Reusable pellet shooting grenade

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to replica grenades for shouting plastic pellets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pellet shooting grenades have been available for use in playing war simulation games. These grenades generally consisted of a hollow housing containing a quantity of pellets loosely contained in a chamber which was in close proximity to a pressurized air reservoir. A valve was generally provided between the air reservoir and the pellet containing chamber. Upon opening the valve, the flow of pressurized gas would cause the pellets to be propelled from the chamber. The pellet containing chamber was often made from several sections which would come apart when the valve was opened, thereby permitting the pellets a way of escaping the grenade when the grenade "detonated". In many cases, a chemical propellant was used to create the gas pressure necessary for launching the pellets.

While these prior pellet launching grenades do provide a means to simulate the action of a real hand grenade in a safe and convenient manner, there are a number of draw backs associated with previous designs. Firstly, the method of dispersing or launching the pellets did not impart much kinetic energy to the pellets; thereby greatly limiting the "effective range" of the grenade since the pellets would travel only a short distance. The delay mechanisms used in previous pellet launching grenades to delay the "detonating" of the grenade after the grenade was activated also lacked reliability. Furthermore, previous pellet launching grenade designs were complicated to use and expensive to manufacture. A more economical and reliable grenade design which is capable of more efficiently imparting kinetic energy to the pellets is therefore required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an improved grenade with improved reliability and improved performance. The grenade of the present invention includes at least one spiral launch tube, said launch tube having a breech end and a muzzle end. A plurality of projectiles are loaded in the launch tube between the breech and muzzle ends. The grenade includes a pressure source coupled to the breech end for pressurizing the launch tube sufficiently to launch the projectiles from the muzzle end of the launch tube. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided an improved grenade which includes a housing containing at least one launch tube having a breech end and a muzzle end. A plurality of projectiles are loaded in the launch tube between the breech and muzzle ends. The grenade also includes a gas reservoir for storing a compressed gas, the gas reservoir being coupled to the breech end of the launch tube. A valve is interposed between the reservoir and the breech end of the launch tube for controlling the flow of compressed gas from the reservoir to the breech end of the launch tube, the valve moveable between a closed state and an open state wherein said compressed gas enters the breech end of the launch tube to propel the projectiles from the muzzle end, the valve being biased towards its open state. The grenade further includes a trigger mechanism coupled to the valve, the trigger mechanism operating between a locked state wherein the trigger mechanism holds the valve in its closed state and an unlocked state wherein the valve is free to move into its open state. Also, the grenade includes a delay mechanism coupled to the valve for slowing the movement of the valve into its open state. The delay mechanism consists of a fluid reservoir for holding a quantity of fluid, the fluid reservoir having a discharge opening for discharging fluid from the fluid reservoir. The valve is coupled to a piston such that the valve and piston movie together, the piston being positioned in the fluid reservoir to force the fluid out of the fluid reservoir as the valve moves into its open position. The discharge opening is dimensioned or restricted to delay the movement of the piston by restricting the discharge of fluid through the discharge opening.

With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a grenade made in accordance with the present invention showing a projectile being launched from one side of the grenade.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the grenade shown in figure 1 showing a projectile being launched from an opposite side of the grenade.
• Figure 3 is a schematic view of a grenade made in accordance with the present invention illustrating the helical arrangement of the launch tubes.
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of the grenade of figure 1 partly in cross section showing the launch tubes filled with projectiles.
• Figure 5 is a top .view of the grenade of figure 1 showing projectiles adjacent the muzzle ends of the launch tubes.
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of grenade showing the muzzle end of one of the launch tubes.
• Figure 7 is a long sectional view of the grenade shown in figure 1 showing the trigger mechanism in its locked state and the valve in its closed state.
• Figure 8 is a long sectional view of the grenade shown in figure 1 showing the trigger mechanism in its unlocked state and showing the valve between its open and closed states.
• Figure 9 is a long sectional view of the grenade shown in figure 1 showing the valve in its open state.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring firstly to figures 7, 8 and 9, a grenade made in accordance with the present invention, shown generally as item 10 includes a housing 12 with a pair of spiral helical launch tubes 14 and 16 formed therein. Launch tubes 14 and 16 have breech ends 20 and 22 and muzzle ends 24 and 26 (see figure 5). A plurality of projectiles 18 are contained within the launch tubes. The grenade further includes a pressure source 28 for pressurizing the launch tubes sufficiently to launch the projectiles out of the launch tube. Pressure source 28 preferably consists of a gas reservoir for storing a quantity of compresses gas. Valve 30, is positioned between breech ends 22 and 20 and gas reservoir 28. Valve 30 is movable between a closed state, as shown in figure 7 where the valve prevents the flow of pressurized gas from reservoir 28 to breech ends 20 and 22, and an open state as shown in figure 9. As shall be explained later, valve 30 is biased towards its open position by the pneumatic pressure contained in gas reservoir 28. Trigger mechanism 32 is coupled to valve 30 and operates to hold valve 30 in its closed position. Trigger mechanism 32 includes a removable pin 34 which is contained in aperture 36 of collar 42. Collar 42 has a passage 44 dimensioned to receive end 38 of shaft 40 which is coupled to valve 30. When pin 34 remains in place in collar 42, the trigger mechanism is in its locked state and it prevents valve 30 from moving into its open position. Trigger mechanism 32 is placed in its unlocked state by pulling out pin 34 from collar 42, which frees end 38 to move in passage 44, thereby permitting the valve to move into its open state as shown in figure 9. A delay mechanism 46 is also coupled to valve 30 to slow down the movement of valve 30.

Delay mechanism 46 consists of a fluid reservoir 48 for holding a quantity of fluid such as water or air, the reservoir having a discharge opening 52 for slowly letting the fluid contained in the reservoir to escape. A piston 50 is contained in the reservoir and is coupled to valve 30 by shaft 40. Valve 30 is positioned in passage 56 which has a smaller cross sectional diameter than reservoir 48; therefore, when pin 34 is pulled out of collar 42, the gas pressure in chamber 28 acts against piston 50 to move the piston towards collar 42 pulling valve 30 along with it. As piston 50 moves towards collar 42, it forces fluid out of fluid reservoir 48 through discharge 54. Since discharge 54 is relatively narrow, it takes several seconds to empty the fluid reservoir, thereby delaying the movement of valve 30. When valve 30 clears passage 56, pressurized gas from chamber 28 passes into breaches 20 and 22 thereby launching projectiles 18.

End 38 of shaft 40 is dimensioned to fit within passage 44. End 38 is provided with seal 60 which acts to seal passage 44 and prevent fluid from passing through the passage between the fluid reservoir 48 and aperture 36. However, end 38 is separated from passage 44 by a gap 58. When end 38 moves into the position shown in figure 9, seal 60 is past aperture 36 thereby permitting fluid to quickly drain from reservoir 48 and out aperture 36, which in turn permits valve 30 to quickly move into its fully open position.

The bottom of grenade 10 is provided with a removable cap 66. Shaft 40 is provided with an internal passage 62 having one way valve 64. When cap 66 is removed, the user can pressurize chamber 28 by applying an air line (not shown) to valve 64 to pressurize the gas chamber. Cap 66 can then be replaced. Fluid reservoir 48 can also be refilled by removing plug 68 and then filling the reservoir through opening 54. After filling the reservoir, plug 68 is replaced.

Referring now to figure 5, muzzle ends 24 and 26 are positioned on opposite sides B and A of grenade 10, respectively. Muzzle ends 24 and 26 are positioned such that projectiles 18 are launched out of the breech ends in opposite directions, thereby imparting a clockwise spin to the grenade as indicated by arrow 78. Projectiles 18 are held in muzzle ends 24 and 26 by fingers 72 and 70, respectively. Fingers 70 and 72 are dimensioned and configured to hold projectiles 18 in the muzzle end of the launch tubes until the launch tubes are pressurized sufficiently to force the projectiles past the fingers. Ramps 74 and 76 are formed on housing 12 of grenade 10 adjacent muzzle ends 26 and 24, respectively. As seen in figure 2, ramp 76 is dimensioned and configured to deflect projectiles 18 downwardly. As seen in figure 1, ramp 74 is dimensioned and configured to deflect projectiles 1 R unwardly. As a result, additional movement is imparted to the grenade as projectiles are launched from the grenade. Since the projectiles are launched in different directions from different sides of the grenade, the movement of the grenade imparted by the launching projectiles is more random, which causes the projectiles to scatter in a more random way.

Referring now to figures 3 and 4, launch tubes 16 and 14 are preferably spiral and helical and arranged in a double helix arrangement. This arrangement maximizes the number of projectiles which can be packed into the grenade.

The present invention has many advantages over the prior art. In particular, the spiral launch tubes permit a large number of projectiles to be packed into the grenade. Furthermore, the positioning of the muzzle ends of the launch tubes on opposite sides of the grenade and the positioning of ramps to deflect the projectiles in different directions results in a more random scattering of the projectiles. Furthermore, the robust design of the valve mechanism and the delay mechanism permits casy refilling and recharging of the grenade as well as reliable performance. Finally, the use of launch tubes to store and project the projectiles results in a very efficient transfer of kinetic energy to the pellets, resulting in the pellets being launched a greater distance.

A specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed; however, several variations of the disclosed embodiment could be envisioned as within the scope of this invention. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.