Patent Publication Number: US-2019176048-A1

Title: Water toy with illuminated water stream

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure is generally directed to water apparatuses, including water toys, attachments for water toys, attachments for hoses, and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART 
     Water toys, including water toys that can project a stream of water, are generally known. Such water toys are generally configured to be held by one or both of a user&#39;s hands and generally propel a stream of water responsive to actuation of a trigger, pump, or other mechanism on the toy. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of an apparatus may include a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a central axis that extends from the proximal end to the distal end. The housing may be configured to be coupled to a fluid source. The apparatus may further include a fluid nozzle disposed on or in the housing, the fluid nozzle arranged to project a stream of fluid from the fluid source when coupled with the fluid source. The apparatus may further include a power source disposed within the housing and a light source disposed on or in the housing, the light source positioned radially outward from the nozzle with respect to the central axis of the housing and arranged to project light into the stream of fluid when the light source is electrically connected, directly or indirectly, with the power source. 
     In an embodiment of the apparatus, the fluid nozzle may be disposed proximate the distal end of the housing, and the light source may be disposed proximate the distal end of the housing. 
     In an embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise a fluid compartment coupled with the housing, wherein the fluid source comprises the fluid compartment. 
     In an embodiment, the housing defines a passageway, and the fluid compartment extends through the passageway. 
     In an embodiment, the power source comprises a battery disposed within the housing. 
     In an embodiment, the housing may be comprised of plastic. 
     In an embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise a plurality of light sources, the plurality of light sources comprising the light source. In an embodiment, the plurality of light sources may be disposed around an outer periphery of the nozzle. 
     In an embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise a fluid compartment coupled with the housing and comprising the fluid source, a proximal handle portion, and a distal handle portion, wherein at least the distal handle portion is defined by the housing, and wherein the proximal handle portion is arranged such that actuation of the proximal handle portion causes the stream of fluid to be projected through the fluid nozzle. In an embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise a switch, electrically coupled to the power source, and configured such that actuation of the switch selectively electrically couples the plurality of light sources with the power source. In an embodiment, the switch may be disposed on an exterior of the distal handle portion. In an embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise a cylindrical body defining the fluid compartment, and a plunger coupled with the proximal handle portion and arranged to extend through the cylindrical body to cause the stream of fluid to be projected through the fluid nozzle. In an embodiment, the cylindrical body may extend into the housing. 
     In an embodiment, the housing may comprise a distal cap through which the nozzle extends, wherein the distal cap fluidly isolates the light sources from an exterior of the apparatus. In an embodiment, the distal cap may comprise a translucent or transparent portion through which the plurality of light sources disposed about the fluid nozzle project light. In an embodiment, the housing may further comprise a main portion, wherein the distal cap is separable from the main portion of the housing, and the apparatus may further comprise a gasket disposed between the distal cap and the housing main portion. In an embodiment, the distal cap and the housing main portion may comprise respective and complementary threaded portions. 
     In an embodiment, the nozzle defines a nozzle axis, wherein the nozzle axis is coincident with the central axis of the housing. 
     In an embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise a plurality of light sources, the plurality of light sources comprising the light source, wherein the nozzle defines a nozzle axis, and wherein the plurality of light sources are each disposed radially outward from the nozzle with respect to both the nozzle axis and the central axis of the body. In an embodiment, the plurality of light sources may be equidistant to the nozzle axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a water toy, in a first, closed configuration. 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are side views of the water toy of  FIG. 1 , in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a distal end view of the water toy of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the water toy of  FIG. 1 , in a second, partially-open configuration. 
         FIG. 6  is a partially-exploded view of the water toy of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged end view of a distal handle portion of the water toy of  FIG. 1 , with an end cap removed for clarity of illustration. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged exploded view of a distal handle portion of the water toy of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the figures, in which like reference numerals refer to the same or similar features in the various views,  FIGS. 1-8  are various views of an example embodiment of a water toy  10 , or portions thereof. The water toy  10  may advantageously produce an illuminated stream of water, thus improving upon known water toys. 
     The water toy  10  may include a first handle portion  12 , a second handle portion  14 , and a body  16 . The body  16  may be generally cylindrical and may define a fluid compartment  18  configured to receive, store, and expel fluid, such as water. In an embodiment, the body  16  of the water toy  10  may include a hollow tube  20  defining a central lumen  22 , with the central lumen  22  serving as fluid compartment  18 . 
     The first handle portion  12  may be disposed at and coupled to the proximal end (i.e. end typically closest to the user&#39;s body when in operation) of the body  16 . The first proximal handle portion  12  may be mechanically coupled with a plunger  24  that is disposed within the body  16  of the water toy  10  and movable relative to the body  16 . In an embodiment, the first handle portion  12  may be rigidly coupled with the plunger  24 , such that the plunger  24  is moved out of the body  16  of the water toy (i.e., in a proximal direction) by a user drawing back the first handle portion  12  and the plunger  24  is moved into the body  16  of the water toy  10  (i.e., in a distal direction) by a user pushing the first handle portion  12 . In other embodiments, the plunger  24  may be movable responsive to actuation of some other aspect of the first handle portion  12 , such as a trigger mechanism, for example. 
     The first handle portion  12  may comprise a plastic material, in an embodiment. The first handle portion may include a grip portion  26  configured to be held by a user&#39;s hand, which may include one or more receiving formations for a user&#39;s fingers, in an embodiment. The first handle portion may be constructed from multiple pieces, in an embodiment, which may be attached to each other by fasteners such as screws  28  (shown in phantom in  FIGS. 1 and 2  to differentiate the fasteners from bump formations on the first handle portion). 
     The second handle portion  14  may be disposed at and coupled to a distal end (i.e., end furthest from the user&#39;s body when in typical operation) of the water toy body  16 . The second handle portion  14  may include a housing  30  defining a passageway  32 . In an embodiment, the passageway  32  may be substantially cylindrical. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the main body  16  of the water toy  10  may extend into the passageway  32 . Accordingly, in an embodiment, at least a portion of the fluid compartment  18  may extend into the passageway  32 . In an embodiment, the second handle portion  14  may be separable from and attachable to the body  16 . 
     The housing  30  may include a main portion  34  and a distal cap  36 . The distal cap  36  may be separable from the main portion  34  of the housing  30 . The distal cap  36  may include a threaded portion  38 , and the main housing portion  34  may include a threaded portion  40 , and the threads of the threaded portions  38 ,  40  of the distal cap  36  and the main housing portion  34  may be complementary such that the distal cap  36  may be coupled to the main housing portion  34  by screwing the distal cap  36  on to the main housing portion  34 . The water toy  10  may further include a gasket  42  disposed at the interface of the main housing portion  34  and the distal cap  36 . The distal cap  36  may further include a transparent or translucent portion  44 . In an embodiment, the transparent or translucent portion  44  may comprise a transparent or translucent disk. 
     The water toy  10  may further include a nozzle  46  disposed at the distal end of the water toy  10 . In the embodiment illustrated, the nozzle  46  is disposed in the transparent or translucent portion  44  of the distal cap  36  such that the transparent or translucent portion  44  of the distal cap  36  radially surrounds the nozzle  46 . The nozzle  46  may be fluidly coupled with the fluid compartment  18  and may be arranged to project a stream of fluid in a distal direction. In an embodiment, the plunger  24 , fluid compartment  18 , and nozzle  46  may be collectively arranged such that a stream of fluid may be projected from the nozzle  46  responsive to movement of the plunger  24  in a distal direction. 
     The water toy  10  may further include a plurality of light sources  50   1 ,  50   2 ,  50   3  (which may be referred to collectively as the light sources  50  or individually as a light source  50 ), a power source  52 , and a switch  54  that is coupled to the power source  52  such that actuation of the switch  54  selectively electrically couples the plurality of light sources  50  to the power source  52 . In an embodiment, the plurality of light sources  50 , the power source  52 , and the switch  54  may all be disposed in or on the main housing portion  34 . In an embodiment, the power source  52  may be one or more batteries. In an embodiment, the power source  52  may be stored in a compartment  56 , such as a battery compartment, in the main housing portion  34 . 
     The light sources  50  may be disposed about the nozzle  46 , in an embodiment. For example, the light sources  50  may be disposed around an outer periphery of the nozzle  46 . The light sources may be arranged so that, when activated, the light sources  50  project light in a distal direction into a stream of fluid that is projected from the nozzle  46 . The stream of fluid may conduct the light and the illuminated stream of fluid may have a pleasant appearance. Each of the light sources  50  may be or may include a light-emitting diode (LED), in an embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated, three light sources  50   1 ,  50   2 ,  50   3  are provided. In other embodiments, one light source  50 , two light sources  50 , or some other number of light sources  50  may be provided. 
     In an embodiment, the nozzle  46  of the toy  10  may define an axis  58  (see  FIGS. 6, 8 ) along which the nozzle  46  initially directs fluid as the fluid is ejected from the nozzle. In the example embodiment illustrated in the figures, the nozzle axis  58  is coincident with an axis that extends through the second handle portion  14  and the body  16  of the toy  10 . That is, the nozzle axis  58  may also serve as a central axis of the housing  30  (which extends from a proximal end of the housing  30  to a distal end of the housing  30 ) of the second handle portion  14  and/or a central axis of the body  16 , in embodiments. In other embodiments, the nozzle axis  58  may be offset or angled from a central axis of the housing  30  and/or an axis of the body  16 . Further, although the housing  30  is illustrated herein as generally cylindrical (i.e., having a circular cross-section), the housing  30  need not have a circular cross-section and need not have radial symmetry to define a central axis. Similarly, the nozzle  46  need not be circular and need not have radial symmetry to define a nozzle axis  58 . 
     The light sources  50  may be substantially equidistant to the nozzle axis  58  or the nozzle  46  (that is, each of the light sources  50  may be the same distance from the nozzle axis or the nozzle  46 ), in an embodiment. The light sources  50  may be substantially equidistant to each other, in an embodiment. Each of the light sources  50  may be disposed five centimeters or less from the nozzle  46  or from the nozzle axis  58 , in an embodiment. Each of the light sources  50  may be disposed three centimeters or less from the nozzle  46  or from the nozzle axis  58 , in an embodiment. Each of the light sources  50  may be disposed between 0.5 centimeters and 1.5 centimeters from the nozzle  46  or from the nozzle axis  58 , in an embodiment. 
     The light sources  50  may project into a cavity  60  collectively defined by the housing main portion  34  and the distal cap  36 . The cavity  60  may be bound on one end by a housing plate  62  and on another end by the transparent or translucent portion  44  of the distal cap  36 . The housing plate  62  may include one or more apertures  64  through which a fluid lumen  66  and the light sources  50  extend. The fluid lumen  66  may provide a fluid connection between the fluid compartment  18  and the nozzle  46 . 
     When the distal cap  36  is attached to the housing main body  34  and the light sources  50  are activated, the light sources  50  may project light through the transparent or translucent portion  44  of the distal cap  36 . In addition, in an embodiment, the distal cap  36 , housing main body  34 , and gasket  42  may substantially isolate the light sources  50  and the power source  52  from fluids and the exterior of the second handle portion. 
     In an embodiment, the switch  54  may include a button  68  disposed on an exterior surface of the second handle portion  14 . The switch  54  may further include a control circuit  70  that receives mechanical input from the button  68  and controls the electrical coupling of the plurality of light sources  50  to the power source  52  in response. In some embodiments, the control circuit  70  may be configured such that power is only provided to the light sources  50  while the button  68  is depressed (e.g., by the finger of a user). In other embodiments, the control circuit  70  may be configured such that power is provided to the light sources  50  upon a first press of the button  68 , and power to the light sources  50  may then be disconnected with a second press of the button  68 . Other power control strategies may alternatively be implemented, such as flashing, timer-based disconnection, and the like. 
     In operation, a user may fill the fluid compartment  18  by submerging the distal end of the toy  10  in fluid and drawing the proximal handle portion  12  in a proximal direction to alter the toy  10  from a first, closed configuration (shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ) to a second, open or partially-open configuration (where  FIG. 5  illustrates a partially-open configuration). The user may then project a stream of illuminated water or other fluid from the water toy  10  by moving the proximal handle portion  12  (and, therefore, plunger  24 ) in a distal direction (to project the water) while holding the button  68  (to project light into the water stream). In embodiments of the water toy  10  having a different mechanical arrangement or components, different mechanical processes or means may be used in conjunction with light sources  50  disposed around a fluid nozzle  46  to project a stream of illuminated fluid, as disclosed herein. 
     The above description has referred to an embodiment in which the nozzle  46 , light sources  50 , power source  52 , and switch  54  are provided as part of a handle portion  14  for a water toy  10 . In other embodiments, the handle portion  14 , or some other housing or construction including the light sources  50 , power source  52 , and/or switch  54  may be provided as a separable component that is configured to be coupled with a water toy body. In still other embodiments, the handle portion  14 , or some other housing or construction including the light sources  50 , power source  52 , and/or switch  54 , may be provided as a separable attachment that is configured to be coupled with a hose or other water source. It will be appreciated that, in such alternate embodiments, mechanical modifications may be made from what is explicitly illustrated and described in this disclosure to create such an attachment (e.g., modifications to dimensions and component layout, addition of fastening surfaces, such as a threaded surface for coupling with the end of a hose, and the like) so as to properly couple the light sources  50 , power source  52 , and switch  54  with the separate water source, such as a hose, and provide an illuminated stream of water from the water source as disclosed herein. For example, an embodiment of an attachment including a housing  30 , light sources  50 , power source  52 , and switch  54  may screw on to the end of a hose. In another example, an embodiment of an attachment including a housing  30 , light sources  50 , power source  52 , and switch  54  may clamp on to the end of a separate water toy. Other examples are possible and contemplated. 
     While this disclosure has described certain embodiments, it will be understood that the claims are not intended to be limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the instant disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, in the detailed description of the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that systems and methods consistent with this disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure various aspects of the present disclosure.