Toy Gun With Fluid Firing Switch
A fluid switch for a toy gun includes a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A seal is provided inside the body. A shaft extends through and seals against the seal. The shaft has a recess. When the fluid switch is activated, the shaft moves longitudinally so that the recess forms a fluid flow channel past the seal thereby allowing fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet.
1 . A fluid switch for a toy gun, comprising:
a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a seal inside the body;
a shaft extending through and sealing against the seal, the shaft having a recess; and
activation means to move the shaft longitudinally so that the recess forms a fluid flow channel past the seal thereby allowing fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet.
2 . The fluid switch of claim 1 , comprising a second seal thought which the shaft also extends through and seals against.
3 . The fluid switch of claim 1 , wherein the seals are O-rings.
4 . The fluid switch of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is transverse to the shaft and the outlet is parallel to the shaft.
5 . The fluid switch of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is parallel to the shaft and the outlet is transverse to the shaft.
6 . The fluid switch of claim 1 , wherein the recess is in the form of an annular groove surrounding the shaft.
7 . A toy gun comprising:
the fluid switch of claim 1 ;
a fluid reservoir communicating with the inlet;
a nozzle communicating with the outlet; and
a trigger acting upon or comprising at least part of said activation means.
8 . The toy gun of claim 7 , further comprising a priming pump to pressurise the fluid in the reservoir.
9 . The toy gun of claim 7 , further comprising an exhaust port via which fluid can escape to atmosphere.
10 . The toy gun of claim 7 , further comprising a nozzle valve to open the nozzle, the nozzle valve activated by the trigger.
11 . The toy gun of claim 10 , further comprising an auxiliary charge store of variable volume for storing pressurised fluid until the nozzle valve is opened whereupon the volume contracts resiliently to expel the fluid via the nozzle.
12 . The toy gun of claim 11 , wherein the auxiliary charge store comprises a bladder.
13 . The toy gun of claim 11 , wherein the auxiliary charge store comprises a spring-loaded piston.
14 . A multi-shot toy gun comprising:
the fluid switch of claim 1 ;
a fluid reservoir communicating with the inlet; and
a nozzle communicating with the outlet.
15 . The multi-shot toy gun of claim 14 , further comprising a motor acting upon or comprising at least part of said activation means to reciprocate the shaft so that the recess passes the seal repeatedly.