Snowball Gun Toy

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a snowball gun toy, for throwing snowballs, the gun comprising: at least one barrel ( 22 ); a magazine ( 28 ) having a plurality of snowball chambers ( 30 i ) in which snowballs ( 40 i ) are disposed in order to be fired from the gun, the magazine being rotatable such that each of the chambers, separately, can be positioned to coincide with the barrel; a piston ( 38 ), for pushing the snowball present in the snowball chamber ( 30 ) that coincides with the barrel ( 22 ); a propelling mechanism, for propelling the piston ( 38 ); a cocking mechanism, for cocking the propelling mechanism; and a triggering mechanism employing a trigger ( 14 ), for releasing the propelling mechanism, thereby pushing the snowball ( 40 ) out of the barrel; and a rotating mechanism, for rotating the magazine ( 28 ) to place the next snowball chamber ( 30 ) to coincide with the barrel ( 22 ).

1 . A snowball gun toy, for throwing snowballs, the gun comprising:
 at least one barrel ( 22 );
 a magazine ( 28 ) having a plurality of snowball chambers ( 30   i ) in which snowballs ( 40   i ) are disposed in order to be fired, said magazine being rotatable such that each of said chambers, separately, can be positioned to coincide with said at least one barrel; 
 a piston ( 38 ), for pushing the snowball present in the snowball chamber ( 30 ) that coincides with said at least one barrel ( 22 ); 
 a propelling mechanism, for propelling said piston ( 38 ); 
 a cocking mechanism, for cocking said propelling mechanism; and 
 a triggering mechanism employing a trigger ( 14 ), for releasing said propelling mechanism, thereby pushing said snowball ( 40 ) out of said at least one barrel; and 
 a rotating mechanism, for rotating said magazine ( 28 ) to place the next snowball chamber ( 30 ) to coincide with said at least one barrel ( 22 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said propelling mechanism employs a spring ( 34 ), for propelling said piston. 
     
     
         3 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said propelling mechanism employs a rubber band, for propelling said piston. 
     
     
         4 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said cocking mechanism comprises:
 a handle ( 16 ) attached to said piston ( 38 ), for pulling said spring ( 34 );
 a depression ( 32 ) in an object (rod  26 ) attached to said piston ( 38 ), for hooking said piston to a ledge ( 36 ) attached to said trigger ( 14 ). 
   
     
     
         5 . A toy according to  claim 1 , further comprising a magazine house ( 18 ), for preventing snowballs ( 40   i ) present in the chambers ( 30   i ) of said magazine ( 28 ) from dropping out of said magazine ( 28 ). 
     
     
         6 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotating mechanism is adapted to rotate said magazine ( 28 ) by employing mechanical force by a user thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotating mechanism comprises a motor ( 20 ) for rotating said magazine ( 28 ). 
     
     
         8 . A toy according to  claim 7 , wherein said motor is activated to place the next snowball chamber ( 30 ) to coincide with said at least one barrel (i.e., in shooting position) by a limit switch (not illustrated) sensing when said gun is being cocked. 
     
     
         9 . A toy according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more gripping handles ( 12 ,  12 ′), for holding said gun while shooting. 
     
     
         10 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the said magazine ( 28 ) is separable. 
     
     
         11 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said gun is adapted such that said rotation mechanism is activated automatically after firing a snowball. 
     
     
         12 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said gun is adapted such that said rotation mechanism is activated automatically after cocking the gun. 
     
     
         13 . A toy according to  claim 1 , further comprising a selector ( 48 ), for selecting an operating mode. 
     
     
         14 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of said magazine chambers is about 60 mm, and the length thereof is about 60 mm. 
     
     
         15 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said propelling mechanism is adapted to launch a snowball at a speed that is about the same as that of a snowball thrown by a human individual, thereby not jeopardizing the target. 
     
     
         16 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said magazine comprises five snowball chambers.