US2048061A - Marble shooter - Google Patents

Description

July 21, 1936. DQNATO 2,048,061

MARBLE SHOOTER Filed April 29,.1935

Inventor $62 2 2 ,Zaazaia 4/ Patented July 21, 1936 .i

PATENT OFFICE l SHOOTER I Peter Donate, Patchogue, N. Y. Application'April 29, 1935, Serial No. 18,945

4 Claims.

LThislnven'tion' pertains to new and useful improvementsin marble shooters of the general type bithatco'nstituting the subject matter of my United States Patent No. 1,988,191, issued J anuary 15,1935. 7

SThe-primary object of the present invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, ashooterof the character described comprising novel meansfor releasably securing the marble in position therein, thus permitting the device to be manipulated as desired when in use without danger of the-marble dropping therefrom.

- Another importantobject of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means. for holding the spring actuated plunger in partially retracted position in a mannerto retain'the marble therein when the device is not in 'use. Other objects of the invention areto-provide a shooter of the. aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in "construction, strong-durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a marble shooter constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the invention.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the rear end portion of the invention, showing the means by which the plunger is secured in partially retracted position in a manner to retain the marble therein when the device is not in use.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the forward end portion of the device, showing the plunger in its forwardmost position.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of the plunger.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises a barrel l of suitable length and material, said barrel being open at its forward end and closed at its rear end, as at 2. Pressed outwardly in the forward end portion of the barrel l is a socket 3, the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

Extending slidably through a slot which is provided therefor in the end closure 2 of the barrel l'is'a substantially fiat stem 4 of suitable metal having fixed on its forward end for reciprocation in the barrel l a substantially cup-shaped plunger 5 whichis adapted to receive the marble to be 5 projected, asat 6. At its forward end, the plunger 5 terminates in an out-turned flange I which is engaged with the barrel l, the rest of said plunger being spaced from said barrel, as illustrated to advantage'in Figure 2 of the drawing. Rearwardl0 ly of the flange l the plunger ,5 has formed therein an opening 8, the purpose of which also will be presently set forth.

The reference numeral 9 designates a resilient finger which is secured on one side of a forward portion of the stem 4, as by a screw Ill. The resilient finger 9 extends forwardly between the plunger. 5 and the barrel 1. and terminates in an inwardly curved free end portion which is adapted to be projected through the opening 8 in a mannerto engage and retain the marble 6 in the plunger 5, as best seen in Figure 2 of the drawing. A coil spring ll encircles the stem 4 in the barrel l and has one end engaged with the closure 2 and its other end engaged with an abutment [2 on said stem 4 for actuating the plunger 5.

The reference numeral I3 designates generally a handle which is provided on the rear end portion of the stem for retracting the plunger 5 against the tension of the coil spring H. The handle I3 is formed from a single length of suitable metal and includes an eye I4 for the reception of a finger, said handle further including leg portions l5 straddling the stem I 4 and pivotally secured thereto, as by a bolt IS. The legs I5 terminate in outturned feet I! which constitute stops engageable with the closure 2.

In use, with the plunger 5 in its forward position, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the marble 6 is placed therein. The plunger 5 is then retracted against the tension of the coil spring ll through the medium of the handle 13, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. When the plunger 5 is in its forward position, the forward end portion of the resilient retaining finger 9 is engaged in the socket 3, thus permitting insertion of the marble in said plunger. However, it will be noted that when the plunger 5 is retracted, thus disengaging the resilient retaining finger 9 from the socket 3, said finger is projected through the opening 8 in a manner to engage and retain the marble in said plunger 5. When aim has been taken, the handle I3 is released thus permitting the coil spring I I to drive the plunger 5 forwardly in the barrel I. As the plunger 5 reaches its forwardmost position and is arrested by engagement of the stops I! with the closure 2, the resilient finger 9 enters the socket 3 and is thereby withdrawn from said plunger 5, thus releasing and permittingthe-marble 6 tobe projected from the device. When the device is not in use and it is desired to retain the marble 6' therein, the handle I3 is swung to the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawing for retaining said plunger 5 in partially retracted .position.,

It is believed that the many advantages of a marble shooter constructed in accordance with and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it. istohbei: understood that changes in the details of construction and in the. combination and arrange ment of parts may be resorteditowhich will fall.

within the scope of the invention as cIaimed.,,

What is claimed is:

-' -1..;A nrarble shooterg-pomprising -'a barrel; 'a

st-em ;;extendi;ng slidahly; into said -barrel,: a sub stantially-=eup shaped plunger fixed1 on;;the stem and operable in-thebarrel, said, plunge1? loeing adapted for the reception; ofy aemarble; said plung r a n :--tope in ie e n; t ;ba el having a socket therein a resilient finger mountd o 3. 6 s e d -.en e b .e in s hfi P u the present invention will be readily understood,

' throughthe openingfor retaining' -the-marblerin 'saidplunger when said plunger is' retracted, said resilient". finger being engageable infathe socket when the. Splunger is', :in its) forward position, and

means 'for actuating the plunger;

2. A shooter om rising a; barrel "op at one l b m lli i fse i eelfl' ii fi e movable with the plunger andengageabletherein for ,re s yi e hg roi c le in po on;

saidibarrel havinga recess tliereinior the re-= ception of the resilientufingero for allowing, said finger to disengagefrom. theplungenhr releasend, a; plunger Ffor the reception of 9. propane V ing the projectile, and means for actuating the I plunger vWhen said plunger is retracted, the barrel having a socket therein adjacent its open end for the reception of the finger for withdrawing said fingepfromthe plunger for releasing the projectile when said plunger is in its forwardposition, a spring mounted in the barrel and op- .able in the plunger through the openingzfor re- *l'easably securing the projectile in position in said eratively .connected to the stem: for" yieldingly ging the-plunger forwardly, and meansmount ed on one endof -the"ster n iforretracting the plunger against the tension oi the spring. 5 2:5: 4. A shooter of the class described :comprising a barrel open at one endand closed at'its other end; a stem extending slid abl y into thesbarrel 'through the closed -end' thereof, a; substantially.

cup-shapedplunger, for the-receptionpi aproe jectile, mounted on the stem and operable in the barrel, a-resilientfinger engageable in the plunger when said plunger is in; retracted position; for

retaining the projectile therein, a spring mounted iin-ther barrel and operatively connected to the sternfon yieldin gly urging the plunger forwardly. in saidbarrel, and a handle pivotally mounted.

on-therearend portion of the stem forretracting the plunger against the tension ofv-theispring,"

.said handle being engageableiwiththe closed end of. :th e barrel fonretaining the plunger ;in-j.re-" tracted-position; l if Y 1 T R 'DONA'IO-sw.

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