Patent Publication Number: US-7708002-B2

Title: Pressurized air shooting device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11,387,439, filed Mar. 23, 2006 now abandoned which claims benefit to provisional application 60/665,590, filed Mar. 25, 2005 both of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application also claims benefit to provisional application 60/974,828, filed Sep. 24, 2007 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present inventive concept relates to an air cannon that shoots pressurized air, and more particular an air cannon that can accommodate a golf ball. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Golf is a difficult sport which can only be enjoyed by experienced players that are able to hit reasonable shots on the course. Novices or parties that are not physically fit (e.g. the elderly) are typically unable to play golf on a typical golf course. 
   What is needed is a way for novices to play golf on a typical course, which can by accomplished by using pressurized air cannon that can shoot a golf ball a long distance. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an air cannon capable of shooting a golf ball a long distance. 
   The above aspects can be obtained by an apparatus that includes (a) a base comprising an air chamber; (b) a barrel connected to the base; (c) an air duct connected to the base, the air duct comprising a hole; (d) a flapper pivotally attached to the base forming an airtight seal with the air duct when the flapper is in a closed position; and (e) a trigger mechanism securing and releasing the flapper, (f) wherein when the trigger mechanism releases the flapper, the flapper pivots into an open position allowing air to flow from the air chamber to the barrel. 
   These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
       FIG. 1  is a drawing illustrating an air gun base attached to a barrel, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 2  is a drawing illustrating a front view of a flapper, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 3  is a drawing illustrating an orthographic view of a flapper, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 4  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots on top in a closed position, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 5  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots on top in a half-open position, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 6  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots on top in an open position, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 7  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots on bottom in a closed position, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 8  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots on bottom in a half-open position, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 9  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots on bottom in an open position, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 10  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots in a middle in a closed position, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 11  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots in a middle in a half-open position, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 12  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots in a middle in an open position, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 13  is a drawing illustrating an air gun shooting a golf ball, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 14  is an orthographic view of an air duct, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 15  is a front view of the air duct, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 16  is a drawing of a barrel disconnected from a base, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 17  is an enlargement of the flapper and surrounding apparatus, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 18  is a drawing illustrating an air gun and barrel comprised of at least two attachable pieces; 
       FIG. 19A  is a front view of a trigger mechanism, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 19B  is an orthographic view of a trigger mechanism, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 19C  is a disassembled view of a trigger mechanism, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 19D  is a further disassembled view of a trigger mechanism, according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 19E  is a wireframe view of a trigger mechanism, according to embodiment; 
       FIG. 20  is a drawing of an air gun with a transparent panel, according to an embodiment 
       FIG. 21A  is a front side drawing of an air gun base; 
       FIG. 21B  is a rear side drawing of an air gun base; 
       FIG. 22  is an orthographic view of an air gun; and 
       FIG. 23  is a further orthographic view of an air gun. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
   The present general inventive concept relates to a gun adapted to receive a golf ball which can project the golf ball at a far distance. 
     FIG. 1  is a drawing illustrating an air gun base attached to a barrel, according to an embodiment. 
   A detachable barrel  1  is attached to a base  5  using hex nuts  2 . The barrel  1  can also have a threaded end which can screw into a threaded end on the base  5 . A safety piston  7  is used as a safety mechanism to prevent a golf ball  9  from being accidentally shot through the barrel  1 . A safety release mechanism  8  is a lever (or trigger, etc.) used to lower the safety piston  7 . Thus, when the safety is on, the safety piston  7  is extended into the barrel  1 , thereby preventing the golf ball  9  from leaving the barrel  1 . When the safety release mechanism is activated (pressed, pulled, etc.) the safety piston  7  retracts into a retracted position (see  FIG. 13 ), allowing the golf ball  9  to leave the barrel  1 . If a loaded (with a golf ball  9 ) gun is fired if the safety piston  7  is extended, then air pressure will press against the golf ball  9  but it will not be able to pass the safety piston  7  and will not leave the barrel  1 . A trigger  10  is used to shoot the golf ball  9 . 
   The gun can operate as follows. Air can be pumped into the gun using an air inlet  20 . A pump (mechanical or electronic) can be connected to the air inlet  20  to fill the air chamber  22  with air. The air chamber  22  is a hermetically sealed hollow chamber that can store air which is used to propel a projectile (such as a golf ball). 
   When the trigger  10  is pulled (or pushed), it causes a piston  12  to retract into the piston housing  14 , thereby freeing a flapper  16  to open. When the chamber is filled with air, the air pressure will press against the flapper. In the closed position, the piston  12  prevents the flapper  16  from opening. However, when the piston  12  is retracted (after activation of the trigger  10 ), the air pressure in the air chamber  22  will press against the flapper  16  causing it to open. The air flows from the air chamber to the flapper through an air duct  25 . 
   Once the flapper opens, the air presses against the projectile causing it to quickly leave the barrel  1 . A stopper  27  is used to cushion the impact of the flapper with an impact section  29  of the base  5 . The stopper  27  can be a spring, rubber, or other mechanism which can cushion the flapper  16  so that the impact of the flapper  16  with the impact section  29  will not cause damage to the impact section  29  and hence the base  5 . 
   The trigger  10  and safety release mechanism  8  can be any type of mechanical (or electronic) lever release mechanism, wherein when a handle (or lever is pulled, or pushed) a cooperating piston (or rod, etc.) moves. Such a mechanism can be, for example, a straight line clamp, an air cylinder valve (such as a bimba air cylinder), an electronic trigger, or any other such apparatus. More particular, the trigger  10  and safety release mechanism  8  can both be a straight line action clamp available from the Destaco company, part number 602. 
     FIG. 2  is a drawing illustrating a front view of a flapper, according to an embodiment. 
   The flapper  16  has pivot sections  35  to connect to the base  5  and allowing the flapper to pivot (rotate) in order to open and close. The flapper  16  also has an indented portion  37  which is used to create a hermetic (airtight) seal with the air duct  25 . In the closed position, the indented portion  37  presses against the air duct  25  to ensure the air in the air chamber  22  is not release when the flapper  16  is in the closed position. The indented portion  37  is illustrated to be circular, but it can be in any other shape as long as it matches a shape of the air duct  25 . The indented portion  37  can be made out of rubber or other material (preferably malleable) to help create an airtight seal. 
     FIG. 3  is a drawing illustrating an orthographic view of a flapper, according to an embodiment. 
     FIG. 4  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots on top in a closed position, according to an embodiment. 
   The trigger  10  cooperates with a piston  12  such that when the trigger  10  is pulled (or pushed), the piston  12  lowers, thereby freeing the flapper  16  to open. The stopper  27  is used to cushion an impact from the flapper  16  and the base  5 . The stopper can be any cushioning mechanism, such as a spring, rubber, etc. 
     FIG. 5  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots on top in a half-open position, according to an embodiment. 
   The trigger  40  has been activated (pushed or pulled), thereby allowing the flapper to open. 
     FIG. 6  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots on top in an open position, according to an embodiment. 
   Here, the air pressure from the air chamber has pressed the flapper  16  in the fully extended position, where it makes an impact with the stopper  27 . The air has now left the air chamber and has hurled the projectile (e.g., a golf ball) outside of the barrel of the gun. 
     FIG. 7  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots on bottom in a closed position, according to an embodiment. 
     FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but in  FIG. 7 , the flapper pivots from a bottom of the flapper. 
     FIG. 8  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots on bottom in a half-open position, according to an embodiment. 
   The flapper is illustrated pivoting from the bottom. 
     FIG. 9  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots on bottom in an open position, according to an embodiment. 
   The flapper is in the fully open position, where the flapper impacts the stopper. 
     FIG. 10  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots in a middle in a closed position, according to an embodiment. 
     FIG. 10  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but in  FIG. 10 , the flapper pivots from a middle of the flapper. 
     FIG. 11  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots in a middle in a half-open position, according to an embodiment. 
   The flapper is illustrated pivoting in the middle. 
     FIG. 12  is a drawing illustrating an air release mechanism that pivots in a middle in an open position, according to an embodiment. 
   The flapper is in the fully open position. 
     FIG. 13  is a drawing illustrating an air gun shooting a golf ball, according to an embodiment. 
   The trigger has been activated (after the air chamber is filled with air), thereby releasing air pressure which causes the flapper  16  to open, thereby hurling a golf ball  9  out of the barrel. 
   Note that safety  7  has been activated, thereby retracting the safety piston so that the golf ball can leave the barrel. If the safety had not been activated (thus the safety piston is in the extended state), the flapper would open but the safety piston would prevent the golf ball from leaving the barrel. 
     FIG. 14  is an orthographic view of an air duct, according to an embodiment. 
   The air duct  25  has a circular hole  26  inside the air duct  25 , thereby allowing air to pass through the air duct. The air duct  25  is permanently attached inside the base  5  (e.g., welded, glued, or any other attachment mechanism) and does not move. 
   The indented portion  37  of the flapper  16  is adapted to seal around the circular hole  26  to create an airtight seal between the flapper  16  and the air duct  25 . In other words, the indented portion  37  serves as lips which seal around the circular hole  26  of the stationary air duct  25 . 
     FIG. 15  is a front view of the air duct, according to an embodiment. 
   A square shaped air duct  25  contains a hole  26 . The indented portion  37  of the flapper  16  serves as an airtight seal around the hole  26  when the flapper is in the closed position (preventing air from leaving the chamber). When the gun is loaded and ready to fire the flapper  16  would be in the closed position, while after the gun is fired (and the air chamber is released of its air), the flapper  16  would swing into an open position, although the flapper may fall back into the closed position on its own (for example due to gravity and an orientation of the gun). 
   Pivot section  35  attaches the flapper  16  to the base allowing the flapper  16  to pivot around the pivot section  35  (rotate). 
     FIG. 16  is a drawing of a barrel disconnected from a base, according to an embodiment. 
   The barrel  1  can contain a male threaded end  40  which can attach to the base by screwing the male threaded end  40  into a female threaded end  41  in the base. This attachment method can be used in place of, or in addition to, screwing in hex nuts as previously described. 
     FIG. 17  is an enlargement of the flapper and surrounding apparatus, according to an embodiment. 
   Note how the indented portion  37  attached to the flapper  16  surrounds the hold  26  in the air duct  25 , forming an airtight seal therein. Air cannot escape from the (hollow) air chamber  22  while the flapper is in the closed position. The piston  12  (when extended) locks against the flapper  16 . An angled portion  38  of the flapper  16  allows the piston  12  to extend from the retracted position and slide behind the flapper  16  to extend and lock the flapper  16  in the closed position. The stopper  27  is shown herein as a spring, although it can also comprise other structures (rubber, plastic, a malleable material, etc.) 
     FIG. 18  is a drawing illustrating an air gun and barrel comprised of at least two attachable pieces. 
   The barrel of the air gun can actually be comprised of two (or more) pieces. This is advantageous because to allow the barrel to disassemble would make it easier for storage. Additionally, barrels of different lengths may allow for different average distances that a golf ball can be shot out of the gun. For example, a longer barrel (e.g., a barrel comprised of two sections or pieces) may allow for a longer shot (since there may be more time for the air to put pressure on the ball), while a short barrel may result in a shorter shot. 
   A first barrel section  51  can attach to a second barrel section  53  by any connection mechanism, such as threading (e.g., an end of the first barrel can screw into an end of the second barrel). A male threaded end  50  in the first barrel section  51  can screw into a cooperating female threaded end  52 , attaching the first barrel section  51  securely to the second barrel section  53 . The first barrel section  51  can then be detached from the second barrel section  53  by unscrewing the sections. Thus, the two sections are removably attached, since they can be manually attached and removed. Note that the first barrel section  51  can also removably attach to the second barrel section  53  by using a coupling (made of plastic or any other material). For example, a hollow cylindrical coupling can receive each end of the first barrel section  51  and the second barrel section  53  and grip then both via friction. 
   The second barrel section  53  can attach to the base  5  also by using threaded ends (or other attaching mechanism such as hex nuts, etc.) A female threaded end  54  can receive the threaded end  40  (see  FIG. 16 ) of the second barrel section  53 . As discussed above, the gun can be shot with either the second barrel section  53  attached to the first barrel section  51 , or with just the second barrel section  53  not attached to the first barrel section  51 . However, it is not recommend to shoot the gun without the second barrel section  53  attached. 
   An air pressure gage  57  can be used to show the air pressure inside the base  5 . The operator would not want the air pressure to exceed a certain level or the base may be placed under excessive pressure, which may cause damage to the gun. Thus, the operator should watch the air pressure gage  57  as the operator is filling the base  5  with air. 
   A safety release  56  is a safety mechanism whereby the safety release  56  would automatically pop out if the air pressure inside the base exceeds a predetermined level. If the safety release  56  pops out, then air in the base  5  is released outside of the gun, removing excess pressure in the base  5 . 
   An air intake valve  55  is used to fill the base  5  with air. A pump can be connected to the air intake valve  55  in order to fill the base  5  with air. After the base  5  is filled with air, the pump can be detached from the air intake valve  55 . 
   Note that any measurements can be used for the size of the gun and parts. For example, The barrel can be a total of 32 inches (a 12 inches for the first barrel section and 20 inches for the second barrel section). The base can be 16 inches long and 7 inches high and approximately 2.25 inches wide. The flapper can be 2 inches high, 1.75 inches wide, and three eights (⅜) of an inch thick. Of course, any other measurements can be used and these are merely examples. The components can be made of any material, such as steel, aluminum (or aluminum alloy), Iron, etc. 
     FIG. 19A  is a front view of a trigger mechanism, according to an embodiment.  FIG. 19B  is an orthographic view of a trigger mechanism, according to an embodiment.  FIG. 19C  is a disassembled view of a trigger mechanism, according to an embodiment.  FIG. 19D  is a further disassembled view of a trigger mechanism, according to an embodiment.  FIG. 19E  is a wireframe view of a trigger mechanism, according to embodiment. 
   Note that  FIGS. 19A-19E  are included to illustrated just one example of a device that can be used for the trigger  10  and/or the safety release mechanism  8 . More particular, these figures illustrate a Straight Line Action Clamp (part  602 ) from the Destaco company, but any other triggering mechanism can be used. 
     FIG. 20  is a drawing of an air gun with a transparent panel, according to an embodiment. 
   A transparent panel  75  can be used to cover a rectangular area on a side of the gun. The transparent panel  75  can be made out of any transparent material, such as LEXAN, shatterproof glass, etc. Using the transparent panel  75  can be beneficial in that the operator can visually inspect and see if the flapper is in the closed and locked position (secured behind the piston  12  of the trigger  10 ) before pumping the air chamber with air. 
     FIG. 21A  is a front side drawing of an air gun base.  FIG. 21B  is a rear side drawing of an air gun base.  FIG. 22  is an orthographic view of an air gun.  FIG. 23  is a further orthographic view of an air gun. 
   The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.