GB2257922A - Sling shot. - Google Patents

Abstract

A sling shot comprises a shield 17 which is detachably mounted on a body 10 of the sling shot to form an arch spanning the length of a handle 11 of the sling shot. The shield may be made of a resiliently flexible material, and may be detachable from the body. The shield may include a hinge 18 to enhance the flexibility of the shield. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Sling Shot Description of Invention The present invention relates to a sling shot comprising a pouch connected by a pair of elastic bands with a body which includes an elongated handle and a pair of limbs, to respective ones of which limbs the elastic bands are attached.

According to the present invention, a sling shot of the kind described further comprises a shield which is mounted on the body adjacent to opposite ends of the handle and forms an arch spanning the length of the handle, the middle of the arch being spaced sufficiently from the handle for a user to insert a hand between the arch and the handle.

In use, the shield protects the hand of the user from being struck by the returning pouch and elastic bands, after material has been projected from the sling shot.

The shield is preferably formed of material which is resiliently flexible, relative to the material of which the body is formed.

The preferred shield is detachable from the body.

A further preferred feature of the shield is that it incorporates a hinge defining a hinge axis which is transverse to the length of the handle.

An example of a sling shot embodying the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of the assembled sling shot and FIGURE 2 shows a shield of the sling shot separated from a body of the sling shot and in a flat condition.

The sling shot illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises a body 10 which includes an elongated handle 11 and a pair of limbs 12, 13 which extend from one end of the handle. The limbs are mutually divergent in a direction away from the handle. Respective elastic bands 14 and 15 are connected with the limbs 12 and 13 adjacent to the free ends thereof and the bands are both connected to a pouch 16. The pouch may be an essentially flat web of a flexible material or may be pre-formed to a curved shape. The pouch, the bands 14 and 15 and the connection of those bands with the limbs 12 and 13 may be the same as in known sling shots. Preferably, the bands 14 and 15 are formed from rubber tube and end portions of the limbs 12 and 13 are received in end portions of the corresponding tubes.

The limbs 12 and 13 are conveniently formed integrally with one another and with a core of the handle 11 from a length of metal rod or metal tube. The outer part of the handle may be formed as a pair of plastics mouldings which fit together around the core of the handle.

The sling shot further comprises a shield 17 which forms an arch spanning the length of the handle 11. The shield is formed of a flexible web and the flexibility is enhanced by incorporation of an integral hinge 18 in the web.

The hinge defines an axis which is transverse to the length of the handle 11. The web may be without interruption or may be interrupted by apertures. Preferably, the web is interrupted by apertures which define a decorative pattern.

The maximum width of the shield 17 occurs in the vicinity of the hinge 18. A lower part of the shield is tapered downwardly from the hinge towards a lower end of the handle 11. The narrowest part of the shield is adjacent to the lower end of the handle. An upper part of the shield extends from the hinge 18 to a position slightly beyond the upper end of the handle 11 and also tapers in a direction away from the hinge. The hinge lies nearer to the upper end portion of the shield than to the lower end portion of the shield.

The shield is attached to the body 10 of the slingshot at three positions. One of these attachment positions is at the lower end of the handle 11 and the other two attachment positions are adjacent to the upper end of the handle.

The connection of the shield 17 with the body 10 at the lower end of the handle 11 is a twist-lock connection. The handle defines at its lower end an elongated slot leading to a cavity in the handle. A T-shaped projection 19 is formed on the lower end of the shield, the cross bar of the T being spaced from the remainder of the shield by the stem of the T. The cross bar can be inserted through the slot of the handle only when the length of the cross bar is aligned with a length of the slot. If the projection is then twisted relative to the handle through 900, the cross bar becomes captive inside the handle.

The upper end portion of the shield 17 includes a neck 20 which can be received between the limbs 12 and 13 immediately adjacent to the upper end of the handle 11. The neck 20 carries a head 21 which can engage the limbs 12 and 13 and which, together with the neck, defines respective part-circular recesses for receiving the limbs. The shield subtends at the centre of each of these recesses and angle substantially greater than 1800 so that the limbs can be trapped in the recesses. The head 21 flexes to admit the limbs to the recesses and to release the limbs from the recesses. It will be seen that the head 21 forms a double hook which can embrace the limbs 12 and 13 to retain the upper end portion of the shield adjacent to the upper end of the handle 11. The shield is a snap fit on the limbs 12 and 13.

When the shield 17 is in assembled relation with the body 10, the lower part of the shield has a curved configuration, the upper part of the shield also has a curved configuration and there is a distinct corner at the hinge 18.

Between the shield and the handle 11, there is a space which is sufficiently large to receive the hand of a user who grasps the handle.

The space between the shield 17 and the handle 11 is at the front of the handle. The limbs 12 and 13 extend rearwards from the handle so that the end portions of the limbs which bear the end portions of the bands 14 and 15 are spaced rearwards from the handle. If, when material is projected by the sling shot, the bands 14 and 15 and the pouch 16 spring back towards the hand holding the body 10, they strike the shield 17 rather than that hand.

The shield 17 is conveniently formed as a moulding of a thermoplastics material.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (7)

1. A sling shot comprising a pouch connected by a pair of elastic bands with a body which includes an elongated handle and a pair of limbs, to respective ones of which limbs the elastic bands are attached, and further comprising a shield which is mounted on the body adjacent to opposite ends of the handle and forms an arch spanning the length of the handle, the middle of the arch being spaced sufficiently from the handle for a user to insert a hand between the arch and the handle.

2. A sling shot according to Claim 1 wherein the shield is formed of resiliently flexible material, relative to the material of the body.

3. A sling shot according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the shield includes a hinge defining a hinge axis transverse to the length of the handle.

4. A sling shot according to any preceding claim wherein the shield is connected with the body at a single position adjacent to one end of the handle and at two positions adjacent to the opposite end of the handle.

5. A sling shot according to any preceding claim wherein the shield is detachable from the body.

6. A sling shot according to Claim 5 wherein the shield is a snap fit on the body adjacent to one end of the handle.

7. A sling shot substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.