Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means – Supply means carried receiver flow control opening means
Utility Patent
1999-01-05
2001-01-02
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means
Supply means carried receiver flow control opening means
C141S349000, C222S079000, C222S386500
Utility Patent
active
06167925
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to toy water guns having expandable bladders and more particularly, to a toy water gun having an expandable bladder which can be charged using a pump located on the water gun or an auxiliary hose connection for quick charging the water gun.
Bladder water guns having an on-board pump are known, such as disclosed in applicant's prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/672,941, filed on Jun. 28, 1996, now allowed, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.
Such water guns have proven to be extremely popular and successful in the market. However, it would be desirable to provide a water gun which can be rapidly charged without the need for pumping if an external pressurized water source, such as public water, is available. This would provide for enhanced enjoyment and ease of use, especially for younger users who may have more difficulty using the manual pump. Additionally, it would desirable to maintain the ability to pressurize the water gun using a manual pump located on the gun when an external source of pressurized water is not available. Other improvements which should reduce the cost of manufacturing are also provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the present invention provides for a toy gun having a housing. A trigger is attached to the housing. A liquid storage tank is provided on the housing along with a pressure chamber having an opening which receives an expandable bladder. Also attached to the housing is a pump which is in fluid communication with the liquid storage tank. The pump is adapted to transfer liquid from the liquid storage tank to the expandable bladder in order to charge the expandable bladder with pressurized liquid as the pump is actuated by a user. In addition, a release valve is included for regulating a discharge of liquid contained in the expandable bladder. A path of fluid communication provides fluid communication between the expandable bladder, the pump, the storage tank and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly is adapted for insertion into a quick charge device. The quick charge device is adapted to force liquid from the quick charge device and through the nozzle assembly in order to recharge the expandable bladder. Once the bladder is recharged, movement of the trigger displaces the release valve to regulate the movement of pressurized liquid through a part of the path of fluid communication for discharging a stream of liquid from the nozzle assembly.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a toy gun system adapted to discharge a stream of liquid under pressure. The system includes a toy gun and a recharging adapter. The toy gun has a housing, a nozzle assembly at one end of the housing, a pump connected to the housing, a liquid storage tank attached to the housing, and a pressurizable chamber having an opening located on the housing. An expandable bladder is located in the pressure chamber, and a path of fluid communication is provided between the bladder, the pump, and the nozzle assembly. The recharging adapter includes a receptacle adapted to receive he nozzle assembly. A valve body is slidably disposed in the receptacle, and a liquid channel is located in the valve body. An attachment is provided on the recharging adapter for connection to an external source of pressurized liquid. The nozzle assembly of the toy gun is adapted to be inserted in the receptacle of the recharging adapter to displace the valve body to an open position allowing liquid from an external source of pressurized liquid to travel through the valve body, the nozzle assembly and the path of fluid communication and into the expandable bladder.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating a toy gun system. The method includes:
(a) providing a toy gun having a housing, a liquid storage tank attached to said housing, a pressure chamber having an opening located on said housing, an expandable bladder located in said pressure chamber, a pump, and a path of fluid communication between a nozzle assembly, said expandable bladder and said pump;
(b) charging said expandable bladder by one of:
(i) pumping liquid via said pump from said storage tank through said path of fluid communication into said expandable bladder; and
(ii) inserting said nozzle assembly in a receptacle of a recharging adapter and moving a normally closed valve body to an open position allowing pressurized liquid to flow from said recharging adapter through said nozzle assembly and said path of fluid communication into said expandable bladder;
(c) discharging said bladder by displacing said release valve via a trigger connected to said release valve to eject a stream of liquid from said toy gun; and
(d) recharging said toy gun in accordance with step (b).
REFERENCES:
patent: 5850941 (1998-12-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5875927 (1999-03-01), D'Andrade
patent: 5915771 (1999-06-01), Amron
D'Andrade Bruce M.
D'Andrade Mary Ann
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Field, L.L.P.
Bui Thach H.
D'Andrade Mary Ann
Shaver Kevin
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