Water gun having pump with internal passageway

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for discharging a fluid under pressure comprising: an intake port for receiving fluid from a source of receiving fluid; a pressurizable tank for fluid storage; a discharge port; a pump assembly having a first passageway in fluid communication with the intake port and the tank and a second passageway in fluid communication with the tank and the discharge port, the pump assembly being operable to pressurize the fluid in the tank; and an actuator associated with the discharge port to allow pressurized fluid to be discharged selectively through the discharge port. Preferably, the discharge device is in the form of a toy water gun having one or two discharge ports.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for discharging a fluid under pressure comprising: 
 an intake port for receiving fluid from a source of receiving fluid;    a pressurizable tank for fluid storage;    a discharge port;    a pump assembly having a first passageway in fluid communication with the intake port and the tank and a second passageway in fluid communication with the tank and the discharge port, the pump assembly being operable to pressurize the fluid in the tank; and    an actuator associated with the discharge port to allow pressurized fluid to be discharged selectively through the discharge port.    
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tank has a sealable opening for receiving an incompressible fluid and wherein the fluid being discharged is the incompressible fluid.  
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tank has a sealable opening for receiving an incompressible fluid, and wherein the receiving fluid being received through the intake port is compressible.  
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tank is inelastic and has a sealable opening for receiving an incompressible fluid.  
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tank is elastic.  
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pump assembly includes a reciprocating pump.  
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the reciprocating pump comprises: 
 a tubular assembly having an outer tube and an inner tube which are interconnected at one end to form an annular pumping chamber; and    an annular piston assembly having a member for reciprocating movement within the annular pumping chamber, the piston having an annular seal in slidable frictional engagement with the outer and inner tubes of the annular pumping chamber.    
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the tank has a sealable opening for receiving an incompressible fluid, and wherein the receiving fluid received through the intake port is compressible.  
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the seal comprises at least one compliant ring having slidable frictional engagement with an outer wall of the inner tube and an inner wall of the outer tube, each ring being retained on the piston within a circumferential groove in the piston.  
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the device includes a releasable retainer mechanism for selectively preventing reciprocation of the piston in the tubular assembly.  
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the device includes a first one-way valve for permitting the receiving fluid to pass from the source of the receiving fluid into the first passageway, a second one-way valve for permitting the receiving fluid to pass from the first passageway into the tank and a third one-way valve for preventing the pressure in the chamber from exceeding a predetermined value.  
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first, second and third one-way valves are associated with a manifold through which the first and second passageways pass.  
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the member for reciprocating movement is a tubular member disposed between the inner and outer tubes, a first end of the tubular member being connected to the piston, a second end of the tubular member forming an extension of the second passageway.  
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the device includes separable, reciprocable front and rear housings, the front housing being attached to the member for reciprocating movement and the rear housing being attached to the outer tube of the tubular assembly.  
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the actuator and discharge port are associated with the front housing.  
     
     
         16 . The device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the actuator comprises a trigger assembly linked to a valve in fluid communication with the discharge port and the second passageway.  
     
     
         17 . A device for discharging a fluid under pressure comprising: 
 an intake port for receiving fluid from a source of receiving fluid;    a pressurizable tank for fluid storage, wherein the tank has a sealable opening for receiving an incompressible fluid;    a first discharge port and a second discharge port;    a pump assembly having a first passageway in fluid communication with the intake port and the tank and a second passageway in fluid communication with the tank and the first and second discharge ports, the pump assembly being operable to pressurize the fluid in the tank; and    a first actuator associated with the first discharge port to allow pressurized fluid to be discharged selectively through the first discharge port and a second actuator associated with the second discharge port to allow pressurized fluid to be discharged selectively through the second discharge port.    
     
     
         18 . The device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the pump assembly includes a reciprocating pump comprising a tubular assembly having an outer tube and an inner tube which are interconnected at one end to form an annular pumping chamber, and an annular piston having a member for reciprocating movement within the annular pumping chamber, the piston having an annular seal in slidable frictional engagement with the outer and inner tubes of the annular pumping chamber.  
     
     
         19 . The device as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising separable, reciprocable front and rear housings, the front housing being attached to the member for reciprocating movement and the rear housing being attached to the outer tube of the tubular assembly, wherein the first actuator and the first discharge port are associated with the front housing and the second actuator and the second discharge port are associated with the rear housing.  
     
     
         20 . A toy water gun for discharging water under pressure comprising: 
 an intake port for receiving air;    a pressurizable tank for water storage, the tank having a sealable opening for receiving water;    a discharge port;    a pump assembly having a reciprocating pump, a first passageway in fluid communication with the intake port and the tank and a second passageway in fluid communication with the tank and the discharge port, the pump assembly being operable to pressurize water in the tank, wherein the reciprocating pump comprises a tubular assembly having an outer tube and an inner tube which are interconnected at one end to form an annular pumping chamber and an annular piston having a member for reciprocating movement within the annular pumping chamber, the piston having an annular seal comprising at least two compliant rings, at least one ring having slidable frictional engagement with an outer wall of the inner tube and at least one ring having slidable frictional engagement with an inner wall of the outer tube, the rings being retained on the piston within respective circumferential grooves in the piston, the member for reciprocating movement comprising a tubular member disposed between the inner and outer tubes, a first end of the tubular member being connected to the piston, a second end of the tubular member forming an extension of the second passageway;    a manifold through which the first and second passageways pass, the manifold having a first one-way valve for permitting air to pass into the first passageway, a second one-way valve for permitting air to pass from the first passageway into the tank and a third one-way valve for preventing the pressure in the chamber from exceeding a predetermined value;    an actuator associated with the discharge port to allow pressurized water to be discharged selectively through the discharge port, the actuator comprising a trigger assembly linked to a discharge valve in fluid communication with the discharge port;    separable, reciprocable front and rear housings, the front housing being attached to the member for reciprocating movement and the rear housing being attached to the outer tube of the tubular assembly, wherein the actuator and discharge port are associated with the front housing; and    a releasable retaining mechanism having a first member associated with the front housing and a second member associated the rear housing, wherein the first and second members are associated with each other such that in a first position, the first and second members are separated to permit reciprocation of the piston in the tubular assembly, and in a second position, the first and second members are interlocked to prevent reciprocation of the piston in the tubular assembly.    
     
     
         21 . A toy water gun for discharging water under pressure comprising: 
 an intake port for receiving air;    a pressurizable tank for water storage, the tank having a sealable opening for receiving water;    a first discharge port and a second discharge port;    a pump assembly having a reciprocating pump, a first passageway in fluid communication with the intake port and the tank and a second passageway in fluid communication with the tank and the first and second discharge ports, the pump assembly being operable to pressurize water in the tank, wherein the reciprocating pump comprises a tubular assembly having an outer tube and an inner tube which are interconnected at one end to form an annular pumping chamber and an annular piston having a member for reciprocating movement within the annular pumping chamber, the piston having an annular seal comprising at least two compliant rings, at least one ring having slidable frictional engagement with an outer wall of the inner tube and at least one ring having slidable frictional engagement with an inner wall of the outer tube, the rings being retained on the piston within respective circumferential grooves in the piston, the member for reciprocating movement comprising a tubular member disposed between the inner and outer tubes, a first end of the tubular member being connected to the piston, a second end of the tubular member forming an extension of the second passageway;    a manifold through which the first and second passageways pass, the manifold having a first one-way valve for permitting air to pass into the first passageway, a second one-way valve for permitting air to pass from the first passageway into the tank and a third one-way valve for preventing the pressure in the chamber from exceeding a predetermined value;    a first actuator associated with the first discharge port to allow pressurized water to be discharged selectively through the first discharge port, the first actuator comprising a first trigger assembly linked to a first discharge valve in fluid communication with the first discharge port;    a second actuator associated with the second discharge port to allow pressurized water to be discharged selectively through the second discharge port, the second actuator comprising a second trigger assembly linked to a second discharge valve in fluid communication with the second discharge port;    separable, reciprocable front and rear housings, the front housing being attached to the member for reciprocating movement and the rear housing being attached to the outer tube of the tubular assembly, wherein the first actuator and the first discharge port are associated with the front housing and the second actuator and the second discharge port are associated with the rear housing; and    a releasable retaining mechanism having a first member associated with the front housing and a second member associated with the rear housing, wherein the first and second members are associated with each other such that in a first position, the first and second members are separated to permit reciprocation of the piston in the tubular assembly, and in a second position, the first and second members are interlocked to prevent reciprocation of the piston in the tubular assembly.