The prototype combined PVC pipe, acrylic glass, and an empty plastic soda bottle.

[1] Originally sold by Larami and now produced by Hasbro under the Nerf brand, Super Soaker has generated more than $1 billion in total sales.

[2][3] 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.

[4][better source needed] In 1985 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 a two-liter soda bottle for the reservoir.

He attempted to arrange partnerships with toy companies to bring the product to market, but it was not until 1989 that he found success.

[7] Refinements made with Larami design director William Raucci and engineering consultant Bruce D'Andrade made its mass production feasible,[2] and the first commercial version of the water gun appeared in stores the following year as the Power Drencher.

However, Talk to Me Products lost their case as their patent referred to a water gun "having a chamber therein".

Originally made popular by the Super Soaker 50,[11][12] pressurized reservoir systems are still common for small water guns.

[13] Super Soaker started with two pressurized reservoir water guns, and has continued to produce them in various shapes and sizes.

[13] 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.

Hasbro has implemented the Constant Pressure System in Super Soaker blasters a number of times since completing the takeover of Larami Corp in 2002.

While a fearsome sight, it was often acknowledged as being overpowered, depleting its pressure chamber too quickly, and needing pumping too frequently.