to displace the gun release valve

30

, such that liquid flows through the first path of fluid communication including the conduit

28

, the manifold

26

, the pump valve assembly

100

, and into the cartridge

8

.

As shown in

FIG. 4

, the nozzle assembly

64

further includes a nozzle housing

66

. A sliding nozzle member

68

is slidably located in the nozzle housing

66

and a nozzle discharge opening

70

is located in the sliding member

68

. The discharge opening

70

has a first size. The sliding nozzle member

68

is biased by a third spring

72

to a normally closed, forward-most position within the nozzle housing

66

. The sliding nozzle member

68

includes at least one recharge channel

74

located between the sliding nozzle member

68

and the nozzle housing

66

.

As shown in detail in

FIG. 4

, preferably a plurality of recharge channels

74

are located around the periphery of the sliding nozzle member

68

to allow for an increased flow area between the sliding nozzle member

68

and the wall of the housing

66

during recharging as the sliding nozzle member

68

is moved rearwardly in the nozzle housing

66

by the force of the externally pressurized water. The at least one recharge channel

74

is a different size, preferably having a larger area, than the discharge opening

70

, to admit water more readily into the water gun. The third spring

72

is positioned to bias the sliding nozzle member

68

to a first position to block the recharge channels

74

during water gun use. As explained in detail below, the sliding nozzle member

68

is adapted to move to a second position during recharging to open the recharge channels

74

. The outside of the nozzle housing

66

includes a groove

76

for a first O-ring seal

78

. Alternatively, if desired, the O-ring seal can be disposed in an inner circumferential groove within the recharge adapter, instead of around the nozzle housing

66

. However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that different types of valve assemblies can be utilized, and that the sliding nozzle member

68

can be omitted, if desired. The discharge opening

70

is generally sealed by the gun release valve

30

except during recharging through the nozzle assembly

64

or during firing of the water gun

10

.

As depicted in

FIGS. 2 and 7

, the cartridge manifold

25

includes a charge valve assembly

80

and a pump valve assembly

100

. The charge valve assembly

80

is compatible with and insertable into both a charge valve receiver

82

in the gun manifold

26

and the quick charge device

130

. The charge valve assembly

80

includes a charge valve assembly housing

90

. The outside of the charge valve assembly housing

90

includes a groove

92

for another O-ring seal

94

at the forward end. This assures a leak-free seal between the charge valve assembly housing

90

and the charge valve receiver

82

.

A sliding charge valve member

84

having an extension

84

a

is located in the charge valve assembly

80

. The sliding charge valve member

84

is biased by a fourth spring

86

to a forward-most, first position within the charge valve assembly

80

. The charge valve member

84

includes at least one charge valve channel

88

located between the sliding charge valve member

84

and a charge valve assembly housing

90

.

An opening

88

, preferably formed by a plurality of recharge channels, is located around the periphery of the sliding charge valve member

84

, to allow for an increased flow area between the sliding charge valve member

84

and the charge valve assembly housing

90

during recharging as the sliding charge valve member

84

is moved rearwardly in the charge valve assembly housing

90

. A seal

91

is located on the charge valve member

84

between the charge valve member

84

and the charge valve assembly housing

90

to provide a seal between the charge valve member

84

and the charge valve assembly housing

90

when the charge valve member

84

is in the first, closed position. The fourth spring

86

is positioned to bias the sliding charge valve member

84

to the first, normally closed position to block the recharge opening

88

. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that different types of charge valve assemblies can be utilized.

A stem

83

, located within the receiver

82

of the gun manifold

26

, extends rearwardly from the release valve

30

into the insertion path of the charge valve assembly

80

and into the path of fluid communication toward the charge valve member

84

. The stem

83

moves in conjunction with the valve stem

34

. Thus, when the release valve

30

is opened, the charge valve member

84

opens. Preferably, the stem

83

includes a knob

83

a

on the free end. When the cartridge

8

is inserted into the receiver

82

, the sliding charge valve member

84

remains in the closed position. The stem

83

is sized such that, when the trigger

32

is pulled and the valve stem

34

opens the valve

30

, the stem

83

is directed rearward and the knob

83

a engages the extension

84

a

of the sliding charge valve member

84

, forcing the sliding charge valve member

84

to a second, open position, to open the opening

90

. Pressurized fluid inside the cartridge bottle

9

can then travel through the opening

88

of the charge valve assembly

80

, into the receiver

82

of the manifold

26

and the conduit

28

, past the now open gun release valve

30

for discharge from the nozzle

18

. The same open flow path allows water under pressure to be forced into the cartridge bottle

9

when it is mounted on the gun and when the recharge adapter

130

or

230

is used to charge the cartridge bottle

9

with water from an external pressurized water source, such as a municipal water supply.

As best seen in

FIGS. 2 and 5A

, a flexible fill tube

95

, preferably but not necessarily, extends into the cartridge bottle

9

from the charge valve assembly housing

90

for transferring fluid between the cartridge bottle

9

and the charge valve assembly

80

. A filter screen assembly

97

is preferably connected to an end of the flexible tube

95

, distal from the charge valve assembly

80

. If desired, the tube

95

could be eliminated and the charge valve assembly would then be in direct fluid communication at its rear end with the interior of the cartridge bottle

9

.

Still with reference to

FIGS. 2 and 7

the pump valve assembly

100

is connectable with and preferably insertable into a pump valve assembly receiver

102

in the gun manifold

26

. The pump valve assembly housing

110

includes a groove

112

for an O-ring seal

114

at the forward end. This assures a leak-free seal between the pump valve assembly housing

100

and the pump valve receiver

102

. The charge valve assembly

80

and the pump valve assembly

100

arc sized differently so that they can only be received within the charge valve receiver

82

and the pump valve receiver

102

, respectively.

The pump valve assembly receiver

102

includes a stem

103

which extends into the pump valve assembly

100

and forces the pump valve assembly

100

to an open position when the pump valve assembly

100

is inserted into the pump valve assembly receiver

102

as the cartridge

8

is installed in the cartridge receiver

23

. A sliding pump valve member

104

is located in the pump valve assembly

100

. A ring seal

105

with a central opening

105

a

is located on the pump valve member

104

between the pump valve member

104

and a pump valve assembly housing

110

to provide a seal between the pump valve member

104

and the pump valve assembly housing

110

when the pump valve member

84

is biased into a first, forward most, normally closed position by a fifth spring

106

. The pump valve member

104

includes a pump valve opening

108

, preferably in the form of at least one channel, and preferably a plurality of channels, located around the periphery of the sliding pump valve member

104

, between the sliding pump valve member

104

and the pump valve assembly housing

110

. When the cartridge

8

is removed from the cartridge receiver

23

, the sliding pump valve member

104

is biased back into the closed position by the spring

106

, since the stem

103

will no longer be forcing the sliding pump valve member

104

into the open position. Thus, when the cartridge

8

is removed from the gun

10

, even if the cartridge bottle

9

is charged with water and air, since the charge valve member

84

and the pump valve member

104

are both closed, the cartridge bottle

9

will continue to retain the water and air therein without leaking.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that different types of pump valve assemblies can be utilized, if desired.

Still with reference to

FIGS. 2 and 7

, preferably, a cartridge pressure release valve

120

having a seal

124

is located inside the sliding pump valve member

104

and within the pump valve assembly housing

110

. The cartridge pressure release valve

120

is set at a desired pressure in order to prevent over-pressurization of the cartridge

8

. The cartridge pressure release valve

120

allows for quick charging of the water gun

10

using an external source of pressurized water, such as pressurized tap water provided by a well pump or water pressure from a municipal water supply, without the risk of over-pressurizing the gun or bottle cartridge

9

, as explained in detail below.

Preferably, the cartridge pressure release valve

120

includes a pressure adjustment cap

107

having a central opening

109

aligned with the opening

105

a

in the seal

105

for the pressure valve member

104

. The pressure adjustment cap

107

preferably has screw threads on its outer periphery that mate with screw threads on the inner periphery of the pressure valve member

104

. This allows the pressure adjustment cap

107

to be screwed into or out of the pressure valve member

104

to adjust the force exerted by a sixth spring

122

which biases the cartridge pressure release valve

120

to a normally closed position, such that the seal

124

seals an opening

125

in the rear wall of the pump valve member

104

. When the pressure release valve

120

is opened, the opening

125

is in fluid communication with the interior of the cartridge bottle

9

. The pressure adjustment cap

107

is screwed into the pump valve member

104

to an extent that the force on the spring

122

is adjusted to have a desired opening force to open the pressure release valve

120

when the cartridge pressure release valve

120

is acted upon by a sufficient amount of pressure from within the cartridge bottle

9

. This pressure is the release pressure and represents the maximum desirable pressure within the cartridge bottle

9

. Alternatively, instead of providing a pressure release cap

107

to allow for adjusting the release pressure, the sixth spring

122

can be calibrated to provide a predetermined release pressure at which the pressure release valve will open.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that different types of cartridge pressure release valve assemblies can be utilized, if desired.

With the cartridge

8

installed in the cartridge receiver

23

of the toy gun

10

, the stem

103

forces the pump valve assembly

100

to the open position. Fluid inside the cartridge

8

and cartridge bottle

9

is released from the cartridge

8

and drains through the pump pipe

54

and to the pump pressure release valve

60

. In the event that the fluid is over pressurized, the pump pressure release valve

60

opens, allowing the over-pressurized water to drain out the vent opening

12

a.

The water gun

10

can be charged through the recharge adapter

130

or

230

which is adapted to be connected to an external source of pressurized water, such as public water, by placing either the nozzle assembly

64

of the toy gun

10

or the charge valve assembly

80

of a separated cartridge

8

into the recharge adapter

130

or

230

.

As shown in detail in

FIGS. 3

,

4

, and

9

, the recharge adapter

130

includes a receptacle

132

for receiving either the nozzle assembly

64

of the water gun

10

or the charge valve assembly

80

on the cartridge

8

. For purposes of illustration,

FIGS. 3 and 4

depict the charging of the gun

10

through the nozzle assembly

64

. A plurality of legs

133

allow the recharge adapter

130

to be placed on a flat surface for use. A valve body

134

is slidably located in the receptacle

132

and is held in a normally closed position against a seat

138

via a seventh spring

136

located in the receptacle

132

. A seal is provided via an O-ring seal

140

. A fluid channel

142

is located in the valve body

134

such that upon downward movement of the valve body

134

, to the position shown in detail in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, caused by the insertion of the nozzle of the water gun or cartridge being charged, water under pressure enters the fluid channel

142

and is conveyed through the valve body

134

to either the nozzle assembly

64

of the gun

10

or the charge valve assembly

80

of the cartridge

8

. Water pressure from the external source forces the sliding nozzle member

68

inward, opening the recharge channels

74

into fluid communication with the fluid path

142

in the recharge adapter

130

. The recharge adapter

130

is adapted to force fluid through the nozzle assembly

64

, the valve

30

and the first path of fluid communication and into the cartridge

8

, pressurizing air within the cartridge bottle

9

to charge the cartridge

8

. When used for charging the cartridge

8

directly through the charge valve assembly

80

when the cartridge

8

is removed from the water gun

10

, the procedure would be the same as described below with respect to the recharge adapter

230

.

An external hose attachment

144

, shown in

FIGS. 3 and 9

, is provided on the recharge adapter

130

for connection to an external source of pressurized water, such as a garden hose. However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that other types of connectors or couplings can be provided for attaching the recharge adapter

130

to a pressurized water source, such as a municipal water supply. It will be similarly recognized that the different types of valves and actuating mechanisms can be used.

As shown in

FIG. 9

, a secondary charge source

150

in the form of a valve preferably extends from the recharge adapter

130

. The secondary charge source

150

includes an outlet

152

which fluidly connects the external source of fluid to the environment or to another hose through any appropriate fitting, not shown, if desired. A valve

154

is located within the path of fluid communication between the outlet

152

and the external source of fluid and is operable between an open and closed position Preferably, the valve

154

is a ball valve, although those skilled in the art will recognize in view of the present disclosure that other types of valves can be used. A handle

156

, operatively connected to the valve

154

, extends from the secondary charge source

150

. The secondary charge source

150

allows the external source of fluid to be discharged from the recharge adapter

130

, for example, to fill a cartridge bottle

9

that has been removed from the cartridge

8

or other types of water guns or any other container or for other use as desired, without receiving either of the nozzle assembly

64

or the charge valve assembly

80

in the recharger receptacle

132

.

The recharge adapter

130

or quick charge device is preferably made from polymeric material in one or more pieces to be assembled. However, it is understood and recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that the recharge adapter

130

or quick charge device may be made using any desired method, and from any suitable material, as desired.

An alternative and presently preferred embodiment of a valve member for a recharge adapter that otherwise is made and used in the same way as recharge adapter

130

is shown with respect to the alternative embodiment of a recharge adapter

230

in

FIGS. 10 and 11

.

The recharge adapter

230

has the appearance in a top plan view the same as the recharge adapter

130

shown in

FIG. 9

, and so is not separately illustrated. The recharge adapter

230

includes a receptacle

232

for receiving either the nozzle assembly

64

of the water gun

10

or the charge valve assembly

80

on the cartridge

8

. For purposes of illustration,

FIG. 11

depicts the adapter in use to charge the cartridge

8

through the charge valve assembly

80

. A plurality of legs

233

allow the recharge adapter

230

to be placed on a flat surface for use. A valve body

234

is slidably located in the receptacle

232

and is held in a normally closed position against a seat

238

via a spring

236

located in a valve chamber

235

. A seal is provided via an O-ring seal

240

.

A fluid channel

241

is formed around the open valve body

134

, by virtue of the construction of the valve body in the form of a plurality of crossed vanes

237

connected together at their central intersection, having a level top

239

and an opposed bottom structure

242

for supporting the O-ring seal

240

and the spring

236

. Upon downward movement of the valve body

234

to the position shown in detail in

FIG. 11

, caused by the insertion of the nozzle of the water gun or cartridge being charged, water under pressure enters the fluid channel

241

and is conveyed around the valve body

234

to either the nozzle assembly

64

of the gun

10

or, as shown in

FIG. 11

, the charge valve assembly

80

of the cartridge

8

. Water pressure from the external source forces the sliding charge valve member

84

(not shown in

FIG. 11

; see

FIG. 7

) inward, opening the recharge channels

88

into fluid communication with the fluid path

241

in the recharge adapter

230

. The recharge adapter

230

is adapted to force fluid through the charge valve assembly

80

and into the cartridge

8

, pressurizing air within the cartridge bottle

9

to charge the cartridge

8

. When used for charging the water gun

10

through the nozzle assembly

64

, the procedure would be the same as described above with respect to the recharge adapter

130

.

An external hose attachment

244

is provided on the recharge adapter

230

for connection to an external source of pressurized water, such as a garden hose. However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that other types of connectors or couplings can be provided for attaching the recharge adapter

230

to a pressurized water source, such as a municipal water supply. It will be similarly recognized that the different types of valves and actuating mechanisms can be used.

A secondary charge source

250

in the embodiment of the recharge adapter

230

has the same components and operates in the same manner as discussed above with respect to the secondary charge source

150

for the recharge adapter embodiment

130

of

FIGS. 3

,

4

and

9

. Therefore, there is no need to repeat that information here.

The recharge adapter

230

or quick charge device is preferably made from polymeric material in one or more pieces to be assembled. The valve body

234

is preferably made as a single unitary piece by an injection molding technique or any other suitable molding technique, using appropriately durable polymeric material. However, it is understood and recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that the recharge adapter

130

or quick charge device may be made using any desired method, and from any suitable material, as desired.

In operation, the water gun

10

can be charged by filling and pressurizing the storage cartridge

8

by one of four methods. In a first method, the water gun

10

can be filled and pressurized by inserting the nozzle assembly

64

into the receptacle

132

of the recharge adapter

130

or into the receptacle

232

of the recharge adapter

230

. This insertion displaces the normally closed valve body

134

or

234

to an open position by moving it downwardly upon contact by the nozzle assembly

64

, opening the fluid channel

142

or

241

. Water under pressure from an external source which is connected to the recharge adapter

130

or

230

then flows through valve body

134

of the recharge adapter

130

or around the vanes

237

of the valve body

234

of the recharge adapter

230

, into the nozzle assembly

64

and presses the sliding nozzle member

68

inwardly to allow a larger volume of water to flow through the recharge channel

74

located on the sliding nozzle member

68

. The sliding nozzle member

68

is opened via water pressure acting on the closing surface of the sliding nozzle member

68

or mechanically upon insertion of the nozzle assembly

64

into the recharge adapter

130

or

230

in order to allow a flow of pressurized water through the sliding nozzle member

68

.

The gun release valve

30

is also opened via water pressure acting on the gun release valve

30

in order to allow fluid to flow around the gun release valve

30

and through the conduit

28

and into the manifold

26

. Water flows through the water gun manifold

26

and the cartridge manifold

25

and into the charge valve assembly

80

. The water then flows against the sliding charge valve member

84

. The force of the water overcomes the force of the fourth spring

86

and opens the sliding charge valve member

84

. The water then flows through the recharge channels

88

and into the cartridge bottle

9

, trapping and pressurizing air above the water in the cartridge bottle

9

to pressurize the cartridge bottle

9

with liquid under pressure The pump valve member

104

is biased to an open position by the stem

103

, allowing the pressurized fluid to flow through the pump pipe

54

to the pump pressure release valve

60

, which opens in the case of over-pressurization.

When the water gun

10

is fully charged, the nozzle assembly

64

is removed from the recharge adapter

130

or

230

This pressurized air provides the motive force, upon activation of the release valve

30

, for shooting water from the gun

10

in a similar manner to the pressurized air water gun disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,437. The pump pressure release valve

60

prevents over-pressurization and allows water to overflow from the cartridge

8

if the water pressure from the external water source is above the set value for the pump pressure release valve

60

in order to prevent over-pressurization of the water gun

10

and its components. Once the cartridge

8

is pressurized, movement of the trigger

32

opens the gun release valve

30

and moves the stem

83

against the charge valve member

84

, opening the charge valve member

84

and releasing the pressurized water or fluid from the cartridge

8

and out of the nozzle assembly

64

as a burst of fluid, preferably water.

In a second method, the cartridge

8

can be filled directly from the recharge adapter

130

or

230

without being retained within the gun

10

. The charge valve assembly

80

of the cartridge

8

, which has been removed or separated from the housing

12

, is inserted into the receptacle

132

of the adapter

130

or the receptacle

232

of the adapter

230

in a manner similar to the manner in which the nozzle assembly

64

of the gun

10

is inserted into the recharge adapter

130

or

230

. This moves the normally closed valve body

134

or

234

to the open position by moving it downwardly upon contact by the charge valve assembly

80

and allows water under pressure to flow through the recharge adapter

130

or

230

, through the charge valve assembly

80

and press the sliding charge valve member

84

inwardly to allow water to flow through the sliding charge valve channel

88

located on the sliding charge valve member

84

. The sliding charge valve member

84

is opened via water pressure acting on the closing surface of the sliding charge valve member

84

or may be opened mechanically upon insertion of the charge valve assembly

80

into the recharge adapter

80

in order to allow a flow of pressurized water through the recharge adapter

130

and into the cartridge

8

. Air already in the cartridge

8

is trapped in the cartridge

8

and is compressed by the pressurized water flowing into the cartridge

8

. When the cartridge

8

is fully charged, the cartridge

8

is removed from the recharge adapter

130

. In the event that the cartridge

8

is over-pressurized, the cartridge pressure release valve

120

is forced open, allowing excess pressure to be released from inside the cartridge

8

.

Additional cartridges

22

can be charged in the same manner. A charged cartridge

8

is inserted into the rear of the gun

10

, as shown in

FIG. 1A

, and into the quick release connector

24

with the charge valve assembly

80

inserted into the receiver

82

and the pump valve assembly

100

inserted into the pump valve assembly receiver

102

. The gun

10

is then ready for use. Additional spare cartridges

8

can be loaded in this manner.

When the charged cartridge

8

has been sufficiently depleted to a point where pressure inside the cartridge

8

is no longer sufficient to discharge the water from the cartridge

8

, the user can remove the “spent” cartridge

8

and insert a fully charged cartridge

8

without returning to a water source. To remove a spent cartridge

8

from the gun

10

, the user depresses the free ends

27

b

of the lock arms

27

toward the cartridge

8

. The free ends

27

a

of the lock arms

27

pivot away from the cartridge

8

, and the tangs

29

are disengaged from the notches

25

a

, releasing the cartridge

8

to be removed from the gun

10

.

Alternatively, if water remains in the cartridge

8

, but the cartridge

8

is not pressurized sufficiently with air to effectively discharge the water, the user can operate the pump

50

and pump air into the cartridge

8

to repressurize the cartridge

8

. Operation of the pump

50

forces air into the second path of fluid communication, namely, the pump pipe

54

, the gun manifold

26

and cartridge manifold to the cartridge

8

and into the cartridge bottle

9

. If the cartridge

8

becomes over-pressurized due to excessive pumping or excessive pressure from a pressurized water source, the pump pressure release valve

60

opens, releasing over-pressurized air from the vent opening

12

a

in the housing

12

.

In a third method, the quick release connection

24

is opened and the cartridge

8

is removed from the housing

12

. The cartridge manifold

25

is removed from the bottle

9

by unthreading from the threads

127

and the cartridge bottle

9

is filled with unpressurized fluid, preferably water. The cartridge manifold

25

is then rethreaded onto the cartridge bottle

9

, and the cartridge

8

is inserted into the quick release connection

24

in the housing

12

. The pump

50

is then operated to pump air into the cartridge

8

, pressurizing the cartridge

8

as described above.

In a fourth method, the user opens the valve

154

in the recharge adapter

130

or

230

and allows the pressurized fluid to be released from the secondary charge source

150

or

250

and into a container, such as a cartridge bottle

9

with the cartridge manifold

25

having been removed from the cartridge bottle

9

. Alternatively, the secondary charge source

150

or

250

can be used to fill other types of cartridges for use in other toy water guns or other devices.

Water is released from the water gun

10

by pulling the trigger

32

, which moves the arm

42

rearwardly, operating the actuator trolley

44

to compress the delay spring

46

to such a point where the valve stem

34

rapidly opens the release valve

30

in order to release a burst of water through the opening in the nozzle

18

of the nozzle assembly

64

. The pump

50

can be used to keep air pressure up for longer shots. Water in the cartridge

8

can be pressurized via the pump

50

in the known manner.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Number	Name	Date	Kind
5074437	D'Andrade et al.	Dec 1991	A
6138871	D'Andrade	Oct 2000	A

	Number	Date	Country
	60/138887	Jun 1999	US
	60/162579	Oct 1999	US

Water gun with removable pre-pressurizable cartridge

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

RELATED APPLICATION

US Referenced Citations (2)

Provisional Applications (2)