US3232285A

US3232285A - Ring projector

Info

Publication number: US3232285A
Application number: US216438A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reggie A Rasner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-08-13
Filing date: 1962-08-13
Publication date: 1966-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-01

Description

Feb. 1, 1966 RASNER 3,232,285

RING PROJECTOR Filed Aug. 13. 1962 INVENTOR.

Eggwd Ems/2e:

United States Patent M 3,232,285 RING PROJECTOR Reggie A. Rasher, 2106 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60622 Filed Aug. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 216,438 6 Claims. (Cl. 124-21) This invention relates to games or toys and is more particularly concerned with apparatus for pro ecting a ring-like member in the direction of a game board or other target.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a projector or gun for shooting a projectile which is in the form of a ring member toward an object which constitutes a target.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a gun which may be grasped in the hand and pointed for shooting a ring-like game piece so as to direct the game piece, when released, toward a target which may be 1n the form of a ring supporting hook or peg located at a pre determined distance from the operator of the gun.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a ring projecting gun which is formed of relatively resilient bent wire having a bent handle forming section and a straight barrel forming section with a telescoping tubular member secured at the free end of the barrel formmg section which has a stretchable rubber-like section enabling the other end thereof to be drawn towards the handle section and a support for a ring-like game piece or projectile adjacent the latter end, the telescoping member having a cross slot for receiving a portion of the handle section so as to cock the gun, and the telescoping member being releasable upon squeezing the handle so as to project the ring towards a target or other area towards which the gun is pointed by the user.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the apparatus which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a ring pro ecting device which embodies the invention and a game board illustrating one manner in which the apparatus may be used in playing a game;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, to a larger scale, of the ring projecting device;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the device with portions broken away and with the device in discharged condition;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 with the device in loaded condition;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 to an enlarged scale; and

FIGURE 6 is a view of a ring which is adapted to be used with the device.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2, the projector device or gun 10 is adapted to project or shoot an object or projectile which is in the form of a ring 11. One type of game with which the gun 10 is adapted to be employed involves a board 12 having mounted thereon a plurality of ring supporting hooks 13 arranged in a desired pattern with each of the hooks having a small disc at the base thereof, preferably of a color which contrasts with the color of the board, so as to form a more visible target. The gun or projector device 10 is employed in projecting a number of the rings 11 in the direction of the board 12 with the object of arranging the rings 11 on the hooks 13 in a particular pattern. The device 18 is, of course, not limited to this particular use but may be employed in projecting any number of rings 11 towards any other object or target so that it is adapted to be used in con- 3,232,285 Patented Feb. 1, 196$ nection with various ring games or merely as an exercise in shooting skill.

The ring projector or gun 10 is formed preferably from a length of wire, preferably spring steel, bent to provide a barrel forming section 15 and a handle forming section 16. The handle forming section 16 is shaped to provide cooperating grip-forming

members

17 and 18 which are connected by a loop portion 19. The rearward grip member 17 extends at right angles to the barrel portion 15, while the forward grip member 18 extends at a forward and upward inclination from the loop section 19 to the barrel forming section 15 and has its terminal end portion 20 bent laterally of the plane of the barrel and handle

sections

15 and 15, and positioned over the barrel section 15. The end portion 20 is provided with a cap 21 and serves as a trigger member which is under the control of the operator of the gun when he grips the bandle section 16 with rearward member 17 in the palm of his hand and his four fingers closed about the inclined forward member 18.

The forward or finger engaging handle member 18 and the end portion 20 are arranged so that the latter which engages over the barrel section 15 is normally held, by the resiliency in the material in the connecting loop 19, in engagement with the barrel section 15 and, due to the length and angle of inclination of the handle member 18, the trigger forming end 20 is adapted to be lifted from engagement with the barrel section 15 and carried in an upward are when the

handle sections

17 and 18 are squeezed between the palm and the fingers of the user as indicated in dotted line in FIGURE 2.

A carrier or support 22 for the ring projectile 11 is mounted on a carriage-forming tubular member 23 which is of relatively rigid material. The carriage forming member 23 is connected at one end to a rubber-like or elastic tubular member 24 which is telescoped over the forward or free end of the barrel section 15 of the gun. The rear section 25 of the tubular member 24 is secured to the carriage member 23 which is freely slidable on the barrel section 15 of the gun and which forms the carrying element for the ring support member 22. The forward end 26 of the tubular member 24 is trapped between a pair of clamp forming

cap members

27 and 28 which are secured on the free end of the barrel section 15. The intermediate portion 30 of the elastic member 24 is slidably telescoped on the barrel section 15 and is stretchable to provide a propelling force for projecting the ring 11 when stretched and released.

The ring support 22 has a disc-like body 31 which is apertured at 32 so as to fit over the tubular carriage 23 and be frictionally retained thereon, at the end of the elastic member 2 1. The ring support body 31 terminates at a peripheral flange formation 33 which forms a shallow seat 34 for supporting loosely thereon the ring 11. The carriage forming tubular section 23 is provdied with a cross slot 35 for cooperation with the trigger forming terminal portion 20 of the gun as illustrated in FIGURES 3 to 5.

In using the gun 10, it is cocked for shooting by gripping the carriage 23 with the fingers and forcing it in the direction of the handle until the slot 35 moves into the position shown in FIGURE 4 with the trigger 28 being raised sufficiently to permit this movement by squeezing the

handle members

17 and 18. This stretches the tubular section 31] as shown. The ring 11 is then placed in the shallow recess 34 or it may be placed therein prior to the cocking of the gun. This places the gun in cocked or shooting condition. All that is required to operate the gun is to point the end of the barrel portion 15 in the direction of the target and squeeze the

handle sections

17 and 18 with suflicient force to move the forward han- 3 dle section 18 toward the back section 17 and thereby lift the trigger forming end portion 20 which releases the carriage 23 and allows the stretched portion 30 of the tube 24 to spring back to its normal non-extended position, thereby projecting the ring 11 in the direction of the target.

While particular materials and specific details of construction have been referred to in describing the illustrated form of the apparatus, it will be understood that other materials and different structural details may be resorted to within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A ring projector formed of spring wire having a straight barrel forming section and a handle forming section with the handle section including a spring tensioned, grip portion extending at the rear end of the barrel section at an inclination to the axis of said barrel section and with a trigger forming terminal end extending over the barrel section and normally held in resilient engagement therewith, a carriage forming tube surrounding the barrel section, a stretchable tubular member having substantial resiliency also surrounding the barrel section and connecting one end of the carriage to the free end of the barrel section, a supporting disc having a groove for a ring projectile secured on said carriage with its axis coincident with the axis of the barrel section and extending in a plane transverse of the axis of the barrel section, said carriage having a slot opening upwardly of said barrel section which is normally spaced from said trigger forming end on the handle grip portion a substantial distance in the direction of the free end of said barrel section when said stretchable tubular member is contracted and which receives said trigger forming end when said stretchable tubular member is extended whereby the carriage may be moved on the barrel section to a cocked position where it is releasably engaged with said trigger forming end of said grip portion.

2. A ring projector formed of spring wire having a barrel section and a handle section with the handle section including a spring tensioned, grip portion extending at an inclination to the axis of the barrel section at the rear end thereof and with a trigger forming terminal end extending over the barrel section in a direction laterally of the axis of said barrel section and normally held in resilient engagement therewith, a tube forming a carriage surrounding the barrel section, a stretchable tubular member surrounding the barrel section and connecting the carriage with the free end of the barrel section which stretchable tubular member has substantial resiliency, a supporting member for a ring projectile connected to said carriage and having a ring seat with its axis coincident with the axis of said barrel section, said carriage having means for releasable engagement with the trigger forming end section on the grip portion of the handle whereby the carriage may be retracted on the barrel section to a cocked position and thereafter released by pressing the trigger forming portion of the handle so as to snap the ring supporting member forward and project the ring.

3. A gun for a ring projectile, said gun being formed of bent spring wire having a straight barrel forming portion and a handle forming portion with the handle portion including a spring tensioned grip portion extending at an angle to the rear end of the barrel portion and having a trigger forming terminal end extending over the barrel portion and normally held in resilient engagement therewith, a tubular carriage surrounding the barrel portion, a tubular stretchable member also surrounding the barrel portion and connecting one end of the carriage with the free end of the barrel portion, a support member having a projectile seat mounted on and secured to the free end portion of the tubular carriage with the axis thereof coincident with the axis of the barrel portion and extending in a plane transverse of the axis of the barrel portion and means on said free end portion of said tubular carriage for co-operation with the trigger forming end on the grip portion of the handle whereby the tubular stretchable member may be stretched on the barrel portion to a cocked position where it is releasably held by the trigger forming end of the handle.

4. A ring projecting gun formed of spring wire bent to provide a barrel forming section and a handle forming section with the handle section includiing a spring tensioned grip portion extending at an angle to the barrel section and a trigger forming portion extending in a direction laterally of the axis of the barrel section and over the barrel section and normally held in engagement with said barrel section, a short tubular carriage forming member surrounding the barrel section and a stretchable tubular member having substantial resiliency also surrounding the barrel section which stretchable tubular member is connected at one end to the carriage forming member and at the other end to the free end of the barrel section, a ring supporting member mounted on said short tubular member which extends in a plane transverse of the axis of said barrel section and having its axis coincident with the axis of said barrel section which ring supporting member has means for co-operaton with the trigger forming portion on the handle whereby said carriage forming member may be moved along the barrel section to a cocked position where it has a releasable connection with the trigger forming portion on the handle and the stretchable tubular member is extended so as to form a projecting force when said carriage forming member is released by movement of the trigger forming handle section.

5. A ring projecting gun formed of resilient rod material and providing a straight barrel forming section and a handle forming section with the handle section including a spring tensioned grip member at the rear end of the barrel section and extending laterally of the axis of said barrel section, a trigger forming portion on the grip member which extends laterally of the axis of said barrel section and is normally held in resilient engagement with said barrel section, a carriage forming tube surrounding the barrel section, a stretchable tubular member having substantial resiliency also surrounding the barrel section and connecting the carriage forming tube with the free end of the barrel section, a projectile supporting member secured on said carriage forming tube and extending in a plane transverse of the axis of said barrel section, said projectile supporting member having a forwardly opening recess for receiving a ring projectile with its axis coinciding with the axis of the barrel section, and means on said carriage forming tube for co-operation with the trigger forming portion on the grip member of the handle whereby the carriage forming tube may be retracted on the barrel section to a cocked position where it has a releasable connection with the trigger forming portion of the handle.

6. A device for projecting a ring-like game piece toward a target, said device comprising a rod-like barrel forming member, a relatively short tubular carriage forming member surrounding said barrel forming member, a section of resilient, stretchable, tubular material also surrounding said barrel forming member and connecting the carriage forming member with a free end of the barrel forming member, a support for the game piece secured on the carriage forming member with its axis coinciding with the axis of said barrel forming member, a grip forming member at the other end of said barrel forming member, a movable trigger member spaced forwardly of said grip forming member, means for resiliently urging said trigger member into engagement with said barrel forming member and said carriage forming member having a notch in which said trigger member engages when said carriage forming member is moved a predetermined distance in the direction of the handle end of said barrel forming member so as to hold said carriage forming mem- 5 6 ber in a cocked position for projecting the game piece 1,565,438 12/1925 Greife 124-16 X when said carriage forming member is released by lifting 1,768,117 6/ 1930 Christoph 124-17 said trigger member out of said notch. 2,286,700 6/1942 Vincent 12417 R f C db h E 2,603,204 7/1952 Hartman 124-17 51212181155121??? 5 183,317 1887 France. 12/1909 Encson 273-101 X 74 729 4/1933 France 8/1914 Burnam 124-27 593,618 10/1947 Great Britain. 5/1920 Lowrnan 273100 53 459 5 195 Italy 11/1922 Boggess 124-16 X 10 6/1925 Knight 273101 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

Claims

6. A DEVICE FOR PROJECTING A RING-LIKE GAME PIECE TOWARD A TARGET, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A ROD-LIKE BARREL FORMING MEMBER, A RELATIVELY SHORT TUBULAR CARRIAGE FORMING MEMBER SURROUNDING SAID BARREL FORMING MEMBER, A SECTION OF RESILIENT, STRETCHABLE, TUBULAR MATERIAL ALSO SURROUNDING SAID BARREL FORMING MEMBER AND CONNECTING THE CARRIAGE FORMING MEMBER WITH A FREE END OF THE BARREL FORMING MEMBER, A SUPPORT FOR THE GAME PIECE SECURED ON THE CARRIAGE FORMING MEMBER WITH ITS AXIS COINCIDING WITH THE AXIS OF SAID BARREL FORMING MEMBER, A GRIP FORMING MEMBER AT THE OTHER END OF SAID BARREL FORMING MEMBER, A MOVABLE TRIGGER MEMBER SPACED FORWARDLY OF SAID GRIP FORMING MEMBER, MEANS FOR RESILIENTLY URGING SAID TRIGGER MEMBER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BARREL FORMING MEMBER AND SAID CARRIAGE FORMING MEMBER HAVING A NOTCH IN WHICH SAID TRIGGER MEMBER ENGAGES WHEN SAID CARRIAGE FORMING MEMBER IS MOVED A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE HANDLE END OF SAID BARREL FORMING MEMBER SO AS TO HOLD SAID CARRIAGE FORMING MEMBER IN A COCKED POSITION FOR PROJECTING THE GAME PIECE WHEN SAID CARRIAGE FORMING MEMBER IS RELEASED BY LIFTING SAID TRIGGER MEMBER OUT OF SAID NOTCH.