US2977950A - Toy shooting shell pistol - Google Patents

Description

A ril 4, 1961 J. W. RYAN TOY SHOOTING SHELL PISTOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 24, 1959 JOHN W. RYAN,

INVE'N TOR.

kERz/a 1 JESSUP,

By ATTORNEYS- April 4, 1961 .1. w. RYAN 2,977,950

' TOY SHOOTING SHELL PISTOL Filed July 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jguf HEPZ/G 8 JESSUP,

A T TOPNE Y8.

April 4, 1961 J. w. RYAN TOY SHOOTING SHELL PISTOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 24, 1959 JOHN W. RYAN,

IN VE' N TOR.

HERZ/G I JESSUP! By ATTORNEYS.

' shot.

2,917,950, 'rov snoorme SHELL PISTOL John w. Ryan, 11027 Cashmere St, Bu sar, Calif.

Filed July 24, 1959, Ser. No. 829,339

21- Claims. c1. 124-4 The six-gun is so-called because it is a revolver, ernploying a rotatably mounted cylinder provided'with six cartridge chambers set in the cylinder. The cylinder turns so as to bring each cartridge, one after the other, in line with the barrel of a revolver, in which position it is dis-,

charged by the action of the hammer.

In normal operationthe hammer of such a pistol is cocked as a separate operation by the thumb of the gripping hand before firing the gun by squeezing the trigger; this sequence is repeated separately to fire each individual method of firing wherein the hammer was operated to fire shots rapidly by pushing the hammer back with the free hand and releasing it with the same free hand, permitting it to strike and fire the cartridge while the gun was held in the other hand. By this meathod of firing the gun, known as fanning it was possible to fire the gun more rapidly than by manipulating the hammer and trigger ra e P t n an axis below and parallel to the axisofthe barrelwhere- Some western gun fighters, however, developed a g separately and sequentially for each shot individually and using only the hand holding the gun.

The six-guns assocated with. the Wild West and the various modes of operation employed with them have been so dramatized and made familiar to children that they have become conscious of hitherto neglected differences in appearance between toy cap guns and actual cartridgefiring revolvers. Thus, a cap pistol designed to simulate the six-gun and the method of firing employed by some of the gun fighters of the West should employ a rotatably mounted cylinder that rotates in proper relation to the firing of the gun; this gun should be capable of being I fired by fanning the hammer in a manner resembling the actual fanning operation in an authentic six-gun. Accurate and reliable indexing of the caps with the associated anvil and revolver cylinder, when thus operated rapidly is necessary to avoid mis-firing. To provide a more realistic simulation, the toy gun should be capable of discharging a bullet, that is a simulated bullet, simultaneously with the firing of a cap. The bullet, to add further realism should be a part of a simulated cartridge, as described in my copending application, entitle Pellet Cartn'dge, Serial No. 798,290, filed March 9, 1959.

To facilitate loading of the gun and handling of caps, an adhesive cap, as described in my eopending application entitled Percussive Cap Structure, Serial No. 791,983, filed February 9, 1959, is preferably used, whereby dis- In general, this invention provides a toy pistol having a pistol-simulating frame, the forward end of whichis' on the other end. A cartridge cylinder is mounted inter.- mediate the barrel and the handle and is rotatable about by the cartridge chambers of the cartridge cylinder are aligned with the barrel and are adapted to receive therein a cartridge having a propellable bullet-simulating pellet at one end thereof and an anvil surface on the other end thereof.

This invention further provides means for rotating the cylinder through successive equal degrees of rotation whereby cartridges residing within the chambers of the cylinder aresuccessively aligned with the axis of the.

of a cartridge aligned with the barrel axis, but spaced.

therefrom in order that the cartridges may be vnorrnally rotated with the cylinder without interference with the.

hammer.

The inventiontherefore provides a toy pistol inwhich the cartridge cylinder is loadable with simulated cartridges having anvil surfaces. Trigger or manual actuation of the hammer means pivots the hammer to a cocked position after which the hammer is automatically biased into a firing position to provide an impact against the anvil surface of the cartridge thereby releasing a pellet from the cartridge for ejection from the toy gun and is automatically returned into a position clearing the anvil surfaces after impact. The cylinder is rotated by an indexing means during the cocking pivotal movement of the hammer, to advance a successive chamber into alignment with the barrel and the hammer, to position the cartridge thereof into a position for actuation by the hammer. i

This invention further provides for releasable securement of cap means on the anvil surfaces of the cartridges for detonation by the hammer, simultaneously with the the actuation of the cartridge.

Additionally provided by the invention, is the provision for means of operating the hammer means of the pistol independently of the trigger means in a fanning action to actuate the cartridge, fire the cap and rotate the cy1- inder. i

In view of the above, an important object of this invention is to provide a new and improved.- toy pistol which incorporates means for propelling a bullet-simulating'pellet therefrom in a realistic manner.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for operating the hammer thereof independently ofthe Still another object of this invention is to provide means for loading and unloading a toy pistol of the character described with cartridges of the character described in a more realistic manner.

A general object of this invention is to' provide a new and improved toy pistol which is economical to manu facture, capable of mass production and or interchange ability of parts thereof.

These and other objects of this invention will be more" fiitented Apr. 4, 1961 3 apparent from the following drawings, detailed descriptlon and appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a side view, in elevation, of atoy pistol designed and constructed in accordance with this inven-.

toy pistol of Figure l, and as viewed from the back side 'of Figure 1, as along line 55 of Figure 6; I

Figure 6 is a vertical, cross-sectionalview as taken substantially along a line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional view as taken through one of the chambers of the cylinder of the'toy pistol;

Figure 8 is a perspective view, in elevation, illustrating more clearly the cartridge means of the instant invention;

The pin 42 includes an enlarged head 44 residing within the bore 26 and a shank 46 extending through the bore 43 and supported by a split bearing 47 adjacent the opening 17. A compression spring 48 is disposed within the tubular section 27 of the section 23 and the bore 26 of the section 22, one end of which bears, against the bottom wall of the interior of the tubular section 27, and

- the other end of which bears against the enlarged head 44 of the pin 42, to securely mount the cylinder 18 on the bearing 47 and pin 39 yet facilitate removal thereof and assembly thereof. The openings 33 of the flange 32 are automaticallyaligned with thechambers 24 of the section 22 by a key 49 integral with the section 22 and in engagementwith a keyway 51 of the flange 32.

As best seen in Figures 5-8, a cartridge, generally indicated by the numeral 60, is adapted to slidingly fit coaxially in each of the chambers 24' The cartridge 60, as described in my copending application, referred to hereinabove, comprises a shell 61 having a radial flange an anvil surface as will be hereinafter described. A bullet-shaped pellet 66, simulating a bullet of an actual Figure 9 is a vertical, cross-sectional view, similar to Figure l0'is an elevational view, as viewed from the rear of the toy pistol, with parts broken awayfor greater clarity;

Figure 11 is an exploded, perspective view, in elevation, illustrating parts thereof more'clearly; and

Figure 12 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, as taken substantially along a line 12--12 of Figure 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustration, but not of limitation, a toy pistol, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and designed and constructed in accordance withthis invention. The pistol 10 comprises a frame 11 preferably composed of two halves joined together along a longitudinal axis, as illustrated, and simulating the appearance of an actual six-gun revolver, including a handle 12, a tubular barrel 13, a sight 14 and a trigger guard 16.

The frame 11 includes an opening 17 in which a cartridge cylinder 18 is supported for rotation about an axis 19 below the barrel axis 21 and parallel thereto. As best seen in Figure 5, the cartridge cylinder 18 includes a pair of sections 22 and 23, the section 23 having a telescopic sliding engagement with the section 22. The section 22 is cylindrical in configuration and includes a. plurality of longitudinal axial chambers 24, equally radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The cylinder 18 further includes a longitudinal central bore 26 for receiving therein, in telescopic engagement, a tubular extension 27 of the section 23. Each chamber 24 includes a reduced bore 28 and a counter bore 29 forming at the junction thereof, a conical cam surface 31 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

The section 23 includes a radial flange 32 having a plurality of openings 33 extending therethrough and aligned with the chambers 24, the flange 32 having a sliding fit within an enlarged bore 34 of the section 22, which communicates with each of the chambers 24. The section 23 further includes a rearwardly extending boss 36 having a plurality of ratchet teeth 37 adjacent the outer end 38 of the section 23.

To rotatably mount the cylinder 18 on the frame 11, the frame is provided with a forwardly extending pin 39 engaged in a blind axial bore 41 of the boss 36 to support one end of the cylinder 18 while the other end of the cylinder is supported by a pin 42 extending through a reduced bore 43 of the longitudinal bore 26.

cartridge,is releasably secured to the open end 63 of I a shell as by a releasable holding means. The releasable holding means includes an inwardly extending flange 67 at the open end 63 of the shell 61 and hook means 68 integral with or secured to an inner end of the pellet 66. The pellet 66 further includes atrailing end 69 which bears against a reduced end 71 of a compression spring 72 comprising a propelling means within the shell 61-. The other end of the spring72 bears against the inner face of the wall 64, to bias the trailing end 69,,

dimensional distance between outer surfaces of a pair of opposed cam surfaces 73 provided on the books 68 serves as a releasing means whereby, as the cartridge 60 is moved axially within the bore, the cam surfaces 73 are squeezed inwardly by the conical surface 31 to disengage the hook 68 from the flange 67 thereby to permit the spring 72 to propel the pellet 66 away from the shell. Upon release of the releasable holding means, the pellet 66 is propelled outwardly of the cylinder 18 through its chamber 24 and outwardly of the gun 10 as through the barrel 13, as indicated in broken lines 66 of Figure 1. The aligned counter bores 29 and flange openings 33 have a sliding fit with the outer surface of the shell 61 whereas the rim 62 is substantially larger than the open ing 33 whereby forward axial movement of the cartridge is limited by the abutment of the forward surface of the rim' 62 with the rearward surface of the flange 32, as seen in Figure 7.

A hammer means, generally designated by the numeral 75 cooperates with the conical surfaces 31 to release the pellet 66 from the shell 61 by pushing the shell in wardly in an axial movement. The hammer 75 is pivot ally mounted on a transverse shaft 76 in the frame 11 for pivotal movement in a plane aligned with the barrel axis and includes a striking face 77 and a thumb-engaging portion 77'. The hammer 75 is adapted for forward and reverse pivotal movement, the forward pivotal movement being actuated by a torque spring 78 surrounding the shaft 76; One end 79 of the spring 78 selectively bears against a pin 81 of the hammer 75 and a pin 82 of the frame 11, to be hereinafter explained, while another end 83 bears against a shoulder 84 of the frame 11.

In the normal position of the hammer 75, as best seen in Figure 5, the end 79 of the spring 78 bears against boththe pins 81 and thepins 82 'to stabilize the hammer in close'proximity to'the'anvil surface 64 of the cartridge 60, butspaced slightly therefrom and not in contact there-- with. It is to be noted that in the cocked position illustrated' in Figures 2 and9, thespring end 79is out of contact with the pin 82, but still in contact with the pin 81 to automatically bias the hammer 75 into the forward position. The hammer, however, has a third position, shown in solid lines in Figures 3 and 7 and inbroken lines in Figure 9, this-being thep'osition forwardly of the normally. biased position 75 whereby the striking face 77 contacts the anvil 64 to impart anaxial movement to the cartridge 60 for the purpose of actuatingthe cartridge wherebythe pellet 66 is released from the shell 61 as described above. This forward position, indicated at 75" is accomplished by the inertia of the hammer 75 under the driving force of the spring 78, whereby the hammer 75 may override the position of Figure 5 to strike the anvil 64 after which the pins 81 and 82 automatically return the hammer 75 into the position indicated in- Figures 1 and 5.

The hammer 75 is actuated into the cocked position 75, of Figures 2 and 9, by a trigger means85, pivotally mounted in sockets 86 of the frame 11 as by transversely extending pins 87 integral with, or secured to the trigger. The trigger 85 includes a finger-engaging portion 88 and an upwardly extending portion having a shoulder 89 for engagement with a downwardly facing shoulder 91' of the hammer 75. Manual engagement of the fingerpiece 83 pivots the trigger 85 to bring the shoulder 89 into engagement with the shoulder 71 causing rearward pivotal movement of the hammer 79 to the cocked position 75'. The shoulder 89 leaves the shoulder 91 to permit the spring 78 to automatically Ha the hammer 85 is returned to its normal position, determined byabutment of a shoulder 92 with a portion of the frame 11, by a torque spring 93 surrounding one of the pins 87. One end of the spring 93 abuts a pin 96 integral with or secured to the trigger means 85; an opposite end abuts shoulder 97 of the frame 11.

The sockets 86 of, the frame 11 are elongated, as best seen in Figures 5 and 9, to permit the shoulder 89 to ride over the transverse extension defining the shoulder 91 and thereby allow the trigger 85 to resume its normal position. The spring 93, not only biases the trigger into its forward normal position, but also urges the pin 87 into the upper end of the sockets 86 for contact of the shoulder 89 with the shoulder 91. 7

It will now be more clearly understood by the foregoing description, that actuation of the trigger'means 85 by manual engagement with the finger portion 88 to pull the trigger rearwardly causesthe trigger to pivot on its pins 87 to translate the pivotal movement of the trigger into a rearwardly pivotal movement of the hammer 75 into a cocked position 75'. As best seen in Figure 2, the shoulder 89 leaves the shoulder 91 to release the hammer to be biased by the spring 78 against the anvil face 64 of the cartridge 60, whereupon the forward pivotal movement of the hammer 75 is translated into an axial movement of the cartridge 60 to actuate the releasing means 31 to release the pellet 66 from a shell 61, as described above.

Means are providedin the instant invention for rotating the cylinder thereby to rotate successive anvil surfaces 64 into alignment with the barrel axis 21. Rotation of cylinder 18 is accomplished during the rearward pivotal movement of a hammer 75 as by a pawl 100 pivotally mounted on a pin 101 extending transversely from a forward portion 102 of the hammer 75. The pawl 100 is clearly illustrated in Figures '6, 9 and 11 and partially in Figure 5. The pawl 100- co r'nprises an elongated member having a slot 103 adjacent a lower end thereof and forming a lost-motion connection on the pin 101 between the pawl 100 and the hammer 75. The

pawl 100-includes' a pair oft-forwardly extending, v'er tically-spaced teeth 104 and 105 engageable with the:- ratchet teeth 38 of the cylinder section boss 36. The; upper tooth 104, as b'est seen in Figure, 6, is substan tially aligned with one of the teeth 37 whereas the lower tooth 105 is spaced downwardly therefrom when the pawl 100 is in its normal lowermost position, indicated in the solid lines ofFigures 5 and 6.

As the hammer 75 is pivoted into its rearward cocked position, the pawl 100 is elevated to engage the tooth 104 with a tooth 37 and thereby rotate the cylinder section. 23 which is keyed to the cylinder section. 22, previously described, to rotate: the cylinder 18. The teeth 104 and 105 are conveniently spaced to rotate the cylinder 18 one-sixth of a turn to position a succeeding chamber 24 and its cartridge 60 into alignment with the barrel axis 21. Sloped surfaces 106 of the teeth 104 and 105 permit ratcheting of the teeth 104 and 105 over the teeth 37 during its downward travel as the hammer 75 is pivoted forwardly, thereby avoiding rotation of the cylinder 18 in a reverse direction. To further index the chambers 24 with the barrel axis 21, a' plurality of circumferentially-spaced stops 107 extend rearwardly from the flange 23 and are selectively engageable with the upper end 108 of the pawl 100 when the pawl 100 is in its uppermost position indicated in dotted lines 100 in Figure 6. The pawl 100 is biased forwardly and into engagement with the teeth 37 by a spring means in-the form of a U-shaped leaf spring 109. The spring'109' partially surrounds the shaft 76 and has one end 111 engaging a notch 112, of the pawl 100, and another end 113 engaging a notch 114 formed on thejhammer 75. The spring 109 biases the pawl 100 upwardly to bottom the pin 101 inthe slot 103 to form the lost-motion connection and is yieldable when the pawl has reached its uppermost position 100' whereby the hammer may con-- tinue rearward pivotal movement without jamming the mechanism. The spring 109 alsov serves to furtherstabilize the normal non-anvil-engaging position of Figures 1 and 5;

It will now be more clearly understood that the cylinder 18 is actuated bythe rearward pivotal movement of the hammer 79 to rotate the cylinder 18 and advance the successive anvil surfaces in a circular path intercepting the barrel axis 21 by means of the pawl 100, whereby successive cartridges 60 are positioned in alignment with the barrel axis for discharge of the pellet 66 through the barrel.

As best seen in Figures 5 and 8, a cap means 115 may be removably secured to the anvil surface 64 for detonation by the striking surface 77 of the hammer at the moment of impact of the surface 77 with the surface 64. The cap 115, as described in the copending application referred to above, may be removably secured to the anvil 64 by a pressure-sensitive adhesive ap plied tothe underside 116 of the cap. Optionally, the outer anvil surface 64 may be coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive whereby ordinary singular caps, not

having any adhesive, may be removably secured thereto for actuation or detonation by the hammersurface 77.

As best seen in Figure9, the hammer 75 may be mam ually pivoted in a rearward cocked position for firing of they pistoi in the above-referred-to fanning action, in-

dependently of the trigger means 85. Manual pressure against the thumb piece 77' to pivot the hammer 75 causes the pawl to elevate and rotate the cylinders. as above described, whereupon when the'hammer 75 is released, the spring 78 automatically pivots the hammer 75 into engagement with a cartridge 60 to release the pellet 66 and/or detonate the cap 115.

A cartridge-ejecting means is provided on the frame 11 for withdrawing shells 61v outwardly of thechambers 24,. subsequent to impact by the hammer 75. The ejecting means comprises an ejector blade 117 secured to or integral with the frame 11. The blade. 117 includes an outwardly turned end 118 interposed between the flange 32 and the rim 62 of a pair of cartridges 60, as best seen in Figures and 6, and resides in a recess 119 of the flange. is arcuately formed, whereby its upper end is adjacent the flange 32 and in close proximity to the bottom of the recess 119, While its lower end 122 is spaced from the bottom of the recess. As the cartridge 60 is rotated, in a manner described above, the rim 62 slidingly engages the edge 118, thereby being withdrawn outwardly as it is being rotated from a position shown as 60 in Figure 12 to 60" in the same figure, the position 60' being in alignment with the barrel axis 21, Such withdrawal of the spent shell frees the shell to be either slid outwardly of the cylinder 18 by tipping the gun barrel upwardly or by insertion of a fingernail under the rim 62.

A guide means for facilitating loading and unloading of the gun is provided'on the frame 11 and is best seen in Figure 10. The guide means comprises a channel or groove 123 formed in the frame 11 and aligned with a chamber 24 positioned one rotational movement subsequent to the position aligned with the barrel axis 21, that is, one sixth of a turn in the direction of the rotation. The groove 123 may be enclosed or covered by a cover means 124 consisting of an arm having an enlarged end 126 complementary to the groove 123 and on opposite end 127 pivotally mounted as on a pin 128 journalled as at 123 in the frame 11. A spring means in the form of a leaf spring 129 is secured to the frame 11 by rivets 130, 01 the like, and has a free end 131 engaging a shoulder 132 of the frame 11 and a central portion 133 engageable by the cover means 124. In the position shown in solid lines of Figure 10, the cover means is in a lowermost position and is held in such position by the engagement of an extension 134 of the end 127 being biased by the central portion 133 of spring 129.. In the broken lines 124 the groove 123 is covered by the enlarged end 126 whereas the extension 134', the broken line showing of the extension 134, is held in its downward position by the spring 129, providing a snap-over action of the cover means 1'24 into its uppermost and lowermost positions. The enlarged portion 126 is preferably cut away, as at 136, to form a space From the foregoing, the cycle of operation will be understood readily by those skilled in the art. Operation of the six gun is by pulling the trigger 88 which causes it to move about its pivot. Shoulder 89 engages the shoulder 91 for cocking the hammer; the shoulder 89 leaves the shoulder 91 to permit spring 78 to automatically operate the hammer to move forwardly. The hammer strikes against the anvil surface 64 of a cartridge moving it forward axially and releasing the pellet therein the manner described.

Operation of the hammer by the trigger produces rotation of the cylinder 18. The pawl 100 has a slot 103 forming a lost motion connection on the pin 101 be tween the pawl and the hammer 75. The pawl has for wardly extending teeth 104 and 105 engageable with the ratchet teeth 38 of the cylinder section boss 36. As the hammer is operated, the pawl is actuated to engage the said teeth and thereby rotate the cylinder sections 23 and 22. Successive rotation of the cylinder aligns succeeding chambers 24 with the barrel axis 21. A cartridge ejecting means is provided on the frame 111 by the ejector blade 107 thereon. The blade 117 has an outwardly turned end 118 interposed between the flange 32 and the rim 62 of a pair of cartridges 60 and resides in a recess 119 of the flange. As the cartridge 60 is rotated, rim 62 slidingly engages the edge 118 thereby being withdrawn outwardly as it is being rotated. While'I have herein shown and described my inven- The upturned end118 as best seen in Figure 12' tion in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and methods.

Having described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a toy pistol comprising a frame; a tubular barrel mounted on one end of the frame; a cartridge cylinder intermediate the ends and mounted to be rotatable about an axis below and parallel to the barrel axis, thereby to bring the cartridge chambers of the cartridge cylinder into axial alignment with the barrel; a trigger-actuated hammer pivotally mounted on said frame for forward and reverse pivoting movements; the improvements comprising a cartridge means for slidingly fitting coaxially in each of said cartridge chambers, said cartridge means comprising: a shell having an anvil face at one end thereof and a spring-biased pellet at the other end thereof releasably secured to said shell; said manner being engageable with said anvil face when in said forward position for imparting an axial movement thereto; and releasing means in each of said chambers for releasing said pellet from said shell in response to said axial movement of said cartridge.

.2. The device, as defined in claim 1 including: rim means on said shell adjacent said anvil surface for limiting axial movement of said cartridge in one direction; and ejector means in said frame and adjacent the cylinder, said ejecting means being engageable with said rim means for axially withdrawing said cartridge from said chamber in an opposite direction.

3. The device as defined in claim 2, including cap means for producing an explosive sound removably secured on said anvil surface, said cap means being detonatable by said hammer means in said forward position of said hammer.

4. In a toy pistol comprising a frame; a tubular barrel mounted on one end of the frame; a handle mounted on the other end of the frame; a rotatable cartridge cylinder mounted intermediate of said ends, said cylinder having a pair of sections, one of said cylinder sections having a plurality of axially extending compartments, open at both ends and equally radially spaced from the axis thereof, and an enlarged bore at one end thereof communicating with said compartments, the other of said sections having a radial flange having a sliding fit in said enlarged bore, said flange having a plurality of axially extending openings extending therethrough and aligned with said compartments; a cartridge for slidingly fitting coaxially in each aligned compartment and flange opening, said cartridge comprising a bullet-shaped'pellet, a shell, releasable holding means for releasably securing said pellet to one end of said shell and propelling means in said shell for propelling said pellet, said shell having an anvil surface at the other end opposed from said pellet; releasing means in each of said compartments, said releasing means for releasing said releasable holding means in response to axial movement of said cartridge in said cylinder; trigger means; hammer means in said frame adjacent said trigger means and said cylinder; means pivotally mounting said hammer to a position adjacent said cylinder at the point of barrel axis interception in said position; means mounting the cylinder to be rotatable about an axis below the barrel axis, said means providing a circular path of rotation for said anvil surface intercepting the longitudinal axis of the barrel at a substantial right angle; means for rotating said cylinder through successive equal degrees of rotation; means actuated by the trigger to actuate the hammer out of said first position to a cocked position; spring means for biasing said hammer to an anvil-engaging position, forwardly of said first position, so as to impart an axial movement to said cartridge to actuate said releasing holding means; and means including a lost-motion connec-t tion connected to and actuated by the hammer means during movement to cocked position to actuate said cylinder rotating means.

5. The device, is defined in claim 4, including means for returning said hammer means into said first position adjacent to and spaced from said anvil surface.

6. The device, as defined in claim 4, wherein said lastmentioned means is spring biased.

7. The device, as defined in claim 4, wherein said cylinder rotating means is spring-biased.

8. The device, as defined in claim 5, including shellejecting means adjacent said cylinder and engageable with said cartridge rim, said ejecting means being actuatable by rotation of said cylinder for Withdrawing said shell outwardly of said cylinder.

9. The device, as defined in claim 8, including cap means secured on said anvil surface and detonatable by said hammer means in said anvil-engaging position.

10. The device, as defined in claim 8, wherein said'cap means is removably secured on said anvil surface.

11. The device, as defined in claim 8, including guide means on said frame for aligning the said cartridge with said flange opening for facilitating insertion and removal of said cartridge therein.

12. The device, as defined inclaim 11, including cover means pivotally mounted on said frame adjacent said guide means for preventing removal of said cartridge.

13. In a toy pistol comprising a frame; a tubular barrel mounted on one end of the frame; a handle mounted on the other end of the frame; and a cartridge cylinder intermediate of said ends and mounted to be rotatable about an axis below and parallel to the barrel axis, thereby to bring the cartridge chambers of the cartridge cylinder into axial alignment with the barrel; a pivotallyv 'mounted hammer on said frame, the pivoting movement thereof being in substantial alignment with the barrel axis, and a spring-biased trigger-actuating means to actuate'the hammer and forward and reverse pivoting movements; in combination with: an improved cartridge means for slidingly fitting coaxially in each of said cartridge chambers, said cartridge means comprising: a shell having an anvil surface at one end thereof; a bullet-shaped pellet at the other end thereof; releasable holding means for releasably securing said pellet to said shell; and propelling means in said shell adapted to propel said pellet; and releasing means in each of said chambers and engageable with said releasable holding means for releasing said pellet in response to axial movement of said cartridge means from said shell for propelling of said pellet by said propelling means through said chamber and said barrel, said hammer being engageable with said anvil surface in its forward pivotal movement for translating the pivotal movement into an axial movement of said cartridge means, whereby said releasable means is released to release said pellet from'said shell.

14. The combination, as defined in claim 13, including means for automatically positioning said hammer in a position adjacent to and spaced from said anvil surface.

15. The combination, as defined in claim 14, including detonatable cap means removably secured on said anvil surface on said cartridge.

16. The combination, as defined in claim 14, including means pivotally mounted on said hammer means for rotating the cartridge cylinder and anvil surface simultaneously through equal degrees of rotation, and means including a lost-motion connection, connected to and ac-' tuated by the hammer during its movement to the reverse position to actuate said cylinder rotating means.

17. The combination, as defined in claim 14, including: rim means on said cartridge and larger than the opening of said chamber; and ejecting means on the frame adjacent the cylinder, said ejecting means being engageable with said rim means for axially withdrawing said cartridge from said chamber in a direction opposite to said axially-imparted movement thereof.

18. The combination, as defined in claim 14, including guide means on said frame and in successive alignment with each of said cylinder chambers for guiding a said cartridge and thereby facilitating insertion and removal of said cartridge into said chambers.

19.. The combination, as defined in claim 16, including means permitting manual movement of said hammer to the reverse position independently of the trigger means with'resultant actuation of said cylinder rotating means.

I 20. The combination, as defined in claim 16, said lastmentioned means being a spring-biased means.

- 21. The combination, as defined in claim 19, including spring-biased .cover means hingedly mounted on said frame and adjacent said guide means for selectively preventing removal of said cartridge from said chamber.

- No references cited.

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