Abstract:
A toy gun having a housing is provided. A trigger is attached to the housing and a liquid storage tank is provided on the housing along with a pressure chamber having an opening which receives an expandable bladder. Also attached to the housing is a pump which is in fluid communication with the liquid storage tank. The pump is adapted to transfer liquid from the liquid storage tank to the expandable bladder in order to charge the expandable bladder with pressurized liquid as the pump is actuated by a user. In addition, a release valve is included for regulating a discharge of liquid contained in the expandable bladder. A path of fluid communication provides fluid communication between the expandable bladder, the pump, the storage tank and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly is adapted for insertion into a quick charge device. The quick charge device is adapted to force liquid from the quick charge device and through the nozzle assembly in order to recharge the expandable bladder. Once the bladder is recharged, movement of the trigger displaces the release valve to regulate the movement of pressurized liquid through a part of the path of fluid communication for discharging a stream of liquid from the nozzle assembly.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/088,953, filed Jun. 11, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to toy water guns having expandable bladders and more particularly, to a toy water gun having an expandable bladder which can be charged using a pump located on the water gun or an auxiliary hose connection for quick charging the water gun. 
     Bladder water guns having an on-board pump are known, such as disclosed in applicant&#39;s prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/672,941, filed on Jun. 28, 1996, now allowed, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth. 
     Such water guns have proven to be extremely popular and successful in the market. However, it would be desirable to provide a water gun which can be rapidly charged without the need for pumping if an external pressurized water source, such as public water, is available. This would provide for enhanced enjoyment and ease of use, especially for younger users who may have more difficulty using the manual pump. Additionally, it would desirable to maintain the ability to pressurize the water gun using a manual pump located on the gun when an external source of pressurized water is not available. Other improvements which should reduce the cost of manufacturing are also provided. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, the present invention provides for a toy gun having a housing. A trigger is attached to the housing. A liquid storage tank is provided on the housing along with a pressure chamber having an opening which receives an expandable bladder. Also attached to the housing is a pump which is in fluid communication with the liquid storage tank. The pump is adapted to transfer liquid from the liquid storage tank to the expandable bladder in order to charge the expandable bladder with pressurized liquid as the pump is actuated by a user. In addition, a release valve is included for regulating a discharge of liquid contained in the expandable bladder. A path of fluid communication provides fluid communication between the expandable bladder, the pump, the storage tank and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly is adapted for insertion into a quick charge device. The quick charge device is adapted to force liquid from the quick charge device and through the nozzle assembly in order to recharge the expandable bladder. Once the bladder is recharged, movement of the trigger displaces the release valve to regulate the movement of pressurized liquid through a part of the path of fluid communication for discharging a stream of liquid from the nozzle assembly. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides a toy gun system adapted to discharge a stream of liquid under pressure. The system includes a toy gun and a recharging adapter. The toy gun has a housing, a nozzle assembly at one end of the housing, a pump connected to the housing, a liquid storage tank attached to the housing, and a pressurizable chamber having an opening located on the housing. An expandable bladder is located in the pressure chamber, and a path of fluid communication is provided between the bladder, the pump, and the nozzle assembly. The recharging adapter includes a receptacle adapted to receive he nozzle assembly. A valve body is slidably disposed in the receptacle, and a liquid channel is located in the valve body. An attachment is provided on the recharging adapter for connection to an external source of pressurized liquid. The nozzle assembly of the toy gun is adapted to be inserted in the receptacle of the recharging adapter to displace the valve body to an open position allowing liquid from an external source of pressurized liquid to travel through the valve body, the nozzle assembly and the path of fluid communication and into the expandable bladder. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating a toy gun system. The method includes: 
     (a) providing a toy gun having a housing, a liquid storage tank attached to said housing, a pressure chamber having an opening located on said housing, an expandable bladder located in said pressure chamber, a pump, and a path of fluid communication between a nozzle assembly, said expandable bladder and said pump; 
     (b) charging said expandable bladder by one of: 
     (i) pumping liquid via said pump from said storage tank through said path of fluid communication into said expandable bladder; and 
     (ii) inserting said nozzle assembly in a receptacle of a recharging adapter and moving a normally closed valve body to an open position allowing pressurized liquid to flow from said recharging adapter through said nozzle assembly and said path of fluid communication into said expandable bladder; 
     (c) discharging said bladder by displacing said release valve via a trigger connected to said release valve to eject a stream of liquid from said toy gun; and 
     (d) recharging said toy gun in accordance with step (b). 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a left side elevational view, partially broken away, showing a bladder water gun in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the water gun shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of the toy water gun in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the toy water gun in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the valving elements are shown in dashed lines; 
     FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the toy water gun; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 — 6  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  7 — 7  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the water gun in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the bladder pressure chamber used in the water gun in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a bladder used with the toy water gun in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the nozzle of the toy water gun in accordance with the present invention being inserted in a hose adapter for charging the bladder and water tank; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, showing a bladder water gun in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the water gun shown in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the toy water gun in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the toy water gun in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 16 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view showing a second preferred embodiment of a bladder used in the second preferred embodiment of the water gun in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 17 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, showing a bladder water gun in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;. 
     FIG. 18 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of the bladder housing and bladder used with the water gun in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 17; 
     FIG. 19 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, showing a bladder water gun in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 20 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of the bladder housing and bladder used with the water gun in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.  19 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the toy water gun in accordance with the present invention, and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words noted above as well as derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
     Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in FIGS.  1 - 8  a water gun  10  in accordance with the present invention. While the preferred embodiments of the invention are preferably water guns, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the toy gun  10  can be used with any liquid. For the sake of convenience, the preferred embodiments will therefore be described as water guns, although this is not intended to limit the present invention from use with other liquids. As shown in detail in FIGS.  1 — 4 , the water gun  10  includes a housing  12  having a handle  14  which can be grasped by a user. Preferably, the housing  12  and handle  14  are molded from a polymeric material in one or more pieces, and are assembled together to form the housing  12 . However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that the housing  12  may be made using any desired method, such as machining, and from any suitable material, as desired. 
     A storage tank  16  having a cap  18  is attached to the housing  12 . Preferably, the storage tank  16  is molded from a polymeric material and includes a keyed or form locking connection  26  for assembly of the storage tank  16  with the housing  12  as shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cap  18  is engaged to the tank  16  via threads. Preferably, the cap  18  includes a vent opening  19 , as shown in FIG. 2, and a two-way rubber vent is located within the cap  18  to allow air to enter and exit the tank  18 . 
     A pressure chamber  20 , which is shown in detail in FIG. 9, is also attached to the housing  12 . The pressure chamber  20  is preferably molded from a polymeric material and includes a smooth interior surface having spherical radii R 1  at both ends with a cylindrical wall located therebetween. The pressure chamber  20  has an opening  21  through which an expandable bladder  52  is inserted, as explained in more detail below. The pressure chamber  20  is designed to have sufficient strength to hold the expandable bladder  52  and prevent over pressurization of the expandable bladder  52 . 
     As shown in detail in FIG. 1, a release valve  28  is located in the housing  12  at the front of the water gun  10  and is connected to the expandable bladder  52  located in the pressure chamber  20  via a path of fluid communication which includes a first pipe  24 . The first pipe  24  has a first end and a second end. The first pipe  24  can be made by any desired method and be made from any material in any manner as long as the material has the ability to deliver liquid from one end to the other. The release valve  28  is similar to the valve disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/672,941, filed Jun. 28, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,827, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth. A stem  32  extends from the release valve  28  for opening the valve release  28  to discharge water or any other desired liquid from a nozzle assembly  30  which is located at the front of the housing  12  and in communication with the release valve  28 . The release valve  28  is actuated via a trigger  34  which is attached to the housing  12  adjacent to the handle  14 . The trigger  34  is biased to a first position via a spring  35  and is connected by a arm  37  to a sliding connection  36  which is connected to the stem  32 . As shown in FIG. 6, the sliding connector  36  rides on the outside tube of a pump  40 . Movement of the trigger  34  causes the valve stem  32  to be retracted, opening the release valve  28  and thereby regulating a discharge from the expandable bladder  52  which is ejected from the gun  10  as a stream of liquid from said nozzle assembly. However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that other types of release valves  28  may be used, such as a pinched tube valve, and that the present invention is not limited to the specific valve  28  disclosed. 
     The path of fluid communication provides fluid communication between the expandable bladder  52 , the nozzle assembly  30  and the pump  40 . The path of fluid communication is a configuration of at least two pipes. Preferably, the first pipe  24 , a second pipe  44 , a cross pipe  51  as explained in more detail below. 
     The pump  40  is attached to the housing  12  and is in fluid communication with the liquid storage tank  16 . The pump  40  includes a pump handle  42  which extends from the front of the water gun  10  such that it can be grasped by a user&#39;s hand to manually pump water from the liquid storage tank  16  through the path of fluid communication and into the expandable bladder  52  located in the pressure chamber  20  for charging the expandable bladder  52  such that the bladder  52  is expanded by liquid under pressure. The pump  40  could be any pump including portable pumps, piston or even a battery operated pump if desired and may be integral or separable. The pump  40  is connected to the storage tank via the second pipe  44 , shown in FIG. 1, which is connected via a manifold  45 , shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, to a pump valve assembly  46 . The second pipe  44  includes a first end and a second end. The pump valve assembly  46  includes a first check valve  47  which allows water to be drawn from the storage tank  16 , through the second pipe  44 , into the manifold  45  and into a chamber  41  of the pump  40  as the handle  42  is moved in a forward direction away from the gun. As the handle  42  of the pump  40  is pressed inwardly toward the housing  12 , the first check valve within the pump valve assembly  46  closes and a second check valve  49  opens allowing water to be discharged from the pump  40  through the cross pipe  51  to a third pipe  50  which is connected to the first pipe  24  at a junction  53  (shown in FIG.  1 ). 
     Both the third pipe  50  and the cross pipe  51  have first ends and second ends and can be made by any desired method from any suitable material in any manner as long as the pipes have the ability to deliver liquid from one end to the other. 
     With the valve  28  in the closed position, the water from the storage tank  16  is moved under pressure from the pump  40  into the bladder  52 , which expands. The check valves within the valve assembly  46  prevent back flow of water from the expandable bladder  52  into the pump  40 . When the trigger  34  is pulled and the valve  28  is opened, water is discharged through the first pipe  24  through the release valve  28  and the nozzle assembly  30 . The second pipe  44  can be made by any desired method from any suitable material in any manner as long as the pipe has the ability to deliver liquid from one end to the other. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 4, a pressure release valve  48  is also connected to the path of fluid communication and is located between the manifold  45  and the third pipe  50  to prevent over pressurization of the bladder  52 . The pressure release valve  48  allows for quick charging of the water gun  10  using an external source of pressurized water, such as pressurized tap water provided by a well pump or water pressure from public water mains, as explained in detail below. 
     Referring to FIG. 11, the nozzle assembly  30  which allows quick charging of the water gun  10  is shown in the charging position in a hose adapter or quick charge device  80 . The nozzle assembly  30  includes a nozzle housing  66 , a discharge opening  60  and a recharge opening  61  of a second size, which is larger than the discharge opening  60 . A sliding nozzle member  62  is located in the nozzle housing  66 , and the discharge opening  60  is located in the sliding member  62 . The sliding nozzle member  62  is biased by a spring  64  to a forward most position within the nozzle housing  66 . The sliding nozzle member  62  includes at least one channel  68  located around its periphery to allow for an increased flow area between the sliding nozzle member  62  and the wall of the housing  66  when the sliding member  62  is moved rearwardly in the nozzle housing  66  to form the recharge opening. The outside of the nozzle housing  66  includes a groove  70  for an O-ring seal  72  at the forward end. However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that different types of valve assemblies can be utilized, and that the sliding member  62  can be omitted, if desired. 
     The hose adapter  80  includes a receptacle  82  for receiving the nozzle assembly  30  of the water gun  10 . A valve body  84  which is held in a closed position via a spring  86  located in the receptacle  82 . The valve body  84  is held by the spring  86  in a closed position against a seat  88  located on the hose adapter  80  and is sealed via an O-ring  90 . A water channel  92  is located in the valve body  84  such that upon downward movement of the valve body  84 , to the position shown in FIG. 11, water under pressure enters the water channel  92  and is conveyed through the valve body  84  to the nozzle assembly  30 . A external hose attachment  94  is preferably provided on the hose adapter  80 . However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that other types of connectors can be provided for attaching the adapter  80  to a pressurized water source, such as public water. It will be similarly recognized that different types of valves and actuating mechanisms can be used, if desired. The hose adapter or quick charge device is preferably made from polymeric material in one or more pieces to be assembled. However, it is understood and recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that the hose adapter or quick charge device may be made using any desired method, and from any suitable material, as desired. 
     For quick charging of the water gun  10 , the nozzle assembly  30  is inserted in the receptacle  82  of the hose adapter  80 . Once the valve body  84  has been moved downwardly by the nozzle assembly  30 , water under pressure flows through the channel  92  to the nozzle  30  and presses the sliding nozzle member  62  inwardly to allow a larger volume of water to flow through the recharge opening formed by the channels  68  located on the sliding nozzle member  62 . The valve  28  can be opened via the water pressure acting on the closing surface of the valve  28  or mechanically upon insertion of the nozzle assembly  30  into the hose adapter  80  in order to allow a back flow of pressurized water through the valve  28  into the first pipe  24  of the path of fluid communication. Water initially flows into the bladder  52  as well as through the third pipe  50  to the pump valve assembly  46  on the pump  40  and the pressure release valve  48 . After the bladder  52  expands with pressurized water to fill the inside of the pressure chamber  20 , the pressure release valve  48  opens, allowing water to back fill through the manifold  45  and the second pipe  44  into the tank  16 . Once the tank  16  is full, water is vented through the opening  19  in the cap  18  and the user withdraws the toy gun  10  from the hose adapter  80  with the bladder  52  fully charged and the tank  16  full for continued operation for recharging the bladder  52  via the pump  40 . The pressure release valve  48  is set to an opening pressure which is slightly greater than the pressure required to charge the bladder  52 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 10, the bladder  52  is shown in detail. The bladder  52  is preferably molded from a natural rubber and is designed to have a tapered shape such that it can be molded using a simple two piece mold for ease of manufacturing. The bladder  52  includes a reduced cross-sectional area adjacent to the opening  54  to promote initial expansion in the area of the opening  54  prior to the reminder of the bladder  52  expanding to fill the reminder of the pressure chamber  20 . It will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, that the bladder  52  may be made from other suitable materials, if desired, and that the shape can be varied to suit various pressure chamber dimensions. Significantly, by providing a bladder  52  which has a straight tapered profile, manufacturing costs can be reduced based on the use of a two piece mold such that the bladder  52  being easily released from the male and female mold parts. 
     Referring now to FIGS.  12 - 16 , a second embodiment of a bladder water gun  110  in accordance with the present invention is shown. The water gun  110  in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention is similar to the water gun  10  in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the invention, and like elements have been labeled with the same reference numerals with the prefix “1”. For example, the pump  140  for the second embodiment of the water gun  110  is similar to the pump  40  for the first embodiment of the water gun  10 . Accordingly, a detailed explanation of these similar items has been omitted for convenience only and the drawings have been labeled with the corresponding reference numerals for the sake of clarity. The differences between the second embodiment of the water gun  110  and the first embodiment 10 are described in detail below. 
     As shown in FIG. 12, the water gun  110  includes an elongated pressure chamber  120  with a larger capacity bladder  152 . Based on the increase in the size of the pressure chamber, the housing  112  is elongated. Accordingly, a linkage arm  131  is provided between the sliding connector  136  and the stem  132  of the release valve  128 . The release valve  128  is preferably of the type described in Applicant&#39;s pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/905,386, filed Aug. 4, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth. However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that other types of valves may be used. 
     The tank  116  also has a larger capacity than the tank  16  in connection with the first preferred embodiment  10 . However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that any size tank may be provided. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 16, the bladder  152  is shown in detail. Preferably, the bladder  152  is made of a natural rubber material and has a conically tapered shape. This allows the bladder  152  to be made in a two piece mold that allows the male mandrel to be easily withdrawn from the bladder  152 , and the bladder  152  can be easily removed from the female portion of the mold. The bladder  152  has an open end  156  with a flange  158  located around the opening. The flange  158  is used to secure the bladder  152  within the bladder housing  120 . Threaded neck portions  159 , which are preferably provided in two halves, are attached to the bladder housing  120  at the open end  156  and a threaded collar  161  having a radially inwardly extending flange  163  is used to clamp an insert  165  against the flange  158  of the bladder  152  and the neck portion  159 . Preferably, the insert  165  has a connection  167  which allows for the connection of the first pipe  124 . Using this type of bladder  152  provides for easier manufacturing and a secure attachment of the bladder  152  to the first pipe  124 , as well as providing for secure location of the bladder  152  within the pressure chamber  120 . 
     The water gun  110  is operated in the same manner as the water gun  10  and can be charged using the hose adapter  80 . Due to the increased capacity of the bladder  152 , the water gun  110  provides for a greater initial pressurized charge. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, a third embodiment of a bladder water gun  210  in accordance with the present invention is shown. The water gun  210  in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention is similar to the water gun  10  in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the invention, and like elements have been labeled with the same reference numerals with the prefix “2”. For example, the pump  240  for the third embodiment of the water gun  210  is similar to the pump  40  for the first embodiment of the water gun  10 . Accordingly, a detailed explanation of these similar items has been omitted for convenience only and the drawings have been labeled with the corresponding reference numerals for the sake of clarity. The differences between the third embodiment of the water gun  210  and the first embodiment  10  are described in detail below. 
     As shown in FIG. 17, and in more detail in FIG. 18, the bladder  252  in the pressure chamber  220  has a different shape from the bladder  52  in order to enhance expansion and prolong the bladder life. As shown in FIG. 18, the bladder  252  has a hollow hemi-ellipsoidal closed end  252   a  which extends into a generally hollow cylindrical segment  252   b  which further transitions to a shape corresponding generally to a hollow frustum of an ellipsoid  252   c  which ends in a neck  252   d . Overall, this forms a generally elongated tear drop-shaped bladder in order to promote radial expansion of the bladder  252  within the pressure chamber  220  until the expanding bladder contacts  252  contacts the inside walls of the pressure chamber  220 , and then expands longitudinally until the bladder  252  is restricted from further expansion around its entire outer periphery by the pressure chamber  220 . 
     The bladder  252  is clamped into the pressure chamber  220  and connected to the first pipe  224  via an insert  265 , similar to the insert  165  of the second embodiment. Two threaded neck portions  259 A,  259 B, which are preferably provided as matching two halves, are attached to the bladder housing  220  at the open end  256  and a threaded collar  261  having a radially inwardly extending flange  263  is used to clamp the insert  265  against the flange  258  of the bladder  252  and the neck portions  259 . Preferably, the insert  265  has a connection  267  which allows for the connection of the first pipe  224  using an O-ring  269  to seal the connection. However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure that any suitable clamping arrangement can be used to connect the first pipe  224  to the bladder  252  and to secure the bladder  252  in position within the pressure chamber  220 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 19 and 20, a fourth embodiment of a bladder water gun  310  in accordance with the present invention is shown. The water gun  310  in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the invention is similar to the water gun  110  in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the invention, and like elements have been labeled with the same reference numerals with the hundreds digit “3” in place of the hundreds digit “1”. For example, the pump  340  for the fourth embodiment of the water gun  310  is similar to the pump  140  for the second embodiment of the water gun  110 . Accordingly, a detailed explanation of these similar items has been omitted for convenience only and the drawings have been labeled with the corresponding reference numerals for the sake of clarity. The differences between the fourth embodiment of the water gun  310  and the second embodiment  110  are described in detail below. 
     As shown in FIG. 19, and in detail in FIG. 20, the bladder  352  is now in the form of an elongated tubular bladder  352  of the type disclosed in Applicant&#39;s prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,799,827 and 5,758,800, which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth. The bladder  352  has an open first end and a plug  374  is provided in the second end which is held in position with clamps  375 . A bladder carriage  376  is attached to the second end of the bladder  352  and has a complementary profile to the inside of the pressure chamber  320  such that it can slide along the inside of the pressure chamber  320  as the bladder  352  expands. The pressure chamber  320  includes an open end such that the carriage  376  can extend beyond the end of the pressure chamber  320  until it contacts ribs or stop bosses located in the housing  312  to limit further expansion of the bladder  352 . 
     The first end of the bladder  352  is clamped to the pressure chamber  320  adjacent to the first end of the bladder  352  in a similar manner to that described above in connection with the third embodiment of the invention  210 . The bladder  352  is connected to the first pipe  324  via an insert  365 , similar to the insert  265  of the third embodiment. Two threaded neck portions  359 A,  359 B, are attached to the bladder housing  320  at the open end  356  and a threaded collar  361  having a radially inwardly extending flange  363  is used to clamp the insert  365  against the flange  358  of the bladder  352  and the neck portions  359 A,B. Preferably, the insert  365  has a connection  367  which allows for the connection of the first pipe  324  using an O-ring  369  to seal the connection. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, and is intended to cover modifications within the scope and spirit of the present invention.