Toy water gun

[0001] This application is related to applicant's prior provisional application Ser. No. 60/301,034, filed Jun. 25, 2001, titled Toy Water Gun. The specification of said provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. Applicant hereby claims benefits of said prior provisional application under 35 U.S.C. 119(e).

[0002] The invention relates to toy water guns, and more particularly to such water guns having multiple nozzles for discharging water, and water guns in which nozzles are adapted to discharge in directions other than forward.

[0003] Water guns are well known in which a plunger or trigger is employed to force or release water through an internal passage leading to a rotatable nozzle head having several orifices of various sizes or shapes. Thus, an operator may, in between discharges, rotate the nozzle head to align a selected orifice with the water passage, for different choices of discharge volume or spray patterns. While such designs allow many choices to be available, the configuration is not conducive to quick or repeated changes, particularly in the midst of a water battle.

[0004] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,615,488 and 4,597,527 (both to Sands) disclose water guns in which a member of a nozzle head assembly is rotated to selectively align either a forward nozzle or a sideways directed nozzle with a main water supply passage. Additionally, a second member of the nozzle head (or the plunger handle of an alternate embodiment) may be rotated to allow flow of water from the main supply passage to a pair of rearward facing nozzles. To select a new output configuration an operator must presumably halt the process of discharging water to perform a separate nozzle selection operation. The rearward nozzles are intended to direct water at the operator of the gun, rather than at a target located behind the operator (U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,527, col. 2, lines 43–46 and col. 3, lines 22–26).

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. Re. 24,208 (Steiner), U.S. Pat. No. 2,888,172 (O'Brian), U.S. Pat. No. 3,146,911 (Shun), U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,318 (Luk), U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,153 (Kuhn et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,320 (Mak et al.) all disclose water guns in which a movably mounted single nozzle is manipulated by the operator to point in different directions. U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,824 (Clayton) discloses a water gun in which multiple movable nozzles can simultaneously discharge in different directions.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 819,602 (Rupp) discloses an agricultural sprayer in which two spray heads can discharge fluid. The device does not simulate a firearm, is attached to a hose (col. 1, In. 23–25) and is carried by holding the arms 10, one in each hand (col. 2, In. 74–77). U.S. Pat. No. 979,771 (Kunzelmann) discloses a nozzle head in which a handle is employed for selecting one of three nozzles. The handle changes the orientation of the nozzles so that a selected nozzle always aims forward. U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,361 (Cuisinier) discloses a water pistol in which a second output can be selected and employed for filling a water balloon. The second output points straight down along a vertical axis with respect to the pistol. U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,440 (Regalbuto) shows a bicycle mounted squirting apparatus with multiple nozzles. The apparatus does not simulate a firearm and is not practical for use without a bicycle, upon which its major components must be separately and individually mounted.

[0007] The invention provides novel water gun control means for quick and easy selection of different nozzles or combinations thereof, so that discharge direction, volume and/or spray patterns may be changed “on the fly” without significant down time or interruption of discharge during changes in selection. In a typical embodiment, a water gun has an internally carried discharge control valve with multiple selectable outputs. Each valve output is connected via conduit to a different nozzle or set of nozzles. A multi-position trigger or similar device controls the valve, whereby an operator can choose among the various modes of discharge simply by moving the trigger among corresponding positions.

[0025] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 depict, by way of illustration but not of limitation, a water gun employing the present invention. The water gun 10 includes a body or frame 11, a pump 12 adapted for pressurizing water and air in a sealed reservoir 13, a valve 19 for releasing pressurized water from the reservoir, and a trigger assembly 15 for operating the valve. The pump 12 includes a plunger 20, a cylinder 21 and a unidirectional check valve 22. The plunger includes a shaft 23 having a piston 24 at one end and a user operable handle 20a at the opposite end. Reciprocation of the plunger 20 within the cylinder 21 draws outside air into the cylinder as the plunger is moved to the right in FIG. 1, and forces said air through check valve 22 and into reservoir 13, via conduit 25, when the plunger is moved to the left. Water is added to the reservoir (when not pressurized) through an air tight removable cap 26. Air pressure urges water from the reservoir 13 to the valve 19 via a tube 27.

[0026] The valve 19 (ref. FIG. 3) includes a first stage 14a for allowing or blocking the flow of water, and a second stage 14b for selecting discharge direction. A tube 34 supplies water from the first valve stage 14a to the second stage 14b, which includes a movable cylindrical core 32 carried for rotation in a body 16 having four output ports 38. The body 16 is held in fixed position on the gun frame 11 by engagement of tabs 40 and receptacles 41, and may be integrally connected with the body of first valve stage 14a (for simplicity of illustration such connection is not shown in the figures). The output ports 38 are radially offset from the axis of rotation of the core 32, symmetrically spaced from each other by ninety degrees. The rotary core 32 has a single aperture 36 radially offset from the axis of rotation such that it can be aligned with any selected one of the outputs 38. An o-ring 46 and feed-through gasket 39 restrict leakage about the core 32 where it interfaces with tube 34, and valve body 16. The gasket 39 is affixed to the core 32 and rotates with same to allow passage of water between aperture 36 of the cylinder and a selected output port 38. Conduits 17a, b, c and d connect the valve outputs 38 to nozzles 18a, b, c and d, respectively. Thus, water will be discharged in the forward, reverse, left or right directions respectively, depending upon with which port 38 the core aperture 36 is aligned. An elongated frame extension 11a supports the rear nozzle such that the extension 11a is normally tucked under an operator's “trigger arm” and the nozzle 18b is directed to the rear of, rather than at the operator. The rear nozzle 18b is angled upward to compensate for the typical tendency of an operator to angle the forward end of a water gun upward, and hence to angle the rear end downward. Right nozzle 18c and left nozzle 18d may also be angled slightly upward, to enhance the projection of water in both directions.

[0027] The frame 11 includes a pistol grip 42 so that an operator may hold the gun in one hand and actuate the trigger 15 with the index finger of that hand. The trigger 15 includes first and second finger operated members 28a and 28b, a tubular sleeve 29 which slides in forward and reverse directions about pump cylinder 21, a discharge actuating member 30, and an output selection cam 31 which engages slots 33a and 33b in the rotating cylindrical core 32 of the valve 19. A spring 43 normally biases the trigger 15 forward to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3. To discharge water from a currently selected output an operator pulls trigger member 28a toward the rear of the gun, from said position. Cam 31 slides in one of the longitudinally aligned grooves 33a and imparts no motion to the core 32. Discharge actuating member 30 slides along a valve opening control rod 45 until it engages a flange 44; further rearward motion of trigger 15 pulls the control rod 45 rearward to open first valve stage 14a, which releases water from tube 27 into tube 34, and thus into second valve stage 14b, where it flows through aperture 36 and a selected port 38, to be discharged through a corresponding nozzle.

[0028] To change the selected output an operator pushes forward on second trigger member 28b so that cam 31 moves forward into one of the diagonally oriented grooves 33b, as depicted by dashed lines in FIG. 3. The operator then pulls rearward on first trigger member 28a whereby engagement of cam 31 with groove 33b forces the cylinder 32 to rotate by 90 degrees, whereupon the cam 31 enters the next longitudinal groove 33a. At such position discharge actuating member 30 will not have engaged flange 44 of the valve control rod 45, so no water is released. The operator may now either pull first trigger member 28a farther back to release water from the newly selected output, or he may push forward again on second trigger member 28b to engage cam 31 with the next diagonal groove 33b to initiate another incremental rotation of cylinder 32, and thus another change in output selection. From a given output selection, any other output can be selected through no more than three reciprocations of member 28b as described above.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, it may be seen that the valve outputs 38 are mutually exclusive, i.e., only one output can be selected at any given time, since rotary aperture 36 can be aligned with only one of the outputs 38 at a time. If construction of alternate embodiments, any of the outputs may be connected via conduit to a group of nozzles (front, right and left nozzles, for example) such that simultaneous multi-directional discharge results when that particular valve output is selected. Group connections aside, the valve and trigger structure 19, 15 is additionally and particularly useful in other embodiments where the selection of individual (as opposed to groups of) nozzles is desired. For example, each of the four valve outputs 38 may be connected through separate conduits to four separate forward facing nozzles, where each of the nozzles is of a different orifice size or shape. Thus, the trigger may be used to quickly select among four different discharge volumes or spray patterns.

[0030] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another water gun 110 incorporating the present invention. Other than the trigger and valve mechanisms, water gun 110 is identical to the gun 10 of FIG. 1 and similar items are identically numbered. Water gun 110 includes a frame 111, a valve 119, and a trigger assembly 115 that slides back and forth on air pump cylinder 21 and pressurized water supply tube 27. The trigger assembly includes a finger actuated member 128 and a valve control member 130. The control member is in fixed engagement with a valve control rod 145 such that forward or backward movement of the trigger 115 is matched by movement of the control rod 145 and a valve plunger 132 (ref. FIG. 5). The valve plunger is movably carried within a valve body 114. A trigger return spring 43 and a valve spring 143 bias the trigger 115 and valve plunger 132 to the forward position depicted in FIG. 5. Pressurized water is supplied by tube 27 to the valve 119 through an interconnecting passage 134. With valve plunger 132 positioned as in FIG. 5, o-rings 146a, 146b prevent flow of water from passage 134 to valve output ports 138a, b, c.

[0031] The valve outputs 138a–c are not mutually exclusive, and are sequentially enabled. To initiate water discharge, an operator pulls rearward on trigger member 128 until o-ring 146a becomes positioned to the rear of passage 134, at which point water flows from passage 134 into valve body 114 and through valve output port 138a. A conduit 117a connects port 138a to nozzle 18a for discharge in the forward direction. If the operator continues to pull the trigger rearward such that o-ring 146a passes to the rear of valve output port 138b, water will flow through both conduits 117a and 117b. Conduit 117b connects port 138b to rear nozzle 18b, so the water gun will discharge simultaneously in the front and rear directions. If the trigger is pulled still farther back, such that o-ring 146a is positioned to the rear of valve output port 138c, water will flow to all three output ports simultaneously. Output 138c is connected to right nozzle 18c and left nozzle 18d through conduits 117c, d, e and splitter 116. Therefore, with the trigger 115 pulled to its rearmost position, water will discharge from the front, rear, right and left nozzles 18a–d simultaneously. A third o-ring 146c prevents the draining of water from conduits 117b and 117e through valve body 114, around spring 143, when the plunger is returned to its forward position (as in FIG. 5).

[0032] Another water gun 210 incorporating the present invention is depicted in FIG. 6. Other than the trigger and valve mechanisms, water gun 210 is identical to the gun 10 of FIG. 1 and similar items are identically numbered. The water gun 210 includes a frame 211, a valve 219, and a top mounted “fire hose” styled trigger lever 215 carried for pivotal movement about a pin 229. The trigger 215 includes an operating handle 228, and is operably connected to a valve plunger 232 via a pin 250 on the plunger that engages a slotted hole 251 on the trigger 215. The plunger 232 is carried for sliding motion within a valve body 214, such that forward and reverse pivoted movement of the trigger 215 causes the plunger to linearly slide back and forth within the valve body 214. The valve body includes a plurality of outputs 238a–c connected to front, rear, left and right nozzles 18a–d via conduits 217a–d, respectively. Output 238c is connected to both the left and right conduits 217c, 217d by a splitter 216. The valve 219 is supplied with pressurized water through an input port 234 (ref. FIG. 7) which mates with a radially positioned aperture (not shown) near the forward end of water tube 227.

[0033] The plunger 232 is constructed with an internal longitudinal passageway 252 which can be connected to the input port 234 through either of two elongated radial passages 253a, 253b, and which can be selectively connected to the output ports 238a–c, either individually or in programmed combinations, through six radial passages 254. The valve has five operating modes which depend upon the incremental positioning of plunger 232 within valve body 214. With reference to FIG. 8, the five operating modes are illustrated in relation to the plunger position. In the orientation labeled “Position 1”, the plunger is placed in its most forward possible position (forward being to the right in the figures). Successive labeled positions correspond to incremental rearward movements of the plunger.

[0034] With the plunger 232 in Position 1 of FIG. 8, water is allowed to flow from input 234 through the central passage 252, and out through leftmost port 238b. Referring to FIG. 6 it is seen that port 238b connects to rear nozzle 18b, via conduit 217b, so that Position 1 of the plunger corresponds to rearward discharge. With reference to FIGS. 6 and 8 it may be further understood that Position 1 of the plunger will correspond to the trigger handle 228 being pulled to it's most rearward possible position so that the lower end of trigger lever 215 is pivoted fully to the right.

[0035] Again referring to FIG. 8, the plunger 232 in Position 2 will allow water to flow from input 234 to output 238a, which corresponds to forward discharge through nozzle 18a. The corresponding position of trigger handle 228 (FIG. 6) will be partially rearward.

[0036] In Position 3, a solid portion 232a of the plunger covers input port 234 so that water flow is prevented. This is an “OFF” mode and corresponds to trigger lever 115 being in the vertical orientation as shown in FIG. 6. Gaskets, o-rings or similar devices may be incorporated to enhance sealing between the plunger 232 and valve body 214.

[0037] Position 4 of plunger 232 allows water flow from input 234 to output 238c, which corresponds to left and right simultaneous discharge from nozzles 18c and 18d, via conduits 217c and 217d. The trigger handle 228 will be positioned partially forward.

[0038] Position 5 of the plunger simultaneously aligns one of the upper plunger passages 254 with each of the outputs 238a–c, so that water flows to all four nozzles for simultaneous front, rear, left and right discharge. Trigger handle 228 of FIG. 6 will be in its most forward position.

[0039] As described above, the valve 219 may be used by itself to control both discharge actuation and output selection, however it may also be used in conjunction with a separate discharge actuating valve or pump, such that valve 219 and trigger lever 215 are employed for output selection only. It may be noted that valve outputs 238a–c are mutually exclusive in Positions 1, 2 and 4, but are all enabled in Position 5. This allows the section of individual discharge paths, or the selection of all paths simultaneously, without the need for check valves or redundant nozzles and conduits (see FIG. 13 for an example of check valves employed to produce similar results).

[0040] FIG. 9 illustrates a valve 219′ similar to that of FIGS. 7 and 8, modified by the addition of springs 255, 256 which bias plunger 232′ to the centered “OFF” position. With such modifications employed in the water gun 210 of FIG. 6, an operator may move trigger handle 228 forward or backward to select any of the available nozzle combinations and initiate discharge, and may cease discharge simply by releasing the handle 228 such that the springs 255, 256 return the valve plunger 232′ to the “OFF” mode. The trigger handle 215 may similarly be spring biased to its vertical “OFF” position to assist in or provide for the same result.

[0041] FIGS. 10–12 illustrate a multiple output rotary valve 319 that may be employed in a water gun similar to that of FIG. 6. The valve 319 includes a body 314, which is held in fixed position when installed in a water gun, and a core 332 that rotates within the body 314 to block or allow water flow between an input 334 and a selected one of three outputs 338a–c. A trigger lever 315 is affixed to the valve core 332 such that as the core rotates with the valve body 314, the lever 315 pivots about a central axis of the valve 319. Thus, the trigger handle 328 is used to rotate the core 332 for operation of the valve.

[0042] The valve core includes a central passageway 352 for selective connection of input 334 to outputs 338a–c. As depicted in FIG. 10 the passageway 352 is not aligned with an output, so the valve 319 is in an “OFF” mode. The handle 228 may be moved to the right or left, as in FIGS. 11 and 12, to align passageway 352 with outputs 338a or 338c, respectively, or may be placed in an intermediate position (not shown) to align the passageway with output 338b.

[0043] FIG. 13 provides a schematic illustration of connections between the valve 319 and four nozzles that allow for selection of front, rear or four-way discharge. If the core 332 is rotated to allow flow through output 338a, water is discharged from the front nozzle, with a unidirectional check valve 353 preventing backflow to the other nozzle paths. When output 338b is selected, water is discharged from the rear nozzle, with a second check valve 354 likewise preventing backflow. When output 338c is selected, water flows directly to the left and right nozzles, and additionally flows through check valves 353 and 354, as indicated by arrows, to the rear and front nozzles, for simultaneous discharge in the front, rear, left and right directions. The trigger lever 315 may be biased to the “OFF” position or may be unbiased so that the valve can be left in a selected position.

[0044] FIG. 14 illustrates another trigger and valve mechanism that may be employed in a multiple output water gun such as that of FIG. 2 to provide selectable discharge in multiple directions. Pressurized water is supplied, as has been described for the embodiment of FIG. 1, through a tube 427 and manifold 434, to two valves 419a, b. The valves are of a type commonly used in water guns, wherein an internal plunger normally blocks the flow of water and a control rod allows the plunger to be retracted to open the valve, such that water flows from input to output. In the mechanism of FIG. 14, a trigger lever 415, having a finger actuated member 428, is pivoted about a pin 429, such that as the lever 415 is rotated clockwise in the figure, it engages a flange 444a on control rod 445a to open the first valve 419a. The output 438a of this valve is attached via conduit to a forward nozzle such as 18a in FIG. 2 to provide forward discharge as in a standard single output water gun. As the trigger lever 415 is pivoted farther clockwise, it will engage a flange 444b on the control rod 445b of the second valve 419b, such that both valves are opened. The second valve output 438b is connected via conduit to left, right and rear nozzles such as 18b–d in FIG. 2, and simultaneous discharge in the front, rear, right and left directions results. Alternatively, the design might be further simplified by omission of the left and right nozzles, so that an operator has only the choices of front discharge or combined front and rear discharge.

[0045] FIGS. 15–17 provide three views of a more versatile dual valve mechanism, which may be employed in a multiple output water gun like that of FIG. 2. The mechanism incorporates an assembly of two valves 519a and 519b and a two part trigger 515. The two valves 519a, 519b are independently actuated by trigger members 515a and 515b, respectively. The trigger mechanism includes two finger actuated members 528a and 528b, extending from levers 515a and 515b, aligned such that an operator can easily operate either or both using the index and middle fingers of one hand. Thus, with first valve output 538a connected to a front nozzle and second valve output 538b connected to a rear nozzle, an operator may use trigger members 528a and 528b to selectively actuate front discharge, rear discharge or combined front and rear discharge.

[0046] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects. Notably, while the figures herein have, for convenience of illustration, depicted the invention in conjunction with a sealed reservoir and air pump system for water pressurization, the invention may be likewise practiced with other water pressurizing systems such as electric pumps, manual pumps and expandable bladders.