US2783588A

US2783588A - Toy gun

Info

Publication number: US2783588A
Application number: US545265A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert A Charvat
Original assignee: American Arts & Crafts Inc
Current assignee: American Arts & Crafts Inc
Priority date: 1955-11-07
Filing date: 1955-11-07
Publication date: 1957-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1974-03-05

Description

March 5, 1957 R. A. CHARVAT TOY GUN 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 7, 1955 IN! 'E!\' TOR.

ROBERT A. CHARVAT /ATTORNEYS March 5; 1957 R. A. CHARVAT 2,783,588

TOY GUN Filed NOV. 7, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I; I I l9 u 1| IT E I; I2; La

@ JNVENTOR.

ROBERT A. CHARVAT 5 5 BY AT TORNEYS March 5, 1957 Filed Nov. 7, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 llb zb YR INVENTOR. ROBERT A. CHARVAT AT TORNEYS United States Patent C F TOY GUN Robert A. Charvat, Bay Village, Ohio, assignor to American Arts & Crafts, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 7, 1955, Serial No. 545,265 Claims. (CL 46227) My invention relates to a toy gun. It has to do, more specifically, with a toy gun provided with a translucent or transparent barrel and in whichthe movement of a projectile is simulated by a series of electric light bulbs spaced along the barrel which are illuminated rapidly and successively from the rear of the barrel to the front end thereof by the pulling of the trigger. In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated examples of my invention. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a toy pistol in which my invention is embodied.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a switch bar used in the gun of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a contactor wire used in the pistol of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the wire.

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5 ofFigure 3.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a contact finger in contact with the switch bar.

Figure 7 is a detail in side elevation of the trigger mechanism of the pistol of Figure 1 showing the side opposite to that shown in Figure l. Figure Bis an end view of the mechanism of Figurel.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation showing amodification of the mechanism of my invention.

With reference to the drawings, I have illustrated in Figure 1 my invention embodied in a pistol. However, it is not limited to a pistol but is applicable to other types of guns and toys where light sources can provide various effects. a

The pistol is shown as comprising a body section which is preferablyformed of translucent plastic. The body is preferably formed .of two half sections, one being the section 10 shown and which carn'esall the mechanism, a'nd'the'other being a cover body section (not shown).

. Clips 10:: and 1012 are provided on the body section shown for use in removably attaching the two body sections together- Along the barrel section of this body section I provide aseries of axially spaced light bulbs 11, 12, and 13 although'a different number of these bulbs may be provided. These bulbs are removably held in position by integral plastic fingers 14 for each bulb. The lower contact portions of the bulbs 11, 12, and 13 are always in contact with a ground bar 15 which extends through the lower portion of the barrel section and back into the handle section where it terminates in an upstanding spring contact finger 16. The bar 15 is held in fixed position by means of the anchoring pins 17.

A battery of the flashlight type is removably held between the spring contact finger 16 and a switch bar 19. The switch bar 19 is anchored to the pistol body section by means of the anchoring pins 20. This switch bar 19 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and includes a resilient spring finger 21 which extends forwardly and is angled laterally relative to the axis of the pistol barrel section, as shown in Figure 2.

Cooperating with the switch bar 19 to make contact 2 2,783,588 Patented Mar. 5, 1957 at the proper intervals for lighting the bulbs 11, 12, and 13 successively is the contactor wire 22 which is'mounted for sliding movement axially of the barrel section in the lugs 23 attached to the wall thereof, so that it will be held in sliding contact with the sides of the bulb contact portions as indicated in Figure 1. This contact wire 22 is shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The wire 22 is coated with a suitable non-conductive coating, for example, of plastic. A suitable coating is Formvar manufactured by General Electric Company. This coating is removed at three intervals along the length of the wire as indicated at 11a, 12a, and 13a in Figures 3 and 4.

For reciprocating the contactor wire 22, a trigger-actuated cylinder piston and spring tension unit is provided which includes the piston 25 that reciprocates in the cylinder 26 and extends from the forward end thereof. The cylinder 26 is anchored in place in the handle section of the pistol by means of the lugs 27. The piston 25 is provided with a laterally-turned forward end 23 about which the rear end of the contactor wire 22 is coiled, as shown in Figure 4. This coiled portion is provided with an upstanding contact fingerv 29 which is shown in Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6. This finger is coated with plastic except that it is removed from the one side, which will be the back side in Figures 1' and 6.

I The piston 25 is normally held in its forward position by meansof a tension spring 30 (Figure 7) which is an-:

chored at its front end to a pin 31 on the body section and has its rear end connected to the lateral end 28 of the piston. Thus, since the piston 25 is' normally held in its forwardmost position, the contactor wire 22 (Figure. I) connected thereto is also held in its forwardmost position.

To move the piston 25 rearwardly against the' action of the spring 30, I provide the trigger mechanism cluding the trigger 32 (Figures 1 and 7) that is slidably; mounted on the body section in association with a trigger. guard 33. This trigger 32 is provided with an UPSlLaIld-f ing pawl lug 34 at its rear upper corner to which atrigger pawl 35 is pivoted at 36 for vertical swinging movement." The pawl 35 extends forwardly beneath the piston 25 and its forward end is provided with an upstanding toothj37;.

A tension spring 38 has'its rear end connected to 'thefront end of the pawl 35 and its front end anchored to a'. pin'39 carried by the body section 10. Normally, with the trigger 32 and the pawl 35 pivotally carried thereby held in rearwardmost position by the spring 38, the tooth 37 is in engagement with the forward side of the lateral end 28 of the piston 25 as shown in Figures 1 and 7.

25 to pull it rearwardly until a cam surface 40 at the forward end of the pawl, strikes the forward end of the cylinder support 27, at which time the pawl will swing downwardly so that it will be released from the piston,

and the spring'3tl will then pull the piston forwardly back to the original rest position shown in Figure 1. The pawl is provided with a rearward extension 41.

As the piston 25 is drawn rearwardly, the contactor wire 22 is pulled rearwardly along with the upstanding finger 29 thereof. The finger 29 is so located that when it moves rearwardly its coated side contacts the inner side of segment 21 of the switch bar 19 and snaps around the rear end of the segment 21. Now when it moves forwardly its bare side contacts the outer side of the bar, as shown in Figure 6, and connects the battery 18 with the contactor wire 22. As the finger 29 moves off the forward end of the segment 21 it again snaps inwardly so that when moved rearwardly again it will engage the inner side of the segment 21.

As the trigger 32 is pulled rearwardly the pawl extension 41 engages the upper free end of a sound-producing spring 45. This spring 45 is a flat spring which is anchored at 46 at the lower end of the'handle section. When the upper vertical end 47 thereof is en- ,sag y h rmi -ex sion 4 th spr A 'ben 'r'a atdlr; hu as 'qn a the t g e relea ed the p ns l jsf ap o v f r l' n w ll v ib at to Produc asoiind.

lntheiatrest position of, the contactor wire 222; shown in Figure 1, none of the bulbs are lighted-because the circuit is open due to the fact that the contact finger 29 is not in contact with switch segment 21. Likewise, the bulbs are not lighted while contactor .wire ,22,is being moved to the rearward positionhecause-finger 29;"is .behind theswitch bar segment21 (Figure 1)'in-whioh position ,the plastic insulating m at er ial on the finger 29 separates these two circuit elements. However, after Qnta Q .wi '2 spulled .rearwar y y p l the trigger and the triggerrelezises the moving part of the mechanism, wire 22 moves, forwardly so that the

bare sections

11a, 12a, and 13a are rapidly brought in succession into contact with the contact portions of the bulbs 11, 12, and 13. At the same .time, finger .29 is on the front side of the switchv barsegment 21 (Figure 6) in which position electrical contact is made because theibareiside of the fingeris in contact with fthe switch barsegment 21. The bare sectionsfllla, 12a, and 13a will be accurately disposedso that a. circuit to each'bulb will be completed successively and the bulbs-will' be lighted .at successive intervals. Since "the barrel, of the pistol .iwill'be translucent "or some equivalent, this will givethe illusion .of a projectile passing through the barrel. 'On the. rearward movement of the trigger none of.. the ;bulbs are lighted but .on the-forward move'rnent all therbulbs are lighted inrapid-sucoession;

,In Figure :9, 'I'have' illustrated amodified arrangement ofmy invention; In this figure the connector wire 22b is in contact with. the same'sides of the bulbs' llb and 13b and the opposite side ot-the bulb 125. A ground bar b is associated with the bulbs as beforje. The

piston 25b and the cylinder 26b are-reversed and the spring b draws the piston rearwardly. The contact finger 29b is arranged to engage--the switch bar 19b, connected to the battery 18b, 'on the rearward movement of the piston so that the connector-wire 22b will suecessively complete the circuit from the battery 'l 8b to each of the-bulbs 11b, 1 2b, and 13b. The battery 18b is connected by a connector 50 to a buzzer 5, the connector .50 being also connected to the' ground bar 15bl Another connector ear" 52' extends from the battery and terminatesalong the switch bar 1%. Thelend' of this bar 52 .is disposedalong the, switch bar 19b ,so that the finger2li 'jw illis-lide ireaiuvardlytherealong' at same time that the finge r slides along the switch bar '19b. Y Thusfwhen the" piston: 25b moves ,rearwardly, a 'circuit to the buzierfand 'al'soft'o mannin 11b, '1 2b, and 13b is completed, the bare spots on the connector wire 22b being arranged to' light the bulbs successively. The pawl and trigger arrangementiwill be substantially as before, the pawl 35b engaging the turned end 28b of the piston 25b on the rearward movement of the trigger until it is released to permit the rearward movement of the piston with the connector wire 2212. This rearward movement, as indicated, will successively light the

bulbs

11b, 12b, and 13b and simultaneously operate the sound buzzer 51.

It will be apparent that I have provided a toy gun in which movement of a projectile or energy is closely simulated without the dangers present when actual projectiles are used. Furthermore, I provide noise-making means in the gun which makes it more realistic.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A toy gun of the type described comprising a translucent barrel having a series of light bulbs and associated contacts supported at intervals therealong, a source of electric current, means for connecting said light-bulb contacts successively to said source ofcurrent, said ne-ans comprising, a contact wire mounted for reciprocation in engagement with said contacts of said light; bulbs, ,said iwire being coated with an insulating coating but having ,the coating removed ,at areas which will successively contact said contactsIof successive bulbs at intervals, and trigger mechanism operatively connected to :said contact wire to produce reciprocation thereof.

,2. ;A1toy .gun according to claim 1 in which said means for connecting the lightbulb contacts to the source of .currentIincludes a switch bar and a switch finger movable on opposite sides of said switch bar upon reciprocation..of'saidwire, said switch finger being coated with an insulating coating on one side only so that-it makes electric contact with said bar in one direction of movement only, and means for reciprocating said contact wire and said switch finger simultaneously.

3. A toy gun according to claim 2 in which said reciprocating means comprises a piston, said trigger mechanism comprising means for pulling the piston rearwardlyand thenreleasing it, and a spring for returning the piston to its original position.

4. A toy gun according to claim 3 including noiseproducing-rneans actuated upon the return movement of said piston, lsaid noise-producing means comprising a vibrating-spring engaged by said trigger mechanism.

Atoy gun'acclording to claim 3 including noiseproducingmeans comprising an electric alarm device, connected to said source of current, and means actuated by said piston for completing the circuit.v to said device.

Ieferences Z'itedjn the file of this patent .UNI'EEQYSTATVES PATENTS 1,575,943 Dever Mar. 2, 1926 2,159,085 -Heil M y .139 2,276,378 ,Duguay Mar. 17, 1942- 2,565,910 Conover Aug. '18, .1951 2,587,458 Fritts Feb. 26, 1952 2,734,310 Christopher Feb. 14, 1956