Trigger Assembly for Rubber Band Gun

This invention relates generally to rubber band-propelling toy guns and is a modification of the gun described in prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,055, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Rubber band guns are generally well known. Typically, in such guns, a rubber band is stretched and retained lengthwise along the barrel of the gun and a trigger mechanism is provided for releasing the rearward end of the stretched rubber band, so that the band is projected from the muzzle end of the barrel. The gun described in the above-noted prior U.S. patent is formed generally in the shape of a pistol or revolver having an imitation barrel extending from the forward end of a stock, and a pistol grip depending from the stock. A trigger in the form of a suitably bent elongate resilient member, such as a wire, has a forward end embedded in the stock, a trigger portion extending from the forward end below the stock, an elongate portion extending rearwardly from the trigger portion along a passage formed through the top of the pistol grip, and a looped portion extending upwardly from the elongate portion behind the pistol grip and terminating in a hook-shaped tip engaging in a retention socket at the back of the stock. In operation, rubber bands may be stored on the looped portion of the trigger in back of the gun. When it is desired to fire the gun, one band is pulled up from the looped portion of the trigger, stretched along the length of the gun, and its forward end is pulled over the front of the barrel so that the band is retained in stretched condition lengthwise on the gun with its forward end over the front end of the barrel and its rearward end engaged and retained on the hook-shaped tip of the trigger. Then, rearward pressure on the trigger portion of the trigger draws the hook-shaped tip out from the retention socket in the stock of the gun thereby releasing the band which is projected from the front of the gun. The trigger is biased forwardly, so that when released it returns the hook-shaped tip back into engagement in the retention socket ready to receive the next band. Bands are also loaded onto the looped portion of the trigger by disengaging the tip from the socket as aforesaid.

The present invention is directed toward the provision of a rubber band gun of the same general character and mode of operation as the gun described in the above U.S. patent, but having certain improvements or modifications, particularly in relation to the trigger mechanism.

Additional to the patent discussed above, applicant is aware of the following U.S. patents pertaining to rubber band guns and the like. None of these, however, discloses a gun having the features of the present invention.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 808,621, F. M. Ball, Jan. 2, 1908.

1,839,700, P. T. Pino, Jan. 5, 1932.

1,868,312, W. A. Coventry, July 19, 1932.

3,745,986, R. E. Crowson, July 17, 1973.

4,033,313, J. Ryan, July 5, 1977.

4,436,077, W. G. Smith, Mar. 13, 1984.

A rubber band gun in accordance with the present invention is of generally similar character to the gun described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,055 insofar as it has a trigger in the form of a suitably bent elongate resilient element, such as a length of wire, having a forward end mounted in the stock of the gun, a trigger portion extending downwardly from the forward end, an elongate portion extending rearwardly from the trigger portion through the handle of the gun, and a looped portion extending rearwardly and upwardly from the elongate portion behind the handle, the looped portion terminating in a hooked tip for engagement against the back of the gun stock. In accordance with the present invention, however, the forward end of the trigger, rather than being embedded in the stock of the gun as in the prior patent, is pivotally mounted, for example on a pin in the stock which engages an eye formed on the end of the trigger, the forward end of the trigger being provided with a degree of pivotal movement in the stock, and the elongate portion of the trigger also being provided with a degree of up and down movement where it enters the handle. Further, the trigger may be provided with a characteristic series of bends which may be manipulated so as to adjust the tension of the trigger making it more or less difficult to pull, and providing a means for increasing the trigger tension should, for example, the trigger become slack with prolonged use of the gun. Mounting of the forward end of the trigger on a pin in the stock of the gun enhances retention of the trigger in the gun, and the design lends itself to manufacture of the gun in the form of left and right plastic moldings which fit together with the trigger trapped therebetween.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, part broken away, of a rubber band gun in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the gun.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side elevational view of the gun showing operation of the trigger.

The illustrated toy rubber band gun is generally in the form of a pistol or revolver, comprising left and right shallow dish-like plastic moldings 10 and 12, and a trigger element in the form of a resilient elongate wire 14, trapped between the moldings. When assembled, the moldings define a gun body having an imitation barrel 16, a stock 18, and a handle or grip 20 depending from the stock. The moldings may be clamped together by any convenient means known in the art such as snap-together male and female fittings 22, 24, 26.

Trigger 14 has a forward end formed as an eye 28 which is pivotally mounted in the stock of the gun on a pin 30 which may be a separate plastic or metal pin fitting in sockets 32, 34 in the respective moldings 10, 12 or which may be integrally formed with one of the moldings. The trigger element has a short length 36 extending forwardly and downwardly from eye 28, a first bend 38, a concave length 40 extending through a slot 42 defined by grooves in rim portions 44, 45 of the respective moldings 10, 12, a second sharp bend 46, a concave length 48, a substantially straight length 50 extending into the front of handle 20 of the gun through a slot 52 defined by grooves in the molding rim portions and out of the back of the handle through opening 56, also defined by grooves in the respective rim portions, and an upwardly curved length 58 terminating in a hooked tip 60 which fits in a receiving socket 62 formed in the back of the stock.

Length 40 of the trigger element forms a trigger portion against which backward pressure is exerted when the gun is fired, and length 58 forms a looped storage portion for rubber bands 64 as in the prior patent. The slot 42 is of sufficient length to allow a degree of pivotal movement of the trigger about pin 30, and slot 52 in the front of the handle is likewise of a length to accommodate such movement. The opening 56, through which the trigger element extends at the back of the handle, however, is a substantially close fit around the trigger element to form a bearing in which length 50 of the trigger slides.

The characteristic shape of the resilient trigger element along with the positioning of the slots and openings in which it is received in the rim portions of the moldings 10 and 12 related to the position of pivot pin 30, and with elongate portion 50 extending up through the handle from slot 52 to the opening 56 at the back of the handle, provide a force resiliently biasing the trigger element to the position shown in FIG. 1 wherein tip 60 fits in the receiving socket 62, length 50 of the trigger element engages the upper wall of slot 52 and length 40 engages the forward wall of slot 42. In this condition of the gun, a leading band 64a from the looped portion 58 of the trigger element can be pulled up and stretched along the length of the gun so that its forward end loops over a notch 66 in the muzzle end of the barrel 16 while its rearward end is retained by tip 60 of the trigger element.

To fire band 64a, length 40 of the trigger element is pressed back against the tension of the trigger element (FIG. 4) providing a degree of pivoting of the forward end of the trigger about pin 30, movement of length 40 toward the rear wall of slot 42 equivalent downward movement of the forward end of length 50 in slot 52 and rearward lengthwise movement of length 50 in the opening 56 in the back of the handle, so as to withdraw tip 60 of the trigger element from socket 62 and release the stretched rubber band. This movement of the trigger element is also used for loading rubber bands onto loop 58. When the trigger element is released, the biasing force thereon returns the trigger element to the position shown in FIG. 1.

The characteristic bent shape of the trigger element allows the trigger tension to be varied by tightening or relaxing the bends therein, particularly bend 46, which is useful should, for example, the tension of the trigger become slack due to continued use. Further, the pin and eyetype mounting of the forward end of the trigger in the gun provides a secure attachment and the gun can be readily manufactured from economically molded components.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.