Land mine for use in a simulated war game

• US 4,690,061 A
• Filed: 11/21/1985
• Issued: 09/01/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Craig A. Roth, James R. Verweire, Joseph M. Antonio, Leon N. Armer Jr
• Original Assignee: Craig A. Roth, James R. Verweire, Joseph M. Antonio, Leon N. Armer Jr
• Inventors: Antonio, Joseph M., VerWeire, James R., Roth, Craig A., Armer, Leon N. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kyle, Deborah L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parr, Ted L.
• Application Number:
  US06/800,203
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 102/401, 102/407, 102/513, 102/366, 102/367, 102/334, 102/502, 273/380, 446/4-6
• US Class Current: 102/401
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/28 Land or marine mines; Depth charges

Abstract

A weapon for use in a simulated war game which has the characteristics of a land mine and therefore does not require the user to be in proximity to a target when the weapon is activated. The weapon includes a housing having a first chamber adapted to contain a slurry of a marking agent and dispersing agent. A second chamber, communicating with the first chamber, is adapted to contain a propelling agent such as a cylinder of compressed gas for example. A trigger mechanism is operatively associated with an activator for the propelling agent to actuate the activator when the trigger mechanism is tripped. When the activator is actuated, the propellant is released into the first chamber to drive the slurry from such chamber through an opening into an exterior receptacle, which in turn directs the slurry in a desired pattern exteriorly of the housing.

Claims

1. A weapon, for use in a simulated war game, exhibiting the characteristics of a land mine, said weapon comprising:

a housing, said housing defining first and second intercommunicating chambers, said first chamber being loadable with a slurry including a marking agent and a dispersing agent, and said second chamber being loadable with a slurry propellant;

means for activating a propellant loaded in said second chamber to enable such propellant to drivingly force a slurry loaded in said first chamber from said first chamber;

directing means, associated with said first chamber, for defining an exit flow path therefrom, said directing means including a receptacle, means for adjustably mounting said receptacle on the exterior of said housing adjacent to said first chamber, an opening defined in a wall of said housing between said first chamber and said receptacle enabling flow communication therebetween, and a plurality of openings defined in an exterior wall of said receptacle, whereby adjustment of said receptacle orients said openings in a desired direction; and

a trigger mechanism operatively associated with said activating means for actuating said activating means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said activating means includes a member movably supported in said housing adjacent to said second chamber, said member being responsive to said trigger mechanism to move into contact with a propellant container and on contact therewith to release such propellant;

and wherein said trigger mechanism includes an elongated member, means for holding said elongated member in a first position remote from said member of said activating means and for moving said elongated member toward said member of said activating means for forceable engagement therewith, said holding and moving means including atubular housing extending from said weapon housing adjacent to said member of said activating means and within which said elongated member is located substantially along the longitudinal axis of the tubular housing, said tubular housing defining at least one slot having a first leg extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular housing and a second leg substantially perpendicular to said first leg, at least one arm connected to said elongated member and extending substantially radially therefrom through said slot, means for urging said elongated member in the longitudinal direction toward said member of said activating means, and means coupled to said arm for rotating said arm positioned in said second leg and held against longitudinal movement thereby into alignment with said first leg, whereby said elongated member is longitudinally movable by said urging means into engagement with said member of said activating means.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said means for rotating said arm includes a wire extending outwardly from said arm and adapted to be located in a position external of said weapon whereby movement of said wire by an external source effects rotation of said arm.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said mounting means is a hollow tube extending from the interior of said first chamber into said receptacle through said opening, said receptacle being seated on said tube, a bearing mounted in said wall of said housing in said opening and surrounding said hollow tube, whereby said receptacle and tube are rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said tube for adjustably orienting said receptacle openings in a desired direction.