US3149432A - Toy gun construction - Google Patents

Description

m- 1 M. E. HIRSCH 3,149,432

TOY GUN CONSTRUCTION Filed June 29, 1962 ANVENTOR Mil 1 f/nzrcfi BY 2&1

M Mam ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,149,432 TOY GUN CONSTRUCTION Mahlon E. Hirsch, Fairview, Pa., assignor to Louis Marx & (10., Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No. 206,333 3 Claims. (Cl. 42-54) This invention relates generally to toys of the type adapted to project a missile, and is especially concerned with toy guns.

While the device of the present invention has been primarily developed and employed for use in a simulated automatic pistol of the Luger type, it is understood that the unique features disclosed herein are capable of many varied applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a toy construction wherein a gun or the like is adapted to propel a missile at one location in the gun by percussion of a cap at another, remote location.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toy-gun construction having a simulated breech lock which is automatically actuated upon trigger operation, and which may be selectively operated either by or independently ofthe trigger-and-hammer mechanism.

It is still anotherobject of the present invention to provide a gun construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which is extremely simple in structure, capable of accurately simulating a real gun, and durable and entirely reliable throughout a long useful life.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a gun construction of the present invention in an inoperative condition, and partially broken away;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the gun in a cocked operative condition of use;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view, broken away, and illustrating independent operation of the breech-lock mechanism;

FIG, 5 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating operation of the missile-propelling structure; and

FIG. 6 is a partial top view showing the anvil apart from the gun.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, a toy gun is there generally designated 10 and may advantageously be fabricated of plastic, as by injection-molding, and formed of a pair of longitudinally extending, complementary facing halves 11.

More particularly, a longitudinally extending tubular forepart or barrel is constituted of a pair of generally semicylindrical barrel halves 13 which are adhesively or otherwise secured together in facing relation along a meeting line 14. The barrel 10 has its forward end 15 open and is formed interiorly with an internal shoulder 16 adjacent to and spaced rearward from the forward barrel end.

Extending rearward from the rear end of the barrel 12 is a hollow rear part or breech 20 composed of complementary, facing breech parts or halves 21 suitably joined together along a longitudinal center line, as at 22. The hollow breech 20 is formed on its upper side with a longitudinally extending through opening 23, as best seen in FIG. 3. A handgrip 24 depends from the breech 20 for holding by the user.

Interiorly of the barrel 12 in the forward or muzzle end region thereof is a tubular body or receiver 26 for supporting engagement with a hollow, generally cupped missile or projectile 27. The tubular receiver 26 is interiorly hollow and provided at its rear end with an annular rib or collar 28 secured in the shoulder 16 to mount the receiver in spaced relation within the barrel. As best seen in FIG. 5, the receiver 26 has its rear end open, and is provided with an outlet opening or port 29 in its forward end wall. A cupped missile 27 is therefore insertable into the muzzle end of barrel 12 for supported engagement on the tubular missile receiver 26.

An anvil is generally designated 30 and best seen in FIG. 6. The anvil may include a generally flat plate 31 formed with a central through opening or port 32. Side wings 33 may extend laterally from opposite side edges of the anvil plate 31; and, a marginal wall 34 having an inturned lip 35, may extend about the lower and side edges of the anvil plate 31. Also, a connection tube or nipple 36 may project from the anvil plate 31 on the face opposite to the marginal wall 34. Thus, the tubular extension 36 has one end opening to the port 32. The above-described anvil 30 may be integrally formed of metal, as by die-casting or other suitable means.

In the assembly, the anvil 33 is located at the forward end of breech opening 23, with the plate 31 extending obliquely forward and upward and the wall 34 located on the rearward side toward the breech opening. More specifically, the breech 2th is formed at the forward end of opening 23 with an anvil-mounting formation 40 havmg an inclined surface 41 facing rearwardly and upwardly and formed with a bore or hole 42 extending from the surface 41;, generally normal thereto, forwardly and downwardly for opening into the interior of the breech. The anvil plate 31 seats against the mounting surface 41 with the nipple 36 extending through the bore 42; and, the breech is provided with lateral grooves or slots 43 receiving the wings 33. Thus, the anvil 30 is secured in its forwardly inclined relation in the breech 20 at the forward end of breech opening 23.

A conduit or tube 45 extends longitudinally interiorly of the barrel 12 between the the receiver 26 and anvil 30. The conduit or tube 45 has its forward end 46, see FIG. 5, secured interiorly of the receiver 26 for communi cation with the interior thereof, and extends rearward therefrom. Within the breech 20, the tube 45 is curved or bent, as at 47, so that its rear portion 48 inclines rearwardly for entry in and securement to the nipple 36 of the anvil 30. Flexible tubing, such as polyethylene or similar plastic has been found advantageous for use as conduit 45. Such tubing facilitates manufacture, enabling the bend 47 to be made at assembly, and is entirely satisfactory in operation, as will appear presently.

A trigger 50 has its upper end pivotally mounted, as by a pin 51 interiorly of the breech 20, generally beneath the curved region 47 of the conduit 45, and depends to a free end 52 beneath the breech for finger actuation. Mounted interiorly of the breech 20 rearward of the trigger 50 is a hammer 55 which has its lower end pivoted, as at 56 interiorly of and at a lower region within the breech, beneath the forward region of breech opening 23. The hammer 55 extends upwardly from its pivotal mount ing 56 to an upper end 57 located in spaced relation within and movable forwardly and rearwardly along the breech opening 23 toward and away from the anvil 30. The upper hammer end 5'7 may be provided with an enlarged head 58 for percussive engagement with the rear face of anvil plate 31 upon forward hammer movement. Suitable resilient means, such as a tension spring 59, may be connected between a medial region of the hammer 55 and a forward point in the breech 20, such as the pivotal mount 51, whereby the hammer is resiliently urged forward toward its engagement with the anvil 30.

Within the breech opening 21, the hammer 55 is provided with a pair of laterally oppositely outstanding lugs r bosses 61 which move forwardly and rearwardly along the breech opening 23 with the hammer, for a purpose appearing presently. The hammer is also formed with a boss or lug 62 extending laterally from one side of the hammer adjacent to and spaced above its lower end pivotal mount 56.

An operating link 64 extends generally forwardly and rearwardly along the lower region of breech 26, having its forward portion 65 angulated forwardly and upwardly, while its rearward portion 66 is angulated rearwardly and upwardly. Just rearward of the forward link portion 65, the link 64 is pivoted, as by a pin 67 to an intermediate region of the trigger 50, and just forward of the rear portion 66 the link 64 is shown as resting on the lug 62 in FIG. 2. A tooth 68 depends from the link 64 just forward of the lug 62, and a pin 69 is fixed in the breech 20 in engagement with the underside of rear link portion 66, all for a purpose appearing presently. Suitable resilient means, such as a tension spring 76 may be provided with its opposite ends respectively connected to the forward end of forward portion 65 and extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom to an anchor member 71 fixed in the breech 20. Thus, the operating link 64 is resiliently urged clockwise by the resilient element 70 about the pivotal connection 67, to maintain the rear link portion 66 in engagement with the guide member 69. Upon rearward finger actuation of the trigger 50, the tooth 68 engages the lug 62 to swing the hammer 55 rearward; and simultaneously the rear link portion 66 rides on the cam or guide 69 to elevate the operating link 64. This condition is shown in FIG. 3, wherein the tooth 68 is just about to ride over the boss 62 and thereby release the hammer 55 for forward percussive movement against the anvil 30. Release of the trigger permits the latter to swing forward and bring the operating link 64 forward to return to its illustrated position of FIG. 2.

Mounted in the breech opening 23, behind the hammer 55, in a mechanism, generally designated 75, which accurately simulates a breech lock. The breech-lock mechanism 75 includes a pair of articulated, forward and rearward toggle links 76 and 77 which are located in the same generally vertical plane and connected at their adjacent ends by a pin 78. The rear link 77 has its rear end pivoted to a rearward region of the breech 20, as by a pin 79, while the forward end of the front link 76 is provided with a pair of laterally outstanding lugs 80 respectively constrained to forward and rearward sliding movement in slots 81 formed in respective breech parts 21 on opposite sides of and facing laterally into the forward region of breech opening 23. Thus, the forward .4 region of forward toggle link '76 is constrained to forward and rearward sliding movement in the breech opening 23.

Suitable resilient means, such as a spring 83, may be connected to the rear toggle link 77 and bear against a fixed pin 84 to resiliently urge the rear toggle link counterclockwise, as seen in the drawings, so as to bias the toggle linkage 76, 77 to its generally aligned condition substantially entirely within the breech opening 23, with the forward end of forward toggle link 76 toward the upper hammer end 57. The spring 83 is preferably relatively Weak, and finger-actuable projections are provided, as at 86 and 87 exteriorly proximate to the pivotal mount 79 for effecting rearward retraction of the toggle linkage 75, as shown in FIG. 4.

The forward end of front toggle link 76 is cut away, as at 90, for receiving the upper hammer region 57 and to define a pair of laterally spaced legs 91 for forward extension in the forward region of breech opening 23 on opposite sides of the upper hammer portion 57. The legs 91 each have their forward region formed with a notch or cutout 92 for receiving a respective lug or boss 61 of the hammer 55. That is, upon rearward hammer movement, the lugs 61 engage in respective cutouts 92 to effect rearward movement of the toggle linkage 66, 67 as illustrated in FIG. 3. However, the cutouts 92 are configured to permit the forward ends of legs 91 to ride rearward apart from the lugs 61 for actuation of the toggle linkage 76, 77 independently of the hammer 55. That is, upon finger actuation of the projections 86, 87, the toggle linkage may be swung rearward to the position illustrated in FIG. 4, entirely independently of the hammer 55.

In FIG. 5 is shown the operation with a percussion cap 95 on the anvil 3t) and being percussively engaged by the hammer 55. Gases of explosion pass through the port 32, as indicated by the arrows 96, forward through the tube or conduit 45, to the receiver 26, from which they escape at the forward port 29 to propel the missile 27 forward. Of course, the cap 95 may then be removed and replaced, and a missile engaged on the receiver for repetition of the above-described procedure. It will be noted that the operation accurately simulates that of a real pistol, and also that the forward inclination of the anvil 30 facilitates loading and removal of a cap 95, as well as the upper hammer end 57 serving to effectively cover the anvil to prevent rearward sparking.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a toy-gun construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Toy gun for projecting a hollow missile having one open end, comprising complementary casing halves secured together in mating relation to form a single hollow casing having a front longitudinal barrel portion, a rear breech portion and a handle portion depending from said breech portion, the interior spaces of said casing portions communicating with each other to form a continuous overall casing cavity, said barrel having a front end opening, a missile receiver internally mounted in said barrel adjacent its front end and having a through longitudinal bore, said receiver adapted to receive said missile with the front of said receiver extended frictionally into the open end of said missile, said breech having an opening, an anvil having a front and rear face and longitudinal through port mounted in the opening of said breech, said anvil adapted to receive a percussion cap on its rear face overlying said port, a hammer mounted in said breech for movement into and out of percussive relation with said rear face of said anvil, and a longitudinally extending flexible hollow tube extending through said barrel and to said breech, said receiver having means on its rear receiving the front of said tube in fluid communication with said bore, said anvil having means on its front receiving said tube in fluid communication with said port, whereby cap explosion pressure is transmitted through said tube to said receiver for projecting a missile.

2. Toy gun according to claim 1, said breech opening being on the upper side of said breech, said anvil being inclined so that its rear face is in forwardly inclined relation in said opening, for convenient loading and safe explosion.

3. Toy gun according to claim 2, said front face of said anvil being inclined correspondingly to said anvil rear face and the rear of said tube being correspondingly bent for connection to said anvil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 145,745 Mills et a1. Dec. 23, 1873 2,088,891 Brubaker Aug. 3, 1937 2,561,849 Everett July 24, 1951 2,765,710 Bradley Oct. 9, 1956 2,983,064 Hirsch et a1. May 9, 1961 3,039,366 Imthurn et al June 19, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,009,973 Germany June 6, 1957

Claims (1)

1. TOY GUN FOR PROJECTING A HOLLOW MISSILE HAVING ONE OPEN END, COMPRISING COMPLEMENTARY CASING HALVES SECURED TOGETHER IN MATING RELATION TO FORM A SINGLE HOLLOW CASING HAVING A FRONT LONGITUDINAL BARREL PORTION, A REAR BREECH PORTION AND A HANDLE PORTION DEPENDING FROM SAID BREECH PORTION, THE INTERIOR SPACES OF SAID CASING PORTIONS COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER TO FORM A CONTINUOUS OVERALL CASING CAVITY, SAID BARREL HAVING A FRONT END OPENING, A MISSILE RECEIVER INTERNALLY MOUNTED IN SAID BARREL ADJACENT ITS FRONT END AND HAVING A THROUGH LONGITUDINAL BORE, SAID RECEIVER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID MISSILE WITH THE FRONT OF SAID RECEIVER EXTENDED FRICTIONALLY INTO THE OPEN END OF SAID MISSILE, SAID BREECH HAVING AN OPENING, AN ANVIL HAVING A FRONT AND REAR FACE AND LONGITUDINAL THROUGH PORT MOUNTED IN THE OPENING OF SAID BREECH, SAID ANVIL ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PERCUSSION CAP ON ITS REAR FACE OVERLYING SAID PORT, A HAMMER MOUNTED IN SAID BREECH FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF PERCUSSIVE RELATION WITH SAID REAR FACE OF SAID ANVIL, AND A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FLEXIBLE HOLLOW TUBE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BARREL AND TO SAID BREECH, SAID RECEIVER HAVING MEANS ON ITS REAR RECEIVING THE FRONT OF SAID TUBE IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID BORE, SAID ANVIL HAVING MEANS ON ITS FRONT RECEIVING SAID TUBE IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID PORT, WHEREBY CAP EXPLOSION PRESSURE IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH SAID TUBE TO SAID RECEIVER FOR PROJECTING A MISSILE.

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