US3399485A - Combined water gun and bubble forming toy - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 1968 c. CASHAVELLY ETAL 3,399,435

COMBINED WATER GUN AND BUBBLE FORMING TOY Filed Aug. 16, 1965 INVENTORS. CHRISTY CASHAVELLY LEROY JAMES SULLIVAN United States Patent 3,399,485 COMBINED WATER GUN AND BUBBLE FORMING TOY Christy Cashavelly, Fairfield, Conn. (290 Eastfield Drive,

Bridgeport, Conn. 06604), and Leroy James Sullivan,

24 Woodward Ave., New Haven, Conn. 06512 Filed Aug. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 479,798 4 Claims. (Cl. 46-8) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination water gun and bubble forming device having the muzzle thereof formed with an apertured tubular extension for dipping into a bubble forming solution. Arcuate movement of the gun releases bubbles from the apertured extension which may be burst by a stream of fluid ejected therefrom when the gun is aimed thereat.

This invention relates to amusement devices and particularly to an improved water gun having means integral therewith capable of forming bubbles when the water gun is loaded with water.

Water guns are notoriously old, as are devices for forming bubbles, including bubble guns. These devices independently provide amusement for children as well as grown-ups. To applicants knowledge, no one has ever combined in a single unitary structure a water gun and a device for forming bubbles with the gun loaded with water.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a combined water gun and bubble-forming device in a unitary construction such that bubbles can be created with the water gun loaded with Water so that upon the formation of bubbles, they may be used as targets and broken by a jet of water issuing from the gun.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a structure in which the bubble-forming device is mounted at the muzzle end of the gun in a fashion such that it does not detract from the normal appearance of the gun.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a structure in which the bubble-forming device that is an integral part of the water gun can form the bubbles by a simple arcuate movement of the gun through air when the gun is held by a user.

In one aspect of the invention, a water pistol may comprise a housing adapted to contain a body of water. It may include a double-acting valve device that is rendered effective by a spring opposed piston connected to the trigger of the pistol.

In another aspect of the invention, the arrangement is such that upon squeezing of the trigger of the pistol, a metered quantity of liquid within the reservoir of the pistol is caused to be forced out through the muzzle of the pistol.

In a further aspect of the invention, the muzzle end of the pistol may be provided with an extension, and a ringshaped opening may be provided therein having a bead thereabout so that when the muzzle end of the pistol is dipped into bubble-forming solution, a quantity of the solution is entrapped Within said extension.

When the pistol is held in one hand, with a charge of the bubble-forming solution Within the extension of the muzzle, an arcuate movement of the arm will produce a series of bubbles that begin to float gently downwardly. The user may then squeeze the trigger, ejecting a jet of water thereby to break the bubbles as they fall.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing which are merely exemplary.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a water pistol to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 22 of FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 3 is a plan view looking in the direction of the arrows along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the apparatus as it is being moved in an arcuate path, forming bubbles; and

FIG. 5 shows the gun as it is used to break the bubbles as they float toward the ground.

Although the principles of the invention may be applied with equal facility to water guns of the rifle type which may include bubble-forming devices at the end of the muzzle, or which may include separate bubbleforming constructions as a part of the rifle, the principles of the invention have been shown, and will be described in their simplest form as applied to a water pistol 10 including a hollow housing 11 having a hand-grip 12. The entire interior of the housing 11 may be hollow, forming a water chamber that may be filled through an opening 13 that is closed by a removable plug 14. The housing 11 also includes a frame or guard 15 surrounding a trigger 16 that is pivotally or reciprocably mounted within a slot 17 in a manner well known in the art.

A valve 18 may be mounted within the chamber in the housing 11 and it may include a compartment 19 having inlet and outlet passages 20 and 21. A tubular member 22 may be connected to the inlet passage 20, and it may include a ball 23 that normally rests on the top of the tubular element 22..

A fitting 25 may be attached to the outlet 21, and a ball 26 may normally rest on the top of outlet 21. A tube 27 may connect the fitting 25 to a nozzle 28 at the forward end of the pistol 10.

The trigger 16 acts on a rod 29 of a piston 30, the latter being reciprocably mounted within the compartment 19. A spring 31 within compartment 19 normally urges the piston 30 and the trigger 16 leftwardly (FIG. 1).

With the compartment within the housing 11 filled with water and the trigger 16 in its rightward position (compressing spring 31), release of the trigger 16 will cause the spring 31 to move the piston 30 leftwardly, thereby drawing a metered quantity of water through the inlet tube 22 past the ball 23 into the compartment 19. Squeezing of the trigger 16 then forces the ball 23 onto its seat and the water within compartment 19 upwardly through the outlet 21 and through the tube 27 and out the nozzle 28. The previously described structure is well known water pistol construction and per se forms no part of the present invention except in its relationship in the combination with the structure to be described.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the forward end of the muzzle of the pistol 10' may include an extension 32 having substantially the configuration of the muzzle of the pistol 10. The forward end of the extension 32 may include an opening 33 surrounded by a bead 34. In the embodiment disclosed, opening 33 is shown elliptical and is located on the top of the muzzle of the pistol. It could, of course, be of other configuration and could be located anywhere about the muzzle so long as there is an opening opposite it to permit air to be eflective in forming the bubbles with it. Or, the bubble-forming means could take the form of a ring above the muzzle through which air may be blown by the user. The portion of extension 32 opposite opening 33 is open at 35, and a flange 36 is provided for a purpose to be described later.

With the pistol 10 loaded with water, the front end may be dipped into a bubble-forming solution, withdrawn, and the gun moved in a relatively smooth, arcuate path, whereupon air passes through the opening 33 producing a series of bubbles. Or, the user may hold the pistol pointing angularly upward and blow through the opening 33. The user may then test his skill by squeezing the trigger 16 in an effort to break the bubbles with a jet of water from the pistol as the bubbles descend toward the ground. The flange 36 prevents any excess bubble solution from running back along the lower side of the pistol onto the hand of the user.

Although the various features of the improved combined water gun and bubble-forming device have been described in detail to fully disclose one embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that changes may be made in such details and certain features may be used without others without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy, the combination comprising a means including a Water gun and a bubble forming device, said water gun including a chamber adapted to contain water; a valve means within said chamber adapted to be actuated by the trigger of said water gun for ejecting a metered quantity of water from the muzzle of said water gun; and said bubble forming device having a longitudinally extending apertured tubular means integrally connected near the muzzle end of said water gun for forming bubbles.

2. In a toy according to claim 1 wherein the water gun comprises a hand grip portion, :a muzzle portion and a tubular extension connected to said muzzle portion, said 4 extension including an opening therethrough across which a film of bubble-forming solution is formed, said extension being open at a location opposite said muzzle.

3. In a toy according to claim 2 wherein said opening includes flange means at the beginning of said extension for collecting excess bubble-forming solution.

4. In a toy, the combination comprising a means including a water gun and a bubble forming device, said water gun including a chamber adapted to contain water; a valve means within said chamber adapted to be actuated by the trigger of said water gun for ejecting a metered quantity of Water from the muzzle of said water gun; said bubble forming device including elongated means having at least one circular opening a diameter of which is parallel to the longitudinal axis and adjacent the outer end thereof, said elongated means extending from and secured to said muzzle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,382,949 8/1945 McLaren 46-6 2,832,173 4/1958 Winfield 46-8 3,142,200 7/1964- Stillman 467 X LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

r J R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner.

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