Abstract:
The present invention relates to a water gun system comprising: a water reservoir, where the water reservoir includes pressurized air; a rechargeable battery, where the rechargeable battery supplies power to the pressurizing mechanism for the reservoir; an air intake valve, where the air intake that pulls air into the reservoir; a fill cap, where the fill cap for inserting water into the reservoir; and a water tube, where the water tube extends from the reservoir and includes a connector that attaches to a water gun. The reservoir further includes a power switch. An air pressure hose transmits pressurized into air within the reservoir. The water gun system may be assembled in a backpack form and includes at least one strap to enable a user to strap the backpack onto the user&#39;s back.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/218,920 filed on Jun. 20, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an automatic water gun and propulsion system. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    A water gun is designed to shoot or propel water in a tight stream. The traditional water gun operates similar to a spray bottle and is usually a handheld toy shaped like a small handgun. The water gun may be made of hollow plastic that provides a container for the water and a trigger is provided that activates a pump, which squirts the water out of a nozzle. 
         [0006]    Over time the technology related to water guns has advanced tremendously beyond the traditional trigger pump type of water gun. Other types of water gun include: a syringe/piston type gun where water is expelled from the gun through a syringe or piston like movement; air pressured guns include a water filled reservoir where a pump is used to push air into the water filled reservoir therefore increasing pressure thereon and the air essentially becomes compressed; an air separate pressure firing chamber type water gun works essentially on the same principal as a pressurized reservoir system, however instead of pressurizing the reservoir a separate fixed volume chamber is included on the water gun which water is pumped compressing the air inside; constant air pressure system water guns utilize fiber elastic chambers to power the water gun where the chambers may be symmetrical or spiracle in shape, constant pressure systems have an improved performance over other systems due to lack of firing angle limitations; rubber diaphragm/hydropower water guns utilize elastic rubber bladders to pressurize water; elastic/spring based water guns similar to the air pressure chamber systems utilize a separate air chamber that the water may be pressurized from the elastic nature of a rubber bladder and use metal springs in an order to provide energy behind a stream of water; and peristaltic pumps provide yet another system of water guns that are based upon rollers that pinch a soft piece of tubing and as rollers are rotated they squeeze water through the tubing pushing it in on the length that the rollers remain in contact with the tubing. 
         [0007]    As the systems of water guns have developed over time various nozzles have been developed to create various spray patterns. The traditional nozzle includes a stream nozzle but other nozzles include a fan type, shower nozzle, blast nozzles, pulsating nozzles and rotating nozzles. Furthermore reservoirs have developed in order to utilize the technology related to water guns. The traditional reservoir is a full body reservoir that is found on the smaller trigger pump type water guns. Larger water guns, which utilize the pressure technique described above usually, include bottle type reservoirs with threaded fuel caps in order to seal the reservoir to create the required pressure associated with the water gun. In addition to reservoir bottles, backpack styled reservoirs may be utilized where the water is essentially strapped to the user&#39;s back and allows for increased capacity as opposed to the bottled reservoirs. 
         [0008]    Some of the more advanced water guns utilize batteries and motors in order to pressurize the reservoirs sufficiently for operational purposes. Many water gun systems require manual pumping to create the required pressure. Although the water gun technology has advanced there remains further advancement and the automated techniques to enhance water gun systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention relates to a water gun system comprising: a water reservoir, where the water reservoir includes a means to pressurized the air within the reservoir; a rechargeable battery, where the rechargeable battery supplies power to the means to pressurize air with the reservoir; an air intake valve, where the air intake provides a means to pull air into the reservoir; a fill cap, where the fill cap provides a means to insert water into the reservoir; and a water tube, where the water tube extends from the reservoir and includes a connector that attaches to a water gun. The reservoir further includes a power switch. An air pressure hose transmits pressurized into air within the reservoir. The water gun system may be assembled in a backpack form and includes at least one strap to enable a user to strap the backpack onto the user&#39;s back. The backpack further includes cylinders that provide a means to pressurize the air within the reservoir and a motor where the motor turns pistons within the cylinders. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1A  depicts a backpack reservoir for the automated water gun system according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  depicts straps utilized with the backpack according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1C  depicts a side view of the backpack according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts the internal components of the backpack according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  depicts an exemplary gun and internal tubing according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3B  depicts a second exemplary gun utilized with the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3C  depicts the internal components of the second gun utilized with the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3D  depicts a third exemplary gun utilized with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3E  depicts the internal workings of the third gun utilized with the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3F  depicts a barrel assembly associated with the third gun utilized with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3G  depicts a fourth exemplary gun utilized with the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3H  depicts the internal components of the fourth exemplary gun utilized with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The present invention provides a new and improved automatic water gun system that includes a rechargeable battery powered pressurized water system. The automatic water gun system according to the present invention includes a backpack reservoir of water that delivers water through an attached water tube that connects to a variety of water guns designed for the water gun system. A backpack  10  according to the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 1A . The backpack  10  includes a reservoir  18  that holds water for use with the water gun system according to the present invention. A water tube  14  extends from the reservoir  18  and provides a means for the connection of a powered water gun to the reservoir system. The backpack reservoir system  10  includes a power switch  11  and a rechargeable battery  13 . The reservoir  18  includes an air-pressurized water system and an air pressure hose  16  transmits air into the reservoir  18  to pressurize the reservoir system for delivery of water through the water tube  14 . Water may be filled into the reservoir  18  via a cap  12 . 
         [0023]    The backpack  10  may be worn on an individual&#39;s back via use of straps  15   a,    15   b  as depicted in  FIG. 1B . The straps  15   a,    15   b  of the backpack reservoir  10  enable the user to carry a sufficient capacity of water to utilize through the water gun system. A side view of the backpack reservoir  10  is shown in  FIG. 1C  and includes an air intake valve  17 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  depicts some of the internal components of the backpack reservoir  10  according to the present invention. The backpack  10  includes cylinders  20   a,    20   b  that provide a means to pressurize the air within the reservoir  18 . A motor  30  turns pistons within the cylinders  20   a,    20   b.  Air intake tubes  21   a,    21   b  provide a means to receive intake air to pressure air within the reservoir  18 . A pressure sensor  32  is provided to regulate the air pressure and to ensure adequate air pressure to operate the air system. The piston rods  22   a,    22   b  connect to the crank  25  and therefore provides a means to pressurize the air system with the reservoir  18 . The pressurized air within the reservoir therefore eliminates the necessity of any manual pumping that may be associated with some of the water gun systems of a prior art. The system is powered by a rechargeable battery  13  that supplies power to the motor  30 . The rechargeable battery  13  is depicted in  FIG. 1A . 
         [0025]    The water gun system according to the present invention in addition to providing a water reservoir  18  via backpack  10  also includes a variety of gun attachments that connect to water tube  14 . The first such gun attachment is depicted in  FIG. 3A . The water gun system according to the present invention includes a gun  40  which attaches to the water tube  14 . The gun  40  includes a trigger  42 , handle  44 , an input connector  41  and an output nozzle  46 . Also depicted in  FIG. 3A  is the internal tubing of the gun  40 . The internal tubing  45   a  starts at the input connection  41  extends to the trigger  42  and continues to the output nozzle  46  via tubing  45   b.    
         [0026]    An alternative water gun for the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 3B . An arm gun  50  is shown in  FIGS. 3B and 3C . The arm gun  50  includes the inlet connection  51  and a squeezable hand trigger  52 . A handle  54  extends downward from the arm gun  50  and may abut one side of the trigger  52 . As contemplated by the present invention, the arm gun  50  may be strapped or attached to the arm of the user and therefore the trigger  52  is squeezed by the individual&#39;s hand against the handle  54  in order to release a stream of water through an outlet nozzle  56   b.  The arm gun  50  further includes a small water tank  56   a  that contains a portion of stored water within the arm gun  50 . The water is supplied through the inlet  51  which connects to the water tube  14  of the backpack  10 . 
         [0027]    Other components of the arm gun  50  include an inner tubing  55   b  that transfers water from the inlet  51  into the small water tank  56   a  of the arm gun  50 . A power switch  55   a  provides a means to activate power on the arm gun  50 . Furthermore, an electrical motor  57   a  is also provided within the arm gun  50  with a screw pump  57   b.  Water is transferred through the inner tubing  55  through a pressure valve  58   a  and exits through the outlet nozzle  56   b.  A pressure sensor  58   b  is provided to regulate the water pressure the arm gun  50 . A relief valve  53  is shown just inside of the outlet nozzle  56   b.  This relief valve  53  is activated via trigger  52  and releases the water for transmission through outlet nozzle  56   b.    
         [0028]    The arm gun  50  of the present invention provides a more high-powered and thicker stream of water out of the output nozzle  56   b  due to the electrical motor  57   a  and pump  57   b  provided within the arm gun  50 . In addition to the pressure already provided via the reservoir  18 , the water is further pressurized through the arm gun  50  by the screw pump  57   b  powered by the electrical motor  57   a.  The pump  57   b  increases the pressure of the water by about 100% or doubles the pressure once it is within the small water tank  56   a.  The electrical motor  57   a  is powered by a battery pack  59  within the arm gun  50 . 
         [0029]    A third style of water gun attachment is provided within the automated water gun system according to present invention and is depicted in  FIGS. 3D ,  3 E, and  3 F. A Gatling style gun  60  is shown in  FIG. 3D . The Gatling style gun  60  includes an inlet connection  61  which connects to the water tube  14  of the backpack  10  and provides a means for the entry of water into the Gatling gun  60  system. The Gatling gun  60  further includes a trigger  62  and handle  64 . The trigger  62  releases the water supply through the gun to enable the squirting of water through the barrels  65 . A power button  63  provided on the outer portion of Gatling gun  16  activates the rotation of the barrels  65 . 
         [0030]    Some of the internal components of the Gatling gun  60  are depicted in  FIG. 3E  which includes a battery compartment  64   a,  barrels  65 , barrel gears  65   a,  bearing assembly  65   b  and a motor  67 . The distal ends of the barrels  65 , about the last 2 inches thereof rotate similar to a traditional Gatling gun. As the barrels  65  rotate, a stream of water squirts from each individual barrel of the Gatling gun  60  once each barrel  65  reaches the top of the rotation. Tubing feeds to the side of each barrels of the Gatling gun  60  and provides a conduit for the water supplied to the gun  60 . The output nozzles are depicted in  FIG. 3F . Six barrels rotate through the Gatling gun  60  sequence and emit streams of water through each individual barrel. A water valve  68  is provided for supplying water to the top barrel as the barrels  65  rotate through sequence. The gears  65   a  and bearing assembly  65   b  rotate the barrels  65  of the Gatling gun  60  through the sequence of rotation and is powered by motor  67 . Bearings  65   c  assist in holding the barrels  65  in place and inline as they rotate. A bolt  69   a  and nut  69   b  secures the barrels  65  and related components into the gun  60 . The motor  67  is an electrical motor that receives power from the batteries contained in the battery compartment  64   a.  The pressurized water is received through the inlet connection  61  and emitted from the barrels  65  as desired by the user. 
         [0031]    Another exemplary gun according to the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 3G . A knuckle gun  70  is shown in  FIG. 3G . A grip  72  is provided for the knuckle gun  70  with an output nozzle  74 . Also an input connection  71  is provided for connection to the water tube  14  of the reservoir system  10 . The knuckle gun  70  has also includes a thumb trigger  73  that provides a means to trigger the emission of water through the output nozzle  74 .  FIG. 3H  ( a ) depicts some of the internal components of the knuckle gun  70 , in particular tubing  75   a,    75   b  extend through gun  70  and provide for water flow out of the output nozzle  74 . A water valve  76  is shown between the two sections of tubing  75   a,    75   b.    
         [0032]    As stated earlier the battery component of the reservoir system includes rechargeable batteries that may be recharged as desired. Further the batteries disclosed as associated with the guns used with the present water gun system are also rechargeable style batteries. The present water gun system provides a means to have an automated water gun with various water gun attachments thereto. The various water guns are utilized with the present system and may include further pressuring systems within the water guns themselves or utilize the pressurized water as transmitted through the water tube  14  of the backpack reservoir  10 . Each of the guns that may be use with the present system includes input connections, which have similar threading to match a conventional garden hose. Such a connection enables the guns to be attached to a garden hose for water supply purposes. Any of the guns used within the water gun system according to the present invention provide a continuous stream of water as desired. The reservoir  18  also includes pressure sensors to regulate the pressure within the backpack  10 . The water gun system according to the present invention provides various interchangeable water guns that create a unique experience in water gun usage.