CA2084805A1 - Pinch trigger pump hand water gun with multiple tanks - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE
The present invention is directed to a toy water gun which is operated by selectively releasing water from a pressurized water reservoir. The present invention has a manually operated pump incorporated into the design. As the pump is cycled, water and/or air are drawn from at least one water storage reservoir. Once drawn, the water and/or air are forced into at least one pressure tank. As the amount of water and/or air forced into the pressure tank increases, the pressure of the air displaced by the water within the pressure tank increases. The pressure of the air on the water within the pressure tank increases with each cycle of the pump, until the pump can no longer overcome the pressure of the air of the water within the pressure tank. The pressurized air and water within the pressure tank has an avenue of release that is regulated by the trigger mechanism of the invention which has a safety pressure release within its design. 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 the trigger, the heavier water is first released from the bottom of the pressurized tank and is channeled through a narrow nozzle. The escape of the pressurized water through the narrow nozzle creates a stream of propelled water that lasts as long as the trigger is engaged or until the pressure within the pressurized tank equals the ambient air pressure. The number of water storage reservoirs and pressure tanks combined totals at least three.

Description

C~ J ~3 PINCH TRIGGER PUMP HAND WATER GIJN
W~~
~ATTORNEY DOCR~3T NO. B~D-}17~'~
REFERENCE ~O R~I~TED CASE

This application is a continuation~in-part of copending U. S D Patent Applic~tion Serial No.

07/841,762, ~iled on February 28, 1992, by Bruce M. D'Andrade and Lonnie Johnson, fox "Double T~nk ' Pinch Trigger Pump Water Gun", and i~ a File Wrapper Continuation of U . S . Patent ;~pplication Sexial No~ 07/68a,247, filed on April 3, 1991, having the same inventor6 ~nd title, which iæ a continuatior3-in-part of previously copending V . S .
~atent Application Serial No. 07/$78,145t iled on September 6~ 19i39, ha~ing the same inventor~, :or ~Pinch Trigger P11mp Walter Gun"~ now UOS.
Patent ~o, 5,~74,437" is~ued s:~n December 24, , 1991 .

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BACRGROU~D OF TH~ INVENTION
1. Field o~ the Invention The present invention is dir~cted to a toy water squirt gun, and more particularly to ~uch a toy water squirt gun that uses a self-contained pumping means to draw water from at least one storage reservoir, compress an air cushion with the drawn water, and store the water pre surized by the compres~ed air in at least a second pressurized reservoirO The water 0 i5 then released in a selective mannex through a :
narrow nozzle, ~ausing the stored water to be propelled orward in a narxow ~tream.

, Water gun~ have :Eor de~ade~ been a ve~y popular .
¢hild's toy~ Since the toy indust~y i6 ve~y .

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competitiYe/ hu~dreds of different style water guns have been developed in ~n attempt to profit rom the toy'~ inherent popularity. The most traditional ~orms of water guns are activated by a pumping action, either manually through the rigger or automatically through a battery operated motor~ Such pump action water guns work, but the guns are limited in the distance the water traveled, the amount of wzter projected and the duration of the pumping cycleO In an attempt to improve upon water guns, th~
toy industry has developed pressure activated water guns. Such pressure a~ti~ated water gu~ work upon the principle of pressure differentials between the water held withi~ the toy and the atmo~pheren The water within the toy i~ sub~ected to a pres~ure , ., ., . , ~ . . ., . . . _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ ~ _ . _ _ . . .. . ~ . .. . . . . .

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higher than that sf the ambient ai.r. ~s a result, when the water within the toy i~ given an avenu2 of escape, the water will stream out under the pressure.
Prior art that shows pressure differential types of water guns are exemplified by the following:
Unlted States Patent Number 3,197,070 to C'urtis :~
F. Pearl et al, shows a water gun activated by trapping water in a collapsible area. As the device is collapsed~ the pressure o the water builds, spraying the water out of the one small orifice left within the pressured ~volume. Onc~ the confined ~olume is fully collapsed, the re-expan~lon of the volume draw~ forth more water from a reservo.ir, th-priming th~ wat0r gun for another cycle. The wa~er being pressurized i~ limited to the volum~ o the .. - . ~ ,~;,., , :: . :

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collapsible volume. The Pearl invention cannot stvre pressurizeA water ~or u~e at a late~r time, nor can the pressur2 of the water be increa~ed by cycling the :
pumping action o~ the in~ention while restraining water discharge.

United States Patent Number 4,854,480 to Robert S. Shindo a~d United State Patent Number 4,735,239 to Michael E. Salmon et al, both show toy water devices that use an elastic bladder to pressuriz~

water., The bladders are filled with high pre ~ure water, and the bladder~ respond by elastically de~orming. The source of pressurized water is then removed and the water withi~ the expanded bladder i8 held in place by a clamping device activated by a lS trigger. Th~ water gun is u~ed by selectively -6~ :

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releasing the ~liamp, iallowing th~ water to flow ~rom the expanded bladder~ .

Watex guns have also been deve~loped that use air pressure to pre~surize water and force water thr~ugh squirt channels. Such toys that use air pumps to pres~llrize wat~r are exemplified by the following:

U. S. Patent Number 4,214,674 to Jones et al~

~hows a two-piece apparatus consisting of a pressurized w~ter reservoir and a dischar~ing gun.

Air is introduced into the wa~er reservoir via a hand operated pumpa The air pressurize~ the water, forcing it up through the dischaxging gun, where the rate of discharge can be regulated by a trigger~ :

U~ited States Patent ~o. 4,2~9,129 o Gary F.

Esposito des~ribe~ a water pistol aad/or flashlight ^7-., . ~ ~

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stru~ture which includes a xeciprocal pump within the gun housing. The pump is used to pressurize air within the tank after water has been added, and a trigger is used for subsequent release of the water.
Battery operatad lights and sound are al~o provided.
United States Patent No. 3,578,789, is5uecl to 5iampiero Ferri~ describes a water pistol which includes a main liquid reservoir and a pre~urized liquid reservoir contained within the mai~ liquid r~servoir. ~ ~rigger-actuated pump is u~d with a manually operated thr0e way valve to ~electively supply liquid: (a) ~rom the pump to the pressu~ized re~ervoir~ (b) from the pump to ths nozzl~ and to the pre~8urized liquid reservoix; orr (c) from the pump to both the pre ~urized liquid reservoir and no~zleO

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The Ferri water gun is limit~d in many ways as compared to the present invention.. !Ferri does not have a separate hand pump but r~ e~ only upon the trigger as ia pump ( limited to f ing~r pumping ), Ferri requires manual valve switching with complicated steps not easily perf ormed by young children . Fexri has limi.ted liquid capacity as the main liq~:lid re~ervoir is inside the hou~ing (handle) and i3 very limited in pressuxized tank capacity as the Ferri pres~urized tank i5 within the main liquid res2rvoir.
Thus, although prior art doe~ show toy wat~r yuns that have collap~;ible water chambers and ~elf-contained pumping me2m~, th~i prior art neither tE?iaches nnr suggests a toy water gun that use~
sel~E~containedt hand operated watex pumping device to 1:
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draw both water and air or either f rom at least one external storage reservoir, to pressurize aix with the water drawn, and to store the ]?ressurized ai.r and water in at least one other pressu:rized tank, where it can ac:cumulate until di~charged~ Additionally, the ~aety of the invention i3 assured by a triggering device thak automatically and saf ely di~charges pressurized wa*er when over pressurized, u~til the naximum allowable pressure is reachedO
SUM~Y OF THE_INV~2; TION ~`
The present i~vention is a tc~y water gun h;3ving a housing with extending handle, trigger and barrel r The w ter g~m include~; at lea~t one water ~toxage resen70ir external from and cormected to the housingO
The reservoir(s~ lha~e ~t lea6t one orifice Io::m~d ~la-,, . , : , . - .

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- i ~3~3 thereon for the addition and withdr,awal of watPr therefromt and have at least one vent to surro~nding ambient air ~o air may enter the r~servoir. Also ,.
included iæ at leas~. one pressurized air and water 5 storage tank external from and connected to the housing. The pressurized tank has only one orifice through which all li~uids and gasses pass and the combined total of said water storage reservoirs and said pressurized water ~torage tanks is at least ';~ .
three. There is al80 a pumping mean~ for withdrawing air or water from the water storage reservoir, nd ~or depositing the withdrawn air or water into the pressuriæed tank. A plurality of one-way flow valves are included wherei~ at least one one-way flow valve prohibits water and air from flowing Erom the ~:

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pressurized tank to the pumpins means and at least one said one way flow valve prohi~its water and air ~rom flowing from the pumping means to the reservoir.
There is a nozzle with a narrow orifice therethrough~
which affixed to the end of said barrel and an avenue of xelease connecting the nozzle to the pressurized tank. There is also a controlling means for regulating the flow of water and air through th~
avenue of release, the controllins mean~ ~eing actuatable by the trigger.
BRI~F DESCRIPTION OF T~E RAWI~GS
~he invention will be more ully under~tood by referring to the following detailed specifications, the ~bov~ specificatlon and the claim~ ~et forth herein, when taken in connection wlth the drawing~

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--~3--append~d hereto, wherein Figure 1 shows a perspecti~e view of one preferred e~odiment of the present inven~ion;
Figure 2 fihow~ a partially f rclgmented ~ide Vi2W
of the embodiment depicted in Figure 1, illustrating the claimed inner mech~nisms;
Figure 3 ~hows a rear view of a portion of the reservoir connection support of the water gun ~hown in Figure~ 1 and 2; and P'igure~ d~, S and 6 re~pectively show perspective view~ of various alternative embodiment water glms of the pre~ent i~vesltion .
DETl~ILED_DESCRIPTION OF TEIE PRESENT_I23VENTION ::
The pre~ent invention i~, as m~ntioned, direc:ted toward a toy water gun that u~es a manually operated .. . , . , . . ., ...... .. . . .... .. . ,._, . .. ... ... ; . . . - ~ , . :
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pump to draw water an~/or air, and then pre6surize the air to exert pressure on the water ~toring the water and air under pressure until selectively discharged. The sci~nce of pxessurized water toys is S not new, ~nd over the years many diEferent designs have been developed utilizing a pumping ac:tion to pressurize water. As applied to the art of toy water ~quixt guns, the most co~non type of device involves a two-stroke pump, wherein the pump draw~ water into a chamber through a large orifi~e during the priming stroke, a~d for~:es water out of the chamber through a v~ry narrow orifice during the compre6giosl 6troke.
~hi~ simple ~y~tem form~ the ba~i~ of th~usands of devices irl addition to water gun~, such a~ nc~n-aerosol dispenslng devices for hair slpray, perfume~

window cleaner, and countless other products that are dispensed in a narrow stream or mi~st, The problem with ~imple two-stroXe ~quirting systems is that the amount of liqu.id that can be expelled is limited to a single volume of the compre~sible area; also, the pressure of the liquid ~: :
exiting the device is dependent directly upon the forGe b~ing applied during the time of ~xpulsion.
Consequently, when water is sguirted in this man~er, only a small volume is relQased with each pumping action. When att~mpt~ are mad~ to increase the amount o~ water propelled by increasing the volume Q~
the compressible area, the pumping action cannot , displ~c~ the water at a high pressure, resulting in expulsion of water at low pressure~*

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~16-Water guns advantageously involve squirting large volumes of wat~r at high pressures. The higher the pressure, the longer the distance the water can be propelled, thu~ increasing the range and power of the water gun. The present invention water yun uses a two-stroke pump to store and pr*ssurize large amounts of water. The present invention draws air and a predetermined volume of water from a storage container or reserYoir, pressurize~ air with the drawn water and deposits the pressurized air and water in a ~econd stor~ge container, herei~ xeferred to as a "pressure tank" t where it remains under pres~ure. As more and more wat~r ~nd/or air ar~
drawn~ pressuriz~d and deposited within the ~econd storag~ tank~ the volume and th~ pressure on the , :~ . ...... - . .

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stored water increases/ eompre~sing the air within the second or pressure tank. ~he water propelled by the compresse~ air can then be sele~tively released through a narrow orifiFe, creating a ~tream o propelled water. The multiple tank systFm i.e~
storage reservoir with pressure tank, of ~he pre~ent `
invention allows the user of ~he invention ~o determine the volume and pre~sure of the water to be discharged, and also allows a user to refill and replace the ~on-pressurized water storage reservoir without disablin~ the wa er gun's ability to dlscharge water. The multiple tank system giv~s the water guns of the present invention a Yariety of firing characteristics that are unique in the art of toy water guns, allowi~g an operator to choose ~nd ~17-., . . . . .... ~ , . . . -:
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ad~ust the range and power of the water gun. By h~ving at least one of each, i~e. of the storage reservoir and the pressurized tank, and a total of at least three of these, increased storage for more shots, and increased pre~surized water for longer duration shot~ are achieved.
The present invention also has other advantages over many other pressurized container water gun~, in that, instead of pumping air into a chamber that : 10 already contains water, the present invention pumps water or air or water and air (hereinaf~er "water ~ .
and/or air~) into a chamber containi~g airL The pumping o water i~ more e~ficient than the pumping of air, thus less pumping strokes re required a~d higher pressure~ ar~ easier to a~hieve.
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When designing toy5 involving pr~surized air and water, one consideration is that of ~afety. Toys are desig~ed to be inexpensive so a5 to be widely marketable. As su~h, most toys are made of plastics or other inexpensive materials. Such materials do not have large tensile strengths or fatigue characteristicsv and therefore do not lend themselves ,: :
well to containing pre~surized fluids. Plastic containments of pressurized liquid~, if not properly design~d, can rupture and explode~ cau~ing injury.

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The present invention has a unique d~sign that allows for both the use of high pres~ure air and the elimination of potential rupturing hazard~. The pre~nt inv~ntion, in ~ome preferred embodim~nt~, ha~
lg one or more ~ylindrlcal pressurized tank~, each with 19- :

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a ingle orifice or opening. ~he single orifice, in conjun~tion with the gen~rous radii used at the cylinder ends, serv to maintain the integrity of the water tank walls and minimize the stress point~
throughout the material of the pressurized tank, thereby allowin~ for the safe use of pres~ures generated by the present lnvention.
In other embodiments, the reservoirs and/or . tanks may be detachable or non-detachable ~nd may `~
have one or more fill port or.ifi~e~, located, e.g.
atop or at the e~d of the structures.
~he present i~vention is thus directed to a toy water gun whic~ i8 ~perated by sel~ctively releasing wat~r rom a pressurized water reservoirO The pre~ent invention has a manually operated pump 2`~
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incorporated into th~ design. As the pump i~ ~y~led, water and/or air are drawn from at least one water storage re~ervoir. Once drawn, thle water and/or air are forced into at least one pressure tank~ As the amount of water and/or air forced into the pre~sure tank increase~, the pressure of the air displaced by the water within the pressure tank increa~e~. 'The pressure of the air on the water within the pres~ure tank increases with each cycle of the pump, until $he pump can no longer overcome the pres3ure of the air on the water within ~he pressure tank. The pre~surized air and water withi~ the pressure tank has a~ av~nue of relea e that is regulated by the trigger mechanism of the inventi~n which has a ~afety pre~suxe release within it design. When no forc~

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applied to the trigger, the pressurized water and air are held at bay with no means of release. When force is applied to the trigger, the he~vier water i5 first rel~a~ed from the bottom of the pressurized tank and is channeled through a narrow nozzle~ The escape of the pressurized water through the ~arrow nozzle creates a stream of propelled water that lasts as long as the trigger is engaged or until the pressure within the pressurized tank s~uals the ambient air ~0 pressureO The number of water storage reservoirs and pressure tanks combined totals at least three~
Reiferring now to Figures 1 and 2, one preferred :
embodime~t o the pres2nt invention 1 is shown.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention 1 and Figure 2 shows a fragmie~ted side ~iew . , :, , ,, ,, "

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of the present invention, exposing the internal mechani6ms with like parts being like numbered., As shown in Figure 1, the embodiment ~hown of the ~ :.
present invention has two water stc)rage r servoirs, a water storage reservoir 38 and a water storage reservoi:r 138, as well as pressure tank 3 . In this embodiment, both storage reservoirs 38 and 138 attach to a main housing 60 that is shaped generally in the form of a gurl having a handle 95, trigger 65 and barrel 81. The water stvrage reservoirs 38 and 138 are held firmly to the housing 60 with hoops 37 and 137. The hoop~ 37 and 137 minimize the stresses khe tapered neck of the stor2lg tank~ 38 and 138 as the water 69 (Figure 2 ~ withiIl shifts durîng movement.

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, Ref erring now ~olely to ~igure 2 ~ the inner workings of the present invention 1 c2m best be visualized and explainedO Water 69 is placed within water sto:cage tank 38 (preferably as well as in wa~er storage tank 138, not shown in this figure because it is behind tank 38 in thi~ side view. ~ Th~ water 69 is introduced in one of two ways, Fi:rst, the water 69 can be poured through the optional filling port and cap assembl}r 33, or, where the water storage reservoir 3B is det chable, the water storage reservoir 38 can be removed from the housing 60 and water can be poured through the nee:k openinq of the storage tank 38. Alternatively, filling port and cap assembly 83 could ~se el~minE~ted and a removable xe~ervoi:r co~lld be filled through the neck. In ~24--"

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another elllbodiment, the tank 38 c:ould be permanently attached to the housing 60 and fil.l would be achieved :~
solely through fil ling port and ~ap assembly 83 .
The water storage reservoir 38 is shown in Figure 2 as being bottle shaped, with a neck terminating in a threaded head 2 8 ~ ~he storage :~
xeservoir 3 8, in the shown embodiment, screws into the housin~ 60~ and, as mentioned may be detachable or permanently attached, e.g. by glue, heat ~;eal, one way threading or the like, or reservoir 38 c:an be formecl unistru~:turally with the housing 60, and if ~o formed, the optional filling port and cap assembly 83 would become a neces~ary part of the de~ignq It ~hould also be unders~ood that the stora~e reservoir 38 can be formed in any shape or sizet as long ae the -25~

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~26-design holds nd stores wat~r.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 ancl 3, there is a manifold 115~ which has conne~tor ends 117 and 119 respectively for reservoirs 38 ancl 138. ~he mechanism discussed below, in conjunctiQn with Figure 2, contained within downpipe 111 for tank 38 i5 identical to that contained within downpipe 113 for tank 13B. The lines contained therein operate in parallel and join with common neck 121. Thus, as above, while the following description refers to re~er~oir 38, it ~hall be taken as equally applicable to reservoir 138~
Water 63 and air from air space 35 are drawn ~rom the ~torage reservoir 3$ through pick-up tube 20, tube 23, etc., to tube 47 that connects with the ~ _ _ . _ . _ _ _.. . _ .., ... . _ . .. . .. . .
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stor~ge reservoir 38. The invention will draw either water 63 or air 35 from the storage re~ervoir 38, depending on the orientatîon of:the invention when the operator draws ma~-erials from the storage reservoir 38. A~ water 69 and/or air are taken from the storage reservoir 38, a partial vacuum is produced within. The vacuum i5 eliminated by a vent valve 19 that allows air to enter into the ~torage reservoir 38 as the vacuum develops. The vent valve 19 is biased by a spring 9 in the closed position, preventing water from escaping, and an optional elastomeri~ washer 7 helps seat t~e vent valve 19, enhancing its ability to prevent khe escape of waterO
It should be understood that although a vent val~e 19 is believed to be the be~t mode of the invention the . -~7-~ . . . . ... .
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~28-invention may function without suc'h a ~alv~ so long as the storage re~ervoir 38 has ~o~mmunication with a~bient air. Similarlyl an elasto:meric seal 25 can be used to help seat the water storage reservoir 38 against the housi~g 60, the ela~tomeric seal ha~ving an orifice therethrough/ allowing for the pa~sage of the pick up tube 20 and the vacuum venting passage ~1 .
The force drawing the water 59 or air from the : 10 storage reservoir 38 i~ created by the movement of the piston ~3 within its cylinder 34. The mov~ment of the pr2sently preferred pisto~ 33 within the cylind~r 34 has two-cycle strokes, a priming stroke where water 69 or air are drawn foxth from the water storage re~ervoir 38, and a compres~ion stroke g~

~9 -wherein water 6g or air 35 are di~placed by the ~ -piston 33. In one preferr~d embocliment, the priming stroke starts when the piston 33 is retreated within its cylinder 34 ~toward the fro~t or left side, in Figure 2)s creating a large volume chamber 150 The vacuum created by the expandin~ chamber 15, draws water 69 and/or air through pick-up tube 20 and tube 29 and into the chamber 15. The flow of water 69 andJor air into the expanding ohamber 15 opens a one 1~ way valve that is no~mally biased in a closed pO5 ition~
The one-way valve that i6 shown in Figure 2 consi~t3 of a ball 30 that i8 biased against an elastomeri~ ~eal 11 by a spring 13. As a vacuum is created by the pi ton 33, th~ force of the spring 13 .. ,. ., . .. .,, ~ . ~ , : ; , , is overcome and the ball 30 drops away from t:h2 elastomeric seal 11, allowin~f wat~r 69 and/or air to pass. As the pistc~n 33 is advanced within its cylinder 34, the compression stroke begins and pressure is placed on the water ~9 or air now within the chamber, is compressed closing the one-way valve by assisting the spring 13 to push the ball 30 against its f2eal ll. Although a ball and seal or~e-way valve is ilIustrated, it should be understood that any type of a one-way valve would work within the present invention a~ long a~ the valve made a seal that i~ bo h air and waterl:ight~ -The compre~sion stxoke created by the advancement of the piston 33 with n the c:ylind~r 34 lS ( to the rear or t~e right i~ Figure 2 ) cau~es -3û- :

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pressure to be put on the water 69 and/or air within the chamber 15. The preissurized water 69 and~or air, as a result of the diminishing volume of the compression stroke of the chamber 15, opens a second one-way valve that leads to the pressure storage tank 3 through tubes or conduits 47 and 450 As the piston ~:~
33 is reciprocated within its cylinder 34, water 69 and/or air 35 i5 repeatedly drawn from the storage reservoir 38 and d~posited into the pressure storage tank 3. As more and more water 69 and/or air 35 is drawn and forced into the pressurized storage t~nk 3, the air pressure within pressure tank 3 increas~
until the force used to drive the piston 33 ~an no longer overcome the stored pre~sure, or until the pressure is rel~ased through t~e ~afety valve 63, ~ ' ~ . - ~ -- ---r- -. -, ,. . ._ __ __. _ , ' " ~ ".

,: : ' : : ~; ~ '., ': . ' normally actuated by the trigg~3r 6!5.
The movement of the piston 33 within cylinder 34 draws water 69 and/or air from storage resex~oir 38 into the pick-up tube 2 0 into tube 2 9 . ~owever, when the storag~ reservoir 38 is positioned 50 that the air 35 within the storage reservoir 38 is in contact with the o:rifice, the movement of ~he piston 33 will draw air 35 into the pumping chamber 15. When the pumping chamber 15 is compre~sed,, the air will become pressur~ zed and flow into the pressurized ~torage tank 3 ~ reasing an air cushion in air space 92 ir the pressurized storage tank 3, while increasing the pres~ure on the water but not incr~a~ing the volume of any w~ter 91 present within the pressurized sltorage tank 3. By having a pumping a~:tion that can ~2--. ~...... .; . . . . . . . .. . .

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introdu~e both air a~d water 91 i~to the pressurized storage tank 3, th~ pressure of the air can be increas~d above that svailable by an air pumping ~ystem a3one because of the relative inefficiency of S an air pump~ ~he pumping of water 91 is more efficient than that of air because of the incompressibility of liquids, therefore the work available from the pumping system i9 maximized when used to pump water against an air ~ushio~.
The operation of ~he pumping action is achieved by the pisto~ 33 being dxiven by a piston rod 31 that i5 affixed to a handle 73. ~he handle 73, as sho~n in this embodiment, i8 slidably attached to the barrel 81~ A~ the handle i3 is manually reciprocated along the barrel 81, he motion is transferred to the `;

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piston 33, crea~ing the desired pumping effect.
Although ~ linear pumping actio~ i shown, it should be under~tood that a variety of oxientations and multiple linkage configurations ~ould be manipulated by a u~er to create the desired pumping motion. ~ ;
Once the desired pressure is obtained within the pressurized tank 3, the water 91, preesllrized by the compressed air in space 92, is discharged by selectively op~ning an exit orifice to the æurrounding ambient air. The pressure differential between th~ ambient air and the air in space 92 causes the water 91 to stream out. In the shown embodLment of the present invention, the pathway co~necting the pressurized tank 3 to the ambie~t Rir i~ a s~rie~ of tube~ or conduits, a flexible exit -~4~

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-3~-tube 67, p~mp connection tube 47 and elbow tube 4~
As water and/or air leave~ the pumping chamber 15, it passes by a one-way valve 43 and i~to a T-shaped connection 53. The ~-shaped connection 53 on orle ~ide attaches to the flexible exit tube 67, and on the other side attaches to connection tube 47~ As water and/or air is forced into the T~shapPd con~ection 53, the water and/or air txies to enter both the exit tube 67 and the connection tube 47a HoweYer, the exit tube 67 is closed by the trigger actuated pinch valve 63, leaving the conne~tion tube 47 as the only pathway through which the wa~er may pass. The co~nection tu~e 47 lead~ to th~ pressure tank 3 through ~lbow 45, c3nsequen~1y all air and/or water expell~d by the pump i6 led into th~ pre~sure . -35~

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-3~-tank 3. When pres~urized water 91, 5tQred within the pre~sure ta~k 3 i~ to he discharged, the tFigger 65 is depressed. ~he trigger 65 may be fo~med with a pineh bar 63 that is biased against the exit tube 67 by i~ spring 57. As the trigyer 6~ i5 depressed, the ,~
bias of the spxing 57 is overcome and the pi~ch bar 63 is lifted away from the exit tube 67. With the exit tube 67 open, the integrity of the pres~ure kank 3 is now brea~hed and the pre~surized water 91 i3 offered an av nue of ~scape to the ambient air. The pressure differential between the pressurized air within ~ir space 92 above water ~1 in tank 3 and the ambient air cau~es the water 31 to flow back out through the elbow 4i5, throush the con~ection tube 47, ~ -through the T-sh ped connection 53 and through the .: . .. : ,..... - . ., , ~ .
. ~ ~ . . ..
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exit tube 67, until the water 91 :is discharged through the exit orificP 75 formed at the end of the exit tub~ 67.
The amount of pressurized water 91 being discharged through exit oriice 75 is controlled by the user in a variety of way~. A user can control the amount of water discharged hy controlling the depressio~ of the trigger 65. If the trigger 65 is depressed and left in that position, the pres~uri2ed water 91 will be discharged until the pres3ure ta~k 3 is empty, or until the pressure of the compre~sed air in air ~pa~e 92 equals that o the ambient air, The user may choo~e to dischhrge the pxes~uri~ed water 91 selectively, depressing the trigger 65 fox short lS period~ of timep resulti~g i~ numerous ~hots being ~37-- ~ ~

: - . . - - : .
.

~ 3~ ~

allowed before the pressure tank 3 needs to be refilled or r~pres~urized~ A user may al5v choo~e to vary the pressure and ~mount of wat:er being discharged by selectively adding the air within pressure tank 3. The more water 91 or air is added, the higher the pressure and the farther and lonc3er ~:
the invention may propel water. The use of two or more storage reservoirs 38 and 138 permits the u~er to carry at least twice the capacity of a single ~10 reservoir and thus longer operation before going back to th~ water souree, such a~ a si~k fauce~, hose, PtC.
As mentioned/ the present invention wat~r gun iæ
operated~by s~lectively releasing $he pressurized water gl t~rough a narrow noz21e 750 ~he sele~tive ~8 - ~ .: ., ,, ,, .,-. . .

-39- ;

release of the pressurized water is controlled by the trigger mechanism of the water gun,. Since the present in~ention has the ability to operate at high pressures, the trigger rel~ase mechanism pPrform~ two functions. First, it controls the amount of water released, and second, the trigger mechanism serves as a ~afety valveO The presently preferred txigger 65 of the present invention has a pinch bar ~alve 63 that pinches the exit hosing 67 for the pressurized water 91 against a stop 59 th~t i~ part of the main housi~g.
The pinch bar 63 is biased against the stop 59 by a calibratcd ~pring 57. ~he ~pri~ 57 is h~ld at one end by a formation 55 of the main hou~îng. ~ :
The str~ngth of the ~pring 57 in it8 bia~ed . ~3g ~ . , , . , . ~, . , . ~, ;~

configuration is calibrated, so that when the pressure of water 91 within the ~xit tubing 67 reache~ a predetermined maxLmum value, the ~pri~g 57 will allow the pinch bar 63 t.o rise and water 67 will be released until a ~afe pressure is maintained.
Thus, the predetermined maximum value for the yielding of the spring ~7 or other release mea~s may preferably be between 50 pounds per square inch and 90 pounds per square inch. Other predetermined pressures of higher or lower value e~g. 100 pounds per ~quare inoh may be used depending upon the particular componen s and spe~iic configuration of a particular e~bodiment.
~igures 4, 5 and 6 sh~ perspective views of alternative embodiments of the present invention watsr gun. Many comporlents are identical to those shown i~ Figures 1 and ~ and like parts are like numbered.

Figure 4 show~ water gun 2 with storage S reservoirs 238 and 239 being attachsd by hoops 236 and 237 and being connected at oval shaped manifold 211. Brackets 215, 217, 23~ and 240 are connected at one end to the manifold 211 and hoops 237 and 236, respec:ti~ely, and at the other end to a handle 218 for easy carrying~, Pressure tank 213 ~nay be light bulb shaped~ as shown. This embod~ment permits easier carrying and greater pre~surized tank capacity than the gun 1 o Figuxes 1 through 3.

Figure 5 shows basically a water gun 4 ~mi1 ar to gun 1 described above~ except that double pr~sur~ :

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: ' , . : :" : ;~: ~ ': .

`` ; ' 2 ~

-4~

tanks 311 a~d 313 are mounted on manifold 315 in parallel, to enhance capacity of the pres~urized tanks ~o permit continuou~ shots of long~r duration.
Figure 6 combines the advantages of multiple -.
storage re~ervoirs and multiple pressure tanks.
Water gun 6 has three storage reservoir~ 238, 239 and 242, connected to main housing 60 via common hoops 361 and ~onnected functionally via triangular manifold 353, to operate in parallel. Alternatively, ~ rotatabl~ or switchable v~lve could be included to select a reservoir so that reservoirs 238, 239 and 242 are e~ptied on~ at a time (in ~erie~).
~ress-lrized tanks 311 and 313 and manifold 315, discussed above, are al~o includedO
~he above Figure~ show only selected embodiment~

~ i 2 ~

of the present invention, and although these figures ~how preferred embodLments o~ the invention, it should be under~tood that the present invention can be practiced in many forms other than those shown.
The basis of tbe present invention is a mul~iple container, reservoir or tank design with extra tank capacity using at least a total of three tanks, that uses a manual water pump and a ~eries of one-way valves and tubes to draw ambient water from at least one storage reservoir, pumping said water into at least one pressurLzed tank, where it i~ pressurized against an air cushion, and disch~rge that water selectively to the ambi~nt airO ~he illustrat~d e~bodime~ts ~h~wn in the ~igures are design~ for th~
~5 present invention which are both efficlent a~d : ~3 .

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, --4~

inexpensive to manufacture., It should therefo:re be understood that in light of the appended :::laim5 ~ that the in~ention may be practiced othe:r than as specifically described, and indiviclual parts may l~e modif ied or ~onnected in orientation~ other than those shc)wn.

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Claims (20)

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

(a) at least one water storage reservoir external from and connected to said housing, said reservoir having at least one orifice formed thereon for the addition and withdrawal of water therefrom, and said reservoir having at least one vent to surrounding ambient air so that air may enter said reservoir;

(b) at least one pressurized air and water storage tank external from and connected to said housing, said pressurized tank having only one orifice through which all liquids and gasses pass the combined total of said water storage reservoirs and said pressurized water storage tanks is at least three;
(c) a pumping means for withdrawing air or water from said water storage reservoir, and for depositing said withdrawn air or water into said pressurized tank;
(d) a plurality of one-way flow valves, wherein at least one said one-way flow valve prohibits water and air from flowing from said pressurized tank to said pumping means and at least one said one-way flow valves prohibits water and air from flowing from said pumping means to said 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 tank; and, (g) a controlling means for regulating the flow of water and air through said avenue of release, said controlling means being actuatable by said trigger.

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

3. The water gun of claim 1, wherein said pumping means is a reciprocatable piston within a cylinder, said pumping means having a priming stroke wherein said piston retreats within said cylinder, 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 reservoir , past at least one said one-way flow valve.

6. The water gun of claim 5 wherein said compression stroke of said pumping means forces said withdrawn water or air, out of said cylinder and into said pressurized 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 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, selectively collapsing said length of said avenue of release.

10. The water gun of claim 9 wherein said spring biased pinch bar has a spring bias which 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.

11. The water gun of claim 9 wherein said spring biased pinch bar has a spring bias created by a leaf spring having one end affixed to said housing and the other end engaging said pinch bar.

12. The water gun of claim 1 wherein withdrawal of water or air from said reservoir by said pumping means is determined by the level and orientation of water within said reservoir.

13. The water gun of claim 1 wherein withdrawal of water or air from said reservoir by said pumping means is determined by changing the orientation of said gun.

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

15. The water gun of claim 2 wherein said one-way venting valve opens each time the air pressure within said 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 reservoir has a sealable orifice therein for the addition of water thereto.

18. The water gun of claim 14 wherein water stored within said pressurized tank can be dischargeable from said gun while said reservoir is detached from said gun.

19. The water gun of claim 9 wherein said spring biased pinch bar has a spring bias calibrated to yield to pressure within said avenue of release, when said pressure within said avenue of release exceeds a predetermined maximum value.

20. The water gun of claim 1 having at least two reservoirs and at least two pressurized tanks.