US20190346231A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20190346231A1
Application number: US15/976,913
Authority: US
Inventors: Chor Ming Ma; Brownie Johnson
Original assignee: Buzz Bee Toys HK Co Ltd
Current assignee: Buzz Bee Toys HK Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-05-11
Filing date: 2018-05-11
Publication date: 2019-11-14
Also published as: CN110470180A

Abstract

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a reconfigurable toy gun.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toy guns are provided in many shapes and forms, but children are always excited by novel toy gun configurations.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a reconfigurable toy gun.

The above object is met by the combination of features of the main claims; the sub-claims disclose further advantageous embodiments of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first main aspect, the invention relates to a toy gun in which a barrel or a main barrel part can be moved between first and second positions where the barrel or the main barrel part, when in the first position, is not in alignment with the firing mechanism such that, upon actuation of the firing mechanism, a projectile is launched from the toy gun but not through the barrel or the main barrel part and, when in the second position, is aligned with the firing mechanism such that, upon actuation of the firing mechanism, a projectile is launched through the barrel or the main barrel part.

In a second main aspect, the invention provides a toy gun comprising a reconfigurable barrel and a firing mechanism configured such that, upon actuation, it launches a projectile through one or more parts of the barrel. The barrel comprises a first part and a second part arranged such that, in a first configuration of the barrel parts, a projectile launched by the firing mechanism passes through only a first part of the barrel and, in a second configuration of the barrel parts, a projectile launched by the firing mechanism passes through both parts of the barrel.

In a third main aspect, the invention provides a toy gun comprising a barrel, a firing mechanism configured upon actuation to launch a projectile through one or more parts of the barrel, and a foldable stock which, in a first configuration, folds under and surrounds a housing accommodating the firing mechanism, but without impeding a trigger of the firing mechanism.

The summary of the invention does not necessarily disclose all the features essential for defining the invention; the invention may reside in a sub-combination of the disclosed features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments which are provided by way of example only in connection with the accompanying figures, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view and rear-end view of a toy gun in accordance with a first embodiment in a first barrel configuration;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the toy gun ofFIG. 1 in the first barrel configuration with a cocking mechanism shown in a partially retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the toy gun ofFIG. 1 in the first barrel configuration with a cocking mechanism shown in a fully retracted position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the toy gun ofFIG. 1 in the first barrel configuration in a cocked condition;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the toy gun ofFIG. 1 in the first barrel configuration in a firing condition;

FIG. 6 is a forward-end view, side view and rear-end view of the toy gun ofFIG. 1 in a second barrel configuration;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the toy gun ofFIG. 1 in the second barrel configuration with a cocking mechanism shown in a partially retracted position;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the toy gun ofFIG. 1 in the second barrel configuration with a cocking mechanism shown in a fully retracted position;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the toy gun ofFIG. 1 in the second barrel configuration in a cocked condition;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the toy gun ofFIG. 1 in the second barrel configuration in a firing condition;

FIG. 11 is a partial exploded view of the barrel and firing mechanism housing of the of the toy gun ofFIG. 1 in the second barrel configuration;

FIG. 12 is a side view and rear-end view of a toy gun in accordance with a second embodiment in a first barrel configuration;

FIG. 13 is a side view and rear-end view of the toy gun ofFIG. 12 in the second barrel configuration;

FIG. 14 is a side view of a toy gun in accordance with a third embodiment with the barrel in a first configuration and the stock in a first configuration;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the toy gun ofFIG. 14 with the barrel in the first configuration and the stock in a second configuration;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the toy gun ofFIG. 14 with the barrel in the second configuration and the stock in the first configuration;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the toy gun ofFIG. 14 with the barrel in the second configuration and the stock in the second configuration;

FIG. 18 is a side perspective view of a toy gun in accordance with a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a side perspective view of a toy gun in accordance with a fifth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is of preferred embodiments by way of example only and without limitation to the combination of features necessary for carrying the invention into effect.

Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments, but not other embodiments.

In the following description, reference will be made to the barrel of the toy gun comprising a first barrel part and a second barrel part where the first barrel part may be provided in a housing of the firing mechanism and which may, in some embodiments, comprise an aperture in a wall of said housing. Reference to the second barrel part should be considered as a reference to a main barrel part. It will be understood, however, that, in some embodiments, there may be a single barrel comprising the barrel of the toy gun with no barrel part provided in the housing of the firing mechanism. Consequently, reference to the second barrel part being pivotally connected to the first barrel part should be taken as including embodiments where the single barrel is pivotally mounted to the firing mechanism.

Referring to the drawings,FIG. 1 provides a side view and rear-end view of atoy gun10 in accordance with a first embodiment. Thetoy gun10 has areconfigurable barrel12. It has afiring mechanism14 contained in ahousing16. Thefiring mechanism14 includes atrigger18. Thehousing16 preferably includes agun grip20. Thefiring mechanism14 is configured such that, upon actuation by depression of atrigger18, it launches aprojectile22 through one or more parts of thebarrel12.

Thebarrel12 comprises afirst part12A and asecond part12B arranged such that, in a first configuration of thebarrel parts12A,B as depicted inFIGS. 1 to 5, aprojectile22 launched by thefiring mechanism14 passes through only afirst part12A of thebarrel12. In a second configuration of the barrel parts shown inFIGS. 6 to 10, aprojectile22 launched by thefiring mechanism14 passes through both parts of thebarrel12A,B. In the first configuration of thebarrel parts12A,B, thetoy gun10 can be considered as being in a short-barrelled pistol configuration. In the second configuration of thebarrel parts12A,B, thetoy gun10 can be considered as being in a long-barrelled pistol configuration or in a rifle configuration, the latter especially being the case if thetoy gun10 includes a rearwardly extending stock224 (FIGS. 15 and 17).

Thefiring mechanism14 is of a known type for atoy gun10 which fires elongatedsoft projectiles22 designed not to cause injury. Thefiring mechanism14 is therefore preferably of a type known from toy guns commonly referred to as “blasters”.

Thesecond barrel part12B is preferably pivotally connected to thefirst barrel part12A such that, when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their first configuration, thesecond barrel part12B is positioned parallel to and preferably above thefirst barrel part12A. Thesecond barrel part12B is preferably much longer in length than thefirst barrel part12A such that it overlies the length of thehousing16 when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their first configuration. In any event, thesecond part12B of the barrel preferably forms ascope26 for aiming thetoy gun10 when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their first configuration. In some embodiments, only thesecond barrel part12B is provided as a single barrel which is pivotally mounted to thefiring mechanism housing16.

Thehousing16 may be provided with a retainingmember28 adapted to engage or grip asight member30 provided on a free end of the barrelsecond part12B to prevent said barrelsecond part12B from flipping up during use of thetoy gun10 when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their first configuration. The housing may also be provided with acatch member32 on its forward end which engages with alatch member34 which holds thebarrel parts12A,B in alignment when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their second configuration.

Thefirst barrel part12A is preferably accommodated in thehousing16 and, in some embodiments, may comprise anaperture36 in afront wall37 of the housing as best seen inFIG. 11. Thecatch member32 is preferably provided on saidfront wall37 adjacent theaperture36.

Thefiring mechanism14 is cocked and loaded by acocking mechanism38. The cocking mechanism is preferably provided on thesecond barrel part12B and includes a cockingslide40 which, in use, is gripped by a user and slid along thesecond barrel part12B. In a first backward stroke towards the rear of thetoy gun10, the slide40 (i) compresses afiring mechanism spring44 and (ii) turns aprojectile chamber39 to position a next projectile22 in line with at least thefirst barrel part12A ready to be launched from thetoy gun10. In a second forward stroke towards the front of thetoy gun10 theslide40 charges air into apiston cylinder46 of thefiring mechanism14. Thecocking mechanism38 also includes a linkingrod42 which extends between theslide40 and thefiring mechanism14. Sliding movement of theslide40 causes sliding movement of the linkingrod42.

The linkingrod42 comprises first and second pivotally connectedparts42A,B. Preferably, the first andsecond parts42A,B of the linking rod are pivotally connected about a same pivot axis as the first andsecond parts12A,B of the barrel but only under the condition when theslide40 is in its non-retracted position (FIGS. 1 and 6).

FIG. 2 shows theslide40 in a partially retracted position when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their first configuration andFIG. 7 shows theslide40 in a partially retracted position when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their second configuration. It can be seen inFIG. 2 that theslide40 pulls the linkingrod42 towards thefiring mechanism14 whereas inFIG. 7 it can be seen that the slide pushes the linkingrod42 towards thefiring mechanism14.

FIG. 3 shows theslide40 in a fully retracted position when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their first configuration andFIG. 8 shows theslide40 in a fully retracted position when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their second configuration.

FIG. 4 shows theslide40 returned to its normal forward position by which it charges air into thepiston46 when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their first configuration andFIG. 9 shows theslide40 returned to its normal forward position when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their second configuration.

FIG. 5 shows a projectile22 being fired from thetoy gun10 when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their first configuration andFIG. 10 shows a projectile22 being fired from thetoy gun10 when thebarrel parts12A,B are in their second configuration.

FIG. 12 is a side view and rear-end view of a second embodiment of the toy gun in a first barrel configuration whilstFIG. 13 is a side view and rear-end view of the toy gun ofFIG. 12 in the second barrel configuration. In the description of the second embodiment, like numerals to those used in connection with the first embodiment, but preceeded by numeral “1” will be used to denote like parts.

In the second embodiment of thetoy gun110, thecocking mechanism138 is provided on thehousing116 such that the cocking mechanism does not require a pivotable linking rod. Despite the structural differences with the first embodiment, thecocking mechanism138 of the second embodiment operates in largely the same manner using backward and forward strokes of theslider140 to prepare thetoy gun110 for firing a projectile122. One difference over the first embodiment is that an upper surface of theslider140 is concave and thereby adapted to receive thesecond barrel part112B when the barrel112 is in its first configuration (FIG. 12).

FIGS. 14 to 17 show a third embodiment of the toy gun. In the description of the third embodiment, like numerals to those used in connection with the first embodiment, but preceeded by numeral “2” will be used to denote like parts.

The third embodiment of thetoy gun210 includes astock224. It should be understood that thestock224 can also be provided in the first and second embodiments of the toy gun.

Thestock224 is preferably pivotally mounted to a rear end of thehousing216, although it may be attachable to thehousing216 in other foldable manners. In a first stock configuration of thetoy gun210, thestock224 folds under thehousing216, but without impeding thesecond barrel part212B arranged in the first configuration of the barrel parts as shown inFIG. 14. Thestock224 preferably folds under and surrounds thehousing216. To facilitate this, one or more central regions of thestock224 are preferably recessed.

InFIG. 15, thestock224 is shown in its second, extended configuration by which thetoy gun210 can be considered as being in a rifle configuration.

FIG. 16 shows thetoy gun216 with the barrel212 in its second configuration and thestock224 in its first configuration whereasFIG. 17 shows thetoy gun216 the toy gun with the barrel212 in its second configuration and thestock224 in its second configuration.

FIGS. 14 to 17 therefore demonstrate four configurations of the toy gun, namely (i) with both the barrel and the stock in their first unextended configurations; (ii) with the barrel in its first unextended configuration and the stock in its second extended configuration; (iii) with the barrel in its extended second configuration and the stock in its unextended first configuration; and (iv) the both the barrel and the stock in their second extended configurations.

FIG. 18 is a side perspective view of a toy gun in accordance with a fourth embodiment. In the description of the fourth embodiment, like numerals to those used in connection with the first embodiment, but preceeded by numeral “3” will be used to denote like parts.

Thetoy gun310 shows thesecond barrel part312B pivotally connected to an end face of thehousing316, but such that the barrel, when in its first position, is located to one side of thehousing316 accommodating the firing mechanism (not shown). Thesecond barrel part312B could be used as a scope in this embodiment. The catch (not shown) for securing thesecond barrel part312B in its second position aligned with the first barrel part (not shown) and the firing mechanism is affixed adjacent to a far side edge of the front face of the housing.

Theslider340 of the cocking mechanism for operating the firing mechanism is provided on the top of thehousing316 in this embodiment, but operates in accordance with the same methodology as the other embodiments.

FIG. 19 is a side perspective view of a toy gun in accordance with a fifth embodiment. In the description of the fourth embodiment, like numerals to those used in connection with the first embodiment, but preceeded by numeral “4” will be used to denote like parts.

Thetoy gun410 shows thesecond barrel part412B pivotally connected to anend face437 of thehousing416, but such that the barrel, when in its first position, is located under the forward part of thehousing416 accommodating the firing mechanism (not shown), but without impeding thetrigger418. Thecatch432 for securing thesecond barrel part412B in its second position aligned with thefirst barrel part412A and the firing mechanism is affixed adjacent to an upper edge of thefront face437 of the housing. Thefirst barrel part412A extends into a windowed portion of thehousing416, but does not extend outwardly from thehousing416.

Theslider440 of the cocking mechanism for operating the firing mechanism is provided on the top of thehousing416 in this embodiment, but operates in accordance with the same methodology as the other embodiments.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only exemplary embodiments have been shown and described and do not limit the scope of the invention in any manner. It can be appreciated that any of the features described herein may be used with any embodiment. The illustrative embodiments are not exclusive of each other or of other embodiments not recited herein. Accordingly, the invention also provides embodiments that comprise combinations of one or more of the illustrative embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the invention as herein set forth can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and, therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated by the appended claims.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Claims

1. A toy gun comprising:

a barrel;

a firing mechanism configured upon actuation to launch a projectile through the barrel or a main part of the barrel;

wherein the barrel or the main barrel part can be moved between first and second positions where the barrel or the main barrel part, when in the first position, is not in alignment with a firing mechanism such that, upon actuation of the firing mechanism, a projectile is launched from the toy gun but not through the barrel or the main barrel part and, when in the second position, is aligned with the firing mechanism such that, upon actuation of the firing mechanism, a projectile is launched through the barrel or the main barrel part.

2. The toy gun ofclaim 1, wherein the barrel or the main barrel part, when in the first position, acts as a scope for the toy gun.

3. The toy gun ofclaim 1, wherein the barrel or the main barrel part is pivotally connected to the firing mechanism such that, when the barrel or main barrel part is in its first position, the barrel or main barrel part is positioned above, below or to a side of the firing mechanism.

4. The toy gun ofclaim 1, wherein the firing mechanism is accommodated in a housing.

5. The toy gun ofclaim 1, wherein a cocking mechanism for the firing mechanism is provided on the the barrel or the main barrel part.

6. The toy gun ofclaim 5, wherein the barrel or main barrel part is pivotally connected to the firing mechanism about a pivot point and a linking rod connecting the cocking mechanism to the firing mechanism is pivotable about the same pivot point.

7. The toy gun ofclaim 1, wherein a cocking mechanism for the firing mechanism is provided on a housing accommodating the firing mechanism.

8. The toy gun ofclaim 7, wherein a top surface of the cocking mechanism provides a channel for receiving the barrel or main barrel part when the barrel or main barrel part is in its first position.

9. The toy gun ofclaim 1, further comprising a foldable stock which, in a first configuration, folds under a housing accommodating the firing mechanism, but without impeding the barrel or main barrel part when said barrel or main barrel part is in its first position.

10. A toy gun comprising:

a reconfigurable barrel;

a firing mechanism configured upon actuation to launch a projectile through one or more parts of the barrel;

wherein the barrel comprises a first part and a second part arranged such that, in a first configuration of the barrel parts, a projectile launched by the firing mechanism passes through only a first part of the barrel and, in a second configuration of the barrel parts, a projectile launched by the firing mechanism passes through both parts of the barrel.

11. The toy gun ofclaim 10, wherein, in the first configuration of the barrel parts, the second part of the barrel forms a scope for the toy gun.

12. The toy gun ofclaim 10, wherein the second barrel part is pivotally connected to the first barrel part such that, when the barrel parts are in their first configuration, the second barrel part is positioned parallel to the first barrel part.

13. The toy gun ofclaim 10, wherein the second barrel part is pivotally connected to the first barrel part such that, when the barrel parts are in their first configuration, the second barrel part is positioned above the first barrel part.

14. The toy gun ofclaim 10, wherein the first part of the barrel is provided in a housing accommodating the firing mechanism.

15. The toy gun ofclaim 14, wherein the first part of the barrel comprises an aperture in the housing accommodating the firing mechanism.

16. The toy gun ofclaim 10, wherein a cocking mechanism for the firing mechanism is provided on the second part of the barrel.

17. The toy gun ofclaim 16, wherein the second barrel part is pivotally connected to the first barrel part about a pivot point and a linking rod connecting the cocking mechanism to the firing mechanism is pivotable about the same pivot point.

18. The toy gun ofclaim 10, wherein a cocking mechanism for the firing mechanism is provided on a housing accommodating the firing mechanism.

19. The toy gun ofclaim 18, wherein a top surface of the cocking mechanism provides a channel for receiving the second barrel part when the barrel parts are in their first configuration.

20. The toy gun ofclaim 10, further comprising a foldable stock which, in a first configuration, folds under a housing accommodating the firing mechanism, but without impeding the second barrel part being placed in the first configuration of the barrel parts.

21. A toy gun comprising:

a barrel;

a foldable stock which, in a first configuration, folds under and surrounds a housing accommodating the firing mechanism, but without impeding a trigger of the firing mechanism.