US3418995A

US3418995A - Noisemaking projectile toy

Info

Publication number: US3418995A
Application number: US431838A
Authority: US
Inventors: Heller Isaac
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-02-11
Filing date: 1965-02-11
Publication date: 1968-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-31

Description

Dec. 3l, 1968 l. HELLER 3,418,995

NoIsEMAKING PROJECTILE TOY Filed Feb. 11. 1965 ull] INVENTOR /54 4c /le L E BY {MIMVKM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,418,995 NOISEMAKING PROJECTILE TOY Isaac Heller, 2080 Arrowood Drive, Scotch Plains, NJ. 07076 Filed Feb. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 431,838 Claims. (Cl. 124-27) This invention relates to a toy projectile capable of producing a whistling noise as it passes through the air. In particular, it relates to a projectile having a simple self-contained unit, actuated upon firing, which produces a whistling sound similar to the sound produced by the passage of actual high velocity projectiles as they fly through the air.

In the past, there have apparently been no simple devices producing a noise in a toy projectile itself during ight. Devices have been disclosed in which a whistling noise is produced in the device firing the projectile; these lack the elfect of realism because the noise does not come from the projectile. Other devices produce noise through vanes on the projectile which act against the air during flight; these should not produce a loud or effective noise because of the low speed of the toy projectile, and could slow down the projectile. And some devices have complex mechanical mechanisms to produce a noise; these are impractical due to the high cost and lack of reliability. The problem of creating simple noise-emitting projectiles probably was not solved because of the need for a rugged unit which would, at the same time, operate for the proper time duration and only after a short initial delay.

I have found that these problems can all be Solved by use of an air actuated device located within the projectile. In its preferred form, a whistling bellows is compressed before the projectile is fired, While the projectile is placed within the firing device. The bellows is released upon the firing so that the noise commences a moment after the projectile leaves the ring device. It is actuated by internally carried air, not by the passage of external air through vane structures; and the device has the advantage that the noisemaking unit actuated by the compressed air controls the rate of release of the air, and so the duration of the noise.

My invention includes a cylindrically shaped projectile containing a bellows and capable of actuating a noisemaking a Whistle through an air inlet in the bellows. Prior to launching, the bellows is compressed by a bellows compressor associated with both the projectile and the launching device. The compressor presses against the end of the muzzle of the launching device and in so doing, also compresses the bellows. When the projectile is released from the gun, as upon firing, the bellows compressor is likewise released from compressing the bellows, permitting the bellows to expand slowly and create a whistling noise during flight.

Among the advantages of this invention is that a projectile is created which creates its own noise lasting for a period of time, roughly corresponding to the time needed for ight. The device is actuated by air and a selfcontained spring. The `duration of the whistling noise is controlled by the rate of intake of air into the bellows, and so can be pre-set during manufacture.

A further advantage is that the unit does not seek to utilize external air flow, which, for slow moving projectiles, is weak, gives a weak signal, and Would be affected by the stability of the unit as it passes through the air.

An additional and important advantage is that the unit may be simply and economically constructed of very few moving parts and has the reliability that is necessary for a toy which may be handled roughly by children, and, in particular, one which is to be projected through the air.

Turning to the drawings:

ice

FIG. 1 is an elevation showing the projectile unit mounted in a ring gun ready for launching;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of FIG. l, showing the internal construction of the projectile prior to launching; the gun itself is not shown;

FIG. 3 is the same section, shown after launching and with the air actuating device expanded;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4*4 of FIG. 1, showing further details of the bellows construction; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 1 showing details of the bellows compression structure as it relates to the projecting device.

Turning to FIG. 1, there is shown therein a projectile 1 and the end portion of a firing unit or pistol 2. The firing unit includes muzzle 5, a spring-actuated ejector 6, and a releasing latch 7. The firing unit itself is not part of my invention and is well understood in the art. Accordingly, further details of the entire structure need not be disclosed.

Toy projectile 1 includes a two-piece shell or casing made up of sections 10 and 11, which telescope together to form an integral unit, as best shown in FIG. 2. Casing 10 is of generally cylindrical construction and has a nose portion 12 and a plurality of vanes 14. Inside of shell 10 is a cylindrical bore 15, the axis of which is aligned with the axis of the muzzle 5 of pistol 2 before firing.

Co-axial with shell 10 is the second shell 11, telescoped to shell 10 at point 17. Positioned centrally in shell 11 is a tubular section 20 having a bore 21 therein. Bore 21 is in alignment with the axis of cylindrical bore 15. It is positioned between bore 15 and muzzle 5, when the unit is in firing position. Mounted within bore 21, and forming a part thereof, is a projecting arm 23. This projecting arm extends axially beyond shell 11 and is dimensioned to lit within muzzle 5 of firing device 2. At its outer extremity, projecting arm 23 has a latch or shoulder structure 25 adapted to engage with trigger or latch 7.

The projectile may be made of polyethylene or other desired plastics, and

shell units

10 and 12 may be adhered together by use of adhesives where they telescope together at point 17.

Mounted within bore 15 is a bellows or other air compression unit 30. This bellows may be of a spring actuated type, having an internal co-axial spring therein tending to expand the bellows. Alternatively, the bellows could be of a unitary type such as shown in Lemelson Patent No. 2,988,848. The bellows has rigid,

transverse end portions

31 and 32. Portion 31 is movable to compress or set bellows 31. Portion 32 has shoulders 33 engaging with a locking flange 35 in order to secure end portion 32 against movement relative to shell 10 mounted in one of the end portions. Preferably at end portion 32 there is mounted an air-actuated noisemaking structure, such as reed unit 40, shown in FIG. 4. Reed unit v constitutes the only means for the air to enter or leave bellows 30. Mounted on the end of base 32 and forwardly of the bellows is a protective dome 42. This dome surrounds reed structure 40 and protects it from damage when the projectile is used in play. The bellows is shown in its compressed condition in FIG. 2 and in the expanded position in FIG. 3.

Plunger arm 23 has a cross-sectional configuration resembling a cross with four arms. These arms define two channels or grooves and 46, as shown in FIG. 5. Slidably mounted within

grooves

45 and 46 is plunger or compressor arm 50. Plunger is preferably made of a piece of stiff wire. Plunger 50 has

parallel arms

51 and 52, end portion 54 for bellows compression, and, at the opposite end, muzzle-engaging

shoulders

55 and 56. End portion 54 is the middle of the bent wire, and shoulders 55 and 56 are loops at the ends of the wire. Plunger 50 is positioned within

grooves

45 and 46 of projection arm 23, such that arm 51 is positioned within groove 45 and arm 52 within groove 46. Thus, plunger 50 is slidable longitudinally with respect to arm 23. lt is of a length such that when in its innermost position it will fully compress bellows 30 and shoulders SS and 56 will abut the outer end of shell 11 at bore 21.

When projectile 1 is 4mounted upon muzzle 5 of firing unit 2, projection arm 23 projects into muzzle 5 and its end 25 is interlocked with latch 7. Shoulders 55 and S6 of plunger 50 are dimensioned so they will not, however, fit within muzzle consequently, they rest against end 8 of muzzle 5. Thus, it can be seen that as projecting arm 23 is inserted into the muzzle, this in turn causes plunger 5) to be forced axially into bore of projectile 1, through bore 21 of opening 20. The end 54 of plunger -50 then presses against rigid end portion 31 of bellows 30, serving to compress the bellows.

Upon release of latch 7 within muzzle 5, the springactuating mechanism 6 serves to project the projectile 1 and fling it through the air. At the same time, firing of the projectile serves to release the presure of the end 8 of muzzle 5 on shoulders S5 and 55 of plunger 50. Bellows will then begin to expand, drawing air in through reeds and after a momentary delay, cause the desired whistling noise. Preferably, the air opening through reeds 49 and the spring pressure of

bellows

31 and 30 are such that the whistling noise created by the expansion of the bellows will last the normally anticipated length of time that the projectile will be in the air. This length of time normally is in the order of two to three seconds.

When the projectile is recovered, it then may be reinserted in the muzzle and the bellows again compressed through plunger 50 -by the action of inserting the projection arm 23 into muzzle 5. The firing process with the accompanying noise may then be repeated.

It will be observed that the structure herein described provides a very simple, reliable and ellicient method for creating a whistling noise coming from the projectile itself, rather than the firing mechanism. It involves no complicated structure 4and therefore is reliable, utilizing simply the compression and decompression of air. It will be observed that the concept of my invention is not limited to a bellows actuated device alone, but may include any kind of device actuating a noisemaker through action of internal air movement, and enclosed in a projectile that is adapted to be fired. Accordingly, various modifications of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art utilizing my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A noisemaking projectile to be mounted upon and fired from a firing device and capable of creating noises after projection therefrom, said projectile including an elongated projectile body, said body having a longitudinal axial bore formed therein, an air-actuated bellows-type noisemaker disposed within said axial bore, a first position of said air-actuated noisemaker, a second position of said air-actuated noisemaker, said second position beng the normal position thereof, a plunger means associated with said air-actuated noisemaker for moving said air-actuated noisemaker from said second to said first position, said means being positioned so that it presses against said firing device and thereby to move said air-actuated noisemaker from said second position to said first position when said projectile is mounted upon said firing device.

2. A noisemaking projectile to be mounted upon and fired from a firing device and capable of creating noise while in flight, including an elongated projectile body, said body having a bore longitudinally disposed axially thereof, an air-actuated noisemaker secured within said body, said noisemaker having an air compression unit mounted for axial movement within said bore, said cornpression unit having a rst and a second position a compression plunger slidably mounted at one end of said bore for longitudinal axial movement, one end of said plunger projecting outside said bore for engagement with said firing device and the other end of said plunger abutting said unit to cause same to move from said first to said second position when said other end is in engagement with said firing device.

3. The projectile of claim 2, having means secured to said body lfor engaging with said firing device prior to firing.

4. The projectile of claim 2, in which said air compression unit is a bellows.

5. A toy projectile to be fired from a firing device having a muzzle with an end portion, a spring ejector positioned within the muzzle, and an engaging latch associated with said spring ejector, said projectile including a body having a bore therein, a projection arm at one end of said body and in axial alignment with said bore, said projection arm having engaging shoulders at the outer end thereof adapted to engage with said latch, an air-actuated noisemaker positioned within said body, said noisemaker including an air compressing means positioned for axial movement within said bore, a plunger slida-bly -mounted on said projection arm, said plunger having one end within said bore and positioned to act against said air compressing means, and the other end extending outside said bore said other end thereof including a muzzle-engaging portion.

6. A toy projectile capable of producing a noise during flight resembling the noise caused by an actual projectile passing through the air and capable of being fired from a firing unit, said projectile including an elongated body portion and a tiring unit engaging portion external of said body portion, said body portion including an air-actuated noisemaker therein, said noisemaker including a surface mounted for longitudinal axial movement within said projectile body portion to set said noise maker, a plunger mounted on said body portion for slidable motion along the axis of said body portion, the inner end of said plunger being positioned to press against said surface and the outer end of said plunger having an engaging portion for engagement with and actuation by said rin g unit.

7. A noisemaking projectile including an elongated hollow projectile shell, a bellows within said shell, an airactuated whistle operatively associated with said bellows, the longitudinal axis of said bellows being parallel to the axis of said projectile; means for compressing said bellows including a plunger slidably mounted within said shell for longitudinal movement along the axis of said bellows and with one end extending externally of said shell, and said plunger being so dimensioned that its inner end will hold Said -bellows in compressed condition when said one end is substantially flush with the outer surface of said shell.

8. A noisemaking toy projectile to be fired from a firing device having a muzzle with an end portion, a spring ejector positioned within the muzzle, and an engaging latch associated with said spring ejector, said projectile including an outer shell having a substantially cylindrical bore therein, a projection arm at one end thereof and in axial alignment with said bore, said projection arm having engaging shoulders at the outer end thereof adapted to engage with said latch, an air-actuated noisemaker mounted within said bore, said noisernaker projectile including a normally-expanded bellows positioned for movement axially within said bore, a plunger slidably mounted on said projection arm, said plunger having one end within said bore and positioned to press against said bellows, the other end of said plunger extending outside said shell and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said muzzle, said plunger ybeing of such length that it will compress said bellows when said projection arm is inserted in said muzzle until said shoulders engage with said latch and will cease said engagement when said projection arm is released from said muzzle.

9. In combination, a noisernaking projectile and a ring device, said projectile including a projectile body having a bore therein, a bellows positioned within said bore for movement axially of said bore, an air-actuated noisemaker operatively associated with said bellows, a projection arm mounted at one end of said projectile body and in axial alignment with said bore, said projection arrn having engaging shoulders at the outer end thereof, a plunger slidably mounted on said projection arm for longitudinal axial movement, one end of said Iplunger projecting inside said bore for engagement with said bellows, the other end of said plunger extending outside said projectile body and having =a ilanged end, said firing device including a muzzle to receive said projection arm, `a spring ejector positioned within the muzzle and an engaging latch associated with said spring ejector and positioned to engage said shoulders, the inner diameter of said muzzle `being less than the width of said anged end.

10. A noisemaking projectile to be mounted upon and red from a projecting device and capable of creating noises after projection therefrom, said projectile including an elongated projectile body, said body having an longitudinal axial bore formed therein, an air-actuated bellows-type noisemaker disposed within said longitudinal axial bore, a rst position of said air-actuated noisemaker, a second position of said air-actuated noisemaker, said second positon being the normal position thereof,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,691,443 1l/l928 Lloyd 46-118 2,988,848 6/1961 Lemelson 46-180 3,035,564 5/1962 Hellman 124-31 X 3,044,213 7/1962 Licitis 46-189 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner.

Us. C1. X.R. 124-41; 273-106

Claims

1. A NOISEMAKING PROJECTILE TO BE MOUNTED UPON AND FIRED FROM A FIRING DEVICE AND CAPABLE OF CREATING NOISES AFTER PROJECTION THEREFROM, SAID PROJECTILE INCLUDING AN ELONGATED PROJECTILE BODY, SAID BODY HAVING A LONGITUDINAL AXIAL BORE FORMED THEREIN, AN AIR-ACTUATED BELLOWS-TYPE NOISEMAKER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID AXIAL BORE, A FIRST POSITION OF SAID AIR-ACTUATED NOISEMAKER, A SECOND POSITION OF SAID AIR-ACTUATED NOISEMAKER, SAID SECOND POSITION BEING THE NORMAL POSITION THEREOF, A PLUNGER MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID AIR-ACTUATED NOISEMAKER FOR MOVING SAID AIR-ACTUATED NOISEMAKER FROM SAID SECOND TO SAID FIRST POSITION, SAID MEANS BEING POSITIONED SO THAT IT PRESSES AGAINST SAID FIRING DEVICE AND THEREBY TO MOVE SAID AIR-ACTUATED NOISEMAKER FROM SAID SECOND POSITION TO SAID FIRST POSITION WHEN SAID PROJECTILE IS MOUNTED UPON SAID FIRING DEVICE.