US20060213106A1

US20060213106A1 - Snapper gun fireworks

Info

Publication number: US20060213106A1
Application number: US11/199,014
Authority: US
Inventors: Pan Young
Original assignee: Winco Fireworks International LLC
Current assignee: Winco Fireworks International LLC
Priority date: 2005-03-22
Filing date: 2005-08-08
Publication date: 2006-09-28

Abstract

A fireworks device having a body that is constructed of a single flexible sheet, which is folded around a tubular reservoir and forms front and rear opposable surfaces allowing a user to grip said surfaces and operate the fireworks device with one hand. The device includes a trigger that protrudes outwardly from the body near the front surface and is depressable to activate a discharge firecracker located within the reservoir. Upon activation, the discharge firecracker creates pressure sufficient to project contents from the reservoir outward and in a direction desired by a user. The contents preferably include confetti in the form of streamers and impact initiated firecrackers.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to fireworks and, more specifically, to a fireworks device having a hand held gun like construction with a tubular reservoir that has a discharge explosive triggered by depressing a trigger attached to a string that in turn is joined to the explosive and then discharges separate impact detonated fireworks and streamers under the control of a user.
Certain types of fireworks displays utilize a substantial amount of explosive force and are suitable for use only by adults. Other types of fireworks are relatively simple in power or explosive force and are less dangerous and thus ideal for younger consumers and more appropriate for use in certain environments.
A popular type of fireworks within this class is generally referred to as a “party popper” consisting of a reservoir that contains a relatively small and stationary explosive charge that is secured within the reservoir and confetti that is secured by a cap. A pull string is attached to the explosive charge and extends outside of the reservoir and is designed to be pulled in order to activate the explosive charge. Upon activation, the pressure produced by the explosive charge is directed toward the confetti stored in the reservoir, thus overcoming the cap and ejecting the confetti into the air. Other types of poppers are designed to be thrown by a user and explode on impact with a hard surface that is they are impact initiated.
While party poppers can be used at traditional fireworks occasions, such as on the 4^thof July, party poppers are also popularly used for occasions where traditional fireworks, having a fuse, are overly cumbersome and/or dangerous such as a New Years Eve celebration where there are many people in the immediate proximity and the event may take place inside. Notably, it is desirable to be able to control and aim the party popper in a direction away from bystanders and ideally above the users head if within a crowd. However, the pull string requires the use to use both hands, thus making them cumbersome to use and reducing the user's ability to aim the firework in a safe direction.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a relatively low-power firework that does not require a match, punk or other lighting means and to provide such a firework that can be held firmly and operated with one hand so that use is unobstructed allowing the user to easily aim and discharge the fireworks in a safe direction. Furthermore, it is desirable to have such a device that allows for the directed discharge of impact type fireworks and confetti in a controlled manner. Still further, it is desirable to provide a device that produces a dual noise discharge, once when the confetti and impact initiated fireworks discharge from the device and again when the impact fireworks explode. Still further, it is desired to provide such a device that simulates a gun without the danger of a gun.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems previously described by providing a fireworks device including a body in the shape of a gun that surrounds a reservoir forming a barrel and a lower grip with front and rear opposable surfaces. The gun has a depressable trigger, which protrudes therefrom and which is provided in lieu of a traditional firework fuse. The trigger is tied by a draw string or lanyard to a discharge explosive charge in the shape of a firecracker which explodes when the trigger is depressed and the draw string is thereby pulled. Located in the barrel are preferably both multiple impact fireworks or poppers and confetti or multiple streamers that unfurl when discharged by the explosive force of the discharge charge. The body is constructed of a single piece of cardboard and the gripable surface thereof allows a user to firmly grasp the fireworks device and depress the trigger with one hand in order to discharge contents within the reservoir.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a fireworks device having a cardboard body that is folded around a tubular reservoir and stapled to form a gripable surface and having a depressable trigger for triggering the ejection of contents from the reservoir; to provide such a device having sufficient stability to accommodate the grip of various users and to allow the users to control the fireworks especially during discharge; to provide such a device having sufficient stability to reasonably insure that the user can aim the reservoir in a desired direction so that the contents of the reservoir are directed in the desired direction; to provide such a device adapted to discharge impact initiated fireworks and streamers; to provide such a device that is manufactured out of material that is lightweight and will not form shrapnel or fragment into potentially harmful flying debris should the device malfunction and objects to be discharged explode within the reservoir; to provide such a device with a trigger that is sufficiently strong to withstand a reasonable amount of pressure exerted on it before discharge; to provide such a device that is sufficiently strong to deter accidental and unintended activation of the fireworks therein, if the user or another object inadvertently comes into contact with the trigger; to provide such a device that can be activated without a fuse requiring fire via a punk, lighter, etc.; to provide such a device with a simple design wherein the device can be used by consumers of a broad range of ages with ease; to provide such a device having an explosive discharge to expel the contents of the reservoir making a first “firecracker” type noise and at least one secondary explosion caused by discharge of the impact initiated explosive device causing at least a second “firecracker” noise; and to provide such a device which is relatively easy to use, inexpensive to produce and particularly well-suited for its intended usage.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snapper gun fireworks device having a body folded around a reservoir and a depressable trigger.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the body of the fireworks device illustrating the body prior to folding and assembly thereof and having slots and inserts.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the fireworks device.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the fireworks device.
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the fireworks device.
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the fireworks device prior to discharge with portions broken away to illustrate the reservoir and interior of the body with impact initiated firecrackers and streamers located in the reservoir along with a pull string initiated explosive charge.
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the fireworks device after discharge of the explosive charge with portions broken away to illustrate the reservoir and interior of the body and showing the impact initiated firecrackers and streamers being discharged from the reservoirs.
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the fireworks device after discharge showing streamers in midair and the impact initiated firecrackers impacting and exploding on a wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
The reference numeral 1 generally identifies a snapper gun fireworks device in accordance with the present invention. The device 1 includes a body 5 that is constructed from a single planar and flexible cardboard sheet 14. The sheet 14 is coated in bright or colorful acrylic paint to both decrease the likelihood that the device will degrade if it gets wet and to improve the texture and appearance. The body 5 is folded around a trigger mechanism 6 and a tubular launching chamber or reservoir 7 forming a sturdy gun like appearing shape. The reservoir 7 contains various contents 8, which are discharged from the fireworks device 1 upon activation and will be discussed further below. To seal the reservoir 7 and secure the contents 8 therein, a chamber cover 9 is provided. The chamber cover 9 is sized and shaped to fit to close the front end of the tubular reservoir 7 and is sufficiently flimsy to be easily overcome and release itself from the reservoir 7 upon activation of the device 1 and the explosive force produced therefrom. Furthermore, it should be noted that the cover 9 is constructed of a light-weight material, such as heavy paper, that will not easily injure a user or a bystander if during discharge of the fireworks 1, the cover 9 is inadvertently ejected at and strikes a bystander.
The body 5 is assembled by folding the sheet 14 about a central vertical axis (as seen in FIG. 2). This sheet 14 has first and second slots 16 and 17 with corresponding tab inserts 18 and 19 that are sized and shaped to mate with and engage the respective slots 16 and 17 when the sheet 14 is in the folded configuration thereof, as is seen in all of the Figs., except FIG. 2. Additional fasteners 23, e.g. staples, are used to secure the sheet 14 forming the body 5 in its folded configuration. Upon folding, the body 5 is wrapped around the reservoir 7 and assumes a similar configuration thereto so as to form a barrel portion 27. Also formed upon folding of the body 5 is a grip or handle 31 having sturdy front and rear opposable gripping surfaces 32. The surfaces 32 are strong enough to allow the user to grasp and control the fireworks device 1 in order to allow a user sufficient control to aim the barrel portion 27 in a desired direction while retaining control of the device 1 during discharge using a single hand, as seen in FIG. 8.
The trigger mechanism 6 includes a trigger slot 34 located in the body 5 formed by a receiver 40 that accommodates a depressable trigger 41, which is attached by a cotton pull cord, lanyard, draw string, or the like 42 to a discharge explosive charge or firecracker 43 of the type wherein the discharge or explosion of the firecracker 43 is initiated by pulling on the draw string 43. The trigger 41 is located adjacent to the front of the body 5 beneath the reservoir 7 and extends from the receiver 40 through a front end 47 of the receiver 40 which is located in the slot 34.
In a predischarge configuration, a portion of the trigger 6 is exposed and protrudes outwardly from the body 5 while the other portion resides within and is supported by the receiver 40 in order to provide maximum stability to the trigger 6 so that when the user depresses the trigger 6 inwardly and toward the rear of the body 5 (to the left in FIG. 6), the trigger 41 slides along the receiver 40 into an interior region 48.
While it is foreseen that the trigger 41 could be constructed of a number of designs, the present invention teaches a trigger 41 having an elongate trigger body 53 with a relatively blunt front trigger finger rest 54 designed to facilitate manipulation of the trigger 41 by the user. The draw string 42 extends along a cord channel 56, which communicates with and joins the reservoir 7 to the interior region 48. The draw string 42 is secured to a rear of the trigger body 53 by a cord lock or keeper 58 while the other end of the cord 42 is attached to the firecracker 43 at the point indicated by numeral 61 and extends into and through the firecracker 43. The cord 42 passes through a rear wall 65 of the reservoir 7 and specifically through an opening 66 provided to accommodate the cord 42. The opening 66 is large enough to allow free movement of the cord 42 therein, but small enough so that it blocks passage of the firecracker 43.
The reservoir 7 comprises a cylindrical side wall 68 that extends from the rear wall 65 to a front end 69. Located near the front end 69 is a capture slot or groove 70 around the inner circumference of the side wall 68 sized and shaped in order to interferingly accommodate the chamber cover 9. The cover 9 is designed with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the side wall 68 and is sized and shaped to fit within the groove 70, which has a corresponding diameter that is also slightly larger than diameter of the side wall 68. The cover 9 is designed to snugly fit within the groove 70 tight enough to secure the contents 8 of the reservoir 7, as previously discussed, yet loose enough to be easily overcome upon discharge of the firecracker 43.
It is desirable to both separate the contents 8 from the firecracker 43 and also to provide an area within the reservoir 7 to accumulate pressure or force to controllably expel the contents 8 from the reservoir 7, when the firecracker 43 discharges. This is accomplished by placing a divider or platform 74 having a front disk 75 portion and depending legs 76, which nests within the reservoir 7 and against the rear wall 65 in order to separate the firecracker 43 from the contents 8 and absorb the shock of the discharge firecrackers 43 exploding without exploding impact initiated fireworks within the chamber contents 8, thus forming a firecracker discharge region 79 and a front contents region 80. The front disk 75 is slightly smaller in diameter than the cylindrical side wall 68 to somewhat create a compression seal. In this manner, the platform 74 also acts as a ram to assist in ejecting the contents 8 upon discharge of the device 1 (that is, upon the firecracker 43 exploding because the trigger 41 is depressed pulling the draw string 42), thus allowing a significant buildup of pressure within the firecracker region 79 and behind the front disk 75 in order to discharge the contents 8 from the contents region 80. This design allows the device 1 to operate efficiently with a relatively low charge firecracker 43 so as to provide a less powerful and safer fireworks device without loss of quality in display.
The contents 8 of the present invention include poppers or impact initiated fireworks 84 and confetti or streamers 88, which are illustrated in FIGS. 6-8. The fireworks 84 may be spherical or tubular, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, and include an explosive charge in the form of gunpowder or the like mixed with granular material that causes the explosive charge to explode when it strikes a solid object such as a sidewalk or a wall 99, shown in FIG. 8. Upon discharge of the device 1, the contents 8 are ejected from the reservoir 7 and into the air after which the fireworks 84 strike a solid object like the wall 99 or fall to the ground in order to provide secondary explosions when each discharge and the streamers 88 unfurl and float to the ground. It is foreseen that the contents 8 could include any number of additional items, including small pieces of confetti. FIG. 8 illustrates the device 1 in use and immediately after discharge in the hand 93 of a user depressing the trigger 41 with a trigger finger 94 and the poppers 84 contacting the wall 99. FIG. 7 illustrates discharge of the firecracker 43 creating a first loud “firecracker” type noise and FIG. 8 shows the firecrackers 84 discharging against the wall 99 and with each creating secondary loud “firecracker” type noises.
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.

Claims

1. A fireworks device comprising:

a) an elongated reservoir for storing contents;

b) a body constructed of a flexible sheet that is folded around said reservoir to assume a use configuration; and

b) a depressable trigger that protrudes from said body.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

a) said sheet is cardboard and said use configuration is gun like in appearance.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

a) said body is maintained in the use configuration by a fastener.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein:

a) said fastener is built into the body and comprises an insert tongue that is sized and shaped to matingly engage a corresponding slit.

5. The device according to claim 3 wherein:

a) said fastener is at least one staple.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

a) said body is folded to form a barrel and a grip having front and rear opposable surfaces.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein:

a) said receiver is nested in said barrel and has a rear surface and an inner side wall.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein:

a) said inner side wall is tubular.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

a) said trigger is slidably and snugly received in an interior chamber located in said body.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

a) said reservoir includes a firecracker region that is adapted to house a first discharge firecracker and a contents region adapted to house said contents.

11. The device according to claim 11 including:

a) a draw string joined to said first firecracker;

b) said draw string being secured at an end opposite said first firecracker to said trigger; and wherein:

c) said first firecracker is of a type that discharges upon pulling of said draw string, such that when said trigger is depressed, said draw string is pulled and said first firecracker explodes so as to cause said contents to be discharged out of the reservoir.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein:

a) said reservoir includes a rearward draw string passageway sized and shaped to allow sliding passage of said draw string therethrough but sufficiently small to prevent passage of said first firecracker therethrough.

13. The device according to claim 10 wherein:

a) said contents include a second contact initiated firecracker that is discharged from said reservoir by explosion of said first firecracker.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein said contents include:

a) at least one contact initiated firecracker and at least one type of confetti.

15. The device according to claim 10 including:

a) a divider slidably mounted in said reservoir so as to divide said reservoir interior into a first chamber receiving said first fireworks and a second chamber receiving said contents.

16. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

a) said reservoir is closed by a cover that is sized and shaped to be interferingly but removably received within the inner side wall of the reservoir near a discharge end thereof.

17. In a fireworks device that projects contents outward and that can be operated with one hand;

the improvement comprising:

a) said device including a body having an inner cavity, front and rear opposable surfaces;

and a depressable trigger extending from said front surface.

18. A fireworks device comprising:

a) a body in the shape of a hand gun with a reservoir having a discharge end;

b) a first discharge explosive charge placed in said reservoir and being selectively dischargeable by a user;

c) at least one impact initiated secondary explosive charge located in said reservoir between said discharge end and said first explosive charge; and wherein:

d) each secondary explosive charge is discharged from said reservoir upon explosion of said first explosive charge.

19. The device according to claim 18 wherein:

a) said reservoir includes confetti that is operably discharged with said secondary explosive charges.

20. The device according to claim 18 including:

a) a first explosive charge initiating draw string attached to said first charge; and

b) a trigger secured to said draw string and operably pulling said draw string to initiate said first charge upon depression of said trigger.