Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application JP2015-041073, filed on Mar. 3, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to toy guns and in particular to rotating mechanisms of cartridges for toy guns. In more particular, the present invention relates to a rotating mechanism of a cartridge for a toy gun which mechanism rotates the cartridge in conjunction with firing of a bullet in a toy gun with the cartridge loaded with bullets, such as BB bullets, attached to the gun. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As a charging mechanism of a toy gun which charges bullets, such as BB bullets, to the toy gun, for example, what is shown in the drawings in Patent Document 1 protected by the patent owned by the present applicant, is known (Patent Document 1, U.S. Pat. No. 7,669,588). FIG. 13 in Patent Document 1 shows a nail 4 and a cylindrical rotary clip C loaded with six bullets. According to Patent Document 1, the rotary clip C is rotated by approximately 2 mm equivalent to one bullet, by the nail 4 directly coupled with an arm 1 each time a trigger 8 is pulled once. The arm 1 is provided in proximity to the trigger 8 between the trigger 8 and the rotary clip C. 
     [Patent Document 1] U.S. Pat. No. 7,669,588 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The invention described in Patent Document 1 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,669,588) is suitable for rotating the rotary clip C by approximately 2 mm equivalent to one bullet by the nail 4 each time the trigger 8 is pulled once. The nail 4 is actuated by the arm 1 provided in proximity to the trigger 8 between the trigger 8 and the rotary clip C and this reduces the movable distance. When the moving distance of the cartridge in a magazine is greater than 2 mm, for example, 8 mm, it is difficult to cause actuation equivalent to one bullet. 
     It is an object of the present invention to increase the moving distance of a cartridge which is actuated each time a trigger is pulled once. It is another object of the present invention to prevent compressed gas as an energy source from leaking out from a gap, to enhance energy efficiency. 
     Solution to Problem 
     A toy gun of the present invention comprises: 
     a trigger; 
     a cartridge in which cartridge bullet loading portions capable of being loaded with bullets are continuously provided and which is installed ahead of or behind the trigger; 
     a link mechanism which is extended from the trigger to the side opposite the cartridge installation position and thereafter inverted and whose tip is extended to the cartridge; and 
     a nail which is actuated through the link mechanism in conjunction with the actuation of the trigger and moves the cartridge. 
     A toy gun of the present invention comprises: 
     a trigger; 
     a cartridge in which cartridge bullet loading portions capable of being loaded with bullets are continuously provided and which is installed ahead of the trigger; 
     a link mechanism which is extended from behind the trigger to the side opposite the cartridge installation position and thereafter inverted and whose tip is extended to ahead of the trigger; and 
     a nail which is actuated through the link mechanism in conjunction with the actuation of the trigger and moves the cartridge. 
     Possibly, the toy gun of the present invention further comprises: 
     a gas discharging means which moves toward the cartridge in conjunction with the actuation of the trigger and discharges gas to a cartridge bullet loading portion; and 
     a cylindrical cover provided between the gas discharging means and each cartridge bullet loading portion. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the moving distance of a cartridge which is actuated each time a trigger is pulled once. According to one embodiment of the present invention, further, it is possible to prevent compressed gas as an energy source from leaking out from a gap, to enhance energy efficiency. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front sectional view showing an initial state, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front sectional view showing a state that a nail starts moving, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front sectional view showing a state of a moment at which a cartridge is just started to move, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front sectional view showing a state that a cartridge is being moved, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a front sectional view showing a state of moment at which a cover is just started to move, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear sectional view showing a state of moment at which a cover is started to move, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a front sectional view showing a state that a cartridge and a cover have completed moving, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear sectional view showing a state that a cartridge and a cover have completed moving, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a front sectional view showing a state that a sear is being moved, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a front sectional view showing a state of moment at which the abutment between a sear and a bolt is just released, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a cartridge, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of a magazine body loaded with a cartridge, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the front center of a magazine body loaded with a cartridge, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of a cover, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 15  is a rear perspective view of a cover, in a toy gun in an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A description will be given to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings illustrating the embodiment of the present embodiment. 
     In  FIG. 1  and the following drawings, reference numeral  101  denotes a toy gun body;  102  denotes a muzzle;  111  denotes a magazine body; and  1  denotes a trigger attached to the toy gun body  101 . 
     The magazine body  111  is inserted on the forward side of the trigger  1  of the toy gun body  101 , located on the left side of the drawing, that is, on the muzzle  102  side. Reference numeral  121  denotes a cartridge. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the cartridge  121  is housed in the magazine body  111 . 
     The cartridge  121  is mounted ahead of or behind the trigger  1  depending on the type of the toy gun. In this embodiment, the cartridge  121  is provided ahead of the trigger  1 . 
     The cartridge  121  is formed by continuously coupling a plurality of cylindrical bullet loading portions  122  in an identical shape. There are two types of the cartridge  121 , endless type in which the beginning and end of a cartridge are coupled with each other and continuous type in which the beginning and the end are not coupled with each other. A bullet is loaded into each bullet loading portion  122 . With the cartridge  121  housed in and the magazine body  111  loaded into the toy gun body  101 , the cartridge  121 , as shown in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 13  as viewed from the muzzle  102  side, forms an endless annular shape or a continuous shape in which the beginning and end of the cartridge are not coupled with each other. In each bullet loading portion  122 , a cartridge protrusion  123  protruded on the side of a side face of the toy gun  101  body is provided on the side face of the loading portion. 
     The trigger  1  is energized clockwise in the drawing by a trigger spring (not shown). The trigger  1  can be rotated counterclockwise in the drawing about a trigger pivot  11 . 
     Reference numeral  14  denotes a trigger rear end portion and  12  denotes a trigger upper protrusion. The trigger rear end portion  14  is protruded at the rear portion of the trigger  1 . The trigger  1  is coupled with a link A  2  at the trigger rear end portion  14 . The trigger  1  is coupled with a trigger bar link  13  coupled with the trigger upper protrusion  12  provided above the trigger  1 . Reference numeral  15  denotes a trigger protrusion. The trigger protrusion  15  is provided at the rear end of the trigger rear end portion  14  and is protruded toward the link A  2  located on the far side of the drawing. 
     Reference numeral  16  denotes a trigger bar. The trigger bar  16  is in an inverted T shape as a whole. Reference numeral  17  denotes a trigger bar pivot. The trigger bar pivot  17  is a coupling pivot which couples the trigger bar  16  and the trigger bar link  13  with each other. The trigger bar  16  is coupled at the rear end with the trigger bar link  13  by the trigger bar pivot  17  and can be rotated about the trigger bar pivot  17 . 
     Reference numeral  2  denotes the link A. The link A  2  can be rotated about a link A pivot  21 . The link A  2  is energized forward, that is, leftward in  FIG. 1 , by the trigger spring. The central part of the link A  2  is provided with a guide  22 , which is comprised of an opening which is substantially of an ellipse shape and inclined slightly forward as it goes upward. The trigger protrusion  15  provided at the rear end of the trigger rear end portion  14  is fit into the guide  22 , and the link A  2  and the trigger rear end portion  14  are coupled with each other. 
     Reference numeral  23  denotes a link A protrusion. The link A protrusion  23  is arranged at the upper end portion of the link A  2  so as to protrude toward a link B, on the far side of the drawing. 
     Reference numeral  3  denotes the link B. The link B  3  can be rotated about a link B pivot  31 . 
     Reference numeral  32  denotes an opening. The opening  32  is provided in the lower part of the link B  3 . The link A protrusion  23  provided in the link A  2  is fit into the opening  32  and the link A  2  and the link B  3  are coupled with each other. 
     Reference numeral  33  denotes an upper end portion provided at the upper end of the link B  3 . 
     Reference numeral  4  denotes a rod. The rod  4  is in a stick shape as a whole and the tip of the rod  4  is bifurcated into an upper rod end A  41  and a lower rod end B  42 . The rod end A  41  is short and provided in parallel to the upper part of the rod end B  42  and has a rod spring  43  attached around the rod end A  41 . The rod spring  43  energizes the entire rod  4  backward in the drawing. When the trigger  1  is pulled and returned, the rod spring  43  acts to return the link B  3  including the rod  4  and an arm  5  to their original positions. When the trigger spring strongly acts, the rod spring  43  is not necessarily required. 
     The rod end B  42  is extended beyond the rod end A  41 , and at the end of the rod end B  42 , an obliquely arranged ellipse guide  44  which is brought upward as it goes toward the muzzle  102 , that is, forward. 
     Reference numeral  45  denotes a coupling hole. The coupling hole  45  is provided at the rear end of the rod  4  so as to be opened downward. An upper end portion  33  provided in the link B  3  is inserted into the coupling hole  45  and the link B  3  and the rod  4  are coupled with each other. 
     Reference numeral  5  denotes the arm. The arm  5  is attached ahead of the rod  4 . Reference numeral  51  denotes an arm pivot. The arm  5  can be moved in conjunction with the movement of the arm pivot  51 . The arm pivot  51  is inserted into the guide  44  provided in the rod end B  42  and the rod  4  and the arm  5  are coupled with each other. Reference numeral  52  denotes and arm attachment pivot. The arm attachment pivot  52  attaches the front end of the arm  5  to the toy gun body  101  so that the arm  5  can be rotated about the arm attachment pivot  52 . 
     For this reason, when the rod  4  is moved toward the muzzle, that is, forward, the arm pivot  51  is guided by the guide  44  and moved downward and the arm  5  is rotated about the arm attachment pivot  52 . Consequently, the rear end of the arm  5  is moved downward. Conversely, when the rod  4  is moved backward by the energizing force of the trigger spring or the rod spring  43 , the arm pivot  51  is guided by the guide  44  and is moved upward. 
     Reference numeral  6  denotes a nail. The nail  6  is provided substantially in the vertical direction and is provided, in its lower part, with a cartridge abutment portion  61  abutted against a cartridge protrusion  123  of the cartridge  121 . The cartridge abutment portion  61  is composed of two abutment portions, upper cartridge abutment portion  61 A and lower cartridge abutment portion  61 B, and a fitting portion  62 . The fitting portion  62  is a recess formed between the cartridge abutment portion  61 A and the cartridge abutment portion  61 B. The width of the fitting portion  62  is matched with the width of each cartridge protrusion  123  in the vertical direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 , meanwhile, the nail  6  and the arm  5  are coupled with each other by a nail rotating pivot  63  provided in the upper end portion of the nail  6  at the rear end portion of the arm  5 . 
     For this reason, each cartridge protrusion  123  of the cartridge  121  and the upper cartridge abutment portion  61 A and lower cartridge abutment portion  61 B of the nail  6  are abutted against each other. With the cartridge protrusion  123  fit by the fitting portion  62 , the cartridge  121  is moved down as the nail  6  is moved down. 
     Reference numeral  7  denotes a sear. The sear  7  is attached ahead of the trigger bar  16  so that the sear  7  can be rotated about a sear pivot  71 . The sear  7  is energized counterclockwise in the drawing, that is, to the direction shown by an arrow in the drawing by a sear spring (not shown). Two free ends, trigger bar end portion  72  and bolt end portion  73 , are protruded from the sear  7 . The trigger bar end portion  72  is protruded on the trigger bar  16  side and in contact with the trigger bar  16 ; and the bolt end portion  73  is protruded on the bolt  81  side and in contact with a bolt  81 . 
     Reference numeral  8  denotes a valve body. The valve body  8  is provided ahead of the bolt  81 . A discharge valve  82  is installed in the valve body. 
     Reference numeral  9  denotes a cover. As illustrated in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , the cover  9  is substantially in a cylindrical shape corresponding to the diameter of each cartridge bullet loading portion  122  and has a cavity in its inside. The cover  9  is provided at the front end portion on the cartridge  121  side, of the valve body  8 . In the initial state, the cover  9  or the arm  5  is not fit together. The rear end portion of the arm  5  can be abutted against the cover  9 . 
     The bolt  81  is pressed forward by a bolt spring (not shown). Pressed by the bolt  81 , the discharge valve  82  as a gas discharging means provided in the valve body  8  moves forward. As the result of the forward movement of the discharge valve  82 , compressed gas filled in the valve body  8  flows out. The gas goes through the cavity in the cover  9  and pushes forward a bullet loaded in a cartridge bullet loading portion  122 . As a result, the bullet is fired. 
     The trigger rear end portion  14 , link A  2 , link B  3 , rod  4 , arm  5 , and the like located between the trigger  1  and the nail  6  constitute a link mechanism. The link mechanism is extended from behind the trigger  1 . The link mechanism is extended from the trigger to the side opposite the cartridge installation position and then inverted and the tip of the mechanism is extended to the cartridge  121  ahead of the trigger  1 . 
     The cartridge  121  may be installed ahead of or behind the trigger  1  depending on the type of the toy gun. In this embodiment, the cartridge  121  is provided ahead of the trigger  1 . When the cartridge  121  is installed behind the trigger  1 , the link composed of the trigger rear end portion  14 , link A  2 , link B  3 , rod  4 , arm  5 , and the like located between the trigger  1  and the nail  6  is extended in the opposite direction and installed. 
     A description will be given to the action of the embodiment. 
     When the trigger  1  is pulled in the state illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the trigger  1  is rotated counterclockwise about the trigger pivot  11  as shown in  FIG. 2  showing the state that the nail  6  starts moving. As the result of the counterclockwise rotation of the trigger  1 , the trigger rear end portion  14  moves upward. As the result of the upward movement of the trigger rear end portion  14 , the trigger protrusion  15  moves upward guided by the guide  22  and rotates the link A  2  clockwise about the link A pivot  21 . 
     As the result of the clockwise rotation of the link A  2 , the link B  3  is rotated counterclockwise. 
     As the result of the counterclockwise rotation of the link B  3 , the rod  4  moves forward to the left side of the drawing. This is because the upper end portion  33  provided in the link B  3  is fit into the coupling hole  45  provided in the rod  4  and the link B  3  and the rod  4  are coupled with each other. 
     When the rod  4  moves forward in the drawing, the rod end B  42  located at the front end of the rod  4  also moves forward. The arm pivot  51  is inserted into the elliptic guide  44  provided in the rod end B  42  and the rod  4  and the arm  5  are coupled with each other. For this reason, as the rod  4  moves forward, the arm pivot  51  is guided by the elliptic guide  44  and moved. In conjunction with the movement of the arm pivot  51 , the arm  5  is rotated clockwise about the arm attachment pivot  52 . Then the nail  6  coupled with the arm  5  starts to move down as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3  as a state in which the cartridge  121  is started to move, the nail  6  moves down. The nail  6  is abutted against a cartridge protrusion  123  formed on the side face of a cartridge bullet loading portion  122  composing the cartridge  121  housed in the magazine body  111 . Subsequently, the nail  6  moves down and causes the cartridge protrusion  123  to fit into the recessed fitting portion  62  between the upper cartridge abutment portion  61 A and the lower cartridge abutment portion  61 B. 
     Being kept engaged with the cartridge protrusion  123 , the nail  6  moves down. As shown from the state illustrated in  FIG. 4  that the cartridge  121  is started to move to the state illustrated in  FIG. 5  that the cover  9  is started to move, the nail  6  pushes down the cartridge protrusion  123  of the cartridge  121 . 
     As the result of the nail  6  pushing down the cartridge protrusion  123  of the cartridge  121 , the whole of the cartridge  121  which is a group of cartridge bullet loading portions  122  is moved. At the same time, the cover  9  is pressed by the arm  5  and is abutted against a cartridge bullet loading portion  122  of the cartridge  121  housed in the magazine body  111 . 
     Meanwhile, the trigger upper protrusion  12  is moved forward about the trigger pivot  11  by the rotation of the trigger  1 . In conjunction with the forward movement of the trigger upper protrusion  12 , the trigger link  13  coupled with the trigger upper protrusion  12  is moved forward as sequentially illustrated in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 5 . 
     The trigger bar  16  is coupled with the trigger link  13  so that the trigger bar  16  can be rotated about the trigger bar pivot  17 . Therefore, in conjunction with the forward movement of the trigger link  13 , the trigger bar  16  moves forward as sequentially illustrated in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 5 . 
     As the result of the forward movement of the trigger bar  16 , the trigger bar  16  is brought into contact with the tip of the sear  7  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 8 . Then the trigger bar  16  pushes the sear  7  forward, that is, toward the muzzle  102  as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . As a result, the sear  7  is rotated clockwise about the sear pivot  71 . 
     As the result of the clockwise rotation of the sear  7 , the abutment between the sear  7  and the bolt  81  is removed as indicated by P in  FIG. 10 . Then the bolt  81  energized forward by the bolt spring starts to move forward. The bolt moves forward and is abutted against the discharge valve  82  provided in the valve body  8  and causes the valve to move forward. 
     As the result of the forward movement of the discharge valve  82 , the valve body  8  is de-hermeticized and high-pressure gas starts to flow out of the valve body. The gas goes through the cavity in the cover  9  provided ahead of the valve body  8  and pushes forward a bullet in a cartridge bullet loading portion  122 . As a result, the bullet is fired. 
     When pulling of the trigger  1  is ceased, the nail  6  is returned to the original position by the action of the trigger spring and the rod spring  43 . The nail  6  and the cartridge  121  are brought out of contact and the movement of the cartridge  121  is stopped. 
     Since the cover  9  is present between the valve body  8  and each cartridge bullet loading portion  122 , leakage of compressed gas is prevented and energy efficiency is enhanced. 
     In this embodiment of the present invention, the movable ranges of main components of the rotating mechanism are maximized; therefore, the distance between the fulcrum and the point of load of each main component is made longer than the distance between the point of effort and the fulcrum. This makes it possible to increase the moving distance of the rotating mechanism as compared with the distance by which the trigger  1  is pulled. 
     This embodiment of the present invention is further provided with the cover  9 . The cover  9  is a member which closes the gap formed between the air chamber (valve body  8 ) and the cartridge  121  (cartridge bullet loading portions  122 ) in conjunction with the rotation of the cartridge  121 . The cover  9  prevents the formation of a gap between the valve body  8  and the cartridge  121  and is brought into tight contact with the cartridge  121  (cartridge bullet loading portions  122 ) to prevent the leakage of gas. The leakage of compressed gas as an energy source from a gap is prevented by the cover  9  for the enhancement of energy efficiency.

Technology Category: 2