US2932123A - Toy bombsight - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1960 c. R. DAUGHERTY 2,932,123

TOY BOMBSIGHT Filed Aug. 21. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l l w w I 198-.

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CHH?EJ` QAl/GHERTY TTORIVEYJ United States Patent TOY BOMBSIGHT Charles R. Daugherty, Detroit, Mich. Application August 21, 1957, Serial No. 679,413 8 Claims. (Cl. 46-1) This invention relates to the toy art and, more particularly, to a novel toy bombsight.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a toy bombsight which embodies a hollow boxlike body which is provided with a sloping bomb support or rack adapted to normally hold a plurality of imitation toy bombs. The hollow body is provided with an opening on the upper side thereof for loading bombs onto the bomb rack, and with an opening on the lower side through which the bombs may be discharged by means of a bomb release mechanism. The bombsight further includes a sighting means for aligning the discharge aperture with a target whereby the release mechanism may be operated to discharge a bomb on the target.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel toy bombsight which is lightweight, compact and rugged in construction and economical of manufacture.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a novel and amusing toy for children by which they can entertain themselves by simulating aircraft bombing activities.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Pig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken along the line 4 4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, with parts shown in section, taken along the line 5 5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, partly in section and taken along the line 6 6 thereof;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, with parts broken away, of a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention; and,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8, taken along the line 9 9 thereof.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. l and 4, the numeral 10 generally indicates a boxlike casing or hollow body which includes a right and left side wall, 11 and 12 respectively, a front end wall 13, a rear end wall 14, a bottom wall 15, and a top wall 16. The body 10 is made from a lightweight material and preferably from a suitable plastic. The various aforementioned Walls of the body 10 are ixedly secured together by any 2,932,123 Patented Apr. l2, 1960 ICC suitable means, and when made from plastic, they may be iixedly held together by any suitable adhesive.

As shown in Figs. l, 2 and 4. the body 10 is provided with an elongated opening 17 in the top wall 16 adjacent the rear wall 14. A sloping bomb slide 18 is fxedly mounted inside of the body 10 and is adapted to slidably support and act as a storage rack for a plurality of bombs 20 which are disposed on the upper tlat face 19 of the slide. The slide 18 is preferably made from a piece of elongated plastic and is fixed in place by any suitable means. The upper end of the bomb slide 18 is disposed below the opening 17 and is secured to the rear end wall 14, as at the point marked 21. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the body 10 is provided with a discharge opening 22 in the bottom wall 15 at a point adjacent the front end wall 13. The bomb slide 18 is xed to the bottom wall 15 with the lower end thereof disposed along the rear edge of the aperture 22, as indicated by the point marked 23.

As shown in Figs. l through 6, the bombsight includes a combined bomb retention and release means, generally designated by the numeral 24, and which includes the horizontal transversely disposed shaft 25. The shaft 25 is slidably mounted in the oppositely disposed apertures 26 and 27 formed in the body side walls 11 and 12, respectively, and is provided with an integral enlarged portion or head 28 on one end thereof. A coil spring 29 is mounted around the end of the shaft on which the head 28 is mounted, and this spring is disposed with one end thereof abutting the head 28 and with the other end thereof abutting the outer face of the side wall 11. The shaft 25 is provided with a longitudinally disposed upwardly and outwardly extended projection or guide member 30 which is adapted to be slidably received in the recess 31 formed in the side wall 12 and which recess communicates with the aperture 27. lThe guide member 30 coacts with the recess 31 to restrain the shaft 25 from rotation when this shaft is moved longitudinally, as more fully described hereinafter. The spring 29 normally biases the shaft 25 into the position shown in Fig. 5, and the guide member 30 acts as a stop member to limit the outward retractive movement of the shaft 25 caused by the biasing out force of the spring 29.

As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the bomb release means 24 further includes a first depending or downwardly extended nger or stop member 32 which is preferably integrally formed with the shaft 25. The linger 32 extends downwardly at an angle normal or perpendicular to the plane of the upper surface 19 of the bomb slide 18 and, as shown in Fig. 6, is normally disposed when the bombsight is in an operative position at a point substantially midway between the side walls 11 and 12. The finger 32 is provided on the left side thereof with a straight vertical edge and on the right side thereof with a curved edge, as 33, which is formed to a radius at least equal to or greater than the radius of the circular cross section of the bombs 20. As shown in Fig. 6, when the finger 32 is in the inoperative position, the nose or front end of the lowermost bomb 20 on the bomb slide 18 abuts this finger and is retained in the position shown in Fig. 4. The bomb release means 24 further includes an upwardly and rearwardly extended integral arm 34 which is disposed parallel to the bomb slide 18. Integrally formed on the rear end of the arm 34 is a second depending or downwardly extended linger or stop member 35 which is formed the same as the nger 32 but which is disposed in a relative reversed position. As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the arm 34 is made to a length whereby it is substantially as long as the bombs 20 whereby the nger 35 is adapted to be disposed in alignment with the nose of the secondmost lower bomb marked 20a. The arm 34 is formed on the shaft 25 so that when the bomb release means 24 is in the inoperative position, this arm will be disposed along the inner side of the body Wall 11 as shown in Fig. 5. The stop nger 35 is thus positioned normally alongside of the wall 11 and does not engage any bombs on the bomb slide 18. The right side of the stop finger 35 is formed with a straight vertical edge which, when the nger 35 is in the inoperative position shown in Fig. will abut the wall 11. The left side of the finger 35 is curved, as indicated by the numeral 36.

The bombsight is provided with a sighting means for aligning the bombsight with a target. The sighting means includes the circular aperture 37 which is formed in the body top Wall 16 at a point adjacent the front wall 13. A circular piece of transparent material, as transparent plastic 38, is xedly mounted in the aperture 37 and is provided with a pair of cross hairs 39 and 40 which are disposed at 90 degrees to each other. The circular member 38 is further provided with a circular hair line or mark 41, as shown in Figs. 1 through 3, which is centrally disposed thereon. As shown in Fig. 4, a centrally disposed pin 42 is tixedly mounted in the transparent disk 38 and is provided with an inwardly extended eyelet 43 in which is hingedly connected the upper end of a plumb bob wire 44 on the lower end of which is carried a plumb bob weight 45. As shown in Fig. 2, when viewed from the top, the plumb bob 45 presents a circular outline or marginal area which can be aligned with the circular outline 41 by holding the body in a level position.

The body 10 may be provided with various knobs and indicia for simulating bombsight controls. As, for example, as shown in Fig. 1, a pointer 46 and an arc shaped dial 47 could be formed on the outer surface of the body wall 11. The bombsight may further be provided with the knobs 48 and 49 for simulating operating knobs. The bomb release mechanism 24 may be formed as an integral unit, that is, the shaft 25 together with the arm 34 and ngers 33 and 35 and the head 28 and projection 30 may be formed as a one piece construction as, for example, by molding such one piece construction from a suitable plastic.

In use, the bombsight may be readied for operation by inserting the bombs 20, a and 20h through the aperture 17. The first loaded bomb 20 will slide down and abut the linger 32. The operator may discharge the lowermost bomb 20 onto a target by holding the bombsight over the target and looking downwardly through the transparent disk 38 and bringing the bombsight to a position whereby the plumb bob 45 is concentrically aligned with the circular mark 41 formed on the disk 38, as shown in Fig. 2. At this point, the operator would then push inwardly on the shaft head 28 so as to move the head to the dotted line position marked 50, as shown in Fig. 6. The shaft 2S will be moved to the dotted line position marked 51 and the linger 32 Will be moved to the dotted line position marked 52. The lowermost bomb 20 will then slide by gravity down the lower end of the bomb slide 18 and will be discharged through the exit aperture 22 onto the target. As shown in Fig. 6, when the shaft is moved inwardly, the finger 35 will be moved inwardly to the dotted line position marked 53 so as to engage the nose or front end of the second lowermost bomb as 20a to hold it in place during the discharge operation of the lowermost bomb 20. After the lowermost bomb 20 has been discharged, the operator releases the pressure on the shaft head 28 and the spring 29 will move the shaft outwardly of the body 10 back to the normal at rest position. At this time, the bomb 20a will clear the linger 35 and will slide down the bomb slide 18 until it hits the finger 33. The bomb 20h also simultaneously slides down onto the position formerly held by the bomb 20a. The bombsight is then ready for the discharge of the second bomb 20a and the aforedescribed discharge operation may then be carried out.

Fig. 7 discloses a second embodiment of the invention in which a modified sighting means is disclosed. The parts of the embodiment of Fig. 7 which are similar to the embodiment of Figs. 1 through 6 are marked with corresponding numerals followed by the small letter a. The modified sighting means of the second embodiment includes the aperture 37a and the transparent disk 38a mounted therein. The transparent disk 38a is provided with the cross hairs 39a and 40a but the circular hairline 41 employed in the embodiment of Fig. 1 is eliminated. A plate 54 of a transparent material such as a transparent plastic is xedly mounted in the body 10a by any suitable means at a point spaced downwardly from the upper wall 16a. The plate 54 is provided with a circular mark or outline 55 which is concentrically vertically aligned with the aperture 37a and which is of the same diametrical size as the aperture 37a. A pair of perpendicularly disposed cross hairs or marks 56 and 57 are formed on the plate 54 within the circle 55, and these hairlines are also disposed in a veritcal alignment with the hairlines 39a and 40a.

In the use of the embodiment of Fig. 7, the operation of the bombsight would be the same as was described hereinbefore for the embodiment of Fig. l with the eX- ception that the sighting step would be different. That is, when aligning the bombsight with a target, the operator would look downwardly through the transparent disk 38a and through the transparent plate 54 and would position the bombsight so as to align the hairlines 56 and 57 with the hairlines 39a and 40a before releasing a bomb.

Figs. 8 and 9 disclose a third embodiment of the invention in which a further modified sighting means is employed. The parts of the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 which are similar to the parts of the embodiment of Fig. 1 are marked with corresponding numerals followed by the small letter b. The transparent disk 38b would not be provided with the cross hairs 39 and 40 as are employed in the sighting means of the embodiment of Fig. 1, but a circular centrally disposed mark 41b would be formed thereon. Spaced downwardly from the upper body wall 16b is a supporting plate 58, preferably made from plastic and Xedly mounted within the body 10b by any suitable means. The plate 58 is provided with an aperture 59 which is disposed concentrically in vertical alignment with the aperture 37b in the upper body wall 16b. Fixedly mounted in the aperture 59 is a spirit level means, generally designated by the numeral 60. The spirit level means 60 is of a conventional type having an air bubble 61 therein whereby when the spirit level means 60 is held on a level plane, the bubble 61 assumes a position concentric with the circular outline of the level means, as shown in Fig. 9.

In the use of the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9, the `operation would be the same as for the embodiment of Fig. 1, with the exception of the sighting step. When aligning the bombsight of Figs. 8 and 9, the operator would look downwardly through the transparent disk 38b and would position the bombsight so as to vertically align the air bubble 61 with the circular outline 41b in the transparent disk 38b.

Although the body and bomb slide have been shown as being formed from a plurality of parts, it will be obvious that the body parts 12 through 16 and the gravitytype bomb slide 18 may be moulded in one solid piece of plastic material.

If desired, the hollow body of the bombsight of the present invention may be constructed from a single piece of heavy weight paper or cardboard which could be folded to form the various sides or walls of the body. In this case, the bomb slide and the folded sides could be secured together in any suitable manner, as by a tab and slot arrangement.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are well calculated to fulll the obiects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A toy bombsight, comprising: a hollow body; a downwardly sloping bomb support in said body for supporting a plurality of toy bombs for successive discharge therefrom; said body being provided with a first opening through which toy bombs may be loaded onto said support; said body being further provided with a second opening through which the toy bombs may be discharged from said support; means operatively mounted on said body for releasing said bombs, whereby, they may be discharged through said second opening onto a target; sighting means mounted in said body for aligning the bombsight with a target; said sighting means including a transparent member on said body disposed in vertical alignment with said second opening; said transparent member being provided with a circular mark thereon; and, a plumb bob suspended from a central location on the underside of said transparent member.

2. A toy bombsight, comprising: a hollow body; a downwardly sloping bomb support in said body for supporting a plurality of toy bombs for successive discharge therefrom; said body being provided with a rst opening through which toy bombs may be loaded onto said support; said body being further provided with a second opening through which the toy bombs may be discharged from said support; means operatively mounted on said body for releasing said bombs, whereby, they may be discharged through said second opening onto a target; sighting means mounted in said body for aligning the bombsight with a target; said sighting means including a transparent member on said body disposed in vertical alignment with said second opening; a transparent plate disposed in said body below said transparent member and in vertical alignment therewith; and, a pair of cross hairs on each of said transparent member and transparent plate.

3. A toy bombsight, comprising: a hollow body, a downwardly sloping bomb support in said body for supporting a plurality of toy bombs for successive discharge therefrom; said body being provided with a rst opening through which toy bombs may be loaded onto said support; said body being further provided with a second opening through which the toy bombs may be discharged from said support; means operatively mounted on said body for releasing said bombs, whereby, they may be discharged through said second opening onto a target; sighting means mounted in said body for aligning the bombsight with a target; said sighting means including, a transparent member on said body disposed in vertical alignment with said second opening; a plate disposed in said body below said transparent member; said transparent member being provided with a circular mark thereon; and, a circular spirit level means mounted on said plate in concentric vertical alignment with said transparent member.

4. A toy bombsight, comprising: a hollow body including a top wall, abottom wall, and a pair of spaced apart vertical side walls; a downwardly sloping toy bomb slide in said body for supporting a plurality of toy bombs; said body being provided with a iirst opening in said top wall adjacent the upper end of said slide through which toy bombs may be loaded onto said slide; said body being further provided with a second opening in said bottom wall adjacent the lower end of said slide through which the toy bombs may be discharged from said slide; said body being further provided with a third opening in said top wall adjacent the front end thereof and which is in vertical alignment with said second opening in the bottom wall; means operatively mounted on said body for releasing said toy bombs, whereby, they may be discharged through said second opening onto a target; and, a means for aligning said second opening with a target.

5. The invention as dened in claim 4, wherein: said means for aligning said second opening with a target includes, a transparent member mounted in said third opening; said transparent member being provided with a circular mark thereon; and, a plumb bob suspended from a central location on the underside of said transparent member.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein: said means for aligning said second opening with a target includes, a transparent member mounted in said third opening; a transparent plate disposed in said body below said transparent member and in vertical alignment therewith; and, a pair of cross hairs on each of said transparent member and transparent plate.

7. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein: said means for aligning said second opening with a target includes, a transparent member mounted in said third opening; a plate disposed in said body below said transparent member; said transparent member being provided with a circular mark thereon; and, a circular spirit level means mounted on said plate in concentric vertical alignment with said transparent member.

8. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein: said means operatively mounted on said body for releasing said toy bombs includes, a horizontal shaft slidably mounted between said side walls; a spring operatively mounted on said shaft for biasing the shaft to a normal inoperative position; a iirst stop linger mounted on said shaft and operative to retain the lowermost bomb on said slide when the shaft is in the inoperative position and to release said lowermost bomb for discharge through said second opening when the shaft is moved inwardly of said body against the outward biasingv action of said spring; and, a second stop linger carried by said shaft and operative to retain the second lowermost bomb on said slide when the lowermost bomb is discharged.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,359,383 Pitts Oct. 3, 1944 2,483,164 Wheeler Sept. 27, 1949 2,663,969 Kellogg Dec. 29, 1953 2,664,664 Bonanno et al. Jan. 5, 1954

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