Patent Publication Number: US-9835406-B2

Title: Toy gun

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application JP2015-241234 filed on Dec. 10, 2015, the entire disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to toy guns and in particular to a rotating mechanism of a cartridge for toy guns. The present invention relates in more particular to a rotating mechanism of a cartridge for toy guns which rotates the cartridge in conjunction of firing of a bullet, in a toy gun provided with the cartridge loaded with bullets such as BB bullets. 
     Description of Related Art 
     As a toy gun charging mechanism which feeds bullets such as BB bullets into a conventional toy gun, for example, one patented to the present applicant and shown in the drawings in Patent Document 1 is known (see U.S. Pat. No. 7,669,588). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to increase the operating range of a cartridge actuated each time a trigger is once pulled. 
     The toy gun of the present invention includes: 
     an inner barrel through which a bullet passes when the bullet is fired; 
     a cartridge placed at the base of the inner barrel and continuously provided with cartridge loading portions loaded with bullets; 
     a trigger placed below the inner barrel and operated to fire a bullet; 
     a trigger rotating shaft providing the rotating shaft of the trigger; 
     a terminal provided closer to the inner barrel than to the trigger rotating shaft on the extension line of the trigger; 
     a nail arm rotating shaft placed on the side opposite to the cartridge with the trigger rotating shaft in between; 
     a nail arm rotated around the nail arm rotating shaft; 
     a guide as a long hole provided in the nail arm in a direction along the inner barrel as a whole and guiding the terminal; 
     a nail which is attached to a tip of the nail arm and can be engaged with a cartridge loading portion; 
     a cover which is provided at the end of the inner barrel on the cartridge side, can be abutted against the cartridge loading portion, and can be slid to the cartridge side and the side opposite to the cartridge; and 
     a link which slides the cover to the cartridge side and the side opposite to the cartridge by bringing the terminal into and out of abutment. 
     The link may be attached to the cover. The toy gun may include a nail arm which is substantially in an L shape. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention as is in an initial state; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention as is in an initial state; 
         FIG. 3  is a front sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention at the moment at which a nail starts moving a loading portion; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention at the moment at which a nail starts moving a loading portion; 
         FIG. 5  is a front sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention in the process of a nail moving a loading portion; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention in the process of a nail moving a loading portion; 
         FIG. 7  is a front sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention at the moment at which a nail has completed moving a loading portion; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention at the moment at which a nail has completed moving a loading portion; 
         FIG. 9  is a front sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention at the moment at which a link starts moving a cover; 
         FIG. 10  is a rear sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention at the moment at which a link starts moving a cover; 
         FIG. 11  is a front sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention in the process of a link moving a cover; 
         FIG. 12  is a rear sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention in the process of a link moving a cover; 
         FIG. 13  is a front sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention at the moment at which a link has completed moving a cover; 
         FIG. 14  is a rear sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention at the moment at which a link has completed moving a cover; 
         FIG. 15  is a front sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention as a trigger is fully pulled; 
         FIG. 16  is a rear sectional view of a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention as a trigger is fully pulled; 
         FIG. 17  is a top perspective view of a cover in a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a bottom perspective view of a cover in a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a top perspective view of loading portions in a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 20  is a bottom perspective view of loading portions in a toy gun in an example of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A description will be given to an example of an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings illustrating an example of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 1  and the following drawings, reference numeral  101  denotes a toy gun main body and  102  denotes a muzzle. Reference numeral  111  denotes an inner barrel. The inner barrel  111  is placed in a barrel  103  in the upper part of the toy gun main body  101  such that the inner barrel  111  is extended from the muzzle  102  toward the rear part along the barrel  103 . When a bullet is fired, the bullet passes through the inner barrel  111 . 
     Reference numeral  121  denotes a cartridge. The cartridge  121  is placed at the base of the inner barrel  111  and is continuously provided with cartridge loading portions loaded with bullets. The cartridge  121  is housed in a cartridge case or a magazine body and is inserted into the toy gun main body  101  on the rear side of the trigger  131 , or the right side of the drawing, that is, on the side opposite to the muzzle  102 . 
     The cartridge  121  is inserted ahead of or behind the trigger  1  depending on the type of the toy gun. In this example, the cartridge  121  is provided behind the trigger  131 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 , the cartridge  121  is formed by continuously coupling multiple sets of two cylindrical loading portions  122  of the same shape; the cartridge  121  is of an endless type in which the first and last sets are coupled together or of a continuous type in which the first and last sets are not coupled together. The loading portions  122  are loaded therein with bullets. 
     With the cartridge case or the magazine body housing the cartridge  121  loaded into the toy gun main body  101 , the cartridge  121  is in the shape of a ring or in a continuous shape as viewed from the muzzle  102  side. In the case of a ring shape, the cartridge  121  is endless; in the case of a continuous shape, the first and last sets of loading portions are not coupled together. Each loading portion  122  is provided on the lateral side with a recessed fitting portion  123 . In case of sets of two loading portions  122 , the area between sets of two loading portions  122  provides a fitting portion  123 . 
     Reference numeral  131  denotes a trigger and  132  denotes a trigger rotating shaft. The trigger  131  is placed below the inner barrel  111  attached to the toy gun main body  101  and gas such as air is jetted to fire a bullet by operating the trigger  131 . 
     The trigger  131  is energized clockwise in the drawing by a trigger spring (not shown). The trigger  131  can be rotated counterclockwise in the drawing around the trigger rotating shaft  132 . 
     A projection  133  is protruded from the trigger  131  to above the trigger rotating shaft  132 . A terminal  134  is provided at a tip of the projection  133  closer to the inner barrel  111  than to the trigger rotating shaft  132  on the extension line of the trigger  131 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the terminal  134  is perpendicularly protruded from the projection  133  toward the near side of  FIG. 1 . 
     Reference numeral  141  denotes a nail arm and  142  denotes a nail arm rotating shaft. The nail arm rotating shaft  142  is placed at the same distance from the inner barrel  111  as the trigger rotating shaft  132  is. 
     The nail arm rotating shaft  142  is provided at the end of the nail arm  141  on the muzzle  102  side. The nail arm  141  is rotated around the nail arm rotating shaft  142 . The nail arm rotating shaft  142  is placed on the side opposite to the cartridge  121  with the trigger rotating shaft  132  in between. 
     Reference numeral  144  denotes a nail. A tip of the nail  144  is protruded and the nail  144  is fixed to the nail arm  141  by a nail mounting shaft  145  at the base of the nail  144 . 
     As illustrated in drawings, the nail arm  141  is formed of an L-shaped plate-like body as a whole. 
     In this example, as illustrated in  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 , the cartridge  121  is formed by continuously coupling multiple cylindrical loading portions  122  of the same shape. The first and last sets of loading portions  122  are coupled together and thus the cartridge  121  constitutes a ring without an end. 
     For this reason, some force is required to actuate the cartridge  121 . The inventors found that the cartridge could be moved by smaller force by moving the nail  144  downward rather than upward. For this reason, in this example, the nail  144  is configured to be moved downward. 
     Meanwhile, to increase the operating range of the nail  144 , it is necessary to increase the distance between the trigger rotating shaft  132  and a portion moving the nail arm  141  as much as possible. In this example, the nail arm rotating shaft  142  is placed on the side opposite to the cartridge  121  with the trigger rotating shaft  132  in between. This makes it possible to lengthen the distance between the trigger rotating shaft  132  and the portion moving the nail arm  141  as much as possible. 
     In addition, because of the positional relation between the nail  144  and the terminal  134  which is the portion of the trigger  131  moving the nail arm  141 , the nail arm rotating shaft  142  of the nail arm  141  is positioned on the muzzle  102  side of the trigger  131 . The shape of the nail arm  141  could be further simplified by taking the following measure: the nail arm rotating shaft  142  of the nail arm  141  is placed in any position on the extension line of the nail mounting shaft  145  and the terminal  134  which is the portion of the trigger  131  moving the nail arm  141 . 
     In this example, the nail arm rotating shaft  142  of the nail arm  141  is placed at the same distance from the inner barrel  111  as the trigger rotating shaft  132  shown in drawings and the nail arm is substantially triangular. However, the triangular nail arm  141  will interfere with the trigger rotating shaft  132  of the trigger  131  when the trigger  131  is pulled to lower the nail  144  to the lowest point. To avoid this, the interfering portion is recessed; as a result, the nail arm  141  is in a shape close to L shape as in this example. 
     Reference numeral  143  denotes a guide. The guide  143  is an L-shaped long hole convex at the center and is provided in the nail arm  141  in the direction along the inner barrel  111  as a whole. 
     The terminal  134  is fit into the guide  143 , which guides the terminal  134  along the long hole. 
     Reference numeral  144  denotes a nail. The nail  144  has a shape having a protruded tip. The nail  144  is attached to the tip of the nail arm  141  on the cartridge  121  side and can be engaged with a fitting portion  123  of cartridge loading portions  122 . 
     The nail  144  is abutted against the cartridge  121 . While the cartridge  121  is fit through a fitting portion  123  of the cartridge  121 , the nail arm  141  is rotated around the nail arm rotating shaft  142 . As a result, the tip of the nail arm  141  is moved downward. In conjunction with this, the nail  144  is moved downward, moving the cartridge  121  downward. 
     Reference numeral  161  denotes a cover. As illustrated in  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18 , the cover  161  is substantially cylindrical. The cover  161  is fit to the end of the inner barrel  111  on the cartridge  121  side and placed there. The end of the cover  161  on the cartridge loading portion  122  side can be abutted against cartridge loading portions  122 . In addition, the cover  161  can be slid to the cartridge  121  side and to the side opposite to the cartridge  121 . 
     Reference numeral  162  denotes a link fitting portion. As illustrated in  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18 , the link fitting portion  162  forms a recess inside thereof. Reference numeral  163  denotes a coupling portion, which couples the end of the cover  161  on the cartridge loading portion  122  side with both ends thereof on the muzzle  102  side. 
     Reference numeral  151  denotes a link. As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the link  151  is formed of a rod-like member. The upper end of the link  151  is fit to the link fitting portion  162  of the cover  161  attached to the inner barrel  111 . 
     The lower end of the link  151  is provided with a recessed terminal abutting portion  152  abutted against the terminal  134 . Reference numeral  153  denotes a link rotating shaft and the link  151  is attached to the inner barrel  111  such that the link  151  can be rotated around the link rotating shaft  153  to the muzzle  102  side or to the side opposite to the muzzle  102 . The terminal abutting portion  152  is placed on the trajectory of the terminal  134 . For this reason, when the link  151  is brought into or out of abutment against the terminal abutting portion  152 , the terminal  134  slides the cover  161  to the cartridge  121  side or the side opposite to the cartridge  121 . 
     A description will be given to the action of the example with reference to the drawings. 
     As illustrated in the front view in  FIG. 1  and the rear view in  FIG. 2 , in an initial state, each part is positioned as described below: 
     The trigger  131  has not been pulled yet. For this reason, the terminal  134  is positioned in a position in the guide  143  of the nail arm  141  closest to the cartridge  121 . 
     Since the nail arm  141  has not been moved, the nail  144  is positioned away from the cartridge  121  and the tip of the nail  144  has not been in contact with the cartridge  121 . 
     Since the link  151  has not been in contact with the terminal  134  yet, the link  151  faces downward in the direction perpendicular to the inner barrel  111 . 
     Since the link  151  has not been moved, the end of the cover  161  on the cartridge  121  side is at a distance from loading portions  122 . 
     As illustrated in the front view in  FIG. 3  and the rear view in  FIG. 4 , at the moment at which the nail  144  starts moving loading portions, each part is positioned as described below: 
     The trigger  131  is slightly pulled. For this reason, the terminal  134  is moved to a position slightly close to the muzzle  102  in the guide  143  of the nail arm  141 . 
     Since the nail arm  141  has been moved slightly closer to the cartridge  121 , the tip of the nail  144  is brought close to the cartridge  121  and is fit into a fitting portion  123  of the cartridge  121 . 
     Since the link  151  has not been in contact with the terminal  134  yet, the link  151  faces downward in the direction perpendicular to the inner barrel  111 . 
     Since the link  151  has not been moved, the end of the cover  161  on the cartridge  121  side is at a distance from loading portions  122 . 
     As illustrated in the front view in  FIG. 5  and the rear view in  FIG. 6 , in the process of the nail  144  moving loading portions  122 , each part is positioned as described below: 
     The trigger  131  has been further pulled. For this reason, the terminal  134  is moved to the substantially middle position in the guide  143  of the nail arm  141 . 
     As the terminal  134  is guided along the long hole of the guide  143 , the nail arm  141  is further rotated around the nail arm rotating shaft  142  from the state shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . The tip of the nail arm  141  on the cartridge  121  side is moved to the lower side in the drawings. Since the nail  144  is attached to the nail arm  141 , the nail  144  is also moved to the lower side in the drawings. 
     The tip of the nail  144  is fit into a fitting portion  123  of the cartridge  121 ; therefore, as the nail  144  is moved to the lower side, the nail  144  starts moving the cartridge  121  downward. 
     Since the link  151  has not been in contact with the terminal  134  yet, the link  151  faces downward in the direction perpendicular to the inner barrel  111 . 
     Since the link  151  has not been moved, the end of the cover  161  on the cartridge  121  side is at a distance from loading portions  122 . 
     As illustrated in the front view in  FIG. 7  and the rear view in  FIG. 8 , at the moment at which the nail  144  has completed moving loading portions  122 , each part is positioned as described below: 
     The trigger  131  has been further pulled. For this reason, the terminal  134  is moved to a position beyond the apex of the chevron-shaped long hole in the guide  143  of the nail arm  141 . 
     As the terminal  134  is guided along the long hole of the guide  143 , the nail arm  141  is further rotated around the nail arm rotating shaft  142  from the state shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . The tip of the nail arm  141  on the cartridge  121  side is moved to the lower side in the drawings. Since the nail  144  is attached to the nail arm  141 , the nail  144  is also moved to the lower side in the drawings. 
     The tip of the nail  144  is fit into a fitting portion  123  of the cartridge  121 ; therefore, as the nail  144  is moved to the lower side, the nail  144  further moves the cartridge  121  downward and the movement of the cartridge is eventually completed. 
     The terminal abutting portion  152  at the lower end of the link  151  starts contacting the terminal  134  and the free end as the lower end of the link  151  starts moving toward the muzzle  102 . The upper end of the link  151  is fit into the link fitting portion  162  of the cover  161  attached to the inner barrel  111 . The end of the cover  161  on the cartridge loading portion  122  side and both ends thereof on the muzzle  102  side are coupled together through the coupling portions  163 . The end of the cover  161  on the cartridge  121  side is still at a distance from loading portions  122 . 
     As illustrated in the front view in  FIG. 9  and the rear view in  FIG. 10 , at the moment at which the link  151  starts moving the cover  161 , each part is positioned as described below: 
     The trigger  131  has been further pulled. For this reason, the terminal  134  is moved to a position further beyond the apex of the chevron-shaped long hole in the guide  143  of the nail arm  141 . 
     As the terminal  134  is guided along the long hole of the guide  143 , the nail arm  141  is further rotated around the nail arm rotating shaft  142  from the state shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . The movement to the lower side in the drawings of the tip of the nail arm  141  on the cartridge  121  side is completed. Since the nail  144  is attached to the nail arm  141 , the movement to the lower side in the drawings of the nail  144  is also completed. 
     Since the tip of the nail  144  is fit into a fitting portion  123  of the cartridge  121 , the further downward movement of the cartridge  121  in conjunction with the downward movement of the nail  144  is terminated. 
     The terminal abutting portion  152  at the lower end of the link  151  starts contacting the terminal  134  and the free end as the lower end of the link  151  starts moving toward the muzzle  102 . The upper end of the link  151  is fit into the link fitting portion  162  of the cover  161  attached to the inner barrel  111 . The end of the cover  161  on the cartridge loading portion  122  side and both ends thereof on the muzzle  102  side are coupled through the coupling portions  163 . Therefore, the end of the cover  161  on the cartridge  121  side is about to start moving to the openings of loading portions  122 . 
     As illustrated in the front view in  FIG. 11  and the rear view in  FIG. 12 , in the process of the link  151  moving the cover  161 , each part is positioned as described below: 
     The trigger  131  has been further pulled. For this reason, the terminal  134  is moved to a position further beyond the apex of the chevron-shaped long hole in the guide  143  of the nail arm  141 . 
     As the terminal  134  is guided along the long hole of the guide  143 , the nail arm  141  is further rotated around the nail arm rotating shaft  142  from the state shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . The movement to the lower side in the drawings of the tip of the nail arm on the cartridge  121  side has been completed. Since the nail  144  is attached to the nail arm  141 , the movement to the lower side in the drawings of the nail  144  has also been completed. 
     Since the tip of the nail  144  is fit into a fitting portion  123  of the cartridge  121 , the further downward movement of the cartridge  121  in conjunction with the downward movement of the nail  144  has also been completed. 
     The terminal abutting portion  152  at the lower end of the link  151  is brought into contact with the terminal  134  and the free end as the lower end of the link  151  is moved to the muzzle  102  side. The upper end of the link  151  is fit into the link fitting portion  162  of the cover  161  attached to the inner barrel  111 . The end of the cover  161  on the cartridge loading portion  122  side and both ends thereof on the muzzle  102  side are coupled together through the coupling portions  163 . Therefore, the end of the cover  161  on the cartridge  121  side is moved to the openings of loading portions  122 . 
     As illustrated in the front view in  FIG. 13  and the rear view in  FIG. 14 , at the moment at which the link  151  has completed moving the cover  161 , each part is positioned as described below: 
     The trigger  131  has been further pulled. For this reason, the terminal  134  is moved to a position further beyond the apex of the chevron-shaped long hole in the guide  143  of the nail arm  141 . 
     The terminal abutting portion  152  at the lower end of the link  151  is brought into contact with the terminal  134  and the free end as the lower end of the link  151  is moved to the muzzle  102  side. The upper end of the link  151  is fit into the link fitting portion  162  of the cover  161  attached to the inner barrel  111 . The end of the cover  161  on the cartridge loading portion  122  side and both ends thereof on the muzzle  102  side are coupled together through the coupling portions  163 . Therefore, the end of the cover  161  on the cartridge  121  side is moved to and closes the openings of loading portions  122 . 
     As illustrated in the front view in  FIG. 15  and the rear view in  FIG. 16 , with the trigger  131  fully pulled, each part is positioned as described below: 
     The trigger  131  has been further pulled. For this reason, the terminal  134  is moved to a position on the muzzle  102  side in the chevron-shaped long hole in the guide  143  of the nail arm  141 . 
     The terminal abutting portion  152  at the lower end of the link  151  is brought into contact with the terminal  134  and the free end as the lower end of the link  151  is moved to the muzzle  102  side. The upper end of the link  151  is fit into the link fitting portion  162  of the cover  161  attached to the inner barrel  111 . The end of the cover  161  on the cartridge loading portion  122  side and both ends thereof on the muzzle  102  side are coupled together through the coupling portions  163 . Therefore, the end of the cover  161  on the cartridge  121  side is moved to and completely closes the openings of loading portions  122 . 
     This embodiment makes it possible to make the operating range of the cartridge  121  in a magazine longer than in a conventional technique. 
     In the conventional technique, there is a gap between the cartridge  121  and the inner barrel  111 . In the present invention, meanwhile, the cover  161  which is operated in conjunction with the rotation of the cartridge  121  and closes the above gap is provided between the cartridge  121  and the inner barrel  111 . This prevents compressed gas as an energy source from leaking from the above gap for the enhancement of energy efficiency.