US2640297A

US2640297A - Explosive fountain pen

Info

Publication number: US2640297A
Application number: US317901A
Authority: US
Inventors: Soren S Adams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-10-31
Filing date: 1952-10-31
Publication date: 1953-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 1970-06-02

Description

June 2, 1953 s. s. ADAMS EXPLOSIVE FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Oct. 31, 1952 1. 7 YEnt'sr' 5orezz 5, Adams Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a trick, or novelty, fountain pen. More particularly, the invention relates to an explosive fountain pen of the type which is designed to permit safe use while at the same time providing an explosion calculated to afford amusement to onlookers and extreme surprise to the user.

Exploding toys of various types have long been known in the art of trick novelty amusement de vices. One of the chief disadvantages, however, of the explosive type of novelty is the necessity that an explosive charge, usually of the common paper percussion cap variety is required to produce a satisfactory explosive characteristic. The presence of this explosive material, while it is not of very large proportions, neverthless causes concern among those using the device as well as those upon whom the trick is played.

It, therefore is an object of the present invention to provide an explosive fountain pen in which the danger of inadvertent explosion of the percussion cap during loading of the device is minimized.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel cap retaining structure which completely eliminates the possibility of misfire due to a dislodging of the cap during carrying or other handling of the novelty fountain pen.

Still a further object is the provision of a percussion mechanism which explodes the percussion cap at a point which is guarded from the user of the fountain pen so that the danger of injury by the explosion is eliminated.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and simplified loading construction wherein a minimum amount of manual dexterity is required to cock and load the detonating apparatus.

I Still a further feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel and effective percussion cap retaining mechanism which securely holds the cap and yet requires no sharp edges or other fastening means.

Still a further feature of the present invention is the provision of a simple and yet an extremely rigid detonating device for use in novelty articles of the type in which a loud report is desired.

Still other and further objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the accompanying drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment by way of illustration only.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a showing of the fountain pen novelty as it looks in its loaded position ready for use;

Figure 2 is a disclosure of the fountain pen with the cap in place and showing the detonating mechanism in the detonated or uncooked position;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the detonating mechanism as shown in Figure 2 but removed from the pen barrel;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the novelty pen showing the position of the parts in the cocked position immediately prior to placing the cap in the cap chamber and showing the hammer in cocked position; I

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of Figure 3 and clearly showing the cap retaining ears utilized in the present construction. I

As shown on the drawings:

The outer casing of the novelty fountain pen is constructed to exactly resemble the common fountain or ball-point pen now on the market and comprises a barrel I upon which a cap 2 having a pocket clip 3 is position-ed. A s'lightly tapered surface 4 is provided at the cap end of the barrel l so that a frictional fit is provided for maintaining the cap in its position on the barrel when the pen is to be carried about in its uncocked position.

A detonating mechanism generally indicated at 5 is positioned in the'barrel inside the cap 2 and is exposed to view upon removal of the cap from the barrel. g

As may be seen from Figure 3, the detonatingmechanism 5 is provided with a split ferrule 6 having ears to which resiliently and springingly engage the inner walls of the barrel I to retain the detonating mechanism 5 tightly positioned therein. The detonating mechanism 5 has an intermediate portion 1 which is as clearly shown in the cross-sectional view in Fig. 5, of arcuate form. This intermediate portion forms a pocket for the retention of a percussion cap and as may be seen from the elevational views inFigs. 2 and 4, a depression 8 is formed in the bottom of this intermediate portion causing a hollow pocket or anvil to be formed in the bottom surface of the intermediate portion 1. As may be seen, this depression is defined by the bulge indicated at 8 and is formed by displacing the sheet metal slightly outwardly during the stamping process.

At the upper edge of the intermediate portion ears 9 are deflected inwardly. These ears 9 provide abutments for containing the outer edges of the paper cap I0 as is shown in Figure 5. It is noted in connection with the ears 9 that while they have proved extremely desirable in eliminating all possibility of the cap becoming dislodged from its position in the pocket 8, the ears are not absolutely essential in producing an operative structure since the outward deformation of the pocket 8 tends to prevent the cap from shifting axially of the pen in either direction and the curvature of the intermediate portion 1 is by itself sufficient in many instances to retain the cap in the pocket.

A hammer i2 is pivoted atthe pivot'point 13 to the detonator body. The pin [3 is surrounded by a helical spring I 4 having arms 65 and 86 which coact with the hammer l2 and the end portion I l of the detonator body. Zihis spring M biases th hammer into the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 with a substantiai'force. The hammer I2 is provided with ears which, when the hammer is in the position shown inTigures 2 and 3, extend slightly above the cutaway portion [9 of the intermediate section 1 of the detonator body. 'Si-nce thehammer [.2 is made from sheet metal inthesame manneras the detonator body 5 and is made -to-iconiorm therewith, the hammer is arcuate in cross-section. In view-oi this arcuate construction :the ears to extend slightly beyond the sides :of the intermediate portion '5 at the cutaway I9. This extension provides {a gripping portion \or gripping ear which maybe easily-grasped byvtheuser to cock the hammer.

In :preparing the novelty explosive fountain pen for surprising a prospectiveuser, the cap '2 is removed irom the barrel exposing :the 1 detonating member intheposition-shown in Figures 2 and? 'Theuser then=graspsithehammer it by the ears I8 and pulls the hammer back against the force of the-spring tiinto a position approximately thatshown-in Figure 4. In actual practice the tcockingof the hammer is rather simplelsince theuserican easily grasp the barrelin-onehand, and the ears l 5 between the thumb and forefinger ofthe other hand. as soon as the. hammer is lifted slightlyiofl its seat, the user-may then interpose the thumb, of the hand holding the barrel 1 between thei hammer 12am the pocket Band then proceed to force the hammer I2 all the way back-to its cocked position as shown in Figure 4 by merely pushing his thumb .axially along thepen --u-pw-ardly as viewed in Figure 4.

With the hammer 12 in the position as shown in Figures, the cap-i2 is slid-over theendportion of the detonator body :11 and the hammer 12. The spring l A presses the hammer J2 away from the end portion 1H and the two in combination tend to .frictionally grip the cap'in a tight manner. With the parts =in-this position it is impossible ,for theihammerto inadvertently fall. The safety may be increased-by push-ing th cap 2 downwardly as viewed in Figure 4 =until it covers alLbut the-cap pocket 8. With theparts in-this position-thecaplfl, which is-of the generally --available commercial paper variety, is pressed into the anvil recess "org -pockets .As is shown in Figure 5, :thecap assumes -a somewhat. arcuateform to conform with the walls 8 of the pocket of the intermediate portion. This bending of-the cap into-an arcua-te form. causesa pressure tobe exerted in the direction indicated .by the -.arrows in Figure 5 upon :the walls 8. Thisiorce will tend to maintain the capin position in thepocket. However, in order to positively insure that-the cap'will stay in the pocket provided for it, the ears -9.- already described re-provided- These ears-project Tm- 4 wardly a sumcient distance to intercept the ends of the cap Hi and positively prevent its inadvertent movement out of the pocket 8. As explained above the cap is prevented from moving in a direction axially of the pen by the deformed edges of the pocket, clearly shown in Figure 4 at Bar. As soon as the cap is positioned as above described in th pocket 8, the cap 2 is slid along the detonator body against the resistance imposed by the attempted separation-of the ma hers I! and lfiuntil it impinges on-the surface 4 of the barrel 2. With the parts in this position *the pen looks as shown in Figure l and appears tobeidentical to any one of thousands of various makes of commonly used fountain pens.

v:Itwv'vill he -apparent from the above disclosure taken-in connection with the drawings that I have provided an extremely simple, safe dctonating fountain pen which may be readily manufactured of sheet metal in an inexpensive manner. Thencap containing-bulgenot only provides a -.cap receptacle which prevents inadvertent-dislodgingroi the cap, but it also aids rigidiiying efiect .to the detonator body. thereby greatly strengthening it. Further, the arcuate form of lthe detonator body possesses great strength and provides great rigidity,.thereby preventingmisfiresidue todefiection of the hammer l2 =on impact. Further, the high sides formed by the arcuate walls of the intermediateportion 7 ien'dingin the ears 9 .form a saietybarrier-between the user and .the .actual exploding cap, thereby greatlyprotectinglhim of any "danger of powder horns. .As-also will \benoted, the placement of the cap at an intermediate position rather than .at the outer endof the mechanism tends to. place the .cap in a. saieposition.

'It willbe understood thatvmodifications and variations may he :efiected without departing from "the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

II claim as my invention:

'1. A detonating device comprising a sheet metal body member vhaving a ferrule atone end for insertion into a fountain .pen like barrel, an intermediate portion having an arcuate crosssect'ion acrossthe axis of thebody forming an arcuate cavifiyvand an outer extremity portion, a pivot pinibetween said intermediate and said outer portionaa sheet metal arcuately formed hammer. pivotally mounted on said pivot pin, said arcuatc hammer being biased away from said outer portion toward said intermediate portion andintoconforming relation therewith, whereby a ,.percussion cap may be placed in the arcuate cavity of said intermediate portion for detonationloy said arcuately-formed hammer moving underthe influence of saidbiasing means.

.2. A .detonating device comprising .a generally cylindrical body'h'aving an inner end portion for insertioninto'the barrel of .a fountain pen-like article,-ianlintermediate .portion' having. an opening cut'in one side of said cylinder and anouter portion likewise having a portion of said cylinder cutaway therefrompivot meanspositioned substantially perpendicularly to the axis of said cylinderand between said intermediate portion and said outer portion, hammer means pivotally mounted on said pivotpin, said-hammer means having :an arcuate configuration .ior cooperation with the rinner arcuate wall of the intermediate portion of said cylindrical detonating member, the cutaway portion of the -cylinderat the -.intermediate --iportion of said :detonating member, providing access its ears z formed on said hammer and also permitting the movement of said hammer about said pivot to lie substantially parallel to and adjacent said outer portion, and spring biasing means between said outer portion and said hammer whereby said hammer is biased from said position adjacentsaid outer portion into contact with said intermediate portion of said detonating member to detonate a percussion cap held between the hammer and the intermediate portion.

3. A detonating device comprising a body member having inner and outer end portions with an intermediate portion therebetween, said inner end portion being of cylindrical configuration and adapted to be inserted in a barrel of a fountain pen-like article for maintaining said body member within said barrel, a pivot pin between said intermediate portion and said outer portion and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said member, a hammer pivoted to said pivot pin for oscillation from a position substantially parallel to and adjacent with said outer portion into a position substantially parallel with and in conformity with said intermediate portion, biasing means for moving said hammer into contact with said intermediate portion, said intermediate portion having a curved side wall, the curvature being defined by an arcuate surface drawn about a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said member, abutment means between said intermediate portion and said inner portion for forming a side retaining wall between said curved wall of the intermediate portion and said inner portion whereby a paper cap may be disposed against said arcuate wall and confined axially by said abutment, said hammer having an arcuate configuration conforming to the arcuate wall of said intermediate portion whereby said hammer and said arcuate wall are positioned immediately adjacent each other when said hammer is in its cap detonating position.

4. A detonating device comprising a body member having inner and outer end portions with an intermediate portion therebetween, said inner end portion being of cylindrical configuration and adapted to be inserted in a barrel of a fountain pen-like article for maintaining said body member within said barrel, a pivot pin between said intermediate portion and said outer portion and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said member, a hammer pivoted to said pivot pin for oscillation from a position substantially parallel to and adjacent with said outer portion into a position substantially parallel with and in conformity with said intermediate portion, biasing means for moving said hammer into contact with said intermediate portion, said intermediate portion having a curved side wall, the curvature being defined by an arcuate surface drawn about a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said member, abutment means between said intermediate portion and said inner portion for forming a side retaining wall between said curved wall of the intermediate portion and said inner portion whereby a paper cap may be disposed against said arcuate wall and confined axially by said abutment, said hammer having an arcuate configuration conforming to the arcuate wall of said intermediate portion whereby said hammer and said arcuate wall are positioned immediately adjacent each other when said hammer is in its cap detonating position, said hammer having ears at the outer extremity thereof for grasping by the user in order to cockthe hammer, and the curved wall of said intermediate portion ending in a pair 'of inwardly directed ears whereby said percussion car) may be positively confined against inadvertent movement away from said curved wall.

5. A novelty exploding pen comprising a barrel member and a cap member, a bodymember associated with said barrel member, detonating means mounted on said body member comprising a hammerpivoted to said body member at a portion intermediate the ends thereof, a semicylindrical cavity in said member, the axis of said semi-cylinder lying parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pen and perpendicular to the axis of said pivot, said hammer comprising a semi-cylindrical member having a curvature conforming to the curvature to said body member, biasing means for biasing said hammer against said cavity, abutment means on said body member at the ends of the cylindrical recess for maintaining a cylindrical percussion cap within said recess, and means for maintaining said hammer in a cooked position substantially parallel to said end portion during the insertion of said cap in said cylindrical recess, said last named means comprising the cap of said pen.

6. As an article of manufacture, an explosive device for percussion caps and the like and insertable in another article, comprising, an elongated member having free ends and a transversely arcuately bowed concave partially cylindrical section therebetween defining an anvil for receiving and housing a cap, and a complemental arcuately curved, partially cylindrical hammer pivoted to said member between said concave section and one of said free ends and swingable over said one free end against a biasing force for cooking said hammer and for loading said anvil with a cap.

'7. A detonating device comprising an elongated member having first and second free ends with an intermediate, transversely bowed concave portion therebetween defining an anvil, means on said first free end for attachment to an article with which the detonating device is to be used, and a transversely bowed hammer pivoted between said second free and said intermediate portion and biased into conforming overlying contact with said concave intermediate portion for detonating a cap positioned therein.

8. A detonating device comprising an elongated member having first and second free ends with an intermediate, transversely bowed but longitudinally substantially straight concave portion therebetween defining an anvil, means on said first free end for attachment to an article with which the detonating device is to be used, a transversely bowed hammer pivoted between said second free end and said intermediate portion and biased into conforming overlying contact with said concave intermediate portion for detonating a cap positioned therein, and said hammer having transversely extending ears for gripping by the operator whereby the hammer may be pivoted about its pivot into a cooked position overlying said second free end.

9. A detonating device comprising an elongated member having first and second free ends with an intermediate, transversely bowed concave portion therebetween defining an anvil,

, means on said first free end for attachment to between said second free end and :said intermediate portion and "biased :into conforming :overlying contact with :said leoncave intermediate portion ."for detonating ascap positioned therein, and said concave intermediate portion having transversely, inwardly turned 'projectinnsifor dinsuning that .a nap :placed in ssai d nonnaue rportion will remain in saidaconnavegportion.

10. ;A .detonating device comprising :an elongated :member having first :and second :inee ends with ran'intermediate, transversely :iiowefcl econeave portion 'therehetween defining .an anvil, means :on- :said first :free -1 end for attachment to an article with which the detonating device is to the :used, a transversely bowed ,-'hammer :Pivoted between zsaid'rseoond free end and :said intermediate portion and biased into nonforming overlyingcontact :with :said coneave intermediatepnrtionior detonatinga capfpositioned there.- in, landgsaid intermediate :portion having transe verselyrextendingaahutmentsrat bothends thereofzfor' preventing iongitudinal movement of a eaptplaeed 'inisaid cone-ave portion.

- 2111. A :detonating device comprising :an elonated member havin first and econd ends with :an intermediate, atransversely :bo-wed eoncave wort-ion therebetween defining-an anvil,

means on said first :free end for attachment to an article .with which the detonating device "is to :be :used, :a transversely bowed hammer pivoted between said :second free end and-said intermediate portionandbiased into conforming overlying nontact'with saidconcave intermediate portionffor rdetonatinga cap positioned therein, said hammer having transversely extending ears for gripping by the operator whereby the hammer may be pivoted aboutlits pivot into ,a cooked sposition overlying said second free end, and said intermediate portion having transversely extending abutments at both endsthereof for preventing longitudinal movement of a, cap placed in said .concave portion.

SQR-EN is. ADAMS.

References Cit-ed in the file -of this patent STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 71 936450 Adams Nov, 21,1933

"FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,209 Great Britain 1912 383,811 Great Britain Nov. 24, 1932 744,874 France Jan. 31, 1933