US2277964A - Marble shooter - Google Patents

Description

I March 31, 1942. R. EC KENBOY 5 MARBLE SHOOTER Filed Sept. 16, 1958- Pussn L Ec/mvao r INVENTOR A ORNEY.

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,277,964 MARBLE snoorsa Russell Eckenboy, Hammond, Ind.

Application September 16, 1938, Serial No. 230,220

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved marble shooter and has for one of its principal objects, the provision of means for economically producing a rugged and efiicient device of the kind referred to.

Another and still further important object of advantage is the provision of means for retaining a marble in the loaded position regardless of the angle at which the device is positioned.

A still further object of advantage and importance resides in the provision of means for accommodating marbles of various sizes.

Still another object of importance and advantage resides in the provision of means for holding and shooting a marble of substantially any diameter along a portion of the longitudinal center line of the device.

An additional object of importance is the provision of means formaintaining a marble at a pre-determined location within the device.

Still another object of advantage and importance resides in the provision of means for manually releasing the spring actuated plunger for ejecting a marble or other object from the improved marble shooter and along a surface upon which the shooter is positioned.

Additional objects of importance and advantage will become apparent as the following detailed description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a marble shooter which embodies the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the structure.

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the base plate.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the upper portion of the improved marble shooter.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal section of the device taken on line l'l of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral l0 indicates generally the improved marble shooter of this invention.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is constructed of a relatively fiat rectangular base I2 and a substantially channelshaped upper portion [4.

The edges along each side of the base I2 are preferably turned upon themselves as is indicated by the reference numeral 16 and as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Formed closely adjacent each edge of the base I2 is a plurality of tongue receiving slots I8. The slots 18 may vary in size, shape and location so long as they are suitable for attaching the channel-shaped portion of the device to the base. However, in the preferred embodiment of the improved marble shooter of this invention the slots it are formed parallel to the edges of the base l2.

Projecting upwardly on the longitudinal center line of the base, intermediate the center and the front end thereof, is a lug 20. The lug 20, in conjunction with a similar lug 22 projecting downwardly from the upper portion of the structure, provides a stop to prevent marbles from traveling backwardly with the plunger.

Formed in the base, intermediate the lug 20 and the front end thereof are two upwardly projecting flanges 2|, one on each side of the longitudinal center line of the base, which provide a trough for maintaining a marble in the center of the base and also serve to direct the course of the marble upon its ejection from the device. The upwardly projecting flanges 2| are preferably formed of portions of the base l2.

Formed in each side of the channel-shaped top portion M, is a slot 24. The slot 24 in addition to providing a guide for the plunger also limits the extent of its travel. The front end of the slots 24 function as a stop for arresting the forward movement of the plunger.

Formed of the edges of the channel-shaped member I4 are a plurality of tongues 26, which are spaced to co-act with the tongue receiving slots l8 in securing the channel-shaped member M to the base l2.

The channel-shaped member I4 is preferably formed with rounded ends and the top portion of the rear end of the channel is curled upon the rounded end of the sides and is preferably secured to the base by means of an additional tongue 28. This additional securing means gives rigidity to the construction.

Formed in the downwardly turned rear end of the channel member I4 is a centrally located aperture 30.

Projecting through the aperture 30 and extending for a considerable distance forwardly and rearwardly thereof is a rod 32. The rear end of the rod 32 is provided with a handle 34 which may be of any desired construction.

Rigidly secured to the forward end of the rod 32 is a plunger 36. The plunger 36 is preferably, wholly or in part, constructed of a material which will not break or injure marbles upon coming in forceful impact therewith.

Projecting outwardly from each end of the plunger 36 is a stud 38. The studs 38 are slidably positioned in the slots 24. The cooperation of the studs 38 and the slots 24 provide a guide for the plunger 36 from one end of its travel to the other.

Positioned on the rod 32 between the inner surface of the downwardly turned end and the plunger 36 is a helical spring 40. The spring when expanded maintains the studs 38 against the forward end of the slots 24.

Pivotally secured to one side of the channelshaped member closely adjacent the rear end of a slot 24, is a trigger lever 42. The forward end of the trigger lever 42 is provided with a hook portion 44 and a downwardly and forwardly projecting finger 46. The finger 46 provides a means for forcing the hook 44' downwardly over one of the studs 38 when the plunger is pulled rearwardly to the cooking position. The plunger assembly is released by pressing the rear end of the trigger lever 42 downwardly.

Positioned closely adjacent the front of the channel member I4 is a retaining spring 48. In the preferred embodiment of the improved device of this invention, the retaining spring is formed of two downwardly and slightly inwardly projecting spring wires. The ends of the wire are adapted to open outwardly to allow a marble to pass to the rear thereof. When the marble is ejected from the device, the wires forming the retaining spring 48 are adapted to spread outwardly and also to move forwardly. It will be apparent that other suitable retaining springs may be employed in the device.

The operation of the improved marble shooter of this invention is extremely simple. A marble is placed in the forward end of the device after the plunger is moved to the rear. This movement allows the marble to pass to the rear of the retaining spring 48 and come in contact with the lugs 2E3. The device is then laid upon or aimed at the target. The operator may then depress the trigger lever 42 to eject the marble at will.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that herein is provided a rugged and eificient device which may be economically constructed and marketed.

Moreover, because of its simplicity of operation and its adaptability to various size marbles or pellets, its use will be universal.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art wall of said body.

to which the device appertains, that numerous changes and alterations in construction and design may be made all without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. Accordingly, it is understood that the patent granted hereon is not to be limited to the preferred embodiment here disclosed nor in any other manner except by the terminology of the appended claims when given the range of equivalents to which they may be entitled.

I claim as my invention:

1. A marble shooter comprising a hollow member having a relatively flat bottom, a pair of angular missile guides in spaced parallel relation rigidly secured to the upper surface of said fiat bottom guide slots on opposed sides of said member, a spring actuated plunger operably positioned within said member, manual means for compressing the spring of said spring actuated plunger, and trigger means at the side of said member for releasing said spring.

2. A marble shooter comprising a barrel member, the bottom of said barrel member being relatively flat from front to rear, guide slots on opposed sides of said member, a pair of angular missile guides formed of upwardly turned portions of the bottom of said barrel members, said guides being located one on each side and paralleling a portion of the longitudinal center of said part, a spring actuated plunger operably positioned within said member, portions of said plunger projecting through said slots, manual means for compressing the spring of said spring actuated plunger, and trigger means for releasing said spring.

3. A marble shooter comprising a body adapted to be positioned upon a fiat surface, means within said body for forcibly ejecting a marble therefrom and along said flat surface, and guide means withinthe body for directing the lateral course of a marble as it is expelled from said body, said guide means comprising an angular disposed flange on each side of a portion of the longitudinal center line of the bottom of the body, each angular disposed flange being located substantially midway between said center line and a side RUSSELL ECKENBOY.

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