US3059376A

US3059376A - Soft nose cap-firing bullet

Info

Publication number: US3059376A
Application number: US45165A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wildstein Irving
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-07-25
Filing date: 1960-07-25
Publication date: 1962-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1979-10-23

Description

Oct. 23, 1962 1. WYILDSTEIN SOFT NOSE CAP-FIRING BULLET Filed July 25, 1960 INVENTOR. MV/A/G V/LDJTf/IV W Z g 3,059,376 SOFT NOSE CAP-FIRING BULLET Irving Wildstein, 548 Green Place, Woodmere, N.Y. Filed July 25, 1960, Ser. No. 45,165 6 Claims. (Cl. 46-200) This invention relates to toys and, more particularly, to simulated explosive projectiles.

Various types of toy guns, rockets, projectiles, and the like, have usually been extremely popular as toys for children of all age groups. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a simulated explosive projectile which can be realistically used with toy launchers, guns, and the like, to produce a safe and extremely realistic eifect.

Another object ofthe present invention is to provide simulated ammunition for toy guns having self-contained explosive charge in the form of a percussion cap which will be detonated upon striking engagement of the projectile with an object during flight.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an explosive type projectile which can be reloaded after each use, and which completely encloses such charge so as to prevent accidental injury upon striking any object.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simulated explosive projectile of the type described having self-contained motion responsive directional means for maintaining the projectile in substantially axial flight, and which further-serves as a repercussion device for assuring detonation of the explosive charge upon striking another object.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide simulated ammunition of the above type which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost, and is extremely realistic in appearance and use, and which has a blunt nose so as to be readily deformable upon striking any object, thereby minimizing any damage or injury resulting from the flight of such projectile.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a simulated pro jectile made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the assembly shown in FlG/l ready for use.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the simulated cartridge case forming a part of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a simulated projectile portion forming another part of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawing, a toy 10 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to be in the form of a projectile having a simulated shell case or base 12 and a simulated projectile or nose 30. The base 12, as is more clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, is hollow, having an interior compartment 14 open at the rear end and having an end wall 16 at the forward end. An extension 18, integral with the forward end wall 16, projects longitudinally outwardly symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base for purposes hereinafter more fully described.

The end wall 16 is further provided with a plurality of ports 20- communicating with the interior 14 of the base and the interior of the extension 18. A sleeve 22, 'also integral with the end wall 1-6, depends into the interior 14 of the base 12 and has an axial bore 24 that slidably re- United States Patent 0 3,059,376 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 "ice ceives the cylindrical plunger 26 of a hammer member. The forward end of the plunger 26 is provided with a striker plate 28 of substantially disc-like construction.

The nose 30 of the present invention includes a plurality of flexible skeletal arms 31 that define enlarged window openings 32 adjacent to the forward end. Since at least the nose 30 of the assembly is preferably constructed from a soft pliable material, such as molded polyethylene, the relatively thin arms 31 weakened by the windows 32, are readily deformable inwardly of the nose upon striking any object in the path of flight of the projectile. This deformability of the nose 30 thus minimizes any potential damage or injury which the projectile might otherwise cause upon striking an object during the flight.

The interior of the hollow nose 30 is further provided with a plurality of radially inwardly extending ribs 34 which extend inwardly from the rearward end of the nose at least partly toward the opposite forward end of the nose. The innermost end of each such rib 34 defines a shoulder 36 which efiectively locks a metallic plate 38 within the nose as shown in FIG. 2, in a position extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the assembly. This plate 38 thus forms an anvil for striking engagement by the striker plate 28 of the hammer that is slidably mounted within the base 12 of the assembly. This facing surfaces of the anvil plate 38 and the hammer plate 28 are complementary so as to assure full face striking engagement of the hammer plate during forward movement into contact with the facing surface of the striker plate 28. As a result, a percussion cap 42, mounted upon the facing side of the anvil plate 38 by the facing end of the extension 18 of the forward end wall 16 of the base, will detonate upon impact by the striker plate.

A repercussion member 40, in the form of a spherical metallic ball, is confined within the nose 30 of the assembly by the skeletal arms 31 and the anvil plate 38, the diameter of the ball 40 being at least slightly larger than the maximum dimension of the window openings 32, thus maintaining such repercussion member captive during use of the assembly. This repercussion member 40 has at least two functions; namely, to move forwardly into axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the assembly during flight of the projectile, under the guidance of the skeletal arms 31, and to rebound rearwardly into striking engagement with the anvil plate 38 upon striking an object during flight. The rebound of the repercussion member 40* thus tends to insure the detonation of the cap 42 in the event that the forward movement of the striker plate 28 is not suflicient to detonate it upon first striking the object in flight. With the striker plate 28 disposed forwardly against the non-detonated cap 42, it serves as a backing plate for producing a second impact blow upon the percussion cap during the rebounding striking engagement of, the repercussion member 40' upon the forward face of the anvil plate 38.

Except for the striker plate 28, anvil plate 38, and repercussion member 40, which are preferably constructed from hard metal material, the remaining parts of the present invention are preferably constructed from a low cost, light weight, and easily fabricated plastic material, thus minimizing the cost of the finished product and providing for an extremely authentic and attractive assembly. While the facing sides of the striker plate 28 and anvil plate 38 may be fiat as shown, such may also be convex, concave, and the like, providing that such surfaces are complementary to assure full force distribution to the percussion cap 42 mounted therebetween. Similarly, the repercussion member 40 may be of a different size and shape than the spherical shape illustrated, so long as it is guided into impact engagement with the center of the forwardly facing side of the anvil plate 38.

In actual use, the nose 30 is removed from the mounting extension 18 of the base 12 and a percussion cap 42 placed upon the outermost end of the extension 18. By then returning the nose 30 into frictional sliding engagement upon the extension 28, the percussion cap 42 may be secured in place by the pressure engagement of the marginal surface area of the anvil plate 38 and the facing end surface of the extension 18. 1 Therefore, when the object in the flight suddenly strikes an object, the initially rearwardly disposed striker plate 28 will be thrust forward by inertia under the guiding action of the plunger 26 and sleeve 22, into striking engagement with the percussion cap 42 that is backed up by the anvil plate 38. Immediately following the initial impact of the assembly with an object, the repercussion member 40 will rebound into striking engagement with the central portion of the forwardly facing side of the anvil plate 38, thus striking an additional impact blow through the anvil plate to the percussion cap 42, to detonate it in the event that the initial forward movement of the striker plate 28 has not been effective. After each use, a new percussion cap may be inserted simply by removing and replacing the nose portion 30' in the manner described.

While this device has been shown in the form of ammunition for a toy gun, it will be appreciated that such may also be in the form of a simulated missile, rocket, or the like, in which event the repercussion member 4-0 will tend to insure the proper axial flight of the assembly during use in an extremely realistic and authentic manner.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

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

1. Simulated ammunition comprising, in combination, an assembly including a simulated shell case and a simulated projectile detachably mounted upon one forward end of said case, an anvil carried by said projectile, an impact hammer slidably carried by said case rearwardly of said anvil for movement normal to said anvil, and percussion cap mounting means between said hammer and said anvil, said hammer normally being in spaced relationship with said anvil and being carried forwardly by inertia into striking engagement with said anvil in response to sudden interruption of forward movement of said assembly, and a repercussion member freely supported within said projectile forwardly of said anvil for rebounding movement toward said anvil upon striking an impact surface during forward movement of said assembly, said shell case comprising a substantially hollow member open at one rear end, a front wall closing said forward end, and a forwardly projecting extension integral with said front wall, said projectile comprising a hollow base frictionally slidably receiving said projection of said shell case therewithin, and a skeletal blunt nose having a plurality of yieldable ribs defining enlarged window openings, said rims being deformable to reduce the impact force upon striking another object.

2. Simulated ammunition as set forth in claim 1, wherein said anvil comprises a metallic plate, said projectile including shoulders securing said metallic plate therewithin in substantially perpendicular relationship with the longitudinal axis of said assembly.v

3. Simulated ammunition as set forth in claim 2, wherein said hammer comprises a plunger, a sleeve carried by said front wall of said case slidably supporting said plunger for reciprocating longitudinal movement parallel to said longitudinal axis of said assembly, a striker plate carried by said plunger in facing engagement with said anvil, said striker plate and said anvil plate having complementary facing surfaces for imparting an even striking blow to a percussion cap disposed therebetween upon forward movement by said hammer.

4. Simulated ammunition as set forth in claim 3, wherein said front wall includes a plurality of ports communicating with the interior of said case and projectile.

5. Simulated ammunition as set forth in claim I, wherein said repercussion member comprises a mass orientated for rearward longitudinal movement into impact with the forwardly facing side of said anvil. v

6. Simulated ammunition as set forth in claim 5, Where in said mass comprises a metallic sphere.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS