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(11) | EP 2 698 594 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Toy gun having fire-control assembly Spielzeugpistole mit Feuersteuerungsanordnung Pistolet-jouet doté d'un ensemble de commande de tir |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
(a) Technical Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention generally relates to toy or training guns, and especially relates to an electronic fire-control assembly for such a gun that can be quickly replaced.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
[0002] There is a sizable market for toy guns as not ony boys but also grown-ups would enjoy having a toy gun. The toy guns are of various varieties and types such as automatic, semi-automatic, single-shot, repeater, etc. There are also hand guns, rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, etc. These various varieties and types can fit the needs of hobbyists of all ages.
[0003] Structurally, a toy gun contains various parts and mechanisms, each for a specific purpose jointly working together. Taking an automatic rifle as example, its motor, ratchets, trigger, etc. have to work harmoniously. When a part or mechanism is out of order, the toy gun has to be disassembled and the outside parts or mechanisms have to be removed sequentially to reach and replace the broken one. These steps are tedious and usually a single small broken part would cause a lot of time and trouble. It is also not uncommon that the toy guns after being dismantled cannot be put back together.
[0004] FIG 1 is a sectional diagram showing a conventional toy gun. As illustrated, inside a toy gun 3, there are a number of gears 31, a trigger 32, and a mechanical control assembly 33, interacting with each other. When the trigger 32 is pulled, the mechanical control assembly 33 is engaged to drive the gears 31 into action so as the file the toy gun 3. As can be imagined, to replace a broken part in the toy gun 3, the time and effort for disassembly and re-assembly is tremendous.
[0005] EP 1 701 128 A1 discloses an air gun that comprises a magazine, a battery, a motor electrically connected to the battery, a gear train including gears and a rack in operative coupling with the motor, and an electronic control circuit that receives electrical power from the battery and controls the operation of the motor. The electronic control circuit is capable of detecting the magazine and responds accordingly. The air gun comprises a control-circuit-housing case that also houses therein the electronic control circuit and the deceleration mechanism to decelerate the rotation from the motor. The arrangement of the control-circuit-housing case makes it not possible to independently detach the electronic control circuit from the air gun for maintenance and/or replacement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The above mentioned disadvantage of the air gun mentioned in EP 1 701 128 A1 is overcome by the toy gun of claim 1.
[0007] A major objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic fire-control assembly that can control the mode, times, and the on/off of the trigger so as to achieve firing modes such as single-shot, single-shot-repeated-firing, repeated-firing, and having safety on. The electronic fire-control assembly can also detect whether there are bullets in the magazine or whether the magazine is plugged, so as to enhance the operation experience of the toy gun or training gun. A magazine detection module, a shot selection module, and a trigger on/off module are all housed in the electronic fire-control assembly. When one of the functions breaks down, a user just replaces the electronic fire-control assembly, instead of spending time and effort to inspect, disassemble, and re-assemble the toy gun.
[0008] To achieve the objective, a toy gun according to the present invention contains a power element electrically connected with a driver element and an electronic fire-control assembly. The electronic fire-control assembly turns on or off the driver element, which in turn engages or disengages a gear set. The electronic fire-control assembly also detects the presence of a magazine and responds accordingly. The toy gun also contains a trigger and a power conversion board electrically connected with the power element, the driver element, and the fire-control assembly. When the trigger is pulled, the electronic fire-control assembly is activated. The electronic fire-control assembly notifies the power conversion board which controls the power element to provide electricity to the driver element. The driver element engages the gear set to conduct firing. When there is no bullet in the magazine or the magazine is not plugged, the electronic fire-control assembly would detect the situation and turns off the power provision. The electronic fire-control assembly is housed in an enclosure that is separate from the gear set so that the electronic fire-control assembly is independently detachable from the toy gun.
[0009] Through the invention, the problems of the prior arts that the toy gun has to be disassembled in great effort, inspected to find out the broken part, and that putting the gun back together would also encounter trouble are obviated.
[0010] The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0011] Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012]
FIG 1 is a sectional diagram showing a conventional toy gun.
FIG 2 is a sectional diagram showing a toy gun according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 2A is another sectional diagram showing a toy gun according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 3 is a perspective partially break-down diagram showing the toy gun of FIG 2.
FIG 3A is a perspective diagram showing a portion of the toy gun of FIG 2.
FIG 4 is a perspective diagram showing a magazine being plugged into the toy gun of FIG 2.
FIG 5 is a perspective diagram showing the toy gun of FIG 2 is held by hand.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0014] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a toy gun 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention mainly contains a trigger 11, a slide 12, a slide detection switch 121 for detecting the position of the slide 12, a magazine 13, a power element 14 which is a battery in the present embodiment, a driver element 15 which is a motor in the present embodiment and is electrically connected with the power element 14, a gear set 16 engaged by the driver element 15, an electronic fire-control assembly 2, and a power conversion board 17 electrically connected with the power element 14, the driver element 15, and the fire-control assembly 2. A sliding trough (not shown) inside the toy gun 1 is for the slidable configuration of the electronic fire-control assembly 2. A tenon (not shown) in the toy gun 1 is for locking the electronic fire-control assembly 2. The electronic fire-control assembly 2 is housed in the toy gun 1 and electrically connected with the power element 14. The electronic fire-control assembly 2 activates or turns off the driver element 15, which in turn engages or disengages the gear set 16.
[0015] The electronic fire-control assembly 2 is housed in an enclosure and contains a signal conversion board 21, at least a microprocessor 22 configured on the signal conversion board 21 which provides electricity to the microprocessor 22, at least a magazine detection module 23 configured in the microprocessor 22 for detecting the state of the magazine 13 and responding accordingly, at least a shot selection module 24 configured in the microprocessor 22, and a trigger on/off module 25 data-linked with the shot selection module 24 for interacting with the trigger 11.
[0016] The operation of the toy gun 1 is described as follows along with FIGS. 2 to 5. As illustrated, a large electrical current is provided by the power element 14 and is separated by the power conversion board 17 into two currents which are routed to the driver element 15 and the electronic fire-control assembly 2, respectively. The current routed to the electronic fire-control assembly 2 is a micro current for turning on and off of the electronic fire-control assembly 2. In addition, the toy gun 1 has an internal heat dissipation element (not shown) for releasing the heat produced by the electronic fire-control assembly 2. When the magazine 13 is plugged into the toy gun 1, the magazine detection module 23 detects the connection between the magazine 13 and the toy gun1, and allows the electrical current to conduct through. On the other hand, the electrical current is blocked if the magazine 13 is not detected so as to simulate a real gun. Subsequently, when the slide 12 is pulled, the slide detection switch 121 detects the slide 12's being pulled and notifies the electronic fire-control assembly 2. Then, when the trigger 11 is pulled, the trigger on/off module 25 conducts firing in accordance with the selection of the shot selection module 24, and the firing action is initiated by the driver element 15 with the electricity provided by the power element 14, and through the gear set 16. Through the above described structures and steps, the electronic fire-control assembly 2 is capable of controlling and operating the toy gun 1.
[0018] Firstly, the electronic fire-control assembly 2 can control the shots fired and the on/off of the trigger 11. The electronic fire-control assembly 2 can also detect whether there are bullets in the magazine 13 or whether the magazine 13 is plugged, so as to enhance the operation experience of the toy gun or training gun. The magazine detection module 23, the shot selection module 24, and the trigger on/off module 25 are all housed in the electronic fire-control assembly 2. When one of the functions breaks down, a user just replaces the electronic fire-control assembly 2, instead of spending time and effort to inspect, disassemble, and re-assemble the toy gun.
[0019] Secondly, the electronic fire-control assembly 2 provides multiple operation modes such as single-shot, single-shot-repeated-firing, repeated-firing, and having safety on.
[0020] Thirdly, simply through the trough and tenon, the electronic fire-control assembly 2 is locked in the toy gun. The signal conversion board is placed on the bottom near the front of the gear set, and can be easily connected with the power conversion board, power element, driver element. Its assembly and disassembly can be achieved without tools and by ordinary users.
[0021] While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.
a magazine (13);
a power element (14);
a driver element (15) electrically connected with the power element (14);
a gear set (16) engaged by the driver element (14); and
an electronic fire-control assembly (2) electrically connected with the power element (14), the electronic fire-control assembly (2) controlling the on and off of the driver element (15) which in turn engages the gear set (16), the electronic fire-control assembly (2) capable of detecting the magazine (13) and responding accordingly,
wherein the electronic fire-control assembly (2) comprises a signal conversion board (21), at least a microprocessor (22) configured on the signal conversion board (21), at least a magazine detection module (23) configured in the microprocessor (22) for detecting the state of the magazine (13), at least a shot selection module (24) configured in the microprocessor (22), and a trigger on/off module (25) data-linked with the shot selection module (24),characterized in that the electronic fire-control assembly (2) is
housed in an enclosure that is separate from the gear set (16) so that the electronic fire-control assembly (2) is independently detachable from the toy gun.
einem Magazin (13);
einem Leistungsteil (14);
einem Antriebselement (15), der mit dem Leistungsteil elektrisch verbunden ist (14);
einem Zahnradsatz (16), in den der Antriebselement (14) eingreift, und
einer elektronischen Feuersteuerungsanordnung (2), die mit dem Leistungsteil (14) elektrisch verbunden ist, wobei die elektronische Feuersteuerungsanordnung (2) das An und Aus des Antriebselements (15) kontrolliert, der seinerseits in den Zahnradsatz (16) eingreift, wobei die elektronische Feuersteuerungsanordnung (2) fähig ist, das Magazin (13) zu erkennen und dementsprechend zu reagieren,
wobei die elektronische Feuersteuerungsanordnung (2) eine Signalumwandlungstafel (21) umfasst, mindestens einen Mikroprozessor (22), der auf der Signalumwandlungstafel (21) konfiguriert ist, mindestens ein Magazinerkennungsmodul (23), das in dem Mikroprozessor (22) konfiguriert ist, um den Zustand des Magazins (13) zu erfassen, mindestens ein Schussauswahlmodul (24), das in dem Mikroprozessor (22) konfiguriert ist, und einem Auslöser-An/Aus-Modul (25), das mit dem Schussauswahlmodul (24) datenverbunden ist,
gekennzeichnet dadurch, dass die elektronische Feuersteuerungsanordnung (2) in einem Gehäuse untergebracht ist, das von dem Zahnradsatz (16) getrennt ist, so dass die elektronische Feuersteuerungsanordnung (2) unabhängig von der Spielzeugpistole abnehmbar ist.
un magasin (13);
un élément de puissance (14);
un élément d'entraînement (15) électriquement connecté à l'élément de puissance (14);
un jeu d'engrenages (16) engagés par l'élément d'entraînement (14); et
un ensemble de conduite de tir électronique (2) électriquement connecté à l'élément de puissance (14), l'ensemble de conduite de tir électronique (2) contrôlant l'activation et la désactivation de l'élément d'entraînement (15) qui à son tour engage le jeu d'engrenages (16), l'ensemble de conduite de tir électronique (2) étant capable de détecter le magasin (13) et de réagir en conséquence,
où l'ensemble de conduite de tir électronique (2) comprend une carte de conversion de signal (21), au moins un microprocesseur (22) configuré sur la carte de conversion de signal (21), au moins un module de détection de magasin (23) configuré dans le microprocesseur (22) pour détecter l'état du magasin (13), au moins un module de sélection de tir (24) configuré dans le microprocesseur (22), et un module activation/désactivation déclencheur (25) relié par liaison de données avec le module de sélection de tir (24),
caractérisé en ce que l'ensemble de conduite de tir électronique (2) est logé dans un logement qui est séparé du jeu d'engrenages (16) de sorte que l'ensemble de conduite de tir électronique (2) est indépendamment détachable du pistolet-jouet.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description