US2814285A

US2814285A - Candy shooting toy device

Info

Publication number: US2814285A
Application number: US553642A
Authority: US
Inventors: Yamauchi Tomiko
Original assignee: ASTRA MERCHANDISE Co Inc
Current assignee: ASTRA MERCHANDISE Co Inc; ASTRA MERCHANDISE COMPANY Inc
Priority date: 1955-12-16
Filing date: 1955-12-16
Publication date: 1957-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1974-11-26

Description

TOMlKO YAMAUCHI CANDY SHOOTING TOY DEVICE Nov. 26, 1957 Filed Dec. 16. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

757:1)?0 Kmauc/k' ATTORIVEY Nov.- 26, 1957 TOMIKO YAMAUCHI 2,814,285

CANDY SHOOTING TOY DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 AJTOHVEY 1957 TOMIKO YAMAUCHI ,81

CANDY SHOOTING TOY DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

United States PatentC) CANDY SHOOTING TOY DEVICE Tomiko Yamauchi, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Astra Merchandise Company, Inc., Los Angeies, Califl, a corporation of California Application December 16, 1955, Serial No. 553,642

3 Claims. (Cl. 12427) This invention relates generally to toys and, more particularly, to-new and useful improvements in a toy gun of the pistol type. i A primary object of the present invention is to provide entertainment and amusement for children by providing a toy gun that simulates the action of a conventional pistol.

Another-object of the invention is to provide a toy gun that uses candy for ammunition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy gun that is capable of shooting a large number of candy pellets without the necessity of reloading after each discharge.

It is another object to provide a toy gun for children that is practical and harmless and at the same time capable of being directed at a target with a certain degree of accuracy.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a toy gun of flat formation so that it may be conveniently and practicably packaged in an envelope instead of the usual more expensive box.

Still another object of the invention is to provide-a container or storage housing for candy in the form of a toy pistol.

It is further proposed to produce a toy pistol that is simple in construction and operation, attractive in appearance, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features, of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a toy pistol embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view thereof, looking from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view thereof, looking from the right of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken on the plane of'theline 55 of Fig. 4 showing candy in the magazine for ammunition. i

Fig. 6 iszan enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

I Fig. 7. is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 7-7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view looking along the line 8'-8 of Fig. l.

Fig. 9 is an'enlarged exploded view showing the other section of the pistol and the movable parts of thepist ol.

Referring in detailto the drawings, the toy'p'istol is formed of any-suitable transparent plastic material and is indicated generally at 10 inFig. 1. The pistol comprises a sectional housing, in the shape of a hand or pistol grip, composed of two molded

hollow sections

11 and 12. The

ice

sections are complemental to each other with interlocking portions and are preferably secured together by a suitable adhesive. Each section comprises a side wall 13, a rear wall 14 slanting slightly forwardly at its top end, a top wall 15, a bottom wall 16 and a front wall substantially parallel to the slanting rear wall and being divided into an upper section 17, a lower section 18 and a slightly curved intermediate section 19, the upper section 17 being oifset rearwardly from the lower section. The upper end of the lower section 18 is cut away to form a reduced portion 20. The rear and bottom walls terminate short of each other and are joined by a semicircular wall section 21 which is formed with a circular portion 22 at its inner end. A cylindrical lug 13 extends inwardly of the wall 13 adjacent the juncture of the bottom wall 16 and bottom section 18 of the front wall, the inner end of the lug being flush with the inner edge of the bottom wall. Another lug 33' extends inwardly from the wall 13 inwardly of the lug 13' but extends only half the distance of the lug 13. An inwardly extending flange 26 is formed on the rear, top and front edges of the side wall 24 and continues forwardly along the top of the, semitubular portion 25, as indicated at 27, terminating at its outer end in a looped portion 28. A ledge 29 is formed along the semitubular portion 25 inwardly of the top flange 27 and parallel thereto. The ledge extends from the looped portion 28 inwardly to a point remote from the inner end of the semitubular portion leaving a space 30 thereat. A web portion 31 connects the overhanging bottom end of the side wall 24 of the extension 23 with the inner edges of the upper section 17 and the intermediate section 19 of the front wall.

In each

section

11 and 12, a flat partition wall 32 extends downwardly and forwardly from the midlength of the top wall 15 terminating at its bottom end in a rearwardly curved or arcuate-shaped portion 33. Wall 32 is integrally formed with

walls

15, 16 to define part of a magazine compartment in the hand grip. An inwardly extending flange 34 extends upwardly on the side wall 24 of the extension forming a continuation of the partition wall 32 and is slightly spaced forwardly of the rear portion of flange 26 of said extension. A downwardly and forwardly extending flange 35 is formed integrally with flange 34 and extends parallel to the top and front portions of the flange 26, leaving a space between said flanges. Flange '35 extends rearwardly at its bottom end as indicatedat 36, to the upper portion 17 of the front wall. An inwardly extending flange 37 is formed along the top edge of web portion 31 extending parallel to flange 36 but closely spaced therefrom. An inwardly extending flange 38 is also formed along the web portion 31 along the front thereof. A cylindrical lug 32 extends inwardly of the wall 13 adjacent the juncture of the plate 32 and its bottom end 33 but is closely spaced therefrom, the inner end of the lug being flush with the inner edge of the plate 32.

Section 11 of the housing is preferably formed with protruding

cylindrical positioning lugs

39, 40, 41 and 42 adapted to extend through similarly positioned

guide socket openings

43, 44, 45 and 46, respectively, for interlocking the sections.

Referring now to the trigger mechanism of the toy pistol, this mechanism includes an elongated flat plate of spring metal with a bifurcated top end 51 and a curved bottom end 52 offset rearwardly from the plane of the body of the plate. The plate is formed with a central elongated slot 53 midway its height, and with a slot 54 at its juncture with the curved bottom end, the curved bottom end being slotted as indicated at 55 for a portion of its length. A flat metal pin 56 having outer and inner spaced crosspieces 57 and 58, respectively, at one end thereof is carried at the top of plate 50, the bifurcations at the top of the plate extending through the spaces between the crosspieces 57 and 58 for interlocking the plate and pin.

A plate 60 constituting the trigger is formed with a perforated ear portion 61 at one end and with an elongated finger piece 62 at its other end. Along one edge, the plate is formed with a nose 63 and with a protruding lug 64 on the same edge but spaced from the nose.

An angular resetting plate 65 of spring metal is formed with opposed slots 66 and 67 adjacent one end thereof and is preferably formed with a slot 68 at the juncture of the angled portions thereof.

In assembling the toy pistol, the trigger mechanism is first assembled in one of the sections of the housing. This is accomplished by inserting the actuating plate 50 edgewisebetween the partition wall 32 and the cylindrical lug 32' of the section so that its body seats on said partition wall and its curved bottom end 52 seats inside the similarly shaped bottom end 33 of the partition wall, with its bottom end edge finding a bearing on the bottom wall 16. The resetting plate 65 is inserted edgewise with its slotted end underneath the lug 13' and with its slot 66 engaged over the lug 33 on wall 13. A pivot pin 69 is dropped into a socket 70 formed in the web portion 31 adjacent its juncture with the lower section 18 of the front wall and the rear portion 61 of the trigger plate 60 is pivotally mounted thereon. A flat pin 70 of spring metal, having a substantially semicircular hook 71 formed on one end opening in one direction and a substantially V-shaped hook 72 on its other end opening in the opposite direction, is inserted edgewise in the space between the flange 27 on the semitubular portion 25 and the ledge 29 formed thereon, with its hook 71 seated in the looped portion 28 of the tubular portion 25 and with its other end extended beyond the inner end of the ledge and its hooked portion 72 extending therebelow and pressing against the outer free end of the pin 56.

With the trigger 60 and its associated parts thus assembled, in one section of the housing, the other section is placed thereover in peripheral alignment therewith, whereupon the protruding lugs on section 11 are forced through the aligned openings in section 12 and the other lug 33' forced into slot 67 of plate 65 thereby bringing the inner edges of the walls and the flanges of the two sections into abutting relation and the inner ends of the lugs 13' and 32 into alignment. The abutting edges of the walls and flanges are fastened together by a suitable adhesive.

When completely assembled, a housing in the form of a pistol grip is formed, with an elongated barrel 75 and a magazine compartment 76 between the partition walls 32 and the walls of the housing sections. A discharge passageway 77 is also formed between the outer flange 26 and the

inner flanges

34 and 35 of the extension 23, this passageway communicating at its rear end with the magazine compartment and at its front end with the opening in the barrel 75. Communication, however, between the passageway and the barrel is normally blocked by the striker pin 56 which extends across the space therebetween and by the V-shaped hook 72 on pin 70. The striker pin 56 is normally held in slot closing position by the forwardly slanting position of the actuating plate 50. The trigger plate 60 is positioned so that it extends outwardly through a slot 79 formed by the abutting edges of the flanges 38 and the reduced portions of the bottom sections 13 of the front wall, as shown in Fig. 3. In normal position, the lug 64 on the trigger plate impinges against the top end of the resetting plate 65 and its nose portion 63 is positioned close to the actuating plate 50 as shown in Fig. 5.

In operation, a supply of candy, in the form of spheres or balls 80 of small diameter, preferably in contrasting colors, is inserted through an inlet opening 81 formed in the side wall 13 of section 12 of the housing, into the magazine compartment 76. The inlet opening is preferably closed by a removable metal cover or cap 82. The grip portion or housing 10 is placed in the palm of the hand with the index finger placed over the finger piece 62 of the trigger 60. The housing is turned upside down to permit a spherical pellet or candy ball to fall by gravity into the discharge passageway 77 and to roll onto the top of the striker pin 56 as shown in Fig. 5. The trigger plate 60 is then pulled inwardly by the finger against the action of resetting plate 65. Continued pressure on the trigger plate will force the nose 63 against the actuating plate 50 forcing the plate and pin 56 rearwardly to the position shown in dash lines in Fig. 5. During the rearward movement of the actuating plate 50, the nose 63 of the trigger plates 60 rides upwardly thereon toward the elongated slot 53 in plate 50. However, the free end of the striker pin 56 will have moved free of the lowermost ball 80 before the nose 63 reaches the slot 53 so that said ball will have fallen into position in the bottom of the inner end of the barrel 75 when the nose reaches the slot 53 and is held in this position by hook 72 of pin 70. Upon reaching slot 53, the nose moves thereinto releasing the pressure on the plate 50 whereupon the plate is snapped forward forcing the outer free end of the pin 56 to strike the ball 80 in the barrel and to shoot and t0 impel said ball outwardly through the barrel in simulation of the action of a genuine pistol. When the finger pressure is released from the finger piece 62, the resetting plate 65 will come into action and retract the trigger plate 60 to normal outward position for a repeat performance.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A toy gun comprising a transparent plastic housing forming a hand grip, said housing having a front wall with a slot therein, a magazine compartment in said housing, a plurality of colored candy spheres in said compartment, a tubular barrel protruding from the housing, said housing having a passageway leading from the magazine compartment to the inner end of said barrel, a pin disposed along the opening in said barrel, said pin having a hooked end disposed in the opening in the barrel at its inner end adjacent said passageway for positioning a single candy sphere in the barrel opening, and trigger mechanism for propelling said positioned candy sphere through and outwardly of the barrel, said mechanism including an upright spring plate fulcrumed at its bottom end in the housing, a horizontally slidable pin carried by said spring plate at its top and movable against said positioned candy sphere, a pivoted manually actuated trigger plate movable in the slot in the front Wall of the housing, said trigger plate having a nose portion on one edge adapted to engage said upright spring plate and move said plate inwardly, a lug on the same edge of said trigger plate, a finger piece on the trigger plate exteriorly of the housing for actuating said trig-- ger plate, and a resetting spring plate in the housing in the path of movement of the lug on said trigger plate whereby upon release of pressure by said lug, said resetting plate forces the trigger plate to normal position.

2. A toy gun comprising a housing forming a hand grip, said housing having a front wall with a slot therein, a magazine compartment in said housing for storing candy pellets, a tubular barrel protruding from the housing, said housing having a passageway leading fromthe magazine compartment to the inner end of said barrel, a pin disposed along the opening in said barrel for positioning a single candy pellet in the barrel opening, a trigger mechanism for propelling the positioned candy pellet through and outwardly of the barrel, said mechanism including an upright spring plate fulcrumed at its bottom end in the housing, a horizontally slidable pin carried by said spring plate at its top end and movable against said positioned candy pellet, a pivoted manually actuated trigger plate movable in the slot in the front wall of the housing, said trigger plate having a nose portion on one edge adapted to engage said upright spring plate and move the spring plate inwardly, said trigger plate further having a lug on said one edge thereof, and a reset-ting spring plate disposed in the housing in the path of movement of the lug whereby upon release of pressure by said lug said resetting plate forces the trigger plate to an outwardly extending position.

3. A toy gun comprising a housing forming a hand grip, said housing having a front wall with a slortherein, atpartition in said hand grip defining a compartment for storing candy pellets, a tubular barrel protruding from the housing, said housing having a passageway leading from the compartment to the inner end of said barrel, a pin disposed along the opening in said barrel for positioning a single candy pellet in the barrel opening, a trigger mechanism for propelling the positioned candy pellet through and outwardly of the barrel, said mechanism including an upright spring plate fulcrumed in the housing, a slidable pin carried by said spring plate and movable against said positioned candy pellet, a pivoted manually actuated trigger plate movable in said slot, said trigger plate having a nose portion adapted to engage said upright spring plate and move the spring plate inwardly, said trigger plate further having a lug thereon, and a resetting spring plate disposed in the housing in the path of movement of the lug whereby upon release of pressure by said lug said resetting plate forces the trigger plate to an outwardly extending position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,183,133 Sperry May 16, 1916 1,660,127 Jonassen Feb. 21, 1928 2,545,358 Jenkins Mar. 13, 1951