US3277603A

US3277603A - Toy detonating unit

Info

Publication number: US3277603A
Application number: US295923A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Ryan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-07-18
Filing date: 1963-07-18
Publication date: 1966-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 1983-10-11
Also published as: DE1885840U

Description

Oct. 11, 1966 J. w. RYAN TOY DETONATING UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 18, 1963 JOHN W FK M/ INVENTOR.

Oct. 11, 1966 J. w. RYAN TOY DETONATING UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1963 R 0 mm M y E QM M W m N N M W United States Patent 3,277,603 TOY DETONATING UNIT John W. Ryan, 688 Nimes Road, Bel Air, Calif. Filed July 18, 1963, Ser. No. 295,923 10 Claims. (Cl. 46196) In general, the present invention relates to a simple, inexpensive toy detonating unit adapted to fire an explosive charge, such as a stack of caps. More particularly, the present invention relates to a toy detonating unit whose trigger means is adapted to operate either instantaneously or after a predetermined period of time.

There is known in the prior art a variety of devices for detonating explosive charges, such as caps. A common example of such devices is the usual cap gun. However, such prior art toy detonating units have been designed to operate in a very specific manner and such manner is usually the intentional operation of the device by the user of the device, e. g., pulling the trigger of the gun. Thus, such prior art devices are not adapted to operate in response to very slight forces on the trigger mechanism. For example, the prior art toy detonating units are usually not suitable for operation on an accidental basis, e.g., initiation of the operation by pulling of a trip wire.

#In addition, the usual prior art toy detonating units normally have only one means for operating their trigger mechanism. Such means usually involve the direct operation of the trigger mechanism to cause the explosion by the detonating unit. Consequently, the trigger mechanisms of the prior art devices normally do not include a time delay mechanism. Furthermore, no prior art device has trigger means which can be operated either instantaneously or after a predetermined period of time.

In view of the foregoing state of the prior art, one of the objects of the present invention is a toy detonating unit which has trigger means operated either instantaneously or after a predetermined period of time.

Another object of the present invention is a toy detonat ing unit which has trigger means adapted to be operated by a very slight force being exerted thereon.

Another object of the present invention is a toy detonating unit having trigger means including a time delay release means incorporating a simple, rugged structure.

Still another object of the present invention is a toy detonating unit which is simple and inexpensive and adapted to be manufactured on a mass production basis.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings which illustrate a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In general, the present invention involves a toy detonating unit adapted to have its trigger means operated either instantaneously or after a predetermined period of time. Such toy detonating unit comprises a firing means for detonating an explosive charge by rapid movement from its retracted position to its extended position. Operatively associated with the firing means is a trigger means for initiating the operation of said firing means. The trigger means includes a lever pivotally mounted adjacent the firing means and having a first position adapted to maintain the firing means in a retracted position and to permit its instantaneous release therefrom. A-lso adjacent the firing mean-s is a time delay release means which is adapted to hold the lever in a second position for a predetermined period of time. The lever in said second posi tion is adapted to maintain the firing means in a retracted position when the lever is engaged With the time delay release means.

In order to facilitate understanding the present invention, reference will now be made to the appended drawings of a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention. Such drawings should not be construed as limiting the invention which is properly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the firing means in its retracted lock position.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the toy detonating unit of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the firing means in its retracted ready position and the lever portion of the trigger means in its first position.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 1 showing the firing means in its retracted ready position and the lever portion of the trigger mean-s in its second position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the toy detonating unit of the present invention includes, generally, a firing means 11 and a trigger means 50. The firing means 11 is adapted to detonate an explosive charge I12, such as a stack of caps, by rapid movement from its retracted position to its extended position. The toy detonating unit 10 includes a cylindrical housing .13 with an end wall 14 at its first end. In the side wall 15 of the cylindrical housing '13 is an L-shaped slot 16 whose long leg 17 extends parallel to the axis of the housing 13 and whose short leg -18 extends perpendicular to the long leg 17 adjacent the end wall 14. The short leg 18 of the slot 16 has a shoulder 19 which insures that the lug 23 does not accidentally slip out of the short leg I18 when positioned therein.

Enclosed in the housing 13 is the striking means 20 of the firing means 11. Striking means '20 includes a helically coiled spring 21 braced against the end wall 14. A hammer 22 is attached to the free end of the spring 21 and is slidably mounted in the housing -13. The hammer 22 includes a lug 23 which extends outside the housing 13 and is slidably mounted in the L-shaped slot 16. The hammer '22 also includes a hammer head 24 which is adapted to be received in a pocket 35 of the anvil 34 as set forth below. The lug 23 is adapted to maintain the proper orientation of the hammer head 24 with respect to the anvil pocket 35. Thus,if the anvil pocket 35 and the hammer head 24 both have, for example, a rectangular shape as shown, then the lug 23 prevents circular rotation of the hammer head 24 when it approaches the anvil pocket 35 and insures that it is therein to explode the charge '12. Along its length of the hammer 22 has a pair of spaced shoulders 25 and 26. The first of the said shoulders 25 is more remote from the anvil 34 than the pivot connection 52 of the lever 51, and the second shoulder 26 is closer to the anvil 64 than the lever pivot connection 52 when the firing means .111 is in its retraoted position.

At the second end of the housing 13 is positioned the receiving means 30 which includes an opposing pair of spaced flanges 31 in the housing 13, each having a port 32 therein. Slidably mounted in ports 32 perpendicular to the axis of the housing 13 is an anvil 34 having a pocket 35 adapted to receive the hammer head 24. The width of the pocket 35 has substantially the same width as the caps being inserted therein. Thus the caps wedge into the anvil and are held there. In this way, a roll of caps can be folded into a stack and held as easily as a single cap. The receiving means 30 also includes stop means adapted to permit the anvil 34 to slide out of the housing so that the pocket 35 may be loaded without becoming detached from the housing 13 and to permit the anvil 34 to be positioned within the housing with the pocket 35 aligned with the hammer head 24. The stop means 40 includes a lip 41 on the anvil 34 which strikes the edge 42 of the first port 32a to prevent the complete removal of the anvil 34 from the housing 13. Similarly, the lip 41 strikes the edge 43 of the second port 32b to prevent insertion of the anvil 34 too far into the housing 13. In addition, the anvil 34 has a spaced pair of mounds 44 projecting from its longitudinal side 36 which are adapted to receive the bosses 37 of the ports 32 there'between. Such arrangement substantially locks the anvil 34 either into alignment with the hammer head 24 or in its extended position.

Operatively associated with the firing means 11 is a trigger means 50 for initiating the operation of said firing means. The trigger means 50 includes a lever 51 mounted adjacent the firing means 11 on the central portion of the housing 13 by means of a pivot connection 32. The pivot connection 52 includes a pair of pins 53 extending from opposite sides of the lever 51 and rotatably mounted in holes 54 in a spaced pair of ears 55 extending from the side of the housing 13. Extending longitudinally in the side wall 15 of the housing 13 between the ears 55 is a notch 56. The notch 56 and the pivot connection 52 are positioned adjacent the striking means 20 of the firing means 11 when it is in its retracted position.

The lever 51 has a boss 60 thereon for maintaining the firing means 1-1 in its retracted position. When the lever 51 is adjacent the firing means 11, a boss 60 engages the first shoulder 25 of the hammer 21 by insertion into notch 56. In such position, the first shoulder 25 of the firing means 11 biases the lever 51 to move towards the firing means 11, since the engagement of the shoulder 25 with the boss 60 tends to cause the lever 51 to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2. However, preferably the boss 60 has a curved cam surface 61 against which the shoulder 25 rests when it is engaged with the boss 60. Thus, rotation of the lever 51 in a counterclockwise direction is facilitated by the riding of the hammer shoulder 25 on the cam surface 61. Furthermore, the lever 51 may be positioned in a range of positions whose limit is represented by the corner 62 of the boss 60. Thus, the lever 51 may be positioned so that the hammer shoulder -25 rests adjacent the corner 62 and only a very slight force is required to move the lever 51 so that the hammer 22 slips past the boss 60.

The lever 51 includes a pair of opposing ribs 57 along its length to increase its strength in rigidity. Furthermore, the lever 51 has a hook 63 adjacent its outer end which is adapted to facilitate the attachment of a string or wire to the lever 51. Thus, when the lever 51 is in its first position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a string may be attached to the hook 63 to permit the tripping of the trigger mechanism 50 by means of pulling such string.

The lever 51 also has a knob 65 thereon which is adapted to maintain the firing means 11 in its retracted position when the lever 51 is engaged with the time delay release means 70. The knob 65 is adapted to be received in the notch 56 when the lever 51 is in its second position, as shown in FIG. 3. In such position, the knob 65 is engaged with the second shoulder 26 of the hammer 22 and is adapted to bias the lever 51 to rotate away from the firing means 11 in a clockwise direction.

Mounted adjacent the firing means 11 is a time delay release means 70 which is adapted to hold the lever 51 in its second position adjacent the firing means 11 for a predetermined period of time. The time delay release means 70 includes a cage 71 mounted on the second end 19 of the housing 13 adjacent the receiving means 30. The cage 71 has an aperture 72 in its side wall 73 through which a latch means 74 extends. The latch means'74 includes an arm 75 with a bore 76 adjacent its free end. The bore 76 receives the free end 58 of the lever -1 when the lever 51 is engaged with the time delay release means 70. Preferably, the free end 58 of the lever 51 has a cam surface 59 which engages the walls of the bore 76 and facilitates the disengagement of the lever 51 from the bore 76. Furthermore, the reaction of the bore Walls to the cam surface 59 of the lever 51 urges the arm 75 upwardly. Such action tends to shorten the period of time over which the time delay release opcrates.

Forming the wall of the cage 71 adjacent the housing 13 is a disk 80 having a smooth surface 81. Loosely mounted within the cage 71 adjacent the disk 80 is a suction cup $55 which is adapted to be pressed into engagement with the smooth surface 81 of the disk 80 and to disengage slowly therefrom. Such disengagement is preferably achieved by means of a nylon thread 86 which extends from the interior of the cup to its exterior and is adapted to act as a controlled leakage of air into the suction cup. The leak-age of air into the suction cup determines the period of time delay and can be controlled by the size and length of the thread 86 and, if necessary, additional threads may be utilized. Alternatively, the controlled leakage may be accomplished by means of a channel (not shown) in the surface 81 of the disk 80 which extends from the interior to the exterior of the suction cup 85.

Attached to the top of the suction cup is a cap 87 which extends through a second aperture 77 in the top of the cage 71. The cap 87 is attached to the suction cup 85 preferably by means of fingers 88 extending upwardly from the suction cup 85 and engaged in recesses 89 in the cap 87. Preferably, the fingers 88 have a plurality of ridges 90 thereon to insure engagement between the cap 87 and the suction cup 85.

To operate the toy detonating unit 10, the firing means 11 may be set in a locked retracted position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, by sliding the lug 22 along the long leg 17 of the L-slot 16 towards the first end Wall 14 of the housing 13 and then wedging it by rotation into the short leg 18 of the L-slot 14. Such retraction of the hammer 22 compresses the coiled spring 21 adjacent the first end wall 14 of the housing 13 and holds the hammer 22 relatively secure. If it is then desired to operate the firing means 11 by instantaneous operation of the trigger means 50, the lever 51 may then be rotated into its first position, as illustrated in FIG. 2. in such position, after the lug 23 has been rotated back into the long leg 17 of the L-slot 16, the boss 60 engages the first shoulder 25 of the hammer 22 and prevents the-operation of the firing means 11. Furthermore, the 'force exerted on the boss 60 by the hammer shoulder 25 tends to bias the lever 51 towards the firing means 11 so that the lever 5-1 remains adjacent to the firing means '11. The lever 51 then may be rotated by an external force in a counterclockwise direction to initiate the operation of the firing means 11. For example, a string may be attached to the hook 63 of the lever 51 and stretched across a walkway which is desired to be protected. The person walking along the walkway would then trip such string and initiate the operation of the firing means 1-1. When the lever 5-1 is rotated counterclockwise, the shoulder 25 slips past the boss 60 and permits the hammer 22 to move rapidly from its retracted position to its extended position. The hammer head 24 is then received in the pocket 35 of the anvil 34 in the form of a sudden impact which detonatesthe explosive charge 12.

After the explosive charge is detonated, the hammer 22 may then be retracted to its locked retracted position as set forth above. The anvil 34 may then be projected from the housing 13 by pushing on its end adjacent port 32b causing it to slide out the opposite port 32a while the stop means 40 prevents the anvil 34 from becoming detached from the housing 13. In such projected position, the pocket 35 may be emptied and a new explosive charge 12 inserted. The anvil 34 may then be repositioned in the housing 13 with the pocket 35 aligned with the axis of the housing 13 due to the stop means 40, as set forth above. Preferably, the anvil 34 has recesses 36 to facilitate grasping it during its charging operation.

Alternatively, if it is desired to initiate the operation of the firing means 11 after a predetermined period of time the knob 65 of the lever 51 is engaged with the second shoulder 26 of the hammer 22 after the lug 23 has been aligned in the long leg 17 in the L-slot 16. Simultaneously, the cap 87 is pressed so that the suction cup 85 engages the disk 80. Such engagement causes the bore 76 of the arm 75 to engage the free end 58 of the lever 51 and hold the lever 51 adjacent the firing means 11. The pressure on the cap 87 is then removed and the toy detonating unit is placed in its desired position. After the release of the pressure on the cap, air leaks into the suction cup 85 by means such as the thread 86 and such leakage gradually causes the suction cup 85 to disengage from the disk 80. Such disengagement in turn causes the cap 87 and the arm 75 mounted thereon to move away from the end of the housing 13 and thus permits the free end 58 of the lever 51 to slip out of the bore 76. Such disengagement is aided by the action of the cam surface 59 of the lever 51 on the arm 75, since the hammer 22 tends to cause the lever 51 to rotate in a clockwise direction and exert force on the arm 75. When the suction cup 85 disengages completely from the surface 80, the free end 58 of the lever 51 is released from the bore 76 in the arm 75 and the lever 51 is free to rotate in a clockwise direction. Such rotation permits the hammer 22 to move rapidly to its extended position and detonate the charge 12 in the anvil pocket 35.

Many other specific embodiments of the present invention will be obvious to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. For example, as set forth above, a variety of means may be utilized to permit the controlled leakage of air into a suction cup portion of the time delay release means. Similarly, the boss and knob on lever portion of the trigger means may be a single projection if a ball and socket connection is used to connect the lever to the housing to permit rotation of the lever about its axis.

There are many features in the present invention which clearly show the significant advance the present invention represents over the prior art. Consequently, only a few of the more outstanding features will be pointed out to illustrate the unexpected and unusual results attained by the present invention. One feature of the present invention is that the trigger means of the toy detonating unit is adapted to operate either instantaneously or after a predetermined period of time. Thus, the trigger means of the present invention can be pivoted to a first position wherein a boss holds the firing means in a retracted position and it may be pivoted into a second position wherein a knob holds the firing means in its retracted position. In such first position, the operation of the trigger means is initiated simply by causing rotation of the lever by such external forces as a trip wire. Alternatively, the operation of the trigger means in the second position is initiated by a time delay release means. Another feature of the present invention is that the operation of the trigger means in its first position may be initiated by a very slight force, since the engagement between the trigger means and the firing means is a cam surface which facilitates the release of the rotation of the operation of the firing means. Still another feature of the present invention is the utilization of a simple time delay release means whose time period is partially controlled by the force the firing means exerts on the trigger means.

It will be understood that the foregoing description and examples are only illustrative of the present invention and it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto. All substitutions, alterations and modifications of the present invention which come within the scope of the following claims or to which the present invention is readily susceptible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure are considered part of the present invention.

I claim: 5 1. A simple, inexpensive, toy detonating unit adapted to have its trigger means operated either instantaneously or after a predetermined period of time, comprising:

(a) movable firing means for detonating an explosive charge by rapid movement from a retracted position to an extended position; and

(b) movable trigger means operatively associated with said firing means for releasing said firing means including (I) a lever pivotally mounted adjacent and movable relative to said firing means, said lever having means thereon for releasably engaging and holding said firing means in its retracted position when said lever is in a first position and to permit its instantaneous release therefrom upon movement of said lever and (II) a time delay release means mounted adjacent said firing means and adapted to hold said lever in a second position for a predetermined period of time and then release the same, the lever having further means thereon adapted to hold said firing means in its retracted position when said lever is in said second position and held therein by said time delay release means.

2. A toy detonating unit as stated in claim 1 wherein said firing means comprises:

(a) a striking means including a hammer and spring,

saidspring biasing said hammer for rapid movement from said retracted position to said extended position; and

(b) a receiving means including an anvil positioned to determine the extended position of said hammer and adapted to receive and position an explosive 0 charge to be struck by said hammer at said extended position.

3. A simple, inexpensive toy detonating unit adapted to have its trigger means operated either instantaneously or after a predetermined period of time, comprising:

(a) a firing means for detonating an explosive charge by rapid movement from its retracted position to an extended position, including (I) a hammer and spring, said spring being adapted to bias said hammer for rapid movement from said retracted position to said extended position and (II) an anvil positioned to determine the extended position of said hammer and adapted to receive and position an explosive charge to be struck by said hammer at said extended position;

(b) trigger means operatively associated with said firing means for initiating the operation of said firing means, said trigger means including (I) a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said firing means, said lever having a boss thereon for maintaining said firing means in a retracted position when said lever is in a first position and permitting instantaneous release thereof upon movement of said lever, and

(II) a time delay release means mounted adjacent said firing means and adapted to hold said lever in a second position for a predetermined period of time and then release the same, said lever having a knob thereon engaging and maintaining said firing means in its retracted position when said lever is held in said second position by said time delay release means.

4. A toy detonating unit as stated in claim 3 wherein 75 said anvil has a pocket having a width such that when an explosive charge of the same width is placed therein said explosive charge is wedged and held in position.

5. A simple inexpensive toy detonating unit comprismg:

(b) movable trigger means for releasing said firing means comprising a lever pivotally mounted adjacent and movable relative to said firing means and having holding means thereon adapted to engage and hold said firing means in its retracted position and to permit its instantaneous release therefrom upon movement of said lever, said lever having two of said holding means thereon arranged so that said firing means may be retained in its retracted position with said lever in either of two positions, one of said holding means comprising a boss on said lever and so arranged that said firing means will bias said lever toward said firing means by engagement with said boss.

6. A toy detonating unit as stated in claim wherein said firing means comprises:

(a) a striking means including a hammer and spring, said spring being adapted to bias said hammer for rapid movement from said retracted position to said extended position; and

(b) a receiving means including an anvil positioned to determine the extended position of said hammer and adapted to receive and position an explosive charge to be struck by said hammer at said extended position.

7. A simple, inexpensive, toy detonating unit adapted to have its trigger means operated either instantaneously or after a predetermined period of time, comprising:

(a) firing means for detonating an explosive charge by rapid movement from a retracted position to an extended position; and

(b) trigger means operatively associated with said firing means for initiating the operation of said firing means, said trigger means including (I) a lever piovtally mounted adjacent said firing means, said lever having a first position in which it is adapted to maintain said firing means in its retracted posit-ion and to permit its instantaneous release therefrom upon movement of said lever,

(II) a time delay release means mounted adajcent said firing means and adapted to hold said lever in a lever in *a second position for a predetermined period of time and then release the same, the lever in said second position being adapted to maintain said firing means in its retracted position when said lever is held by said time delay release means;

(c) a boss on said lever for maintaining said firing means in a retracted position when said lever is in its first position, said boss being adapted to bias said lever towards said firing means by engagement therewith; and

(d) a knob on said lever for maintaining said firing means in a retracted position when said lever is in its second position, said knob being adapted to bias said lever away from said firing means by engagement therewith.

8. A simple, inexpensive, toy detonating unit adapted to have its trigger means operated either instantaneously or after a predetermined period of time, comprising:

(b) trigger means operatively associated with said firing means for initiating the operation of said firing means, said trigger means including (I) a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said firing means, said lever having a first position in which it is adapted to maintain said firing means in its retracted position and to permit its instantaneous release therefrom upon movement of said lever, and

(II) a time delay release means mounted adjacent said firing means and adapted to hold said lever in a second position for a predetermined period of time and then release the same, the lever in said second position being adapted to maintain said firing means in its retracted position when said lever is held by said time delay release means;

(0) said time delay means comprising a disk;

(d) a suction cup loosely mounted adjacent said disk,

said suction cup being adapted to be pressed into engagement with said disk and disengaged slowly therefrom; and

(e) latch means connected to said suction cup, said latch means being adapted to hold said lever adjacent said firing means in said second position when said suction cup engages said disk and to release said lever when said suction cup disengages from said disk.

9. A simple, inexpensive toy detcnating unit adapted to have its trigger means operated either instantaneously or after a predetermined period of time, comprising:

(a) a firing means for detonating an explosive charge by rapid movement from a retracted position to an extended position, including (I) a hammer and spring, said spring being adapted to bias said hammer for rapid movement from said retracted position to said extended position, and

(II) an anvil positioned to determine the extended position of said hammer and adapted to receive and position an explosive charge to be struck by said hammer at said extended position;

(b) trigger means operatively associated with said firing means for initiating the operation of said firing means, said trigger means including (I) a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said firing means, said lever having a boss thereon for maintaining said firing means in a retracted position and permitting instantaneous release therefrom upon movement of said lever when said lever is in a first position, and

(II) 'a time delay release means mounted adjacent said firing means and adapted to hold said lever in a second position for a predetermined period of time and then release the same, said lever having a knob thereon for maintaining in said second position of said lever said firing means in its retracted position when said lever is held by said time delay release means;

(0) said time delay release means comprising a disk;

(d) a suction cup loosely mounted adjacent said disk, said suction cup being adapted to be pressed into engagement with said disk and to disengage slowly therefrom; and

(e) latch means connected to said suction cup, said latch means being adapted to hold said lever adja cent said firing means in said second position when said suction cup engages said disk and to release said lever when said suction cup disengages from said disk.

10. A simple, inexpensive toy detonating unit adapted to have its trigger means operated either instantaneously or after a predetermined period of time, comprising:

(b) trigger means operatively associated with said firing means for initiating the operation of said firing means, said trigger means including (I) a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said firing means, said lever having a boss thereon for maintaining said firing means in a retracted position and permitting instantaneous release thereof upon movement of said lever when said lever is in a first position, and

(II) a time delay release means mounted adjacent said firing means and adapted to hold said lever in a second position for a predetermined period of time and then release the same, said lever having a knob thereon for maintaining in said second position of said lever said firing means in its retracted position when said lever is held by said time delay release means;

1% said hammer having a spaced pair of shoulders along its length, the first of said shoulders being more remote from said anvil than the pivot connection of said lever adjacent said firing means and the second of said shouldrs being closer to said anvil than said pivot connection, said first shoulder being adapted to be engaged by said boss and said second shoulder being adapted to be engaged by said knob.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1962 Ayala 46-196 4/1962 Lemelson 46196

Claims

1. A SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE, TOY DETONATING UNIT ADAPTED TO HAVE ITS TIRGGER MEANS OPERATED EITHER INSTANTANEOUSLY OR AFTER A PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME, COMPRISING: (A) MOVABLE FIRING MEANS FOR DETONATING AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE BY RAPID MOVEMENT FROM A RETRACTED POSITION TO AN EXTENDED POSITION; AND (B) MOVABLE TRIGGER MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FIRING MEANS FOR RELEASING FIRING MEANS INCLUDING (I) A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ADJACENT AND MOVAABLE RELATIVE TO SAID FIRING MEANS, SAID LEVER HAVING MEANS THEREOF FOR RELEASABLE ENGAGING AND HOLDING SAID FIRING MEANS IN ITS RETRACTED POSITION WHEN SAID LEVER IS IN A FIRST POSITION AND TO PERMIT ITS INSTANTANEOUS RELEASE THEREFROM UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER AND (II) A TIME DELAY RELEASE MEANS MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID FIRING MEANS AND ADAPTED TO HOLD SAID LEVER IN A SECOND POSITION FOR A PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME AND THE RELEASE THE SAME, TO HOLD HAVING FURTHER MEANS THEREON ADAPTED TO HOLD SAID FIRING MEANS IN ITS RETRACTED POSITION WHEN SAID LEVER IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION AND HELD THEREIN BY SAID TIME DELAY RELEASE MEANS.