US20070283942A1

US20070283942A1 - Piston structure of toy gun

Info

Publication number: US20070283942A1
Application number: US11/448,848
Authority: US
Inventors: Chiao-Chih Tai; Szu-Ming Huang; Chia-Chen Wang; Chih-Ming Tien
Original assignee: Enlight Corp
Current assignee: Enlight Corp
Priority date: 2006-06-08
Filing date: 2006-06-08
Publication date: 2007-12-13

Abstract

A piston structure of a toy gun is disclosed. An air induction passage and at least an air inlet are formed on the piston. In addition, a control device is applied to the piston for correspondingly opening or closing the air inlet according to the movement of the piston. As a result, much more air can be sucked into an air storage chamber immediately after the backward movement of the piston. Therefore, the air capacity of the air storage chamber of the cylinder tube can be increased so as to produce larger air pressure for pushing the bullet to the outside of the toy gun, thereby simulating the recoil effect of the real shooting and improving the shooting performance of the toy gun.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a piston structure of a toy gun, and more particularly to a toy gun with increased air suction area and air suction speed so as to produce larger air pressure for pushing the bullet away from the toy gun.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional toy gun includes a cylinder tube embedded securely in a gun body, wherein a rack is mounted on the bottom of the piston extending to the outside of the cylinder tube for driving the piston by a gear set. The gear set includes a driving gear, a steering gear and a final gear, wherein the final gear is a semi-gear with an incomplete gear ring, whereby the air can be compressed and exhausted by disengaging a releasing arc edge of the final gear from the rack after backward driving the rack and the piston by the final gear.
Due to the fast movement of the piston in the air suction process, the amount of air sucked into the cylinder tube via the gun muzzle is insufficient. As a result, the shooting performance of the toy gun is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a piston structure of a toy gun, wherein an air induction passage and at least an air inlet are formed on the piston for increasing the area of air suction such that much more outside air can be sucked into the air storage chamber immediately after the backward movement of the piston. As a result, the air capacity of the cylinder tube can be increased so as to produce larger air pressure for pushing the bullet away from the toy gun, thereby providing the simulated recoil effect, which simulates the real shooting, and improving the shooting performance of the toy gun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view showing the inside structure of the toy gun of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the motion of the first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing another motion of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the motion of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another motion of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing the piston of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the motion of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing another motion of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view showing the piston of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the motion of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing another motion of the fourth preferred embodiment other present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view showing the piston of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing the motion of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing another motion of the fifth preferred embodiment other present invention.

FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view showing the piston of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing the motion of the sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing another motion of the sixth preferred embodiment other present invention.

FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged view showing the piston of the sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a structure of toy gun is illustrated. A piston 3 is slidable in a cylinder tube 2 of a gun body 1. A spring 4 is located between the bottom of the gun body 1 and the piston 3. A high torque motor 5 is located in a gun grip. The motor 5 is connected to a final gear 63, which is partially protrudent into the cylinder tube 2, via a steering gear 61 and a reduction gear 62 of a gear set 6 for being connectedly engaged with a rack on the bottom of the piston 3 and for driving the final gear 63 to pull back the piston 3 until the motor 5 is exactly released from an arc-shaped releasing edge, thereby completing the process for compressing the air so as to push a bullet outward by using the compressed air.
In order to improve the shooting performance of the toy gun for simulating the recoil effect of real shooting, much more air must be accumulated in the cylinder tube so as to produce larger air pressure for pushing the bullet away from the toy gun. In order to inhale much more air rapidly and improve the efficiency of air suction, the present invention is characterized in that an air induction passage and at least an air inlet are formed on the piston for increasing the air suction area, and that a control device is applied to the air inlet for correspondingly opening or closing the air inlet according to the forward or backward movement of the piston. Therefore, in the air suction state, the air suction amount and the air capacity of the cylinder tube can be increased. Besides, in the shooting state, the air inlet is closed by the control device so as to produce larger air pressure for pushing the bullet to the outside of the toy gun.
Prior to describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. As shown in these diagrams, an air storage chamber 21 with various capacities can be formed in the cylinder tube 2 by various movements of the piston 3 within the cylinder tube 2. Besides, an air induction passage 31 is formed on the center of the front end of the piston 3, and a control device 7 is further applied to the air induction passage 31 for opening or closing the air inlet 311 of the air induction passage 31. Besides, a tube passage 22 is formed to penetrate through the cylinder tube 2. One end of the tube passage 22 is communicated with the air storage chamber 21, and the other end of the tube passage 22 is connected to a bullet passage and extended to the outside of the gun muzzle (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the motions of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. The control device 7 is for opening or closing the air inlet 311 of the air induction passage 31. The control device 7 is a ring-shaped movable plate 71 made of a thin rubber plate, a thin steel plate, or a thin leaf spring. One end of the movable plate 71 is affixed to one side of the air inlet 311 by a nail 711, and the other end of the movable plate 71 is flatly, movably leant on the air inlet 311. In the rest and shooting states, the stationary movable plate 71 is lifted up reversely by a counterforce to open the air inlet 311 immediately after the backward movement of the piston. At the same moment, much more outside air can be sucked into the air storage chamber 21 via the air induction passage 31 and the tube passage 22. As a result, the air suction speed and air suction amount can be both increased significantly for further increasing the air capacity of the air storage chamber 21. In the shooting state, as shown in FIG. 2, if the piston 3 is released from the arc-shaped releasing edge 631 of the final gear 63 (shown in FIG. 1), the piston 3 is shifted rapidly toward the air inlet 311 by the resilience of the restored spring 4, which is previously compressed, whereby the air pressure is produced to reversely force the movable plate 71 to close the air inlet 311. As a result, the piston 3 is able to compress the air inside the air storage chamber 21 so as to exhaust the air via the air. passage 22 for pushing the bullet to the outside by larger air pressure.
The embodying means and the achievable objects of the present invention are disclosed adequately in the description of the first preferred embodiment. Other preferred embodiments, which are derived from the first preferred embodiment according to the spirit and concept of the present invention, are disclosed in the following description. It is additionally mentioned that the motions of the piston and the capacity changes of the air storage chamber of the following preferred embodiments, which are described roughly, are identical to that of the first preferred embodiment.
Referring further to FIG. 4 through FIG. 6, the motions of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. As show in FIG. 6, the control device 7 is a steel ball valve 72 held in the additionally formed air induction passage 32. The air induction passage 32 is a cone-shaped passage. At least a blocking pillar 721 is located on a larger opening of the cone-shaped air induction passage 32 for forming at least two air inlets 321 (shown in FIG. 6). The diameter of the steel ball valve 72 is larger than the calibers of the air inlets 321 and the smaller opening of the air induction passage 32 to ensure that the steel ball valve 72 is inseparably shiftable within the air induction passage 32. If the piston 3 is shifted backward, as shown in FIG. 4, the stationary steel ball valve 72 is shifted forward immediately by the counterforce until it is blocked by the blocking pillar 721. At the same moment, much more outside air can be sucked into the air storage chamber 21 via the air inlets 321 by the piston 3. If the piston 3 is shifted forward rapidly (shown in FIG. 5), the steel ball valve 72 can be shifted reversely to close the smaller opening of the air induction passage 32.
Referring further to FIG. 7 through FIG. 9, the motions of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. As show in FIG. 9, a cup-shaped outer cover 731 is extended from and connected to the front end of the piston 3. Several notches are formed on the bottom of the outer cover 731 for forming several arc-shaped air inlets 331, which are communicated with an air induction passage 33, between the outer cover 731 and the piston 3. The control device 7 is a ring-shaped movable plate 73 made of a thin rubber plate, a thin steel plate, or a thin leaf spring, and it is affixed to light springs 732 of the outer cover 731 (shown in FIG. 8). The movable plate 73 has a larger diameter so it can close the air induction passage 33. If the piston 3 is shifted backward, as shown in FIG. 7, the movable plate 73 is leant on the light springs 732 immediately so as to open the air induction passage 33 such that the outside air can be sucked into the air storage chamber 21 via the air inlets 331. If the piston 3 is shifted forward to compress the air inside the air storage chamber 21 (shown in FIG. 8), the movable plate 73 is shifted reversely to close the air induction passage 33 by using the resilience of the light springs 732.
Referring further to FIG. 10 through FIG. 12, the motions of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. As show in FIG. 12, a funnel-shaped opening is formed on the front end of an air induction passage 34 of the piston 3. A pivotal connection hole 342 is formed on the center of the piston 3 for pivotal connection with the control device 7. At least an air inlet 341, which is communicated with the air induction passage 34, is formed on the cone-shaped surface of the funnel-shaped opening. The control device 7 is a movable valve 74. Two blocks 741 and 741′ are formed on both ends of the control device 7, respectively, and connected to a cone-shaped part 742, which is conformal to the funnel-shaped opening. A spring 743 is sleeved onto a valve rod of the movable valve 74 to lean against one side of the pivotal connection hole 342. The blocks 741 and 741′ are for closing the air inlet 341 and for limiting the pivotal connection according to the length of the valve rod.
Due to the formation of a gap between the wall of the cylinder tube 2 and the block 741 in the air storage chamber 21, the backward movement of the piston 3 (shown in FIG. 10) causes the reverse movement of the movable valve 74 to compress the spring 743 for opening the air inlet 341 by separating the cone-shaped part 742 from the air inlet 341. As a result, the air can be sucked into the air storage chamber 21 from the air induction passage 34 and the air inlet 341 via the gap. If the piston 3 is shifted forward to compress the air inside the air storage chamber 21 (shown in FIG. 11), the movable valve 74 is shifted reversely to close the air induction passage 34 by using the resilience of the spring 743.
Referring further to FIG. 13 through FIG. 15, the motions of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. As show in FIG. 15, the front end of the air induction passage 35 of the piston 3 is semi-closed. An air inlet 351 is formed on the center of the piston 3 and surrounded by several pivotal connection holes 352. Besides, the control device 7 is a movable valve 75. A block 751 and several blocks 751′ are formed on both ends of the control device 7, respectively, and connected to one other by several valve rods 752 corresponding to the pivotal connection holes 352. Several springs 753 are sleeved onto the respective valve rods 752 and located between the blocks 751, 751′ and one side of the air inlet 351. The blocks 751 and 751′ are for closing the air inlet 351 and for limiting the pivotal connection according to the length of the valve rods 752. If the piston 3 is shifted backward (shown in FIG. 13), the movable valve 75 is shifted reversely, immediately to compress the springs 753. As a result, the air can be sucked immediately into the air storage chamber 21 from the air induction passage 35 and the air inlet 351 via the gap since a gap is formed between the wall of the cylinder tube 2 and the block 751 in the air storage chamber 21. If the piston 3 is shifted forward to compress the air inside the air storage chamber 21 (shown in FIG. 14), the movable valve 75 is shifted reversely to close the air induction passage 35 again by using the resilience of the springs 753.
Referring further to FIG. 16 through FIG. 18, the motions of the sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. As show in FIG. 18, the front end of the air induction passage 36 of the piston 3 is semi-closed. A connection hole 362 is formed on the center of the piston 3 for insertion of the control device 7 and it is surrounded by at least an air inlet 361. The control device 7 is a ring-shaped movable plate 76 made of a thin rubber plate, a thin steel plate, or a thin leaf spring. A rod 761 of the movable plate 76 is inserted into the connection hole 362, and the movable plate 76 is movably, flatly placed on the front end of the air inlet 361. In the rest and shooting states, the air inlet 361 is closed by the movable plate 76, as shown in FIG. 17. If the piston 3 is shifted backward (shown in FIG. 16), the stationary movable plate 76 is lifted up reversely, immediately by the counterforce to open the air inlet 361 such that the air can be sucked into the air storage chamber 21 from the air induction passage 36 via the air inlet 361. If the piston 3 is shifted forward to compress the air inside the air storage chamber 21 (shown in FIG. 17), the movable plate 76 is shifted reversely by the counterforce to close the air inlet 361 again.
It is additionally mentioned that the shape, size and amount of the air induction passage and the air inlet of the piston can be adjusted so as to provide the optimum air pressure according to the practical requirement. However, this is not the key feature of the present invention and is not detailedly described herein.

Claims

1. A piston structure of a toy gun comprising:

a piston having an air induction passage and at least an air inlet; and

a control device for correspondingly opening or closing said air inlet according to the movement of said piston, said control device being a movable plate.

2. The piston structure of the toy gun of claim 1, wherein said movable plate is a thin rubber plate.

3. The piston structure of the toy gun of claim 1, wherein said movable plate is a thin steel plate.

4. The piston structure of the toy gun of claim 1, wherein said movable plate is a thin leaf spring.

5. The piston structure of the toy gun of claim 1, wherein one end of said movable plate is affixed to one side of said air inlet of said piston by a nail.

6. The piston structure of the toy gun of claim 1, wherein said movable plate is affixed to an outer cover connected to said piston by a light spring.

7. The piston structure of the toy gun of claim 1, wherein a connection hole is further formed on said piston.

8. The piston structure of the toy gun of claim 1, wherein a connection hole is further formed on said piston and said movable plate is inserted into said connection hole via a rod.

9. A piston structure of a toy gun comprising:

a piston having an air induction passage, at least an air inlet, and at least a pivotal connection hole; and

a control device for pivotal connection with said pivotal connection hole via a valve rod so as to correspondingly open or close said air inlet according to the movement of said piston, said control device being a movable valve.

10. The piston structure of the toy gun of claim 9, wherein two blocks are mounted on both ends of said movable valve, respectively, for closing said air inlet and for limiting the pivotal connection of said movable valve.

11. The piston structure of the toy gun of claim 9, wherein a spring is sleeved onto said valve rod of said movable valve.

12. A piston structure of a toy gun comprising:

a piston having an air induction passage and at least an air inlet; and

a control device for correspondingly opening or closing said air inlet according to the movement of said piston, said control device being a steel ball valve.

13. The piston structure of the toy gun of claim 12, wherein said air induction passage of said piston is a cone-shaped passage and a blocking pillar is mounted on a larger opening of said air induction passage for forming at least two air inlets.

14. The piston structure of the toy gun of claim 12, wherein said air induction passage of said piston is a cone-shaped passage, a blocking pillar is mounted on a larger opening of said air induction passage for forming at least two air inlets, and the diameter of said steel ball valve is larger than the calibers of said air inlets and a smaller opening of said air induction passage.