GB2185692A - Catapult - Google Patents

Abstract

A catapult comprises an open ended tube 10, a piston 14 disposed for sliding movement within the tube and two resilient members 22 connecting the piston to the body of the tube. The piston 14 is manually retractable against the action of the resilient members 22 and acts to expel fishing bait placed within the tube upon being release. A rubber buffer 26 halts the piston. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Catapult The present invention relates to a catapult, intended primarily for casting baitwhen fishing.

It is sometimes desired to cast bait at some distance when fishing, in which case casting by hand does not provide the required accuracy in placing the bait in the water. On occasions, it may also not be possible to achieve the desired range when casting bait by hand.

Casting of the bait into the water should be done silently and a catapult lends itselfwell to this task.

However, a conventional catapult is inconvenientto use as its pouch and its elastic bands tend to become entangled after each use. Furthermore, because of their uncontrolled movement, the bands tend to wear rapidly. Aiming of such a catapult or sling is not easy as it is difficult to gaugethe range ofthe projectile. Lastly certain types of bait are notsolid and make the use of such a catapult rather awkward.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a catapult comprising an open ended tube, a piston disposed for sliding movement within the tube and two resilient members connecting the piston to the body of the tube, the piston being manually retractable against the action of the resilient members and acting to expel a projectile placed within the tube upon being release.

Preferably, the tube is formed with two diametrically opposed longitudinal slots and the piston is formed with two arms extending through theslots,the resilient members being secured between the arms of the piston and two further arms formed on the bodyofthetube.

The resilient members conveniently comprise two elastic tubes stretched over the arms formed on the piston and the bodyofthetube. Such a construction of the resilient members enables the members to be attached to the respective arms byfriction and no further precaution need be taken to ensurethatthe members do not separate from the arms.

The arms formed on the body of the tube are conveniently located near the mouth ofthetube from which the projectile is discharged the other end ofthe tube being provided with handle to enable the tubeto be gripped and aimed manually.

When in use the piston is released, it moves under the action of the resilient members with considerable force and comes to a stop on reaching the end of the slots in the tube. To prevent severe wear at the end ofthe latter slots, a buffer is preferably provided to absorb the momentum ofthe piston. Such a buffer also assists in reducing noise.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the single Figure is a perspective view of a catapult in accordance with the invention.

The catapult in the drawing comprises a tube 10 having two slots 12 extending along part of its length. A piston 14 is slidably disposed within the tube 10 and has two arms 16 extending through the slots 12.

Acollar 18 is formed aboutthe mouth ofthetube 10 from which there extend two radial arms 20.

Rubbertubes 22 are stretched over the arms 16, 20 and are held in position by friction alone. It is possible to use a crimped collar or a clip overthe tubes, if desired, but for normal use such steps are not necessary.

A handle 24 is formed at the other end of the tube 10 and a an annular buffer 28 of rubber is located at the end of the slots 12.

In use, bait is placed into the open end of the tube 10 and the piston 16 is retracted againstthe resilience of the rubber tubes 22. It should be mentioned here that the piston may be in the form of a cup to permit particulate bait to be used, if desired.

The amount of retraction can be varied to select the distance at which the bait is to be cast.

The catapult during this time is held from the handle 24 and can be aimed in the required direction.

The piston 14 can now be released and moves under the action of the resilienttubes 22 to expel the bait in desired direction.

The piston comes to rest atthe end of the slots 12 by colliding with the buffer 26. The buffer acts to reduce noise and to wear on the piston arms 16 and the body of the tube 10.

The catapult can be manufactured from aluminium,theslots 12 being machinedfromthe tube 10. It is alternatively possible to form the catapult from plastics material whereupon the tube 10may be moulded.

Though the invention has been described by reference to a particular embodiment, it will be clear to the person skilled in the art that various piston modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, it is not essential that the tube 10bye formed with slots as it is alternatively possible for the arms 16 to be formed on a part of the piston 16 extending beyond the end of the tube.

1. A catapult comprising an open ended tube, a piston disposed for sliding movement within the tube and two resilient members connecting the piston to the body of the tube, the piston being manually retractable against the action of the resilient members and acting to expel a projectile placed within the tube upon being release.

2. A catapult as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tube is formed with two diametrically opposed longitudinal slots and the piston isformed with two arms extending through the slots, the resilient members being secured between the arms ofthe piston and two further arms formed on the body of the tu be.

3. A catapult as claimed in claim 2, wherein the resilient members comprise two elastictubes stretched overthearmsformed on the piston andthe body of the tube.

4. A catapult as claimed in claim 2 or 3,wherein the arms formed on the body of the tube are located nearthe mouth ofthetube from which the projectile is discharged,the other end ofthetube being provided with a handle to enable the tube to be

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Catapult The present invention relates to a catapult, intended primarily for casting baitwhen fishing. It is sometimes desired to cast bait at some distance when fishing, in which case casting by hand does not provide the required accuracy in placing the bait in the water. On occasions, it may also not be possible to achieve the desired range when casting bait by hand. Casting of the bait into the water should be done silently and a catapult lends itselfwell to this task. However, a conventional catapult is inconvenientto use as its pouch and its elastic bands tend to become entangled after each use. Furthermore, because of their uncontrolled movement, the bands tend to wear rapidly. Aiming of such a catapult or sling is not easy as it is difficult to gaugethe range ofthe projectile. Lastly certain types of bait are notsolid and make the use of such a catapult rather awkward. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a catapult comprising an open ended tube, a piston disposed for sliding movement within the tube and two resilient members connecting the piston to the body of the tube, the piston being manually retractable against the action of the resilient members and acting to expel a projectile placed within the tube upon being release. Preferably, the tube is formed with two diametrically opposed longitudinal slots and the piston is formed with two arms extending through theslots,the resilient members being secured between the arms of the piston and two further arms formed on the bodyofthetube. The resilient members conveniently comprise two elastic tubes stretched over the arms formed on the piston and the bodyofthetube. Such a construction of the resilient members enables the members to be attached to the respective arms byfriction and no further precaution need be taken to ensurethatthe members do not separate from the arms. The arms formed on the body of the tube are conveniently located near the mouth ofthetube from which the projectile is discharged the other end ofthe tube being provided with handle to enable the tubeto be gripped and aimed manually. When in use the piston is released, it moves under the action of the resilient members with considerable force and comes to a stop on reaching the end of the slots in the tube. To prevent severe wear at the end ofthe latter slots, a buffer is preferably provided to absorb the momentum ofthe piston. Such a buffer also assists in reducing noise. The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the single Figure is a perspective view of a catapult in accordance with the invention. The catapult in the drawing comprises a tube 10 having two slots 12 extending along part of its length. A piston 14 is slidably disposed within the tube 10 and has two arms 16 extending through the slots 12. Acollar 18 is formed aboutthe mouth ofthetube 10 from which there extend two radial arms 20. Rubbertubes 22 are stretched over the arms 16, 20 and are held in position by friction alone. It is possible to use a crimped collar or a clip overthe tubes, if desired, but for normal use such steps are not necessary. A handle 24 is formed at the other end of the tube 10 and a an annular buffer 28 of rubber is located at the end of the slots 12. In use, bait is placed into the open end of the tube 10 and the piston 16 is retracted againstthe resilience of the rubber tubes 22. It should be mentioned here that the piston may be in the form of a cup to permit particulate bait to be used, if desired. The amount of retraction can be varied to select the distance at which the bait is to be cast. The catapult during this time is held from the handle 24 and can be aimed in the required direction. The piston 14 can now be released and moves under the action of the resilienttubes 22 to expel the bait in desired direction. The piston comes to rest atthe end of the slots 12 by colliding with the buffer 26. The buffer acts to reduce noise and to wear on the piston arms 16 and the body of the tube 10. The catapult can be manufactured from aluminium,theslots 12 being machinedfromthe tube 10. It is alternatively possible to form the catapult from plastics material whereupon the tube 10may be moulded. Though the invention has been described by reference to a particular embodiment, it will be clear to the person skilled in the art that various piston modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, it is not essential that the tube 10bye formed with slots as it is alternatively possible for the arms 16 to be formed on a part of the piston 16 extending beyond the end of the tube. CLAIMS

1. A catapult comprising an open ended tube, a piston disposed for sliding movement within the tube and two resilient members connecting the piston to the body of the tube, the piston being manually retractable against the action of the resilient members and acting to expel a projectile placed within the tube upon being release.

2. A catapult as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tube is formed with two diametrically opposed longitudinal slots and the piston isformed with two arms extending through the slots, the resilient members being secured between the arms ofthe piston and two further arms formed on the body of the tu be.

3. A catapult as claimed in claim 2, wherein the resilient members comprise two elastictubes stretched overthearmsformed on the piston andthe body of the tube.

4. A catapult as claimed in claim 2 or 3,wherein the arms formed on the body of the tube are located nearthe mouth ofthetube from which the projectile is discharged,the other end ofthetube being provided with a handle to enable the tube to be gripped and aimed manually.

5. A catapult as claimed in anyofclaims2to4, wherein a buffer is provided atthe end ofthe slots in thetubeto absorb the momentum of the piston.

6. A catapult as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a cup is formed at the end of the piston.

7. A catapult constructed substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.