US20110059675A1

US20110059675A1 - Water entertainment device

Info

Publication number: US20110059675A1
Application number: US12/875,801
Authority: US
Inventors: Gary Liebling; Alan Amron
Original assignee: Thought Development Inc
Current assignee: Thought Development Inc
Priority date: 2009-09-04
Filing date: 2010-09-03
Publication date: 2011-03-10

Abstract

A water entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes an article of clothing with at least one fluid reservoir and at least one nozzle, wherein the nozzle is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir to provide fluid to be discharged from the nozzle. A water entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes multiple triggers formed as a part of multiple piston pumps that provide water to multiple output nozzles to direct streams of water in multiple different directions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/240,091 entitled WATER VEST filed Sep. 4, 2009 and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/303,064 entitled WATER VEST AND WATER ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE filed Feb. 10, 2010, the entire content of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a water entertainment device or toy including multiple triggers for multiple output nozzles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an article of clothing including at least one fluid reservoir and at least one nozzle operable to spray water provided from the fluid reservoir. Additional nozzles may be provided and operated by separate triggers. In addition, the article of clothing may be omitted if desired.
2. Related Art
Water guns have long been enjoyed by children, and some adults, as a good way to cool down during hot summer days. Over the years, water guns have been improved to maximize capacity, range and soaking ability in various ways. While these improvements and variations offer users many options, generally speaking, water guns are hand held devices which are subject breakage, if dropped for example. In addition, conventional water guns typically only allow for shooting water in one direction from one nozzle.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a water entertainment device that avoids these and other problems.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a water entertainment device including an article of clothing that allows a user to spray water at others.
It is another object of the present application to provide a water entertainment device with multiple nozzles that are operated using multiple triggers.
A water entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes an article of clothing wearable by a user, a fluid reservoir connected to the article of clothing and configured to hold an amount of fluid, an output nozzle mounted on the article of clothing and configured to output a stream of fluid, a pump in fluid communication with at least one of the water reservoir and the output nozzle and configured to pump fluid from the water reservoir to the output nozzle and a control device to control output of water from the output nozzle.
A water entertainment device according to an embodiment of the present application includes a fluid reservoir configured to hold an amount of fluid, a plurality of output nozzles, each output nozzle configured to output a stream of fluid, a pump in fluid communication with at least one of the fluid reservoir and at least one output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles and configured to pump fluid from the water reservoir to the at least one output nozzle; and a controller configured to control flow of fluid to the plurality of output nozzles, the controller including a plurality of input devices, each input device controlling flow of fluid to a single output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles.
A water entertainment device in accordance with another embodiment of the present application includes a fluid reservoir configured to hold an amount of fluid, a plurality of output nozzles, each output nozzle configured to output a stream of fluid, a plurality of piston pumps, each piston pump of the plurality of piston pumps in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and at least one output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles and configured to pump fluid from the water reservoir to the at least one output nozzle and a plurality of input devices, each input device connected to a single piston pump of the plurality of piston pumps such that movement of the input device pumps fluid from the fluid reservoir to the at least one output nozzle.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a water entertainment device including an article of clothing in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 2 is another view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed view of a rotatable nozzle and fluid reservoir suitable for use in the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of an alternative controller for use in the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a rear view of a water entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 5A is an exemplary schematic illustration of a piston pump suitable for use in the device of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a rear view of a water entertainment device in accordance with another embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a water entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a water entertainment device in accordance with another embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a water entertainment device in accordance with another embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A water entertainment device 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present application preferably includes an article of clothing 10 with at least one fluid reservoir 11 (See FIGS. 2-3) that holds a quantity of a fluid such as water. The article of clothing 10 preferably includes at least one, and preferably several nozzles 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, for example, that are in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir such that the nozzles project fluid from the clothing 10. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a first nozzle pair 12 a is positioned with a nozzle on each shoulder. A second nozzle pair 12 b is mounted on the chest of the article of clothing. A single nozzle 12 c may be provided on the rear of the article of clothing 10 (See FIGS. 5 and 6, for example). The positioning of the nozzles 12 a, 12 b, 12 c in the figures herein is merely one possible arrangement and any other desired arrangement of the nozzles may be used as desired. The reservoir 11 may be attached to or incorporated into the article of clothing 10, as desired.
A pump 15 (See FIG. 2, for example) is preferably provided in or on the article of clothing 10 and is used to pump fluid from the fluid reservoir to the nozzles 12 a, 12 b, 12 c. The pump 15 may be an electrical pump or any other suitable pump. In an alternative embodiment, water may be provided from the fluid reservoir to the nozzles 12 a, 12 b, 12 c via air pressure, in which case, a separate air reservoir may be used. The pump 15 may be used to pressurize the air in such an air reservoir. Alternatively, air pressure may be increased in the fluid reservoir 11 to provide the desired pressure necessary to drive the fluid to and out from the nozzles 12 a, 12 b, 12 c. In a preferred embodiment, the reservoir 11 is in fluid communication with one or more nozzles 12 a, 12 b, 12 c via one or more outlet hoses 30, as is explained in further detail below. A battery pack 19, or other power module, may also be included in the article of clothing 10 (see FIG. 2, for example). The battery pack 19 may provide power to the pump 15, if it is an electric pump. In a preferred embodiment, each nozzle 12 a, 12 b, 12 c includes, or is connected to a valve 17 (See FIG. 3, for example) that can be opened and closed to control output from the nozzles. The valve 17 may be controlled via a switching mechanism, such as a solenoid, for example, or may be manually moved to the open and closed positions. The battery pack 19 may provide power to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism is not limited to a solenoid, and any other suitable switching device may be used.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one control device, or controller 16 is provided so that the user can control which nozzles 12 a, 12 b, 12 c are active to distribute fluid. The control device 16 preferably includes at least one input device 20 that allows the user to select which of the nozzles 12 a, 12 b, 12 c are active. In a preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, two control devices 16 are provided. Each control device 16 is preferably shaped to fit easily into a user's hand and is connected to the article of clothing 10 via a cable C. If desired, any other suitable connection, such as a wireless connection, for example, may be used. In FIG. 1, three input devices 20 are provided on each controller 16, however additional inputs may be added. In one embodiment, one input device 20 activates the first pair of nozzles 12 a, a second input device activates the second pair of nozzles 12 b and the third input device activates the rear nozzle 12 c. Alternatively, each of the input devices 20 may be used to control a single nozzle, rather than a pair. In a preferred embodiment multiple control devices 16 are provided, as can be seen in FIGS. 1-2, for example.
In one embodiment, the control device 16 may be removably attached to the article of clothing 10 such that it can be easily stored when not in use. For example, a hook and loop type connector 19 (See FIG. 2, for example) may be provided on the article of clothing 10 and the control device 16. Preferably, each control device 16 may be removably connected to the article of clothing 10 such that more than one connector may be used. This allows the control device 16 to be removably carried on the article of clothing, if desired. While a hook and loop type connector is described, any suitable connector may be used.
An inlet 18 is preferably provided to refill the fluid reservoir 11 and is positioned on the inner rear surface of the article of clothing 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2, for example. The input device 20 may simply be a button used to activate a solenoid, or solenoids to open the appropriate valve 17 to allow water from the reservoir to pass through the desired nozzle. Alternatively, the input device 20 itself may move the valve 17 as desired.
FIG. 3 illustrates a more detailed view of a nozzle 12 a. As illustrated, the nozzle 12 a is preferably rotatably mounted on a shoulder of the article of clothing 10 such that it can be rotated to direct water in any desired direction. Preferably, both of the nozzles 12 a are rotatably mounted. The nozzles 12 a may be rotated manually, if desired. Alternatively, a drive mechanism may be provided to rotate the nozzles 12 a. Nozzles 12 b and 12 c are similarly structured and function in a similar manner.
FIG. 3 further illustrates an exemplary connection between the reservoir 11 and the nozzle 12 a via an output hose 30. In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the valve 17 is provided in the reservoir 15 where the hose 30 meets the reservoir. The valve 17, however, may be positioned at any point along the hose 30 or at the end thereof. The valve 17 may also be positioned in the nozzle 12 a itself, if desired.
The article of clothing 10 is illustrated as a vest herein, however, it may be any desirable article of clothing. While there are five nozzles illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, any suitable number of nozzles may be used. In one embodiment, a single pump 15 may be used to supply fluid to all of the nozzles, however, one or more additional pumps may be used, if desired. Further, fasteners 22 are preferably provided on the front of the vest to secure it to the user.
FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the control device 16 including additional input devices 20. In this embodiment, each device 20 on each of the controllers may control one or more of the nozzles 12 a, 12 b, 12 c as desired. While five inputs 20 are illustrated in FIG. 4, fewer or additional input devices may be used. The input devices 20 in turn preferably control the valves 17 discussed above to provide water to each of the nozzles.
In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, for example, the controller 16 may be embodied as a more traditional style water gun with multiple triggers serving as the input devices 20. In this particular embodiment, each trigger 20 is used to pump water to one of the nozzles 12 a, 12 b, 12 c. That is, each trigger 20 serves as a manual pump element to an individual nozzle of the article of clothing 10. The pumps used in this embodiment are the traditional piston pumps used in conventional water guns where the trigger element 20 itself moves with the piston to provide the pumping function.
Each of the input devices 20 is preferably a part of a piston pump. An example of such a piston pump 50 is illustrated in FIG. 5A. Specifically, the input device 20, a trigger in FIG. 5A, is connected to the piston 52 of the pump 50. The pump 50 of FIG. 5A is illustrated in a traditional water gun, however, its operation is similar regardless of specific application. The trigger 20 moves back and forth with the piston 52 as it slides in the cylinder 54. A spring 56 biases the piston 52 outward in the direction of arrow A. An inlet hose 57 is connected to the pump body 51 and is in fluid communication with a reservoir 11 of water or other fluid. An outlet hose 59, similar to outlet hose 30 discussed above, is also in fluid communication with the pump body 51. In operation, as the piston 52 moves into the cylinder 54, the volume in the pump body 51 decreases to force fluid and air out of the pump body 51. The spring 56 moves the piston in the opposite direction such that the volume in the pump body increases to draw water and air into the body 51.
In order to ensure that water only enters the pump body 51 via the inlet hose 57 and only exits via the outlet hose 59, a one way valve 53 is positioned at the point where the inlet hose 57 connects with body 51. The valve 53 ensures that water can only move from the hose 57 into the body 51. A second one way valve 55 is provided where the outlet hose 59 connects to the body 51 to ensure that water only flows outward from the body into the hose. Thus, when the piston 52 moves into the cylinder 54, reducing the volume in the body 51, water is forced from the body into the hose 59 and out of water gun. The spring 56 returns the cylinder 52 to an outer position, increasing the volume in the body 51 and thus drawing water from the reservoir through the hose 57 into the body 51.
In FIG. 5, a separate trigger 20 and piston pump are preferably provided for each nozzle. That is, the outlet hose of each piston pump is connected to a single nozzle. Accordingly, a single trigger 20 and its associated piston pump controls flow out of a single nozzle. If desired, of course, the outlet hose of a single piston pump could be connected to multiple output nozzles such that one trigger controlled flow out of several different nozzles.
FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present application in which manual pumping is provided. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the controllers 16 preferably include manual pump elements 16 a that are used to build pressure in pressure chambers 16 b which in turn provides pressure to control water output from the nozzles 12 a, 12 b, 12 c. The controller 16 also includes at least one input device 20 shaped like a trigger to control water output from the nozzles 12 a, 12 b, 12 c. While a single trigger 20 is shown, additional triggers may be used. The triggers 20 preferably control valves that open and close to connect the pressurized chambers 16 b to the fluid reservoir 11. It is noted that the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 described above do not require the central pump 15 or the power module 19, but may use them if desired.
FIG. 7 illustrates a water entertainment device 100 in accordance with another embodiment of the present application. The device 100 is similar to a more traditional piston pump style water guns discussed above, where the user depresses a trigger 120 to generate pressure to expel water from a nozzle 112. The triggers 120 are preferably a part of piston pump assemblies 115 similar to piston pump 50 described above. In the device 100, two separate triggers 120 are provided to expel water from two separate nozzles 112. In this embodiment, a reservoir of fluid 111 is generally provided in the handle of the device 100 and is in fluid communication with the nozzles 112 via the inlet and outlet hoses of the pumps 115 and pump body, for example. The triggers 120 are depressed to pump water from the reservoir to the nozzles 112. The triggers 120 are part of piston pump mechanism 115 positioned between the reservoir and the nozzles 112. In an alternative embodiment, additional nozzles 112 may be provided along with additional triggers 120, and associated pump mechanisms 115, however, it is preferred that each nozzle is controller by a single trigger 120.
FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of water entertainment device 200. The device 200 is preferably shaped more like a gun. In the device 200, a plurality of triggers 220 serve as input devices to control a stream of water ejected from the nozzle area 212. In this particular embodiment, the nozzle area 212 includes three separate nozzles 212 a, 212 b, 212 c, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, each of the three triggers 220 controls one of the nozzles 212 a, 212 b, 212 c. As illustrated in FIG. 8, each nozzle 212 a, 212 b, 212 c preferably points in a somewhat different direction to provide three separate streams of water. A pump 215 is preferably provided to manually pressurize the reservoir 211. An inlet 218 is preferably provided on a top of the reservoir 211 to allow the reservoir to be filled with fluid. In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle area 212 may be rotated to change the orientation of the nozzles 212 a, 212 b, 212 c, if desired. In another embodiment, each of the triggers 220 may be used themselves as pump elements, similar to the triggers 120 discussed above. In this embodiment, the separate pump 215 is not necessary as each trigger 220 serves as a pump element of a piston pump mechanism similar to pump mechanism 115 discussed above.
FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the device 200 including additional triggers 220 and additional nozzles 212 d and 212 e. In a preferred embodiment, each nozzle 212 a, 212 b, 212 c, 212 d, 212 e is controlled by a single trigger 220 in a manner similar to that described above. As can be seen in FIG. 9A, using the embodiment of FIG. 9, a user can control a separate nozzle with each finger of their hand.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A water entertainment device comprising:

an article of clothing wearable by a user;

a fluid reservoir connected to the article of clothing and configured to hold an amount of fluid;

an output nozzle mounted on the article of clothing and configured to output a stream of fluid;

a pump in fluid communication with at least one of the water reservoir and the output nozzle and configured to pump fluid from the water reservoir to the output nozzle; and

a control device to control output of water from the output nozzle.

2. The water entertainment device of claim 1, wherein the pump is connected to the water reservoir and is configured to provide a desired pressure therein.

3. The water entertainment device of claim 2, further comprising:

an outlet hose in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the output nozzle to provide water from the fluid reservoir to the output nozzle; and

a valve configured to open and close to control the flow of fluid through the outlet hose and out of the output nozzle based the control device.

4. The water entertainment device of claim 3, wherein the control device further comprises an input device configured to control opening and closing of the valve.

5. The water entertainment device of claim 4, further comprising a solenoid connected to the valve and to the input device to open and close the valve based on an input from the input device.

6. The water entertainment device of claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of output nozzles, each output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles configured to output a stream of fluid; and

a plurality of output hoses, each output hose in fluid communication with the water reservoir and at least one output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles.

7. The water entertainment device of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of valves, each valve of the plurality of valves configured to open and close to control flow of fluid through at least one outlet hose of the plurality of outlet hoses and out of at least one output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles.

8. The water entertainment device of claim 7, wherein the control device includes a plurality of input devices, each input device configured to control opening and closing of at least one valve of the plurality of valves.

9. The water entertainment device of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of solenoids, each solenoid connected to one valve of the plurality of valve and one input device of the plurality of input devices and configured to open and close the one valve based on an input from the one input device.

10. The water entertainment device of claim 8, wherein each input device of the plurality of input devices controls opening and closing of a single valve to control flow of fluid through a single output hose and out of a single output nozzle.

11. The water entertainment device of claim 1, wherein the pump is a piston pump and is positioned between and is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the output nozzle and is further configured to pump fluid from the fluid reservoir to the output nozzle.

12. The water entertainment device of claim 11, wherein the control device includes an input device connected to the piston pump and movable with a piston of the piston pump to pump fluid from the fluid reservoir to the output nozzle.

13. The water entertainment device of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of pumps.

14. The water entertainment device of claim 13, wherein each pump of the plurality of pumps is a piston pump in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and at least one output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles; and

wherein the controller further comprises:

a plurality of input devices, where each input device of the plurality of input devices is connected to a single piston pump of the plurality of piston pumps and is movable with a piston of the single piston pump to pump the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the at least one output nozzle.

15. The water entertainment device of claim 1 further comprising a connector configured to removably attach the control device to the article of clothing.

16. A water entertainment device comprises:

a fluid reservoir configured to hold an amount of fluid;

a plurality of output nozzles, each output nozzle configured to output a stream of fluid;

a pump in fluid communication with at least one of the fluid reservoir and at least one output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles and configured to pump fluid from the water reservoir to the at least one output nozzle; and

a controller configured to control flow of fluid to the plurality of output nozzles, the controller including a plurality of input devices, each input device controlling flow of fluid to a single output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles.

17. A water entertainment device comprises:

a fluid reservoir configured to hold an amount of fluid;

a plurality of piston pumps, each piston pump of the plurality of piston pumps in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and at least one output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles and configured to pump fluid from the water reservoir to the at least one output nozzle; and

a plurality of input devices, each input device connected to a single piston pump of the plurality of piston pumps such that movement of the input device pumps fluid from the fluid reservoir to the at least one output nozzle.