GB2371241A

GB2371241A - A water gun for a leisure vessel that floats on water

Info

Publication number: GB2371241A
Application number: GB0101583A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Joseph Moseley; Harold John Levy
Original assignee: HARRY LEVY AMUSEMENT CONTRACTO
Current assignee: HARRY LEVY AMUSEMENT CONTRACTO
Priority date: 2001-01-22
Filing date: 2001-01-22
Publication date: 2002-07-24
Also published as: GB0101583D0

Abstract

A water gun 2 for a leisure vessel 4 that floats on water, which water gun 2 comprises a body portion 6 for connection to the leisure vessel 4, a head portion 8 which is able to move with respect to the body portion 6, a water inlet 10 for the entry of water to the water gun 2, a water outlet 12 in the head portion 8, and a pump 14 which is operated by a user of the water gun 2 and which is for pumping water through the water outlet 12, whereby the water gun 2 is able to fire water in a desired direction consequent upon the user operating the pump 14 and moving the head portion 8 in the required direction of aim. A adjuster 16 may be provided to adjust the water flow from a spray to a jet. The pump 14 may be a manually operated pump actuated by a handle 22 that is rotated. The head portion 8 is preferably mounted on a universal joint. A clamp is preferably provided to clamp the body portion 6 to the vessel.

Description

A WATER GUN FOR A LEISURE VESSEL THAT FLOATS ON WATER This invention relates to a water gun and, more especially, this invention relates to a water gun for a leisure vessel that floats on water.

Leisure vessels that float on water and that are used for fun are well known. They include various types of flotation boards, pedalos, rafts and boats. They are used in many different environments including water activity parks, water activity centres, swimming pools, lidos, seas, rivers and lakes. Irrespective of the actual type of leisure vessel and irrespective of where the leisure vessel is being used, there is always a need for something that is able to heighten the degree of leisure and fun achievable by a user of the leisure vessel. It is an aim of the present invention to provide one such device.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a water gun for a leisure vessel that floats on water, which water gun comprises a body portion for connection to the leisure vessel, a head portion which is able to move with respect to the body portion, a water inlet for the entry of water to the water gun, a water outlet in the head portion, and pump means which is operated by a user of the water gun and which is for pumping water through the water outlet, whereby the water gun is able to fire water in a desired direction consequent upon the user operating the pump means and moving the head portion in the required direction of aim.

The water gun of the present invention can be arranged for connection to existing leisure vessels of any suitable and appropriate type. Alternatively, the water gun can be formed as an integral part of new leisure vessels of any suitable and appropriate type.

Preferably, the water gun includes adjuster means for adjusting the flow of water from the water outlet. Thus, for example, the adjuster means may be for adjusting the flow of water from a spray to a jet. The user of the water gun can then decide what type of water to fire, for example in dependence upon whether the water is to be aimed at a short range target or a long range target.

Preferably, the head portion includes a hand grip portion. The hand grip portion is then able to facilitate the movement of the head portion for firing. Generally, the head portion can be arranged to move as desired for firing purposes so that the head portion can be arranged to move up and down and left to right.

The head portion may move on any suitable and appropriate means to give the required movement of the head portion. Thus, the head portion may move on a universal joint.

The water outlet will usually be in the form of a nozzle. Any suitable and appropriate type of water outlet may however be employed.

The pump means preferably has a handle which is rotated by the user for causing the pump means to pump water. Other type of pump means may however be employed so that, for example, the pump means may have a foot-operated device for causing the pump means to pump water.

Preferably, the water gun includes filter means for filtering the water to be pumped. This helps to avoid the pump becoming blocked, for example with seaweed. The filter means will usually be positioned at the water inlet but the filter means may be positioned elsewhere if desired.

The body portion may include clamp means for clamping the water gun to the leisure vessel. The body portion may be connected to the leisure vessel by other means if desired, for example using bolts or ties.

The present invention also extends to a leisure vessel that floats on water, when provided with the water gun of the present invention. The leisure vessel may be any suitable and appropriate type of vessel including a floatation board, a pedalo, a raft, or a boat.

The water gun may be constructed of any suitable and appropriate materials. Thus, for example, the body portion may be moulded from a glass reinforced plastics material. Various other components of the water gun may be made from plastics materials, stainless steel or other non-corroding metals. The leisure vessel may be constructed from materials currently used. Thus, for example, if the leisure vessel is a floatation board, then it may be constructed from a high buoyancy foam material encased in a plastics or glass reinforced plastics skin.

Strengthening may be added where required.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a water gun mounted on a leisure vessel in the form of a floatation board; Figure 2 is a top view of the water gun and floatation board shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the water gun removed from the floatation board and thus able to be fitted to other types of leisure vessels that float on water; and Figure 4 is an exploded view of a water gun like that shown in Figure 1, and illustrates how the water gun may be fitted to vessels such for example as pedalos, rafts or boats.

Referring to Figures 1-3, there is shown a water gun 2 for a leisure vessel 4 that floats on water and that is in the form of a floatation board. The water gun 2 comprises a body portion 6 for connection to the leisure vessel 4, and a head portion 8 which is able to move with respect to the body portion 6. The water gun 2 also comprises a water inlet 10 for the entry of water to the water gun 2. The water gun 2 still further comprises a water outlet 12 which is in the head portion 8 and which is in the form of a nozzle.

The water gun 2 includes pump means 14 which is operated by a user of the water gun 2. The pump means 14 is for pumping water through the water outlet 12. Thus the water gun 2 is able to fire water in a desired direction consequent upon the user operating the pump means 14 and moving the head portion 8 in a required direction of aim.

The head portion 8 is provided with adjuster means 16 for adjusting the flow of water from the water outlet 12.

Thus the adjuster means 16 may be used for adjusting the flow of water from a spray to a jet, for example in dependence upon whether an intended target is at a short range or at a long range from the water outlet 12.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the head portion 8 includes a hand grip portion 18. The hand grip portion 18 is able to be gripped by a person sitting astride the leisure vessel 4.

The shape of the leisure vessel 4 is shown in Figure 2. A person will normally sit on the illustrated floatation board at the seat position 20. The person will then have his or her legs dangling on either side of the seat portion 20. The person is then able to grip the hand grip portion 18 for the purpose of operating the water gun 2.

The water gun 2 has a handle 22 which is rotated by the user for causing the pump means 14 to pump water. Any suitable and appropriate type of pump means may be employed. The operation of the handle 22 may be arranged to build up pumping pressure in a reservoir (not shown).

When the pressure in the reservoir becomes depleted, then further rotation of the handle 22 will be required in order to fire water from the water outlet 12.

The water gun 2 includes filter means 24 for filtering the water to the pump means 14. The filter means 24 may be in the form of the illustrated apertures in Figure 1, which form a mesh through which the water has to pass. Any suitable and appropriate type of filter means may be employed.

Figure 3 shows the water gun 2 separated from the leisure vessel 4 in the form of the floatation board. It will be seen that the body portion 6 has a pipe 26 for passing through the floatation board and for receiving water from the water inlet 10.

Figure 4 shows how the water gun 2 of Figures 1,2 and 3 may be fixed to a support plate 28 using bolts 30. The underside of the support plate 28 has a tube 32 and strengthening webs 34.

The tube 32 fits inside a curved tube 36 as shown. A fixing device 38 having a tightening screw 40 is employed for securing the two tubes 32,36 together. As can be seen from Figure 4, in the tightened position of the fixing device 38, the screw 40 is tightened up so that it tightly engages the tube 32.

The curved tube 36 is such that it has an end portion 42 for receiving a clamp assembly 44. The clamp assembly 44 has an aperture 46 which receives the end portion 42. A fixing device 48 having a tightening screw 50 is employed to secure the clamp assembly 44 to the end portion 42 of the curved tube 36.

The clamp assembly 44 has an open mouthed aperture 52 for fitting over the side, or another appropriate part, of a leisure vessel such for example as a pedalo, raft or a boat. The clamp assembly 44 is able to be secured in position by a fixing device 54 having a tightening screw 56. The tightening screw 56 terminates in a clamp plate 58 which is able to abut against the side or other appropriate part of the leisure vessel, and thus hold the water gun 2 in position without damaging the leisure vessel.

The water gun 2 can be made as a fun item, for example from brightly coloured plastics materials. It can easily be secured in position and used. Much enjoyment can thereby be given to users, thereby enhancing the enjoyment that they would normally obtain from using their existing leisure vessel.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the water gun may be made as an integral part of a newly made leisure vessel. The leisure vessel 4 in the form of the floatation board shown in Figure 2 can be of a different shape so that, for example, it could be in the form of a floatation board such as a surf board or the type of floatation device used for wind surfing. Completely different types of leisure vessels such for example as pedalos, rafts and boats can be provided with the water gun instead of floatation boards. The pump means 14 could be such that the handle 22 could be pumped up and down instead of being rotated in order to self-prime and operate the pump means 14. Still further, the pump means could be foot operated.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A water gun for a leisure vessel that floats on water, which water gun comprises a body portion for connection to the leisure vessel, a head portion which is able to move with respect to the body portion, a water inlet for the entry of water to the water gun, a water outlet in the head portion, and pump means which is operated by a user of the water gun and which is for pumping water through the water outlet, whereby the water gun is able to fire water in a desired direction consequent upon the user operating the pump means and moving the head portion in the required direction of aim.
2. A water gun according to claim 1 and including adjuster means for adjusting the flow of water from the water outlet.
3. A water gun according to claim 2 in which the adjuster means is for adjusting the flow of water from a spray to a jet.
4. A water gun according to any one of the preceding claims in which the head portion includes a hand grip portion.
5. A water gun according to any one of the preceding claims in which the head portion moves on a universal joint.
6. A water gun according to any one of the preceding claims in which the water outlet is a nozzle.
7. A water gun according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pump means has a handle which is rotated by the user for causing the pump means to pump water.
8. A water gun according to any one of the preceding claims and including filter means for filtering the water to the pump.
9. A water gun according to claim 8 in which filter means is positioned at the water inlet.
10. A water gun according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion includes clamp means for clamping to the leisure vessel.
11. A water gun for a leisure vessel that floats on water, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A leisure vessel that floats on water, when provided with a water gun according to any one of the preceding claims.
13. A leisure vessel according to claim 12 and in the form of a floatation board, a pedalo, a raft, or a boat.