Patent Publication Number: US-2011059675-A1

Title: Water entertainment device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/240,091 entitled WATER VEST filed Sep. 4, 2009 and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/303,064 entitled WATER VEST AND WATER ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE filed Feb. 10, 2010, the entire content of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to a water entertainment device or toy including multiple triggers for multiple output nozzles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an article of clothing including at least one fluid reservoir and at least one nozzle operable to spray water provided from the fluid reservoir. Additional nozzles may be provided and operated by separate triggers. In addition, the article of clothing may be omitted if desired. 
     2. Related Art 
     Water guns have long been enjoyed by children, and some adults, as a good way to cool down during hot summer days. Over the years, water guns have been improved to maximize capacity, range and soaking ability in various ways. While these improvements and variations offer users many options, generally speaking, water guns are hand held devices which are subject breakage, if dropped for example. In addition, conventional water guns typically only allow for shooting water in one direction from one nozzle. 
     Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a water entertainment device that avoids these and other problems. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a water entertainment device including an article of clothing that allows a user to spray water at others. 
     It is another object of the present application to provide a water entertainment device with multiple nozzles that are operated using multiple triggers. 
     A water entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes an article of clothing wearable by a user, a fluid reservoir connected to the article of clothing and configured to hold an amount of fluid, an output nozzle mounted on the article of clothing and configured to output a stream of fluid, a pump in fluid communication with at least one of the water reservoir and the output nozzle and configured to pump fluid from the water reservoir to the output nozzle and a control device to control output of water from the output nozzle. 
     A water entertainment device according to an embodiment of the present application includes a fluid reservoir configured to hold an amount of fluid, a plurality of output nozzles, each output nozzle configured to output a stream of fluid, a pump in fluid communication with at least one of the fluid reservoir and at least one output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles and configured to pump fluid from the water reservoir to the at least one output nozzle; and a controller configured to control flow of fluid to the plurality of output nozzles, the controller including a plurality of input devices, each input device controlling flow of fluid to a single output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles. 
     A water entertainment device in accordance with another embodiment of the present application includes a fluid reservoir configured to hold an amount of fluid, a plurality of output nozzles, each output nozzle configured to output a stream of fluid, a plurality of piston pumps, each piston pump of the plurality of piston pumps in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and at least one output nozzle of the plurality of output nozzles and configured to pump fluid from the water reservoir to the at least one output nozzle and a plurality of input devices, each input device connected to a single piston pump of the plurality of piston pumps such that movement of the input device pumps fluid from the fluid reservoir to the at least one output nozzle. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a water entertainment device including an article of clothing in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 2  is another view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a more detailed view of a rotatable nozzle and fluid reservoir suitable for use in the device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view of an alternative controller for use in the device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of a rear view of a water entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 5A  is an exemplary schematic illustration of a piston pump suitable for use in the device of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of a rear view of a water entertainment device in accordance with another embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of a water entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 8  is an illustration of a water entertainment device in accordance with another embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 9  is an illustration of a water entertainment device in accordance with another embodiment of the present application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     A water entertainment device  1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present application preferably includes an article of clothing  10  with at least one fluid reservoir  11  (See  FIGS. 2-3 ) that holds a quantity of a fluid such as water. The article of clothing  10  preferably includes at least one, and preferably several nozzles  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , for example, that are in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir such that the nozzles project fluid from the clothing  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a first nozzle pair  12   a  is positioned with a nozzle on each shoulder. A second nozzle pair  12   b  is mounted on the chest of the article of clothing. A single nozzle  12   c  may be provided on the rear of the article of clothing  10  (See  FIGS. 5 and 6 , for example). The positioning of the nozzles  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  in the figures herein is merely one possible arrangement and any other desired arrangement of the nozzles may be used as desired. The reservoir  11  may be attached to or incorporated into the article of clothing  10 , as desired. 
     A pump  15  (See  FIG. 2 , for example) is preferably provided in or on the article of clothing  10  and is used to pump fluid from the fluid reservoir to the nozzles  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c . The pump  15  may be an electrical pump or any other suitable pump. In an alternative embodiment, water may be provided from the fluid reservoir to the nozzles  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  via air pressure, in which case, a separate air reservoir may be used. The pump  15  may be used to pressurize the air in such an air reservoir. Alternatively, air pressure may be increased in the fluid reservoir  11  to provide the desired pressure necessary to drive the fluid to and out from the nozzles  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c . In a preferred embodiment, the reservoir  11  is in fluid communication with one or more nozzles  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  via one or more outlet hoses  30 , as is explained in further detail below. A battery pack  19 , or other power module, may also be included in the article of clothing  10  (see  FIG. 2 , for example). The battery pack  19  may provide power to the pump  15 , if it is an electric pump. In a preferred embodiment, each nozzle  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  includes, or is connected to a valve  17  (See  FIG. 3 , for example) that can be opened and closed to control output from the nozzles. The valve  17  may be controlled via a switching mechanism, such as a solenoid, for example, or may be manually moved to the open and closed positions. The battery pack  19  may provide power to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism is not limited to a solenoid, and any other suitable switching device may be used. 
     In a preferred embodiment, at least one control device, or controller  16  is provided so that the user can control which nozzles  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  are active to distribute fluid. The control device  16  preferably includes at least one input device  20  that allows the user to select which of the nozzles  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  are active. In a preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , for example, two control devices  16  are provided. Each control device  16  is preferably shaped to fit easily into a user&#39;s hand and is connected to the article of clothing  10  via a cable C. If desired, any other suitable connection, such as a wireless connection, for example, may be used. In  FIG. 1 , three input devices  20  are provided on each controller  16 , however additional inputs may be added. In one embodiment, one input device  20  activates the first pair of nozzles  12   a , a second input device activates the second pair of nozzles  12   b  and the third input device activates the rear nozzle  12   c . Alternatively, each of the input devices  20  may be used to control a single nozzle, rather than a pair. In a preferred embodiment multiple control devices  16  are provided, as can be seen in  FIGS. 1-2 , for example. 
     In one embodiment, the control device  16  may be removably attached to the article of clothing  10  such that it can be easily stored when not in use. For example, a hook and loop type connector  19  (See  FIG. 2 , for example) may be provided on the article of clothing  10  and the control device  16 . Preferably, each control device  16  may be removably connected to the article of clothing  10  such that more than one connector may be used. This allows the control device  16  to be removably carried on the article of clothing, if desired. While a hook and loop type connector is described, any suitable connector may be used. 
     An inlet  18  is preferably provided to refill the fluid reservoir  11  and is positioned on the inner rear surface of the article of clothing  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , for example. The input device  20  may simply be a button used to activate a solenoid, or solenoids to open the appropriate valve  17  to allow water from the reservoir to pass through the desired nozzle. Alternatively, the input device  20  itself may move the valve  17  as desired. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a more detailed view of a nozzle  12   a . As illustrated, the nozzle  12   a  is preferably rotatably mounted on a shoulder of the article of clothing  10  such that it can be rotated to direct water in any desired direction. Preferably, both of the nozzles  12   a  are rotatably mounted. The nozzles  12   a  may be rotated manually, if desired. Alternatively, a drive mechanism may be provided to rotate the nozzles  12   a . Nozzles  12   b  and  12   c  are similarly structured and function in a similar manner. 
       FIG. 3  further illustrates an exemplary connection between the reservoir  11  and the nozzle  12   a  via an output hose  30 . In one embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the valve  17  is provided in the reservoir  15  where the hose  30  meets the reservoir. The valve  17 , however, may be positioned at any point along the hose  30  or at the end thereof. The valve  17  may also be positioned in the nozzle  12   a  itself, if desired. 
     The article of clothing  10  is illustrated as a vest herein, however, it may be any desirable article of clothing. While there are five nozzles illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , any suitable number of nozzles may be used. In one embodiment, a single pump  15  may be used to supply fluid to all of the nozzles, however, one or more additional pumps may be used, if desired. Further, fasteners  22  are preferably provided on the front of the vest to secure it to the user. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the control device  16  including additional input devices  20 . In this embodiment, each device  20  on each of the controllers may control one or more of the nozzles  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  as desired. While five inputs  20  are illustrated in  FIG. 4 , fewer or additional input devices may be used. The input devices  20  in turn preferably control the valves  17  discussed above to provide water to each of the nozzles. 
     In another embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , for example, the controller  16  may be embodied as a more traditional style water gun with multiple triggers serving as the input devices  20 . In this particular embodiment, each trigger  20  is used to pump water to one of the nozzles  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c . That is, each trigger  20  serves as a manual pump element to an individual nozzle of the article of clothing  10 . The pumps used in this embodiment are the traditional piston pumps used in conventional water guns where the trigger element  20  itself moves with the piston to provide the pumping function. 
     Each of the input devices  20  is preferably a part of a piston pump. An example of such a piston pump  50  is illustrated in  FIG. 5A . Specifically, the input device  20 , a trigger in  FIG. 5A , is connected to the piston  52  of the pump  50 . The pump  50  of  FIG. 5A  is illustrated in a traditional water gun, however, its operation is similar regardless of specific application. The trigger  20  moves back and forth with the piston  52  as it slides in the cylinder  54 . A spring  56  biases the piston  52  outward in the direction of arrow A. An inlet hose  57  is connected to the pump body  51  and is in fluid communication with a reservoir  11  of water or other fluid. An outlet hose  59 , similar to outlet hose  30  discussed above, is also in fluid communication with the pump body  51 . In operation, as the piston  52  moves into the cylinder  54 , the volume in the pump body  51  decreases to force fluid and air out of the pump body  51 . The spring  56  moves the piston in the opposite direction such that the volume in the pump body increases to draw water and air into the body  51 . 
     In order to ensure that water only enters the pump body  51  via the inlet hose  57  and only exits via the outlet hose  59 , a one way valve  53  is positioned at the point where the inlet hose  57  connects with body  51 . The valve  53  ensures that water can only move from the hose  57  into the body  51 . A second one way valve  55  is provided where the outlet hose  59  connects to the body  51  to ensure that water only flows outward from the body into the hose. Thus, when the piston  52  moves into the cylinder  54 , reducing the volume in the body  51 , water is forced from the body into the hose  59  and out of water gun. The spring  56  returns the cylinder  52  to an outer position, increasing the volume in the body  51  and thus drawing water from the reservoir through the hose  57  into the body  51 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , a separate trigger  20  and piston pump are preferably provided for each nozzle. That is, the outlet hose of each piston pump is connected to a single nozzle. Accordingly, a single trigger  20  and its associated piston pump controls flow out of a single nozzle. If desired, of course, the outlet hose of a single piston pump could be connected to multiple output nozzles such that one trigger controlled flow out of several different nozzles. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of the present application in which manual pumping is provided. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the controllers  16  preferably include manual pump elements  16   a  that are used to build pressure in pressure chambers  16   b  which in turn provides pressure to control water output from the nozzles  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c . The controller  16  also includes at least one input device  20  shaped like a trigger to control water output from the nozzles  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c . While a single trigger  20  is shown, additional triggers may be used. The triggers  20  preferably control valves that open and close to connect the pressurized chambers  16   b  to the fluid reservoir  11 . It is noted that the embodiments of  FIGS. 5 and 6  described above do not require the central pump  15  or the power module  19 , but may use them if desired. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a water entertainment device  100  in accordance with another embodiment of the present application. The device  100  is similar to a more traditional piston pump style water guns discussed above, where the user depresses a trigger  120  to generate pressure to expel water from a nozzle  112 . The triggers  120  are preferably a part of piston pump assemblies  115  similar to piston pump  50  described above. In the device  100 , two separate triggers  120  are provided to expel water from two separate nozzles  112 . In this embodiment, a reservoir of fluid  111  is generally provided in the handle of the device  100  and is in fluid communication with the nozzles  112  via the inlet and outlet hoses of the pumps  115  and pump body, for example. The triggers  120  are depressed to pump water from the reservoir to the nozzles  112 . The triggers  120  are part of piston pump mechanism  115  positioned between the reservoir and the nozzles  112 . In an alternative embodiment, additional nozzles  112  may be provided along with additional triggers  120 , and associated pump mechanisms  115 , however, it is preferred that each nozzle is controller by a single trigger  120 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of water entertainment device  200 . The device  200  is preferably shaped more like a gun. In the device  200 , a plurality of triggers  220  serve as input devices to control a stream of water ejected from the nozzle area  212 . In this particular embodiment, the nozzle area  212  includes three separate nozzles  212   a ,  212   b ,  212   c , respectively. In a preferred embodiment, each of the three triggers  220  controls one of the nozzles  212   a ,  212   b ,  212   c . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , each nozzle  212   a ,  212   b ,  212   c  preferably points in a somewhat different direction to provide three separate streams of water. A pump  215  is preferably provided to manually pressurize the reservoir  211 . An inlet  218  is preferably provided on a top of the reservoir  211  to allow the reservoir to be filled with fluid. In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle area  212  may be rotated to change the orientation of the nozzles  212   a ,  212   b ,  212   c , if desired. In another embodiment, each of the triggers  220  may be used themselves as pump elements, similar to the triggers  120  discussed above. In this embodiment, the separate pump  215  is not necessary as each trigger  220  serves as a pump element of a piston pump mechanism similar to pump mechanism  115  discussed above. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the device  200  including additional triggers  220  and additional nozzles  212   d  and  212   e . In a preferred embodiment, each nozzle  212   a ,  212   b ,  212   c ,  212   d ,  212   e  is controlled by a single trigger  220  in a manner similar to that described above. As can be seen in  FIG. 9A , using the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , a user can control a separate nozzle with each finger of their hand. 
     Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.