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33-565: Originally sold by Larami and now produced by Hasbro under the Nerf brand, Super Soaker has generated more than $ 1 billion in total sales. The first Super Soaker went on sale in 1990 and was originally called the Power Drencher. Rebranding the name to Super Soaker occurred in 1991 together with a series of TV advertisements that resulted in two million water guns being sold. Super Soakers were popular for many years—so popular, in fact, that

66-646: A Cylon soap bubble toy called the Battlestar Galactica Cylon Bubble Machine to coincide with the television series of the same name. In the same year, a commercial was also made for the product featuring its use in dispensing "big bunches of bubbles" and a jingle . The jingle was described in one review as "amazingly goofy with a chorus yelping, 'Battlestar Galacticaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ...CYLON BUBBLE MACHINE!'" and in an interview Re-imagined Series comics writer Greg Pak as said "I still periodically find myself humming

99-477: A garden hose using a quick-fill device (QFD). This allows faster filling, but makes them more limited since they require a hose to work. The Constant Pressure System was used for the first time when Larami Toys released the Super Soaker CPS 2000 in 1996. To this day, the first generation CPS 2000 is the most powerful production water gun, with an output of 30 oz. per second (~850 ml/s), and

132-411: A rubber bladder inflated with water. It was patented by Bruce M. D'Andrade as "bladder water gun". All Constant Pressure water guns have a rubber bladder, which is either shaped like a balloon (spherical) or is a length of latex rubber tubing (cylindrical). Water is pumped from the water gun's reservoir and into the rubber bladder, inflating it. Then the trigger is pulled, which opens a valve, allowing

165-517: A dispute with Hasbro over underpaid royalties from 2007 to 2012. Larami The Larami Corporation was a toy company established by David W. Ring in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , in 1959. It produced licensed toys based on movies and television shows. Often low-quality, these were manufactured in Hong Kong and Japan for sale on grocery store toy aisle racks for under a dollar. By

198-463: A few spring-powered water guns. They first made the Quick Blast in 2008. The Quick Blast was a triggerless gun which functioned similarly to piston pumpers, but had a spring-loaded piston inside. The Quick Blast had a firing valve, which automatically opened once a certain pressure was reached. The spring would then push the water out the nozzle. The Super Soaker Shot Blast, released in 2010, used

231-523: A range of 53 feet (16 m). After the CPS 2000, Larami released several CPS models from 1996 to 2002. These are the CPS 2000 (1996), CPS 1000, CPS 1500, CPS 2500, and CPS 3000 (1998), the CPS 1200, CPS 1700, CPS 2700, and CPS 3200 (2000) the CPS 1-3-5, and CPS Splashzooka (2001), the CPS 2100, and CPS 4100 (2002). During this time, some other water guns were released that also used CPS technology, under Super Soaker 's Super Charger and Monster lines, these are

264-505: A system nearly identical to the Quick Blast with different styling. In 2013, Super Soaker produced the Flash Blast. While this blaster was spring-powered, this pistol-sized blaster used a system different from the previous two. Its slide was cocked back once. Then the trigger was pulled, firing a short stream of water. Function of this gun is similar to Nerf guns. Super Soaker later made many motorized water guns. In 2011, they released

297-467: A trip to Japan earlier that year. Larami specialized in low-cost, low-quality licensed toys based on popular movies and television shows during the 1960s and 1970s, toy guns, and toy water guns. During the 1980s, Larami expanded its water gun line, licensing designs for a battery-operated water gun from inventor Alan Amron in 1984. By 1987, Alvin Davis and Myung Song had become co-owners of Larami. At

330-576: A two-liter soda bottle for the reservoir. Johnson originally wanted to produce the toy himself, but realized that the costs were out of his reach. He attempted to arrange partnerships with toy companies to bring the product to market, but it was not until 1989 that he found success. While at the American International Toy Fair in New York City he met the vice president of the toy company Larami , who showed interest in

363-466: Is designed so that water is pumped from the reservoir into an empty plastic container. As the water is pumped in, the air sitting inside becomes compressed. When the trigger is pulled, the valve opens and the compressed air forces the water out. The brand first used separate air pressure in 1991 on the Super Soaker 100 and has since used the technology in many other water guns. Super Soaker has made

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396-401: Is pressurized by air being pumped and compressed into its reservoir. When the trigger is pulled, a valve is opened and the compressed air pushes the water out of the nozzle. Super Soaker started with two pressurized reservoir water guns, and has continued to produce them in various shapes and sizes. This is a more powerful air pressure system that was also first introduced by Super Soaker. It

429-568: Is unknown exactly what the dispute was over, it is likely that Hasbro was suing for the Water Warriors Hydro-Power water guns, which were becoming too similar to Super Soaker's Constant Pressure System . Since then, the Water Warriors line has not contained a single Hydro-Power water gun. In November 2013, Lonnie Johnson and his company Johnson Research and Development Co. were awarded nearly US$ 73 million following

462-449: The takeover of Larami Corp in 2002. The most recent implementation was in the 2011 'Hydro Cannon', while the largest post-takeover pressure chamber (at 900ml) is found in the 2007 'HydroBlitz' blaster. The following are the original models of Super Soaker guns: Unlike the classic super soaker series or the CPS series, the XP ("eXtra Power") series did not have a linear relationship between

495-558: The 1980s, Larami had a growing water gun product line, and launched the Super Soaker brand in 1991. In 1995, it was acquired by Hasbro Inc , which renamed it Larami Inc. before retiring it in 2002. In 1947, David W. Ring and his brother founded Ring Brothers Toy Wholesale, selling toys to retailers out of the back of his car. Ring founded the Larami Corporation in 1959 after being introduced to toy imports during

528-421: The 1989 North American International Toy Fair in New York City , Davis and Song met former Jet Propulsion Lab engineer Lonnie Johnson . After being impressed by his prototype of a pressurized water-air reservoir, Larami licensed his designs and developed the Power Drencher. In 1991, the Power Drencher line was relaunched as the Super Soaker . Talk To Me Products filed suit against Larami in 1993, alleging that

561-855: The Aquapack Devastator, the Flash Flood, the Arctic Blast, the Hydroblitz, and the Hydro Cannon. However, these blasters were not nearly as powerful as the previous ones Some other companies used rubber bladders in their water guns despite the patent. These include the Speed Loader line from 1999, the Water Worm , and a few Water Warriors blasters. In the case of Water Warriors, Hasbro ended up suing them over

594-483: The CPS 2000 was released shortly after, though Larami did not announce or publicly acknowledge any changes. After two years, the CPS 2000 was discontinued, and four new CPS blasters were launched: After two more years, those models were replaced by the CPS 1200, 1700, 2700, and 3200. After two more years, the final CPS models were the 2100 and 4100. In 2011, the Nerf Super Soaker Shot Blast

627-512: The SC (Super Charger) 500, SC 600, and Power Pak (1999) SC Big trouble, Monster and Monster XL (2000) Monster (2001) (the prior Monster being renamed the Monster X) In 2002, the Super Soaker brand was taken over by Hasbro , along with the CPS patents. Hasbro mostly released smaller air pressure water guns, although they continued to make a few water guns with CPS technology. These included

660-503: The Super Soaker as part of the Nerf line. Larami toys were produced based on several movies, television shows, etc. By the 1980s, Larami Corp. had a growing water gun product line. It was Larami Corp. that eventually marketed and sold the Power Drencher, rebranded as the Super Soaker in 1991 which was based on the pressurized water-air reservoir invented and developed by the former Jet Propulsion Engineer Dr. Lonnie Johnson and Larami designer William Raucci. In 1978, Larami created

693-502: The Super Soaker infringed on their 1978 patent for a battery-powered water gun. On March 11, 1993, Talk To Me Products' claims were dismissed, as their patent referred to a water gun "having a chamber therein". Instead, the Super Soaker had a detachable chamber at the top of the water gun. Larami was acquired by Hasbro Inc in 1995. Hasbro continued to manufacture Super Soakers under the Larami name until 2002, when Hasbro began marketing

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726-516: The Super Soaker licensing provided enough money for him to create Johnson Research & Development Co., Inc. Piston water guns have been produced for many years. These guns do not have triggers; they are fired simply by pumping. Although this design feature allows them to reload rapidly, piston pumpers tend to have less range and less power than other designs. Originally made popular by the Super Soaker 50, pressurized reservoir systems are still common for small water guns. A water gun using this system

759-534: The Thunderstorm, which used an electric pump to push water directly out the nozzle. In 2012, Super Soaker made two motorized water guns: The Lightningstorm, a reproduction of the Thunderstorm with added accessories, and the Electrostorm, a smaller motorized gun. Each required four AA batteries to run. The Constant Pressure System is the most powerful system used by Super Soaker. The user pumps water from

792-482: The XP series itself was replaced by the Max-D series. The Super Soaker CPS 2000 is a Constant Pressure System (CPS) class water gun released in 1996 by Larami . It was the first model in the CPS line, which initially included only a single blaster. While a fearsome sight, it was often acknowledged as being overpowered, depleting its pressure chamber too quickly, and needing pumping too frequently. A second version of

825-511: The bladder to push the water out of the nozzle. Due to the nature of the bladder, the stream produced is fairly constant, and has almost the same range and power throughout the entire shot, most streams dropping only one foot in range towards the end of a continuous shot, unlike most air pressure based water guns which exhibit a constant loss of pressure while the trigger is pulled. Some bladder water guns, such as Speedloaders, Water Worms, and Super Chargers, are inflated with water directly from

858-488: The idea. Johnson built an improved prototype and made a trip to the Larami headquarters in Philadelphia where he made a successful sales pitch. Refinements made with Larami design director William Raucci and engineering consultant Bruce D'Andrade made its mass production feasible, and the first commercial version of the water gun appeared in stores the following year as the Power Drencher. In 1991 it achieved commercial success under its new name, Super Soaker. In 1992, Larami

891-521: The model number and the size and power of the gun. It also coexisted with the Classic series for a number of years before replacing them. Some unsuccessful concepts, such as quick-twist tanks, were experimented with and abandoned during this transition period. By the time the Classic series had been fully phased out in 1996, the XP series had settled on the following lineup: These were replaced every two years by successive generations of models until finally

924-416: The patent. The "bladder water gun" patent expired in 2016. In 2020, German outdoor company Spyra GmbH launched its own CPS-based line of electric water guns marketed under the same name. In 2010, Buzz Bee Toys Inc. was successfully sued by Hasbro Inc . for a patent infringement . Hasbro claimed that Buzz Bee Toys infringed on a patent related to its Nerf Super Soaker water toy. Although it

957-499: The reservoir into a rubber bladder, which expands as more water is forced into it. The stretched rubber exerts a constant pressure on the water, giving the blaster a thick and constant stream throughout the entire shot. In most older models, the resulting blast is forceful enough that recoil can be felt. Hasbro has implemented the Constant Pressure System in Super Soaker blasters a number of times since completing

990-447: The term super soaker is sometimes used generically , to refer to any type of toy pressurized water gun. In 1982 Air Force and NASA engineer Lonnie Johnson conceived of the idea of a pressurized water gun after shooting a powerful stream of water in his bathroom while performing experiments for a new type of refrigeration system. Several months later he built a prototype in his basement, using Plexiglas , PVC pipe, O-ring seals and

1023-487: The tune song [sic] to the Cylon Bubble Machine commercial." In a Los Angeles Times article covering Battlestar Galactica ' s influence on Facebook , the toy's Facebook Fan Page is noted alongside the book The Science of Battlestar Galactica 's. Constant Pressure System The Constant Pressure System , or CPS, is a powerful design used for certain water guns . CPS water guns are powered by

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1056-530: Was awarded "Outdoor Toy of the Year" at the 11th Annual Toy of the Year Awards, which is held at the American International Toy Fair in New York City . In 2015, Super Soaker was inducted to National Toy Hall of Fame . In 2010, Buzz Bee Toys was successfully sued by Hasbro for patent infringement . Hasbro claimed that Buzz Bee Toys infringed on a patent related to its "Super Soaker water toy." Although it

1089-409: Was sued for patent infringement by Talk to Me Products, who claimed the Super Soaker was a copy of their American Gladiator water gun, which was patented in 1978. However, Talk to Me Products lost their case as their patent referred to a water gun " having a chamber therein ". The Super Soaker used a water chamber on top of the gun, that was detachable for filling. The revenue that Johnson received from

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