MOVING TARGET AND WATER GUN WITH INDICATING MECHANISM

• US 3,572,712 A
• Filed: 07/23/1968
• Issued: 03/30/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ance M. Vick
• Original Assignee: Ance M. Vick
• Inventors: Vick, Ance M.
• Application Number:
  US04/746,927
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• US Class Current: 463/60
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2011/0065 calculating or indicating a ranking or player performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 33/00 Devices allowing competitions between several persons, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/04 Electric hit-indicating systems; Detecting hits by actuation of electric contacts or switches
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/18 Targets having hit-indicating means actuated or moved mechanically when the target has been hit, e.g. discs or flags the target as a whole disappearing or moving when hit F41J7/04

Abstract

An oscillating water-gun target enclosing a mercury switch which, when struck by a stream of water from a water gun, completes a circuit to a drive motor for moving an animated indicator along a vertical track with the circuit being interrupted upon failure of the water stream to strike the switch means and including a cutoff switch actuated by the indicator when it reaches the top of the track.

Claims

1. A water gun amusement system for use by a player directing a stream of water from a water gun, said system comprising:

a water gun for providing a stream of water, an oscillating support means comprising a horizontally extending elongated shaft mounted on bearing means for oscillation about a horizontal axis, drive means for oscillating said elongated shaft about said horizontal axis, a plurality of target switch actuators mounted on said oscillatible elongated shaft for oscillating movement in a vertical direction for causing a circuit through a target switch to be completed when said actuator is struck by said stream of water, movable indicator means associated with each target switch mounted for movement along a substantially vertical path, individual motor means for driving each of said indicator means along said substantially vertical path, and respective circuit means connecting each of said motors to a source of power in response to closure of said target switch means so that said motor is operated when said target switch is closed by said stream'"'"''"'"'s striking said target switch actuator.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said movable indicators is supported for movement from a lower position to an upper position on a separate vertical track means and each of said motor means drives its respective indicator upwardly when its respective target switch is closed.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein each of a said respective circuit means includes an upward movement enabling relay which is activated by closure of its respective target switch with the contacts of said upward movement enabling relay being connected to said motor for completing a circuit to said motor to cause said motor to move said indicator means upwardly.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein each of said respective circuits additionally includes an upward drive movement terminating relay having a pair of normally closed contacts connected in series with said upward movement enabling relay, and an upper switch mounted adjacent the upper end of said track and engageable by said indicator means when said indicator means is moved to the upper end of said track to close said upper switch with said upper switch means being connected in series with said upward drive movement terminating relay to consequently activate Said upward drive movement terminating relay in response to the opening of said upper switch to open said normally closed contacts to deactivate said upward movement enabling relay.

5. The invention of claim 4 additionally including master switch means which when positioned in a first position connects one terminal of said upward movement enabling relay to one terminal of a dual-terminal power supply so that said target switch can enable completion of a circuit to the other terminal of the power supply and wherein said master switch when positioned in a second position connects said motor to said first terminal to provide a circuit through a lower switch adjacent the lower end of said track for driving said motor in a direction to cause said motor to lower said indicator means until said indicator means moves to the lower end of said track at which point said indicator means engages said lower switch to deactivate said motor.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said switches is a mercury switch pivotally supported on said elongated shaft and each of said switch actuators comprises a flat plate connected to said mercury switch and supported by a lever means which pivots said mercury switch with respect to said elongated shaft to complete a circuit through said switch when said plate is struck by said stream of water.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein each of said movable indicators is supported for movement from a lower position to an upper position on vertical track means and said motor means drives said indicator upwardly when said target switch is closed.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein each of said circuits include an upward movement enabling relay which is activated by closure of said target switch with the contacts of said upward movement enabling relay being connected to said motor for completing a circuit to said motor to cause said motor to move said indicator means upwardly.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein each of said circuits additionally includes an upward drive movement terminating relay having a pair of normally closed contacts connected in series with said upward movement enabling relay, and an upper switch mounted adjacent the upper end of said track and engageable by said indicator means when said indicator means is moved to the upper end of said track to close said upper switch with said upper switch means being connected in series with said upward drive movement terminating relay to consequently activate said upward drive movement terminating relay in response to the opening of said upper switch to open said normally closed contacts to deactivate said upward movement enabling relay.