US2313803A - Crossbow gun - Google Patents

Description

Patented Mar. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE of three-.tenths to G. E. `Erickson and threetenths to Emil `Berglund,` both of Minneapolis,

Minn.

Application-April 30, 1941,'Seria1 No. 391,027

7 Olaims.

This invention relates to a toy gun.

Itis one of the objects of the invention to provide a novel and improvedtoy gun of cheapand simple 'construction which is so constructed that it may shoot 4a soit ball such as a ball Vmade from sponge rubber and which ball as `projectedn'orn the gun may `strike such delicate objects as glass, bric-a-brac, etc., without damaging the same.

Another object is to provide in a toy gun a barrel and a ball projecting plunger working therein so constructed that the plunger may iforce a soit rubber ball, such as "a sponge rubber ball, through the barrel without causing such lateral expansion oi the ball as willprevent itirom ireely working through the barrel.

r A further object is to provide a. novel and-improved toy cross bow gun, the'parts of which can be readily knocked down for shipment in small compass and the parts of which can be very easily assembled by the consignee.

Stillanother object is to provide a cross bow gun having a novel and improved mechanism of cheap and simple construction for retaining and releasing the bow string of the cross bow.

The objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection` with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters refer to theV same or similar parts throughout the various' views and in which- Fig. 1 is a plan viewof a cross bow gun embodying the invention, certain of the parts being shown in the position they ywill assume after the gun hasbeen ilred in full lines and certain oi the parts being shown in position ready :for firing of the gun in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is avertie-al section taken on the imei-2 of Fig.` 1 as indicated by the arrows;

. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevationof thegun with certain of theparts broken Vaway and shown in section to more clearly-illustrate the construction thereof;

Fig. 4 is a verticalsection taken on the line -4-4 of Fig. 3; and l Fig. 5 `illustrates a soft ball that may be used with the gun, part of the ball being broken away and shown in section.

In accordance with the invention a cross bow gun is provided having a cylindrical barrel fr open at its forward end, the rearportion of the barrel joining a stock 'l having` a shape corresponding to the stock of an ordinary gun. Inv the illustrated embodiment the barrel and stock Si and l are shown as being formed of metall `from two parts, i. e., right and left handsections and the two parts are equipped with upper and lower pro je'cting anges 3 which are secured together as by spotwelding. At the forward nd of the barrel 6, two circular flanges 8 are'provided which conjointly form a bow holding groove Ii! which is interrupted only by the anges 3 which extend across the groove. From `points adjacent the forward end 'oi the Ibarrel 5 to points adjacent the rear part of the barrel opposed longitudinal slots I I are cut in the sides of the barrel for the purpose of receiving a bow string. Apertures I2 are cut inthe sides of the barrel E to join the rear ends of `theslots `I`I` and conjointly Vforni therewith bow `string retaining shoulders i5 which are set preferably normal to the general direction of extension of Ythe longitudinal slots I I.

`A fork-like camming trigger I4 is provided and this trigger 'has a finger piece which extends downwardly Vbelow the ybarrel 5 adjacent the rear ends of the slots I l and the trigger has upwardly extending arms carrying pivot pins i5 which are received within -pin openings formed in the bar rel 6. Above the pivots i5 the arms curve upwardiy and rearwardly to form cams Illa for releasing `the vbow string when it is engaged and held `by theshoulders I3. f

Loosely working within the barrel tof the gun is a 'ball projector or plunger Iii of cylindrical shape. Used with the gun is a soit ball Il preferably made of a highly resiiient material such as sponge rubber. This ball Il is of such size as to freely nt within the barrel of the gun. To

take the ball I'l andprevent lateral expansion of the soit material forming the ball as the ball is moved violently forwardly in the barrel by the plunger` I6, the plunger IE at its forward end. as best shown in Fig. 3, is provided with a ball- Y receiving concave recess Ilia curved to conform to` a portion of the spherical surface of the ball Il. The plunger It is also provided `with a transverse bow string receiving opening or slot lh which is of considerably greater length fore and aft of the plunger than the diameter of the bow string which is adapted to be received through the said aperture.

The bow for the gun is preferably lformed by two spring wires I3 which extend side by side throughout most of their lengths. These wires i or bow members I8 have eyes IBo at `their outer ends and they are secured together near their outer ends in side by side reiation by small encirclingrbands I9. At theirjintermediate portions the two bow members Il'are concavely bent away from each other to form semi-circular barrel embracing portions I8b which are adapted to be releasably tted in to the groove l at the forward end Vof the barrel. To prevent turning movement of the bow members relative to the barrel each embracing portion Ib at its central part is equipped with an outwardly deformed part v itc to take the portions of the ribs which extend across the groove iii. Adjacent the embracing portionsib the two wires or cross bow members i3 are encircled by sliding rings 20 which are used for tightly drawing the embracing portions i819 into the groove it after the rings have been slid over` oppositely projecting deformations i3d formed on the wires i8 in closely spaced outward relation from the embracing portions v i8b. A bow string 2l which may consist preferably of a wire cable or heavy cord is fastened at its two ends to the eyes d8a of the bow members i8 to extend across between such ends and distort the bow members into the well known bow shape under some spring tension.

The bow gun will preferably be shipped in knocked down condition with the bow. members i8 detached from the barrel 5 of the gun and with the bow string 2i disconnected from therbow members and preferably with the bow members extending longitudinally of the barrel 6 of the gun. When thus assembled the parts of the gun can be boxed in small compass and inexpensively shipped to destination. In assembling the gun the two rings 2i? will be slid toward the outer ends of the bow members whereupon the embracing portions ISD of the bow members will be slipped over the end of the barrel S'of the gun to fit between the two flanges El within the groove Iii. lThe two rings 2S will then be slid inwardly over the deformedporti-ons 18d to tightly secure the bow in place on the barrel whereupon the portions ic will prevent turning or twisting movement of the bow relative to the barrel 6, The bow string 2i is then passed through the bow string slots li and the bow string aperture lb of the plunger iii andthe ends -of the bow string are secured to the eyes Ita of the bow members. The gun is now assembled and ready for use.

In using the gun one of the soft balls i? is placed within the barrel 6 of the gun through the open forward end of the same. The bow string 2l is'then grasped and pulled rearwardly to the rear ends of the slots Ii into the apertures l2 and pressed downwardly slightly to cause the bow string to engage the shoulders I3. Of coursey as the bow string is pulled back the plunger l moves to the rear of the barrel and as the gun will be held with its muzzle end elevated as it is cocked, the ball il' will follow the plunger Iii to the rear part of theV barrel of the gun. To shoot the gun the stock 'E is carried to the shoul- Vder and the finger portion of the trigger ifi is pressed rearwardly. The cams isa of the trigger as this occurs lift the central portion of the bow string 2! above the shoulders i3 into alignment with the longitudinal slots Il. The resiliency of the bow violently causes the bow string 2i to be moved forwardly through the barrel 6, and of course, the plunger i6, moves with the bow string and projects the ball il violently forwardly through the barrel to protect it therefrom in the aimed direction. After the string 2i reaches about the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the Ydrawings the4 plunger iii can carry forwardly siderably greater width fore and aft the plunger than the diameter of the string 2| there is little danger of the cutting of the bow string by the portions of the sides of the barrel 6 which close the forward ends of the slots I I.

By reason of the fact that a large part of the surface of the ball Il' is contacted by the plunger I6 during forward movement of the ball and plunger, the ball although of soft material does `not distort or spread laterally in the barrel as it is projected forwardly whereby the ball will move freely through the barrel. If the plunger 'i6 were not provided with the recess la the ball being made of soft material would expand laterally so as to. frictionally engage the side walls of the barrel to such an extent as to choke the movement of the ball and plunger.

As the ball is made of soft material such as sponge rubber the gun may be'aimed directly at y light glass or other frangible objects and yet Vas the ball strikes such an object breakage will not occur. Accordingly the gun makes an ideal toy for use by children in the house or the like. Of course, the gun may also be used for shooting hard balls su-ch as stones or the like if desired and it will carry a long distance in true flight.

It will be seen that an inexpensive and eicient toy gun has been provided which will carry out the objects set forth.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departure from the scope of the present invention which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in th appended claims. Y

What is claimed is:

l. A toy gun comprising a barrel having a forward open end and a rear portion, a plunger working within said barrel, a cross bow mounted at the forward end of said barrel, a bow string running between the two ends of said bow, said barrel having facing longitudinal slots therein through which said bow string Vextends and said plunger having a cross slot of considerably greater width fore and aft the plunger than the diameter of said bow string and through which cross slot said bow string also extends.

` 2. A cross bow gun comprising a barrel having a forward open end and a'rear portion, a plunger working within said barrel and having a forward end with a concave recess therein to take and carry a ball, a bow mounted at the forward end of said barrel, a bow string extending between and connecting the ends of said bow, said barrel having opposite longitudinal slots therein through Y which said bow string extends, said plunger havsomewhat beyond this position to expel the ball from the recess ita in the plunger whereupon the plunger is resiliently stopped in its forwardV travel by the bow string 2i itself. As the bow ving a cross slot therein of considerably greater width fore and aft the plunger than vthe diameter of said bow string and said bow string extending through said cross slot.

3. A cross bow gun comprising a barrel, a plunger working within said barrel, a pair of bow spring members, said bow spring members having central oppositely concaved embracing portions for releasable engagement with the forward part of the barrel, means for releasably vclamping said bow spring members together to tightly engage the barrel, a bow string secured to vand extending between the ends of. said bow spring members,Y said barrel 'having longitudinal slots Vtherein through which said bow string ex-l tendsv and said plunger having a cross opening preventing turning movement of said bow spring members relative to said barrel.

5. A cross bow gun comprising a barrel, a pair of cross bow members assembled along side of each other so that similar ends of said members project outwardly from the sides of said barrel, said cross bow members having central oppositely concaved portions embracing the forward part of the barrel, a pair of slip ring members encircling the two cross bow members at the two sides of said barrel, said cross bow members being slightly oppositely distorted outwardly from the normal positions of said ring members to releasably retain said ring members in position after being slid inwardly over the distorted portions and a bow string connected to and extending between the ends of said cross bow members.

6. A cross bow gun comprising a substantially cylindrical barrel having an open forward end and a rear portion, a pair of cross bow members assembled along side of each other so that similar ends of said members project outwardly from the sides of said barrel, said cross bow members having central oppositely concaved embracing portions for releasable engagement with the forward part of the barrel, means for releasably clamping said bow spring members together to tightly engage the barrel, a bow string secured to and extending between the ends of said bow string members, said barrel having longitudinal slots therein through which said bow string extends, a plunger working within said barrel, said plunger having a cross opening through which said bow string extends, said barrel having openings in its side at its rear `portion communicating with the rear ends of vsaid slots and cooperating with said slots to form bow string retaining shoulders at the rear nds of said slots and trigger means for releasing said bow string from said shoulders.

7. A cross bow gun comprising a barrel having a forward open end anda rear portion and having a circular externalv groove at its forward portion, a plunger working within saidbarrel, a bow having a central curved portion releasably received within said circular groove to connect the bow with said barrel, with portions of the bow projecting at either` side of the barrel, the sides of said barrel having longitudinal slots thereinand said plunger havinga cross opening therein, a bow string connecting the two ends of said bow and passing through said slots and cross opening, and means"for holding and releasing said plunger at the rear end of said barrel.

JAMES E. CARLSON.

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