Abstract:
A toy water gun provides a plurality of nozzles for discharging water in a variety of directions, volumes or spray patterns. A multi-position trigger or similar device controls selection of nozzles individually or in combinations whereby an operator can quickly choose among various modes of discharge by moving the trigger through corresponding positions.

Description:
This application is related to applicant&#39;s prior provisional application Ser. No. 60/301,034, filed Jun. 25, 2001, titled Toy Water Gun. The specification of said provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. Applicant hereby claims benefits of said prior provisional application under 35 U.S.C. 119( e ). 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to toy water guns, and more particularly to such water guns having multiple nozzles for discharging water, and water guns in which nozzles are adapted to discharge in directions other than forward. 
     Water guns are well known in which a plunger or trigger is employed to force or release water through an internal passage leading to a rotatable nozzle head having several orifices of various sizes or shapes. Thus, an operator may, in between discharges, rotate the nozzle head to align a selected orifice with the water passage, for different choices of discharge volume or spray patterns. While such designs allow many choices to be available, the configuration is not conducive to quick or repeated changes, particularly in the midst of a water battle. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,615,488 and 4,597,527 (both to Sands) disclose water guns in which a member of a nozzle head assembly is rotated to selectively align either a forward nozzle or a sideways directed nozzle with a main water supply passage. Additionally, a second member of the nozzle head (or the plunger handle of an alternate embodiment) may be rotated to allow flow of water from the main supply passage to a pair of rearward facing nozzles. To select a new output configuration an operator must presumably halt the process of discharging water to perform a separate nozzle selection operation. The rearward nozzles are intended to direct water at the operator of the gun, rather than at a target located behind the operator (U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,527, col. 2, lines 43–46 and col. 3, lines 22–26). 
     U.S. Pat. No. Re. 24,208 (Steiner), U.S. Pat. No. 2,888,172 (O&#39;Brian), U.S. Pat. No. 3,146,911 (Shun), U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,318 (Luk), U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,153 (Kuhn et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,320 (Mak et al.) all disclose water guns in which a movably mounted single nozzle is manipulated by the operator to point in different directions. U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,824 (Clayton) discloses a water gun in which multiple movable nozzles can simultaneously discharge in different directions. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 819,602 (Rupp) discloses an agricultural sprayer in which two spray heads can discharge fluid. The device does not simulate a firearm, is attached to a hose (col. 1, In. 23–25) and is carried by holding the arms 10, one in each hand (col. 2, In. 74–77). U.S. Pat. No. 979,771 (Kunzelmann) discloses a nozzle head in which a handle is employed for selecting one of three nozzles. The handle changes the orientation of the nozzles so that a selected nozzle always aims forward. U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,361 (Cuisinier) discloses a water pistol in which a second output can be selected and employed for filling a water balloon. The second output points straight down along a vertical axis with respect to the pistol. U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,440 (Regalbuto) shows a bicycle mounted squirting apparatus with multiple nozzles. The apparatus does not simulate a firearm and is not practical for use without a bicycle, upon which its major components must be separately and individually mounted. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides novel water gun control means for quick and easy selection of different nozzles or combinations thereof, so that discharge direction, volume and/or spray patterns may be changed “on the fly” without significant down time or interruption of discharge during changes in selection. In a typical embodiment, a water gun has an internally carried discharge control valve with multiple selectable outputs. Each valve output is connected via conduit to a different nozzle or set of nozzles. A multi-position trigger or similar device controls the valve, whereby an operator can choose among the various modes of discharge simply by moving the trigger among corresponding positions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view in partial section of a water gun having a trigger controlled multiple output rotary valve for selection of front, rear and side nozzles. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the water gun of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view in partial section of the valve and trigger mechanisms of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view in partial section of a water gun having a trigger controlled multiple output linear valve for selection of front, rear and side nozzles. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view in partial section of the valve and trigger mechanisms of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side view in partial section of a water gun having a top mounted trigger that controls a multiple output linear valve for selection of front, rear and side nozzles. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view in partial section of the valve of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a side view in partial section of a modified valve similar to that of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         FIG. 9  depicts the five operational positions or modes of the valve of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         FIG. 10  depicts a control lever and rotary valve, the valve being shown in cross-section, that may be employed in a water gun in accordance with the present invention. The valve and control lever are shown in an “OFF” position, preventing water flow. 
         FIG. 11  depicts the control lever and valve assembly of  FIG. 10  positioned for flow between a bottom input port and an upper right output port. 
         FIG. 12  depicts the control lever and valve assembly of  FIG. 10  positioned for flow between the bottom input port and an upper left output port. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic of connections that allow the valve of  FIG. 10  to select individual front or rear discharge, or combined front, rear, left and right discharge. 
         FIG. 14  is a dual valve, single trigger mechanism that may be employed in accordance with the present invention to allow selection of front discharge only, or front discharge combined with a second direction or combination of directions. 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of a dual valve, dual trigger mechanism that allows individual selection of two nozzles or groups thereof, or simultaneous selection of both nozzles or nozzle groups. 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of the mechanism of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of the mechanism of  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  depict, by way of illustration but not of limitation, a water gun employing the present invention. The water gun  10  includes a body or frame  11 , a pump  12  adapted for pressurizing water and air in a sealed reservoir  13 , a valve  19  for releasing pressurized water from the reservoir, and a trigger assembly  15  for operating the valve. The pump  12  includes a plunger  20 , a cylinder  21  and a unidirectional check valve  22 . The plunger includes a shaft  23  having a piston  24  at one end and a user operable handle  20   a  at the opposite end. Reciprocation of the plunger  20  within the cylinder  21  draws outside air into the cylinder as the plunger is moved to the right in  FIG. 1 , and forces said air through check valve  22  and into reservoir  13 , via conduit  25 , when the plunger is moved to the left. Water is added to the reservoir (when not pressurized) through an air tight removable cap  26 . Air pressure urges water from the reservoir  13  to the valve  19  via a tube  27 . 
     The valve  19  (ref.  FIG. 3 ) includes a first stage  14   a  for allowing or blocking the flow of water, and a second stage  14   b  for selecting discharge direction. A tube  34  supplies water from the first valve stage  14   a  to the second stage  14   b , which includes a movable cylindrical core  32  carried for rotation in a body  16  having four output ports  38 . The body  16  is held in fixed position on the gun frame  11  by engagement of tabs  40  and receptacles  41 , and may be integrally connected with the body of first valve stage  14   a  (for simplicity of illustration such connection is not shown in the figures). The output ports  38  are radially offset from the axis of rotation of the core  32 , symmetrically spaced from each other by ninety degrees. The rotary core  32  has a single aperture  36  radially offset from the axis of rotation such that it can be aligned with any selected one of the outputs  38 . An o-ring  46  and feed-through gasket  39  restrict leakage about the core  32  where it interfaces with tube  34 , and valve body  16 . The gasket  39  is affixed to the core  32  and rotates with same to allow passage of water between aperture  36  of the cylinder and a selected output port  38 . Conduits  17   a, b, c  and  d  connect the valve outputs  38  to nozzles  18   a, b, c  and  d , respectively. Thus, water will be discharged in the forward, reverse, left or right directions respectively, depending upon with which port  38  the core aperture  36  is aligned. An elongated frame extension  11   a  supports the rear nozzle such that the extension  11   a  is normally tucked under an operator&#39;s “trigger arm” and the nozzle  18   b  is directed to the rear of, rather than at the operator. The rear nozzle  18   b  is angled upward to compensate for the typical tendency of an operator to angle the forward end of a water gun upward, and hence to angle the rear end downward. Right nozzle  18   c  and left nozzle  18   d  may also be angled slightly upward, to enhance the projection of water in both directions. 
     The frame  11  includes a pistol grip  42  so that an operator may hold the gun in one hand and actuate the trigger  15  with the index finger of that hand. The trigger  15  includes first and second finger operated members  28   a  and  28   b , a tubular sleeve  29  which slides in forward and reverse directions about pump cylinder  21 , a discharge actuating member  30 , and an output selection cam  31  which engages slots  33   a  and  33   b  in the rotating cylindrical core  32  of the valve  19 . A spring  43  normally biases the trigger  15  forward to the position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 3 . To discharge water from a currently selected output an operator pulls trigger member  28   a  toward the rear of the gun, from said position. Cam  31  slides in one of the longitudinally aligned grooves  33   a  and imparts no motion to the core  32 . Discharge actuating member  30  slides along a valve opening control rod  45  until it engages a flange  44 ; further rearward motion of trigger  15  pulls the control rod  45  rearward to open first valve stage  14   a , which releases water from tube  27  into tube  34 , and thus into second valve stage  14   b , where it flows through aperture  36  and a selected port  38 , to be discharged through a corresponding nozzle. 
     To change the selected output an operator pushes forward on second trigger member  28   b  so that cam  31  moves forward into one of the diagonally oriented grooves  33   b , as depicted by dashed lines in  FIG. 3 . The operator then pulls rearward on first trigger member  28   a  whereby engagement of cam  31  with groove  33   b  forces the cylinder  32  to rotate by 90 degrees, whereupon the cam  31  enters the next longitudinal groove  33   a . At such position discharge actuating member  30  will not have engaged flange  44  of the valve control rod  45 , so no water is released. The operator may now either pull first trigger member  28   a  farther back to release water from the newly selected output, or he may push forward again on second trigger member  28   b  to engage cam  31  with the next diagonal groove  33   b  to initiate another incremental rotation of cylinder  32 , and thus another change in output selection. From a given output selection, any other output can be selected through no more than three reciprocations of member  28   b  as described above. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , it may be seen that the valve outputs  38  are mutually exclusive, i.e., only one output can be selected at any given time, since rotary aperture  36  can be aligned with only one of the outputs  38  at a time. If construction of alternate embodiments, any of the outputs may be connected via conduit to a group of nozzles (front, right and left nozzles, for example) such that simultaneous multi-directional discharge results when that particular valve output is selected. Group connections aside, the valve and trigger structure  19 ,  15  is additionally and particularly useful in other embodiments where the selection of individual (as opposed to groups of) nozzles is desired. For example, each of the four valve outputs  38  may be connected through separate conduits to four separate forward facing nozzles, where each of the nozzles is of a different orifice size or shape. Thus, the trigger may be used to quickly select among four different discharge volumes or spray patterns. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate another water gun  110  incorporating the present invention. Other than the trigger and valve mechanisms, water gun  110  is identical to the gun  10  of  FIG. 1  and similar items are identically numbered. Water gun  110  includes a frame  111 , a valve  119 , and a trigger assembly  115  that slides back and forth on air pump cylinder  21  and pressurized water supply tube  27 . The trigger assembly includes a finger actuated member  128  and a valve control member  130 . The control member is in fixed engagement with a valve control rod  145  such that forward or backward movement of the trigger  115  is matched by movement of the control rod  145  and a valve plunger  132  (ref.  FIG. 5 ). The valve plunger is movably carried within a valve body  114 . A trigger return spring  43  and a valve spring  143  bias the trigger  115  and valve plunger  132  to the forward position depicted in  FIG. 5 . Pressurized water is supplied by tube  27  to the valve  119  through an interconnecting passage  134 . With valve plunger  132  positioned as in  FIG. 5 , o-rings  146   a ,  146   b  prevent flow of water from passage  134  to valve output ports  138   a, b, c.    
     The valve outputs  138   a–c  are not mutually exclusive, and are sequentially enabled. To initiate water discharge, an operator pulls rearward on trigger member  128  until o-ring  146   a  becomes positioned to the rear of passage  134 , at which point water flows from passage  134  into valve body  114  and through valve output port  138   a . A conduit  117   a  connects port  138   a  to nozzle  18   a  for discharge in the forward direction. If the operator continues to pull the trigger rearward such that o-ring  146   a  passes to the rear of valve output port  138   b , water will flow through both conduits  117   a  and  117   b . Conduit  117   b  connects port  138   b  to rear nozzle  18   b , so the water gun will discharge simultaneously in the front and rear directions. If the trigger is pulled still farther back, such that o-ring  146   a  is positioned to the rear of valve output port  138   c , water will flow to all three output ports simultaneously. Output  138   c  is connected to right nozzle  18   c  and left nozzle  18   d  through conduits  117   c, d, e  and splitter  116 . Therefore, with the trigger  115  pulled to its rearmost position, water will discharge from the front, rear, right and left nozzles  18   a–d  simultaneously. A third o-ring  146   c  prevents the draining of water from conduits  117   b  and  117   e  through valve body  114 , around spring  143 , when the plunger is returned to its forward position (as in  FIG. 5 ). 
     Another water gun  210  incorporating the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 6 . Other than the trigger and valve mechanisms, water gun  210  is identical to the gun  10  of  FIG. 1  and similar items are identically numbered. The water gun  210  includes a frame  211 , a valve  219 , and a top mounted “fire hose” styled trigger lever  215  carried for pivotal movement about a pin  229 . The trigger  215  includes an operating handle  228 , and is operably connected to a valve plunger  232  via a pin  250  on the plunger that engages a slotted hole  251  on the trigger  215 . The plunger  232  is carried for sliding motion within a valve body  214 , such that forward and reverse pivoted movement of the trigger  215  causes the plunger to linearly slide back and forth within the valve body  214 . The valve body includes a plurality of outputs  238   a–c  connected to front, rear, left and right nozzles  18   a–d  via conduits  217   a–d , respectively. Output  238   c  is connected to both the left and right conduits  217   c ,  217   d  by a splitter  216 . The valve  219  is supplied with pressurized water through an input port  234  (ref.  FIG. 7 ) which mates with a radially positioned aperture (not shown) near the forward end of water tube  227 . 
     The plunger  232  is constructed with an internal longitudinal passageway  252  which can be connected to the input port  234  through either of two elongated radial passages  253   a ,  253   b , and which can be selectively connected to the output ports  238   a–c , either individually or in programmed combinations, through six radial passages  254 . The valve has five operating modes which depend upon the incremental positioning of plunger  232  within valve body  214 . With reference to  FIG. 8 , the five operating modes are illustrated in relation to the plunger position. In the orientation labeled “Position  1 ”, the plunger is placed in its most forward possible position (forward being to the right in the figures). Successive labeled positions correspond to incremental rearward movements of the plunger. 
     With the plunger  232  in Position  1  of  FIG. 8 , water is allowed to flow from input  234  through the central passage  252 , and out through leftmost port  238   b . Referring to  FIG. 6  it is seen that port  238   b  connects to rear nozzle  18   b , via conduit  217   b , so that Position  1  of the plunger corresponds to rearward discharge. With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 8  it may be further understood that Position  1  of the plunger will correspond to the trigger handle  228  being pulled to it&#39;s most rearward possible position so that the lower end of trigger lever  215  is pivoted fully to the right. 
     Again referring to  FIG. 8 , the plunger  232  in Position  2  will allow water to flow from input  234  to output  238   a , which corresponds to forward discharge through nozzle  18   a . The corresponding position of trigger handle  228  ( FIG. 6 ) will be partially rearward. 
     In Position  3 , a solid portion  232   a  of the plunger covers input port  234  so that water flow is prevented. This is an “OFF” mode and corresponds to trigger lever  115  being in the vertical orientation as shown in  FIG. 6 . Gaskets, o-rings or similar devices may be incorporated to enhance sealing between the plunger  232  and valve body  214 . 
     Position  4  of plunger  232  allows water flow from input  234  to output  238   c , which corresponds to left and right simultaneous discharge from nozzles  18   c  and  18   d , via conduits  217   c  and  217   d . The trigger handle  228  will be positioned partially forward. 
     Position  5  of the plunger simultaneously aligns one of the upper plunger passages  254  with each of the outputs  238   a–c , so that water flows to all four nozzles for simultaneous front, rear, left and right discharge. Trigger handle  228  of  FIG. 6  will be in its most forward position. 
     As described above, the valve  219  may be used by itself to control both discharge actuation and output selection, however it may also be used in conjunction with a separate discharge actuating valve or pump, such that valve  219  and trigger lever  215  are employed for output selection only. It may be noted that valve outputs  238   a–c  are mutually exclusive in Positions  1 ,  2  and  4 , but are all enabled in Position  5 . This allows the section of individual discharge paths, or the selection of all paths simultaneously, without the need for check valves or redundant nozzles and conduits (see  FIG. 13  for an example of check valves employed to produce similar results). 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a valve  219 ′ similar to that of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , modified by the addition of springs  255 ,  256  which bias plunger  232 ′ to the centered “OFF” position. With such modifications employed in the water gun  210  of  FIG. 6 , an operator may move trigger handle  228  forward or backward to select any of the available nozzle combinations and initiate discharge, and may cease discharge simply by releasing the handle  228  such that the springs  255 ,  256  return the valve plunger  232 ′ to the “OFF” mode. The trigger handle  215  may similarly be spring biased to its vertical “OFF” position to assist in or provide for the same result. 
       FIGS. 10–12  illustrate a multiple output rotary valve  319  that may be employed in a water gun similar to that of  FIG. 6 . The valve  319  includes a body  314 , which is held in fixed position when installed in a water gun, and a core  332  that rotates within the body  314  to block or allow water flow between an input  334  and a selected one of three outputs  338   a–c . A trigger lever  315  is affixed to the valve core  332  such that as the core rotates with the valve body  314 , the lever  315  pivots about a central axis of the valve  319 . Thus, the trigger handle  328  is used to rotate the core  332  for operation of the valve. 
     The valve core includes a central passageway  352  for selective connection of input  334  to outputs  338   a–c . As depicted in  FIG. 10  the passageway  352  is not aligned with an output, so the valve  319  is in an “OFF” mode. The handle  228  may be moved to the right or left, as in  FIGS. 11  and  12 , to align passageway  352  with outputs  338   a  or  338   c , respectively, or may be placed in an intermediate position (not shown) to align the passageway with output  338   b.    
       FIG. 13  provides a schematic illustration of connections between the valve  319  and four nozzles that allow for selection of front, rear or four-way discharge. If the core  332  is rotated to allow flow through output  338   a , water is discharged from the front nozzle, with a unidirectional check valve  353  preventing backflow to the other nozzle paths. When output  338   b  is selected, water is discharged from the rear nozzle, with a second check valve  354  likewise preventing backflow. When output  338   c  is selected, water flows directly to the left and right nozzles, and additionally flows through check valves  353  and  354 , as indicated by arrows, to the rear and front nozzles, for simultaneous discharge in the front, rear, left and right directions. The trigger lever  315  may be biased to the “OFF” position or may be unbiased so that the valve can be left in a selected position. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates another trigger and valve mechanism that may be employed in a multiple output water gun such as that of  FIG. 2  to provide selectable discharge in multiple directions. Pressurized water is supplied, as has been described for the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , through a tube  427  and manifold  434 , to two valves  419   a, b . The valves are of a type commonly used in water guns, wherein an internal plunger normally blocks the flow of water and a control rod allows the plunger to be retracted to open the valve, such that water flows from input to output. In the mechanism of  FIG. 14 , a trigger lever  415 , having a finger actuated member  428 , is pivoted about a pin  429 , such that as the lever  415  is rotated clockwise in the figure, it engages a flange  444   a  on control rod  445   a  to open the first valve  419   a . The output  438   a  of this valve is attached via conduit to a forward nozzle such as  18   a  in  FIG. 2  to provide forward discharge as in a standard single output water gun. As the trigger lever  415  is pivoted farther clockwise, it will engage a flange  444   b  on the control rod  445   b  of the second valve  419   b , such that both valves are opened. The second valve output  438   b  is connected via conduit to left, right and rear nozzles such as  18   b–d  in  FIG. 2 , and simultaneous discharge in the front, rear, right and left directions results. Alternatively, the design might be further simplified by omission of the left and right nozzles, so that an operator has only the choices of front discharge or combined front and rear discharge. 
       FIGS. 15–17  provide three views of a more versatile dual valve mechanism, which may be employed in a multiple output water gun like that of  FIG. 2 . The mechanism incorporates an assembly of two valves  519   a  and  519   b  and a two part trigger  515 . The two valves  519   a ,  519   b  are independently actuated by trigger members  515   a  and  515   b , respectively. The trigger mechanism includes two finger actuated members  528   a  and  528   b , extending from levers  515   a  and  515   b , aligned such that an operator can easily operate either or both using the index and middle fingers of one hand. Thus, with first valve output  538   a  connected to a front nozzle and second valve output  538   b  connected to a rear nozzle, an operator may use trigger members  528   a  and  528   b  to selectively actuate front discharge, rear discharge or combined front and rear discharge. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects. Notably, while the figures herein have, for convenience of illustration, depicted the invention in conjunction with a sealed reservoir and air pump system for water pressurization, the invention may be likewise practiced with other water pressurizing systems such as electric pumps, manual pumps and expandable bladders.