US2619949A - Spring operated rapid-fire toy gun - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1952 c A ROCK SPRING OPERATED RAPID -FIRE TOY GUN 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1950 INVENTOR; Ware/me v9. 120 BY Dec. 2, 1952 c. A. ROCK SPRING OPERATED RAPID-FIRE TOY GUN 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1950 INVENTOR. C /aramre M7 220 OK Arman/5y Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,619,949 SPRING OPERATED RAPID-FIRE TOY GUN Clarence A. Rock, Costa Mesa, Calif. Application August 15, 1950, Serial No. 179,580

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a toy gun and more particularly to a toy rapid fire gun by which pellets may be projected in succession toward a target.

The primary object of the invention is to afford entertainment and amusement, and to simulate the action of a conventional rapid fire or machine gun.

Another object is to facilitate the rapid loading of the magazine of the gun and to assure the forceable propulsion of pellets through the barrel of the gun.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features an elongated barrel, means for feeding ammunition in the form of pellets or spheres in succession into one end of the barrel, spring arms mounted for rotation adjacent the end of the barrel in which the pellets are received, said spring arms entering the barrel in succession for forceably propelling the pellets through the barrel, and means in the path of movement of the spring arms for causing them to flex prior to their entrance into the barrel whereby the pellets will be forceably struck by the arms and thereby be propelled through the barrel.

Other features include means for rotating the spring arms about a common axis to cause them to enter the barrel, trigger released, means adjacent the barrel and lying in the path of the spring arms for controlling the rotation of the spring arms, and causing them to flex prior to their entry into the barrel.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a toy gun embodying the features of this invention, certain portions being broken away more clearly to illustrate certain details of construction,

Figure 2 is a side .view of the toy gun illustrated in Figure 1 having certain portions broken away to more clearly illustrate certain details of construction,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 6- 5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail a gun designated generally I0 is provided with a housing I2 which carries adjacent one end a hand grip I4 and mounted on the housing I2 adjacent the end thereof remote from the hand grip I4 is an elongated tubular barrel I6. This barrel is provided adjacent the end thereof nearest the housing I2 with an elongated longitudinal slot I8 which opens outwardly through the adjacent end of the barrel as will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings.

Supported on the housing I2 adjacent the slotted end of the barrel I 6, is an annular tubular magazine which comprises an annular tubular member 22 which opens adjacent one end laterally as at 24 into the slotted end of the barrel I6. This tubular body 22 is provided adjacent the end thereof remote from the end which opens into the barrel It with an elongated opening 26 through which pellets, in the form of spheres 28 are introduced into the magazines 2B. These pellets or spheres 28 constitute the ammunition for the gun as will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings. Formed in the annular tubular body 22 and opening through the inside thereof is an elongated slot 30 for the reception of the end 32 of a spring arm 34 which projects radially from a coil spring 35 which extends through an opening 38 in the housing I2 and is anchored to said housing by means of an extension arm 48. The spring 36 is tensioned to cause the arm 34 to move the end 32 thereof within the tubular housing 22 about the axis of the spring 36 toward the end of the housing 32 which communicates with the barrel IE, or counterclockwise as illustrated. It will thus be seen that pellets 28 contained within the magazine 20 will be urged by the end 32 of the arm 34 to move through the magazine 20 toward the discharge opening 24 thereof and hence into the barrel I 6.

Mounted for rotation within the housing I 2 below the slotted end I8 of the barrel I6 is a shaft 42 upon which a drum 44 is mounted to rotate within the housing. A volute spring or clock spring 46 is contained Within said drum and is anchored at one end to the shaft 42 while its opposite end is anchored to the drum 44 so that when the shaft is rotated and the drum 4c is held stationary, the spring 456 will become loaded so as to exert turning effort against the drum M. A suitable ratchet wheel 48 is secured to the shaft 42 adjacent one side of the housing I2 and is engaged by a pawl 58 which is secured to the housing I2 in any suitable manner so as to prevent the shaft 32 from turning under the influence of the spring 48. As illustrated in Figure 4 the shaft 42 projects through one side of the housing and is provided with a, crossed handle 52 by means of which the shaft 42 may be rotated to wind the spring 55. Fixed to the drum 44 in any suitable manner is a spur gear 54 carrying a hub 56 to which radially extending spring striker arms 58 are secured in any suitable manner. These arms are adapted to move with the hub 56 and gear 5a in a circular path which passes through the slot [8 in the barrel It so that the ends of the spring arms 58 remote from the hub 56 will engage the pellets 28 to successively project them through the barrel i In order to hold the drum id and hub 55 against rotation under the influence of the spring 46 after it has been wound I provide a brake mechanism designated generally (if! which comprises a pinion 52 which is mounted for rotation on a stub shaft 64 which is carried by the housing l2 and lies along an axis parallel with the axis of the shaft 52. The pinion 62 ha meshing engagement with the gear 54 so that when the drum i l and hub as are rotated under the influence cf the spring 55, the pinion t2 will be driven. Carried by the pinion t2 and extending laterally therefrom is a V-shaped brake drum 5% which lies in the path of 53 so that as the arms 53 are rotated under the influence of the spring it, they will be flexed so as to cause them to enter the slot 18 in the barrel it with great rapidity and strike the pellet in said barrel with considerable force so as to propel it through the barrel. Carried by the brake drum 6t and extending laterally therefrom on the side thereof remote from the pinion $2 is a pin 68 upon which is pivotally supported an arm it which carries at its end remote from the pin 68 a brake shoe l2. This brake shoe moves within and engages the inner surface of a brake drum it carried by the housing l2, so as to frictionally engage the drum Ti l as the pinion 62 is rotated to serve as a governor by which the speed of rotation of the pinion and hence the speed of rotation of the gear 54 is retarded.

Carried by suitable brackets '15 supported by the housing i2 is a fulcrum pin is which lies along an axis parallel with the axis of the shaft 6t, and coiled about said pin '18 is a spring 89. spring 3% is provided at one end with a leg 82 which extends laterally therefrom and bears against the top of the housing 52 while the pposite end of the spring is provided with a leg 34 which extends laterally therefrom and terminates at its end remote from the spring in a brake shoe 8% which lies in the \/shaped brake drum 66 as illustrated in Figures 3, 5 and 6 to hold said drum against rotation under the influence of the spring it. Formed on the end of the brake shoe 85 remote from the arm 3 is a curved extension which forms a trigger as which extends through a slot 5%] formed in the housing I2 and lies near the handle or grip M to be engaged by the fingers of a hand holding the grip is so as to release the brake shoe 8-6 from engagement with the brake drum as and permit the pinion E32, gear 8 3 and hub 55 to rotate under the influence of the spring thereby causing the spring arms 53 to move in an arcuate path.

In order to facilitate the introduction of pellets 28 into the magazine 2 through the opening 26, the slot 3% adjacent the end of the magazine near the opening 26 is provided with an offset'porticn 92 (see Figure 4) in which the end 32 of the spring arm 3 5 is received and retained while the pellets 23 are being passed through the opening 26.

In use it will be understood that upon turning movement of the arms The the crossed handle 52 in a clockwise direction, the shaft 42 will be rotated within the drum 44 to wind and energize the spring 46. During the winding operation the brake shoe 8% remains in contact with the brake drum 66 so as to prevent rotation of the pinion 62 and gear 5 3. With the end 32 of the spring arm 34 hooked in the notch 92 of the slot 30, pellets 28 may be introduced into the magazine 20 through the opening 26. When a, sufficient number of pellets 28 have been introduced into the magazine 20, the end 32 of the spring arm 34 is disengaged from the notch 92 and it will move under the influence of the spring 36 through the slot iii! to urge the pellets 28 toward the opening 24 in the tubular body 22, thus moving a pellet 23 into the barrel it where it may be engaged by a spring arm 58 passing through the slot 18. Upon gripping the pistol grip I4 and exerting pull on the trigger 88, the brake shoe 86 will be moved against the effort of the spring 3!) to disengage the brake 8G and thus permit the spring it to rotate the drum id, gear 54 and gear 52. With the rotation of the gear :l, the hub 59 will move the striker arms 58 in a circular path which, as previously stated, is intercepted by the brake drum {it so that as the arms 53 successively contact the brake drum, they will be flexed so as to cause them to move with great velocity through the slot i8 and strike the pellets fed thereinto in succession and cause them to be propelled through the barrel [6, thus simulating the firing of a rapid fire or machine gun. Upon releasing pressure on the trigger 88, it will be evident that the spring 8G will return the brake shoe 6% into engagement with the brake drum es and hence arrest rotation of the pinion '62 so as to arrest the motion of the drum id and arms 58. Obviously during the rotation of the pinion 62 and brake drum h s under the influence of the spring the shoe i2 will be forced through centrifugal action against the inner surface of the drum it so as to provide a governor which will retard the speed of operation of the device.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred form of this inven tion, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a toy gun an elongated tubular barrel, an annular tubular magazine opening into the barrel at one end thereof, means in said magazine for engaging projectiles contained therein and introducing them in succession into the barrel, a group of radial spring striker arms mounted to rotate about a common axis and to successively enter the barrel behind projectiles introduced thereinto for striking said projectiles and propelling them through the barrel, means for rotating said spring arms, a friction clutch trigger release means for holding said spring arm rotating means against rotation, said trigger release means being located in the path of rotation of said spring arms for engagement by and for retarding said arms to flex the arms prior to their entry into the barrel whereby a projectile entering said barrel will be forcibly struck by a spring arm, and said trigger release means including a rotatable part engaged by the arm and turnable to facilitate passage of the arm. I

2. In a toy gun of the type having an elongated tubular barrel, means adjacent one end of said barrel for entering said barrel and forcibly propelling a projectile therethrough, means for introducing projectiles in succession into said barrel in advance of said propelling means comprising, an annular tubular magazine opening at one end into the barrel adjacent the propelling means, said magazine having a pellet receiving opening extending therethrough adjacent the end thereof remote from the end which opens into the barrel, said magazine having a slot in the inner side thereof extending from the end thereof adjacent the barrel to the opposite end thereof, a coil spring mounted at the annular axis of said magazine, and an arm extending from an end of the spring through said slot for rotation around said axis to engage projectiles contained in said magazine and propel them toward the barrel.

3. In a toy gun of the type having an elongated tubular barrel, means adjacent one end of said barrel for entering said barrel and forcibly propelling a projectile therethrough, means for introducing projectiles in succession into said barrel in advance of said propelling means comprising, an annular tubular magazine opening at one end into the barrel adjacent the propelling means, said magazine having a projectile receiving opening extending therethrough adjacent the end thereof remote from the end which opens into the barrel, said magazine having a slot in the inner side thereof extending from the end thereof adjacent the barrel to the opposite end thereof, a coil spring mounted at the annular axis of said magazine, an arm extending from an end of the spring through said slot for rotation around said axis to engage projectiles contained in said magazine and propel them toward the barrel, and means carried by said magazine adjacent the end thereof having the projectile receiving opening for engaging said spring and holding it out of engagement with projectiles entered into the magazine.

4. In a toy gun an elongated tubular barrel having a longitudinal slot entering one end thereof, means for feeding projectiles into said barrel through the slotted end thereof, a rotary spring loaded drum carried by the barrel adjacent to its slotted end, spring arms carried by and radial to the axis of the drum for entering the barrel through the slot and engaging the projectiles as they are introduced into the barrel, a trigger released friction brake mounted adjacent the drum and having operative connection with said drum for arresting rotation thereof, and said brake being located in the path of movement of said spring arms to be engaged by the arms to retard and flex the same prior to their entrance into the barrel whereby they will forcibly strike the projectiles and propel them through the barrel.

5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein said friction brake comprises a drum supported for rotation on an axis parallel to the spring loaded drum axis, said operative connection comprising meshed gears carried by the two drums, the brake further including a spring pressed element having frictional engagement with the second mentioned drum, which element is shifted from the engaged drum upon the pressing of the trigger.

6. A toy gun for discharging spherical projectiles, comprising an elongated, tubular barrel, a housing supporting the same, a horizontally disposed tubular magazine annulus having an end leading into the breech end of the barrel, the annulus having a second end and a projectile admission opening therein, a rotary spring loaded drum mounted in the housing beneath the barrel to turn on an axis disposed perpendicular to the barrel, the breech end of the barrel having a longitudinal slot opening downwardly into the housing, a plurality of spring striker arms connected with the drum to turn therewith and extending radially of the drum axis in position to have their outer ends enter said barrel slot, means for feeding the projectiles from the magazine into the barrel to be struck by an arm entering the slot, a second drum rotatably supported in the housing to turn on an axis paralleling the first drum axis, a driving coupling between the drums, the second drum being in the path of movement of the arms for effecting the retarding and flexing of the arms whereby the same will, when released from the second drum, enter the barrel slot with force, a spring pressed member frictionally engaging the second drum to hold the drums against rotation by the spring, and a trigger connected with said spring pressed member for disengaging. it from the second drum.

7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the second drum has an end disposed adjacent to a wall of the housing, a brake drum secured to the said wall of the housing concentric with the end of the second drum, and a friction shoe carried by the said end of the second drum and disposed within the brake drum, the friction shoe having free swinging movement whereby it may be projected radially outwardly with respect to the adjacent drum for frictional contact with the brake drum.

8. In a toy gun, an elongated tubular barrel, a projectile magazine opening into the barrel at one end thereof, means in the magazine for engaging projectiles therein and introducing projectiles in succession into the barrel, a plurality of spring arms mounted for rotation about and radiating from a common axis adjacent to the junction of the barrel and the magazine, said spring arms when rotated about said axis entering successively into the barrel behind projectiles introduced thereinto, means for rotating said arms about said axis, a rotatable trigger released member operatively connected to and rotatably driven by said arm rotating means, said trigger released member lying in the path of rotation of said arms for engagement successively by the free ends of the arms to momentarily check the movement of the arms and cause the arms to flex prior to their entrance into the barrel, whereby said ends of the arms will forcibly strike projectiles entering the barrel and propel the projectiles through the barrel, said rotatable member being rotatably driven by said arm rotating means in a direction to assist the arms in their turning movement as they engage the member.

CLARENCE A. BOOK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,834,395 Gavlak Dec. 1, 1931 1,860,611 De Minno et al May 31, 1932 1,867,513 Lahti July 12, 1932 2,295,225. Lohr et a1. Sept. 8, 1942

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