Combination of a water gun and bow

[57] ABSTRACT

A “water gun” type toy which simulates a bow and arrow and for launching a stream of water. A normally vertical bow portion of the toy has a reservoir for holding a quantity of water for a plurality of water “shots.” A normally horizontal arrow portion of the toy acts as a water pump for drawing water from the reservoir as a simulated arrow portion is pulled against the force of an elastic string spanning the bow. The arrow includes a piston and cylinder device with the front portion of the arrow being the cylinder and the rear or “feather” portion of the arrow being the piston. Release of the rear portion of arrow forces water through a hole in the end of the piston portion of the arrow under the biasing of the elastic string.

Claims, 5 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED APR 151975

3.877,611

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3,877,61 1

COMBINATION OF A WATER GUN AND BOW

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the past, water guns or squirt guns have been provided which enable the user to eject a stream or “squirt” of water for use by children or in amusementtype games. Modifications of the principle also have been produced which use a syringe-type bulb secured to a weapon such as a knife or a gun to eject a longer “stream” of water. The present invention encompasses a novel combination wherein a simulated bow and arrow is used to launch a stream of water.

The water gun type device of the present invention is in the form of a simulated bow and arrow comprising a generally hollow, bow portion for hand grasping by the user with a cavity therein providing a reservoir for water or other fluid. A simulated arrow is mounted on the bow portion intermediate the ends thereof and generally transversely thereto. The arrow comprises a piston and cylinder device, with the piston forming a firing chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir in the bow and having an ejection opening at one end thereof. A reciprocal plunger means forms the piston and is slidably received within the firing chamber. A string is secured to the ends of the bow and to one end of the plunger to bias the plunger toward the ejection opening. Check valve means is provided at the ejection opening and between the reservoir and firing chamber whereby the check valve means causes the fluid from the reservoir to enter the firing chamber when the plunger is pulled against the biasing force of the string and causes said fluid to be expelled through the ejection opening when the plunger is moved in the opposite direction under the biasing force of the string after it is released.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the simulated bow and arrow “water gun” device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the device of the present invention in cocked position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, on a further enlarged scale, of the check valve between the firing chamber and reservoir;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 2 showing the device in released position; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the check valve at the ejection opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 1, the invention, generally designated 10, is a “water gun” device which simulates a blow and arrow combination. The device includes a bow portion, generally designated 12, an arrow portion generally designated 14, and an elastic string 16 stretched across the end points of the bow 12.

The bow portion 12 is generally hollow, and is formed of plastic or other suitable material. Near the central portion of the bow 12, a pair of ribs 20 are provided and form an interior cavity providing a reservoir 22 for the storage of water or other fluid to be used in the device. A plug 24 is provided in a hole 25 at the uppermost end of the reservoir 22 to permit the introduction of fluid into the reservoir to fill the same.

A flexible tube 26 depends from the arrow portion 14 on the inside of the reservoir 22, generally to the bottom of the reservoir, providing fluid communication between the reservoir and the arrow 14, as described hereinafter.

The arrow portion 14 is a piston and cylinder type device and includes a front extended cylinder or firing chamber 28 which may be molded integrally with or assembled to the bow portion 12, with portions thereof extending on both sides of the bow 12. The reservoir is wider than the bow portion for passage of the fluid thereabout. The cylinder or firing chamber 28 has an ejection opening 30 at the front end thereof for ejecting a stream of water into the air.

A spring biased check valve, generally designated 34, is enclosed within the cylinder 28 near the ejection opening 30. The check valve 34 includes a valve stem 36 having a rounded head 36« which is biased by a spring 38 into contact with an inwardly disposed annular restriction 40 which provides a seat for the valve head 36a.

A second, gravity operated check valve, generally designated 44, is provided for the firing chamber 28 within the cavity or reservoir 22 of the bow portion 12. The check valve 44 includes a weighted valve stem 48 having a rounded head 48« disposed within a downwardly directed tubular portion 50. The tubular portion 50 is closed by a downwardly tapered, conical trap or seat 52 connected to or integral with’the tube 26. The valve head 48« engages the conical seat 52 to prevent fluid from slowing from the firing chamber 28 into the reservoir 22 through the tube 26, when the device is in its normal vertical orientation shown in the drawings.

A rear plunger or piston portion 56 of the arrow 14 is slidably received within the internal diameter of the firing chamber 28 and is connected to a slidable piston rod or “arrow” 58 protruding from the end of the firing chamber 28 opposite the ejection opening 30. The arrow 58 has an enlarged cylindrical portion 60 and four fins 62, similar to feathers, at the rear end thereof. The enlarged portion 60 provides a stop for the plunger as it engages the back of the firing chamber 28. The end of the arrow 58 is engageable by the string 16 in a slot between a pair of tabs 64.

In operation, the reservoir 22 is filled with water or other fluid through the hole 24. The firing chamber 28 can be filled with water through the check valve 44, as seen generally in FIG. 3, by drawing the arrow 58 rearwardly in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 2) against the biasing force of the string 16. when the arrow is drawn all the way to the position shown in FIG. 3, with the piston or plunger at the rear end of the firing chamber, the device is ready for discharging through check valve 34, as seen in FIG. 2. When released, the string forces the plunger 56 in a direction opposite that of arrow A, thereby insuring the closure of the check valve 44 and forcing open the check valve 34, causing a stream of

3,877,61 1 water to be ejected through the ejection opening 30. However, a user may readily discharge or eject the water by manually pushing rapidly oft the rear portion 58 of the arrow. The device 10 is shown in its discharged state in FIG. 4. 5

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.