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The present invention is directed toward a toy water gun which is operated by selectively releasing water from a water reservoir pressurized with air. The present invention has a manually operated pump incorporated into the design. As the pump is cycled, water and air is drawn from a water storage tank. Once drawn, the water and air are forced into a pressure reservoir. As the amount of water and air forced into the pressure reservoir increases, the pressure on the water within the pressure reservoir increases. The pressure of the water and air within the pressure reservoir increases with each cycle of the pump, until the pump can no longer overcome the pressure of the water and air within the pressure tank. The pressurized water and air within the pressure tank has an avenue of release that is regulated by the trigger mechanism of the invention. When no force is applied to the trigger, the pressurized water and air are held at bay with no means of release. When force is applied to...

Inventors: Lonnie G. Johnson, Bruce M. D'Andrade
Original Assignee: Larami Limited
Current U.S. Classification: 222/79; 42/54; 222/400.8; 222/401; 273/349; 446/473
International Classification: A63H 318

View patent at USPTO
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Citations

Cited PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
US2049194Nov 19, 1932Jul 28, 1936INSECTICIDE DISTRIBUTOR
US2589977Nov 18, 1949Mar 18, 1952WATER GUN
US3005495Dec 15, 1958Oct 24, 1961HERBERG
US3197070May 6, 1963Jul 27, 1965FLUID DISPENSING DEVICE
US35787891971TOY GUN
US4214674May 30, 1978Jul 29, 1980California R & D CenterHydro pistol with pressurized water container and with variable water ejection capability
US4441629Aug 10, 1982Apr 10, 1984Compressed gas powered caulking gun
US4591071Oct 14, 1983May 27, 1986Squirt gun
US4630757Jul 3, 1985Dec 23, 1986Toy gun
US4735239Sep 19, 1986Apr 5, 1988Water Weenies, Inc.Liquid projecting device
US4743030Sep 3, 1986May 10, 1988Buddy L CorporationWater gun and target combat game set
US4757946Dec 9, 1985Jul 19, 1988Flow actuated pulsator
US4854480Jan 4, 1988Aug 8, 1989Long range trigger-actuated squirt gun
US5029732Jul 17, 1989Jul 9, 1991Blue Box Toy Factory LimitedToy water guns
US5074437Sep 6, 1990Dec 24, 1991Pinch trigger pump water gun
US5184755Dec 11, 1991Feb 9, 1993Lanard Toys LimitedToy water gun utilizing an air pressure pump
US5184756Jul 18, 1991Feb 9, 1993Talk To Me Products, Inc.Flywheel water gun
USD159040Nov 1, 1948Jun 20, 1950WATER GUN

Referenced by

Citing PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
US5975358May 8, 1998Nov 2, 1999Patent Category CorpToy gun with an integrated target generator
US6347623Jan 12, 2000Feb 19, 2002Spin Master ToysToy projectile launching assembly
US6631830Aug 20, 2001Oct 14, 2003Larami LimitedSnap action ball valve assembly and liquid dispenser using same
US6698414Aug 30, 2002Mar 2, 2004Hasbro IncPressure gauge for pneumatic toy gun
US6802756Jun 4, 2003Oct 12, 2004Diaphragm water gun
US7097073Oct 6, 2003Aug 29, 2006Buzz Bee Toys, Inc.Water gun with adjustable force pressure chamber
USD505165Apr 30, 2003May 17, 2005Mattel, Inc.Water gun
USD514173Sep 27, 2004Jan 31, 2006Mattel, Inc.Water guns
USD521574Sep 27, 2004May 23, 2006Mattel, Inc.Water gun

Claims

1. A toy water gun having a housing with extending handle trigger and barrel, said water gun comprising:

(a) a water storage reservoir connected to said housing, said water storage reservoir having at least one orifice formed thereon for the addition and subtraction of water therefrom; and said water storage reservoir having at least one vent to the surrounding ambient air;
(b) a pressurized water storage tank connected to said housing, said pressurized water storage tank having only one orifice through which all liquids and gasses pass;
(c) a pumping means that can selectively draw air or water or a combination thereof from said vented water storage reservoir, depositing same into said pressurized water storage tank to thus vary the ratio of air to water therein;
(d) a plurality of one-way flow valves, wherein at least one of said one-way flow valves prohibits water and air from flowing from said pressurized water storage tank to said pumping means and another at least one of said one-way flow valves prohibits water and air from flowing from said pumping means to said water storage reservoir;
(e) a nozzle having a narrow orifice therethrough, said nozzle being affixed to the end of said barrel;
(f) an avenue of release connecting said nozzle to said pressurized water storage tank; and
(g) a controlling means for regulating the flow of water and air through said avenue of release, said controlling means being attached to said trigger of said water gun and regulated by the movement of said trigger.

2. The water gun of claim 1, whereto a one-way venting valve allows ambient air to enter said water storage reservoir through said vent while preventing water from exiting said water storage reservoir through said vent.

3. The water gun of claim 1, wherein said pumping means is the reciprocation of a piston within a cylinder, said reciprocation of said piston having two-cycle strokes, a priming stroke whereto said piston retreats within said shaft, and a compression stroke wherein said piston advances within said shaft.

4. The water gun of claim 3 wherein said piston is affixed to a rod, said rod terminating at a handle.

5. The water gun of claim 3 wherein said priming stroke of said pumping means draws water or air into said cylinder from said water storage reservoir, past at least one said one-way flow valves.

6. The water gun of claim 5 wherein said compression stroke of said pumping means forces said water or said air, drawn from said water storage reservoir, out of said cylinder and into said pressurized water storage tank.

7. The water gun of claim 4 wherein said handle is slidably affixed to said barrel.

8. The water gun of claim 1 wherein said avenue of release is a flexible tube.

9. The water gun of claim 1 wherein the level and orientation of water within said water storage reservoir determines whether said pumping means draws water or air from within said water storage reservoir.

10. The water gun of claim 9 wherein a user of said gun can selectively draw air or water from said water storage reservoir with said pumping means by changing the orientation of said gun.

11. The water gun of claim 8 wherein said controlling means for regulating the flow of water through said avenue of release is a spring biased pinch bar that presses a length of said avenue of release against said housing of said water gun, collapsing said length of said avenue of release.

12. The water gun of claim 11 wherein said spring bias of said pinch bar is overcome by a force applied to said trigger, whereby said pinch bar is formed as part of said trigger and said force applied to said trigger through a lever action, causes said pinch bar to move in opposition of said spring bias.

13. The water gun of claim 1 wherein said water storage reservoir is detachable from said gun.

14. The water gun of claim 11 wherein said spring bias is created by a leaf spring having one end affixed to said housing of said gun.

15. The water gun of claim 2 wherein said one-way venting valve opens each time the air pressure within said water storage reservoir is less than that of the ambient air.

16. The water gun of claim 1 wherein said pressurized storage tank can safely hold water or air at a pressure of at least one hundred pounds per square inch.

17. The water gun of claim 1 wherein said water storage reservoir has a sealable orifice thereon for the addition of water thereto.

18. The water gun of claim 13 wherein water stored within said pressurized water storage tank can be discharged from said gun while said water storage reservoir is detached from said gun.

19. The water gun of claim 11 wherein said spring bias pinch bar is calibrated to yield to pressure within said avenue of release, when said pressure within said avenue of release exceeds a predetermined maximum value. .Iadd.20. A toy water gun comprising a storage reservoir adapted to hold water and air, said storage reservoir having a vent which allows air to enter said water storage reservoir; a pressure tank adapted to hold water and air; first conduit means for conveying water or air from said storage reservoir to said pressure tank, said first conduit means being coupled with said storage reservoir in a position so that the orientation of water within the storage reservoir determines whether water or air is drawn from within said storage reservoir; drawing means for selectively drawing air or water or a combination of air and water from said storage reservoir and depositing the drawn air or water or combination thereof into said pressure tank through said first conduit means; second conduit means for conveying water from said pressure tank to ambience; and control means for controlling the flow of water through said second conduit means. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. The toy water gun of claim 20 wherein said drawing means comprises a pump. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. The toy water gun of claim 20 wherein said second conduit means includes a nozzle. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. A toy water gun comprising a housing; a storage reservoir adapted to hold a combination of water and air, said storage reservoir being removably mounted to said housing; a pressure tank adapted to hold a combination of water and air; first conduit means for conveying water or air from said storage reservoir to said pressure tank; pump means for selectively pumping water or air into said pressure tank from said storage reservoir to vary the air to water ratio therein and thereby increase pressure of air exerted upon the water by compression of the air; second conduit means for conveying water from said pressure tank to ambience, and control means for controlling the flow of water through said second conduit means. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. The toy water gun of claim 23 wherein said water storage reservoir has a vent which allows air to enter said water storage reservoir from ambience. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The toy water gun of claim 23 wherein said second conduit means includes a nozzle. .Iadd.26. The toy water gun of claim 23 wherein said first conduit means is coupled with said storage reservoir in a position so that the orientation of water within said storage reservoir determines whether said pumping means draws water or air from within said storage reservoir. .Iaddend.

Drawings