Toy extruder

Claim 2

A toy extruder comprising an elongated housing having first and second ends and a bore open at said first end, for receiving varying amounts of a material to be extruded, said bore extending from said first end toward said second end, said opening in said first end having substantially the same cross-sectional size and shape as said bore and permitting the material to be readily introduced into said bore, a movable plunger positioned within said bore, the cross-sectional size and shape of said plunger being substantially the same as that of the bore, means for biasing said plunger toward the second end of said housing, a handle member pivotally connected to said housing, a portion of said handle member adapted to engage a portion of the plunger and cause said plunger to move in a first direction toward the first end of said housing in response to pivotal movement of said handle from a starting position in a first direction, and releasable means for preventing said plunger from moving toward the second end of the housing as the handle member is pivoted in a second direction and as said handle is positioned in said starting position.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein a portion of said bore proximate said first end forms a piston chamber having a bottom wall with an opening therein, the opening in the front end of the housing having substantially the same cross-sectional size and shape as said piston chamber, said plunger includes a piston member positioned within said piston chamber and an elongate rack which projects through the opening in the bottom wall of the chamber.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein said rack is provided with a plurality of teeth on its surface, one end of the handle means and said means for preventing movement of the plunger toward the second end of the housing being adapted to engage said teeth.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2 wherein said plunger is provided with a cap, said cap having an edge on its periphery which contacts the inner surface of the piston chamber, thereby preventing any material within said chamber from bypassing said cap.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 2 wherein said rack has a substantially rectangular shape and a plurality of spaced-apart teeth on two surfaces, said handle member being positioned on one side of said housing whereby its one end engages one set of said teeth, and said means for preventing plunger movement being positioned on said housing whereby it engages the other set of teeth, said biasing means comprises a spring positioned within said rack, means for attaching one end of said spring to the second end of the housing, and means for attaching the other end of said spring proximate the other end of the rack.

Claim 7

A toy extruder comprising an elongated housing having first and second ends and a bore for receiving a material to be extruded which extends from said first end toward said second end, a portion of said bore proximate said first end forming a piston chamber having a bottom wall with an opening therein, a movable plunger positioned with said bore, the cross-sectional size and shape of said plunger being substantially the same as that of the bore, said plunger including a piston member positioned within said piston chamber and an elongate rack which projects through the opening in the bottom wall of the chamber, means for biasing said plunger toward the second end of said housing, a handle member pivotally connected to said housing, a portion of said handle member adapted to engage a portion of the plunger and cause it to move in a first direction toward the front end of said housing in response to pivotal movement of said handle in a first direction, said handle member including an elongated handle portion, a pawl housing, and a pawl member, means for pivotally connecting said pawl housing and said handle portion together proximate a first end of said handle, means for pivotally connecting said pawl housing and said pawl member together, means for pivotally connecting said pawl housing to the housing in such a manner that said pawl member engages the teeth on said rack, and means for preventing said plunger from moving toward the second end of the housing as the handle member is pivoted in a second direction.

Claim 8

A toy extruder comprising an elongated housing having first and second ends and a bore for receiving a material to be extruded which extends from said first end toward said second end, a portion of said bore proximate said first end forming a piston chamber having a bottom wall with an opening therein, a movable plunger positioned with said bore, the cross-sectional size and shape of said plunger being substantially the same as that of the bore, said plunger including a piston member positioned within said piston chamber and an elongate rack which projects through the opening in the bottom wall of the chamber, means for biasing said plunger toward the second end of said housing, a handle member pivotally connected to said housing, a portion of said handle member adapted to engage a portion of the plunger and cause it to move in a first direction toward the front end of said housing in response to pivotal movement of said handle in a first direction, said handle member including an elongated handle portion, a pawl housing, and a pawl member, means for pivotally connecting said pawl housing and said handle portion together proximate a first end of said handle, means for pivotally connecting said pawl housing and said pawl member together, means for pivotally connecting said pawl housing to the housing in such a manner that said pawl member engages the teeth on said rack, and means for preventing said plunger from moving toward the second end of the housing as the handle member is pivoted in a second direction.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 wherein the means for connecting the pawl housing to the handle portion includes a spring positioned within the handle portion, one end of said spring being fastened to the pawl housing and the other end being fastened to the handle portion, and spring means is provided for biasing said handle member in such a manner that the pawl member engages the elongate rack.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 6 wherein spring means is operatively connected to said pawl member for urging said pawl member into engagement with the rack teeth.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 2 wherein the means for preventing plunger movement toward the second end of the housing includes a release handle pivotally connected to said housing, one end of said release handle having means for engaging a portion of the elongate rack in such a manner that it prevents movement of said rack toward said second end of the housing, and spring means operatively connected to said release handle and said housing for biasing said one end of the handle into engagement with the elongate rack.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 1 in which a facade is provided having a prescribed configuration, means for mounting the elongated housing within said facade whereby it is substantially enclosed within said facade and immovable with respect to said facade, said facade having a first opening through which the handle member projects and a second opening which exposes the means for preventing movement of the plunger toward the second end of the housing.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10 in which a sleeve is provided, means for positioning and maintaining said sleeve in the first opening, said sleeve having substantially the same size and shape as the opening.