Braking device for safety toy-gun

• US 4,887,583 A
• Filed: 12/07/1987
• Issued: 12/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hsien-Chang Lin
• Original Assignee: Hsien-Chang Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Hsien-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/129,804
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 124/80, 124/31, 124/40, 273/310, 273/311, 273/312, 273/313, 434/21, 434/22, 250/221, 250/222.1
• US Class Current: 124/40
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/08 for inhibiting firing in a specified direction, e.g. at a friendly person or at a protected area F41A27/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A safety device for a toy gun has first and second firing pins which can block movement of a trigger. The firing pins are electro-magnetically operated. The first firing pin is normally in a position which blocks movement of the trigger and the second firing pin is normally in a position which allows movement of the trigger. A power source is connected to the first firing pin by a switch so that trigger movement is blocked by the first firing pin until the switch is activated. The switch also connects the power source to a photo-electric switch which includes a light emitter and a light sensor. The second firing pin is connected to the power source by the photo-electric switch so that movement of the trigger is blocked by the second firing pin only when the photo-electric switch is closed. The photo-electric switch detects the presence of a target within a preset range of the toy gun and closes if a target is detected. In this way, the toy gun can be fired only if the first switch is closed and the photo-electric switch is open, i.e. no target detected in range. A preferred embodiment includes a lamp in series with the first firing pin and a buzzer in series with the second firing pin. The photo-electric switch is preferrably infra-red.

Claims

1. A safety device for a toy gun having a barrel and a trigger for firing a toy projectile, said safety device comprising

a power source;

a photo-electric switch mounted on an outer wall surface of the barrel of the gun and connected to said power source by means of a starting switch, said photo-electric switch comprising a light emitter and a light sensor such that said photo-electric switch is closed when an object reflects light emitted by said emitter back to said sensor and said photo-electric switch is open when the emitted light is not reflected to said sensor;

a first electro-magnetic firing pin, said first firing pin being normally in a position so as to block movement of said trigger and prevent firing of said projectile;

said first firing pin being connected in series with said starting switch to said power source, such that when said starting switch is closed, said first firing pin is energized and thereby moved into a position to allow movement of said trigger;

a second electro-magnetic firing pin, said second firing pin being normally in a position so as to allow movement of said trigger and allow firing of said projectile;

said second firing pin being connected in series with said photo-electric switch and said power supply, such that when said photo-electric switch is closed, said second firing pin is energized and thereby moved to a position so as to block movement of said trigger and prevent firing of said projectile.

2. A safety device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lamp and a buzzer;

said lamp being connected in series with said first firing pin and said power source such that when said first firing pin is energized, said lamp is illuminated; and

said buzzer being connected in series with said second firing pin and said power source such that when said second firing pin is energized, said buzzer sounds.

3. A safety device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photo-electric switch comprises an infrared photo sensor.