US2587364A - Balling gun - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, 1952 C. N. MITCHELL BALLING GUN Filed May 20, 1948 l I I Patented Feb. 26, 1952 2,587,364 BALLING GUN Courtney N. Mitchell,

Cleveland, Ohio deceased, late of Strongsville, Ohio, by Edith Mitchell, administratrix,

Application May 20, 1948, Serial No. 28,125

This invention pertains to the art of veterinarian tools and, more particularly, to a balling glln- 'vBalling guns are extensivelyA used byyeterinarians, farmers and other raisers of livestock and domestic animals for administering to such animals medicinal cartridges of one form or another containing vitamins or other curative medicines. Such tools generally comprises anopenended cylinder adapted to receive the cartridges in the interior thereof, a long handle whereby the cylinder may be positioned into the throat of the animal and means for ejecting the cartridge from the cylinder into the animals throat. Heretofore, the cartridges, if of a size appreciably smaller than the interior diameter of the open coil, often slipped out and fell to the ground or into the mouth of the animal during the process of forcing the animals mouth open and inserting the cylinder thereinto. If the cartridges were made larger, then it became difl'lcult to insert them into the cylinder; or if once inserted thereinto, it was quite likely they would become jammed whereby it was diicult to eject them into the throat of the animal. Additionally, once a person had acquired a balling gun, it was generally necessary that he continue to use only one make or brand of cartridge inasmuch as the diameter of the cartridges might vary from one manufacturer to the other. Thus, it oftentimes became necessary that the user own a number. of balling guns having different sized cartridgereceiving chambers. l

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved balling gun which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture and which has means for receivably maintaining the cartridge. whereby the cartridge may be easily inserted, firmly retained and yet easily ejected without jamming or the like. v

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved balling gun which is adapted to receive a maximum number of sizes of cartridges with the same ease and sureness of operation.

k 3 Claims. (Cl. 12S-21'?)V ments of which are described hereinafter in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing Still another object of the invention is the w provision of a balling receiving chamber, which chamber is provided with a plurality of inwardly-biased resilient members adapted to lightly but firmly and frictionally engage a cartridge inserted thereinto. Another object is to have the resilient members so disposed as to readily guide a cartridge into the chamber from the ejection end.

The invention resides in certain constructions and arrangements of parts,J preferred. embodigun having a cartridgewhich is a part hereof and wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational View, with portions broken away for clarity, of a ballingv gun embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional viewof the balling gun shown in Figure 1 taken approximately on the line 2-2 thereof.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge-receiving chamber showing a modified construction from that of Figure l, and

Figure 4 is an end view of a cartridge-receiving chamber showing a further modified form of construction.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a balling gun constructed in accordance with the principles of and embodying the present invention. The balling gun shown comprises a cartridge-receiving portion I0, an elongatedhan'- dle II and a manually-operated discharge lever l2. The cartridge-receiving portion In comprises generally a cylindrical-shaped member I4 of metal open at the right-hand end, as viewed in the figures, and having a diameter and depth approximately large enough t0 receive the largest sized cartridge or capsule which, it is anticipated, the tool will be called upon to administer'. The other or left-hand end of the cylinderV Ic is closed by a generally conical-shaped, closure member I6 which forms a continuation of the left-hand end of the cylinder member I4 and serves to reduce the diameter to a size corresponding to thatof an elongated hollowv tube I8 which extends through an opening in the closure member IIB into the interior of the left end of the cylinder member Id. The tube I3 may be soldered or welded as at IS to the closure member I6.

The handle II may be lof any desired length necessary to allow the cartridge-receiving portion I0 to be positioned into the'throat of the animal while, at the same time, allowing the hands of the operator to be clear of the animals teeth. As shown, the tube I8 forms an axial extension of the cylinder member I4. It may, of course, be positioned radially elsewhere. The end of the tube I8, opposite from the cylinder member Ill, has a nger member 2D fixed thereto, which finger member has a pair'of reversely bent loops 2|, 22 forming respectively fingerreceiving openings 23, 24. -Y

The discharge lever compries an elongated push rod 2B disposed interiorly of and reciprocably in the tube I8. As shown, the left end of the push rod 26 extends beyond the tube I8 and has a ringlike member 21 xed thereon, which ring-like member is adapted to receive the thumb of the operator. The other or right-hand end of the push rod 26 extends beyond the right-hand end of the tube I8 and into the interior of the cylinder member I4. A ilat circular plate 29 of a diameter somewhat less than the interior diameter of the cylinder member I4 is fixed to the righthand end of the push rod 26. The length of the push rod 26 is preferably such that when moved'v the full distance to the right, the right-hand ,surk face of the plate 29 will be substantially flush with the right-hand end of the cylinder member I4'.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing de scription that the push rod may be moved to the left or retracted so as to provide a relatively large opening 30 on the interior of thecvlinder member I4 into which a cartridge or capsuley not Shown, may be readily positioned and that by movement of the push rod 25' to the right, such cartridge or capsule can be readily ejected from the chamber 30.

Thepresent invention contemplates means i'or frictionallv engagingthe sides of the cartridge'or` 5 capsule whereby to prevent such cartridgen or cap# sule'from accidentally falling out of the chamber 30, as well as to provide for receiving. `a maximum variation in the sizes of the capsule or cartridge which may be accommodated within the chamber 30. In the embodiment 0f the invention shown inFigure 1, a plurality. in this case three, of cartridge-engaging members 32 are provided, each of which members comprises an elongated strip of thin resilient material circumferentially spaced around the inner wall of the cylinder member I4. The left-hand ends of the. members 32 are suitably xed in position bv a ring-like member 34 disposed over the rightehand endk of the tube I8 and with its outer edge bearing against the inner surfaces of the members 32 and pressingy them against the innerV surface. ofthe cylinder member I4. The spring members 32 extend generally axially of the cylinder member I4 substantiallyy to its right-handv end and are bowed radiallyinwardlyl intermediate the ends as at 35. The right-hand end 36 of each of the spring members is resiliently held in engagement with the interior surface of 'the cylinder member I4 by the bias of: the spring member; but is otherwise free to move or slideaxially whereby, if a cartridge or capsule is inserted in the chamber 30, the bowed-in portions 35 may freely nex outwardly to receive the capsule. It will be noted that the divergent spring'mernbers 32, adjacent the open end of the chamber 30, provide a guiding' action for-directing a cartridge into the chamber. The device is, thus, always ready to receive a newcartridge with a maximum of ease and speed.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3, a diiierentl meansv ofmounting the resilient members 32l of Figure 1 have been provided. In this embodiment, like parts are designated by like numbers and similar parts are designated by the same number with a prime U) added. Thus, the resilient members 32 extend generally axially of and for substantially the full length of the cylinder member I 4- Instead oi being bowed, the membersv 32* taper slightly inwardly and' their left-hand ends are each provided with a short, laterally extending portion 40. The rights-hand. end of the tube I8 is interiorly threaded for a short distance and an externally threadedsleeve 42 having a ange 43 on its right-hand end is threaded into the tube I8 The portions 40i`on the members 32', are clamped rmly between the ange 43 and the end of the tube I 8 by screwing the sleeve 42 in tight. Solder may be used at this point, if i desired. Also in this embodiment of the invention, the plate 29 is somewhat reduced in diameter and has a concave recess 45 in its righthand surface forming a cup into which an end of a capsule may be received.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4, the cartridge-receiving portion l0 comprises a generally cylinder-like member having somewhat of a deformed, cross-sectional contour comprising three'arcuate segments 50 of equal lengtliioined at' their ends by shorter arcuate segments 5f of ailesser radius of curvature as is clearly shown inthe drawing. The arcuate sections 50 are spaced so as to just clear the maximum size cartridge desired to be handled and the segments 5I provide a clearance for the springs 32" as is clearly shown inthe drawings. Amaximum sized cartridge .may .be accommm dated with a minimum sizedcartridge-holding portion tov be disposed into the throat. of the animal. f

Thus it will rbe seen thatieznbodimentsof the invention have 'been described.` which accomplish the objects o1' thev :invention heretofore enumerated and others; and that a.. ball'ing. vgun has been provided which will;accommodate.` the maximum number vof sizesof. cartridges-or: capsules and which will .rmly preventsuch cap.- sules from accidentally Vdropping out of thetube while, at the sametime, readilyl ejeetingV same at any time.

Having thus described thev invention, the. following is claimed:

1. A balling gun, an elongated hollow member open at one end to `form a cartridge-receiving chamber and a handle comprising a. hollowl tube axially aligned with said chamber and extending thereinto, a plurality of thin, spring-like elements positioned interiorly of said member and adapted to frictionally engage a cartridge when positioned in said member, and means: on the end of said handle extending into said member for retaining said elementsin position,

2. The combination of claim 1 wherei'nthe end of said handle is threadedY and theA elements are held in clamping engagement therewith by a complementary threaded member.

3. 'Ihe combination of claim 1 wherein the end of the handle extending into the chamber has a radial flange thereon positioning one end of the elements in engagement withy the interior of said elongated hollow member;

EDITH MITCHELL, Administratri for the Estatel of Courtneyv N.

Mitchell,l Deceased'.

REFERENCESv CITEDV The following references are of record in the le of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 421,072 Harris Feb. 1'1, 1890 726,460 Reid Apr.' 28, 1903 834.261 Chambers Oct. 30, 1906 842,631 Deperdussin Jan; 29,v 1907 FOREIGN. PATENTS.'`

Number Country Date 342,142 Great Britain Jan. 29, 1931 353,963V Germany May'30, 1922 361,885 Germanyf v Feb. 10, 1923

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