VAPEEYECTOR FOR EXTRACTING WATER This application claims the benefit of the provisional US patent application Serial No. 60 / 687,358 filed on June 3, 2005 and the provisional US patent application Serial No. 60 / 670,778, filed on April 12 of 2005. This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 (a) for the Design Records of the
European Community No. 000379961-0009, 000379961-0010,
000379961-0011, 000379961-0012, 000379961-0013 and 000379961-0014, entitled "Toy Jet Gun" presented in the
Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market on August 1, 2005. The complete description of each of the applications and design registrations identified above is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally discloses water vapoejectors or water guns and, more particularly, water vapoejectors having an expandable nozzle and / or a fluid reservoir having an enlarged end, such as a reservoir of fluid shaped as weights or bulged ends adapted to be used as a handle or operating handle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Examples of vapoejectors adapted to eject either individual jets or direct current of water are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,038,483, 3,578,789, 3,828,478, 4,040,622, 4,214,674, 5,029,732, 5,042,819, 5,102,052, 5,377,656, 5,332,120, 5,598,950 , 5,611,460, 5,605,253, 5,823,849 and 5,865,438. Examples of a toy using bellows components for producing bubbles are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,042,819 and D331,609. Examples of shielding vapoejectors are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,038,483, 4,040,622, 5,435,569, 5,611,460 and 5,865,438 as well as in U.S. Patent Applications Nos. 29 / 180,808 and 10 / 836,647. Examples of ejectors or pistols with shields are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 295,013, 391,397, 1,244,679, 1,279,930, 1,290,606, 2,306,708, 3,828,478, 4,358,984, 4,815,822, 5,288,231, 5,611,460, 5,823,849 and 5,865,438. Examples of vapoejectors or guns with extendable shields are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 295,013, 1,244,679, 1,279,930, 2,306,708 and 4,358,984. Examples of vapoejectors or water guns having one-way ball valves are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,578,789, 4,214,674, 5,029,732, 5,042,819 and 5,598,950 and British Patent Application No. GB2145340A. The description of these and all other publications referenced here are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one example, a vapoejector or water gun may comprise a body having a front surface, a nozzle mounted and extending from the body, and an actuator. The nozzle may have at least one nozzle portion adapted to move between an extended position spaced from the front surface and a retracted position close to the front surface than the extended position. The actuator can be adapted to move relative to the body, and mechanically engage the nozzle to move the nozzle between the retracted and extended positions when the actuator moves between the first and second positions. In one example, a water vapojector can comprise at least one fluid reservoir, a nozzle and a pump. The fluid reservoir may comprise first and second end portions and an elongated intermediate portion, generally uniform, extending between the first and second portions. The first and second portions may have volumes that are larger than the volume of the intermediate portion. The pump can be coupled fluidly to at least one tank and the nozzle, with the pump that is operated to a fluid discharge received from at least one tank through the nozzle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mode of a vapoejector or water gun shown with a nozzle in a retracted position. Figure 2 is an upper front perspective view of the vapojector of Figure 1 shown with the nozzle in an extended position. Figure 3 is a sectional view of the vapojector or water gun taken generally along line 3-3 in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a sectional view of the vapojector generally taken along line 4- 4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a bottom rear perspective view partly in section of the water jet or spray gun of Fig. 1., with the trajectories of the fluid flow illustrated schematically with the arrows. Figure 6 is a partial sectional view of a pump valve assembly taken generally along line 6-6 in Figure 3. Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating various components of a vapojector or water gun similar to the vapoejector of Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a top front perspective view of another embodiment of a vapojector illustrated with a nozzle in a retracted position. Figure 9 is an upper front perspective view of the water gun or vapojector of Figure 8, shown with the nozzle in an extended position. Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the vapojector or water gun of Figure 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An illustrative example of the vapojector for drawing water or water gun is generally shown at 12 in Figures 1-6. As shown in Figure 1, the vapoejector for drawing water or water gun 12 may generally include a source of fluid, such as one or more fluid reservoirs 14, a nozzle 16, an actuator or driver 18 and a pump 20. As shown in Figure 1, the vapoejector 12 can be configured as a vapoejector to extract water with bellows action, although other configurations can also be used. As described more fully below, a bellows-operated water gun or vapoejector may, by alternate expansion and contraction, draw a suitable fluid, such as water or the like, from at least one fluid reservoir 14 and expel fluid through the fluid. from a nozzle or other suitable opening.
One or more of the fluid reservoirs 14 may include fluidly connected, multiple portions disposed along the longitudinal axis 22. For example, the fluid reservoirs 14 may include a first end portion or upper portion 24 and a second end portion 26 or lower portion, the end portions of which are separated by an intermediate portion 28. The first and second end portions 24, 26 and the intermediate portion 28 can be connected fluidly to collectively define a body containing fluid. The fluid reservoir 14 can be made of any suitable material such as a plastic or metal. At least one of the fluid reservoirs 14 may include one or more transparent or translucent regions, which may be configured to allow a visual determination of the remaining fluid level within the fluid reservoir 14. Each fluid reservoir 14 can include a filling opening 30 and an outlet 32. The filling opening 30 can be provided with a removable cover 34. The removable cap 34 may include one or more respirators or suction cups, which may be configured to release pressure within the fluid reservoir 14, such as to prevent the formation of a vacuum within the fluid reservoir 14. The removable cover 34 can be attached to a fluid reservoir 24 using a threaded or spring type connection. The removable cover 34 can be provided with a retainer 36 to hold the lid 34 attached to the reservoir 14 of the fluid, such as when a user is filling the fluid reservoir 14. As shown in Figure 1, a fluid reservoir 14 may appear to be a form of weights or with bulging ends. When the reservoir 14 of the fluid resembles or has a form of weights, each of the first and second end portions 24, 26 can enclose a volume that is larger than the volume enclosed by the intermediate portion 28. In particular, at least one cross-sectional dimension, such as a diameter, of at least one of the first and second end portions 24, 26 may be larger than a cross-sectional dimension of the intermediate portion 28. As shown in FIG. Figure 1, the first and second end portions 24, 26, may be larger than the intermediate portion 28 in each radial direction of the longitudinal axis 22 extending through the intermediate portion 28 between the ends. One or more of the first and second end portions 24, 26 and the intermediate portion 28 of the fluid reservoir 14 may have a radially asymmetric cross section relative to the axis 22. As shown in Fig. 1, the first and second end portions 24, 26 may include one or more protuberances or lobes 38. The lobes 38 may be configured to provide improved fluid capacity within a given physical envelope., or the lobes 38 may allow the center of gravity of the fluid reservoir 14 to move, such as laterally away from the longitudinal axis 22 of the fluid reservoir 14. The fluid reservoirs 14 can be configured in the respective first and second fluid reservoirs 40, 42. In some embodiments, such as where the fluid reservoirs 14 include portions having a radially asymmetric cross section to the shaft 22, the first and second fluid reservoirs 40, 42 can be configured as mirror images of the other, as shown in FIG. Figure 1. The intermediate portion 28 of the reservoir 14 of the fluid may include a generally uniform elongated portion extending between the first and second end portions 24, 26, as shown in Figure 1. The intermediate portion 28 may have a section reduced cross section relative to at least one of the first and second end portions 24, 26. Intermediate portions 28 can be configured to provide handles or handles 44 adapted to be grasped by human hands. For example, the first and second fluid reservoirs 40, 42 can be grasped respectively by the first hand 46 and the second hand 48, as shown in figures 1 and 2.
The nozzle 16 may include a hole for discharging a fluid and may be arranged in a nozzle housing 50 such that the nozzle 16 may be at least partially integral with or carried by the nozzle housing 50. The vapoejector or water gun 12 may also include a central body or housing 56 having an opening 52 in a front surface 54. The nozzle housing 50 can extend through the opening 52 and can be supported by the central housing 56, as shown in Figure 1. As can be seen in comparison with Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 , the nozzle 16 can be configured to move relative to the central housing 56, such that along the middle plane of the central housing 56, which is indicated by the axis 58 in FIGS. 3 and 4. In particular, the housing 50 of FIG. nozzle can be moved relative to the central housing 56, such as between a retracted position 60, as shown in figures 1 and 3, and an extended position 62, as shown in figures 2 and 4. In the extended position 62, the nozzle housing 50 can project outwardly from the opening 52 such that at least a portion of the nozzle housing 50 separates away from the central housing 56. In contrast, in the retracted position 60, the nozzle housing 50 can project outwardly from the opening 52 to a lesser extent than when the nozzle housing 50 is in the extended position 62. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the nozzle housing 50 can be moved along a rectilinear path, represented by the axis 58, as the nozzle housing 50 moves between the retracted and extended positions 60, 62, such as where the nozzle housing 50 slides in and out of the opening 52 in the front surface 54 of the central housing 56. In some embodiments not shown, the nozzle housing 50 can be pivotally or pivotally attached to the central housing 56 or other structure such that the nozzle housing 50 can pivot between a retracted position and an extended position. Movement of the nozzle housing 50 relative to the central housing 56 may be a combination of rectilinear and rotational movement, or other suitable form of movement. The nozzle 16 can be configured to selectively eject a fluid through at least one orifice. In some embodiments, the nozzle 16 can be adjustable such as providing one or more fluid ejection patterns, such as a relatively concentrated stream, a relatively disperse spray or a pulsating stream.
The actuator or driver 18 can be any suitable structure that produces movement of the nozzle housing 50 relative to the center housing 56. The actuator 18 can include one or more members such as arms in the form of first and second housings 64, 66, as shown in Figure 1. Each of the first and second housings 64, 66 can be adapted to pivot relative to each other. to the central housing 56, such as around a pivot pin 68, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Either of these housings may include front front surfaces that protect or cover the parts of the water gun or the water gun or the user. Otherwise, any of the accommodations can be any suitable support structure. Each of the respective first and second housings 64, 66 can be configured to move a portion, such as a distal end of the pivot pin 68, between a first position 70, wherein the distal ends of each of the first and second respective housings 64, 66 are spaced apart from the median plane, such as in the opposite directions as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and a second position 72, where the distal ends of each of the first and second housings 64, 66 are closer to the median plane than in the first position 70, as shown in figures 2 and 4.
The first and second housings 64, 66 can be mechanically coupled to the nozzle 16 and / or the nozzle housing 50. The mechanical coupling between the first and second housings 64, 66 and the nozzle 16 and / or the nozzle housing 50 can cause the nozzle 16 and / or nozzle housing 50 to transition from the retracted position 60 to the extended position 62, as suggested by the arrow 74 in Figure 3, as the first and second housings 64, 66 come into contact with each other and transit from the first position '70 to the second position 72, as suggested by the arrows 76 in Figure 3. On the contrary, the mechanical coupling can cause the nozzle 16 and / or the nozzle housing 50 to transition or change from the extended position 62 to the retracted position 60, as suggested by the arrow 78 in the figure 4, as the first and second housings 64, 66 are separated by the transition from the second position 72 to the first position 70, as suggested by the arrows 80 in Figure 4. As shown by the il mode As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each of the first and second housings 64, 66 are mechanically coupled to the nozzle housing by a coupling mechanism, which may include an extension arm 82, and a slot 84 in the housing 50 of nozzle coupled by the extension arm 82. Each of the extension arms 82 can include one or more contact surfaces 86 of the housing, which can slide along the side walls of the slot 84, which can define the contact surfaces 88 of the nozzle. In such an embodiment, when the first and second housings 64, 66 are in the first expanded position 70, the corresponding extension arms 82 will be in a relatively rear position as shown in Figure 3, and when the first and second housings 64, 66 are in the second position 72 or contracted, the corresponding extension arms 82 will be in a relatively forward position as shown in Figure 4. Then, because the extension arms 82 engage the slot 84, the arms 82 of extension move the nozzle housing 50 towards the retracted position 60 as the contact surfaces 86 of the housing slide along the contact surfaces 88 of the nozzle when the first and second housings 64, 66 move towards the first position 70, as shown in Figure 3. On the contrary, the extension arms 82 move the nozzle housing 50 to position 62 e xtended as the contact surfaces 86 of the housing slide along the contact surfaces 88 of the nozzle when the first and second housings 64, 66 move toward the second position 72 as shown in Figure 4. The pump 20 it can be fluidly connected to the fluid reservoir 14 and the nozzle 16. The pump can be any suitable structure that causes a fluid to be discharged from the nozzle 16. The pump can be configured in the form of a positive displacement pump such as a piston pump, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Pump 20 may include an inlet 90, an outlet 92 (not visible in Figures 3 and 4), a pump body 94, and a plunger 96 The pump can also be configured as a dynamic pump, such as a centrifugal pump. As shown in Figure 5, the inlet 90 of the pump can be fluidly coupled to at least one of the reservoirs 14 of the fluid such as through the fluid supply tubes 98, which can be fluidly coupled. to the outlets 32 of the first and second fluid reservoirs 40, 42 to a T-connector 100, and a pump inlet tube 102 that can be fluidly coupled to the T-connector 100 to the pump inlet 90. The outlet 92 of the pump can be fluidly coupled to the nozzle 16, such as through a pump outlet tube 104. As can be explained with reference to Figures 3-5, the pump 20 can be configured to alternatively withdraw a volume of fluid from at least one of the fluid reservoirs 14 and expel a fluid volume through the nozzle 16 in response to the movement of the actuator 18. The plunger 96 and the body 94 of the pump can be pivotably connected to the first and second housings 64, 66, respectively, such as with the pivot pins 106 of the pump, as shown in FIG. illustrative embodiment presented in Figure 5. When the first and second housings 64, 66 move from the second position 72 to the first position 70, the plunger 96 is withdrawn from the body 94 of the pump, as illustrated in Figure 3 , such that a volume of fluid can be drawn from the first and second reservoirs 40, 42 towards the inlet 90 of the pump, as shown in FIG. 5. On the contrary, when the first and second reservoirs 64, 66 pass through From the first position 70 to the second position 72, the plunger 96 is driven towards the body 94 of the pump, as shown in Figure 4, such that a volume of fluid can be supplied from the outlet 92 of the pump to the nozzle 16 and is discharged or expelled from the nozzle 16, as generally shown at 108 in Figure 5. The alternating flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir 14 to the pump inlet 90 and from the pump outlet 92 towards the nozzle 16 may be allowed by a valve assembly 110 in the pump body 94, as shown in figure 6. The valve assembly 110 may include a pair of one-way valves, configured as inlet valves and output 112, 114 respectively. The inlet and outlet valves 112, 114 may be ball or spherical valves, each of which may include a sphere 116, a valve spring 118, and an annular valve seat 120. As shown in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7, the fluid reservoir 14 can be manufactured as a separate or separate component that can be mechanically joined to the first and second housing 64, 66. In some examples, a hose can be used. supply for connecting the pump 20 to a source of fluid provided by the user. The reservoir 14 of the fluid can be fastened to the first and second housings 64, 66 using a pair of separate mechanical supports, arms or fasteners 122, which can be attached to the housing using a mechanical fastener, such as a screw or an adhesive. In the example shown, the fasteners or clamps 122 are separated, forming a gap through which the intermediate portion 28 of the fluid reservoir 14 extends. When a mechanical fastener is used, the reservoirs 14 can be separated from the housing. In some embodiments, the reservoir 14 of the fluid may be at least partially integral and forms part of one or more of the first and second recesses 64, 66. In some embodiments, the vapojector or water pistol 12 may include one or more shields 126, such as those illustrated in Figures 7-10. In some embodiments, at least some of the shields may include a transparent region or window 128. The window 128 may include a filar cross 130, as shown in Figure 7. As shown in Figure 7, the one or more shields 126 may include a single shield 132, which may be attached to the central housing 56, such as with a shield joint 124. The shield 132 can be configured for transition or movement between a first or extended position and a second or retracted position. In the first or extended position, a portion of the shield may be more perpendicular near the axis of the nozzle 16, as generally indicated at 136 in Figure 1. In the second position or retracted, at least a portion of the shield may be more closely parallel to the axis of the nozzle 16, as generally indicated at 138 in Figure 1. The shield 126 can be configured to be placed in various positions independently of the position of the first and second accommodations 6466 The position of the shield 126 can be maintained by an assurance mechanism, such as a series of mechanical stops or a friction stop, which can allow the shield 126 to be maintained in any desirable position, such as an intermediate of the first position or extended and the second position or retracted. Another illustrative example of a vapoejector or water gun is shown at 140 in Figures 8-10. The vapoejector or water gun 140 may include a first shield 142, a second shield 144, and a plurality of triangular side shields 146, as shown in Figures 8-10. The first and second shields 142, 144 can be hingedly connected to the central housing 56, and the side shields 146 can be grouped in pairs where each of the side shields 146 can be hingedly joined to one of the first and second shields 142, 144 and one of the first and second housings 64, 66. In some embodiments not shown, the side shields 146 can be used with only a first shield 142 and without a second shield 144. The shields can be configured to at least partially extend and / or partially retracting automatically in response to the transition of the first and second respective accommodations 64, 66 between the first and second positions 70, 72, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. The shields can be configured for the transition from a first or extended position 148, as shown in FIG. 8, to a second position or retracted 150, as shown in FIG. 8, according to the first and second housing. 64, 66 move from the first position 70 to the second position 72. The automatic transition of the shields from the first position or extended 148 to the second position or retracted 150, can be at least partially caused by the geometrical restrictions imposed by the triangular side shields 148 It is believed that the description set forth above encompasses multiple different inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been described in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as described and illustrated herein are not considered in a limiting sense as numerous variables are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all new and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and / or properties described herein. Similarly, where any claim recites "a" or "a first" element or the equivalent thereof, such claim shall be understood to include the incorporation of one or more such elements, which do not require or exclude two or more such elements. It is believed that the following claims particularly point out certain combinations and sub-combations that are directed to one of the described inventions and are new and not obvious. The inventions modalized in other combinations and subcombinations of characteristics, functions, elements and / or properties can be claimed through the amendment of the present claims or the presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, limited or equal in scope to the original claims, are also considered to be included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.