US-20260126263-A1 - TOY GUNS AND MAGAZINES IMPROVED

US20260126263A1US 20260126263 A1US20260126263 A1US 20260126263A1US-20260126263-A1

Abstract

A magazine for use in a toy gun is disclosed. The magazine comprises a storage cavity configured to store one or more gel balls, a channel configured to allow gel balls to pass through to feed a toy gun, a feeding assembly configured to feed the gel balls into the channel, and a return assembly configured to return the gel balls from the channel to the storage cavity. The storage cavity includes an opening.

Inventors

Mathew Peter Mowbray

Assignees

ZURU IP LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251105

Claims (16)

1 . A magazine for use in a toy gun, comprising: a storage cavity configured to store one or more gel balls, the storage cavity including an opening; a channel configured to allow gel balls to pass through to feed a toy gun; a feeding assembly configured to feed the gel balls into the channel; and a return assembly configured to return one or more gel balls from the channel to the storage cavity.
2 . The magazine of claim 1 , wherein the return assembly includes a first blocker and a second blocker.
3 . The magazine of claim 2 , wherein the return assembly further comprises a linkage arm configured to link the first and/or second blocker.
4 . The magazine of claim 2 , wherein the return assembly is configured to have a first state and a second state, wherein: when the return assembly is in the first state, the first blocker is configured to block the gel balls from being fed to the toy gun and the second blocker is configured to open a return gate for the gel balls to return to the storage cavity; and when the return assembly is in the second state, the first blocker is configured to allow gel balls to be fed to the toy gun through the channel and the second blocker is configured to block the return gate.
5 . The magazine of claim 1 , wherein the return assembly further comprises an activation means configured to move the return assembly from the first state to the second state and vice versa.
6 . The magazine of claim 5 wherein the activation means is configured to engage with the linkage arm, to change the state of the return assembly between the first or second state.
7 . The magazine of claim 5 , wherein the activation means comprises a button.
8 . The magazine of claim 1 , wherein both the feeding assembly and the return assembly are individually actuated by a trigger of the toy gun.
9 . The magazine of claim 8 , wherein the trigger engages with the activation means to actuate the return assembly.
10 . The magazine of claim 1 , wherein the feeding assembly comprises a feeding wheel and an agitator.
11 . The magazine of claim 10 , wherein the feeding wheel comprises a gear with teeth accommodating the gel balls.
12 . The magazine of claim 1 , wherein the gel balls are spherical in shape and have a diameter of at least 5 mm.
13 . The magazine of claim 10 , wherein the agitator is configured to have a repetitive movement in the storage cavity when the feeding wheel is actuated.
14 . The magazine of claim 13 , wherein when the feeding wheel is actuated, teeth of feeding wheel are configured to engage with the agitator to move the agitator against a biasing device.
15 . The magazine of claims 13 , wherein the feeding wheel is actuated by a motor controlled by the trigger.
16 . A toy gun configured to shoot gel balls, comprising: a trigger; and a magazine, comprising: a storage cavity configured to store one or more gel balls, the storage cavity including an opening; a channel configured to allow gel balls to pass through to feed a toy gun; a feeding assembly configured to feed the gel balls into the channel; and a return assembly configured to return one or more gel balls from the channel to the storage cavity.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/716,963, filed on Nov. 6, 2024, entitled “TOY GUNS AND MAGAZINES IMPROVED,” the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to the design of toy guns. More particularly, the invention pertains to systems for shooting soft gel pellets. BACKGROUND Toy guns that shoot jelly balls or gel balls, often referred to as gel blasters, have gained widespread popularity for recreational use due to their relatively lower risk of injury compared to traditional airsoft or paintball guns. These toy guns typically use synthetic polymer-based gel balls, which are designed to absorb water and swell, e.g., a hydrogel, helping to provide a non-lethal and possibly reusable projectile. The gel balls typically have a polymer matrix core designed to absorb and retain a relatively large amount of water with a relatively low friction outer layer. The outer layer may be made from various materials and may be designed to provide smoother movement for loading, movement within a magazine (e.g., a loading mechanism), or the toy gun (e.g., a barrel). The robust nature of these polymer gel balls helps ensure they can withstand the internal mechanisms of the toy gun, such as the magazine loading process and the high-pressure ejection system, with reduced deformation or lower premature breakage. Such polymer materials, however, may add to overall environmental concerns. Alternatively, gel balls may be made from agar, a natural, biodegradable substance derived from seaweed, which may provide a more environmentally friendly material compared to synthetic materials. Agar is a polysaccharide derived from agarophyte algae cell walls, which presents certain mechanical challenges when used in toy guns. Traditional toy guns are designed for the robustness of synthetic polymer gel balls, which can endure the forces exerted by spring-driven or motor-driven magazine loading and toy gun firing. Agar-based gel balls may be more prone to deformation during loading, movement within the toy gun, and exposure to prolonged pressure when loaded but not fired. This may lead to jamming issues in the magazine or premature disintegration during the firing process. The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the shortcomings above or other shortcomings in the art. For example, the present invention may release pressure asserted on the loaded gel balls as ammunition when a user has loaded but is not shooting the toy gun. SUMMARY One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a magazine for use in a toy gun, comprising a storage cavity configured to store one or more gel balls, the storage cavity including an opening; a channel configured to allow gel balls to pass through to feed a toy gun; a feeding assembly configured to feed the gel balls into the channel; and a return assembly configured to return one or more gel balls from the channel to the storage cavity. The return assembly of the magazine may include a first blocker and a second blocker. The return assembly of the blocker may further comprise a linkage arm configured to link the first and/or second blocker. The return assembly may be configured to have a first state and a second state, wherein when the return assembly is in the first state, the first blocker is configured to block the gel balls from being fed to the toy gun and the second blocker is configured to open a return gate for the gel balls to return to the storage cavity; and when the return assembly is in the second state, the first blocker may be configured to allow gel balls to be fed to the toy gun through the channel and the second blocker is configured to block the return gate. The return assembly of the magazine may further comprise an activation means configured to move the return assembly from the first state to the second state and vice versa. The activation means may be a button. The activation means may be configured to engage with the linkage arm, to change the state of the return assembly between the first or second state. Both the feeding assembly and the return assembly of the magazine may be individually actuated by a trigger of the toy gun. The trigger may engage with the activation means to actuate the return assembly. The feeding assembly of the magazine may comprise a feeding wheel and an agitator. The feeding wheel may be a gear with teeth accommodating the gel balls. The gel balls may be generally spherical in shape and have a diameter of at least 5 mm. The agitator of the magazine may be configured to have a repetitive movement in the storage cavity when the feeding wheel is actuated. When the feeding wheel of the magazine is actuated, teeth of feeding wheel may be configured to engage with the agitator to move the agitator against a biasing device. The feeding wheel may be actuated by a motor controlled by the trigger. I