US3137287A

US3137287A - Repeating blow-gun

Info

Publication number: US3137287A
Application number: US197303A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arbun Rufo D De
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-05-24
Filing date: 1962-05-24
Publication date: 1964-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 1981-06-16

Description

June '16, 1964 R. 0. DE AR'BUN REPEATING BLOW-GUN Filed May 24, 1962 INVENTOR. RuFo D. DEA 25u- ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,137,287 REPEATING BLOW-GUN Rufo D. De Arbun, 1650 Crest Vista Drive, Monterey Park, Calif. Filed May 24, 1962, Ser. No. 197,303 4 Claims. (Cl. 124-12) This invention relates to blow-guns such as those used by children or sportsmen for launching darts. More par ticularly, the invention relates to a repeating blow-gun,

which comprises a blow-tube rotatably mounted in a sleeve so that the chamber portion of the blow-tube can be rapidly reloaded with a projectile from an ammunition magazine by a half-turn rotation of the blow-tube.

The practice of launching a dart from a blow-tube by the pressure of air being expelled from the lungs of the user into a mouthpiece has been followed since prehistoric times. The device once used only by savages in the jungles is today a common toy, and with some sportsmen, a novel means of silent hunting.

However, blow-guns heretofore in common use have always fired only one shot at a time. No repeating blowgun has ever been known to come into extended use. Indeed, it is not certain that any has ever heretofore existed.

The advantages of a repeating blow-gun will be obvious to those familiar with hunting. With a repeating device, several shots can be launched in rapid succession without removing the blow-gun from the mouth; slight delays, and reloading movements may result in loss of wounded prey, such as a bird. Also, the incorporation of a magazine filled with several rounds of ammunition in assembly with the blow-gun makes the device handier for compact transport and for placing in quick use.

On the other hand, the repeating loading mechanism for a blow-gun must combine lightness of weight with air tightness, not heretofore known. Fire arms, for example,

employ a relatively massive chamber closing mechanism to insure against loss of gas pressure.

The present invention provides a simple and effective means of rapid reloading of the firing chamber of the blow-gun from an attached magazine of ammunition.

It also provides simple and effective means for reclosing the firing chamber to relatively air tight conditions for launching of the projectile.

The foregoing and other advantages are achieved in a device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, yet reliable and rugged in operation. In the blow-gun of the invention, each successive dart is transferred from the t blow-gun magazine to firing position within a blow-tube by a rapid half-turn rota-tion of the blow-tube within an enclosing sleeve. A reverse half-turnrotation then serves to once again close the blow-tube to restore it to an air tight condition ready for launching the dart projectile.

The invention Will best be understood from the follow ing description of one preferred specific embodiment,

read in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a blow-gun constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the principal parts of the blow-gun of FIGURE 1, slightly enlarged, and dis- I assembled from one another; p

FIGURE 3 isa longitudinal sectional view of the blow gun of FIGURES l and 2; 1 3

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the blow-gun of FIG-.

URES 1 to 3, as seen looking toward the bottom of the blow-gun magazine;

FIGURE 5 is a partial'transverse sectional view of the blow-gun as viewed infthe direction and at 'the section indicated by the arrows 5-5 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are fragmentary transverse sec tional views through the blow-gun and magazine, showtion- The

rings

23 and 24 are provided with longitudinally extending shoulders .27 and 28 which mate against cone-- 3,137,287 Patented June 16, 1964 blow-tube 12 rotatable within sleeve 11, and a magazine 13 suspended from the underside of sleeve 11.

FIGURE 2 also shows the principal parts 'of the blowgun 10, but disassembled to reveal their constructional details. The sleeve 11 is the principal handle, usually gripped and held stationary in the left hand of the user.

It may be a smooth tubular plastic, metal or bamboo, or I the like.

The sleeve 11 is provided with a longitudinal side open ing 14 at the bottom (but rotated to a right side position in FIGURE-2 for purposes of illustration). The side opening 14 serves as an ammunition passage for ammunition moving from magazine 13 to blow-tube 12, as will be explained hereinafter.

In FIGURE 2, the magazine 13, which is in the form of a rectangular box, has one side fragmentarily broken away to show several darts 15 positioned in its interior.

:The blow-tube 12 is seen, in FIGURE 2, to have a longitudinally extended side opening 16, exactly mating with the ammunition passage 14 in sleeve 11, and providing a means for sidewise movement of a dart 15 from magazine 13, through ammuniton passage 14 into the interior of blow-tube 12, when the blow-tube is rotated within the sleeve 11 to bring each other.

The longitudinal sectional view of FIGURE 3 shows the magazine 13 fully loaded with darts 15, and an additional dart 18 within the blow tube 11. An ejection spring 19 in the bottom of magazine 13 serves to urge the darts 15 upward toward ammunition passage 14, chamber entrance 16, and the interior of blow-tube 12.

It will be seen from FIGURE 3 that the portion of the blow-tube 12 which is enclosed by the sleeve 11 constitutes the firing chamber of theblow-tube, whereas the short portion projecting fromthe left end of the sleeve 11 serves as a mouthpiece 20, and the longer tubular portion of the blow-tube 12 projecting from the right end of the sleeve 11 serves as the launching muzzle 21.

Preferably, an air sealing gasket means 22is provided the two openings in alignment with between the exterior surface of blow-tube 12, and the inparticular embodiment illustrated, air sealing means 22 is a velvet sleeve, which permits rotation of blow-tube 12, but insures a snug fit against the interior wall surfaces of sleeve 11, and minimizes air leakage during long pressure launchingof a dart from the blow-gunlt).

As seen in'FIGURE 2 and also inthe bottom plan view "of FIGURE 4, the blow-tube 12is provided with a pair of locating-rings23 and 24, one at eachend of its firing t chamber portion. Locating

rings

23 and 24 seat against the corresponding ends 25 and 26'of 'thesleeve 11, and

thus retain the blow-tube 12 in thesame longitudinal position in Sleeve. 11 at l mes, regardless ofrotational operation.

The'rings 23 and 24 also "function as rotational stops for blow-tube 12, so that theuse'r of the blow-gun 10 can rotate the charnb'er entrance 16 into precise alignment with ammunition passage14of'the opening of the magazine 13, for reloading, by'm'anual-detection of the stop locaing pin 40 through the edge spending

longitudinal shoulders

29 and 30 notched into the adjacent ends of sleeve 11.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the magazine 13 is of a conveniently replaceable type, so that the user of the blow-gun in may carry several magazines, and quickly replace an empty magazine with a full one. The magazine 13 is in the form of a box, and has a resilient metal strap 31, which is provided with

small lugs

32 and 33, which are in turn received in resilient

metal attachment rings

34 and 35 on the sleeve 11, so as to snugly re tain the magazine 13 on sleeve 11, as seen in FIGURE 1, with the magazine opening properly aligned with ammunition passage 14, as previously described. a

The sectional view of FIGURE further illustrates the breech end of the projectile 18 within the firing chamber of the blow-tube 12 Velvet gasket 22 is seen between blow-tube 12 and sleeve 11.

In FIGURES 6 and 7, the velvet sleeve 22 is omitted for purposes of clarity in illustrating the loading and firing positions of the blow-gun it). In FIGURE 6, the blowtube has been rotated so as to place the chamber entrance 16 on the bottom side and in open alignment with ammunition passage 14 in sleeve 11. It is seen that the darts 15 within the magazine 13 have pushed a dart 18 up into the firing chamber of blow-tube1l2. V

Once loading has been accomplished, as indicated in FIGURE 6, the blow-tube 12 is rotated within sleeve ll so as to move the chamber entrance 1 out of alignment with the ammunition passage 16, for example, in a straight upward position as illustratedin FIGURE 7. T he blowtube 12 is thus closed, at the chamber entrance, and is ready for firing. V

In FIGURE 7, there is also illustrated a locking pin 40, which may be inserted through holes ll and 42 in the sides of magazine 13, in order to lock the darts 15 into the magazine 13 so as to prevent them from being expelled therefrom by the spring 19. Locking pin 46 will always be in place when magazine 13 is being carried separate from the blow-gun 16 but loaded with darts 15. Although the darts themselves do not comprise part of the novelty of this invention, some description of them is necessary in order 'to make clear the manner of operation of the blow-gun 10. FIGURE 8 illustrates a typical dart 15. It is seen to be comprised of a cotton wadding piston 56, an arrow 51 carried by the piston Sil, and an arrowhead 52 of some type. A hunter might use a pointed arrow 52, but toys will ordinarily use a suction cup, rubberball, or may dispense entirely with both arrow 51 and arrowhead 52,

ammunition passage; 21 blow-tube closely received in said sleeve and rotatable coaxially therewith, said blow-tube having a mouthpiece extending from one end of said sleeve, and a muzzle extending from the other end of said sleeve, and a chamber portion enclosed by said sleeve, said chamber portion having a longitudinal side opening to serve as a chamber entrance capable of being rotated into matching alignment with said ammunition passage in said sleeve; annular shoulder means at each end of said chamber portion of said blow-tube for retaining said blow-tube in precise longitudinal location with respect to said sleeve; mating stop means on said sleeve and said blow-tube for rotational location of said bloW-tube chamber entrance with respect to said ammunition passage in said sleeve; an ammunition magazine for holding a plurality of projectiles for said blowgun, said magazine having an opening adapted to mate with said ammunition passage; and spring means for ejecting ammunition contained Within said magazine one 7 at a time from said magazine opening. p 2. A repeating blow-gun, which includes: a tubular sleeve having a longitudinal side opening to serve as an ammunition passage; a blow-tube closely received in said sleeve and rotatablecoaxially therewith, said blow-tube employing only a soft wadding piston 55 as the entire projectile. it will also be understood that various types of material may be employed for the-piston'Stl. It is only necessary that it be light, resilient and capable of being moved smoothly through the repeaterblow-gun mechanism and from blow-tube 12. For example, plastic foam might be used instead of cotton wadding or kapok or the like.

It will be understood from the soft and resilient characteristics of the piston Stl that two adjacent pistons can easily be forced apart and separated by the edges of the chamber entrance 16 when the blow-tube 12 is rotated from the position illustrated in FIGURE 6 to that illustrated in FIGURE 7. Also, the piston is of such material that it is ordinarily an easy matter to pass the lockof one of the darts 15 as illustrated in FIGURE 7. v

While I have illustrated and described one preferred specific embodiment'of my invention, it will be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to'said specific embodiment, but comprehends all variations and modifications falling within the limits defined by thefollowing claims.

1. A repeating blow-gun, which includes: a tubular V sleeve having a longitudinal side opening to'serve as an magazine to loch projectiles in said magazine. 4. A repeating blow-gun,whichfincludes:

having a mouthpiece'extending from one end of said sleeve, and a muzzle extending from the other end of said sleeve, and a chamber portion enclosed by said v sleeve, said chamber portion having a longitudinal side opening to serve as a chamber entrance capable of being rotated into matching alignment with said ammunition passage in said sleeve; annular shoulder means encircling said blow-tube at each end of said chamber portion for retaining said blow-tube in precise longitudinal location with respect to said sleeve; mating stop means on said sleeve and said blow-tube for rotational location of said blow-tube chamber entrance with respect to said ammunition passage in said sleeve; an ammunition magazine for holding a plurality of projectiles for said blovv gun, said magazine having an opening adapted to mate with said ammunition passage; spring means for ejecting ainmunition contained Withinsaid magazine one at a time from said magazine opening; and air sealinggasket means around said chamber entrance for minimizing loss of air 'pressure1through said entrance whensaid blow-tube is rotated to cover said entrance with the interior Wall of. 'said sleeve.

3. A repeating blow-gun, which includes: a tubular sleeve having a longitudinal side opening to serve as an ammunition passage; a blow-tube closely received in' said.

sleeve and rotatable coaxially therewith, said blow-tube having a mouthpiece extending from one end of said. sleeve, and a muzzle extending from the other endofsaid sleeve, and a chamber portion enclosed by said sleeve, said chamber portion having a longitudinal side opening to serve as a chamber entrance capable of being rotated 'into matching alignment with said ammunition, passage in said sleeve; locating rings encircling sad blOW-g tube at each end of said chamberportion for retaining said blow-tube in precise longitudinal location with respect to said sleeve; mating stop means on said sleeve and said blow-tube for rotational location of said blOWrtllbQ chamber entrance with respect to said'ammunition passage in said sleeve; an ammunition magazine for holding a pluralityof projectiles for said blow-gun, said magazmehaving an opening adapted tomato with said am-, .munrtionpassage; spring means for ejecting ammuni tion contained within said magazine one at a time from said magazine opening; magazine retainer means adapt- .ed tolock said magazine tojsaidj sleeve with said maga- I. 70,

. passage, said magazine retainer means being'resiliently retractable or removal of said magazine from said sleeve; 7 in saidzine opening in communication with said ammunition and an ammunition locking pin for insertion a tubular sleeve having a longitudinal side opening to serve as an ammunition passage; a blow-tube closely received in said sleeve and rotatable coaxially therewith, said blow-tube having a mouthpiece extending from one end of said sleeve, and a muzzle extending from the other end of said sleeve, and a chamber portion enclosed by said sleeve, said chamber portion having a longitudinal side opening to serve as a chamber entrance capable of being rotated into matching alignment With said ammunition passage in said sleeve; locating rings encircling said blowtube at each end of said chamber portion for retaining said blow-tube in precise longitudinal location with respect to said sleeve, said rings also incorporating stops; mating longitudinal notches in the ends of said sleeve for rotational location against said stops; an ammunition magazine for holding a plurality of projectiles for said blow-gun, said magazine having an opening adapted to mate with said ammunition passage; spring means for ejecting ammunition contained within said magazine one at a time from said magazine opening; magazine retainer means adapted to lock said magazine to said sleeve with said magazine opening in communication with said amsaid sleeve; and a sleeve of air sealing material between said blow-tube and said sleeve.

References Citediin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 107,442 Buckman et al Sept. 20, 1870 278,005 Fredericks et al May 22, 1883 632,526 Hervey Sept. 5, 1899 1,152,447 Sproull Sept. 7, 1915 2,427,490 Berrayarza' Sept 16, 1947 2,450,830 Helberg et al. Oct. 5,1948

2,516,341 Rafleis July 25, 1950 2,580,613 Seibel et al. Jan. 1, 1952 2,681,055 Gowland June 15, 1954 2,888,033 Swaneson May 26, 1959 Tylle Nov. 29, 1960 OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics, May 1934, page 765 cited.

Claims

1. A REPEATING BLOW-GUN, WHICH INCLUDES: A TUBULAR SLEEVE HAVING A LONGITUDINAL SIDE OPENING TO SERVE AS AN AMMUNITION PASSAGE; A BLOW-TUBE CLOSELY RECEICVED IN SAID SLEEVE AND ROTATABLE COAXIALLY THEREWITH, SAID BLOW-TUBE HAVING A MOUTHPIECE EXTENDING FROM ONE END OF SAID SLEEVE, A MUZZLE EXTENDING FROM THE OTHER END OF SAID SLEEVE AND A CHAMBER PORTION ENCLOSED BY SAID SLEEVE, SAID CHAMBER PORTION HAVING A LONGITUDINAL SIDE OPENING TO SERVE AS A CHAMBER ENTRANCE CAPABLE OF BEING ROTATED INTO MATCHING ALIGNMENT WITH SAID AMMUNITION PASSAGE IN SAID SLEEVE; ANNULAR SHOULDER MEANS AT EACH END OF SIAD CHAMBER PORTION OF SAID BLOW-TUBE FOR RE TAINING SAID BLOW-TUBE IN PRECISE LONGITUDINAL LOCATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID SLEEVE; MATING STOP MEANS ON SAID SLEEVE AND SAID BLOW-TUBE FOR ROTATIONAL LOCATION OF SAID BLOW-TUBE CHAMBER ENTRANCE WITH RESPECT TO SAID AMMUNITION PASSAGE IN SAID SLEEVE; AN AMMUNITION MAGAZINE FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF PROJECTILES FOR SAID BLOWGUN, SAID MAGAZINE HAVING AN OPENING ADAPTED TO MATE WITH SAID AMMUNITION PASSAGE; AND SPRING MEANS FOR EJECTING AMMUNITION CONTAINED WITHIN SAID MAGAZINE ONE AT A TIME FROM SAID MAGAZINE OPENING.