Toy Landmine

The invention discloses a toy landmine comprising a housing, a generating means, and a triggering means; the triggering means includes a rammer for striking the container to release the gas, and a delay mechanism; the delay mechanism includes a base, a switching member for limiting the rammer, a sliding rod for controlling the switching member, and a movable plate for lifting the sliding rod; an intermediate part of the sliding rod has a diameter larger than that of its lower part, and a truncated conical surface is provided between the parts for smooth transition; the movable plate has one end hinged on the bottom of the base and is located below the sliding rod. With the delay mechanism, a smoke effect is generated after the upper lid is entirely opened, so that the upper lid will not be subjected damage and the smoke effect gets better.

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Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to the field of toy, and particularly to a toy landmine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A triggered toy landmine may achieve a “smoke” effect, and the “smoke” effect happens while an upper lid of the toy landmine is being opened. However, the impact force of the released “smoke” will likely damage the upper lid and hence affect its reuse, and the “smoke” effect may be affected severely as well, because the upper lid is incompletely open when the “smoke” is generated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A technical object of the present invention is to provide a reusable toy landmine which generates a smoke effect after the complete opening of its upper lid upon triggering, thereby achieving a better smoke effect.

A technical solution to address the technical object of the invention lies in providing a toy landmine, which includes a housing, a generating means used for implementing a smoke effect, and a triggering means used for triggering the generating means;

where the housing includes a lower shell adapted for containing the generating means and the triggering means, and an upper lid; a rear side of the upper lid is hinged with the lower shell, and a trigger switching mechanism for opening or closing the upper lid is arranged between a front side of the upper lid and the lower shell; and a first torsion spring used for opening the upper lid is provided where the upper lid and the lower shell are hinged;

the generating means includes a container used for containing a compressed gas and releasing the gas upon a strike, and a generator for producing smoke;

the triggering means includes a rammer for striking and enabling the container to release the gas, and a delay mechanism;

the delay mechanism includes a base, a switching member for limiting a position of the rammer, a sliding rod for controlling the switching member, and a movable plate for lifting the sliding rod; the rammer is hinged with the base, and a second torsion spring is provided between the rammer and the base; a containing hole for accommodating the sliding rod is arranged within the base; an intermediate part of the sliding rod has a diameter larger than that of the lower part of the sliding rod, and a truncated conical surface is provided between the intermediate part and the lower part for smooth transition; the movable plate has one of its end hinged on the bottom of the base and is located below the sliding rod; the switching member is hinged at its intermediate part with the base, and has a first end that is in close contact with the sliding rod by the resilience of a third torsion spring and a second end that is against one side of the rammer when the toy landmine is in an initial state;

a movable end of the movable plate is connected with the upper lid via a connecting assembly, and the opening of the upper lid causes the movable plate to rotate upwards, and lifts the sliding rod;

when the upper lid and the lower shell are in a closed state, the first end of the switching member is in contact with the intermediate part of the sliding rod, the lower end of the sliding rod is in contact with the movable plate, and the second end of the switching member is against one side of the rammer to prevent the rammer from striking the container; and

when the upper lid is being opened, the upper lid causes the movable end of the movable plate to rotate upwards with the aid of the connecting assembly, so that the sliding rod is lifted, enabling the first end of the switching member to contact the conical surface of the sliding rod, and to slide towards the lower part of the sliding rod through the conical surface with the resilience of the third torsion spring, so that the second end of the switching member releases the rammer, which hits the container with the aid of the second torsion spring, thus the generating means is triggered.

In the toy landmine of the invention, a position retainer is provided at the front side of the upper lid, and the trigger switching mechanism includes a shell, a locking plate and a triggering member for triggering the locking plate;

the locking plate is of a plate shape with both its ends bending towards the same side, and has its lower end hinged with the shell and its upper end against above the position retainer;

a bending portion of the L-shape triggering member is hinged with the shell, and a fourth torsion spring is provided between the bending portion and the locking plate; a first arm of the triggering member extends beyond the shell, and the rotating of the triggering member causes its second arm to push and rotate the locking plate outwards, so that the upper end of the locking plate leaves from the position retainer to open the upper lid.

In the toy landmine of the invention, the trigger switching mechanism further includes a secure plate for preventing the triggering member from rotating, and the secure plate is positioned between the lower end of the locking plate and a protrusion arranged on the shell.

In the toy landmine of the invention, the base is provided with a through via used for connecting the upper lid and the movable plate, the connecting assembly includes a pulling string and a pulling rod connected to each other, the pulling rod is connected to the movable plate and is within the through via, and the pulling string is connected to the upper lid.

In the toy landmine of the invention, a guiding member, which is provided with a guiding hole that has a diameter matching the diameter of the lower part of the sliding rod, is provided within the containing hole, a position limiting member for preventing the sliding rod from sliding out from the containing hole is provided at the upper end of the containing hole, and position limiting member has a position limiting hole with a diameter matches that of the upper part of the sliding rod.

In the toy landmine of the invention, the base is provided with a first latch, a second latch and a third latch; the switching member is hinged with the base through the first latch, the second latch extends through the torsion center of the third torsion spring, and two arms of the third torsion spring are in contact with the first end of the switching member and the third latch, respectively.

In the toy landmine of the invention, the base is provided with a secure hole leading to the external of the lower shell, and a secure latch for preventing the rammer from hitting the container is contained in the secure hole.

In the toy landmine of the invention, a foldable support for securing the lower shell onto the ground is provided on the external the shell.

The toy landmine of the invention is advantageous in that a smoke effect is generated after the upper lid is entirely opened by means of the delay mechanism, so that the upper lid will not be subjected a damage and the smoke effect gets better. The delay mechanism entirely constructed mechanically has a reliable delay, thus is easy to produce and has a low cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is now further described below in connection with the drawings and embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the external outline of a toy landmine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the toy landmine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view showing the toy landmine in its initial state according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the toy landmine in its triggered state according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a delay mechanism in its initial state of the toy landmine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a delay mechanism in its triggered state of the toy landmine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a trigger switching mechanism in its initial state of the toy landmine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a trigger switching mechanism in its triggered state of the toy landmine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a trigger switching mechanism in its triggered state of the toy landmine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic bottom view showing the structure of a toy landmine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Detailed embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings, for the purpose of better understanding of technical features, objects and effects of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a toy landmine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, a generating means used for implementing a “smoke” effect, and a triggering means used for triggering the generating means.

The housing includes a lower shell 12 and an upper lid 11. The rear side of the upper lid 11 is hinged with the lower shell 12, and a trigger switching mechanism 6 for opening or closing the upper lid 11 is arranged between the front side of the upper lid 11 and the lower shell 12. A first torsion spring 101 used for opening the upper lid 11 is provided where the upper lid 11 and the lower shell 12 are hinged. By triggering the trigger switching mechanism 6, the connection between the front side of the upper lid 11 and the lower shell may be opened, thus the upper lid 11 may be opened with the resilience of the first torsion spring 101, so that the entire toy landmine is open.

The generating means includes a container 21 which contains the compressed gas and may release the gas upon a strike, and a generator 22 for producing “smoke”. The gas, which is compressed and stored in the container 21, may be released once the container 21 is struck by a rammer 32. The gas is preferably a carbon dioxide gas in the embodiment. The generator 22 has an outlet that is upward to facilitate blowing of any powder or water placed at the outlet. Typically, some powder, water and so on is placed at the outlet, to bring about the “smoke” effect by blowing the powder or water with a gas passing through the outlet.

The triggering means includes a rammer 32 for striking and enabling the container 21 to release the carbon dioxide gas, and a delay mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the delay mechanism includes a base 31, a switching member 33 for limiting the position of the rammer 32, a sliding rod 34 for controlling the switching member 33, and a movable plate 35 for lifting the sliding rod 34. The rammer 32 is hinged with the base 31, and a second torsion spring 321 is provided between the rammer 32 and the base 31. A containing hole 344 for accommodating the sliding rod 34 is arranged within the base 31. An intermediate part of the sliding rod 34 has a diameter larger than that of the lower part of the sliding rod 34, and a truncated conical surface is provided between the intermediate part and the lower part for smooth transition. The movable plate 35 is hinged on the bottom of the base 31 at one of its ends and is located below the sliding rod 34. The switching member 33 is hinged at its intermediate part with the base 31, and has a first end that is in close contact with the sliding rod 34 by the resilience of a third torsion spring 334 and a second end that is against one side of the rammer 32. The movable end of the movable plate 35 is connected with the upper lid 11 via a connecting assembly 4, and the opening of the upper lid 11 causes the movable plate 35 to rotate upwards, thereby lifting the sliding rod 34.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, when the upper lid 11 and the lower shell 12 are in a closed state, the first end of the switching member 33 is in contact with the intermediate part of the sliding rod 34, the lower end of the sliding rod 34 is in contact with the movable plate 35, and the second end of the switching member 33 is against one side of the rammer 32 to prevent the rammer 32 from striking the container 21. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, when the upper lid 11 is being opened, the upper lid 11 causes the movable end of the movable plate 35 to rotate upwards with the aid of the connecting assembly 4, so that the sliding rod 34 is lifted, enabling the first end of the switching member 33 to contact the conical surface of the sliding rod 34, and to slide towards the lower part of the sliding rod 34 along with the lifting of the sliding rod 34 due to the effect of the resilience of the third torsion spring 334 on the conical surface. With the further lifting of the sliding rod 34, the first end of the switching member 33 is in contact with the lower part of the sliding rod 34. Because the first end of the switching member 33 is in contact with the lower part instead of the intermediate part of the sliding rod 34, and the lower part has a less diameter than the intermediate part, the switching member 33 rotates so that the second end of the switching member 33 releases the rammer 32, which hits the container 21 with the aid of the second torsion spring 321, thus the generating means is triggered and a smoke effect is achieved.

With the use of the delay mechanism described above, the opening of the upper lid 11 will not cause an immediate smoke effect, instead, the smoke effect happens when the upper lid 11 is opened completely, which prevents the sudden ejection of gas from impacting and damaging the upper lid 11 and obtains a better smoke effect.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a position retainer 111 is preferably provided at the front side of the upper lid 11, as shown in. FIGS. 7-8, and the trigger switching mechanism 6 includes a shell 61, a locking plate 62 and a triggering member 63 for triggering the locking plate 62. The locking plate 62 is of a plate shape with both its ends bending towards the same side, and has its lower end hinged with the shell 61 and its upper end against above the position retainer 111. As shown in FIG. 9, the bending portion of the L-shape triggering member 63 is hinged with the shell 61, and a fourth torsion spring 64 is provided between the bending portion and the locking plate 62. A first arm of the triggering member 63 extends beyond the shell 61, and the rotating of the triggering member 63 may cause a second arm of the triggering member 63 to push the locking plate 62 outwards, so that the upper end of the locking plate 62 leaves from the position retainer 111, as a result, the upper lid 11 may be open. The first arm of the triggering member 63, which extends beyond the shell 61, may be pulled by a rope 8 to cause the rotation of the triggering member 63 to open the upper lid 11; however, the trigger switching mechanism 6 may return to its initial state by means of the resilience of the fourth torsion spring 64 when the first arm is released. The entire trigger switching mechanism 6 is implemented in mechanical construction and has a good design, thus is easy to produce and has a low cost.

In the present embodiment, the triggering member 63 can also be rotated by means of a motor to open the upper lid 11, and can be controlled remotely if a remote controller for controlling the operations of the motor is provided, to facilitate the control and operations.

As shown in FIG. 10, the trigger switching mechanism 6 may further include a secure plate 51 for preventing the triggering member 63 from rotating. The secure plate 51 may be positioned between the lower end of the locking plate 62 and a protrusion 611 arranged on the shell 61. Through the cooperation of the secure plate 51 and the protrusion 611, the triggering member 63 can be prevented from rotating, in order to avoid the activation of the toy landmine due to a misoperation before the toy landmine is installed completely. The secure plate 51 is pulled out after the toy landmine is installed on the ground.

In an embodiment of the invention, for example, the position retainer 111 is provided at the front end of the upper lid 11 and a position retaining member is provided on the lower shell 12, and the position retaining member, which is controlled by a telescopic mechanism such as a cylinder, may be moved to leave from the position retainer 111 for the purpose of opening the upper lid 11.

As shown in FIGS. 5-6, the base 31 is provided with a through via 43 used for connecting the upper lid 11 and the movable plate 35, the connecting assembly 4 includes a pulling string 41 and a pulling rod 42 connected to each other, the pulling string 41 is connected to the upper lid 11, and the pulling rod 42 is connected to the movable plate 35 and is within the through via 43. With the cooperation of the pulling rod 42 and the through via 43, the pulling rod 42 may be easily moved in the through via 43, so that the movable end of the movable plate 35 is pulled smoothly. In another embodiment, for example, the connecting assembly 4 may be constructed merely with pulling string, both ends of which are connected to the upper lid 11 and the movable plate 35, respectively, so that the opening of the upper lid 11 can equivalently causes the rotation of the movable plate 35.

A guiding member 341 is provided within the containing hole 344. The guiding member 341 is provided with a guiding hole that has a diameter matching the diameter of the lower part of the sliding rod 34, and the diameter of the containing hole 344 matches the diameter of the intermediate part of the sliding rod 34, thereby facilitating the sliding of the sliding rod 34 within the containing hole 344. A position limiting member 342 for preventing the sliding rod 34 from sliding out from the containing hole 344 is provided at the upper end of the containing hole 344, and has a position limiting hole with a diameter matches that of the upper part of the sliding rod 34. Because the diameter of the upper part of the sliding rod 34 is less than that of the intermediate part, the position limiting member 342 stops the intermediate part of the sliding rod 34 when the sliding rod 34 is lifted, thereby avoiding the release of the sliding rod 34 from the containing hole 344.

As shown in FIGS. 3-4, the base 31 is provided with a first latch 331, a second latch 332 and a third latch 333. The switching member 33 is hinged with the base 31 through the first latch 331, the second latch 332 extends through the torsion center of the third torsion spring 334, and two arms of the third torsion spring 334 are in contact with the first end of the switching member 33 and the third latch 333, respectively, thus the third torsion spring 334 can force the first end of the switching member 33 to be in close contact with the sliding rod 34 through the positional cooperation among the first, second and third latches 331, 332 and 333. In another embodiment, for example, the base 31 is provided with only one latch inserting through the third torsion spring 334, with one arm of the third torsion spring contacting the first end of the switching member 33 and the other arm of the third torsion spring contacting the base 31 or the lower shell 12, so that the first end of the switching member 33 is subjected to resilience.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, the base 31 is provided with a secure hole leading to the external of the lower shell 12, and a secure latch 52 for preventing the rammer 32 from hitting the container 21 is contained in the secure hole. After the secure latch 52 is inserted into the secure hole, the secure latch 52 may be arranged against one side of the rammer 32, to avoid the smoke effect due to the hitting of the rammer 32 caused by misoperations. The rammer 32 can merely operate normally after the secure latch 52 is pulled out.

As shown in FIG. 10, the toy landmine according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is protected by both the secure plate 51 and the secure latch 52, ensuring the safety and reliability of the toy landmine not in use.

As shown in FIG. 2, a foldable support 7 for securing the lower shell 12 onto the ground is provided on the external the shell, to facilitate the placement of the toy landmine on the ground. Also, the foldable support 7 may be folded for easy storage when the toy landmine is not in use.

The toy landmine of the preferred embodiment of the invention is reusable. To reuse the toy landmine, a gas is filled in the container 21, materials such as powder and water is placed at the outlet of the generator 22, the rammer 32 is rotated and the sliding rod 34 is pressed to lower its height so that the rammer 32 is blocked by the switching member 33. Then the upper lid 11 is closed, and the secure latch 52 and the secure plate 51 are inserted, so that the toy landmine can return to its safe initial state.

The above detailed description of the present invention with reference to the drawings is provided to illustrate the invention, but not limit the invention to the particular embodiments, that is, the above detailed implementations are illustrative but not limiting. Many modifications may be made to the invention by those skilled in the art in light of the above teaching, without departing from the principle and scope defined by the claims of the invention. All the modifications fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A toy landmine comprising a housing, a generating means used for implementing a smoke effect, and a triggering means used for triggering the generating means;

where the housing includes a lower shell (12) adapted for containing the generating means and the triggering means, and an upper lid (11); a rear side of the upper lid (11) is hinged with the lower shell (12), and a trigger switching mechanism (6) for opening or closing the upper lid (11) is arranged between a front side of the upper lid (11) and the lower shell (12); and a first torsion spring (101) used for opening the upper lid (11) is provided where the upper lid (11) and the lower shell (12) are hinged;
the generating means includes a container (21) used for containing a compressed gas and releasing the gas upon a strike, and a generator (22) for producing smoke;
the triggering means includes a rammer (32) for striking and enabling the container (21) to release the gas, and a delay mechanism;
the delay mechanism includes a base (31), a switching member (33) for limiting a position of the rammer (32), a sliding rod (34) for controlling the switching member (33), and a movable plate (35) for lifting the sliding rod (34); the rammer (32) is hinged with the base (31), and a second torsion spring (321) is provided between the rammer (32) and the base (31); a containing hole (344) for accommodating the sliding rod (34) is arranged within the base (31); an intermediate part of the sliding rod (34) has a diameter larger than that of the lower part of the sliding rod (34), and a truncated conical surface is provided between the intermediate part and the lower part for smooth transition; the movable plate (35) has one of its end hinged on the bottom of the base (31) and is located below the sliding rod (34); the switching member (33) is hinged at its intermediate part with the base (31), and has a first end that is in close contact with the sliding rod (34) by the resilience of a third torsion spring (334) and a second end that is against one side of the rammer (32) when the toy landmine is in an initial state;
a movable end of the movable plate (35) is connected with the upper lid (11) via a connecting assembly (4), and the opening of the upper lid (11) causes the movable plate (35) to rotate upwards, and lifts the sliding rod (34);
when the upper lid (11) and the lower shell (12) are in a closed state, the first end of the switching member (33) is in contact with the intermediate part of the sliding rod (34), the lower end of the sliding rod (34) is in contact with the movable plate (35), and the second end of the switching member (33) is against one side of the rammer (32) to prevent the rammer (32) from striking the container (21); and
when the upper lid (11) is being opened, the upper lid (11) causes the movable end of the movable plate (35) to rotate upwards with the aid of the connecting assembly (4), so that the sliding rod (34) is lifted, enabling the first end of the switching member (33) to contact the conical surface of the sliding rod (34), and to slide towards the lower part of the sliding rod (34) through the conical surface with the resilience of the third torsion spring (334), so that the second end of the switching member (33) releases the rammer (32), which hits the container (21) with the aid of the second torsion spring (321), thus the generating means is triggered.

2. The toy landmine of claim 1, wherein a position retainer (111) is provided at the front side of the upper lid (11), and the trigger switching mechanism (6) includes a shell (61), a locking plate (62) and a triggering member (63) for triggering the locking plate (62);

the locking plate (62) is of a plate shape with both its ends bending towards the same side, and has its lower end hinged with the shell (61) and its upper end against above the position retainer (111);
a bending portion of the L-shape triggering member (63) is hinged with the shell (61), and a fourth torsion spring (64) is provided between the bending portion and the locking plate (62); a first arm of the triggering member (63) extends beyond the shell (61), and the rotating of the triggering member (63) causes its second arm to push and rotate the locking plate (62) outwards, so that the upper end of the locking plate (62) leaves from the position retainer (111) to open the upper lid (11).

3. The toy landmine of claim 2, wherein the trigger switching mechanism (6) further includes a secure plate (51) for preventing the triggering member (63) from rotating, and the secure plate (51) is positioned between the lower end of the locking plate (62) and a protrusion (611) arranged on the shell (61).

4. The toy landmine of claim 1, wherein the base (31) is provided with a through via (43) used for connecting the upper lid (11) and the movable plate (35), the connecting assembly (4) includes a pulling string (41) and a pulling rod (42) connected to each other, the pulling rod (42) is connected to the movable plate (35) and is within the through via (43), and the pulling string (41) is connected to the upper lid (11).

5. The toy landmine of claim 1, wherein a guiding member (341), which is provided with a guiding hole that has a diameter matching the diameter of the lower part of the sliding rod (34), is provided within the containing hole (344), a position limiting member (342) for preventing the sliding rod (34) from sliding out from the containing hole (344) is provided at the upper end of the containing hole (344), and position limiting member (342) has a position limiting hole with a diameter matches that of the upper part of the sliding rod (34).

6. The toy landmine of claim 1, wherein the base (31) is provided with a first latch (331), a second latch (332) and a third latch (333); the switching member (33) is hinged with the base (31) through the first latch (331), the second latch (332) extends through the torsion center of the third torsion spring (334), and two arms of the third torsion spring (334) are in contact with the first end of the switching member (33) and the third latch (333), respectively.

7. The toy landmine of claim 1, wherein the base (31) is provided with a secure hole leading to the external of the lower shell (12), and a secure latch (52) for preventing the rammer (32) from hitting the container (21) is contained in the secure hole.

8. The toy landmine of claim 1, wherein a foldable support (7) for securing the lower shell (12) onto the ground is provided on the external the shell.

Patent History
Publication number: 20130115575
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 6, 2011
Publication Date: May 9, 2013
Inventor: Wong Yuk KEUNG (Kowloon)
Application Number: 13/290,091
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Organized Armed Or Unarmed Conflict Or Shooting (434/11)
International Classification: F41A 33/00 (20060101);