US2573954A - Water pistol with mechanism which discharges a succession of water shots - Google Patents

Description

W. C. CASSON WATER PISTOL WITH MECHANISM WHICH DISCHARGES NQv. 6, 1951 2,573,954

A SUCCESSION OF WATER SHOTS 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 Filed July 29, 1950 m QK l l INVENTOR. Wu@ ,m

Nov. 6, 1951 w. c. cAssoN WATER PISTOL WITH MECHANISM WHICH DISCHARGES A SUCCESSION OF' WATER SHOTS 2` sHEETs-SHEET 2 Filed July 29, 1950 1N VEN TOR.

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Patented Nov. 6, 1951 WATER PISTOL WITH MECHANISM WHICH DIS'CHARGES A SUCCESSION OF' WATER;

SHOTS Wesley C. Casson, Old Greenwich, Conn.`

Application July 29, 1950 Serial N50. 176,659

1-.4 claims.

This invention relates to liquid discharge de- (CI. Z22- 19) vices and more particularly to a toyy which ei'- fectsy a plurality o-f' successive shots or discharges of liquid from a single load thereof.

The instant invention provides a toy such as Y a water pistol which ejects a charge of water by a succession of individual shots until the charge is exhausted. In a preferred embodiment, a hammer is provided by' means of which the mechanism isl cocked, suchy cooking action being simultaneously effective in drawing up a new charge of water from a reservoir in the pistol body. A particular feature of one aspect of' the invention is that all the foregoing parts maybe so arranged as to elect an extremely accurate simulation of a conventional repeater gun, that is, a single action 6shot gun with a revolving cylinder. In the Water pistol described herein, the cylinder does` not revolve-but the action. of the gun otherwise simulates that of the wellknown gun above mentioned.

A further most important feature of the invention is the provision of trigger mechanism whereby the entire charge. in the cylinder may be ejected at. one shot. This is accomplished by disabling the action of the hammer in cooking the mechanism for a multiple discharge while permitting Vthe, hammer to swing back of its own accord after having been drawn in cooking position. Among other advantages, such mechanism enables the operator to perform a. so-called tanning action. This action4 is. spectacularly employed by cowboys or the like and is highly regarded by children as their imitators. One fansA a gun by striking the palm of the. hand against the hammer permitting it to return by itself instead of. by actuation of the trigger. When the, water pistol of the instant invention isv tanned, it will discharge an entire cylinder load of liquid in one. stream so as to produce a comparative drenching of the target. Thus, two. optional and alternative methods of operation are. provided.` Therst, a multiple discharge. in a series of shots, and the second, a single stream of iluid comprising all the shots in thecylinder at onetime. Preparation or cooking of the ham-mer for either type of operation draws upa supply of water and the action 'may be con-l tinued until the reservoir or chamber is eX-A hausted. In a working modeL, the reservoir was formed in theI handle or butt of the gun and contained about fl charges, each of which could be ejected as asingle charge, or in six individual and successi-ve shots. Thus,4v about 300 individual.

2i shots could be secured, or full streams, or combinations of thev two, as desired.

The above is a general description of the operation andform of the water pistol, but the invention will be further understood from the following description and drawings lin which:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of the water pistol at the completion of the cylinder discharge and before cooking to rell the cylinder and repeat the discharge thereof.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l and illustrating the cooking of the trigger mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional' view takenalong the lines 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4`4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-,sectional viewy taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4".

y Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken along the lines 5-6 of Fig. 2'.. y

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines l-'l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is. a cross-sectional view taken. along,l the lines 9-9 of. Fig. 2.

Fig. 10I is` a cross-sectional view taken along the lines l Il-lll of Fig. 2.

The frame or casing. of the water pistol is formed of two substantially similar halves, each of which may be molded or otherwise formed of suitable material, whether of plastic' or metal, or the like. Thus, the half t5 may bev produced of plastic in a, suitable molding machine, and it, together with the half I6, housesr mostr of' the operating mechanism. Minor diiierences ofA form exist. in the respective: halves as will be discerned from the drawings herein, but in general, the halves are substantially identical.l The handle or butt` il, which isl formed when both halves are assembled, provides a reservoir I8 for Water or other desired liquid I9.. A wall 26- defines the. upperA end of thel reservoir or chamber i8. A tube 2|.` extends from thelowermost portion of chamber i8 to a valve arrangement for charging the cylinder as will hereinafter be made' clear. A plug 22v nts intoA an opening inthe, chamber le which permits rel-ling of the chamber with water. Plug 22 may be formedr of rubber, soft. plastic, or like material and: is provided with a. stem 231 and enlarged end 24 to permit' refilling Without complete removal of the plug and accordingly guarding against. l'oss or diss placement thereof.

Body half' I (t is provided with a.I simulated ejec- 3 tor body 3D which may be cemented or otherwise secured in position. Body 30 is U-shaped in cross-section and houses intake tube 3| and intake valve body 32. Valve body 32 is formed with a bore 33 enclosing valve spring 34 and ball check valve 35.

Valve body 32 is integral with cylinder body 40 which is secured within the forepart of the gun barrel 4 I. The bottom of barrel 4| is formed with a slot 38 through which the valve body 32 protrudes so that it may be housed in the simulated ejector body 38.

When the cylinder body is formed of a plastic substance, `it may -be 4 the lug 82 is at the top of arcuate slot 83. This is shown in Fig. 1.

A pawl 86 is formed integrally with trigger piece 88. Pawl 83 actuates the teeth 81 of rack bar or arm 88 as will hereinafter be explained. The normal function of spring 85 is to draw the pawl 86 out of contact with teeth 81, while contact and actuation of the teeth iseffected against the operation of spring 85 when the operators iinger is pressed against the trigger piece.

Rack bar or arm 88 is formed with a yoked end 83 which embraces pin 11 so that the rack bar is guided in astraight line movement. The

" front end of rack bar 88 is turned up to form lug or front end of cylinder body 48 forms the charge chamber 43 which communicates with bore 33 through a port 44. Thus, as water is drawn up through tube 3| and through the intake valve, as will be hereinafter described, it will ll the chamber 43 to be thereafter discharged therefrom.

An outlet valve tube '50 is integrally formed with cylinder body 40. Tube 50 is formed with a central bore 5| enclosing valve spring 52 and ball check Valve 53. The function of valve spring 52, like that of other valve spring 34, is to urge the respective ball valves into their seats and into valve closing position. End piece 55 is fitted over the valve tube 58 and it also forms an enclosing wall 56 for the front or inner end of valve body 32. A metallic nozzle 51, which may be of brass or similar material; is screw-threaded into the forepart of end piece 55, such metallic nozzle being useful in preventing and excluding any obstruction in the Water discharge path. f

Cylinder body 48 houseszthe piston or plunger which may be formed of metal disks or washers 68 and 8| enclosing a felt disk 82. These disks are assembled over'piston rod 33 and-.are pressed into position by piston spring 64 which also serves as the piston actuating spring.

The operating mechanism includes a xed frame member which supports thel trigger elements. Frame 18 is of metal and includes an integral channel section 1I which extends into the barrel 4I and embraces piston rod 63. A cup 12 is assembled, cupped side lforward, around the channel section 1|, being supported against rearward movement by intermediate edges 13 of frame 10. Cup 12 both supports the frame 18 where it enters the barrel 4| and further serves as a rear seat for the piston spring 64.

lReferring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the body halves I5 and I6 are respectively formed with integral bosses 15 and 18 which jointly support xed pin 11. The rear extremity of frame 18 is connected to pin 11 so that the frame is immovable relative to the pistol body. Frame 18 movably supports the trigger piece v8|) by integral, inwardly bent lugs 8| and 82 of the frame 10 which are movably held in slots of the trigger piece. Thus, trigger piece 80 is provided with an'arcuate slot 83 wherein lug 8-2 rides, and it is further provided with a trapezoidal shaped slot 84 in which lug 8| rides. As a result of such suspension of trigger piece 80, it is aorded a pivotal action wherein slot 83 dictates the initial pivotal movement of the trigger piece preliminary to an individual shot discharge while slot 84 controls the subsequent substantially downward movement of the trigger piece in completing the shot. A coil spring 85 normally'maintains trigger piece 80 in a forward position where the lug 8| isl adjacent the bottom edge of slot 84' while which penetrates through and rides in elongated slot 9| formed in the frame 10. Thus, rack bar 88 is supported at one end through the yoke 89 and pin 11, and at the other end by the lug 90 which rides in slot 9|. Coil spring 85 is hooked into an opening 33 in lug 90 so that it urges rack bar 88 both rearwardly and downwardly. Formed on rack bar 88 is a dog or detent 92 which engages the ratchet teeth of the hammer body as will hereinafter be explained.

The hammer comprises a thumb piece 96 which assumes conventional form and `may be fabricated of plasticl or like material. It embraces the metal ratchet so that they jointly comprise a unitary hammer body. Ratchet 91 is formed with ratchet teeth 98 which are arcuately disposed and whichare engaged by the dog or detent 32 in arresting return of the hammer after cocking thereof and after each individual actuation of the trigger.

Piston rod 63, after emerging-through cup 72, is bent downwardly and attened at its rearward end |88 where it is pivoted on eccentric pin IDI disposed on ratchet 91. The ratchetl 91 of the hammer 95 Vis pivotally mounted'on pin 11. It will be recognized. therefore that the eccentric disposition of pin 18| causes .piston rod 63 to be retracted as the hammer is retracted. Such retraction of piston rod 63 compresses piston spring 84 against cup '|2 so as to prepare the piston for subsequent actuation and water discharge from the cylinder. It will be noted that as hammer 95 is retracted to its full rearward position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the dog 32 is brought into engagement with the last of the ratchet teeth 98. This occurs because rack bar 88 is normally driven rearwardly by spring 85 so that the dog 92 will be maintained in engagement with ratchet teeth 98 immediately after the' ratchet 91 comes to rest.

The operation of the water pistol may now be summarized. Starting from the uncooked position, illustrated in Fig. 1, the hammer is retracted by the user so as to. cause the ratchet teeth 98 to move upwardly and then be engaged in cocked position by the dog 92 whichV has been impelled rearwardly through the action of spring 85. The cocked position is illustrated in Fig. 2 where lug 38 is in rearward position in slot 9| and the slot of yoke 89 is at its extreme rearward position so that its base embraces pin 11. At this time, it will be noted that pawl 85 is directly below the'rst tooth of rack bar teeth 81. During rearward actuation or cooking of the hammer, the piston was retracted so as to create a suction in the cylinder. This unseated ball check valve 35 against the action of spring 34 and drew up a charge of water from reservoir I8 through intake tube 3| and through slot 44 into the cylinder chamber 43. Ball check Valve 53 was, of Course, seated in place by action ofthe spring `52 scum the water could not be forced through the discharge outlet.

As a result, the charge chamber 43 becomes filled with water as the pis.-

Ytony retracto. The pistol is now ready for dis.- charge of the Water.

, Assuming now that the operator prefers to discharge the waterv in cham-ber 43' in individual shots,` he will press his index linger againsty trigger piece 80. rThis actuates the arcuate slot 83 so that thelug 82 reaches the bottom end theref of so as to effect a pivotal movement of the trigger. The result of such action is to bring; the pawl- 86 into engagement with the rst tooth of rack teeth 3l. Thus, the arcuate slot 83'serves to elect engagement between the pawl and the rack bar teeth against the action of spring 85 which normally draws it out of such engagement. When the trigger has reached the limit of its pivotal movement through the restraining action of slot 83, it thereafter cancontinue in a substantially downward direction through `the action of lug 8i' in slot 8d. This' causes the patvl 86 to Yadvance the rack bar 88' and, urges dog 92 `out of engagement with teeth 98. Dog 92 then `comes lto rest on the succeeding ratchet tooth. Meanwhile, the piston has been actuated forwardly one step. The ,pressureV upon the water in charge chamber d3 then unseats ball'check valve- 53 against the action of spring 52 and electsl one-sixth of the water charge through 4nozzle 51, thus concluding an individual shot. The operator havingv released the trigger 80, spring 85 draws the pawl 8 out of engagement with. the rack bar teeth, and the pistol may again be nred. This action may be continued six times or until the dog 92 has reached the last tooth of ratchet teeth 9S andV the piston isl inextreme forward position having ejected all the: water in the charge chamber. The foregoing action may be repeated in quick succession so= that the six shots are speedily ejected each time the trig gery is pulled back and released.

Assume now that the operator desires to: eject the entire charge in a single stream; by the fanning action hereinabove described.. He first pulls 'the trigger 80 back, in the position illustrated in Fig. l, so that the pawl 85' engagesV the rear end or last tooth. of the` rack bar 88 so as to prevent the rack bar from moving rearwardly through the action of spring, 85 in the manner described for a single shot action. As,l a result, rack bar teeth 8l may not be thereafter successively engaged by pawl d. Then the hammer is retracted, charging the cylinder, with. the rack bar 88 maintained' forwardly so that dog 92 may not E engage ratchet teeth 98. As. a result, there is nothing to prevent immediate return. of ratchet llll as impelled by the piston spring 64 which was compressed by the rearward actuation oi the hammer ratchet 97. This. causes the piston to yforwardly andldischarge all of the water in chamber 43 in one stroke. The entire charge will be ejected through nozzle 51: so as to rcsult in a heavy, drenching stream. This action will be most eiiectively performed by fanning the may be discharged in successive, discrete shots or in a full stream at the option of the user. The functions of most of the elements of the trigger and cooking mechanism are generally multiple-in order to minimize the number of elements and economize in the production and assembly of the water pistol. Whereas the invention has been described with reference to a, water pistol, it. will be evident that the principles and construction may be applied to analogous devices or toys such as a water discharging lre engine or the like.

What is claimed is:

1. A water pistol comprising a body, a water chamber formed in said body, a charge cylinder in said body and communicating with said chamber, a piston including a piston rod for applying pressure to a charge of water in said cylinder for discharging it therefrom, a spring normally urging said piston into forward or water discharged position, a hammer connected to said piston rod for retracting said piston against the action of said spring, said water pistol body being formed with a pistol barrel, said cylinder being disposed in said barrel, an outlet valve disposed `forwardly of said cylinder Within said barrel, an intake valve for charging said cylinder, a tube connecting said intake valve with said water chamber, a hammer body on said hammer, said hammer body being pivotally mounted Within said water pistol body, said piston rod being eccentrically connected to said hammer body and producing a substantially linear movement of said piston when said hammer body is pivoted, and means including a trigger for advancing said piston in discrete, predetermined steps so as to discharge predetermined, discrete quantities of water from said charge cylinder.

2. A water pistol comprising a body, a charge cylinder in said body, a piston for applying pressure to a charge of water in said cylinder for discharging it therefrom, a spring normally urging said' piston into forward or water discharging position, a hammer including an upstanding thumbpiece thereon, said hammer being pivoted relative to said body and being pivotally attached to said piston for retracting said piston against the action of said spring, a detent for maintaining said piston and hammer in retracted position and means for .disabling the action of said detent whereby said piston is free to return to water discharging position after retraction thereof.

3. A water pistol according .to claim 2 and including a trigger, saidv last named means beingr *formed on said trigger.

4. A water pistol comprising a body, a water chamber formed in said body, a charge cylinder in said body and communicating with said chamber, a piston including a piston rod in said body for applying pressure to a charge of water in said cylinder for discharging it therefrom, a spring bearing against said piston for normally urging it into forward or Water discharging position, a hammer body connected to said piston rod for retracting said.piston against the action of said spring, a frame member in said body, an arm having rack teeth and having a detent, said arm being slidably supported against said frame member, ratchet teeth formed peripherallyof said hammer and adapted to be engaged by said detent for maintaining said piston in retracted position, a, trigger extending from said body and having a pawl for engaging said rack teeth and actuating said arm so as to release said detent from said ratchet teeth, and a second spring for urging said arm and said detent into engagement gevegt@ with said ratchet teeth, said secondl spring being connected to said trigger for normally maintaining it out of engagement with said arm rack teeth.

5. A water pistol comprising a body including a barrel, a watel` chamber formed in said body, a charge cylinder in said barrel, a tubular conduit extending from said chamber, valve means connecting said charge cylinder with said tubular conduit, a piston including a piston rod in said body for applying pressure to a charge of water in said cylinder, outlet valve means for effecting discharge of said water from said cylinder, a coil spring in said barrel and around saidpiston rod and bearing against said piston for normally urging it into forward or water discharging position in said barrel, a hammer pivoted relative to said body, said piston rod being eccentrically connected to said hammer for retracting said piston against the action of said spring as said hammer is pivoted, ratchet teeth formed on said hammer, a detent for engaging said ratchet teeth so as to maintain said piston in retracted position, a frame within said body, a trigger pivotally connected to said frame, a pawl on said trigger for successively releasing said ratchet teeth from said detent at each reciprocation of said trigger, and a seat for said spring within said barrel and connected to said frame.

6. A water pistol comprising a body, a charge cylinder in said body, a piston in said body'including a piston rod for applying pressure toa charge of water in said cylinder for discharging it therefrom, a rst spring bearing against said piston for urging it into extreme forward or complete water` discharging position in said cylinder, a movable hammer connected to said piston rod for cooking the piston in retracted position in said cylinder against the action of said spring, a ratchet having teeth formed on said hammer and movable therewith, an arm in said body including a detent for engaging said ratchet teeth to maintain said piston in retracted position, a second spring connected to said arm for urging said detent into engagement with successive ratchet teeth as said hammer is moved, a reciprocating trigger extending from said body, rack teeth on said arm and adapted to be engaged by said trigger at each reciprocation of said trigger for actuating said arm against the action of said second spring so as to move said detent out of contact with successive ratchet teeth as said trigger is reciprocated whereby said first spring is permitted to advance said piston together with said hammer and ratchet teeth for discharging the water in said cylinder in discrete steps, and whereby said second spring urges said detent into engagement with successive ratchet teeth.

'7. A water pistol according to claim 6 and including a pawl on said trigger for engaging said rack teeth and actuating said arm as said trigger is reciprocated.

8. A water pistol according to claim 7 and wherein said second spring which is connected to said arm is also connected to said trigger at an opposite end of the spring for normally maintaining said pawl out of contact with said rack teeth.

9. A water pistol according to claim 8 and wherein said hammer is pivoted within and in respect to said body, said piston rod being eccentrically connected to said hammer whereby pivoting of said hammer retracts said piston rod and piston.

10. A water pistol comprising a body, a Water chamber formed rearwardly of said body, a charge Icylinder'forwardly of said body and communicating with said chamber, a piston in said body including a piston rod for applying pressure to a charge of water in said cylinder for discharging it therefrom, a spring bearing against said piston for normally urging it into forward or water discharging position, a hammer including an arcuate, pivoted hammer body connected to said piston rod for retracting said piston against the action of said spring, a frame member in said body, an arm having rack teeth and having a detent, said arm being slidably supported against said frame member, ratchet teeth formed peripherally of said hammer body so as to be arcuately arranged, said ratchet teeth being adapted to be engaged by said detent for maintaining said piston in retracted position, a trigger extending from said body and having a pawl for engaging said rack teeth and actuating said arm so as to release said detent from said ratchet teeth, and a second spring for urging said arm and said detent into engagement with said ratchet teeth.

11. A water pistol comprising a body including a pistol barrel, a charge cylinder in said barrel, a normally spring closed outlet Valve disposed forwardly of said cylinder, a piston in said barrel for applying pressure to a charge of water in said cylinder when forwardly impelled for discharging it through said outlet valve, a rear water chamber formed in said body, means including an intake valve means forming an airtight path between, and disposed between, the forepart of said cylinder and said water chamber when said outlet valve is closed and the piston is retracted whereby retraction of said piston draws water through said intake valve and charges said cylinder, a, piston spring bearing against said piston for normally urging it into forward or complete water discharging position, a hammer pivoted relative to said body and including an upstanding thumbpiece, said hammer being pivotally connected to said piston for retracting Said piston against the action of said piston spring when the hammer is pivoted, a detent in said body for automatically maintaining said piston in retracted position by engaging said hammer and a trigger extending from the body and being adapted to prevent suchV engagement whereby said piston may freely return to forward or complete water discharging position after retraction thereof.

12. A water pistol comprising a body including a pistol barrel, a charge cylinder in said barrel, a normally spring closed outlet valve disposed forwardly of said cylinder, a piston in said barrel for applying pressure to a charge of water in said cylinder when forwardly impelled for discharging it through said outlet Valve, a rear water chamber formed in said body, means including an intake valve forming an airtight path between, and disposed between, the forepart of said cylinder and said water chamber when said outlet valve is closed and the piston is retracted whereby retraction of said piston draws water through said intake valve and charges said cylinder, a piston spring bearing against said piston for normally urging it into forward or complete Water dis charging position, a hammer pivoted relative to said body and including an upstanding thumbpiece, said hammer being pivotally connected to said piston for retracting said piston against the action of said piston spring when the hammer is pivoted, a detent in said body for automatically maintaining said piston in retracted position by engaging said hammer and a trigger pivoted in respect to said body, said trigger being adapted to prevent such engagement whereby said piston may freely return to forward or complete water discharging position after retraction thereof, ratchet teeth formed peripherally on said harnmer, a fixed frame within said body, an arm slidably mounted adjacent and in respect to said frame, said detent being formed on said arm for engaging said ratchet teeth and maintaining said piston in retracted position, rack teeth formed on said arm, a pawl formed on said trigger so as to be actuated when the trigger is pivoted, said pawl being adapted to engage said rack teeth and slide said arm and detent out of engagement with said ratchet teeth when the trigger is pivoted to actuate said pawl, and spring means in said body for urging said detent into engagement with said ratchet teeth and for urging said pawl out of contact with said rack teeth.

13. A water pistol according to claim 12 and including a, pair of lugs formed on said frame and disposed in openings on said trigger for pivotally suspending said trigger, one of said openings being arcuate and limiting initial pivoting action of said trigger until said pawl engages one of said 10 rack teeth and the other opening permitting final movement of said trigger for actuating said arm against the action of said spring means.

14. A water pistol according to claim 13 and including a channel section integral with said frame, said channel section extending into said barrel and Supporting said piston rod within its channel, and supporting said piston urging spring around the outside of said channel section.

WESLEY C. CASSON.

REFERENCES CITED Thomas July 31, 1923 DOrph Jan. 5, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 18, 1935 Number Number

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